Today is a big day, for a lot of reasons… I’m still breathing for one, that’s always an achievement. But the real reason is because today is the day I reveal the cover of 13 Steps to Evil – How to Craft Superbad Villains.
I know cover reveals are a big and exciting moment for anyone, but frankly, I am a little terrified!
The first reason it’s daunting is because this is my first book…Okay, technically, it’s my second, but it’s the first one being published. Which means this is the first time I’ve done a cover reveal.
The second reason is because until now, I’ve been able to back out. I might have said I was writing a book, but there was no proof! Other than me being supremely antisocial and hiding away behind a laptop screen for months, who was to say I was doing anything? Maybe I was scouring the internet for the best small arms deals, or for Darth Vader lego sculptures made by the hands of the real Santa.
Book? What book? Phsst.
There was no evidence of book related projects, until now…..
I’ve spent an awfully long time talking about, but not actually publishing a book, so to reveal this cover, (which I’ve kept stowed away for months whilst I huddled in the safety of denial) feels like a momentous occasion.
From this point on, there is no going back. I have to publish or else suffer the shame of public humiliation for not doing the one thing I said I would.
There’s no going back.
I am on the battlefield waving my white undies in terror because I’m finally surrendering to the publishing world. This glorious figment of my imagination, my secret pet I’ve kept hidden from wife, son, mother and friends is here. It’s alive, tangible, real, a big fat fucking elephant in the room. Only instead of it looming quietly in the corner, it’s dancing around the internet doing the conga smothered in rainbow coloured paint and fairy dust screaming “HELLO BITCHES I’VE ARRIVED!”
There is no going back. Ever. The countdown to publishing has started. So, I might as well confess that I am aiming to publish sometime between Mid-April and Mid-May *gulp, bites nail, twitches nervously*
I’ll shut my trap now… Here is the cover reveal for 13 Steps to Evil – How To Craft Superbad Villains, my first writing craft book that teaches writers how to create better Villains.
If you like the cover and are interested in who designed it for me, you can contact the designers, Andrew and Rebecca Brown through their facebook group here. My thanks to Dylan Hearn for recommending them.
I’d love to know what you think, drop me a line in the comments.
If you are interested in finding out about the release of this book then subscribe here.
You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads
Love the tail!! Brilliant title, Sacha.
Thanks so much Judith, I love the tail too ??
Love the cover, Sacha! Well done!
Thanks Mick 🙂 🙂
Yay, there really is a book! I knew you weren’t just hiding on the web buying small arms. I can’t wait to read it!
Lolll, well it was almost a legitimate excuse ?? thank you, I’m so glad you like it 🙂
Love it love it love it!!!
Thanks Ritu ????????
Awesome cover! Never mind the terror, feel the pride! You deserve it. xx <3
Thank you Lesley – FINALLY, it’s almost ready to publish. I can’t believe how long it took ? but also, yay to the cover, glad you like it 🙂
So proud of you SB! Feel grateful for seeing this develop and being a part of your journey. LOVE it!
Thanks Hun and thank you for your support 🙂
Fabulous cover and what an amazing accomplishment to be this close to publishing! Well done!
Thank you SOOOO much 🙂 I really appreciate the support ?
Wow!! That cover is amazing, Sacha! How the letters of he title go along with its meaning and the background… compliment!
Thanks so much Erika. Glad u like it 🙂 ???
Absolutely! Very clever too!
Just as good as I expected it would be!
Ahhhh that’s such a lovely thing to say, thank you so much Linda 🙂
Awesome, Sacha! Congratulations on getting your book thus far, and thank you for revealing your cover. It’s quite intriguing with the cold greyness and the almost obscured face. But what I like most is the snake, the origin of evil, made from the nib of the pen. I think that’s rather clever. Though I see it has been referred to by others as a tail. If I’m wrong – oh well – it seems fitting to me. I guess a tale of a tail is too. I wish you great success. 🙂
Thank you Norah, glad you like the different aspects, I love the blurred face and the snake/tail equally 😀 I have to say, I’d not seen it as a snake till you said it, but that’s exactly what it looks like! what a great observation.
