Tales of the Cemetery Trees
Cover Designer: John R. Cobb (Author) and Dave Allen (Maine Authors Publishing)
Comments about cover design
It was a challenge thinking of a book title and cover to encompass my eclectic group of short stories. Several working titles came and went like “Wicked Tales of Maine & Other Places, “Dirigo Tales”, “Tales of the Resurrectionist”, and finally “Tales of the Cemetery Trees”.
Personally, I kinda liked “Tales of the Resurrectionist”, which could have given mind to grave robbers or one who could bring the dead back to life. However, I was overruled by my wife, so “Tales of the Cemetery Trees” it became. I have to admit, the title has grown on me.
My aunts spent many weekends touring cemeteries in New England and I can still remember all the stories they’d come back with. Nice choice for a cover and title; and a good read to boot!
Although there are a few poignant and humorous tales in my book, many tend to gravitate toward darker subjects where death lurks. As it happens, I like to explore graveyards, so I have an expansive collection of personal photos, including an image of an autumn oak tree from a local cemetery. Admittedly, it’s kind of an odd pastime, but one that blends well with my writing. So far, I’ve been fortunate to have been able to use personal photos for my book covers.
Here’s the book synopsis…
Tales of mystery, crime, fantasy, and the supernatural from the author of “Judith: A Quoddy Tale”.
A man’s annual trek to Sears Island stirs bittersweet remembrances of a past love. A woman encounters an infamous maritime whirlpool. Two young men take up a taboo, centuries old profession. Bothered by mischievous teens, a Texas rancher plans an elaborate comeuppance. Peculiar shadow figures trouble a locomotive engineer along his nighttime route. A woodcutter searches the Maine wilds for a mythical stand of virgin white pine. The violent murder of a renowned sculptor stymies a small town police chief. A boy hunts the king of serpents in the Mississippi bayous. A New Jersey hit man travels to Down East Maine to find his next mark.
All the while, The Cemetery Trees are watching…
Oh…and, here’s a poem…
“Standing sentinel over our final resting places, The Cemetery Trees seek familiar faces. They watch us when we are living and most forlorn, and they watch us after our passing and others mourn. Except for occasional visitors like me, the trees seldom see us in between. Unsatisfied with such little knowing, perhaps, their roots keep growing, burrowing deeper and deeper, searching for memories, overlooked by the reaper.”
Regards,
John R. Cobb
Author of Tales of the Cemetery Trees
E-mail: john@johnrcobb.com
Website: http://www.johnrcobb.com