Thanks guys, bringing my book to market is proving to be a bit of a learning curve,but the challenge it presents is an opportunity to be a writer. Something I've always wanted to be.
Currently I'm working on the cover typography, up to version three so far. Lots to think about and, the choices between flashy crowd pleasing typography versus a solid sense of craft that makes each book look like part of a series.
You've probably come across arguments for both. There are some readers who think "oh, this is book 2 of a series, I won't buy it, book 1 isn't here on the shelf, I'll buy something else instead". There are others who like the covers to look uniform or spot the new one in the series because it looks like the last one.
But I don't know any of these people. I don't know people who buy new books in shops, or based on the cover, at all any more. I don't know how many of them are left, or how they think.
I'm guessing one of the cover design tasks is to make the thing look reasonable at 100 pixels wide…
Looking at the books I've read recently, the last one that wasn't a personal recommendation, a continuation of a series, or part of the Hugo-Nebula Reread, was David Hambling's The Elder Ice - and I think that was an algorithmic recommendation on Goodreads.
(The usual warning applies: people who market to appeal to me are not marketing for bulk sales, to the point that "doesn't appeal to Roger" may actually be correlated with higher sales to everyone else.)
Midweek Mildness
-
I've not got much done today. Even with a plan, the plan has gone all to
cock. Not really my fault as everyone else seems to have got times wrong.
So now ...
Who's Asculum?
-
As previously trailed there was some doubt about the viability for the
proposed garden game. As it turned out we were okay, but I'd done some
thinking ab...
Retro SciFi: The Secret of the Pirate Queen
-
*3 games in a month? Lucky me! *
*I recently enjoyed a rare catchup with my mate Rich in Washington DC,
where he celebrated his birthday by hosting me to...
Sharp Practice: The Man From Peshwarinaan
-
As a follow up to playing Andy's* 'Man From Del Monte'* scenario in the
Peninsular, Phil and I decided to transport it to Bengal and replay it
during the...
Rain, Work, and Bronko Nagurskimouse
-
About a month ago, I went down the basement to find my paint rack knocked
over onto my paint table and all of the things in various stages of build
and p...
A bit of a break
-
Heading off to Europe for a four week break, so there won't be much
happening here on the blog until later in September. We will spend a few
days with my...
Mechwarrior Online (PC Game) 2026
-
This is an aging freemium PC game perfect for "dad-gamers." It has had a
tumultuous past (OP clan, p2W aspects, casuals playing with premade teams
of pr...
"In Country" HBR Security Team
-
*Do you feel more secure with these guys?*
*Well, probably not...*
Another round of painting has me finishing up the Hanna Barbara Rus
Security Team [Local...
The Miller's Tale - Episode 14
-
Episode 14, in which Mike gets to have a guest back again! Yes, it's James
Morris, back again to explain how Midgard Heroic Battles has been going,
what'...
Tokamak Oxford
-
Shrove Tuesday I was at Tokamak Energy. All bundled up because it was
freezing cold in Oxford. The whole machine is housed inside this huge
warehouse, wh...
Presenting ... Bob Moss
-
When I saw this Classic Treant from the Nolzur's Marvelous Unpainted
Miniatures line by WizKids, I couldn't resist buying it. It looks like it
came strai...
Trouble on the Docks - Historicon 2025
-
A Western Alliance cargo ship is coming into the port of Edmundburgh, to
deliver supplies. Eastern Socialist Republic forces must attempt a
hit-and-run a...
Salute 2025
-
OK, it's two days late but here is my photo round-up of Salute 2025. You
can also take it as proof of life, given that I haven't posted here since
last ...
Warp Speed into 2025
-
The last year has been quite challenging. I suffered a stroke in November
2023 and have spent the last year or so in recovery. I'm not there yet, but
do...
I've made the decision that I'm too old to waste any more of my life waiting for replies from traditional publishing houses abo...
Translate
GDPR
I currently do not run an email list and have no plans to do so in the foreseeable future.
For those who subscribe to email updates for this blog, your personal data may be collected by the third party service. I have no control over the tool.
Blog posts or comments may include personal data such as the names of people who've made comments or similar. These posts are often shared on social media including my Twitter and FaceBook pages. The privacy policies of Twitter and Facebook will apply to information posted on their websites.
If you would like any personal data which is included in my blogposts or comments to be removed or have any questions, please email me through my contact widget.
Looks good.
ReplyDeleteThat looks great. Makes me look forward to the book even more.
ReplyDeleteVery cool!
ReplyDeleteNice !!!
ReplyDeleteCertainly piques my curiosity.
Thanks guys, bringing my book to market is proving to be a bit of a learning curve,but the challenge it presents is an opportunity to be a writer. Something I've always wanted to be.
ReplyDeleteThat looks cool!
ReplyDeleteCurrently I'm working on the cover typography, up to version three so far. Lots to think about and, the choices between flashy crowd pleasing typography versus a solid sense of craft that makes each book look like part of a series.
ReplyDeleteYou've probably come across arguments for both. There are some readers who think "oh, this is book 2 of a series, I won't buy it, book 1 isn't here on the shelf, I'll buy something else instead". There are others who like the covers to look uniform or spot the new one in the series because it looks like the last one.
DeleteBut I don't know any of these people. I don't know people who buy new books in shops, or based on the cover, at all any more. I don't know how many of them are left, or how they think.
I'm guessing one of the cover design tasks is to make the thing look reasonable at 100 pixels wide…
You know me, and I still buy books in shops, and often a book cover will attract me to read the blurb.
DeleteFair enough!
DeleteLooking at the books I've read recently, the last one that wasn't a personal recommendation, a continuation of a series, or part of the Hugo-Nebula Reread, was David Hambling's The Elder Ice - and I think that was an algorithmic recommendation on Goodreads.
(The usual warning applies: people who market to appeal to me are not marketing for bulk sales, to the point that "doesn't appeal to Roger" may actually be correlated with higher sales to everyone else.)
I bought and read The Elder Ice after reading your review, and I suspect it's not the sort of book one would find in Forbidden Planet.
Delete