Tout your Kindle and E-Publishing!

You can change the cover of an ebook pretty easily without messing with anything else. I had a short story that wasn't selling at all and I changed the cover on it because that was the easiest fix (and it worked...).

You can change the cover of an ebook pretty easily without messing with anything else. I had a short story that wasn't selling at all and I changed the cover on it because that was the easiest fix (and it worked...).

Cool! That's good to know! Thanks, Annie!

I'm certainly not skilled in Photoshop (though I'm trying to learn) -- and this thread's about touting not how-to'ing --but a quickee comment would be: I've never had the Photoshop magic lasso cut (if I'm thinking of the right tool?) something from a layer without leaving artifacts; I just use the manual eraser tool, blow it up huge and erase the outline by hand (yeah, it takes a while, but can be flawless).

Exactly what I did, actually (except with PSP).

Here's what I think you're seeing (though again, I can't see it, so this is a guess)... I first extracted the bell from its background using the magic lasso. I pasted it onto a white background. Then I very meticulously (for me) zoomed in and used the eraser to take out all the obvious off-color edge pixels. Then I ran a low-strength filter to blend the edge to the background. As best I could tell, all of the original background was gone.

Then I used the lasso again to select the bell out from the white. This time I had a pretty clean image, I think. But now when I paste that image as a layer over the gradient background (remember, my original background was white), some of the edge-blend pixels that were "correct" against white weren't correct against the shades of gray. And with your superior eyes, you're picking that out.

So my thinking is: if I merge those two layers, I can once again run the low-strength filter to blend the edges with the background. I hadn't wanted to do that, because as separate layers, it's easier to move things around. (Honestly, the one critique I expected, no one has made: the disproportionately large gap between the bell and the title vs. the bell and my name). But if you can see artifacts there and Stewart can see artifacts there, I have to believe there are artifacts there, no matter what my eyes tell me. So a filter and blend is the best answer there.

The smearing on the bell just seems very wrong to my eye (I thought that's what you were having to do, to get rid of reflections on the bell). If the handle hits someone else as wrongly-angled, the loss of a horizon is fooling the eye possibly.

Maybe I need a new bell photo. Maybe I'll have to take my own (but we no longer own the original bell that inspired my idea).

Or maybe Stewart's right, and the bell's not narrative enough, so no need to salvage it.

Hey guys, just started a new topic here: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1136 for cover critiques. That way whoever wants to workshop their covers has a place to, and we don’t run the risk of offering pointers on finished work if someone isn’t looking for it. Here it seems like we should focus on the actual up-and-for-sale aspect (though we all know I love a good thread-derail).

And yes, I put it in the little used artist’s subforum. Figured it would be a good chance to get a dialogue going between the artists and writers. I know we rarely pop over there now, so I think it would be a good idea to announce in another thread (like here, maybe) that we’ve got something up for critique. Just until the topic gets steady traffic.

And if anyone has any more guidelines they think should go in the first post, let me know.

It's a great idea for a very very helpful thread, Marina! Thanks for creating it !!!

And yes, I put it in the little used artist’s subforum. Figured it would be a good chance to get a dialogue going between the artists and writers. I know we rarely pop over there now

Well ... I'll be honest: if writers do indeed lack a dialogue with the artists doing their cover art (and I like to think it ain't necessarily so) ... that's to both their disadvantages ... but more so to the writers' misfortune.

It's the writer's book that won't be selling if the lousy cover turns people off, after all ...

The artist may suck, but they've presumably done their best, gotten their exposure, been paid (ha! we are a fantasy crowd, right?) It's the writer who wonders "Why aren't people picking my book up and reading how good it is?" and selling poorly!

And all anyone has to do is take a tour through all the e-books up for sale out their in self-pub world ... to see examples of the books that will seldom sell or be read because their cover art is so amateurish and sucky!

"That book you just spent a year of your life writing?
Well, I just finished the cover art, dude!"

Go there: Marina's thread is a great opportunity to help WRITERS create great, book-selling covers!

I think Ms. Nobu is onto something, publishing all her shorts. The world of e-publishing is now opening up the door for the novelette and novella. The novella especially hasn't had much of a place in the traditional world for a long time. Really, e-pubbing your shorts can be excellent advertising for your general writing skills as an author. And those shorts that are self-contained excerpts from novels . . . well, those can be a really excellent way of advertising for the novels, whether you get those novels traditionally published (any agents? editors? on this board???), indie e-published, or a combo (depending on what rights you can broker with these trad. hard-headed editors).

