I finally got around to editing my Goodreads Author account. I’m still working on it but I wanted to let you all know I am present on Goodreads at this link. Be sure to add me as a friend or sneak a peek at some of my work.
This will also be a good way for you to stay in touch with blog posts, as I have set it up to generate these posts in brief to link back to this blog.
Custom Book Cover for Pearls Before Swine by Andre Hawkings, Kenosis Design Innovations
One of the most exciting things for me as a Self-Publisher is the Book Cover reveal, especially if it’s a really neat one. Personally, I like to get an early start on purchasing book covers. It helps me to get that part of the process out of the way, keeps me excited as I polish off the book, secures the cover so that no one else can get it (if its premade), and helps me to schedule the Book Reveal to build momentum. Nonetheless, custom book covers are expensive. To secure a really great cover will run you at least $300+ dollars if you want it done right. There is an alternative however that can save you money and keep your cover looking fresh.
Pre-Made Book Cover Designs
Pre-Made Book Cover Design from Self-Pub for Pearls Before Swine Vol. #2
As the Self-Publishing Industry blossoms, the web is flooded with resources. Everything from marketing and promotion to editing services and even book cover designs. If you have deep pockets, you’d really be able to take advantage of even paying for marketing and promotion if that’s not your cup of tea, so why not book cover design? After all, we are writers, not designers.
But with the amount of information now available, I realize there is no reason for an unattractive cover. For this reason, I am in the process of re-vamping all of my book covers to look more appealing. So of late, I have been looking to purchase a few book cover designs and found some great resources for Pre-Made designs. I am re-editing my novel and I would like to add a better book cover for the next edition. I am also shopping for a cover for my early poetry books and the third installment of the Stella series.
The great thing about Pre-Made Book Covers is that once you buy them they are no longer available anywhere else, so there’s no reason to be selfish about where you got your covers since no one else will have the exact same one. Pre-Made also does not have to mean amateur looking (though some of them are). But there are lots of striking professional looking covers to match your story at great prices. Just make sure your pre-made cover doesn’t look like a four-year-old did it because those ones exist too.
Number 1 on my list is Fiverr. For those who are not familiar by now, Fiverr is an online service where individuals with various skills hire themselves out at very inexpensive rates. You can purchase editing or Book Cover designs for as low as $5! Now, I warn that you get what you pay for, so it is not wise to purchase a $5 cover (just saying). I would also not recommend them unless you really have to but will list it here first because I know some of our finances will work with this option. Be sure to have additional work done (such as 3D stock images added) by purchasing the sellers additional services. Even still, you can spend under $50 and come out with a great book cover design (and be sure to purchase a back and spine).
Next on my list is Self-Pub Book Covers. I love them! I have so far purchased two of their covers already. To sign up is free and I love their variety. You can pretty much find something that fits your book (especially if you spend hours strolling through every single pic. I know, I’m a bit thorough. OK obsessed, whatever). My only thing with them is that you have to purchase a back and spine at a cost separate from the cover. Even still, you’d come out spending far less than you would a custom cover. (If you can afford a custom cover please do so. It is the best thing. This list is for those of us on budgets).
My next favorite is The Cover Collection. I have not worked with them but they have great covers on their site at reasonable prices (I think the prices are in British Pounds so you’ll have to convert that if you’re in the U.S.).
Another awesome site is Paper and Sage. Find neat pre-made e-book and print book cover designs at low prices. I’m currently seriously looking at their site. Their variety is good and the covers are professional. You can also order custom made covers through this service.
On this site, you’d get to explore the work of an individual artist who designs their own pre-made covers. If you like one, you will email them through the site but you will buy directly from the artist just as you would if you spoke to them directly. Their prices are also extremely affordable. I’ve seen some really professional looking covers for as low as $20.
PreMade Cover for my 3rd Poetry Book.
This is just a fraction of the number of Pre-Made Book Cover Designs available out there for Self-Publishers. I didn’t include 99 Designs because though the process is off the charts (I really enjoyed working with the various professional artist to see who could make the best cover), it’s not ideal if you are on a budget and falls into the custom book cover category.
The benefit of pre-made covers (if you can’t afford a custom cover) is that they are professionally pre-designed by professional artists who understands exactly how to position the font and combine colors and everything that is important to a cover. With all of this information at our fingertips, there really is no reason for a crappy cover.
Remember: Books are judged by their covers! And in this age of technology, there really is no excuse.
