The Anne Marie is Helping Cherie

From Author Israel Parker

Cherie Ann Stannard and Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson

Until the End of September
Sometimes you have to do something for a perfect stranger. Not too long ago I read a story on my friend Elizabeth's blog. Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson, is a very talented fine artist who happens to be the cover artist for my first novel "The Anne Marie." 


There on Elizabeth's blog was a moving article about a woman named Cherie. I was so touched by Cherie's story, I decided to give 50% of my website book sale profits (website only -- due to royalty control) to help Cherie with her medical expenses. I will be donating these proceeds from now until September 30th. On my bookstore page I would also encourage you to read Cherie's incredibly challenging road to recovery and learn why it is so important to find it in your heart to give. 


For more information about Cherie, please visit her website at CherieStannard.com


You get a great book, and 50% goes to help a person in need at the same time. 

Israel Parker, author, holding the limited edition giclée print

It Gets Better!
On top of the donation, everyone who buys a book from IsraelParker.com during the month of September will also be entered to win a 24x18 limited edition gallery wrapped canvas giclée print of the exquisite cover of "The Anne Marie," a collage by Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson! The print is signed by both the artist and the author.

Cover art for The Anne Marie ©St.Hilaire Nelson

Poetry by McCrae T. Harrison

Birch Keys #2, 24x24, collage on panel, 

Grand Bohemian Gallery, Asheville NC

©St.Hilaire Nelson

Chopin
i have listened to chopin
19th century musical genius
on a rainy new england afternoon
i just came from the river
my skin is red and burning for warmth
i have listented to chopin
as i draw treble clefs on the condensation
watch the heavier bits begin to tumble
roll down the face of the bus window
growing and growing
until they reach the sill
i have listened to chopin
and i wonder that life must be the same way
we begin from a bit of sheet music
some divine symphony
traced into condensation
on the windows of time and existence
i have listened to chopin.

I just love this poem. Ironically, McCrae is another New Englander (from CT) who has been transplanted to the South, she now lives in Alabama and is a Vessel Inspector with the US Coast Guard. I met McCrae through Israel J. Parker, author of The Anne Marie. You can read more of her poetry on Israel's blog.

McCrae T. Harrison, poet

Guest Blogger: Israel Parker

Cover art for The Anne Marie, collage on panel, ©St.Hilaire Nelson

Friends of Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson,

I know that you are all familiar with Elizabeth's work. She is a super talented and I am proud to call her my friend. Some of you are aware that she has recently constructed the cover of a book for a young up and coming writer. It just so happens -that I am that writer. New writers have it tough, just as any new artist does. With that said I feel an obligation to explain the details that led to the construction of my book "The Anne Marie" and why you should own a copy.

Well, the truth is, I have been a closet writer for the past nine years. Only those who are really close to me have known this. I hid this fact, and in the quiet solitude of each night I wrote my little stories.
Last year I awoke in the middle of the night with one of my old stories rolling around in my head. So I went to my computer and found this old short story about a dog and the sinking of a fishing boat.
I had written this story shortly after a Search and Rescue case I had been on when I used to be a Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue Swimmer in New Orleans. Without going into intimate detail of the event -We responded to a boat in distress and I was deployed to the boat, and there were a couple of moments where I thought that I might lose my life. I survived that night -but several mariners did not.
After that night I did what any other writer would do after an event like that. I wrote a fictional short story- I guess this was part of my coping process.

A year ago and that night I stared down this story in the middle of the darkness. I re-read the story - it was raw, but powerful. That night I saw beyond that short story in my mind and wondered what happened to the dog in the story? So again I began to write.

While I wrote beyond the short story, the tide of both that fateful night on the water and my time flying into the devastating storm Katrina and its aftermath waded over me in a blanket of devilish familiarity. As I typed onto my computer that feeling of life and loss, the kind that is brought by catastrophic life changing events, breathed its essence on my pages. When I was done I had built a story of depth and inspiration, to which I named, “The Anne Marie."

If you do decide to pick up "The Anne Marie", prepare yourselves for a ride you will not forget and a story with more heart than you can possibly imagine.

