U.K. Model, Zoe Harrington has signed on to be the face in the forthcoming YA novel by Thomas Amo, entitled, FOREVER ME.
Creating the right cover for a book is important, as it sets the tone, but finding the right face is crucial to giving the book a life of its own.
Many authors don't like to use models to represent the face of their main character as they feel sometimes it stifles the reader's mental idea of what that particular character looks like. The argument might be, write good details and the readers won't need a face, but me personally, I am drawn to covers that use a face. It's no different than a movie poster, it is an enticement to draw a prospective viewer or reader in this case. Not that I can't imagine the characters in my mind but if the author has decided to show me, and I'm agreeable to it, then all the better for me as I dig into the story.
I'm sure there are as many books that do just fine with a plain cover, but me personally, I want to give the reader a serious reason to want to pick up my work, and let's face it (no pun intended) who doesn't like a pretty face?
Zoe is an author as well and she totally gets the idea of knowing what your characters look like from the outset. I was thrilled beyond words when she agreed to become the face of sixteen-year old, Hannah Richards. We talked about what Hannah was like, and her habits, then we shared some ideas and the result is going to be a gorgeous cover. The book is scheduled for a Spring 2012 release, pending edits. It is ironic that a model named Zoe is going to be the face of my next female lead considering my last novel is titled An Apple For Zoe. And yes there have been times where I nearly called her Hannah because whenever I think of Hannah, I see Zoe...I suppose the good thing is the model for An Apple For Zoe wasn't named Hannah! Then I'd really be a mess.
Last week I did a free promo for my sixties spy comedy, "Let's Get Lade." This was my second time doing a Kindle select free promo. It's a wild ride in no uncertain terms. It seemed so strange to cheer for your book to be given away for free. Now didn't I get into publishing to make a living? So why would I be excited about giving my work away for free? Well in a blog several blogs ago, I talked about how freebies sometimes are the just the thing that makes your product buyable! It doesn't make any sense to me, but I suppose in a way, it's a way to let people give your writing a try, see if they want to read more of your work. I hope the readers do feel it was worth it. (even though they didn't have to pay for it.) However value isn't just placed in dollars is it? Time is valuable too. How many times do we stand in line, sit at a very long red light and lament about how we've been robbed of precious minutes of life we can never get back. Many readers feel this way too when they've invested themselves in a book that doesn't live up to it's promise.
Our world is becoming so very tied together now, it seems if we make a major blunder, basically everyone with a twitter or Facebook will know about it in less than five minutes. If readers don't like us, it will take no time to watch the fire of word of mouth spread. While the internet is an amazing thing...it's still word of mouth (fingers a typing) that drives it all. So that being said...once people found out I had a free book...man did they ever go hog wild on the downloads.
Suddenly I felt like my book was a Wonka Bar! About every 15 minutes another 100 copies was downloaded. All I kept thinking was..damn what if this was paid? This must be what it feels like to be J.A. Konrath, lol. Anyway before the end of the first day I found out...I had cracked the coveted Top 100! There was my name at #49! Not only had I got into the Top 100 I was in the Top 50!
For some this is like Kindle Lottery...it makes their books take off. My first time I didn't make it into the top 100. First time I only saw 1505 downloads. This time I was 73 shy of 7000 downloads. WOW.
I have to give the bulk of that credit to ENT. (Ereader News Today)
with their amazing 240k followers on FB, they really made a difference. I am hoping the sales will continue. I have to say even for the Free Store it sure does feel good to be one of the writers that got to experience that!
Thank you everyone who grabbed a copy, shared a link or retweeted me! Now most importantly...I hope you like the book!
Back in the Prehistoric Era, tickets were required for each of the attractions and rides at Disneyland. The ticket books were alphabetized from A to E, indicating the level and/or appeal in ascending order. A was reserved for most kiddie rides or something a bit duller like the People Mover. But E tickets were the top of the line, guaranteeing thrills and chills for the most coveted of attractions like the bobsledding spectacle known as the Matterhorn.
This little history lesson will explain why I consider Tom Amo's AN APPLE FOR ZOE: THE FORSAKEN an E ticket ride. Once this supernatural roller coaster gets into high gear, it doesn't slow down for barely a page. There are twists and turns that'll whip you around like a crash test dummy on an out of control luge. Amo incorporates the paranormal with well-researched Hollywood lore and serial killer history into AN APPLE FOR ZOE in between the lightning speed action, making it much more than just a fast paced thriller. However, by the end, I did feel the need to reach for an oxygen tank because I was a little out of breath especially after the introduction of two of the best villainesses I've run across in quite some time: The insane Russian female twin assassins known as The Baranova Sisters. Holy Smokin' Smirnov! What a pair of hot psychos! I think I'm a little smitten. For these characters alone, AN APPLE FOR ZOE: THE FORSAKEN is an E ticket attraction of the highest order and will make you clamor for the next installment.
scott cherney's etc.: The Doctor is In: About a year ago, I had been introduced to a co-worker’s grandson as “This is Scott. He writes books.” “What kind of books?” the pre-teen...
