Updates

Hello everyone, and thank you for the beautiful designs you've submitted thus far! Since the contest still has about a week left, I thought I'd include some more information for you, which may help to clarify what the novel is about. I'll post a general summary of the story below."A Different Familiar" takes place in Galway, Ireland from January - May of 2015.The story follows the lives of three university students: Ronan Twomey, Stephen McSwiggan, and Ellen Graham. Cynical loner Ronan struggles with depression and shuts himself off from social interaction, finding it difficult to function day in and day out. His dumpy, awkward neighbor, Stephen, tries to navigate the world of dating with little experience, but he is helped by his new American housemate, Ellen. Ellen arrives in Galway as a study-abroad student without any idea what to expect from the bustling Irish city, but she hopes more than anything else to fit in, make friends, and feel like she belongs somewhere. All three of the main characters have casual run-ins with one another, but are thrown together after an accident - which ultimately puts Stephen in the hospital - changes the predictable nature of their daily routines.Later in the story, Ellen, Ronan, and Stephen meet the spirited Matilda O'Connor, a 70-year-old Galway woman who befriends them and tries to guide them through their troubles. Little do they know, however, that Matilda herself is struggling: her 93-year-old mother is dying of Alzheimer's, and unmarried Matilda mourns the loss of her best friend/old love who she lost contact with long ago. When Matilda's mother passes away, she relies on her young friends to help her through, until she unexpectedly runs into Alan Murphy, her long lost love. Just when everything seems to be looking up, however, it is revealed that Alan is accidentally responsible for the death of Ronan's twin brother, which occurred seven years prior. It is then revealed that the death of Ronan's brother is why Ronan has struggled to connect with others in his life.At the end of the story, Ronan must face the nagging tragedy of his past with the help of his friends, or else accept that his future will continue to be as bleak as his present.Thank you so much for all of your hard work, and I hope this summary clarifies things a bit! Please let me know if you have any questions. Added Saturday, May 13, 2017

Hello again everyone!I'm really loving the designs you've sent me so far! Today I wandered into a bookstore and took a few photos of cover designs that really caught my eye. I'm going to attach them to my brief in case you'd like to take a look. By no means do you have to try to imitate them - I just wanted to include a few images that capture the aesthetic I'm generally attracted to.Thanks again! Added Saturday, May 13, 2017