What did the illustrator intend? I guess I thought of the way evil and snakes have been linked since, well, you know when. It was an easy connection for me to make.
Good question. Originally it was a devils tail, not a pen nib. I happened to ask for him to make it a pen nib, so really, neither! lol.
Amusing, indeed. But it works well. 🙂
Wow! You have arrived and in style. Killer cover!
Thank you Charli, what a lovely thing to say 🙂 ?
Love it! It’s unique, yet simple, and the tail for the word “evil” gives it that little extra twist.
Ahhh thank you so much Rachel, glad you love it 🙂 🙂 🙂
Love the fact you’ve even used your brand colours!
Tee hee 🙂 it’s all about branding, although it was actually a friend that pointed out I should use brand colours the original cover was in red! ?
Glad you like it 🙂
I need brand colours!
Do you not have them? I think you might… when I think of you, it’s black, greys, and oddly, teal – I have no idea why, did you brand stuff like that before?
I use a bright lavender type purple, and black and white.
Interesting – cause I would never have said white!
I can see the purple too.
And dark blue?? Maybe that too
Just the right tone, Sacha. Great cover!
Ahhh thanks so much Wendy 🙂 appreciate the love 🙂
Awesome cover. Love the pen tail
Thanks Charles so glad you like it 🙂
You’re welcome and good luck.
Thanks my lovely hope you’re having a good new year?
Eh, it’s going. I figured it would be a continuation of 2016 and wasn’t far off the mark. Hoping to get back to writing a new project tomorrow since today goes to prepping the next release.
You are nothing if not a writing machine Charles. I am in constant awe of your productivity 🙂
Thanks. Though the gears are getting rusty. Battling against a strong desire to hibernate.
ahhh, I get that in October – it was brutal. How can you want to hibernate now though? It’s getting lighter already THE SUN IS COMING CHARLES, the sun is coming!!
Not over here. Dark whenever I wake up and it’s always cold. This is why bears sleep through the worst of it.
lol. I like to think of myself as a bear! I 100% hibernate, but mostly in early winter, I only need a sniff of sun and I’m out of sleep mode like a shot!
As a failed writer (publishers hate my guts) you have my deepest admiration, Sacha.
Exceedingly-well done.
You’re not failed. If you still write, you succeed. 😀 <3 <3
Whoo hoo! Congrats! Can’t wait to read it.
Ahhh thank you so much 😀 and thank you for saying you want to read it too – that made me do a big cheesy grin! 😀 😀
Great cover, Sacha.
Thanks so much 🙂
Yes I love it. Great graphic and the purple makes the writing stand out. I would pick this up in a bookstore, Sacha. I am looking forward to reading it. Congratulations x
Awww thank you so much Adele that really does mean a lot to me ?
So happy you’re revealing this at long last. 🙂 It’s a fantastic cover. Love it. <3 <3 <3
Let’s start over, shall we?
Yay! ??? Love it!
Lol – I liked your first response too! xx
whoop whoop – so am I – although I was also terrified! haha.
Great cover – very clever and eyecatching. Love it.
Thank you Mary, I am sooooo glad you think it’s eye catching, I really wanted to be, so you made my day saying that 😀
Purple? Who’d have thought!? As for the Roswell esque alien peeping though well that creepy as all heck, much like Mr Gifford my old Latin teacher now I think about it. Well done on exposing yourself so… ‘writers are naturists – discuss’ could be a post.
I mean, I never use purple for anything so thought I’d go for a change! I love the creepy face! :p hahahahaha should I streak at the london book fair?
Ah too much of an image over breakfast. Only if you grow out your hair!!!!
basically 100% cutting it off this weekend! :p
The sinead look
not quite!
I think it looks amazing! The colors match your blog and the title reflects your personality perfectly! Excellent branding. <3
hehe, thank you so much 😀 I love the colours too! 😀
Cover looks great! I think it’s normal to feel the way you do. At least I hope it is.
haha, well if I feel it, and you feel it too, I’m going with yes! Thank you so much for commenting 😀 Glad you like it.
