The Awakening

 "The voice of the sea speaks to the soul." 

–Kate Chopin, The Awakening 

Book cover for the Prestwick House Touchstone Classic edition of Kate Chopin's landmark work of early American feminism, The Awakening.

With the Atlantic Ocean standing in for the Gulf of Mexico, I photographed this on a very cold January day with the wind-chill at freezing or below. My friend held the metal cage dress form while I composed and took the shot. We'd set up and shoot 2 or 3 different compositions then make a mad dash back to the car to thaw out our freezing fingers and do it again. I can only guess what the crew manning the Ship Controlling Tower behind and above us, just over the dunes, were thinking.

Adding a studio shot of my model, along with a summer cloud photo from the same beach, I finish the composition in Photoshop. 

Importing the finished illustration into an InDesign document I then add visual elements to the front and back covers that tie into the novel's use of caged birds, solitude, and escape from convention as symbols.

 Sample chapter headers.

Cover including the back and spine.

The Agitated Dream–Prague Vision 1912

The Agitated Dream– Prague Vision 1912

Copyright 2012 by Larry Knox

Proposed book cover design.

"One morning, upon awakening from agitated dreams, 
Gregor Samsa found himself, in his bed, transformed into a monstrous vermin."
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

Winter's Deep: A Viking's Prayer

I wrote this song on a dark, winter evening as a snowstorm raged outside. The title came to me first while I watched the near white-out conditions from the warmth and comfort of my home. I imagined what it must have been like for ancient peoples dealing with similar weather or worse...

The Viking theme sprang from nowhere–although, they have always fascinated me–stemming no doubt from the many school field trips I took to museums and historical sites while living near the east coast of England in my youth. The painted dioramas, artifacts and legends all fueled my over-active imagination.

Note on the video collage: all the images are in public domain except for the photo of the young Viking warrior. Although I took the photograph (of my nephew Jack), the image is owned by Prestwick House and was created for the cover of their original translation of Beowulf by Matt Roberts.

Winter's Deep: A Viking's Prayer

Music & Lyrics Copyright 2011 by Larry Knox

Here I am

in Winter's Deep

and I stand my ground

or my soul to keep

and you light my way

wihout a sound

I stand my ground

in Winter's Deep

On the March again

in these mountains high

and I see your face

in this endless sky

and you lead the way

without a trace

full of grace

in these mountains high

BRIDGE 1

the wolves

they dog our trail

they smell the blood

of those we've killed

and if i die

in this foreign land

to Valhala

I'll go

with sword in hand

There I'll wait for you

'til the end of time

when you cross that bridge

made of loves pure light

Before the Golden Tree

I'll hold you tight.