Choosing the Cover for My Book. It Wasn’t Easy, but in the End… It Really Was.

Posted by Barbara Techel

I was struck with the disease “analysis paralysis” since the middle of May when I was giving serious thought to a cover for my book.  I did much research and came to find many different points of view from others.  Some of you may also remember I took a poll on Facebook and my blog quite awhile back asking my followers and readers to “vote” between two photos I was considering- one of which is the one I ultimately chose, and the other was a shot of just Frankie herself.  Close to 400 of you chose the cover that I finally decided on.

But to be honest, for awhile I almost wanted to chuck it all and say, forget it. I was frozen in trying to make a decision because I didn’t want to make the wrong choice. And here is why:

As I was making great progress with my book two things happened.  First, I had the opportunity to ask an expert in the field of independent publishing his thoughts about using the photo for the cover. He told me he didn’t feel it was the right choice and said, “Even as attractive as the author is in the picture.”  I asked him if he was willing to work with me in designing a cover, but his schedule was full. But he referred me to two other cover designers. One never got back to me, but the other book cover expert did.  I shared with her the photo and said the other expert didn’t feel I should use it and I asked for her thoughts.  She didn’t entirely agree with expert one.  hmmmmm, I thought.  But I didn’t end up hiring her because she didn’t fit my budget.

Then as you all know, Frankie passed away. That put everything on hold as I moved through the grieving process. I really had no energy to put into my book and felt it important to honor the time I needed to grieve.  I’m grateful I did just that.

Later in the summer I was ready to proceed again.  I came up with a plan C which was to have a local photographer take a new photo of me, facing the camera, and have her photoshop the “new me”  in place next to Frankie of the existing photo I wanted to use. The last expert I had talked to said she thought my existing photo was good, but could I get a new shot of more of my face showing? So that was the reason for me doing this new shoot.  When I mentioned this to my marketing mentor she just wasn’t sure about the photoshop idea.  So she came up with plan D for me. Use the same photo but have a new head shot done of me designed into a oval and placed on the cover along with existing photo.  I was excited to have two options and move forward.

The morning of the photo shoot I was driving to the photographers studio and something didn’t feel right to me.  I then heard a voice in my head and heart that said, “Don’t do the photoshop idea (plan C).” I actually felt kind of sick to my stomach thinking about it.  I shared my concerns with the photographer and she said, “What is your gut telling you?” I said, “Not to do it.” So I scrapped plan C and hoped plan D would work.  I also realized that having a new me photo shopped into the current photo went so against what my book is about.  It was not authentic and I couldn’t bear the thought of doing something that felt “in-authentic.”

Well to get to the final results, I ended up hiring book cover designer, Derek Murphy of Creative Indie. I researched him months before and he fit my budget.  I gave him all the feedback I had gotten, plus the rough layout of plan D. I shared with him my concerns about the original photo and he helped to make the photo even better by cropping it so it didn’t look like I was missing my right arm, which bothered me.  Also with cropping it closer it shows more of my face which I feel better about.   I had about eight other cover designs he did for me. But after giving it all very serious thought, the poll I had done, as well as the research, I felt confident with my choice.  And honestly the bottom line for me was listening to my heart and following that. I also realized there are always, always going to be differing opinions… even among experts!

It was actually a huge relief to me to have finally chosen the cover (as I’m sure it was to John and my mom as they were my sounding boards)! I realized I had gotten stuck in “analysis paralysis.”  I also realized at some point no matter when we are making a choice we just have to make a choice.  If in our heart we feel really good about that choice, then it really should be what we follow.

I”m grateful for you my dear readers, as well as my followers on Facebook who  took the time to vote in my poll and most of all,  I’m so glad my heart whispered to me to do what I felt was right.

My Book Cover Revealed: “Through Frankie’s Eyes”–Let’s Celebrate with a Giveaway!

Posted by Barbara Techel

I’m so excited to share this with all of you! After months of giving thought to the best and right decision, I finally chose this cover for my book, Through Frankie’s Eyes: One Woman’s Journey to Her Authentic Self, and the Dog on Wheels Who Led the Way coming February 2013.  Thank you to Derek Murphy of Creative Indie for working with me and answering my oodles of questions until I felt comfortable with this final choice.  In tomorrow’s post I’ll share my reasons for choosing this as my cover and how “analysis paralysis” almost stopped me from picking one at all!

But now it is time to celebrate!!

I’ve got a wonderful giveaway to celebrate the release of my book cover. I hope you will take part, as well as share with your family and friends to not only help me spread the good news about my soon to be book, but also so they have a chance to take part in this awesome giveaway.

To enter the giveaway all you need to do is take part in answering the question below. You can answer in the comment section below, or head on over to my Facebook page and leave a comment on the post about my book cover giveaway.  On November 21st I will pick a winner at random with Random.org.  So here is the question:

What is the biggest lesson your pet has taught you and how has that helped you to grow or evolve in your life? (if you don’t have a pet, perhaps a previous pet you had or another pet that may not personally be yours is one that has helped you).

I’m really excited about hearing what all of you have to say about this question, so please do participate!

