Flannery 10-4

Flannery 10-4

The Terrible Speed of Mercy–my biography of Flannery O’Connor–will publish on June 12, 2012. This is what the cover will look like:

9 Comments
  • Dan Kulp
    12:28 AM, 11 October 2011

    I’ve made it through 4 stories of “Everything That Rises Must Converge”.  I’m not sure I’m on the F.O’Connor fan cruise.  It unsettled me for a few days until last night I had a moment of understanding.  I needed to stop approaching this as I would a normal story; these are horror stories.  I might be able to continue with the rest of them now. 

  • Canaan Bound
    11:03 AM, 11 October 2011

    Love it.  Especially the peacock feather.  Though I’m wondering why you didn’t decide to use an illustration from your very own Betsy.

    • Tim Filston
      11:42 AM, 13 October 2011

      I’m looking forward to your insights about her.  Her willingness to face off with the dark, ugly side of human nature seems courageous to me, and not just in a thrill-seeking way.  When a writer depicts the human heart as only a bruised thing, then the reader can only expect “there-there” assurance that everything will be alright.  But, O’Connor calls the reader down into corruption (it seems to me) so that we might have a shot at being called up–higher up than we started.  What do you think–am I in the ballpark with this, or is this a stretch?  Don’t tell me I have to wait till June…?

    • Jonathan Rogers
      1:36 PM, 13 October 2011

      CB, I tried to get Betsy’s drawing pushed through, but designers always think they know best. But a peacock on a railroad track–that was perfect if you ask me. Here it is again:

  • Sally Apokedak
    6:12 PM, 11 October 2011

    I love that cover. 

    • Jonathan Rogers
      1:30 PM, 13 October 2011

      This cover is growing on me, Sally. This is by far the prettiest picture of Flannery O’Connor out there. It was taken at her one book release party. She was in a period of remission (I guess that’s the right word) from her lupus, feeling better and looking better than she did through most of her adult life. 
      I also love this picture because she looks like my relatives.

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