About a year ago my friend Louis McIntosh sent me a poem he’d written about depression and hope called ‘The Black Dawg‘.
The poem really resonated with me and I immediately agreed to Louis’ suggestion that I illustrate it with a view to publishing the finished project as a picture book.
Louis and I have now reached the stage where we’re ready to do some combined market research and promotion prior to making the project ready to print and raising funds for self-publishing on Kickstarter.
To that end we made a promotional pack comprising three double sided flyers featuring excerpts of the text and illustrations.
We targeted interested parties such as mental health charities and people with first and second hand experience of depression and compiled a mailing list of those people who said they were happy to provide feedback. We’ve just sent each person (via snail mail) a promotional pack to share with their friends, family and colleagues.
The table laden with promotional flyers, stickers and envelopes ready to send
The introductory flyer (above) features the proposed book cover on one side and has an introduction to The Black Dawg poem and promo pack on the other.
(click on the images to enlarge them)
The second flyer (below) features the first double page on one side, I introduce myself on the reverse and talk about my motivation and inspiration for illustrating The Black Dawg.
Third flyer (below) features the penultimate double pages on one side; on the reverse Louis talks about his motivation and inspiration for writing The Black Dawg.
A big thank you to all those people who agreed to be on the mailing list, we really appreciate your support and are really looking forward to receiving your feedback.
The feedback we have received so far has been overwhelmingly positive.
If you’re not on the mailing list but would still like to send us feedback – please do! We’ll be delighted to hear from you… email us at kathryn.hockey.art@gmail.com or leave a reply below.
And please feel free to share with as many people as you’d like!
Hi there, to say these are beautiful is not perhaps the right word but they’re stunning, thought provoking and deep. What a great project. I look forward to hearing about the crowdfunding once launched. Good luck with the book guys, it’s haunting (but in a good way!)
Thanks so much for your positive feedback Karen, your enthusiasm is hugely appreciated. ‘Beautiful’ is a great word, so are the others…we’ll take them all! We’ll also make sure you’re updated as we progress.
Just Brilliant Kath
Precioso proyecto Kath, enhorabuena
Mil gracias por tomar el tiempo para mirarlo y dejar retroalimentación positiva Pilar!
Hey Kath,
Though depression is a deep topic and a difficult one to approach, you have both done ‘art-justice’ to the topic. Louis with his choice of language and you, with your haunting and contrasting light images.
The words take one’s mind on an uncommon journey (for me at least) shedding light on something I hear about & have listened to but have little understanding of (I guess i’m lucky). This is helpful and thought provoking for a variety of reasons, some very personal.
I look forward to hearing more and possibly being involved / contributing.
Well done to you both,
Mark
Hi Mark,
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment on this post, your positive feedback is hugely appreciated.
We’ll keep you updated as the project progresses.
Stay lucky!
All the best,
Kath
Pleasure … I meant very word !
Have a great Christmas x
I saw these illustrations a few months ago and found them vibrant and deeply evocative. I would definitely buy the book. Good luck with the project.
Thank you Jackie! We are just about to start our next round of promotion in preparation for fund raising and publishing…I will keep you posted.
Hi Kath and Louis
What honesty and a sense of raw realness i get from the words I have read, “…love, live, breathe and know your worth”, something I’m definitely working towards. it resonated on such a moving level for me.
Kath, the illustrations are provocative, the differing emotional depictions of the dog (dawg) as the poem flows work in harmony with the words.
I look forward to the release.
Keep me posted
Niall
Thanks so much for taking the time to read and respond Niall, your positive feedback is hugely appreciated! We’ll certainly keep you posted, warmest regards.