It’s been two years since I updated this blog, and I guess at the start of the year is as good a time as any. I rarely post these things anymore, preferring to use social media. But strangely it feels right to put this one here, mostly because it holds me accountable to my goals.

2022 and 2023 were great years for me in some regards. Creative Covers finally became 100% of my income, I’d done covers that involved big names such as Neil Gaiman, and I found myself with too much work on at times.
But it still felt like a side hustle; something to work on to just get by. It just didn’t feel like a real business that people would take seriously.
The rest of those 24 months had been great, having been to some amazing places, met some fantastic people, and spent quality time with my friends, family and girlfriend.
Things have changed slightly now though. Work did quieten at the end of the year, and my relationship ended not long ago (she is a truly beautiful human being with wonderful family and friends, and I wish her all the happiness she and they deserve – I’ll miss them all, and the dog!), so now I’m on my own, trying to plan out the next year, and design my entire life – personal and work, in a new way.

I think this is the year I change my mindset and turn Creative Covers into the business I’ve always dreamed of. I mean, it’s lived 12 years now, and only got steadily stronger and stronger.
I’m now treating it like a game. I’m imagining myself as someone who has inherited a business that seems to be beloved, but is just ticking by. I now have the task of building it up and making a huge success of it. No tall order eh?

I have quite a few plans for it, blogs, youtube channel, guides, a store, email lists etc. Eventually I think I can get to a place where I have offices and staff – but that’s a long way off. I am determined though!
I am even in the process of designing an Author Journal which will help guide and push writers to finish their books. All the while writing my own novels and illustrating.
I also intend to attend book fairs around the country.

I think a year focusing on myself and this business will pay off hugely in the future. As long as I deal with my own procrastination issues. 😀 I hope I can steer this ship to better waters!

As in the past I’ll end this with a couple of quotes. One from Wayne Dyer and one from Louise Hay. Two speakers whose words are always great comfort to me.

“Go for it now. The future is promised to no one.” – Wayne Dyer.
“You are the only person who thinks in your mind! You are the power and authority in your world.” – Louise Hay.

I wish everyone reading this a truly amazing year, and hope happiness and prosperity remain with you always. x

Well it’s been yet another crazy year – full of doubts, frustrations, and Covid-related chaos. And it’s been a full year since I wrote a post. Which just shows how much my life has changed.
Don’t get me wrong, there has been some good points to the year, I had some amazing times with friends and family, and had a couple of wonderful relationships, met some new amazing people, and even managed to explore some beautiful new places. But it’s felt like recently something has been missing. Namely my writing.
When the pandemic hit, and the country went into lockdown, I thought I would have plenty of time to get some personal projects finished, and get my books written.
But it seems everyone else had the same idea – and since I’m book cover designer, the work coming in didn’t give me chance to get my own novels completed.

When I worked for a company (and the same for college and uni), I didn’t drive – and my two hour bus journey allowed me sit with my music on my headphones, and daydream. I’d eagerly wait lunchtime so I could frantically write down what I’d plotted down that morning. I felt full of excitement and love for my craft, tapping out chapter after chapter with ease. the Tapestry of Fates series, bits of Phoenix, and Fallen Tears were mapped out this way. I felt I could churn out loads quickly.

But since working for myself, the time between writing my own things gets more sparse. In the back of my mind I feel I should really be doing client work as much as possible, getting the pennies in, and building my business up. Even my awesome friends at Grimbold Books saw this and PAID a week off for me to get my own writing done! And I did, with absolute gratitude. But as soon as the week was over I fell back into solely client work. Recently I’ve felt that if I don’t get on top of this and allow myself some time to work on these pieces that I’ll lose it all forever. The ideas and plots still in my mind are getting dustier the more time goes on. I’m forgetting the characters in my books – and it takes a lot to read back and find their motivations.
Also I’m into my forties now! Time isn’t quite on my side as I used to think. In my twenties it felt like I had so long to accomplish everything I wanted to. But those years flew so fast I’m scared the next twenty will go even quicker!

