It’s #writerwednesday and I wanted to share this teaser for my in progress novella, Welcome to Nightmare Academy (working title). Let me know what you guys think! #amwriting #writersofinstagram #yanovels
I also wrote a #blog post on why I love being an #indieauthor for @amazonkindle for the month of October’s #poweredbyindie initiative so be sure to check it out on authoranthonyavina.tumblr.com @tumblr
Hey guys, have you read my latest book review on my blog? It’s a review of @therealsjmaas and her book #throneofglass so be sure to check it out on authoranthonyavina.tumblr.com #bookstagram #📖
Is the cover really that important? YES. In a webpage or bookstore full of books that’s the one thing that will make your book stand out!
Common features to most covers:
1-If any characters are visible their faces are partial orhidden. You want to leave the character’s face to the imagination of the reader. As you can see above some characters are from behind or their faces are cut, but some are visible. I prefer hidden faces, it’s more intriguing 😉
2-The title and image have to be legible in a thumbnail size!
3-Do your research! Go to the library or a bookstore and look at your genre.What are the common features between bestselling books? For example YA books are colorful, and typically use many font types at once. They have many layers. Thrillers instead tend to be black, white and read, with minimal covers.
4- If you are working on a series, plan ahead and tie in all covers.There is nothing more infuriating than books in a series that don’t fit well together 😉
5-Think about the cover scene. It could be a scene from the book or a play on words, but it has to convey the mood of the book and not mislead your reader. Don’t put a half naked hunk on a horror, unless it’s a horror romance 😉
Some great covers of books I did not read and I have never heard of:
Why is this great? The tree-house tells me teen/kids, holding hands tells me romance/coming of age, the title is clearly legible, the illustration is pretty.
The black and white combined with the title suggests thriller/horror, the juxtaposition with Dorothy is funny and intriguing, the graphics are simple and catchy.
Here is what I did with my books:
The Italian village gives the setting, three boys and a girl on a tree (YA, tomboy), the scene seems funny and lighthearted but the black and white suggests a deeper tone.The yellow on the spine adds color and looks wonderful with the other books in the series.
In book 2 the darker color suggests maturation, the kiss and the moon hint at romance, but you can clearly tell our MC is still a kickass tomboy 😉
In book 3 the characters are older, and the graffiti on the wall suggests we are in Italy and, if you bother to check, “ti amo” means I love you. Did I mention the red? 😉
How long does it take to design a cover? The first one took me over a year because I had no idea what I was doing. But the other volumes in the series were a breeze because I already had a template 🙂
What programs did I use to design the cover? I used Adobe photoshop, which is really expensive, but I had available for work. Other (expensive) options are Adobe Illustrator, or Indesign. If you are broke you can use the free program available at Create Space or download the free, simplified version of Photoshop. Just make sure that your cover looks professional and awesome. If it does not, you might need to hire someone to help you! I know you’re likely broke (most writers tend to be) but you either give yourself the time to learn and make a mind blowing cover yourself or you need to invest cash in someone to do it for you.
Who am I to give you advice?
I was a little girl who was told she could not become a genetic engineer (not a “girl thing” ya know), and even less become a novelist in a country that was not her own.
Well, I am a genetic engineer, a researcher, a college professor, and a successful indie novelist, and I want to show you that if you want you can; I’m here to help ^_^
My books are available worldwide on Audible, Amazon, B&N, i-Tunes, Smashwords, and bookstores (ask to order them if they’re out!). Check them out and help me spread the word ^_^
GBA
Great blog post for you fellow authors out there. I really enjoyed it and have learned a lot for my future releases. Great work @gaiabamman
Powered by Indie: Why I Love Being An Indie Author
It’s not easy doing things on your own. Yet as many have said before me and as many will say once I’m long gone, nothing in life worth doing is easy. It’s these words that have kept me inspired to pursue a career as an author, and have kept me going all these years. Over time, my writing has improved and has grown, as have my ideas and ability to connect with readers and writers alike. The sense of community, of creative vision and of belonging have helped reinforce my belief in the written word, and that’s why in honor of Amazon’s month long celebration of indie writing, I thought I’d talk about why I love being an indie author.
There’s a very simple reason why I love being an indie author: I love having creative control over my story. While I dream of being able to work with a publisher someday, I love being able to decide how to develop my story. I like having a say in not just the story, but the direction I take the marketing and the way my story is formatted. When you have a creative vision, you like to have a sense of control over your final product, and with indie publishing you don’t have anyone to answer to in that regard.
Overall, I think I enjoy the deeper connection I feel with my readers as an indie author. I think indie authors have an added advantage of being closer to their audience because they come to it as readers themselves, and they are more in touch with what the average reader is looking for. I know my writing has improved greatly as a result of connecting with readers over the years, and that’s why I wouldn’t trade being an indie author for anything. Like I said, I hope to be able to work with a fantastic publishing company someday, and I actually have an opportunity to work with a great publisher in the coming year, which I’m looking forward to. However my career began in indie publishing, and I love the freedom that comes from having control and passion at your fingertips. That is why I love being an indie author, and I hope you aspiring authors out there will consider taking a shot on yourself and self-publish your book.
You fellow authors out there: why do you love being an indie author? And all you readers out there, who are some of your favorite indie authors? Leave your comments down below!
Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J. Maas Book Review:
Political intrigue, fantasy based action and a complex protagonist are the cornerstone of the bestselling novel, Throne of Glass, the first in the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Mass. The intricate world building that went into this first novel and the deeply layered mythology of the book really pulled me into this fantastic world. Here is the book synopsis:
After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.
Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king’s council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she’s bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her… but it’s the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.
Then one of the other contestants turns up dead… quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.
I really enjoyed the character development of Celaena Sardothien in this story. Rather than being just a one-dimensional assassin for hire, this story showcased the person underneath the hardened killer persona that this world has come to know. Getting to see the assassin that was trained for years struggle with the young woman filled with doubt, with emotion and with human compassion was a treat to behold, and a lot of YA fans will enjoy this character growth as well.
The pace of this novel was evenly done, and the incredible climax to the competition Celaena finds herself in will delight and shock readers. In the end, this is a perfect start to an incredible YA Fantasy series, and it’s one I cannot wait to dive more into with the rest of the series. If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend giving this book a read and diving into the Throne of Glass series by the amazing Sarah J. Maas.
Rating: 5/5 stars.
What are your thoughts on Throne of Glass? Leave your comments down below and let me know!
