Well, the old gal can rock, I guess!On Friday Oberon Press sent me the cover art for my new collection of short stories that will come out in November, Desire Lines: Stories of Love and Geography. My reaction was: Hey, not bad! But then I blushed.
Can't
say I was surprised at the basic art since I'd suggested the painting
"Nude" by Group of Seven artist Edwin Holgate. Michael Macklem, the
founder of the press, designs its covers personally, and I knew he likes
to use Canadian paintings wherever possible. For the last two books
I'd published with Oberon--one other short story collection The Truth Is and a novel The Words on the Wall: Robert Nelson and the Rebellion of 1837--I'd also suggested a couple of works that might be appropriate. 
Told
to suggest three possiblities, this time I came up with the Holgate,
plus details from works by Ed Bartram (Zebra Rock, bottom right) and
Tom Thomson (Forest, October, 1916. top right) I liked the Holgate
best, particularly because there are two stories that take place in the
rocky wilderness. As well the nude reflects a theme that recurs
throughout the book.But, as you see from the small image that I'd photoshopped as a sample, I didn't think Oberon, a rather staid house, would go for so much flesh and I put the print in a couple of strategic places.
Macklem obviously disagreed and used far more of the nude as well as placing the print to the side. He also toned down the palatte so that the lines of the nude are almost abstract.
But, wow!