I just realized I have 9 novelettes/novellas, of at least WotF HM quality, that need covers then!!! And unless it's OCKT art, all the adult stuff of Maddy Dune quality or better can take my slow butt up to a month to create . . . each!!!

Well, I suppose if I can squeeze a moment between the kids, and the house, and the endless chores, and the novel writing, and the illustrating for OCKT 2, and the marketing of OCKT 1, I can get a-crackin.' It could be totally worth it. Especially if the covers looked like this (only vertical) :

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=165816366780648&set=a.109141365781482.12616.100000568578557&type=3&theater

One of my 3 winning submissions to this contest. Muhahaha! Double . Maybe I could even write stories around my three winning submissions. I mean, I *created* stories into the art as I rendered each illus. Else wise, they wouldn't have that grab-you factor. No story behind the illus = no interest . . . well, unless your creating minimalist covers. But even they can tell a story if done right. Personally, I will forever be a much bigger fan of the grab-and-hold you covers, which is the kind of art I do. What does Megamind say? . . . oh yes . . . PRESENTATION!!!

Especially if the covers looked like this (only vertical) :

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=165816366780648&set=a.109141365781482.12616.100000568578557&type=3&theater

I always luv'd your tigers, Meghan!

And we're on the same wavelength on the 'I've got the illustration, and now I wanna write the story I was thinking of all the time I was drawing the illus!

I'd like your tiger story, I betcha!

Merrow, grrrrr . . . bam-bam-bam <from the sniper you didn't see perched behind that rock>!

In all seriousness, though, the story (brief synopsis anyway) behind "The Fields of Katun" is that these armored soldier dudes are offworlders. Why? Well, sweeping your eyes past their armor, take a load of the breathing apparatuses they're wearing. Air purification or filtration systems, maybe O2 tanks (maybe they breath something other than oxygen), who knows. But their helmets serve a multiple function. The tanks and their hoses would be fabricated of a bulletproof (or cauterizing proof) alloy . . . or else they're stupid, or their Acquisitions Department is stupid. Or the author is stupid. . Otherwise, puncture an O2 tank and a guy is done; his helmet alone probably only has 20 minutes of oxygen in it to last him in that case. If the author decides the breathing apparatuses are a filtration system, on the other hand, a puncture isn't as big of a deal. I mean, maybe the planet these soldier dudes are on has a thin atmosphere and they need to supplement their air . . . but *could* exist without it.

Anywhoo, they come from either an ocean or sky-based civilization. Hence the blue gages, meters, and forcefield actuators all over their otherwise all-environments camouflaged plate armor. The slightly reflective quality of the armor itself breaks them up against a terrain (or sky) better than a pixilated grey. But they're *really* shiny here because of the intensity of the triple suns.

They're a LRRP, actually--a long range reconnaissance patrol. See, they've domesticated these (obviously) native cats not just for some coolness factor. But so that they can go low tech. They use their armor to break up their heat signatures, but they otherwise kill all other signals, so as to avoid ground (or air) detection. Without signal--from say a radar or other navigation device--they'd be a moot point. So, enter the cats:

These pusses have more than 9 lives. Not only do the fins on their spines and tails help to stabilize them as they leap from precipitous cliff to precipitous rock, making them virtually impossible to off kilter, they act as radars. Their fins can pick up vibration near to the ground for up to several hundred kilometers away (very powerful). It's how they hunt. Tus they are the natural LRRPS animal.

So this begs the question (for the concoction of a story): why the LRRP in the first place? Why must they go low tech? How did they domesticate these cats? (notice the point-man has claw marks on his breastplate?)? Etc. BTW: you can totally pick out the different ranks and functions of the soldiers (i.e. squad leader is on the rightmost cliff signaling the halt. Sniper is on the other one. Heavy weapons specialist has the big guns.). And if you look REAL close, you can even tell the boy cats from the girls!!! The boys are bigger. (There are more girls).

Yeah, that is about the usual amount of though process I put into any piece of art without a written story to back it up. Hence why 95% of all my art IS already based on stories I've written or are writing. These three submission pieces (plus one or two more I have) were done just to win IotF.

Yayyyyyy! I finally have an e-story to toot, too!

http://www.amazon.com/EXORCIST-EMILY-AGE-ebook/dp/B006HZJ2JW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1323133287&sr=8-4

____________________________________________________________________________________________

THE EXORCIST & EMILY, AGE 5
$.99 -- A short story of 1000 words

Product Description

Not every Horror Story has to take place in a dark and decaying mansion, full of eerie hallways and dark bedrooms, or secret attics echoing with sin and sorrow ... all haunted by the tortured ghosts of the murdered and the dead.

