Notes by Gayle Moore-Morrans, editor and blogger:

Isn’t this a beautiful book cover? I was inspired by reading Francis Guenette’s latest post telling of her and her husband’s collaboration in producing a book cover for her new book, “The Light Never Lies” Just as I am doing at present, Francis is planning to forego the assisted self-publishing route and do her own layout, design, etc. using Create Space. I’ve just sent her the following message:

“Gorgeous book cover, Fran. You and your husband are good collaborators. Thanks for the tip on Book Cover Pro. I’ll have to look into it. It sounds like you and I are on the same track. I’m also working on Ian’s children’s book ‘Jake, Little Jimmy and Big Louie’ and am being guided with layout through Edwin Scroggins book ‘How to Self-Publish Your Book Using Microsoft Word 2007. ‘ So I’ll be using CreateSpace as well.”

Our 8-year-old granddaughter has done the illustrations so I’m also collaborating on that as I adjust and edit her drawings using Microsoft Word Paint. I’ve never used it before and find it quite fun. She has done some darling illustrations for the book but I find that her depictions of the leading characters are not always consistent from illustration to illustration. So MSPaint is allowing me to make the boy and the birds more consistent without losing her child’s perspective. It’s fun but painstaking. I’ll be anxious to see how you are doing with the layout. I hope to start mine soon. Best wishes for the New Year.”