Getting On With The Book.

Sadly I have had to give up the idea of colour illustrations for my book. The cost would make the book far too expensive. Ridiculously expensive in fact.  This of course is why books rarely have colour illustrations. Imagine paying £30 quid for a paperback! Yes, I know my book is probably worth that even without colour, but I would like to sell more than one copy.

So we are thinking of, or toying with, the idea of giving the book a kind of retro feel. Stuart's idea, but it sounds good to me. It will fit with the era the book is set in, the 1950's. Gawd! Am I really that old?

The book will have illustrations hopefully, but they will be in black and white. I say hopefully because I don't yet know what effect they will have on the overall cost. Although it does seem quite easy to get them into the manuscript. Maybe it won't cost extra.

Anyway things are moving along on the project. I think Stuart is more or less happy with it so far, apart from one or two minor tweaks I may have to do.

Tonight I have spent some time doing a couple of pen and ink drawings for the book which I thought you might like to see. One of them I have rather ruined. That is the one with the child in the high chair. I was attempting to get a sense of the dingy atmosphere of the room, but overdid the shading. I shall redo that one.  It demonstrates that things do not always go right. Hardly ever actually. By the way, if you want to know why there are pigeons mating outside the window, well you will have to wait for the book to find out.

This one has been thoroughly overdone. Click to enlarge.

I am quite happy with the second drawing. The woman represented is a welfare officer taking me away from my Mother. Sad isn't it? I have given myself a big tear to add to the heartbreak. Oh dear, just look at that unhappy little chaps face.

This is OK I feel. Maybe I should stick to line drawings like this.

It is amazing that these two supposedly simple drawings actually represent almost five hours work. What with the thinking time. Planning time. Starting again time. Correcting mistakes time. Feeling despondent time. Even then, once I have done all the drawings I shall probably do them all again, until I am really happy with the final result. But it will be worth it in the end I hope, with a book to be proud of. I want it to be the best I can possibly get it.

I am still worried about your reaction. I have to tell you it is a shocking read. Appalling at times. Searingly honest. Well you know me by now. I do tend to wear my heart on my sleeve.