I Got a Book Cover!

J. King · Oct 29, 2021

Excuse me while I totally hyperventilate. I have my first book cover! I'm so terrified that no one will like it or that no one will give the book a fair chance.

I hope you guys like it! I don't even know how many years have led up to this moment, but it feels like a lifetime.

Wish me luck in spreading the Word!
Jim

Michie · Oct 29, 2021

J. King said:
Excuse me while I totally hyperventilate. I have my first book cover! I'm so terrified that no one will like it or that no one will give the book a fair chance.

I hope you guys like it! I don't even know how many years have led up to this moment, but it feels like a lifetime.

View attachment 307838

Wish me luck in spreading the Word!
Jim

What is the cover meant to represent?

J. King · Oct 30, 2021

Michie said:
What is the cover meant to represent?

Well, the book is about lambs on a space ship. Kinda weird, I know. But it's a murder mystery in space. The main character's best friend is accused of murder, so she's got to solve the murder to save her friend.

Does the image directly represent the story? Perhaps not perfectly, but hopefully it will be enough to get people to look.

Ugh. You don't think this will be a fiasco, do you?

Michie · Oct 30, 2021

J. King said:
Well, the book is about lambs on a space ship. Kinda weird, I know. But it's a murder mystery in space. The main character's best friend is accused of murder, so she's got to solve the murder to save her friend.

Does the image directly represent the story? Perhaps not perfectly, but hopefully it will be enough to get people to look.

Ugh. You don't think this will be a fiasco, do you?

I do not know enough about it to say. But I found it odd that a lamb’s head was depicted on a black astronaut.

SkyWriting · Oct 30, 2021

J. King said:
Excuse me while I totally hyperventilate. I have my first book cover! I'm so terrified that no one will like it or that no one will give the book a fair chance.

I hope you guys like it! I don't even know how many years have led up to this moment, but it feels like a lifetime.

View attachment 307838

Wish me luck in spreading the Word!
Jim

There are plenty of reading forums who will evaluate your book and offer feedback.
Nobody will read it without extensive marketing on your part.

Michie · Oct 30, 2021

I see the body is Mae Jemison. You might need permission to use her image in this way.

J. King · Oct 30, 2021

SkyWriting said:
There are plenty of reading forums who will evaluate your book and offer feedback.
Nobody will read it without extensive marketing on your part.

Yeah, I've heard that it's a real nightmare to get anyone to notice your book with the zillions that are also up on Amazon. Why would anyone ever notice mine, right?

Do you know if any reading forum is interested in Christian books specifically? I don't even know where to start finding one.

J. King · Oct 30, 2021

Michie said:
I see the body is Mae Jemison. You might need permission to use her image in this way.

View attachment 307845

Yeah, when you buy stock image art, you're paying for permission to use them.

SkyWriting · Oct 30, 2021

J. King said:
Yeah, I've heard that it's a real nightmare to get anyone to notice your book with the zillions that are also up on Amazon. Why would anyone ever notice mine, right?

Do you know if any reading forum is interested in Christian books specifically? I don't even know where to start finding one.

Most people on Amazon are not browsing. You need to splash your book cover on sites where people are reading. For example, I don't know what your book is about based on the cover.

The Official List of Harper’s Fall 2020 YA Book Covers

SkyWriting · Oct 30, 2021

J. King said:
Yeah, I've heard that it's a real nightmare to get anyone to notice your book with the zillions that are also up on Amazon. Why would anyone ever notice mine, right?

Do you know if any reading forum is interested in Christian books specifically? I don't even know where to start finding one.

You need to become the EXPERT at promoting and finding readers.
You can give away your book in exchange for a review.
Top 20 Christian Forums, Discussion and Message Boards

J. King · Oct 30, 2021

SkyWriting said:
Most people on Amazon are not browsing. You need to splash your book cover on sites where people are reading. For example, I don't know what your book is about based on the cover.

They do browse but typically it's (non-fiction) "I want to learn how to X" or (fiction) "I like books by Y, what else have they written?" kinds of browsing. Neither helps me.

As I understand it, in only a few genres does the front cover need to explain what the book is about. The "rules" as I've read them are:

The front cover must be interesting/intriguing/shocking/surprising enough to make the reader pick it up off the shelf and read the back cover.
The back cover must be interesting/intriguing/shocking/surprising enough to make the reader open the book and read the first 500 words.
The first 500 words must be interesting/intriguing/shocking/surprising enough to make the reader buy the book.
The book must be interesting/intriguing/shocking/surprising enough to make the reader buy the sequel.

But regardless, the book is finally live now. If anyone has found the front cover interesting/intriguing/shocking/surprising enough, you can find the book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KN7Y8QH

You can download more than the first 500 words to your Kindle reader or by clicking the "Look Inside" thinggy.

Thanks,
Jim

P.S. Aaaaaaaaaand I see a type-o on the cover. Awesome. Now I've got to see if that can be changed or if it will be wrong forever.

P.P.S Now I get to learn how to market a book. I just know I'm going to hate this, but thanks everyone for your support and prayers! Regardless of what lays ahead, it's thrilling to get to this point. And if you do read any of the story, I'd love to hear what you think of it!

SkyWriting · Oct 30, 2021

J. King said:
They do browse but typically it's (non-fiction) "I want to learn how to X" or (fiction) "I like books by Y, what else have they written?" kinds of browsing. Neither helps me.

As I understand it, in only a few genres does the front cover need to explain what the book is about. The "rules" as I've read them are:

The front cover must be interesting/intriguing/shocking/surprising enough to make the reader pick it up off the shelf and read the back cover.

The back cover must be interesting/intriguing/shocking/surprising enough to make the reader open the book and read the first 500 words.

The first 500 words must be interesting/intriguing/shocking/surprising enough to make the reader buy the book.

The book must be interesting/intriguing/shocking/surprising enough to make the reader buy the sequel.

But regardless, the book is finally live now. If anyone has found the front cover interesting/intriguing/shocking/surprising enough, you can find the book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KN7Y8QH

You can download more than the first 500 words to your Kindle reader or by clicking the "Look Inside" thinggy.

Thanks,
Jim

P.S. Aaaaaaaaaand I see a type-o on the cover. Awesome. Now I've got to see if that can be changed or if it will be wrong forever.

P.P.S Now I get to learn how to market a book. I just know I'm going to hate this, but thanks everyone for your support and prayers! Regardless of what lays ahead, it's thrilling to get to this point. And if you do read any of the story, I'd love to hear what you think of it!

Every book is a dud and lost without promotions.
Chicken soup for the soul had 36 months on promotions. But generally you have 3 months before publication and 3 months following, and that's the only time you'll get attention from media.
Blogs, magazines, and even TV.

I can inform you on how to get TV interviews.
If you dig around, you can listen to his podcasts free.
https://www.guaranteedcelebrity.com/

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