This is Hattie, who I thought of when writing about Spike. Do you have a picture of a Jack Russell Terrier or a dog who might have travelled with Natalie through France and Spain? When I was choosing a dog I stopped many unsuspecting dog owners in the street and took photos of their dogs. I could have used anyone of them. If you have a small dog and a copy of my book, see if you can get a picture of your pet and the book, or your pet and your book and link it to the page.If you have a book staring a dog It would be fun to know about it.
It’s at times like these you realise that you are a better writer than photographer, but the dog and the book are there.
You can send a tweet to @brendahSedgwick with a photo. The pictures can be tranfered to my facebook and shared.
Before writing Marriage, a Journey and a Dog I knew little of Millwall Football Club. When I realised they played Manchester United in the FA cup in 2004, they were the perfect choice for Alan the football fan.
Alan’s obsession with football left him with girlfriend problems he didn’t understand. First his wife left him and then Natalie (heroine) didn’t fancy him – at all. Both big disappointments to him.
When he met Gerry (Natalie’s husband) they found common ground in having a sport obsession.
With the two characters obsessed with sport, men reading the book have laughed as they relate to an all consuming love of sport. Women sympathise with Natalie for what she has to put up with and feels helpless to change.
I’m sure he isn’t typical of Millwall fans as his hygiene habits and communication skills are not good.
I follow Millwall on twitter and amuse myself checking on their results. It feels personal if they win or lose.
I have been asked about Henri Marcel, the French artist I quote in Marriage, a Journey and a Dog..
Henri Marcel is remembered for his quotations as well as his art. He was a part of the cubism movement that changed the face of art.
Pablo Picasso was credited with cubism’s creation, but there are other examples of this style of art. As with all artists and creative people there is a reliance on what you have learnt and your environment, mixed with your own creativity. It was Picasso that brought cubism to the forefront in art.
This is a link to cubism art pictures – Cubism Art
I came across these in Le Louvre. I’m not sure how old they are but they are described as ancient.
George Keyt 1901 – 1993, is a famous Sri Lankan artist and as far as it is known he had no contact with Picasso and his associates.
George Keyt
George Keyt is worth knowing about – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Keyt
Henri Marcel was a part of the cubism movement, creating his own distinguished style – hidden in many ways, but a great discovery if you find him.
Quotes about Henri Marcel in Marriage, a Journey and a Dog.
This is where it all began.
This is when I realised what my life could be
Henri Marcel. French Artist 1938-1996
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Once outside on the pavement, I notice a small house, squeezed between the shops, on the wall there is a brass plaque to Henri Marcel. I have a book about him from a charity shop. He painted pictures then ripped them up, repositioned them and painted the new picture, similar to Picasso and cubism. The colours he used were bold and the reconstructed paintings vibrant. Some of his paintings are of people; others of buildings. So he lived here for twenty years until he died in 1996.
‘I am always doing what I thought I couldn’t do because I learn something’ is the quote under his name.
“Yes, Henri!” I say out loud. I mustn’t let Gerry see me talking to myself, and clasping my hands with agreement!
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Alan might offend me when I’m vulnerable, so as much as he might be useful I decide to try this one on my own and hope I’ve benefitted something from my one and only past experience of cycling.
‘I am always doing what I thought I couldn’t do because I learn something’ I reflect on Henri Marcel’s words. ‘Remember Natalie, you made it through France and Spain’. I pinch myself at the thought.
As his paintings are held in private galleries they are not available on google. Maybe, one day there will be an exhibition.
“To tell the truth is often distracting, Make what you will of me.” Henri Marcel.
So Alan the Millwall Football Club fan, in Marriage, a Journey and a dog, left his wife at a petrol station I wondered if readers would find it plausible. As the book is part comedy I decided it was OK, and in the back of my mind I remembered hearing a similar story on the news.
Today another story. A tourist and his son drove 60 miles, in Brazil, before realizing his wife wasn’t with them, he had left her at a petrol station.
Do some men have problems focusing on more than one thing? I remember the horrific story of a man heading for the squash courts in America and forgetting he had his two small children in the back of the car. The heat killed them after he rushed off to the courts. How does anyone repair their life after that?
My book is a comedy, with a serious side. I listen to wives and girlfriends who take second place to their partner’s interests; sport or otherwise.
At a golfing party there was a woman who left her husband with the children regularly to play golf. Regularly means 4/5 times a week. He wasn’t happy. The fact is women aren’t happy in this situation either. A sporting nature means wanting to be good at it and being good means practice and constant thought..
I’m not a relationship psychologist; experience tells me to fill your own life and don’t wait for change.
My husband is a glider pilot and it works well. I enjoy social visits to the club now and then and we are both happy. If a family situation comes up, it’s easy for him to change his flying time. This works because we are retired. Gliding families don’t always work. If your family time is reliant on the weekends and – usually he – wants to glide, there is no time left.
If you have a sport driven partner, you are far from alone. You will feel lonely in a relationship..
I’ve been told the cover design can sell the book. Yesterday I stood back in Smiths and looked at the top 20 books and tried to decide which book I would buy because of its cover. My answer was none.
So why would I take a second look? I decided first the title, and then the genre, before the writer. The blurb on the back cover became the next step.
Some covers I found decidedly uninspiring, but I have bought books on the recommendation of friends. In fact, most books I buy because a friend enjoyed reading it or I heard about it on radio.
A seriously good cover, with raised gold wording and beautifully designed can make me wonder if the cover is better than the content.
Tomorrow I am going to see a publishing company and I will discuss my cover. I think I can design it, but might come stuck on the technical side.
What would happen to sales if inside the cover was a note saying, ‘designed by the author.’ The variety of covers might be fun and make them interesting to look at. I guess, if money is no object you might as well hand it over and let other people do it and if you are a well known writer it will sell anyway.
Book covers are not like old record covers and only if it is a first edition cover, in excellent condition is it worth anything and not necessarily considered a work of art.
Is there a place for more creativity?
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Jan 2015. I’ve handed my book over to the professionals and that included the cover. I’m waiting to see their suggestions. I am told that if your book stands out in a genre, it could be wrong as customers looking for a genre look for similarities. I am learning. When my new cover comes I’ll let everyone see it.
Marriage, A Journey and A Dog 