The Mother in-Law’s Manual

The MOTHER-IN-LAW’S MANUAL is being published by Bright Sky Press which is owned by three smart, kind women. One of them, Ellen Cregan also runs her own graphics design business and she is in charge of cover design. (Check out all her excellent work at http://www.cregandesign.com.)

She has been through many variations and permutations of the cover for this book, and I thought it might be interesting to see the evolution of the cover.  The book distributor weighed in on the design, and it was sales agents at a sales meeting that led to the last redesign.  They are excited about this book and wanted a cover they felt represented the book and would help to sell the book.  We are hoping they are on target.

The first Mother in Law Manual cover design

The Second Mother in Law Manual cover design

The Third and Final Mother in Law Manual cover design

There has been  a back and forth on the title as well.  We started with THE MOTHER-IN-LAW’S CHALLENGE . Then the publishers suggested we change out CHALLENGE for MANUAL.  That word, manual, made me a bit nervous because THE MOTHER-IN-LAW MANUAL doesn’t do what many manuals do — there are not clear step by step instructions. Rather, the book explores the challenges that many mothers-in-law find themselves facing and suggests ways of approaching these challenges so that both we, the mothers-in-law and “they,” our children and their spouses can find satisfaction and pleasure.  We changed back to Challenge but, in the end, the booksellers asked to have Manual back…and Manual it now is.  So yes, this is a MANUAL, but it is a MANUAL of possibilities, a MANUAL of challenges, a MANUAL of our best hopes.  Would that it could be as simple as take out the large wrench, turn twice counter clockwise and spit to the east.