No ... Sometimes the most soul-chilling nightmares come to us, wrapped not in dank and cob-webbed funeral shrouds ... but disguised in bright cheerful daylight, and hidden in plain sight among the littlest and most innocent of things that fill our humdrum everyday life.

'I will show you fear in a handful of dust ...' T. S. Eliot warns us in his classic poem The Wasteland.
True, to those who see it, there is horror in every mote of mortal sand that falls away through every human hourglass ... as all we are is forever lost into eternity.

But here is a quiet tiny tale to chill the reader's soul not with screams ... but with whispers and children's off-key singing. And here it begins not in a cemetery full of weeping, but at a beautiful little girl's fifth birthday party, filled with happy children's laughter and shouts of glee.

For Emily Angela is about to unwrap a very unexpected birthday gift that has some dark and disturbing surprises waiting beneath its ribbons and bows!
Do we dare look inside?

And all those tiny bright flames we see jumping and swirling up off the candles all across Emily Angela's birthday cake? Why do we suddenly wonder if witches in Dark Ages danced with the same mad frenzy of doom and damnation and delight ... as they were tied to their burning stake?

Come! You are invited to a Birthday Party!

Come even closer!
Don't be shy!
The beautiful and terrifying Emily Angela, age five ...
is waiting to show you ... her Big Surprise!
________________________________________________________________________________________

A companion illustration

Yay, Scott! Arresting cover art, and wow: what a description. Very evocative. I'm hooked.

(BTW: It cost me $3.44 in the Netherlands -- I'm not completely sure on this, but I think somewhere you can indicate that the $0.99 price is worldwide.)

Yay, Scott! Arresting cover art, and wow: what a description. Very evocative. I'm hooked.

(BTW: It cost me $3.44 in the Netherlands -- I'm not completely sure on this, but I think somewhere you can indicate that the $0.99 price is worldwide.)

There's only two things Scott can't stand: intolerance, and the Dutch.

Out of curiosity: who amongst us here only buys Kindle books via the Amazon site? AKA: should fellow forum members not announce an eBook until it's up on Amazon, regardless of what other retailers and venues its avalible at (even if in Kindle format)? The reason I'm asking is that Amazon, as basically the first real venue for eBooks, is still apparently the be-all, end all. .

Consider this a market study.

Scott, your images never cease to amaze.

Out of curiosity: who amongst us here only buys Kindle books via the Amazon site? AKA: should fellow forum members not announce an eBook until it's up on Amazon, regardless of what other retailers and venues its avalible at (even if in Kindle format)? The reason I'm asking is that Amazon, as basically the first real venue for eBooks, is still apparently the be-all, end all. .

Consider this a market study.

I'll admit: if it's not on Amazon, it's effectively invisible to me. I know the routine there, and all my payment information and everything are all set up. Shopping there is effortless for me (which is exactly what they want: an effortless pipeline from my wallet to theirs).

I'll admit: if it's not on Amazon, it's effectively invisible to me. I know the routine there, and all my payment information and everything are all set up. Shopping there is effortless for me (which is exactly what they want: an effortless pipeline from my wallet to theirs).

That's right, Martin, I forgotten you'd already said something of the sort earlier (maybe it was your subconscious voice whispering in my ear as I wrote that last post: GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!! )

Martin counts as one. One in favor of Amazon only eBooks. Anyone else.

<sits back to study the demographic >

I'll admit: if it's not on Amazon, it's effectively invisible to me. I know the routine there, and all my payment information and everything are all set up. Shopping there is effortless for me (which is exactly what they want: an effortless pipeline from my wallet to theirs).

That's right, Martin, I forgotten you'd already said something of the sort earlier (maybe it was your subconscious voice whispering in my ear as I wrote that last post: GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!! )

Martin counts as one. One in favor of Amazon only eBooks. Anyone else.

<sits back to study the demographic >

I should add... My brother is a Nook owner, and his situation is parallel: if it's not on Nook, it's invisible to him.

(My Mom is also a Kindle user, but she really doesn't count. She doesn't understand how to shop for the books, so I have to do all her Kindle shopping for her.)

I generally only buy from Amazon also, but I will grab things on Smashwords if they aren't on Amazon for some reason and I want the book.

I try to make sure my stuff is available as many places as possible as a rule. But I don't mind posting in the forum before that, since I don't really expect to make any sales off you guys. I more announce it as a squee than a "buy this" (and to show off my covers, because I love them).

I try to make sure my stuff is available as many places as possible as a rule.

