Just Like Cheerios
You know, the business part of writing never fails to amaze me. There’s so much to it, even if you’re not insane about it the way I am. My latest insanity, which I have thoughtfully inflicted on Bob, is branding the collaboration so we can sell it just like General Mills sells Cherrios. Or whoever it is that sells Cherrios.
Branding is the new buzzword in publishing. (Well, not that new. I’m never cutting edge.) The idea is to sell an author as someone who produces a certain kind of book, a product if you will. I kind of hate it because it does hem a writer in, but for the collaboration, I think it’s necessary. We’re trying to sell an idea here, the idea that a book with a man writing all the male points of view and a female writing all the female points of view, each writer coming from a distinctly different tradition, is fun and classy and well worth $24.95 or whatever the sucker is going to sell for. Plus Bob and I really like to teach and we want to do a five-day writing workshop in the spring, so we needed a look to market that, too. And then there’s the collab website which will also need a graphic. Basically, what we needed was a logo that summed up the partnership in a clean, not-too-detailed image that we could use anywhere, in one or two colors, and that would work large or small. Not an easy design project.
So we called on the brilliant Mara Lubelle, and said, “He’s a little bit violent military thriller, she’s a little bit hot romantic comedy, together they solve crime,” and Mara came up with four logos. And they were all good, but we’re only using one, so this is the only chance to see all of them.
The first one was good, but it didn’t capture the off-the-wall quality of the collboration. Nice type face, though:
The second one was better–I particularly like that bullet–but it seemed too busy and it was a little too detailed to reduce down well:
The third one I really liked and so did Bob: very clean and simple. But it was a little more violent than I was comfortable with: after all that’s me in the crosshairs, or at least that’s my symbol:
Which brings us to the last one, which we both liked because it made us both laugh and because it really does sum up our partnership:
No, you don’t get to vote, the last one is it. But isn’t it great?
Thank you, Mara Lubelle, genius logo designer.
I agree. It’s definitely a winner, and it made me laugh too.
I work as a graphic artist and IMO, logo design is one of the hardest parts of my profession. They are always subjective to everyone’s personal opinion & perception of what should be “identified”, and just a b*tch to create. They need to look good big & small, sized for everything from business cards to billboards. Hate ‘em. Gimmee a 10 page full-color catalog to create from scratch *any* day.
BTW, I liked the third one (balance was good between left & right, with cherry in the cross-hair good identifier to draw the eye, just my opinion).
SEE!!!??? LOL
— Bonz
It was a lot of fun to see the creative process of your graphic designer — and I love your choice! It made me smile. It really speaks both to your collaboration with Bob and (from the design at least) to the tone of your workshop.
I’m with Bonz — the third logo is definitely the best.
I like the 4th one the best (good choice, Jenny and Bob!). The third one implies that Bob is ready to off Jenny (which he might be, but that doesn’t advertise well) On the other hand, the 4th one shows Jenny and Bob working together to cause some mayhem, which probably fits the underlying theme of the workshop.
Wow, for a math person, I’m really getting into the literary symbolism. I think that’s enough for now.
I agree. The fourth one. It IS great. And funny. Kudos to Mara. Congrats to Jenny and Bob!
I like the third one, but the fourth made me laugh as soon as I saw it. Congrats on the logo
SS
Ahhh a nice old fashioned ‘cherry bomb’ works well to stir things up.
-ch
I think the fourth one is the cutest - and it implies a partnership/connection. I like it.
Yup, that fourth one does, indeed, say it all. It’s perfect.
Great logo.
I can see it on tee-shirts and carry-all bags and visors and license plates and mugs and plastic cups and . . .
Hey, if you got a logo, let it all out.
Mitz
Numbers 2 and 3:
That’s me.
And I thought I was the only odd one.
Great choice. I’m a graphic artist as well as a writer (romantic comedy), so I’m familiar with the complexity of designing logos that convey the desired message in the simplest, yet most eye-catching manner.
While each logo is pleasing in its own way, only the fourth logo clearly offers distinct insight to each author’s writing style–the clever mix of sinister with humor.
