Hi all:
As you’ll remember, a few weeks ago I shared the previous versions of the cover for my first novel ‘The Man Who Never Was‘. Thanks so much for the replies that gave Lourdes (my friend and cover designer) and I plenty to go on and to think about.
Following on from that post, the book has a new cover, I have decided to change the categories (I don’t think it’ll ever easily fit anywhere, but as a friend and author [hi Martie!] said, we’ll have to keep waiting for the category for odd books to come alive). And looking back I remembered a series of posts that had a few of the characters of the book talking about themselves and the story. As at the time I didn’t know most of you, I thought I could leave you with the first one in the series, where Jesús, the main character, introduces us to… well his big entrance.
First, the cover:
Here, Jesús:
Have you ever wondered how your life would be if everybody judged you by the way you look? My name is Jesús and that’s the stuff my life is made of. I was born ugly. Extremely ugly. (Well, I guess I’m still ugly, but I’ve been seeing myself like this for so long that I no longer notice the ugliness. I’ve probably grown immune to it. On the other hand most of the people I meet notice…a lot. Double take and all).
My birth is the stuff of legend. The story is repeated like a mantra in all family occasions. You know: weddings, birthdays, christenings, burials…My mother, Adelina, who’ve never wanted to do things like everybody else, decided not to go to hospital. She wanted a home birth. She wasn’t married and was staying with her parents. No, I never met my father, but that’s a long story…Anyway, it seems that my mother was screaming like a banshee (the doctor was very late. He was a busy man, poor guy) and when I was finally born and my grandmother took me in her arms I gave her a big fright. I’ve never seen any pictures of that moment (it seems nobody dared to take any considering my looks) but I’ve been reliably informed that I was all covered in black hair, head to toe.(At this point my grandmother always said: ‘like little monkey’ but she has to add, after the all important pause, ‘but uglier’) I didn’t cry and just opened my eyes, that have always been a bit special. My grandmother shouted ‘Jesús’ in her fright. She said I looked like the devil (not sure how many encounters she’d had with the devil, but she seemed very confident on that matter).
Nobody came up with a better name, and I was left with the name ‘Jesús’. It seems my mother liked it, and all agreed it might give me some protection.
I’ve lived all my life with people looking at me and expecting something malefic and special to manifest. It has been hard and it has made my life very complicated. All things considered, I don’t think that even if I had looked like Johnny Depp, my life would have been any less complicated.
The book is available in Amazon and a few other places (I hope it will be available more widely. Hopefully, it’s only a matter of time).
Page Foundry:
Scribd:
Apple:
Kobo:
And just in case you want to keep abreast of any updates and other places where it will become available, I will be updating my website:
Thanks so much for your help coming up with the cover, thanks for reading, and you know, like, share, comment, and if you want, CLICK!
56 replies on “#Newcover ‘The Man Who Never Was’ and revisiting the first post about the novel”
Sorry, Olga… I’m blind as a bat & couldn’t see the text well enough. BUT I love the cover– an enhanced version of the shoes. Gorgeous!!! Excellent work /choice. Mega hugs
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Thanks Teagan. Sorry about the excerpt. I didn’t realise the text had any hidden formatting. Strangely enough it did not appear when I checked in text only version and it did not happen with the Spanish version of the same post. A mystery but eventually got it sorted.Thanks for your kind words about the cover.
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Maybe it was just my Nook… I’m at work and now i can see it. Sooo… maybe i’ll extend my lunch break just a little and read now. 😈
Hugs!
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Thanks Teagan! I eventually managed to change it back to white, although I’m not sure how, but hey, as far as it works… The extended lunch break sounds good 🙂
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The new cover is great. I have a soft spot for this book as it was the first one of yours that I have read. In fact, that is how I discovered you, so I’m very pleased “The Man Who Never Was” has such an eye-catching new cover. I hope this will attract the huge audience the book deserves! 🙂
Hugs and best wishes.
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Thanks so much, Christoph. Although it’s not the first book I’ve written, it’s the one I stuck with for longer so it will always have a special place in my heart, although it’s a bit of a weird fish. I hope your move is going well. All the best.
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That’s a fantastic new cover Olga. The excerpt is very difficult to read on such a dark background. The first para I thought you were talking about me.! I carried on……..
