Between Print and Picture

Hello and welcome to my end-of-month newsletter blog post!

You can read last month’s newsletter here.

Following the very loose pattern I decided to set, these posts are a chance for me to update you on my writing projects and to write about one of the things I love: Stories.

These are also a chance for you to read about something you love as well. (Because if you are reading this, I’m guessing that you enjoy stories too.) If that’s true, pull up a chair, get cozy, and let’s talk about the beautiful harmony between artwork and stories.

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It’s been said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and I wholeheartedly agree with that. I’d even go so far as to say that in many cases, a picture is worth more than words.

Generally speaking, it’s why the fewer words there are upon a book’s cover, the better. Can you imagine what a book cover would look like if it weren’t a gorgeous illustration or picture, and instead were the author describing a scene to you? That’d look ridiculous! Humorous to imagine to be sure, but ridiculous in reality. (Not to mention likely detrimental to the book’s sales—especially when the market is saturated with content.)

To be fair, some books—depending on the genre—don’t have (or some would argue need) artwork on their covers, but it probably wouldn’t hurt. I’m trying to think of a book that wouldn’t be improved with a nice, appropriate illustration on its front cover. I’m coming up blank.

I also think that a thousand words—when used properly and in the right context (not on covers)—can be worth more than a picture because those well-crafted words can create art with the help of our imagination. In our minds, the story comes to life in a way far better than any picture can portray.

In fact, in many cases, the pictures we have in our mind’s eye are unique enough that when we see someone else’s renditions, we might end up being disappointed because their artwork is not how we envisioned such things to be.

So where’s that fine line where print and picture meet together to create something wonderful? I’m not sure I can say. It’s something storytellers and artists both chase after and strive to achieve. Art is subjective, and stories often are too. They won’t satisfy everyone.

But when the print and picture are in harmony—working in tandem with each other—that’s a beautiful thing. And when they also evoke a sense of wonder that satisfies our imagination?

Well, that’s something truly special.

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August is ending, and September is right around the corner! Here are a few things to look for on the website this fall:

A Lamplighter’s Tale, the next book in the Tales of Minz, my whimsical fantasy series, is coming out this October!

It seems appropriate to mention in the newsletter that highlights artwork in stories that the Tales of Minz series is getting a fresh, new design and layout to match its quirky personality! I’ll reveal the cover art and provide a brief synopsis of A Lamplighter’s Tale later this month. Stay tuned! (By the way, if you subscribe to my website, you’ll also receive an exclusive first look at the book!)

My satirical blog series “Poking Fun at Fantasy Tropes” continues with another post—this one focusing on the villain—otherwise known by henchmen and loyal followers as “the Dark Lord.”

All 52 tales from my book, Collected Short Stories: Volume One are now available for your reading pleasure on the website! You can read them all here, or you can buy the whole collection as an eBook for less than $1. Not bad, eh?

That’s all for this end-of-month newsletter. As always, thanks for reading the things I write, I appreciate you!

Until next time,

Al