The first logo is safe, unassuming, and too general. The second is certainly cute and clever, but too busy. The third has an appealing look and a clean-cut, corporate feel, but to those not familiar with the Crusie cherry connection, it would have no real significance. The final one, the one you selected, is deceptively simple and yet embodies the essence of your collaboration. Even those not familiar with the cherry will understand the intent here.
Love the fourth logo! Nice and subversive, certainly in keeping with what you have written about your relationship with Bob (or should I say what you have written about his relationship to you).
The logo made me grin - so I’d say it’s perfect.
Lori
Oooooh, I love last one. It has a great look.
The fourth one is ok.
As if you didn’t have enough to worry about getting Trudy ready for Christmas, now you have to define your relationship with Bob in one picture.
Wow- did she get it right. It immediately made me smile. And the fact that the two of you agreed upon it without disparaging e-mails!!!!!!
I like the 3rd best…I think. Although in the 4th you are on top.
Oh! I love the cherry bomb! hahaha! It made me laugh out loud - and just now that i got that its a “cherry bomb” made me laugh again!
Oh, these designs just prove that we are NOT all one human race! I believe that people who can come up with graphics like this are a different species from me. I think they are from outer space because they clearly have superior intelligence. Other aliens are poets (good ones only–like Gershwin’s love songs), gardeners, great movie stars (like Cary Grant), carpenters of graceful furniture, and cooks (like the first person to use garlic).
These are ALL aliens! Oh, yeah, great writers–like Crusie.
Ms. Lubelle did a great job.
I liked both the 3rd & 4th choices and would have had a hard time choosing between the two. But, I also liked the different fonts for your last names in the first choice a lot. For me, it put an extra “pop” to your different styles of writing.
The second one made me think the flower was weeping (the dot over the i). Fourth one is my fave–it’s fun and reflective of your personalities. Hell, as long as Jenny’s name comes first…(sorry, Bob).
I like them all, but the fourth will indeed work best.
Tell Bob not to gush so much over it.
v. exciting!
You’re not asking but…I’d go for a lit firecracker or stick of dynamite with a picture of a cherry on it - teamwork and phallic symbolism.
I think he is blowing up your cherry in this one…um, that doesn’t sound right, does it?
Sorry…
I know we aren’t voting and all, but if we were I would totally vote for the 2nd one. The last one is lovely also.
Your fans…you said we didn’t get to vote and then everyone gave their opinion (vote)! : ) Reading the comments is almost as entertaining as reading your posts.
You have an awesome BRAND! And, so it seems, an even greater collaboration. Lucky you…even luckier us!
They’re all so cute!
‘blowing up your cherry’ rofl!
Does this mean John Mellencamp’s “Cherry Bomb” is your theme song?
Or The Runaways song “Cherry Bomb”
Me, I see cherry bomb and think hot mamas, dangerous mens, and The Pink Panther. Who gets to be Kato and who gets to be Inspector Clouseau?
Shane is getting ready to kill people.
Looks like Bob is bored
I like 3 & 4! But the third one looks a bit like ‘Crusie 4 Mayer’ and you don’t want to get into all that again
Definitely liked 3&4 and I would have picked 4, too. I like that little heart on the cherry *g*
So Shane is Kato?
ummmm…Bob…not to be a shrew, but shouldn’t you be updating YOUR blog instead of commenting here? I’ve been checking, and there are no NEW updates!
;p
Shane has killed.
Just saying. Now he’s waiting on Agnes.
So if Bob is Shane (because he’s writing Shane) and Jenny is Agnes (because she’s writing Agnes) and Shane’s the one who kills, that makes Jenny Kato. I can live with that.
Does Clouseau kill?
Not on purpose, but one would infer the implied death of the bad guys… I mean, how many people would survive plummeting head-first off a glacier into a swimming pool filled with champagne and ’60’s bikini models? Or something along those lines. Excepting where minions survived because they were reused repeatedly due to budget constraints. Kato wrecked a lot of sets. I’m sure I have an argument here… somewhere… lemme keep looking and get back to you.
OK
Cherry bomb. Funny. Perfect.