Now For the Exiting Giveaway Details:

~A signed copy of Through Frankie’s Eyes: One Woman’s Journey to Her Authentic Self, and the Dog on Wheels Who Led the Way plus one signed copy for ten friends.  The winner and their ten friends will also receive a one hour book discussion with me via phone or Skype (or in person if you would happen to be in my neck of the woods).  This will take place once my book is released and you and your friends have had enough time to read the book.

~An animal communication reading for the pet of your choice from animal communicator, Dawn Baumann Brunke.

Signed copies of the following books:

A Dog Named Leaf: The Hero from Heave Who Saved My Life by Allen Anderson with Linda Anderson

A Dog Named Boo: How One Dog and One Woman Rescued Each Other– and the Lives They Saved Along the Way by Lisa J. Edwards

 Heart to Heart Hand in Paw: How One Woman Finds Faith and Hope through the Healing Love of Animals by Peggy Frezon

Purrs of Wisdom: Conscious Living, Feline Style by Ingrid King (this is an ebook)

 Dancing Dogs Stories by Jon Katz

 The Animal Anthology Project: True Tails by Christine Catlin

All copies of the books with the exception of Dancing Dogs will be mailed to winner by respective author (Dancing Dogs will be mailed by me to winner).  Purrs of Wisdom is an ebook and winner’s name will be given to author, Ingrid King to get that to winner. A huge thank you to each and every author for their participation in my special giveaway! Also a special thank you to Dawn Baumann Brunke for the animal communication donation.

This giveaway is open to US residents only. When you leave a comment below in the post please be sure I have a way in which I can get a hold of you by email if you are the winner.  If I don’t have that information, I will need to pick another winner. If you answer the question on Facebook I will message you through Facebook if you are the winner.

The winner will have seven days to notify me they received the email stating they are the winner. If I don’t hear from winner in seven days, another name will be drawn and declared winner.

If you wish to be notified when my book is launched and available for purchase please consider signing up for my newsletter (left hand upper corner of this page) or following me on Twitter, Facebook or my blog (you can sign up for post updates on left hand side.  Scroll down until you see sign up box).

Nearly 100 Dogs Worked at the Trade Center Ten Years Ago; only 12 are left.

Posted by Barbara Techel

Thank you to Susan for sending me these wonderful photos and stories about these very special hero dogs.  I hope this warms your heart today as much as it did mine.

 

THESE OLD WONDERFUL FACES SAY IT ALL…

These are the surviving dogs that worked the trade center that are still alive but
retired, they are heroes too, their eyes say everything you need to know about
them. Just amazing creatures True heroes of 9/11 still with us today…

Moxie, 13, from Winthrop , Massachusetts , arrived with
her handler, Mark Aliberti, at the World Trade Center on the
evening of September 11 and searched the site for eight days.

Tara, 16, from Ipswich, Massachusetts , arrived at the
World Trade Center on the night of the 11th. The dog
and her handler Lee Prentiss were there for eight days.

Kaiser, 12, pictured at home in Indianapolis, Indiana, was deployed
to the World Trade Center on September 11 and searched tirelessly for
people in the rubble.

Bretagne and his owner Denise Corliss from Cypress, Texas, arrived at
the site in New York on September 17, remaining there for ten days.

 

Guinness, 15, from Highland , California , started work at the site with Sheila McKee
on the morning of September 13 and was deployed at the site for 11 days.

Merlyn and his handler Matt Claussen were deployed to Ground
Zero on September 24, working the night shift for five days.

 

Red, 11, from Annapolis , Maryland , went with Heather Roche to the Pentagon
from September 16 until the 27 as part of the Bay Area Recovery Canines.

 

Abigail, above, was deployed on the evening of September 17,
searching for 10 days while Tuff arrived in New York at 11:00
pm on the day of attack to start working early the next day.

Handler Julie Noyes and Hoke were deployed to
the World Trade Center from their home in Denver
on September 24 and searched for five days.

Scout and another unknown dog lie among the rubble at Ground Zero,
just two of nearly 100 search and rescue animals who helped to search
for survivors. During the chaos of the 9/11 attacks, where almost 3,000
people died, nearly 100 loyal search and rescue dogs and their brave
owners scoured Ground Zero for survivors.

Now, ten years on, just 12 of these heroic canines survive, and they have
been commemorated in a touching series of portraits entitled ‘Retrieved’.
The dogs worked tirelessly to search for anyone trapped alive in the rubble,
along with countless emergency service workers and members of the public.

Traveling across nine states in the U.S. from Texas to Maryland , Dutch
photographer Charlotte Dumas, 34, captured the remaining dogs in their
twilight years in their homes where they still live with their handlers, a full
decade on from 9/11. Their stories have now been compiled in a book, called
Retrieved. Noted for her touching portraits of animals, especially dogs
Charlotte wanted ‘Retrieved’ to mark not only the anniversary of the
September 2001 attacks, but also as recognition for some of the first
responders and their dogs.’ I felt this was a turning point, especially for the
dogs, who although are not forgotten, are not as prominent as the human
stories involved,’ explained Charlotte, who splits her time between New
York and Amsterdam.’They speak to us as a different species and animals
are greatly important for our sense of empathy and to put things into perspective.’