Is it wrong to say that my most re-read chapters revolve around the much-missed sugar mice and those not so halcyon days when the Mighty U’s were breaking records for all the wrong reasons?
I still have the edition with this cover and it's brilliant. If anything, it makes the book seem even more personal. I'm an Arsenal fan so a lot of the moments mentioned mean a lot to me, and I think the cover just captured what being an Arsenal fan, especially for me in the mid-80s meant; all that doubt and uncertainty, about supporting Arsenal but about myself too.
I love the original cover and the story behind it is absolutely brilliant! I'd never considered how book covers and book marketing changed over time, so your insights were fascinating. It's amazing how that image ended up shaping the narrative even before you'd written a word.
Liam Brady was one of my all-time favorite players, and it's refreshing to hear about a time when creativity played such a pivotal role in book design – similar to how Liam played on the field. It's a shame about Arsenal this year, but thank you for sharing this insightful piece!
Is it wrong to say that my most re-read chapters revolve around the much-missed sugar mice and those not so halcyon days when the Mighty U’s were breaking records for all the wrong reasons?
I love that cover, it immediately evokes an era
I remember it well. A very dog-eared copy sits on our shelves somewhere. First daughter born that year. Great read!
I like the way the cover helped direct the book
Fascinating! Gollancz pitched your book back to you? And then you wrote it? I’m gobsmacked. Did Penguin make a similar approach? Love that cover btw.
Ah I'm not sure they pitched it back to me! Just showed me an image. The "plans for the book" were commercial and promotional. I will make that clear!
Sorry didn't mean to infer they'd contributed to the actual content. Apologies.
I still have the edition with this cover and it's brilliant. If anything, it makes the book seem even more personal. I'm an Arsenal fan so a lot of the moments mentioned mean a lot to me, and I think the cover just captured what being an Arsenal fan, especially for me in the mid-80s meant; all that doubt and uncertainty, about supporting Arsenal but about myself too.
Few readers know or even suspect that publishing is so complicated!
I love the original cover and the story behind it is absolutely brilliant! I'd never considered how book covers and book marketing changed over time, so your insights were fascinating. It's amazing how that image ended up shaping the narrative even before you'd written a word.
Liam Brady was one of my all-time favorite players, and it's refreshing to hear about a time when creativity played such a pivotal role in book design – similar to how Liam played on the field. It's a shame about Arsenal this year, but thank you for sharing this insightful piece!