So, I’ve had a thought that will probably end in disaster. As some people may have heard, I’m thinking of debuting a book of fantasy poems. Nobody heard this? Then I’ll fire my publicist . . . out of a cannon . . . into the sun . . . in his underwear.
Anyway, if my wife can get the cover art done this weekend, I’m thinking of a Memorial Day debut. Now, do people think this is a good idea or should I wait? People might not be looking for a new eBook on Memorial Day. It also might result in me not getting to test the cover art before it goes out.
For that matter, my wife and I are debating on if she should do a computer graphic or it would work to make a physical cover then scan it into the computer.
Any thoughts on this would be helpful and appreciated.
Legends of Windemere 
Fortune Favors The Bold! I say, go for it, and remember that you can always edit the e-book and the cover later, should it be warranted.
LikeLike
Thanks. I just need to get the cover art. I might let my wife (the visual artist) get her way and do a physical that I scan in. It’s supposed to look like a leather field journal that’s been mauled by wild animals. She mentioned slime too.
LikeLike
You can’t go wrong with slime.
LikeLike
I think if you want a Memorial Day release, then go for it. It might get more attention because everyone is off and looking for something new to read. As for the cover art, a digital rendering would be easier and have better quality. If you need any help let me know.
LikeLike
Thanks. My wife wants to try her hand at it, but she’s pushing for the physical and a scan. I’d hate for her to go through all that and it looks bad. We’ll probably talk more about it tonight after she’s carted home.
LikeLike
First of all, I think its a cool idea. Do it. Second, usually computer graphics translate better into covers, but I would go with whatever design you like the best. Third, Luke is at the academy now and I have a feeling shenanigans are about to ensue.
LikeLike
Shenanigans are definitely about to ensue.
The cover art is all that’s missing. I tried to make something and it simply didn’t work. As Misha said, I can let my wife try the physical one and scan it first. If it looks bad, I’ll still put the book out and give her time to make a digital one. This is going to be a test of a low advertising book through KDP Select, so I’m up for putting more experimentation into it.
LikeLike
I think it’s a great idea! I would love to read that! 🙂
Personally, I think it’s very depending on the cover that you are thinking of rather or not to make it on the computer. Sometimes, a physical cover will make it just a little more special. But a cover made on the computer could make it more profesional looking.
I am thinking about making a book with my poems also, but for now I am chickening out. 🙂
Hugzzzz! (you did like the ‘Z’!) 😉
LikeLike
Great ‘z’ usage. And you should definitely make a book of poems with your pictures.
I was just reminded that we scanned and posted the cover for Beginning of a Hero when it was on Createspace. Nobody has noticed and the quality remains the same.
LikeLike
I say go for it. If I were in your shoes, later I would be kicking myself for not grabbing the moment and taking advantage of my own momentum.
LikeLike
Thanks. I’ll get my partner in crime to work hard this weekend.
LikeLike
my advice is publish,,, publish,,, publish,,,
LikeLike
Thanks. Hopefully, things run smoothly.
LikeLike
No thoughts, but Im pulling for you. Must be exciting.
JIm
LikeLike
Thanks. Support is always appreciated.
LikeLike
😉
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Spontaneous Creativity.
LikeLike
Well, Memorial Day, isn’t that one of those holidays when people are likely to be out and about, BBQing and what not? I ask because I don’t celebrate holidays, really… Which sounds lame, thinking about it. Disregard that. Um, holiday sells are good, but I’d bear in mind that people might not actually be out and about.
On the cover, digital renderings are great. What are the pros and cons of hand-drawing and scanning versus going all digital? Well, that depends entirely on your technique and the dpi of your scanner. A digital rendering is not necessarily a higher quality than a scan. That’s all a matter of dpi of your scan vs. dpi of your digital rendering. If your wife draws it, will it be inked over, colored, then scanned? When it’s scanned, will it be cleaned up digitally? If not, I’d say go digital all the way and save the time. The next question is, what do you sacrifice by not testing the cover before it goes out? Your cover is the first face of your work. And regardless of what people say, your book is judged by your cover at first glance, even online. So, is this a project that you can sacrifice not testing the cover on before release? If yes, I’d say go for it, all the way. If no, I wouldn’t do it, and hold off until the cover is finish, that way you’re putting out the highest quality product possible (cover + content).
I’m sure you and your wife have this handled easily enough, though. Sounds like some epic teamwork, and you can’t go wrong with teamwork! 🙂
LikeLike
I was thinking about the fact that everyone will be out too. It was mentioned by someone on this side of the laptop that people might download a quick book in the morning before reading outside. Also, people might want a book if it rains. All situational, but there could be something behind that. I’m sure the good weather factor will pose some trouble.
She’s going to be scrapbooking a cover and our scanner does a pretty good job in terms of quality. I’d love to test it, but if I want the Memorial Day debut then that won’t be an option. This project is some major experimentation and we can make a new cover to use at a later date. I want to see how a low/none advertising book will do under KDP Select. If my wife can finish the cover by Saturday night then I’ll post up a picture on Sunday to get some feedback.
Truthfully, it’s already looking like this isn’t going to happen by Memorial Day. My wife needs the night to work on this, but the toddler has decided that sleep is no longer on his ‘to-do’ list. He times these things for when deadlines are coming. We’ll see what happens.
