Into the Fire

While a large, floppy straw hat is her favorite, Ane has worn many different ones: hairdresser, legislative affairs director (that's a fancy name for a lobbyist), drama director, playwright, humor columnist, and novelist. Her lifetime experience provides a plethora of fodder for her Southern-fried fiction (try saying that three times fast). She firmly believes coffee and chocolate are two of the four major food groups. President of the award-winning literary site, Novel Rocket, Ane resides in Suwanee, GA, with her artist husband, her chef son, and two very large dogs.

My publisher asked what I saw for my cover. Being a savvy Southern peach, I asked my two beta readers what they saw. "The village" was both their answers. I love it when we all think alike.

Then, during a phone conversation, I happened to mention that my husband was an artist. My publisher asked if he wanted to paint the cover. Most authors don't have much say in their covers. I wasn't about to pass that up.

The hard part from my dear hubs was extracting the village from my imagination. I'd find a picture online and holler for him to come see it.

"It's like this … only different."

"How is it different?

For someone who can describe a scene in minute detail, I was clueless to describe the town. Oh I had a map to show him, but to me the village was a feeling. It wasn't concrete. I went back online for more photos.

This went on until we had about a dozen of "like this but different" photos. Then he drew a sketch that took my breath away! He found Chapel Springs. From that sketch, he began to paint. I'd go downstairs to his studio and take a look each day, critiquing what needed changing, until it was just right.

Here's the painting. Then Ken Raney (yes, Deb Raney's [author] husband) did the graphics. He offered two different views. We chose this one for the cover. There is a sequel, so I'll be able to use the same painting with a couple of additions apropos to the story, and the more colorful side of the original.

                Ane Mulligan, Author of Chapel Springs Revival

Father, Ane is your cherished daughter. Please continue to bless and direct her life. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.