It’s fun and terrifying! Enjoy every moment of it, Sacha. Great cover, very sharp! Yay!
Thanks Diana 😀 😀 I love the spooky face too – one of my fave bits.
Great branding with the purple theme, Sacha, well done!
Thank you Marje 😀 really appreciate it. Glad you like the colours 😀
You can do this!!! 😀
hehe thank you 😀
ME TOO!!! that and the face are my fave parts! Thanks Judy <3 <3
Nice cover for a non fiction book. Subtle glimpse of evil at the back. Could the background perhaps be more visibible somehow? I’m thinking on phones or b/w screens, the background might dissolve and that would be a pity. Just a thought. Good luck with the launch? I love villains! When will it be?
Thanks Luccia, 😀 😀 I’ll have a see – I’ve signed it off already, not sure if they will make changes again but I can ask. I will test it on the phone too to see what happens.
I am aiming for a May launch, April if I can, but I suspect May is more realistic
Love the cover, Sacha! That the barb-pointed devil’s tail forms a fountain-pen nib is inspired! Can’t wait for the publication of 13 Steps to Evil later this spring…
Thank Sean, so so sooooo glad you like it 😀 how is everything coming your end? Where are you at with your books?
It’s a very cool design! Can’t wait to see the content…
I’m good, thanks! Progressing on the second draft of my manuscript, and prepping some exciting posts for the blog, including an interview with an accomplished TV writer I’ll be publishing in the coming weeks. Just churning out words, same as you, SB!
oh god, the content… Do you know sometimes when you’re so engrossed in just achieving something that you totally forget about the consequences… like, you know, people actually reading your book…. *Reaches for paperbag* *tries to slow breathing*
ooooh that does sound exciting, I wana see the TV writer. How are the Zombies?
Stay tuned to my blog for that interview, coming in March. As for the zombies? I’m currently bringing the manuscript’s early chapters, which are (understandably) rough, up to the same level of quality as the later material, which benefitted from both narrative momentum and my increasing comfort in the particular world of the fiction. I love rewriting: Producing the material is like giving birth, but sculpting it is a joy. (A time-consuming joy, but a joy nonetheless…)
I love it, Sacha. Purple always catches my eye, especially when it’s so … large! Nice contrast between the purple and black. The serpentine “i” is a nice touch. And the blurred empty-orbital-eyed villain in the background lends an intriguing eeriness. Great job! You can stop biting your nails now. You’re on the train, so you might as well enjoy the ride 🙂
Thanks so much Tina 😀 😀 😀 😀 what a lovely comment! 😀 hehe, but but…. but… I am soooo nervous! Okay, fine, I’ll TRY and pause the nerves long enough to enjoy it 😀
I think I already congratulated you girl. But I’ll say it again, love the cover!!!!!! So you! 🙂 xo
You did, thank you Debby 🙂 🙂 🙂 HUGE love to you, hope you have an AMAZING holiday xx
Thanks Sach!!!! BTW did you get my entry?????? 🙂 <3
I did – sorry, trying to respond to my STILL 100 plus inbox ( that’s without blogs!) gah. Will respond with entry confirmation asap
Purple and Black – I wouldn’t have expected anything else from you. And that tail is brilliant!!
Eye-popping, eye-catching, candy coated, first cover. Congratulations! ❤️
aww shucks, thank you my lovely 😀
Congrats, Sacha! You won’t look back. Welcome to your new addiction! ?
Thank you my lovely 😀 😀 xx
I love the way the ‘devil’ tail ends in a pen nib, great touch!
Thank you so much Kate 😀 😀 Really appreciate it. I love the tail too!
Excellent cover! Very eye-catching – congrats!
Thanks Traci 😀
You are one step closer. Congratulations!
ps. it looks awesomer every single time I look at it.
Awww shucks 🙂
Love how creepy it is, with a touch of playful with the text. Very cool.
Thanks so much, I love the creepiness too ??
Late to the party, as usual, but I CANNOT WAIT to read this book. Thanks for sharing, Sis.
Ahhh thank you so much. I hope when you do you enjoy it 😀