I also intend (at a minimum) to put my stuff on Nook, and Sony once I figure it out. But I'm not going the Smashwords route because: A) I already figured out Kindle, and I started there; and B) I'm trying to do a dedicated version for each platform. For instance, my Kindle version also includes Kindle links to the two volumes of Digital SF that have my stories; and I think it's only polite that the Nook version should have Nook links, not Kindle links. In fact, the only thing holding up my Nook version is the Nook version of Digital SF 4 is somehow delayed.

But I don't mind posting in the forum before that, since I don't really expect to make any sales off you guys.

You might not expect it, but expect it. I won't say I've bought everything anyone has touted here; but generally if you've become a "personality" in my mind, I tend to buy what you post here.

I have a question on rights. I published a story in an anthology in 2009. my contract states "all other rights including but not limited to electronic rights reside with the author". I'm taking this to mean I can epublish it myself?

thanks

Thanks for the kind comment re the art, Meghan!

Answering your question, I'd say yes, I pretty much get my e-books and most deceased tree books thru Amazon!

You gotta understand how non-tech-curve I am, though. I have no Nook or Kindle, so what e- I read is all "Kindle for your PC" ... and on Amazon you can get yer $29.99 graphic novels used for $5-$10 even with postage ... so Amazon is where I shop. (Oh sure, there are the natives with their blow gun darts, and the piranha in the river lurks ... but the shrunken heads make good bookmarks)

I think we all luv sharing each other's enthusiasm and accomplishments at publishing a new piece, so of course we should announce and share here! But personally then I go to Amazon to "Look Inside" etc ...

I just wish Kindle gave the same tasty royalties that SmashWords does ... !

My whole marketing plan is to sell many at $.99 rather than fewer at $2.99 ... but KDP's 30% royalty on $.99 is unhappy, no doubting it!

First... I am not a lawyer. Never take legal advice from strangers you meet on the Internet.

Second... I haven't seen the full contract, just the little snippet you quoted. So my non-lawyer opinion might lack context.

Now with those two caveats out of the way...

I have a question on rights. I published a story in an anthology in 2009. my contract states "all other rights including but not limited to electronic rights reside with the author". I'm taking this to mean I can epublish it myself?

Yes, I think it means exactly that. And if it were me, I would be doing so ASAP. That's a perfect candidate for self-pub.

I also intend (at a minimum) to put my stuff on Nook, and Sony once I figure it out. But I'm not going the Smashwords route because: A) I already figured out Kindle, and I started there; and B) I'm trying to do a dedicated version for each platform. For instance, my Kindle version also includes Kindle links to the two volumes of Digital SF that have my stories; and I think it's only polite that the Nook version should have Nook links, not Kindle links. In fact, the only thing holding up my Nook version is the Nook version of Digital SF 4 is somehow delayed.

This is exactly why I am going through Smashwords as an umbrella distributor: to eliminate all this format/hyperlink/eBook version fuss. My personal motto: "keep it simple, stupid," lol, because I don't have the time or the tech-savvy brains of our clever and all-powerful Martin (huzzah! <img src=" ) to deal with everything individually. The point is to get exposure through as many venues as possible, and if I can get that all under one roof, I am all for it. (Just waiting for Amazon to get their $*&# together with Smashwords, but it's not a matter of 'if,' more a matter of 'when,' and that 'when' is soon, so I can certainly be patient ).

As it stands, Smashwords distributes ("successfully" and transparently, I might add) to the following retailers:
*Apple's iBookstore
*B&N
*Kobo
*Sony
*Diesel
*and, of course, through Smashwords itself, but I'm learning right now that Smashwords is more of a direct-people-to-it type deal, whereas Amazon, for example, has a huge market of casual browsers, along with that 'if-you-like-this-try-that' function, and 'other-customers-who-bought-this-also-bought-that' function.

We're just waiting on Amazon. That's the biggie. B&N I'd say is the second biggie. Then Kobo, then Apple, then the others. As it stands, The Land of OCKT is up at almost all the retailers, but I'm going to wait to post all the links until I have them all.

Later on, I'll do a party-it-up post when Amazon is on-line.

But I don't mind posting in the forum before that, since I don't really expect to make any sales off you guys.

You might not expect it, but expect it. I won't say I've bought everything anyone has touted here; but generally if you've become a "personality" in my mind, I tend to buy what you post here.

I agree with Martin. A little elf whispered to me that I might be getting a Nook Color for Christmas, so I am already making a list. You know, support the local talent. <img src=" . Besides, as for me posting, I might get lucky, and you might even *like* what I wrote <dreams big>.

