Publishing Tips from 5 Rainbows - May 19, 2008
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Publishing Tips Newsletter
presented by Five Rainbows Services for Authors & Publishers
your 9-1-1 service for writing and publishing projects
Be sure to try out our f r e e How-to-Publish Quiz at FiveRainbows.com. The answer might surprise you!
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This week let's discuss book covers.
Don’t judge a book by its cover, right? Wrong. Everyone does just that. What’s the first thing you see when cruising the shelves in a bookstore? The spine, which is part of the cover (most books are shelved spine-out). It had better be readable from six feet away and have a title that grabs you and pulls you in closer. Next, a curious browser will take the book down and look at the front cover, giving it maybe 10 seconds to earn their interest with that title, an intriguing or explanatory subtitle, and dynamite graphics. If it fails, your potential reader will just put it back. If it succeeds, your would-be customer will turn it over and read the back cover, giving it maybe 20 seconds to convince them to open the book and see what’s inside.
For a nonfiction book, only then will the browser take time to look at the table of contents and, if that interests them, flip through the book for photos, eye-catching headlines and sub-heads, and general layout, maybe pausing to read a paragraph here or there.
So your book’s cover better do three things within those critical first few seconds – grab their attention, intrigue them, and give them a reason to look further.
Your book cover is, therefore, another key element in your book’s success and one that should never be done on the cheap.
A good artist may or may not be a good cover designer. There’s a lot more to creating a good, effective book cover than just good artwork. And be careful if you, or your designer, use stock photos or artwork, as the photo or art you choose might be found on other book covers as well. Do you really want to find your cover art on somebody else’s book?
(Adapted from part of a lesson in our e-mail Self-Publishing Success Program. Act now to get our Introductory $149 price!)
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Here are the latest postings on my View From the Publishing Trenches blog:
Book Thieves - Heroes or Villains?
Digital thieves should not be labeled “pirates” with all its phony romantic overtones. They are, pure and simple, thieves without the talent, skill, or patience to create anything. They should all punished publicly and shunned. Let them learn how to make an honest living, rather than stealing the fruits of others’ labors.
Read more...Are traditional bookstores doomed?
Bookstore sales supposedly are up. Over 100 independent brick-and-mortar bookstores opened each year for the past three. Many indie bookstores close very year. Big box stores and Amazon sell a lot of books at deep discounts. So what’s going on?
Read more...
Amazon Distracted by NY State?
Amazon has gone awfully quiet lately after the storm they stirred up a couple months ago over digital (print-on-demand) printing and Amazon access. Now, they’re fighting with NY state over collection of sales tax. Are they being distracted from further attacks on independent publishers?
Read more...
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To view samples of the book covers we have designed, plus samples of the interior designs, visit our website's sample page.
For quality editing by experienced editors and publishers for whom English is our native language, request a f r e e price quote and sample edit from Five Rainbows Services using our simple online form.
And don't overlook our Penny-Pinching Options, which include a Stock Art Option for book cover design.
May 19th, 2008 at 8:00 am
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