On May 20, 2011 - I will release the first chapter of my book on my website (in conjunction with a reading I will do at Auburn Junior School in Auburn, Alabama)


I encourage you to please Pre-Order a signed copy of “The Anne Marie" Today

Israel J. Parker, Author of The Anne Marie

The Anne Marie

sketch/underpainting in progress for The Anne Marie

This week I got started on my sketch and underpainting for The Anne Marie by Israel Parker. Israel is very excited about seeing the in process photos of my collage work for the cover of his book and so I thought I'd share them here as well.

My first step is a detailed sketch on wood panel. The Home Depot did not have very good quality birch panel the last time I went, so I opted for red oak panel. The grain and striation in the oak is much more prominent than the birch and I'm not sure if I'm going to like it or not. On this piece for the book cover, I do not plan on leaving much grain showing through. And by the way, the guys at Home Depot often wonder why I'm so picky about my building materials and all the small sizes I have them cut it down to for me!

Israel has sent me a manuscript which I plan on reading this weekend so that I can put some of his words to work in the portrait of Atticus on the cover.

Stay tuned for more in process steps. This is a very exciting project for me as the book will be available on Amazon.com and you never know who will read it and see it! PLUS working with Israel on his very first book is exciting, I love supporting other artists in their endeavors.

The Anne Marie

Israel Parker and his wife Melanie

Getting to know Israel Parker
Israel Parker wrote The Anne Marie and has asked me to create the cover. On Friday night I read the first two chapters of this book to help me get a feel for the story. Since the book is not published yet I cannot share any of it with you but to say this, it's really good stuff!

Here is a snippet that Israel shares on the top of his blog: 
Newfoundlands are considered to be one of the most loyal breed of dogs. It is said that once one of the giant water-dogs bonds with a human, they can never bond with another. Atticus Stockton is a Newfoundland who loses his precious master in the sinking of a fishing boat off of Maine's rocky coast. Now alone, Atticus finds that he is unwanted, and as the big dog struggles to find a new home he is also plagued with the dreams from his once perfect world. Can he find a home, and if he does can he ever love another human again?

Israel has been in the Coast Guard for 12 years. Nine of those years he spent as a hellicopter rescue swimmer. He was stationed in New Orleans from 2004-2009. He actually postponed his wedding in Mobile AL on the weekend that Katrina hit so that he could jump on a helicopter and fly into that darkened city in the middle of the night and be a bit of light for the victims of that terrible tragedy.

Israel told me that his time as a swimmer changed his perspective on life. He said that it was during that time that he realized he wanted to live his own life to the fullest. I think that someday you may hear more from this author about his experiences in New Orleans as a rescue swimmer.

And speaking of rescue swimmers, Newfoundlands (our main character of The Anne Marie and our cover model) are known for their centuries of service rescuing people from drowning! 

As you can imagine, Israel was very moved by my own experiences with tragedy as told in my inspirational Growing Bolder Video

Paper Paintings Book Cover Art

Israel Parker is Closet Independent Writer

A couple of days ago I received an email from Israel Parker. He said that he happenned upon my work when he accidentally clicked "next blog" from the top of his own blog and there I was featured on Jessica Carter's blog (thank you Jessica!) from when she took a collage workshop with me. (Jessica was both of my kid's kindergarten teacher and she happened upon my artwork while flipping through Cloth, Paper Scissors Magazine!)

Talk about serendipity!

Israel said that when he happened upon my work, he knew it was just what he wanted for the cover of his book, especially since one of the characters in the book is a painter. The book is a story about a Newfoundland who loses his precious master in the sinking of a fishing boat off the coast of Maine. You remember that I am from New England and have been to visit Maine quite a few times in my youth, even spent a week in a fishing village one summer with my family!

Israel is self publishing his first book and the title is The Anne Marie you can read a snippet of it on his blog.

I am excited about working with an up and coming writer on his first book. I am happy that it will combine both my fine art and graphic design skills as I have to keep in mind incorporating the title of the book and the name of the author along with the artwork for the 6x9 cover.

 I'll let you know more about the book and the cover as we progress