Who's Your Author? discussion
Archives - '09 - '10
>
Ask the Author!
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Jaime
(new)
Jan 18, 2010 12:04PM
I often get reader questions about how covers are done, the process of writing, where ideas come from, and the like. So I thought I'd throw this out there and see if readers here have those kinds of questions. I'll answer them or try to get answers if I don't know. I invite other authors here to jump in, too!
reply
|
flag
Thanks for posting this Jaime! It will definitely be interesting to see what kinds of questions and discussions we can have with authors :)I will also ask if any of our group members do have a question, please put the question in bold so that it can be distinguished from answers and other discussions.
TY - From the mods
I've always wondered what kind of say an author has in determining what their cover art looks like. Is it a matter of how well known the author is, and how much selling power they have? Or does it not matter at all, and no authors get a say in cover publishing?
On the same lines as Jess's questions, I've always wondered about why covers are so different for each different country.
Jess, great idea on the Bold!On covers, it depends on a) how powerful the author is in terms of sales, b) how workable the publisher is, and c) size of publisher. Small publishers will more likely take the author's suggestions from what I've seen with my friends' experiences.
Most publishers will ask the author for ideas. Avon did this with me. They wanted to create a look for my new series and asked me to send them covers I liked. I specifically wanted vivid colors. They did a nice job. Both my single-title publishers have been good about accomodating requests. For instance, I hated one of my Tina Wainscott covers. It had a floating head and a lighthouse that wasn't part of the scenery in the book. They did away with the head and the lighthouse. Overall, publishers want you to be excited about your cover and are open to suggestions. You may not always get your way, though.
Harlequin has an in-depth form you have to fill out about the characters, scenes you think would make good covers, etc.
Kelley, the difference in international covers is all about what sells in that country. Some countries are very conservative and so won't allow sexy covers. Here and elsewhere, it's all about the marketing.
Jamie,I own two of your books. And I really like the covers. You and Avon did a great job.
My question for you is;
I have noticed that on most covers there is usually a "Blurb" (if that is even what you call it) by another author, saying how great the book is.
How do they choose which author will write the statement?
SORRY, that my question isn't in BOLD lettering. I can't figure out how to do it on this computer.
Hi, Leslie! That's great that you have my books :) I hope you enjoy reading them. Yes, I LOVE the covers! Those are called author quotes (the blurb is the summary on the back), and they come via different ways. For instance, mine came from Janet Evanovich because she had nominated me for up and coming literary star in Gulfshore Life Magazine. I thanked her profusely (I'd never met her) and asked if I could use that as a quote. She graciously gave me a new one for my series.
Sometimes the author knows other authors and asks if they'll read their book and give them a quote. Sometimes our editors will ask an author they know or work with. I have gotten quotes through all of these avenues.
Now, a question for you: does the quote affect your buying decision?
Not necessarily. If one of my favorite authors has read the book then I might pick it up. I buy based on how well the back cover description is written. If it looks like it might hold my interest then Ill look at the first page or so to see how well that was written. then Ill make my choice. Covers have a lot to do with it. I dont care for a ton of smut in my book and I dont like if people assume that the book that Im reading contains a ton of smut. I have a question that I dont have time to ask at the moment but Ill get back to you.
I read Suzanne Collin's book Hunger Games (which I loved) because Stephanie Meyers recommended it on her website. Now if I saw Meyer's recommending a book I'd read it because of the quote recommendation on the book. Other authors I may be skeptical of.
Ok, I have a two part question.A. What is the question that no one asks you but youve always wanted them to?
B. If you could ask your favorite author a question, what would you ask them?
Jaime wrote: "Hi, Leslie! That's great that you have my books :) I hope you enjoy reading them. Yes, I LOVE the covers! Those are called author quotes (the blurb is the summary on the back), and they come vi..."
I usually don't pay attention to the quotes at all. I just assumed that the authors were paid to say something. I tend to go my friends here on goodreads and my own experiences when picking out books.
Good to know on the quotes, Kenna and Jess! No, an author quote is NEVER paid for. At least that I've ever known. Mm, interesting questions. A. I had that first one in an interview recently, and honestly, I couldn't think of anything! A question I don't like getting? Who's my favorite author or who do I read? Because I don't want to leave anyone out! I have a lot of author friends :)
B. I guess, like many readers, I like to know how the story came to them. Every story comes in a different way, inspired by different things.
After looking at the author quotes for a long time I figured out two things.The author quoted is published by the same publisher as the book in your hand.
The kind of book that the author quoted writes is similar to the kind of book that is in your hand.
One of the things that the quotes are good for is the "if you like author A's books, you will like this book as well." Very useful for new genres and genres that are confused in the way that the Paranormal genres are.
Having said that, I tend to either use Goodreads or Amazon to find new authors. These days I use Goodreads first if it is fiction. But for non-fiction books Amazon still works better.
Starling, it definitely is a good way to find similar authors and that's why they're used.
Jamie,1. How long does it take for a book go from what you initially feel is the complete story to being published? Sometimes I wonder if publisher just love to punish us, the readers, by drawing out a sequel or the next book from our favorite author(s).
