I want to talk here a little about how Rosemary’s Corner came to be and the Patreon I have created to support the work I am doing.
Books should be beautiful
Books should be beautiful is the idea that literature should not stand separate within the art world. Let’s face it, at the party of the arts Literature is the introvert standing awkwardly in the corner watching Photography and Painting chat merrily with Music while Sculpture heads to the bar to get the next round.
It’s a weird metaphor but you understand. As an artform, literature has always felt somewhat separate. Now personally, I think it is because literature lacks a specific sensory application. You look at a painting. You listen to music. Theatre and cinema use both. But literature uses none. And I think because it uses none, it is actually quite difficult to blend it together with other artworks.
Which is something I want to fix with Rosemary’s Corner.
Firstly, you need a good story.
The novel is the core of the book around which every artwork must work. That is how you create something truly beautiful. I think Rosemary’s Corner went through three major edits – one of which was a massive skeletal strip – before we felt it was strong enough to present. I know for writers this can be normal but if you’re not in the trade it can come as a shock. So you need to find an editor you can trust.
Then you pepper the novel with illustrations; not to detract or pull focus but to really enhance the story. I had all these photos of my grandmother that I wanted to incorporate into the novel. So I reached out to an illustration who managed to turn them into stunning illustrations that we scattered throughout the book (like the photo below of my grandmother recovering after the birth of her first child).
(I’m working with the amazing illustrator @g.croll.art on this one.)
But it doesn’t stop there.
After the inlay of the book is finished you have the end pages. If you don’t know what those are, you aren’t alone. The end pages are usually just blank pages that bookend the actual text of the novel. But what if they weren’t blank? What if they helped to tell the story?
The image below is the work of two artists, Skirmantė Smažinienė and Martin. The photo was taken in Scotland (one of my grandmother’s favourite places) and represents her journey through the play of light on the branches and ferns, while the painted flowers are those native to each country my grandmother lived in and show the geographical journey she took through the course of her life.
It’s deliberate. It tells the story.
And on to the cover
All covers are designed to grab the reader. But what if you could tell the story in the cover too? What if the robin, looking up at the flying bird as she rises up into the night sky, as the colours change in the setting sun, represents what the novel is at its core?
And what if, if you wanted, you could take off the dust jacket, open it up, and see the complete image of the tree?
It’s about every aspect of the book
There is more detail hidden in the book, like the foiling on the hardback that tells the next step in the story of the cover, and the ethically produce, high quality paper. But I will leave that for you to explore if you want to grab yourself a copy. The point is, literature doesn’t have to be the introvert at the party. It can intermingle with other artforms and produce something truly beautiful.
Looking ahead.
There is always another story to be told and Crownless Kings is next on my list.
Crownless Kings is a novel about success. Nick is a recent graduate with a fire in his soul. A fire to be the best. Except in this story, the socioeconomic structure is reversed. You don’t climb up the corporate ladder, you climb down it. The rich here are considered poor and the poor, rich. Nick has to figure out how to navigate his way down.
It’s actually my premiere novel. And while I have always loved it, I felt something was missing. As a young author I was so eager to get it out there that I skipped over important phases of production. Essentially, I didn’t take the time to make sure it was beautiful.
Books should be beautiful, right?
So that’s what comes next. A major overhaul of the novel. I’m going to be working with the same illustrators and artists to do a similar thing to Rosemary’s Corner. It’s going to look different, yes. It’s a different book. But the idea is the same. The love is the same. When it is finished it will still be a beautiful, hardback book.
And then on to the next. Each book takes a very long time to complete. And it’s not cheap. That’s why I set up the Patreon. Together we can create beautiful stories. Complete stories. Stories where the artwork and the text intertwine. Stories where every inch of the book is part of the tale.
Or, if you don’t want to commit to a monthly donation, I have a Paypal here when you can give once off.
Or here, if you want to buy the book. There are plenty of ways to help, and honestly buying the book is the best. So if you like what you’ve read and want to see more books like this, I would appreciate all the support.
I’ll finish now because I have been rambling on for a while. I hope this makes sense. If it doesn’t, or if you want to shoot me an email just to say hi, go ahead. And if you’re on Instagram, my handle is here. Give me a follow. I would really appreciate it. Every little helps when trying to build this idea.
Books should be Beautiful.
Okay, now I’m done.