"Baby's Breath" Chapbook Cover Reveal
Words cannot express how completely blown away I am by the artwork Mikio Murakami of Silent Q Design did for this. I mean, seriously. His covers for Shock Totem are astounding--have you seen them? Each one is more unique and spectacular than the next.
But you guys know....when it's for your own work, it's different. This was just outside the realm of anything I could have imagined for the story artistically. It is beyond perfect. Don't you think?
Cover art by Mikio Murakami, © Shawna L Bernard
I'm not going to lie...the layout process is always grueling, but most of my time was spent laboring over which blurbs to use on the cover. Let me tell you, it is much easier when you are doing it for someone else's work. Damn! I wanted to have ALL THE BLURBS on the cover!
And truly, they all meant the world to me--but it was really special to have Aaron Sterns say what he did about it:
"A heartbreaking story, all the more powerful for how deeply personal it evidently is. One of those important works of horror that captures something archetypal in the human condition, and manages to (fittingly) burrow into the brain and linger long after the page."
This was a deeply personal story--so to see the artwork reflect that, and to read things about it from people I look up to and admire so greatly was extremely moving--never mind humbling. Aaron's novel WOLF CREEK: ORIGIN, a prequel to the wildly popular WOLF CREEK movies, was one of the best books I read last year...in fact, I read it more than once. And just having someone like Aaron say your work is important really resonates.
To me, blurbs themselves are kind of a personal thing. The bonus is you get to share them with others. And I'm thrilled to have the kind words I do from the people who shared them with me for this story.
Eternal gratitude goes to my dear friend Daniel Knauf, aka Hollywood, for putting up with me during this process--my OCD does not make the publishing process an easy time for me or anyone who knows me--and to everyone who provided blurbs and helped along the way: Gard Goldsmith, Aaron Sterns, Kurt Fawver, Robin Spriggs, Aaron Gudmunson, Jeremy Wagner, Julya Oui, John Dixon, Carl R. Moore, Michael Randolph, Gregory Norris, Phil Perron, Matt Edginton, of course Simon Rumley...
And again, a huge THANK YOU to every single one of you who read it, gave me feedback on it, promoted it, believed in it, voted for it, and/or placed me alongside the fine writers in the Short Fiction Category of the Bram Stoker Awards. Every single gesture has been greatly appreciated.
Hope you guys like the cover as much as I do. If all goes as planned, I'll be selling the signed limited edition version of these at WHC Atlanta and upon request for anyone who would like one. I'm finalizing the interior now and hope to have them in hand by the end of the month.
Be sure to check out Mikio's page and consider him for future projects. He was absolutely amazing to work with in every way.
Thanks for reading,
Syd