I think I’m gonna start incorporating more book recommendations to this blog. I want to build a neat bookshelf but I’m not sure if there’s much room in here. I’ll have to move the furniture around, don’t want it to get all crowded and whatnot. So anywho, every now and again I’ll recommend a book I think will provide a thought provoking jolt if you will, to our daily lives. Most of them will, naturally, come from my very own book shelf.
Today’s Must Read is:
Before the Mayflower: A History of Black America by Lerone Bennett JR.
“Before the Mayflower” traces black history from its origins in western Africa, through the transatlantic journey that ended in slavery, the Reconstruction period, the Jim Crow era, and the civil rights upheavals of the 1960s and 1970s, culminating in an exploration of the complex realities of African-American life in the 1990s. Here is the most recent scholarship on the geographic, social, ethnic, economic, and cultural journey of “the other Americans, ” together with vital portraits of black pioneers and seminal figures in the struggle for freedom, as well as additional material on historical developments in the Reagan, Bush, and Clinton years.”
Yall thought it was over didn’t ya? Nope, Launch Week is still on and popping.
Now, we have a new winner to the following question. I have let it stay up all week to give more people a chance to answer. The question was:
Stella’s life takes place during many historical events, one of which being the depression. Although the United States had experienced several depressions before the stock market crash of October 1929, none had been as severe. How long did this Great Depression last?
a. 5 years
b. 20 years
c. 10 years
d. None of the Above
We had some great answers! According to Google, the depression was from 1929-1939. BUT historically, The Great Depression actually lasted from 1929 to the early 1940s. The answer is D, none of the above.
Congratulations to:1010buterflie at https://1010buterflie.wordpress.com/ for answering our question correctly! Please give me your name and mailing address by sending an email to: ahouseofpoetry@gmail.com for your FREE Copy of Beyond The Colored Line! Whoop!
Reminder: Get a Free Stella Bookmark when you order Beyond The Colored Line in Print! Visit my Author Website at:Â http://literarykornerpublishing.com/
Hey there loves, Welcome to another Writer’s Quote Wednesday Edition with Colleen of Silver Threading. I thought it would be fun to surprise her with a cartoon of us together since she got me so addicted to them.
Now, in other news, who’s throwing words tho?
Whew, he said that.
There were lots of quotes I wanted to use from Richard Wright’s “Black Boy”, but I enjoyed this one the most as appropriate for Writer’s Quote Wednesday. I love Wright’s description of hurling words into the darkness and waiting for an echo because I think that is something all writers do. If we see light as symbolic of truth, of awakening, and of hope, then to throw our words into the darkness is to send hope out into the world. If someone responds, someone who has perhaps awaited this moment for some time, if that person responds, they are the echo that justifies the need for this light. They are the people who validate that the writing is not in vain and gives authors a kind of heads up that it is OK to throw more words out into the darkness. It is not from the perspective of writing specifically to be heard or writing for validation. The heads up instead informs us that there are others who are in need of the power these words have to offer.
About Black Boy
Most of us are all familiar with Richard Wright by now (and if we aren’t Google is a gem) so I thought I’d give history on “Black Boy” instead, Wright’s Memoir.
(clearing throat) yes these are cliff notes, don’t judge us:
“Black Boy”, an autobiography of Richard Wright’s early life, examines Richard’s tortured years in the Jim Crow South from 1912 to 1927. In each chapter, Richard relates painful and confusing memories that lead to a better understanding of the man a black, Southern, American writer who eventually emerges. Although Richard, as the narrator, maintains an adult voice throughout the story, each chapter is told from the perspective and knowledge that a child might possess. Yet, because the narrative is told with such force and honesty, the reliability of Richard’s memories is not questioned. By the story’s end, as Richard comes of age, the voice of the narrator and of the nineteen-year-old young man he has become merge into one.”
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And that’s it for this weeks segment. See ya next week 🙂
OK Everyone, I want to thank those of you who have participated so far today and who have taken the opportunity to support my work. I have personally had fun and I am really enjoying giving away these prizes to you beautiful people. I have decided to put a poll up on the Static Page of this blog with the last Trivia Question. I am leaving this up on the front page for this week only (8/24 – 8/31) The winning prizes are…
But first, thank you all so much for playing and hanging out with me. As we close out, I will be posting my author website for the final time this afternoon along with the links to the eBook retailers. I have no intentions of stalking your emails but this is Launch Day and all, and thus my shameless self promo is warranted (smiles), but your support is sincerely appreciated. To all of our winners so far, please give me 5 – 7 business days to ship your prizes.
The winners of the question on the front page will receive a Free Copy of Stella Book #2 and a matching bookmark. I will also sign it. As a program note: those of you who buy a paperback version of the book will receive a free bookmark.