Authors Electric

I started with this, drawn on a sheet of scrap paper, copied from a photo of a stuffed fox. I scanned it into the computer. Before I adjusted the contrasts, you could see the type showing through from the other side. Then I opened the ink sketch in Photoshop, took out the white background of the scrap paper and added a dark background layer. Coloured the drawing, added a title and a screamer. This is only a try-out for the front cover. I can't do the complete one until I've finished laying out the interior and know how thick the spine will be.      I used various photos for reference, sometimes using the 'eye-dropper' tool to get an idea of what the colouring should be.      I was so pleased with the result that I hailed a passing brother. "Cop a butcher's at this," I said.      He came, he looked. A long silence. Then, grudgingly, "That's pretty good. Come out of it."      He took over my chair. He over-laye...

Well, this is one for a start. Writing a blog post instead of knuckling down to chapter twenty-three. What excuses do you find for not getting on with that book you’re writing? There are all the usual ones, of course. Cleaning, cooking, gardening, exercising – and ironing, if you’re really desperate. The more specialised ones, like re-decorating and car maintenance and keeping up with your social life. The once a year ones, like… no, we won’t go there in case once a year translates in your house as squalor.             And then there’s wildlife.             For me, this is the killer. The frogs in the pond, the bird table, the nest boxes, the walks on the common. Two years ago we had great tits nesting a few yards from the house. Breakfast could be taken in the conservatory, watching the action. First of all there was the survey. This was extremely thorough, and invol...