C.B.’s Comments (group member since May 01, 2015)

C.B.’s comments from the Support for Indie Authors group.

Riley wrote: "Sweet, now I can make fun of my dad for being named after a piece of Ikea furniture."

Riley, that is just silly! Why would you do that when you could...

Let him listen to the song where that joke came from by Jonathan Coulton to really rub it AS in!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUPu_...

Black backgrounds are instantly harder to process than light backgrounds. Especially when it gets to walls of text. The front page isn't bothersome, but that second page is starting to get hard to read. The blue and yellow are also too dark on that page to be text and is hard to process. I suggest revising your colours here.

I think the little time ninja icon is cute, however for something called Timelord Ninja I expected the biggest and badassiest Doctor Who Ninja with sonic Shurikens and a dramatic knitted striped ninja scarf standing on a tiger-striped TARDIS made of lightning. Not going to lie.

If you buy furniture at IKEA your Chestcouchersofafieldivan is likely called a Carl.

Fair use generally means that if you are teaching a university class on the interaction of brothers and sisters you can show a clip of Bart and Lisa to demonstrate something and not get sued by 20th century Fox for doing so. It was education, you made no profit directly from the clip, that sort of thing. It sometimes can cover a parody, but that is touchy.

Fair use does not cover quoting song lyrics, poems, movies, tv shows, or anything else because you happen to like it. It certainly doesn't cover that.
while most of the time you can get away with something such as saying 'pepsi', or 'spider-man comic' as it is generally free product placement. Pepsico sure as sugar can tell you to remove the reference, but will often not. If Pepsi is mentioned as causing cancerous tumours in your world and not as a refreshing drink, you can bet your left asscheck that you will be hit with a cease and desist order.

Fair use is a Gray area sometimes, but most often it is best to assume what you are doing is not fair use. is this a book you are selling? Then no, fair use isn't an excuse. You can't quote a song in your book without paying for it, or getting permission. period.

Christina wrote: "C.B. wrote: "Oh yeah. I totally have that too. *Thumbs up for awesome!*"

I would expect no less from a book set in a game, but do I want to know what you get by using it in your universe? ;)"

:D It actually is the directions for how to escape that stupid area that constantly puts you on the same screen and you have to solve it by going in different directions in the right order. Like a Lost Woods.
No one seems to notice, but I tossed in in there.

Christina wrote: "My books are really just an excuse to make pop culture references. Heck, in one of them I even added the Konami code."

Oh yeah. I totally have that too. *Thumbs up for awesome!*

I will admit I have a skittles joke in my books. It was too hard to pass up.

Just don't be quoting any song lyrics Dwayne.

Musicians have much better lawyers than you do. ;)

Winifred wrote: "And it's interesting how many writers have some background in graphic design, like C. B. -- I'm sorry I didn't say this before, but WOW! Your cover is fantastic! While the rest of us are being forced to learn. Even if we decide to pay for covers, I think it's good to have an understanding of what works so we don't pay a bunch of money for something that doesn't work."

Why thank you Winifred! I feel my cover fits my book, and that is what makes me happy. I hope the readers see it like I do.

I do very much like your new cover, great work with that lowercase b! I think it fits your book as well now, and that is what is important! :D Readers get a great impression by the cover, and this gives one. Your work paid off.

Yes, one of the reasons I started to write a book was because I had set up other author's books in the past, and thought that I could give writing a shot as well. I knew I could do the design. :)

Note to all: even if the cover isn't going to ever be seen in b+w, changing it to b+w is still a great test! It shows you your contrast levels, which are important for catching the eye!

That bombed is explosive now. All I can say is the one on the right. much easier to read. both are cool, so go for legibility

Hello Kathy,

I personally think that font is a bit hard to read for a title font. A bit less so on Touching Madness, but on Undercover Madness combined with the pink it is a touch much.

I think you would be better served with a nice legible Title font that is interesting but doesn't sacrifice legibility for neatness.

Your author name can be much more plain than the title, it is almost expected. I think this would look better with a simple font. Also try and avoid placing text over an obvious colour division like that, it isn't helping.

As for the graphics, I can understand Touching Madness. It is a couple of people encountering a minotaur. It is action packed and tells a story. With Undercover Madness I don't get that. It looks confusing. What is going on? I can guess that a thief is stopped by a dapper gentleman or something, but it is just visually confusing to me and I don't understand the story you are trying to convey with it.

Charles wrote: "And then proof."

Don't forget to edit your proof while you proof your edit!

Reese wrote: "I ran a month-long giveaway and gave away ten copies. I got three reviews out of it (2 good, 1 bad), and 300 added to-read. For me, any review, good or bad, makes it worth it, because every review ..."

I personally think it does look good to be on 'To read' lists. It is something.

Next time do three 10 day giveaways of three books each, and see how it compares. All the research I have done thus far suggests that you would get even better results. Worth a shot at least!

Owen wrote: "This is a personal opinion, but I don't feel our books (yours, mine, the other authors here) deserve "might" -- they deserve "does"."

I personally believe that anyone who really did try their best, got feedback, tried hard, practiced, re-wrote, self-edited, beta read, seeks advice on forums like this... you know the whole bit, does deserve it!

G.G. wrote: "Most of the marketing devices are 'might' though. Nothing is set in stone.

I was looking at the websites that advertises the sales, but these seemed only practical if you are with KDP select beca..."

That is a great option as well. If you find someone that is legitimately interested in reading your book and has a bunch of reviews under their belt it would be a better bet to offer less free give away books and spend the shipping costs to send them a copy instead.

That would give you exposure from Goodreads and a very likely review!

:)

I do agree, every little bit helps.

My book proof arrived today (so excited), so after I review that (and fix any errors) it will be time to dive into the world of the published with a Goodreads Giveaway. There might even be a secret extra give away... I mean who am I to deny anyone of Elfrotica?

I live in Canada, that is North America's Britain!

Virginia wrote: "Anders encountering an overly amorous monster in Breakers of the Code by CB Archer. (The thought bubble says, "Why am I not wearing pants?") "

♥

♥♥

♥♥♥!!!

That is going on my webpage right now!

https://annalsofgentalia.wordpress.co...

I must say, that is a spot on image of the Demon Bear of Kahzuul, who does encounter Anders while the elf isn't wearing any pants. He has to run screaming from the encounter, but only because she is a lady Demon Bear of Kahzuul and he really isn't into that.

Side Note: ♥!

Virginia wrote: "If I had any two dimensional artistic talent I would make you fan art! Maybe I'll do it anyway... Hmm..."

Do I get to be the one who waits in anticipation all day now? Squeee!!!

My one friend did make me a set of Ni Hao Bunny & Friends Bookmarks (who is a character in my book said to be from a completely different franchise that my book doesn't own the rights to).

I think I will ask her for the files so I can post them here.

Virginia wrote: "Or did it?"

No, not really. :D

Here is some fan art from myself to me! Wait, is it still fan art if I drew it for myself? Am I still a fan?