I have a question on rights. I published a story in an anthology in 2009. my contract states "all other rights including but not limited to electronic rights reside with the author". I'm taking this to mean I can epublish it myself?

thanks

That is what I assume also.

I'm theoretically getting a Kindle for Christmas (well, almost certainly, given that I can't think of anything to ask for this year), but given that I'm looking into the future even to consider shopping for the format, I can't very well state my habits with any degree of confidence.

Data point for Meghan: I read e-books on my smartphone using the Kindle app, and buy exclusively through Amazon.

I am a Smashwords girl. I have never bought anything from Amazon full stop (paper or ebooks) save for the one book I had to buy in order to get tagging privileges at the site. It was more expensive than at the Book Depository, and I had to pay postage.

Amazon sucks eggs when you're not in the US.

But I agree with Annie at being in as many places as possible.

Today, I can tout my very first e-published short story! It's available at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/112310. I'm in the
"pending review" state, so for the time being, Smashwords is the only place to find it.

Thank you SO MUCH to everyone over in the Cover Art thread. You were incredibly helpful and I've learned a lot in a very little time, although I have a gazillion more things to learn. (Scott, I hope you don't mind, I incorporated a few of your ideas. If you want me to change it, please let me know.)

Today, I can tout my very first e-published short story! It's available at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/112310. I'm in the
"pending review" state, so for the time being, Smashwords is the only place to find it.

Wow, nice improvements!

Can't see anything wrong from my angle, Rebecca. Looks good. Then again, I'm usually an easy to please girl, unless there's something glaring. I like the bold reds .

Yeah, as much coverage as possible is the key. Looks just as I thought: Amazon is the biggie. And people are dedicated 100% to whatever retailer they already shop through, not too likely to change (easily). Ha, I used to work retail and customer service: the customer is always right. So, it's up to the author to make sales as painless and transparent as humanly possible . . . just waiting for mine to appear at B&N (already shipped there, but not appearing on their virtual shelves yet), Sony (not yet shipped), and, of course, or dear Amazon . . .

All inclusive announcement coming soon . . .

Amazon just fired a shot across B&N's bow. From an email I just received:

Hello from KDP!

We're excited to introduce KDP Select - a new option dedicated to KDP authors and publishers worldwide, featuring a fund of $500,000 in December 2011 and at least $6 million in total for 2012! KDP Select gives you a new way to earn royalties, reach a broader audience, and use a new set of promotional tools.

Here's how KDP Select works:

When you make any of your titles exclusive to the Kindle Store for at least 90 days, those with US rights will automatically be included in the Kindle Owners' Lending Library and can earn a share of a monthly fund. The monthly fund for December 2011 is $500,000 and will total at least $6 million in 2012. If you haven't checked it out already, the Kindle Owners' Lending Library is a collection of books that eligible US Amazon Prime members can borrow for free once a month with no due dates.

You'll also now have access to a new set of promotional tools, starting with the option to promote your KDP Select-enrolled titles for FREE for up to 5 days every 90 days.

How your share of the monthly fund is calculated:

Your share of the monthly fund is based on your enrolled titles' share of the total number of borrows across all participating KDP titles in the Kindle Owners' Lending Library. For example, if total borrows of all participating KDP titles are 100,000 in December and your book was borrowed 1,500 times, you will earn $7,500 in additional royalties from KDP Select in December. Enrolled titles will remain available for sale to any customer in the Kindle Store and you will continue to earn your regular royalties on those sales.

What this means to you:

KDP Select gives you access to a whole new source of royalties and readers- you not only benefit from a new way of making money, but you also get the chance to reach even more readers by getting your book in front of a growing number of US Amazon Prime customers: readers and future fans of your books that you may have not had a chance to reach before! Additionally, the ability to offer your book for free will help expand your worldwide reader base.

What does this mean? If you think people are likely to make your book their one borrow for the month, and you want to get a chance to get paid for that, you have to give Amazon a 90 day exclusive on your book. (To be fair, B&N is also trying to line up exclusives. It's the way the business is going right now.)

For me, right now, this doesn't matter. Nobody is going to waste their one free borrow per month on a 99 cent short story. They're going to save it for a $12 novel.

But for those of you publishing larger, higher-priced books, it's yet another factor to consider: do you try to maximize your potential on one platform, or do you try to maximize your reach across platforms?

(Scott, I hope you don't mind, I incorporated a few of your ideas. If you want me to change it, please let me know.)

HA! Not exactly my ideas anyway! "Maybe borders and a, um, visual sumthin' ...?"

But I'm glad we helped, the "cover workshop" thread idea was the great "idea"

I think you've built a snazzy cover for your book here, Rebecca!