The Cover Ask

I sent the Big Yellow cover to the printer this afternoon.

Sixty-five of you took the time to write thoughtful responses — sharing insights, making cases, offering something more than a click. That surprised me, and it mattered.

Here’s the breakdown: Big Yellow 65, Writing Afloat 7, Craft Paper Portrait 7, Green Leaf 6, Stark Portrait 3, Despair 2.

Several of you noted the downward pull of Despair and Writing Afloat. Two suggested a new illustrated cover that communicated something more positive — strength rather than struggle. One suggested crowdsourcing the design entirely. Four people went further and submitted alternative concepts of their own. I’m grateful for every one of them.

The result was clear. Big Yellow it is.

A note on what comes next. This first printing is only 25 copies. I’m using them to seek endorsements from people I respect in the creative, trauma, adoption, and mental health worlds — and to hand two literary agents at the Chuckanut Writers Conference in late June.

After releasing the interior file I realized the book needs at least three more essays: two I’ve already written, one I’ve only thought about. So the next printing will be different.

The current version is 8x8 inches — square. My conversations with the agents may change that. The illustrations run horizontal, which could point toward a horizontal format, or perhaps a more traditional vertical one. We’ll see what those meetings surface.

And with the four submitted design concepts, my own proclivity for change, and whatever the agents suggest — there may well be a whole new batch of covers for you to weigh in on.

Stay tuned.

— Ted