Ann Narcisian Videan's Blog, page 2

Where in the world is Ann Videan?

Here are links to find Ann online…

 Videan Unlimited Web site  (You are here! This will take you to my home page.)

Amazon Author Page (Author Central)  

LinkedIn page 

Facebook page 

T witter: WordsMusicTribe

SlideShare: seminar presentations

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Alliance for Literary Writers, Authors & Yabbering Scribes (ALWAYS) Facebook group

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Everything you ALWAYS wanted to know about book cover creation

At the March 11, 2021, Zoom gathering of the Alliance for Literary Writers, Authors & Yabbering Scribes (ALWAYS), our established authors shared a roundtable discussion about creating compelling book covers. I want to share with you some highlights from our discussion.

Thank you Humayun Ahmed. “A photo collage of book covers.” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humayun_Ahmed

Absolutes:

Use large, readable type, especially for the title and author name. The words must be visible and stand out in thumbnail size, which is how most readers will first see your book.Make sure the cover art/photo fits your genre. Just a visit to a section of a bookstore or Amazon page with your genre will give you the idea of what to strive for.One strong image attracts the eye more than several small ones.Use colors that mimic the mood of your book contents.If you use a photo of your characters on the cover, they must match the characters descriptions in the book.Here is a blog I found from “Creative Indie” Derek Murphy describing eight traditional publishers’ cover design tips.

Ideas:

Use author/creative writing professor Deborah Chester’s “Story Question” as starting point for your back-cover book blurb. These two sentences cover all the main points in your story: 
WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS*, *YOUR PROTAGONIST* *PURSUES A GOAL*. But will he succeed when *ANTAGONIST PROVIDES OPPOSITION*?End your blurb with one word having to do with death, enlightenment, or love.You can update your covers any time you want. You might even try testing a “split” cover, giving readers two options, to see which image sells the book better.

Logistics and resources:

Design rates for covers can range from $25 (fiverr.com) and premade (Getcovers.com) to $300-$500 for custom designed covers. Well-known graphic designers may charge $600+.ALWAYS member Laurie Fagen’s graphic designer is tadsmith@gmail.com, whose fees start at $100 per cover.Here are a few sites offering premade book covers:Getcovers.com/book-cover-design, a recommendation from the Amazon ad schoolBeetifulBookCovers.comGoOnWrite.com and rockingbookcovers.com are two websites touted by ALWAYS member Karen Mueller Bryson. She says they offer artists who do good work, are reasonably priced, and offer lots of options.Just for fun: The worst covers of all time at teaandinksociety.com/terrible-book-covers.

If you have ideas or resources to share, please include them in the comments below.

………..

Write on!
Ann Narcisian Videan, Book Shepherd
Write • Edit • Publish

P.S. Learn more about my novels on my Amazon Author Central page.

Find me elsewhere online.

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A secret tool to create a catchy book blurb

First, a few points about book blurbs:

You have only a few seconds to intrigue a reader when they look at the back of your book. If you give them a lengthy synopsis (a plot-point by plot-point description), you can easily lose them in the detail. Synopses are for agents, editors, and publishers who want to know each step of the storyline, including the ending. A synopsis is an informative piece.



Blurbs need to be relatively short—just a couple of paragraphs, if possible—hitting the compelling highlights of the characters’ and the story’s arcs, but not giving away the ending. It serves as a teaser to interest readers enough to open the book to learn more, or to buy it. A book blurb is a marketing piece.



“Real estate” on the back of a book is valuable. It needs to include compelling words to entice readers to look inside and buy. That includes the blurb, testimonials, perhaps a tagline, maybe some author info/photo; not to mention the business and purchasing items like the publishing info and barcode. A long blurb takes up too much space to allow easy readability of the other detail on the back cover.



Authors almost always use the book blurb on their Amazon book page listing, too. Readers don’t spend a lot of time checking out a book online. Here’s how it goes…If a reader likes the thumbnail, they click to see the details.If they like the cover, up-close, they scroll down to the description.If the description is too long, or doesn’t have an immediate hook, they leave your page and start searching for something else and you’ve lost them.If the description grabs them quickly, they scroll back up to the “Look Inside” feature to learn more.If they like what they see inside, they buy.Readers holding a physical book follow the same process (obviously, without all the clicking and scrolling).

Three top writing tips to captivate a reader

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While reviewing a blog I ran across at the Self-Publishing School site, I realized their points covered some of the main techniques I teach in my writing workshops to overcome these issues. Study the few tips below, and you’ll be amazed at how your words jump off the page!

