Wednesday 17 October 2012

Up, Up, And Away.

When I was small. Even smaller than I am today, probably around five, six, or seven years old. I was able to fly. No seriously this is not a joke. I could fly. Incredible isn't it?

Without mechanical assistance either. I just used to take off. A bit like Superman I suppose, except that I didn't have a cape, and I never had to get changed first in a phone kiosk.

All I did was, I floated about six inches off the ground for a few seconds, and then just took off. Up into the air. I could go really high too. Sometimes the earth below me looked like a page out of an atlas. I never flew that high often. It could get quite cold up there, and I have to confess it could be a little bit scary. You have to bear in mind that I was very young.

Sometimes when I took off, I could hear the grown ups shouting angrily. But that didn't bother me because I was well out of reach.

If I was very careful I could, and I know you won't believe this, I could sit on a cloud. Honest. This is a true fact. Even lie back on one and rest. It was so beautiful to be sitting there. I had to keep my wits about me though, because certain types of clouds can disappear in an instant. The best ones I found were the really big fluffy ones. The ones that like to linger.

Of course eventually I had to come back down to earth, and face the angry people. But, and you might find this hard to believe too, I could make myself really, really miniscule, until I was almost invisible. That way they never saw me come back and I was able to sneak back into the cupboard under the stairs without them noticing. They never, ever found out how I did that. It used to drive them crazy.

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I have been having a go at designing a cover for my book tonight. I thought I would share this with you. I was pleased with it, but I don't know if it will be the one I use.



I suppose this ought to go on the Ramshackle Art Gallery blog really. Or maybe not. It isn't going to be for sale. Not yet anyway.





10 comments:

  1. I like the picture but I don't get a feel of the story looking at it. Maybe I need to see it with the title.

    I could not fly but the little person part I understand.

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  2. John, I love the wash technique you've used in the cover illustration, and the well-defined focus of the boy's contour. It suggests motion and imagination, a story. Too much detail might slow it down.

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  3. Alcohol at such a young age. NEVER a good thing.

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  4. When did you stop flying,John? I suspect once you had some control over your life.
    Jane x

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  5. Intriguing. You're getting there.

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  6. I love this excerpt from your book...gives a good picture of what it must have been like for you growing up....might I say again, you write very well.
    Love the water colour illustration, depicting a sad story of a young boy fighting back his demons.

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  7. Imagination is a wonderful thing, and sometimes very necessary.

    I'm not sure about the picture. I know what it implies but a prospective purchaser might be put off by the vagueness. The book cover is the first thing customers see and you need something to make them eager to look inside.

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  8. I like the book cover art and your flying away tale.
    My hide-away place was the airing cupboard behind the hot water tank. I used to travel miles in there.

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  9. Inquiring minds want to know how you lost your ability to fly? Or do you still on occasion take flight?
    I like the painting

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