2. Do publishers generally make a lot of changes to a book once they decide to publish it?
3. Have you ever created a story and the publisher decides they want sequels and have you change your original story to have tie ins to a sequel? Just curious if it's the author and/or the publisher who decides whether a sequel will be in the works.
Mine is more of an advice question. I have always loved to write in school. Mostly term papers, essays, that kind of thing. I read constantly and love the paranormal genre. I have tried to read many many books in each sub genre available. That being said, I have an idea or two for a book, but once I sit down to write it the words won't come. I never have writer's block for non-fiction. Do you have any advice for myself and others having this similar problem?P.S. Most authors will say, "Never give up. Or write something everyday." I understand this, but it is not the best of help in many situations. Do you have other advice?
THANKS.
Jaime wrote: "Hi, Leslie! That's great that you have my books :) I hope you enjoy reading them. Yes, I LOVE the covers! Those are called author quotes (the blurb is the summary on the back), and they come vi..."
Yes, sometimes.
When I first started reading books in the paranormal genre, I only knew of one or two authors, that penned the kind of books I wanted to read.
But, lucky for me, I read the quotes, remembered the author's names, and then sometimes (not always) bought their books.
Do you always start your books from Chapter 1 or do you have and idea and have to get it out and write it then and work around it?
Jaime wrote: "...Now, a question for you: does the quote affect your buying decision?"Yes it does. Often when I am browsing in the book store and I see a name of a favorite author quoted on the front I am more likely to pick it up and investigate it. If I like the blurb on the back and page 99 (no idea why I always read that page) normally I will give it a go or write down the book title and see if my library has a copy. Advertising on other authors websites is also a way to attract me to a new author.
Lisarenee wrote: "Jamie,1. How long does it take for a book go from what you initially feel is the complete story to being published? Sometimes I wonder if publisher just love to punish us, the readers, by drawing ..."
LOL, Lisarenee! It's torture for us, too. For an example, I turned in book 4 of my series April 15, and it's scheduled for Jan 2011. The publishers work way ahead. I just got a peek at the cover art already, which astonished me. Nothing happens fast in publishing ::SIGH:: But in general, pubs do want to get books out fast, especially in a hot series. Sometimes they push authors to write faster, thus complaints about a rushed ending or lackluster writing.
2. Most authors get some revisions, but not usually anything extensive. Authors who only submit say, an idea of what the book is about risk getting bigger changes, but at that point they have a feel for what works.
3. I've never had that happen to me. I wrote many stand-alones and then a series with that in mind. But it makes sense that if a book really hits big, the publisher and/or the author might play with the idea of a sequel.
Lenore *--*Phierce*-- * wrote: "Mine is more of an advice question. I have always loved to write in school. Mostly term papers, essays, that kind of thing. I read constantly and love the paranormal genre. I have tried to read man..."LOL, I won't tell you to write every day, though it does help. But not when you're staring at a blank screen! You need something to kick start the story and writing process. You could come up with a scenario, just something simple like "A man walked in the bar, dropped his pants and..." Then let your thoughts flow.
Check out my writing contest at www.jaimerush.com. People enter a compelling (or not) first line of a book, and that would be a GREAT place to find a line to kickstart a piece of writing. Limit yourself to a page or two, and do it for fun. Then, if you go on longer, it's a bonus. Just like a flabby muscle, the creative mind needs exercise.
A book someone recommended was What If? by Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter. Play, rather than sitting there thinking, "I have to write something." Be crazy!
Jessica wrote: "Do you always start your books from Chapter 1 or do you have and idea and have to get it out and write it then and work around it?"I usually start at the beginning, though occasionally I'll get a scene that comes on so strong, I go ahead and write it. The problem is, things have usually changed by then and sometimes I have to scrap it, which I ::hate::. So usually I leave the scene floating there, like a piece of chocolate sitting on my desk, tempting me. But I know I'll enjoy it eversomuch more for the waiting.
PS. If there's an actual piece of chocolate on my desk, it's never there for long, LOL
Dawn wrote: "Jaime wrote: "...Now, a question for you: does the quote affect your buying decision?"Yes it does. Often when I am browsing in the book store and I see a name of a favorite author quoted on the f..."
You read page 99 of a book? That's interesting!
I found the read page 99 interesting. When I was a kid browsing in the library I ALWAYS read the bits on the back or on the side covers and then ONE PAGE in the middle of the book. Some of the times I still do that in bookstores, but mostly these days I've got Goodreads, Amazon and the library system cluing me into books I'd like.One of the advantages to page 99 is that if there are beginning page problems, they are over by page 99. Generally the info dump is also over by then if it is a series with a huge amount of world building that has to be explained. And I love the idea of just picking a particular page every time.
That sounds like a fun idea, Starling! I may try that, too! I had this idea to post on myspace, et al, just a random line from my current book during release month. Some lines struck me as kind of odd or funny out of context. Latest one: "I've been staring at the damned garbage can every day."
Who's Your Author?
Books mentioned in this topic
The Failed Audition (other topics)Gone with the Wind (other topics)
