Dear Stephen,
Once upon a time, Penguin Publishing paid me a significant sum to create covers for two of your, about to be released, novels –
Desperation and
The Regulators. I submitted my designs and lucky for you, they were rejected. I’m a painter, not an illustrator. Though my critics say: “He’s an illustrator.” Sort of like saying a writer is a hack. I’m not even a die hard fan of yours. However, I’m a big fan of a couple of your books –
The Shining, Salem’s Lot, and now
On Writing, your best book, I think.
So feeling dejected, I stuffed my designs in a sketchbook where they sat.
Years later, during a dry spell, I remembered the drawings and got to work painting one. It turned out well. It’s not an illustration, rather it’s what
you would call “a situation.” I don’t know where my ideas come from, they just do, like notes in a bottle. I’m grateful. Would you like to take a look? Here’s the painting
http://lkart.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Angry-Bird-WEB.jpg
I still have a problem. I titled it “Angry Bird.” It’s not a great title, and deserves better. Would you please help? Most of my titles are one word, or a phrase, such as “Rivers in the Wasteland” (from Isaiah) or “Suburbia.” I’m good making pictures, not so good with words.
Best regards,
Leonard Koscianski
PS. My ex-wife accused me of being a little warped, but not only did I read
The Shining to myself, I read it to my kids. Then, I had them watch the movie. A mistake? Then, I took them on a road trip to Estes Park to have dinner in the hotel where you wrote it, or at least part of it. I had high creative hope for my children. But none of them became a writer. Sorry.
