I'm Struggling to Find a Cover Concept
And, the end of Cross Country season, sleepovers, and a marathon.
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Moments of the Week (Jan 29- Feb 4)
I created a Twitter account in 2011 for one reason, https://twitter.com/SeinfeldToday. I'll attempt a similar format.
I force J to read a book and he picks up the bestseller Fourth Wing, a fantasy that turns to erotic romance. He finishes the 500-page book in 36 hours. Dad, is there a sequel?
It’s group picture week and kids are missing class. Some with over a half dozen photo shoots. Do kids join teams and clubs to miss class and get in the yearbook? L thinks so, spending more time out of class than in it this week.
F sighed in relief when she didn't make the swim team. I pushed back and got her another shot. She did enough to make the cut and will be dragging her feet home from exhaustion after practices every Wednesday and Friday.
M broke 200 miles in January even with a handful of no run days. Now she wonders why her hip hurts and what she should do. I know I can't tell her to do the obvious.
It was quiet this weekend. J, L, and F all had sleepovers. J comes home talking about all the cool stuff his friend has. F spent the day watching the Davis Cup and can now keep score. L is allergic to cats and still slept over at her friend's house where they are crawling with them. She brought allergy medicine.
I’m Writing a Memoir
Edited Manuscript - Check
Formatting - In Progress 95%
Cover Design - In Progress 50%
If you are wondering what formatting is, like I was, it's the stuff that makes a book look clean and professional in an ebook and/or book format. Think table of contents, page numbers, footers, headers, spacing, titles, etc. These final touches differentiate a DIY from a professional-looking piece.
I got the initial formatted draft back on Saturday night and I was wowed. It all suddenly became real. I hope to get out advanced reader copies before Chinese New Year so folks have time to read before the official launch in March. Reach out directly if you’d like a copy.
On Creating a Cover
A few weeks back I presented a few title ideas. All used similar words, arranged differently.
The winner – Beyond The American Dream: A Family's Unscripted Journey Abroad
In the initial phases of the cover design, the word "American" was too distracting and I think it took away from the message–sending a wrong first impression. Although the book is about going beyond the American Dream, it's only a small part of the story. The emphasis is on the journey and how we went about it.
I'm now leaning toward Journey Unscripted: A Family's Life Abroad Beyond the American Dream
The subtitle is a mouthful, but it's accurate and tells it how it is.
The cover creation process has been frustrating and it all starts with me. I don't know what I want. I thought I wanted a clean, no-frill non-fiction minimalist-looking cover– think “Field Notes”– but it’s not what the genre calls for.
The book is about family, changing your surroundings, sharing experiences, and having a memento mori adventurous mindset. How can I show that visually?
My priority is to get advanced reader copies out by Thursday and at a least get in the ballpark of a cover design I love.
On The Move
Run With Me on Strava - 51.05 mi, 3,140 ft
On Sunday I had the China Coast Marathon with over 2,000 feet of elevation.
It is not a race at which personal bests are set, but it offers very good racing against some of Hong Kong’s hardiest runners and through some of Hong Kong’s most stunning scenery.
I spent the week recovering from a cold and testing out my legs. Only one week removed from the HK100, I had to make sure they worked. If you don't do them yet, I recommend strides–30-second sprints at 90%.
Posted Originally on Strava
What was I thinking when I signed up for the HK100 and this hilly marathon just two weeks later?
I had a DNF HK100 monkey on my back. It was all me, running out too hard and burning out my legs. A newbie disaster recipe. My goal for the China Coast Marathon was to finish and run a well-paced race.
From our hikes on the MacLehose and HK100 recces and race, I was familiar with the route but it didn't mean I knew how to pace it. It was one rolling hill after another. My strategy was to start conservatively and stick to a 160 heart rate.
It was overcast and humid. Not bad, but not great either. At least there was no sun.
3 hours before the race, I ate a PB&J sandwich, and banana and had a glass of water. 30 minutes before I ate a pack of Haribo.
It's a group start with both half and full-marathoners. I estimate the former outnumbered the latter at least 10:1. Knowing this, I made sure to ignore everyone around me and run my race.
I should have used the bathroom one last time. Four miles in, when I had some distance, I pulled over to relieve myself in the trees. That felt good.
I took a GU every 45 minutes. I hate the consistency.
The course is a big out-and-back that messes with your emotions. A double out and back for the marathon. The one benefit is that there are sections where you can see everyone in front and behind you.
On the first turnaround, 10K in, I sized up the competition. Three runners had a huge lead, followed by a handful stretched out. I knew that if I paced it right, I could pick each person off.
For the rest of the race, I stuck to the 160 HR particularly careful on the hills. Seeing the 160 reassured me that I was doing enough, even when it felt like I wasn't moving. It also told me to slow down if I was attacking too fast.
At the 14-mile mark, I pulled out my iPod, put on my headphones, and turned on my running soundtrack.
Eventually, I would see another marathoner. On any other day, I would pick up my pace and use them as a slingshot. This time, knowing my goal was a smooth finish, I would reel them in slowly, taking advantage of the company. I would then tuck in behind and milk it until my HR dropped below 160. At that point, it was time to move on.
Because of my slower start, the fatigue I could see in other runners, and the challenging course, I knew that I just had to stay consistent and I would move my way up.
Official results are still pending (I think I got top 5) but I'm more so happy with how I paced the race and was able to put it all out there with a clean and not-too-painful finish.
Beyond the normal leg fatigue, my stomach turned to mush 15 minutes after the race and I was nauseously miserable. After a shower, saltines, and a nap I was better.
Well done and big congratulations James!!!👏