You’re a wonderful writer with depth enough to draw you in. I wish the book great success with the new cover.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
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Thanks David. Sorry about that. I copied from the previous post (where it showed OK) but I guess there must have been some hidden formatting. I don’t know the story of your birth, but no, you’re definitely a handsome man and would not fit in with my description. On the other hand, Jesús is a fabulous guy, so from that perspective, perhaps… Have a lovely day. Big hugs.
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
A new cover reveal for one of Olga’s books and it looks great .. The Man Who Never Was.. I think I had a few boyfriends who did a disappearing act in the day! Do pop over and take a look..
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Hehe yesss we definitely need a category of ODD BOOKS! Perhaps it is the Babalela-thing of not wanting to be boxed … we actually need an ODD BOX, if it HAS to be boxed 🙂 But hey …. I suppose it is necessary (for BOOKS) for those who only speak when they are read.
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Maybe we need a website for odd books and let writers come and add them on, Martie! 🙂
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Interesting idea ….
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I’m reading ‘The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend’ and loving it so far. It would fit right in that category too
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veryyyy interesting. we must think …. just want to finish this agent stuff
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No worries. There’ll be no scarcity of odd and weird books…:)
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Nice intro Olga, leaves the reader wanting more…
Best wishes from Norfolk, Pete.
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Thanks so much, Pete. Due back in the UK by the end of the week.
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Olga, I have left a comment on your Facebook page say I love the new cover. I have also reblogged your post.
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Thanks so much, Kathy! You’re a star!
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Reblogged this on MARSocial Author Business Enhancement Blogs.
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Great new cover Olga!
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Thanks you Laurie!
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Welcome Olga.
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♥
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Reblogged this on Legends of Windemere.
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Reblogged this on sara33ia.
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imaginative cover, very catching. I loved the intriguing excerpt. Your book is onto my TBR list!
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Thanks Noelle. Jesús is one of my favourite characters. Have a lovely Tuesday.
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The cover is awesome. This poor guy sounds he’s made the best out of an uncomfortable life situation. 🙂
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Thanks Tess. It’s quite a humorous book, and he’s a really good sport. And despite his looks, he is well loved.
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Being loved is always the best way to live.
❤ ❤ I did not know that part.
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Mostly by the women in his life (and later a son). Although the book is not very long it does follow a few generations…:) Have a great Wednesday, Sue
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Heartwarming to know that. ❤
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🙂
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Great cover, and a fantastic blurb! Off to add it to my tbr list. Congrats! 🙂
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Thanks Nicholas. And best of luck with all your hard work.
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Likewise! 🙂
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🙂
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I love the image Olga! It looks all mysterious and appears to be a good read! You are so talented my friend!!! ❤
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Thanks Colleen. I don’t think it’s a book for everybody but I like to try my hand at different things and explore whatever stories come to my head. Readin often your poems, your stories and seeing your photographs, I can honestly say you’re a Renaissance woman.
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What a nice thing to say Olga. Thank you. I like all kinds of things, and like to keep learning about new things. ❤
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🙂
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That is soooo a great cover. Well done, Olga, well done 🙂 😀 ❤
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I must credit you with the idea of the silhouette that got me thinking about Magritte so… Thanks to you and to Lourdes who can thankfully put disconnected ideas together and make them work. ♥
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The book sounds really interesting, Olga, and I love the cover. It grabs the attention. That’s going on my TBR list. 🙂
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Thanks so much Suzanne! 🙂
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My eyes are not working well at the moment, but I do love the cover!
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Excellent cover–it will surely lure readers in, making them curious about the story behind the image! Great job! 🙂
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Thanks Lorna. You’re very kind. Let’s hope so!
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I really think you have a winner here. 🙂
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Thanks Lorna!
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Reblogged this on theowlladyblog.
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Very interesting preview of “The Man Who Never Was”. I want to read it now!
Thank you for following my blog.
Melinda
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Thanks Melinda. A pleasure. The book is already available (it’s my first, although I changed the cover and the classification as it’s always seemed misplaced where it was). So many great blogs… I try and visit as often as I can. Have a great weekend.
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Oh, ok. Yes, aren’t there? It’s almost a full time job, reading new blogs!
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Indeed! We can only do what we can do. Happy Sunday!
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