Surprising, rewarding, challenging. That’s how I feel about working with the Sisters in creating the covers for their books.
Surprising. Just think about it. A retired, amateur photographer is asked one of those “would you consider...” questions by the authors. We had worked together in different professional capacities, and we found that our work complemented each other. We agreed to give it a try. So we did photo sessions in various locations involving some talented models. It sounds simple but it is not. These covers are the work of a team and we are proud of the results. Rewarding. Producing the covers has been more rewarding than I thought possible. It is so great working with, for example, Margaret Kay. She has a clear vision for a cover and she is ready to make decisions. We agreed on the process early on: it is about the cover, that’s it. We are both wiling to say when things work and when it is time to try again or even scrap it all and start over. The covers are the outcome of many discussions and what-if options. And we know when to call it done. Having done quite a bit of photography for others, and just basically working with people, you know how unique and rewarding an open and honest collaboration can be. Challenging. I am so lucky. We have digital cameras, Photoshop, Blender, and DAZ Studio and great ways to share the work-in-process covers. Over time, we have created all-digital covers (using Blender and DAZ Studio), photo covers made better through Photoshop and a number of covers where we use a combination of the 3D rendering and photographs. Sometimes the vision for a cover pushes to the edges of the products we use. Those are some of the things I think you should know about what goes on to make the covers for Sisters Romance. And what a great way to spend retirement! I am happy and so very lucky to be a part of their success. I’m sure there are more covers to come. by Harry R.
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Reading has probably saved my sanity on more than one occasion. As I sit here with a book in my lap and a small emaciated dog at my feet, my thoughts go back and forth from the reality of my day and the riveting adventure that can be found between the pages of the book in my hand. Today has been a day of highs and lows in animal rescue. I've seen people and pets at their best and at their worst. I've had sobbing people beg me to take their dogs because they couldn't afford critical veterinary care and I've had tiny puppies literally tossed to me by an "owner" who couldn't care less what happens to them. I've had to make some hard decisions because donations aren't flowing in the way they used to and I've been blessed by an unexpected donation of cat food. I delivered pet food to an elderly homebound woman and left her home feeling both overwhelmed and inadequate because I couldn't do more for her. I took in a cat who belonged to a domestic violence victim who hadn't left her abuser because he threatened to burn her cat alive if she did so that she could go to a safe shelter. We will hold her cat for her until she's ready to start over. I spend my days weighing what I can do, what needs to be done, and then oftentimes desperately trying to find additional resources so that those two points can intersect. Animal rescue is not for the faint of heart. You can't be emotional about it. You can't take things personally. You have to understand that even though you will try your hardest, you can't save them all. And above all, you have to understand that animal welfare is connected to human welfare. You can't choose to just impact one and not have a plan on how to address the other. To do so would result in an endless cycle of frivolous activities and missed opportunities. Animal issues are people issues and until we start to address both and their underlying causes we will forever be spinning our wheels.
So, here I sit. My old rescue Basset sleeping on the couch next to me and a small frail terrier laying on a bed at my feet because I couldn't say no even when I should have. For tonight, I plan to reset and lose myself in a good book with a story that will always have a happy ending. A story that may contain loss or sadness, but in the end, the hero will triumph. This is how I recharge so that I can do it all over again tomorrow. Somehow, at the end of a day like this, getting lost in the relationship of Doc and Elizabeth in Operation: Fallen Angel makes the world seem all right again for at least a little bit. By: Christy Fischer Executive Director Wichita Animal Action League waalrescue.org. |