Avoid passive voice, use active voice insteadPassive voice often uses inactive verbs followed by words ending in “-ed”
or “-ing”Passive voice = is cheering, are praying, have bingedActive voice = cheer, prays, bingedIn active voice, you start your sentences with the subject and use an active verb to describe what the subject does. 



Don’t use weak verbs, use active verbs insteadInactive/”to be” verbs = is, was, has, have, be, beenActive verbs create a mental picture: cheers, pray, binged, stumble, stared



Why use emotion explaining, when you can simply show physical reactions? Climb into a character’s skin and experience what they taste, feel, hear, smell, and do.Beauty is in the details… describe how someone’s hands shake and lips quiver when they tremble in “fear.”

Write on!
Ann Narcisian Videan, Book Shepherd
Write • Edit • Publish • Word-of-mouth strategy

P.S. Learn more about my novels on my Amazon Author Central page.

Fairy Found on Tree Shelf, for #Bookstagram

[image error]Sample #Bookstagram post
Tucked into a tree trunk in a local park, this blue faerie portal caught my eye. I thought maybe the inhabitant behind the door would like a story about her Fae clan in New Zealand, so I left her a read. #bookstagram #booksoninstagram #books #fairybooks #faeriebooks #ilovetoread #bookshelfie #delfaerunerhapsodyseries #annvideanauthor #fairydoors #absolutelywildenchanted

When marketing books on Instagram, did you know:

• The optimum number of hashtags in an original post is 11?*

• You can create a slide show in ads*

• Still-life-type images with books are the theme of the #Bookstagram hashtag.

Source: Children’s book author Haley Rose


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Coffee CommuniTea: The Buzzed Goat, Phoenix, AZ

Today’s Cup o’ Tea

The Buzzed Goat Coffee

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The Buzzed Goat graces a little strip mall at Ray Road/E. Ranch Circle Drive in Awatukee.

[image error]Perks (what I really like!)

Super-friendly baristas.
The neighborhood feel to the place.
Their “food” truck which brings delicious drinks to the masses.

 

 

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The goatherd masterminds! Tony and Gabe

Share a Cuppa (the stories about the owner, building, history, name)

Owner Gabe started serving coffee in a food truck with his friend Tony. They didn’t give up on the mobile aspect of the Goat, but soon realized they wanted a place for people to hang around and be neighborly. What they developed is a comfortable, unique, welcoming place to chat, play, and enjoy a coffee or tea. I love the black and white checkered table tiles, and the green leafy wall, don’t you?

 

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Drew and I graduated the same year from Coeur d’Alene High in Idaho and, years later, recognized each other at a book store in Chandler. Since he teaches English and film studies, we obviously still have a lot in common.

Besides the place being recommended by a long-time friend of mine, who’s a regular, one of the main attractions to me was the name. Really, why…? Well, Gabe directed me to the Web site for this description:

“Why The Buzzed Goat? 

Coffee’s origination story, roughly translated, dating back as far as 900 AD. Goat herders noticed when their goats ate a certain shrub they would dance with energy and walk with a pep in their step; they were buzzed! The curious herders tried many attempts to make this magical plant palatable but were unsuccessful. They eventually went to the nearby monks who learned to steep the beans, and coffee was born.

Our story, much like their discovery, stems from curiosity and a quest for something special.  The Buzzed Goat is a high energy coffee bar dedicated to bringing quality drinks and conversation together.”

What’s Brewing (coffee, tea, food)

They offer a light, yet delicious, offering of classic and cold brew coffees, plus some blended drinks. How about a mint-chip white tea frappe, anyone?

I spied a few baked goods on the counter and in a cooler to tempt your tastebuds, as well.

Percolation Factor (the activity/environment/energy/service)[image error]

The entire back room is a play room with oversized and active games like Jenga, Connect Four, and cornhole. Its walls showcase local artwork. Gabe says they have plans to redo the room as a speakeasy, so we’ll wait to see what transpires…

The Grind (what I would change)

Not much at all. I love the feeling of the place, mostly because of the owners and baristas.

The Grounds (location)

4302 E. Ray Road, #106

Phoenix, AZ 85044

(480) 706-7411

Tea Times (hours)

M–F: 6am  –  5pm

Sa–Su: 7am  –  5pm

Yelp rating:

4.5 stars from 53 reviews

……………………

I love connecting people and ideas, so I’ve been creating small villages my entire life. Really, what better places can writers and musicians find to create “village” than independent coffee/tea shops? I wrote most of my Rhythms & Muse novel and Delfaerune Rhapsody series-in-progress in coffee/tea venues, so I found it natural to create this blog. Whether you came here to find a new favorite hangout, or suggest a spot not yet posted, may you find Coffee CommuniTea exactly to your taste!

