Today, we got Jode Thompson’s final cover art for “Calvin Cobb: Radio Woodworker! A Novel with Measured Drawings” (thank you Jode – it looks awesome!).
But because I’m too much of a tease to share it with you – yet – I thought perhaps you’d like to look at other bad-ass women on motorcycles in the 19teens-’30s, thanks to Suzanne Ellison, who sent me the link.
Above is Sally Halterman, the first woman to have a motorcycle license in Washington, D.C. (Impressive and all…but she’s no Verdie – try riding a bike with a wooden leg, Sally! That said, nice boots.)
Below, the heels win. (It’s a 1933 shot of a woman trying out a Douglas on display.)
And here’s a woman who really could have been Verdie in 1917 – she’s a WWI dispatch rider (note the fellow in the sidecar hitching a ride). Verdie lost her leg riding a motorcycle during that war.
For a look at a wide range of women, motorcycles and women with dogs on motorcycles (plus a bonus priest and a bathing suit shot or two), click here.
And now I must get back to writing cover copy you simply can’t resist for “Calvin Cobb: Radio Woodworker!”
— Megan Fitzpatrick
p.s. Bonus shot from 1973…about which I’ll say nothing. Because they scare me, and could very well still be alive.
p.p.s. And here’s an interesting read about Britain’s women dispatch riders in WWII (again, thank you Suzanne).
Thanks for your other post on the revision process for the cover. Our ten year-old in fifth grade is currently working on a project to design a book cover and he wasn’t impressed with the idea of having to do a another version after his attempt so being able to show him the process for this book was a big help and it helped him understand the importance of revision (at least I hope he’s starting to get the idea). It also helped that it’s from the same publisher as Campaign Furniture because we bought that for him and he read the whole thing. He’s been asking when I’m going to get a longer lathe so we can make the campaign stool.
Looking forward to the official cover.
– Jared
Ha! Would you like for me to share with him the five other tweaks in between what I showed? I can make your child eschew all future educational purs…oh wait. Bad idea. Never mind! (And how wonderful that he’s read “Campaign Furniture!”)
Don’t forget Georgia O’Keeffe, there are pics of her on motorcycles in the 1940’s. I can’t wait for the book, it’s going to be a fun read.
Hi Megan,
If you want to add to your list, google “moroccan biker chicks.” My wife, a theatrical costume designer, did a bunch of research on this for a play. It is what it sounds like. Pretty cool. Thanks for the pics!
Hey Megan, any plans to release an audio of Roy reading the book? That would be awesome.
I’ll leave that up to the publisher to answer. I’m just in charge of the text side of things.
Thanks for the cool pics!