I'm thinking 'Calendar Girls'. Imagine the publicity we could get for the cover. Plus how we've come together on this site is like Friends Reunited. A newspaper could run a story about the power of the net (finding like-minded people, business partners, etc). I've mailed DB about funding / marketing support. I mean this is the most commented on thread in WW history. Does that not show that we mean business?

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Aah, not quite. RLG3 generated 188 replies, so I went a bit early with that claim!

Hi Shay, to be honest I'm not keen. I think 14 people on a book cover will look lost...just from a practical point of view, the camera would have to be miles back...or you'd have to arrange them like a school photo (some kneeling etc)which might...would... look a bit naff. I guess the image could wrap round to the back but it still doesn't do it for me.

I think a photo of one flasher (coat closed) would look OK, Or maybe 3 or 4, in the right setting, but wouldn't have great impact, and at the end of the day it's still based on the concept of a minor sex offender (or a gang of 'em , even though the 'goods' aren't on display.

Sorry Shay...I don't have a problem with the flasher concept personally, but I don't think the group photo will have the visual impact.

Just my 10p...

Derek.

I quite like the idea of a lightening flash. Somebody suggested this before but I'm not sure who (Andrea?). It's simple and makes for a striking image (no pun intended).

If you go to google, click on ‘Images’ under the banner, type in lightening and search, you will be bamboozled (well I was!) with an array of amazing pictures of lightening sourced from the web. I know there are copyright issues here, but I'm sure something could be arranged if others were interested.

Just putting this on our virtual table. Feel free to gently sweep it off if you disagree!

Sam

I also liked the idea of the lightning flash.

Yeah some of those photos do look good.

One thing I would say though, we don't have to be constrained to a theme. This book will contain stories that cover a very broad spectrum...so the cover could be anything. Lightning is always a wonderful sight...as are fireworks. But although it would look beautiful, it might not set us apart.

That said, if we can find a brilliant photo of a really intense lightning storm, that could look the business.

Derek.

Here's another for the table...there are a few fairground stories in there...plus fairgrounds can look fun, twisted, haunted, dangerous, dazzling...etc...maybe a fairground at night would look good. Think of each story as a ride .

Sorry if that's a shit idea...I'm just throwing in ideas off the top of me head. Maybe a fairground being struck by lightning (put digital lightning in..). Maybe a flasher in a fairground, getting struck by lightning ...sorry...getting carried away.

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Actually, I don't know if there are a few fairground stories in there...I may have imagined that. Just seem to remember talking about it before...

Just looking on my bookshelf, the one book that jumps out is "one of us" by Michael Marshall Smith. There is really not much design on it, it's almost plain...but it's such a nasty purple colour that it stands out from all the others.

I like the idea of a totally plain cover (black? slate grey?) with plain white graphics. You could have a relief of a lightning flash on it if you fancied.

I like the lightning flash idea too but in that case the cover would have to be a bright colour (personaly, I like orange), otherwise it'll be mistaken for a horror book.
Derek, thanks for being so patient (Shay, too)- it's not easy co-ordinating 14 people - who only have a passion for writing in common. I think the project is still looking good.
Elspeth

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This thread is getting too long, I'll start a new one in the Flash group.

You can't do that, Elspeth! We're going for a record!

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I think a nice impressive crack of lightning, splintering like veins, on a single colour background would do the job.

How about a picture of a motorway at night – you know the sort of thing – trails of red lights on one side, trails of yellowy-white on the other. All this traffic, all these people, flashing by…

Dee
x

I like that idea!!

Are you psychic, Dee? I was just writing a piece for this weeks flash and it's on the motorway....

Of course I’m psychic, Derek… didn’t you know???

Why do I feel like someone's lookin over me shoulder?

What about something like:

http://www.lightdrawing.com/travel_england2.html

I've never seen the M2 looking so fetching. I always thought of it as the motorway that time (and the road contractors) forgot.

Looks good, Sam. Nice idea, Dee.