 

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From honor’s class to tarot teaching, follow Cutter’s journey

One of Life’s Little Pleasures I think you should know about, too.

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Your future teacher, Cutter Videan.

As his final elective in the Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University, my son Cutter took a fascinating tarot class. My first reaction was… Wuh? Really?

But, in that class, he learned about the rich heritage of tarot: its history, theology, art, and mysticism. We all gained an appreciation for the rich insights the process can bring into life, not just through readings, but through discussion, creativity, and openness to ideas.

His love of the class led him to start doing free readings for friends and acquaintances. (Ask him, and he’ll do a free reading for you, anytime.)

This led to the recent launch of Second Sight Academy, his business, designed to educate others about the teachings of tarot, and to share with like-minded folk its fascinating background and potential.

Cutter now holds tarot discussion groups in a central-Phoenix coffee café, and launches his first round of tarot classes this week. I’d love it if you came along on his journey of exploration.

If you would like to be in on his gatherings simply to discuss the topic, check this out.

If you’d like to take his six-week class on a weekday, express your interest on this Facebook event page.

For a six-week class held on a weekend, you can learn more and sign up on his Facebook event page.[image error]

For more information about Cutter’s creative endeavors, from music to blogging, visit his Cutter Videan Industries website.

…………………..

Write on!

Ann Narcisian Videan

Write • Edit • Self-publish • Word-of-mouth

P.S. Learn more about my novels on my Amazon Author Central page.

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Our Words, Music, and Village community

Looking for details on faerie portals and Faeries’ Tales?
Visit our Absolutely Wild! web page.

The Latest…

Next gathering of the Alliance for Literary Writers, Authors, and Yabbering Scribes (ALWAYS) writers’ tribe:
Romeo’s Euro Cafe, downtown Gilbert, AZ, 11:30 a.m., Thurs., March 14, 2018

Presentation at the Society of Southwestern Authors—Valley of the Sun Chapter: My Words Jump Off The Page! 
Tempe Public Library, 2:30–4:40 p.m., Sunday, April 28, 2019

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Come on in!

I’m so glad you’ve found our little online community! Here, we share ideas to create and market better writing, music, and “village.”

Throw in a few “Coffee CommuniTea” coffee and tea-shop reviews, and we’re golden, right? What better places for writing, enjoying music, and creating village?

Our goal is to generate success together, using fresh tactics to get the ‘verse buzzing about our—and others’—cool creative endeavors. Come in and join us…

Ann

Write on!
Ann Narcisian Videan, Book Shepherd
Write • Edit • Publish • Word-of-mouth strategy
P.S. Learn more about my novels on my Amazon Author Central page.

Ann Videan’s Phoenix-area writing events this spring:

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Ann with her books at the Tempe Public Library

You may benefit from these writing events…

Alliance for Literary Writers, Authors, and Yabbering Scribes (ALWAYS)

Meet in-person with the ALWAYS writers’ tribe of established authors to discuss writing and support one another. In March, we’re talking about the structure of the ALWAYS group and how to better interact with and support one another. I hope you can join us! (We meet the second Thursday of each month in Gilbert, except for the first Thursday of each quarter when we meet in Phoenix.)
Romeo’s Euro Cafe, downtown Gilbert, AZ
11:30 a.m., Thurs., March 14, 2019

My Words Jump Off The Page!
[A presentation at the Society of Southwestern Authors—Valley of the Sun Chapter.]

Authors, learn a handful of writing and editing techniques to help you discover ways to build visual imagery and emotion, and subconsciously compel readers into your story. I’ll share my thirty years of marketing experience to show you how to make your story “jump off the page” for readers and publishers. In this two-hour hands-on session, explore:

The edits I make most often as an editor
 What to look for when hiring an editor
Leveraging the scene question to develop a compelling plot line
Writing with active voice, and deep point-of-view
More effective editing tips using MS Word

Tempe Public Library
2:30–4:40 p.m., Sunday, April 28, 2019

Write on!
Ann Narcisian Videan, Book Shepherd
Write • Edit • Publish • Word-of-mouth strategy

P.S. Learn more about my novels on my Amazon Author Central page.

 

What magical creature are you?

Just for a bit of Absolutely Wild! fun, find out by visiting Images.Google.com and searching for: [your name] + the “magical creature” [Note the use of quotation marks to search for the full phrase, not individual words.]

For me, that would look like: Ann the “magical creature” 

Above, see a favorite from my search—a gorgeous illustration by Anne Stokes.

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Please share by posting your favorite found image (below in the comments).

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