Ann Benjamin's Blog, page 275
June 14, 2015
When a book has the same title as yours…
Room 702, I discovered a few months ago, will soon have some competition. Although written in another language (now translated), I’m curious how or if (new) Room 702’s release will have any impact on my book. Will others looking for Ms. Ainsa’s book find my book instead? I was at first frustrated when this book popped up on the horizon – mostly because I wondered of all the numbers in the world, why someone would choose to put together the exact same series as I did – but as time has gone on, I’ve come to be excited. I’d still love to ask the author if she looked to determine the title of her book (when another was clearly already in existence), but will most likely be purchasing a copy when it release in August.
Love the font!
What about you, dear reader? How did you pick the title of your book? How did you research for similar titles?
To be fair and avoid being a hypocrite, there is a male/male romance which also carries the name of Life After Joe. However, given the subject matter, I’m not too worried about our audiences mistaking one for the other.
June 9, 2015
June 8, 2015
Alternate cover.
So, Life After Joe shipped off last week to the editor (I used Bubble Cow previously, and really enjoyed the proofreading notes that came back, so I’m looking forward to receiving my manuscript later this month). Apparently, as part of this service, you get a free book cover. While I’ve invested in my other cover (not that the final version has been delivered yet), I was curious to see what else might be possible. I looked through the possibilities from their partner website, Go On Write and chose below. While not perfect, it was interesting to see the other options.
While nice enough, it feels a little too generic and unfocused to compete with my other options. What do you think?
June 5, 2015
No more waiting.
I would love to credit this image, let me know if you know its creator.
June 4, 2015
This week.
Roll on holiday, less than a week!
June 3, 2015
Buy the book: Room 702
Inspired by this post, I decided to do one of my own without blurbs from the book because I am not that coordinated for Room 702! Hopefully, I’ll be able to complete one for my upcoming novel, Life After Joe, shortly.
1. Sweet Lady Jane cupcakes ($54 for a dozen flavored cupcakes) In Chapter 50, I had mentally patterned a character as the owner of a similar bakery.
2. Veuve Cliquot ($50.99 for bottle) Champagne is ordered quite regularly in the hotel suite, so it seems appropriate to have a bottle on the list.
3. Vintage James Bond poster (prices vary) Fictional James watches over everything in the suite.
4. Ouija Board ($19.07) In Chapter 68, a Ouija board figures quite prominently. I don’t want to give too much away, but it is used to contact a previous guest.
5. Winchester Bourbon ($23) With the same name as the hotel the book is set in, a bottle of this bourbon feels entirely necessary.
6. Chic and Basic Packaging (hotel shampoo) While Bvlgari is the house brand for toiletries at The Winchester, I couldn’t help but include this packaging from Chic and Basic. Not sure how much a night at one of their properties is, but it might be worth it!
7. La Perla lingerie ($550.00 for the Maison Slip) In Chapter 34, if you’re going to lose your virginity, you might as well do it in high class underwear.
8. Lost in Hotels ($3.99 for the Kindle version) Perhaps a bit meta, but I wanted to include another fictional work about hotel rooms.
9. Souvenir matchbooks (free!) Yes, the Winchester gives away free matchbooks (even in nearly smoke free Los Angeles). I like this example from La Bottega at the Maritime Hotel in New York.
10. Keepall Bandouliere 50 Louis Vuitton luggage ($1,740) What is a weekend stay at a luxury hotel if you don’t have the luggage to match?
I’d love to read your suggestions!
June 1, 2015
My ideal amenity kit.
I travel. Not as much as I like, but hopefully that will change. I’m not sure why, but I recently thought, ‘What would my ideal amenity kit include?’ What? You don’t walk around thinking things like that? It could be my love of all things sample size (seriously, it’s a good thing I don’t live in the States, or I would have subscriptions to all the monthly make up boxes), or it could just be I am weird. Anyway, here is my list for a dream amenity kit (bottle of Veuve not included):
1. A cool case (a la these fantastic versions from Rimowa). Leather seems nice, but there is something very modern about the below design. Don’t get me wrong, the current Etihad business class kit is one of my favorite things to give away to friends, and I still use my Emirates Bvlgari amenity bag as a clutch, but I’d love to reuse one of these.
2. Kleenex! This item appears only sometimes in kits, but I’d like to see a really nice branded version. I know it’s sad this is on my dream list, but on a 17 hour flight, it might be nice to have a full pack.
A branding opportunity.
3. Similar to the Kleenex, I would love to see a moist towelette or some form of make up remover. Not even a whole pack, just a sample of one or two.
4. An eye cover – while I use the Etihad dark brown one every night, I did enjoy the Tumi logoed one from Delta. On long haul flights this is standard and necessary.
5. Ear plugs – I hate sounds. These are necessary. It’s nice when they come in a little case, but I’ll take anything.
Always!
6. Lotion. I’m partial to Tocca, but would be willing to receive any luxe situation. I think JetBlue is really onto something with their Birchbox partnership.
7. Lip Balm (or any sort of lip gloss). While I could see companies wanting to go for gender neutral (ala Chapstick), it might be nice to have something high end for the ladies.
8. Evian mist (this is a dream kit, remember?)
9. Deodorant (because let’s face it, sweating is part of who I am)
10. Some sort of tooth paste and tooth brush kit (you know you need at least a one time use on the long haul – don’t forget to bring some bottled water with you to the bathroom). Also ideal, a small bottle of mouth wash.
11. Some sort of logoed souvenir (good example include the KLM Delft Blue houses, but I would also like to see various things like a keychain, a patch, glasses, travel mug or even a small stuffed animal I am 12).
12. Socks. There’s no way I’m walking around without covering my feet up. I’d love to see something cozy like this:
13. A pen. It’s always useful to have something available to fill in the customs form with.
14. Comb – with a mirror. Rather than having to go into the overhead compartment and dig around in my bag, it would be nice to have one of these handy.
15. Jim-jams. I’ve only been on one flight long enough to have pajamas offered, but it was a nice touch.
Personally, I’m holding out for the adult onesie.
16. Perfume – got to smell great getting off the flight, right?
With references to this great article. And also, while not technically in the amenity kit – the blankets on Etihad are beyond soft and amazing and they usually have a fantastic offer of magazines.
What would you have in your ideal amenity kit? Am I missing anything?
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