I have a confession to make y’all; I have been trying so desperately to put Mamma Biscuit on a book cover here at work for the past three years of having her in our lives—and my efforts have almost always been far-fetched and rather futile! It’s rare that I get a manuscript on my desk where the plot of the story is remotely related to animals let alone dogs—and for a while, I was seriously considering putting Mamma’s cute mug on one of the many Urban/Erotica books that seem to come my way! Somehow though, common sense always got in the way of attempting such a design disaster. I mean, I don’t think either the publishers, editors, authors or agents of any of these books would be on board with our Biscuit Lady and her floppy tongue in a compromising position with a thug or pimp silhouetted in the background as a possible book cover. Can you imagine Mamma Biscuit on the cover of a book entitled Lipstick Hustla? Or worse, Diary of a 12 Inch Brotha? (in case you decide to look those two titles up on Amazon, I’m setting the record straight, I did not design them, I just highlighted these two books specifically because they define the genre so well). Anyway, you can only imagine how excited I was when my art director assigned me the wonderful task of coming up with a cover design for a book entitled, The Royal Treatment: A Natural Approach to Wildly Healthy Pets by Dr. Barbara Royal. The stars finally aligned because this seemed like my one and only opportunity to immortalize our Biscuit Lady on a book cover. Honestly, our bitch has been ready since the moment she pranced into our lives, but you know, good things come to those who wait!
Now about the author and the book: Dr. Barbara Royal is a passionate, dedicated, and innovative veterinarian with a unique approach to medicine. Her patients have included countless different species from German shepherds at her private practice, to baby owls in the wild, to zebras in the zoo. Her clients are the humans who live for their pets, much like she does. Her ability to lend a voice to sick or injured animals and carry out the best treatment for them is unmatched. The Royal Treatment is an integrative and revolutionary way to treat your animals, combining holistic and natural medicine with the best of modern science. As far as I’m concerned, Dr. Barbara Royal couldn’t have asked for a better face for her book than Mamma Biscuit! She practically defines what it means to be treated royally, although I have to admit, there is nothing wild about our little gremlin. She’s so devoid of natural instincts (due to her horrible past at the puppy mill) that if an intruder entered the pug palace, she’d offer the criminal a Café Vienna and warm bath in exchange for a soft-chew treat and a pug hug!
Anyway, here is Mamma Biscuit’s debut on the final approved book cover for The Royal Treatment. Our Biscuit Lady is positioned in a very important spot—right beside the author’s name. Initially, I wanted to hang her from the elephant’s trunk but I had a feeling that wouldn’t go over very well with the publisher and editor!
Now in the beginning stages of the design process, I tried very hard to include Mamma Biscuit’s face within the title type treatment but unfortunately, everyone involved with this project outside of myself and Mamma Biscuit were humor impaired and therefore, these concepts were not approved! It’s not like I’m bitter though, I’ve moved on, I swear! At least the public can now see what the title should/would have looked like if I was in charge!
Fortunately though, Mamma Biscuit not only landed a spot on the cover, she also landed the coveted spot on the spine—the most valuable real estate on a book cover! Why you ask? Well, 95% of a book’s life is spent with the spine facing outward. Mamma Biscuit will forever line the spines of the many great libraries of books across this country—all while wearing a crown no less! Really, my prayers have been answered and as per my agreement with God, I’m off to Calcutta to help feed the poor!
So join me in celebrating Mamma Biscuit’s first book cover! The Royal Treatment (Emily Bestler Books) is publishing in September, 2012 so I urge all of you to log onto Amazon or run out to your nearest bookstore to pick up a copy come the first of the month—not only because it’s a fantastic guide for any animal lover but because it will be a collectors item for all you Mamma Biscuit lovers out there in the future! In the meantime, I’m plotting and planning Mamma’s next book cover and who knows, she may show up on the next Paranormal Romance book—or even better, she’ll get her own damn book deal!
Maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s Maybelline—oh who am I kidding, it’s because she’s MAMMA BISCUIT! She better WERK!
Enjoy and Happy Wednesday!
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