So last Sunday I had a massive life audit. I wrote down literally everything about my life – what serves me, what doesn’t. What isn’t working, what exactly I need, and want, and rewrote it all. Stripping back my mindset and beliefs felt quite liberating, and it felt good reprogramming myself.

I’m blocking off time to get own work done, and actually to daydream again!
Next year I’ve got a mini bucket list of things I want to do, and I’m making another with my brother (from another mother). I’m gonna be stricter with my time and get my projects finished. I want to leave an imprint on the world and I feel these are it.

And now the world (fingers crossed) is going to continue to open up, I feel now is the perfect time not to waste time!

As the amazing Wayne Dyer once said “Don’t die, with the music still inside you.”

To anyone still reading this, I wish you all the best for 2022, and truly hope you accomplish all you want in life too.
Much love 🙂 x

On the evening of 31st December 2019 I spent New Year’s Eve the same as all previous ones – surrounded by pals and merrily mooching from pub to pub. Beer flowed, jokes and laughter were abound, and hugs and handshakes were everywhere. Little did I know that would be a luxury I’d take for granted.
Face masks were alien to me – something people in smoggy countries wore. Social distancing was non-existent as I shuffled through crowds to the bar. And a curfew was something given to disruptive children. Never in a million years did I think things would develop the way they did. I left 2019 thinking I was in for a great year. My book cover design business was getting busier, and a welcome warm holiday was but a few months away.

Yet twelve months on, things are much much different, having given way to a more quieter, sombre affair.

When writing my last post in May, I never expected things to be carrying on until now and beyond. It’s easy to see why many cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel as we forever revolve from lockdown to relaxed rules. People around the world are still terrified and afraid about their uncertain futures.

2020 has been a bizarre year for everyone, one filled with sadness and despair, loss and loneliness, poverty and illness. We had always prayed that Christmas would be the time all returns to even a small sense of normality, but recent regulations has destroyed any possibility of a happy family get together with friends and family.

And yet even during these dark times, there is always hope and happiness, and great lessons to be learned.

We must learn be more kind and understanding of the situations and predicaments of other people. We must not judge others for not doing as we do. As many began to flee London, having been given mere hours before Tier 4 hit, we must not judge them for packing trains and buses. We have no idea what is happening in their lives, or where they need to get to.

Those who have gone and and met family and friends, against the rules – we cannot judge either. We have no idea what frames of mind people have. Many are doing what is necessary to literally survive.

Anti-vaxxers cannot condemn and laugh at those desperate for the vaccine. Many people are terrified, and just want to protect themselves and their families.
Likewise – people who want the vaccine cannot roll their eyes at those who refuse it. With the wealth of information and arguments on both sides, it’s understandable many may not trust what is being thrust upon them.

We are all fighting our own individual battles, and are coping the best we can during a time none of us has ever experienced before.

It’s easy to lose faith, and to write off 2020 as a complete miserable disaster.

By looking for the silver linings of this very strange year, maybe we can use this experience to better ourselves, and turn it our advantage. Be kinder, be more grateful of the things we have, and always look for the wins.
Maybe you used this year to learn new skills, found ways to expand your job online, reconnected with friends and family, appreciated the things in life you have, or in my case – watched how many people decided to write the book they’ve been putting off.

Or maybe you just looked at the world with brand new eyes.

There is always much wonder, beauty, awe, and possibility around us, even during the darkest times.
Life can be unpredictable, and knock us sideways at a moment’s notice. But it’s how we react to these events that really matter.
Never give up, ever.

Please have a wonderful Christmas (or whatever you celebrate at this time of year), and have an amazing New Year.
Keep smiling in the knowledge it cannot rain forever.
The night is always darkest before the dawn.

Be safe, be happy, and do whatever it takes to keep your mental and physical health in top form.
See you in 2021.

Much love always!

Ken xx