So your are a star? The Hudson Brothers wrote this amazing cool tune and it hit #21 in Billboard back in 1974. Now that you are a star, what happens when you're only a one star? What I'm referring to is the dreaded one star review for your books.
If you're a author, indie or traditional, and you've been published, then chances are you have received your first one star review. They suck don't they. I know this subject has been written about in plenty of blogs already and the rules of engagement when it comes to this very prickly subject. However my blog today is to toss my two cents in and support my amazing friends who are authors and know the sick feeling in the pit of their stomachs when they see that single digit hanging over their name and title of the book.
The consensus is DO NOT EVER reply to a reviewer unless you say thank you.
Even that may not be a good idea. Engaging with someone who's not favorable on your prose
usually will lead to even more bad words and hurt feelings. Understand the person who wrote it,
is stating an opinion, regardless if it's on or not. Our initial reaction of course is to strike back when someone bashes your book, because it's hard to not feel like it's a personal attack on you.
Example of mean and petty review: What a piece of garbage! This writer (if you call them that) has no business writing emails let alone a book. They should personally apologize to every person who wasted their time reading this blob of #$%^, and I think they owe everyone a refund since they can't get back the hours spent reading this mindless junk. The plot sucked, there's no way this would ever happen, blah blah blah...
Okay you get it...right. That's not a review...that's just ranting and what they are saying is really more about them not your book.
Example of negative review.
Writer XYZ's, new novel, 123 is a story about a group of words being strung together to tell a story. While I loved the concept, I didn't feel any personal attachment to the numbers. However that being said, I can see how appealing this story will be to readers who enjoy numbers. While this book wasn't for me, I would think there are many others out there that will love 123 by XYZ.
Maybe that review was a bit Disney, but my point is you can not like a book without trashing the work and the writer.
Recently an indie friend addressed this on her FB and the way she summed it up really helped me to see it in a different light. Your book is a PRODUCT not a child. Even though you do have a very personal attachment to it, it's no different than a movie, song or sporting event. Now I absolutely am NOT a fan of sports. I get annoyed when I hear people going crazy over a touchdown, but my total dislike for sports does not affect the industry in the least. And I have to think all the people who scream at touchdowns and how happy it makes them to enjoy their love for sports. Who am I to rain on their parade? It's not for me so I don't join in. I feel no loss and am happy to seek something that makes me cheer and scream.
I always console my writer friends in the fact that every one gets one star reviews. Even Stephen King. Just because you get a one star review doesn't automatically reduce you to a failure, it may be something very constructive that can help you avoid a future problem in your writing.
When that bad boy one star shows up in future, think about when it came from.
Did it come from a reviewer who doesn't read your genre?
Make certain when you ask bloggers to consider your work that they read what you write about.
If it was a random reader, well there can be a hundred reasons why they didn't like it.
Taking the time to actually post a review means the person who posts it had a real reaction to your work, good or bad. You can upset people sometimes with subjects you never dreamed would cause someone to go postal on you. If a child or animal is killed in your story....some people will react with extreme responses.
And then there are some people you cannot please. Next time the one star shows up, see what they are saying about other books they reviewed. If they're hating on everyone...then really it's not you it's them. If you are there only 1 star review...chances are they weren't mean or petty.
You're not a failure, you're a star, because you wrote a book, and you dared to publish and put yourself out there. That in itself is an accomplishment! No one ever said it was going to be a yellow brick road to OZ.
I finish this off with a line that a published playwright tells me all the time.
Writing ain't for sissies! So toughen up put your armor on and keep writing!
Friday night was pins and needles to be sure! Those amazing folks over at ENT were very kind and gave me a PR love. The result after 8 hours An Apple For Zoe was ranked at #183 in the entire Amazon store!! I gasped OMG can I actually get into the top 100 (paid). Well that was as close as I got..but in the immortal words of Commander Cody from Hot Rod Lincoln...."Man, what a ride!"
I know some of you may be saying "almost" only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. But when you're an indie author it does count to you. You can write the best book in the world and it doesn't matter one bit if it can't the right exposure or the breaks to get past the point of no return.
I even noticed at one point I was in 2nd place in Horror to Stephen King...The Kingster...really? Wow. Of course I'm proving photos to prove I was there. Otherwise it didn't happen right?
So you can see on pic #1 I'm in the # 2 spot and in pic #2 I'm at #183 in the entire Amazon Store!!
Now For me, what I of course would love to happen is (yes get on the top 100 list) but just be able to sell enough books everyday to allow me to work freely as a writer. If certain other Kindle authors have managed it, then why can't I? Why can't you? Only circumstances get in our way and our own fears.
So thank you everyone who bought the book, tweeted me, liked me, and commented. All of this is because of your generosity!
Thanks!
U.K. Model, Zoe Harrington has signed on to be the face in the forthcoming YA novel by Thomas Amo, entitled, FOREVER ME.
