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.)
I've Been Keeping Busy
-
I've been pretty active with hobby stuff over the last couple of months,
just not keeping up with the blog unfortunately. All of my computers are
having...
Carry On Regardless
-
I am still struggling through. I am finding not being able to watch TV in
my usual way is somewhat off putting. Eventually I managed to sit down but
it i...
New additions including some love for Airfix
-
Something of a British theme happening at the moment on the AFV front. I'm
filling various gaps in the collection and in the process working my way
throu...
"Barbarians at the Gate" Part 2
-
Thrilled this week to get in touch with Jesh of Jesh Art Designs, who
designed one of the entries for the "Barbarians at the Gate" competition I
mention...
We need to talk about Towton too.
-
I don't seem to be able to leave this alone. I thought I'd done after my
analysis of aspects of Boardman's book on Towton, however I have on the
Society...
Vamps lead the League!
-
News from northern Australia where Bloodbowl coach 'Right Stuff" Reilly
sits proudly at the top of the standings with his still undefeated Vampire
team!
...
Sharp Practice: A Hero in Peril at Roganjosh!
-
Back to a turbulent India with Phil and Andy, and another *Sharp Practice*
game was the British race to rescue Colonel Flashman, captured by the
Pandies an...
Don't wake the dragon!
-
We tried a new scenario recently for *Oathmark*. It was basically a meeting
engagement, but when you arrive at the battlefield, you find a dragon
slumber...
15mm is Back! +Tanks
-
*Why 15mm are great: *
Firstly, they are pretty kid-proof/cheap. A fall from the table may
separate them off a base but rarely cause damage unlike a resi...
15mm is Back! +Tanks
-
*Why 15mm are great: *
Firstly, they are pretty kid-proof/cheap. A fall from the table may
separate them off a base but rarely cause damage unlike a resi...
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...
2024 in review
-
The best laid plans, as they say, once again... (and we'll see how 2025's
plans look in the next post!)
There's a big 'ole right outside
my bedroom window...
Postponed - A Clash of Demons - CosCon 2020
-
Due to the coronavirus chaos, I'm going to withdraw this game and run it at
a later con. I am also developing another scenario using more of the
city-kille...
Click to embiggen: a perfectly cromulent word. I always wondered what was the difference between a wood and a forest, or a jungle. So now I...
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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