LikeLike
Sounds like you’ve it pretty well handled either way it goes, man. Whatever you do, good luck with it and here’s to a successful outcome!
LikeLike
Thanks. I think my wife is already threatening to delete Inkscape if it doesn’t bow before her. Not sure if that’s a good or bad sign. I know it means I stay out of the basement until the cursing stops.
LikeLike
LMAO. Ah, I know the feeling. Which led me to delete GIMP. Lol. Sounds like a wise move, my friend (staying out of the basement).
LikeLike
Yup. Now I’m not sure what to do. It’s too late in the day to write a book section and I finished my future series planning for the week. This has to be the definition of author problems.
LikeLike
Well, I understand, you started with “I’ve had a thought that will probably end in disaster.” Is that the actual consequence, I mean, if you don’t get this out by Memorial Day? Or maybe I’m not understanding correctly. See, the impression I get from this project is that it’s something that you want to put out, and you’re aware of the potential risks, but those risks are negligible because they don’t affect any bottom-line of yours beyond the time you’ve expended putting your work together. So, if you don’t get this out by Memorial Day, and put it out later, besides a possible increased sales volume (which, as you mentioned, still has it’s own risks because while people might decide to purchase a book to read, people might not, and even if they do, you’ve got other factors against you) what do you lose? If you do lose something, is it a qualitative loss or quantitative? I mean, you seem excited to put this collection out, but is it necessarily the right time? I might be misunderstanding. I’ve got this bad habit of over-analyzing things sometimes.
LikeLike
Truthfully, all I would lose by missing Memorial Day is Memorial Day. The poems are good to go and have been that way for a few years. I never really thought about publishing it until I got positive reactions to a few that I put out. All that’s missing is the cover art. When I thought up the Memorial Day debut, it was probably 10 minutes before I made this post and an hour after I asked my wife to do the cover art. If I miss the deadline then ‘oh well’ and I’ll release the book once the cover art is ready. I’m really laid back on this one right now.
LikeLike
I got ya. Man, Charles, you’re better at this stuff than I could be. I think I would have gone crazy before now. Mostly because my organizational skills are horrible.
LikeLike
I think I’m nearly OCD with this stuff, but most of it I’m making up as I go along. Publishing poetry seems to be tougher than novels, so we’ll see what happens.
LikeLike
Hmmm…you seem to question the readiness of your project, Charles. Is there some reason you want it to be Memorial Day? Can you get it all done as you would want by that date? Will it be proofed for reading? It’s hard to say. If you feel ready, go for it.
Ellespeth
LikeLike
I really question my wife’s ability to get the cover art done in time. I love her, but deadlines are her kryptonite. I’m aiming for Memorial Day because the holiday might bring about more sales and fanfare. The book is a short collection of poems that I’ve read over and edited for a few years. They’ve just been sitting on my computer for the last two because my illustrator lost his mojo before we got started. If I can’t make Memorial Day then I’ll just do it whenever.
LikeLike
Go for it!!! Great idea! You can rely on me to purchase a copy, that’s for sure!! 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks. I might only be able to get the eBook up in time for Memorial Day. Though, so far my wife hasn’t been able to touch the cover art. Might be cutting it close with the timing.
LikeLike
Cool, well keep us posted! 🙂
LikeLike
With any luck, I can do a big post on Monday morning. I’m really hoping I can get the cover out for a preview on Saturday, but it’s not looking too good.
LikeLike
I think it is a tremendous idea, Charles, I love the idea of fantasy poetry and you and i have already discussed the merits of such. Memorial day is as good a day as any, I doubt sales would suffer with the right kind of promotion, I hope your publicist knows what they’re doing as you deserve more attention. It has been a sincere pleasure getting to know you and your writing, Charles, I wish you every success with the project. Keep smiling and keep writing, regards, Baldy 🙂
LikeLike
My publicist is the voice in my head, which means it has no clue what is going on. I think it’s been distracted by pretty firing neurons lately. This is going to be a test of low promotion style. I’m going to do a few free things, but I want to see how something like this will do on its own.
LikeLike
I love the idea of the book becoming available on Memorial day. I think that’s awesome! As for the cover, I can’t help you there. I’ve seen your wife’s scrapbook work, so I think whatever the two of you come up with will be awesome!
LikeLike
Thanks. Fingers crossed that I can debut on Memorial Day.
LikeLike
I’ll be watching for it! 🙂
LikeLike
Just my opinion, but I think the physical cover and scan would be most appropriate for this genre of poetry book. I can’t really lay my finger on why other than the fact that I like the “Legends” cover and I think something along those lines would work best. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks. We’re going to try that first and if it fails after a while, my wife will have time to do a digital. Maybe. We still haven’t figured that part out yet.
LikeLike
We don’t have Memorial Day over here in the UK so I can’t really provide a useful comment. So why am I commenting?? Oh yes, cover art. If your wife did the cover art that is on your blog page then you are married to a very talented lady and I would go with whatever she suggests – we women always know best! 🙂
LikeLike
That cover art comes from her cousin. My wife is a scrapbooker and she did my convention displays. She does have a scrapbook blog: http://myscrapmuseis.wordpress.com/
She is talented though.
LikeLike
I’ll go take a look. 🙂
LikeLike
Fantasy poems will be interesting. I’ll look for it.
LikeLike
Thanks. If people like the cover art that I debut tonight then it should be available on Memorial Day. At least in eBook form.
LikeLike