I'm delighted to share the final cover design for Utopia Paradox with you all! Lemme tell you, it was a lot of hard work, but I'm very happy with the results. The overall intention is to symbolize the endless Republican-Democrat loop of American politics that ignores any nuance and marginalized groups outside of those ideologies. Behind that is the flag of equality, giving those issues visibility, as shown by the expanding colors pushing away the darkness. I could go on about it, but I'm not an arts major, and a picture is worth a thousand words (they're very chatty) so I'll let it do the talking.
Now, for the hard part.... Meeting the author! Spoilers, it's me...
Oh... You thought I was human? Nope! I'm a cryptid, a proud "Lizard Person", living happily under a rock. People like to say "you live under a rock" like it's a bad thing, but I'd like to dispute that. My rock is very comfy. Maybe that's their problem, they've only been under uncomfy rocks? Anyway, let's get to know each other a little. In preparation of this occasion, I have a convenient form ready to share with you:
Wait! Wrong one, here:
Shit- No, here, this one:
I live in the woods with my husband, cat, and dog where we take frequent rambles through the trees. I like peace and quiet, preferring to stay home above all else to create, read, and play video games. I like to garden when the ground's not frozen and stay inside staring-at-my-garden-through-the-window-with-dejected-longing-crying when it is frozen. I also love nature... When it's not eating my garden... So rabbits, squirrels, and deer are pretty much excluded from my "love". They know what they did.
My personal life aside, you're here because you want to know about me as an author. You know, a fancy person who writes things and asks people to read them for money (if they're lucky). Well writers are kind of like doctors; we care about our work as much as the people it impacts. I got into writing because I've seen a lot of messed up shit and I don't care for it, to put it politely. If something I write has the power to change things for the better, then that's worthwhile to me. I get to express myself, share ideas, and create an adventure that we can all share together.
My book, Utopia Paradox, calls out a lot of the atrocious-to-regrettable behaviors and consequences of the United States as a whole. It tells the well-known story of American inequality from the unexplored perspective of someone living "on the inside" of privileged America who is confronted with his ignorance, then has to learn what it's like to live without those privileges. The inspiration for the story came one day while I was talking with my husband about how funny it would be if America actually became this Orwellian “liberal dystopia” that the alt right conservatives fear so much. What would that even look like? How would they react to it? We laughed… Then I started thinking about it seriously… Then I turned it into a book.
I don't agree with bashing people over the head with shame or facts to change their behavior, and neither does science, but stories can change people's minds. Stories can express all the emotion, humanity, and nuance that a set of data never can. It forges an emotional connection that opens the way for a data-driven one. If you really want people to listen to and engage with a topic, you have to appeal to their emotions. Then you can connect to their intellectual side. This is especially important when you want to change someone's mind. People resist change as part of their nature; you have to work with that fact, not against it.
My book is soul-food (not literally, please do not eat the book, it possesses neither nutrition nor magical powers) that invites everyone to feel heard, explore new ideas, and consider what changes they might want to make in their behavior to benefit themselves and others around them. In a way, if you've read my book then you already know a lot about me. I look forward to getting to know you too!
Stay safe out there,
L.C. Fathom
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