Roland Cheek's Blog
December 16, 2014
Importance of Cover and Title
http://www.rolandcheek.com/YogoSapphi...
I made a couple of critical mistakes in coming up with a cover for the first book in our Yogo series: The first was my choice for the title; I wanted to try a book with a one-word title and thought everyone else would be as intrigued with the word "Yogo" as I am. They weren't. Hell, many Montanans didn't even know what it meant, let alone somebody from Kalamazoo or Flowery Branch or Tallahassee. The success of folks relating to the second book demonstrated clearly that "sapphires" was a more connective word than "Yogo". So let’s change the entire series name to “Sapphires of Yogo Series” at the same time we change the title of that first book to “For Love of Sapphires.”
My second mistake was in thinking I might have a modicum of design talent hidden somewhere in my genes. If so, it's still in my jeans, as the quality of design delivered by Outside Media, who was hiding in full view in my home town, proved conclusively with their design of the second book, "Sapphires At War."
So Jane and I bit the bullet and decided to go for broke by commissioning Collin Hamman and Outside Media to show us another cover. This is what they came up with, including our title change:
I made a couple of critical mistakes in coming up with a cover for the first book in our Yogo series: The first was my choice for the title; I wanted to try a book with a one-word title and thought everyone else would be as intrigued with the word "Yogo" as I am. They weren't. Hell, many Montanans didn't even know what it meant, let alone somebody from Kalamazoo or Flowery Branch or Tallahassee. The success of folks relating to the second book demonstrated clearly that "sapphires" was a more connective word than "Yogo". So let’s change the entire series name to “Sapphires of Yogo Series” at the same time we change the title of that first book to “For Love of Sapphires.”
My second mistake was in thinking I might have a modicum of design talent hidden somewhere in my genes. If so, it's still in my jeans, as the quality of design delivered by Outside Media, who was hiding in full view in my home town, proved conclusively with their design of the second book, "Sapphires At War."
So Jane and I bit the bullet and decided to go for broke by commissioning Collin Hamman and Outside Media to show us another cover. This is what they came up with, including our title change:
February 28, 2014
Chapter Seventeen
* So the sapphires produced in the Yogo Mine weren’t as valuable as expected, yet it was revealed that the mine’s potential was so enormous as to threaten to flood the lucrative sapphire gemstone market left the partners stunned. What now? Chapter Seventeen Matthew Dunn appeared to be everything Jim Bouvet had not. It was
February 26, 2014
Chapter Sixteen
* Chapter fifteen ended with the two cigar boxes filled with sapphires not producing the anticipated revenue, along with the untimely demise of supporting partner Jim Bouvet, the wind was stolen from Jake Hoover’s sails. But his remaining partner Simeon Hobson had found another partner to replace Bouvet…. Chapter Sixteen One of the ironies of
February 24, 2014
Chapter Fifteen
* With the elimination of the murderer Ben Munger’s threat, and Jim Bouvet’s tight control over S.S. Hobson’s interference, Jake Hoover enjoyed uncontested rein over mine development. All was coming up roses … until clouds gathered on the horizon. Chapter Fifteen Ben Munger’s ‘hideout’ snubnose .38 was still clattering its way down the rocks as
February 21, 2014
Chapter Fourteen
* Chapter thirteen ended with the Yogo Mine under siege by an unknown assailant who’d already murdered the mine watchman, but with Jake Hoover planning a counter-attack. Chapter Fourteen It proved an uneventful winter for Jake Hoover and Pete Weatherwax; a pleasant, enjoyable time for both. Their companionship was amiable. Their accommodations as good as
February 19, 2014
Chapter Thirteen
* After a successful elk hunt up the South Fork of the Judith River and across the divide into the Musselshell drainage, Jake Hoover and Jim Bouvet swung by their Yogo Sapphire mine site to see how their watchman, Hyrum Terwilliger was doing. Hyrum Terwilliger wasn’t doing anything—Hyrum Terwilliger was dead. Chapter Thirteen Jake Hoover
February 17, 2014
Chapter Twelve
* Yogo Sapphire Mine partner Jim Bouvet’s engineered rout of Lewistown Bank President’s over-zealous control over Jake Hoover’s mine management appeared complete that when Jake asked Bouvet why Hobson didn’t accompany him for a mine tour, the Chicago veterinarian said he’d instructed Hobson to stay away. Chapter Twelve The 1895 summer meeting of the Yogo
February 14, 2014
Chapter Eleven
* Lewistown bank president Simeon Hobson’s interference with Jake Hoover’s Yogo Mine management was never more clear than when he terminated the Chinese Jake had planned to use to construct vital work before winter closed in. Jake lost; Hobson won. Nothing could be more clear—or could it? Chapter Eleven Jake Hoover brooded as the Chinese
February 12, 2014
Chapter Ten
* The previous chapter careened to an end with the two partners, Jake Hoover and Jim Bouvet in a contest of wills with their third partner, Simeon Hobson. Inconclusive though the contest might’ve been, it established a bond of support for Yogo discoverer, Hoover, and perhaps even an avenue for his future development control. Chapter
