Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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Cleon wrote: "Lauraadriana wrote: "Not so much a question...Just wanted to say I am SO ANGRY with LooseId!!...This Rough Magic is supposed to come out in like six days...and no cover, nothing...What's wrong with..."
@ E and Cleon, I'm on a full blown rant about this today. I mean first, I am completely pissed that they are SO disrespectful. I mean this man wrote a BOOK they are his PUBLISHER and it's like...whatever...why would we promote it at all. Second, are they nor supposed to be a publisher that supports gay fiction authors?...Seriously it's not like it's a favor they're doing for Josh...Seeing RED about this...ARGH!!!
@ E and Cleon, I'm on a full blown rant about this today. I mean first, I am completely pissed that they are SO disrespectful. I mean this man wrote a BOOK they are his PUBLISHER and it's like...whatever...why would we promote it at all. Second, are they nor supposed to be a publisher that supports gay fiction authors?...Seriously it's not like it's a favor they're doing for Josh...Seeing RED about this...ARGH!!!
As I said in the other group, LA, I wrote to them and complained about it and they didn't even send a pre-written response back. I'm taking it personally too :(
Emanuela ~Zstyx~ wrote: "As I said in the other group, LA, I wrote to them and complained about it and they didn't even send a pre-written response back. I'm taking it personally too :("
I now I contacted them cause I wanted to have more info on whether it would be out on the 26th or not, cause I wanted to put the info in our group read thread...and I wanted the actual cover...No response, not one line.
I now I contacted them cause I wanted to have more info on whether it would be out on the 26th or not, cause I wanted to put the info in our group read thread...and I wanted the actual cover...No response, not one line.
Sigh... and I am so looking forward to get published with them one day. Like it or not they publish some of the best novels in this genre.
Cleon wrote: "Sigh... and I am so looking forward to get published with them one day. Like it or not they publish some of the best novels in this genre."
I know it's awful, that they're so flaky... some of my favorites m/m books they've published...but they really need to get it together..I mean seriously, it's bad...
I know it's awful, that they're so flaky... some of my favorites m/m books they've published...but they really need to get it together..I mean seriously, it's bad...
Lauraadriana wrote: "I now I contacted them cause I wanted to have more info on whether it would be out on the 26th or not, cause I wanted to put in out group read thread...and I wanted the actual cover...No response, not one line."I asked them too if it would be out on the 26th and I told them I was afraid they had postponed it since there's not even the cover!!!! It's Lanyon forgodsake!!!!
Emanuela ~Zstyx~ wrote: It's Lanyon forgodsake!!!!
I KNOW!!!!...it makes me so mad E...I even told them that I was organizing an event for our reading group and really wanted to be sure people could get the book on that day...No answer...I mean that's a bunch of books if of all of us at the BSS read together...*pouts* they've ruined my group read plans...I hate them...
I KNOW!!!!...it makes me so mad E...I even told them that I was organizing an event for our reading group and really wanted to be sure people could get the book on that day...No answer...I mean that's a bunch of books if of all of us at the BSS read together...*pouts* they've ruined my group read plans...I hate them...
It is plain crazy!!! I get all twitchy when I can't preorder .... But I guess they are clever - it has me visiting their site EVERY day!
Barb wrote: "It is plain crazy!!! I get all twitchy when I can't preorder .... But I guess they are clever - it has me visiting their site EVERY day!"
I don't know about clever...but they sure are frustrating...
I don't know about clever...but they sure are frustrating...
Mod
Save your strength, my dears. Last time I looked I don't think almost anyone on the Coming Soon page had a cover, so it's certainly nothing personal. I think they're trying to implement some new procedures for better promotion and possibly it created a bottleneck?
Josh wrote:I think they're trying to implement some new procedures for better promotion
From your lips Josh...They certainly got me all riled up today...I'm sure that it's not personal...as that would just be just so sad...
But, would it kill them to answer a question?...I have a very irritated group of crazy ladies that thought we were doing a group read on this on the 26th :O)...*huff*
From your lips Josh...They certainly got me all riled up today...I'm sure that it's not personal...as that would just be just so sad...
But, would it kill them to answer a question?...I have a very irritated group of crazy ladies that thought we were doing a group read on this on the 26th :O)...*huff*
Mod
Well, that's disappointing, I agree. Hopefully you'll get an answer before too much longer!
Josh wrote: Well, that's disappointing, I agree. Hopefully you'll get an answer before too much longer!
Yeah...I hope so too, I'm really looking forward to this book :O)
Yeah...I hope so too, I'm really looking forward to this book :O)
I am sure the book will be out on the 26th naked, or not :-D as in no cover, although naked covers may work too ....
So, after having *no* cover available for TRM, there are now two different covers (color me confused). But who cares about covers, right? I just wanted some evidence that they were actually going to publish the book. Cannot, cannot, cannot wait...
Your mileage may vary, naturally :)
FWIW, though, the first cover is pretty good. The one inside (on the book page) is so template (impossible to distinguish from every single other m/m book out there which takes the same tack and puts 2 faces or bodies on the cover, with little else -- I couldn't make out what the stuff on the bottom was supposed to be. Lights? Houses?). If this is the actual Loose-ID book cover, yeeesh (apologies, Mr. Lanyon, but yeesh).
Mod
But who cares about covers, right? I just wanted some evidence that they were actually goin..."
The LI cover on This Rough Magic is just...bad. There's no nice way to say it. It was thrown together and it looks like it. At my request LI did try to get it fixed, but it's still crap. The cover models have been used a million times, the graphics are cheesy...it's just bad. And what's worse is this is the first cover in a series, so it's in theory setting the tone for all the covers that follow.
However, my weblord put together a logo/graphic for the series itself, and that's what you see on the front page of my website. Not exactly m/m style, but original and much more in keeping with my personal vision for the series.
Josh wrote: "The LI cover on This Rough Magic is just...bad"As painful and annoying as this has to be for you, Josh, I hope you know that your true admirers will always want to buy your work regardless of the quality of the cover. However, with that said, I will be contacting LI and telling them that this piece of crap cover is an insult to one of their finest authors and that their obvious lack of effort is a disgrace!
Josh wrote: "ns wrote: "So, after having *no* cover available for TRM, there are now two different covers (color me confused). But who cares about covers, right? I just wanted some evidence that they were ..."
I am sorry, Josh. I agree that the cover is bad. I do hope readers will see beyond it.
Psst.... small consolation, but because of Kobo sale, I bought 3 books of you today.
Mod
As painful and annoying as this has to be for you, Josh, I hope you know that your true admirers will always want to buy your work re..."
I really do appreciate that thought, but to be honest, I think it might just put backs up. For one thing, LI is liable to think I'm inciting folks to riot, and while I'm not happy with the cover, lousy covers are a reality of publishing. In all branches of publishing, but ours in particular.
But I do thank you for that thought. Having whined about it, I feel more reconciled to it.
Josh wrote: "LI is liable to think I'm inciting folks to riot,"OK, Josh, I can hold off on the onslaught at LI. Your mindset above does seem a little more accepting than I originally thought. Perhaps the next cover in the series will be more to your liking. Just remember what I said about true admirers.
Mod
OK, Josh, I can hold off on the onslaught at LI. Your mindset above does seem a little more accepting than I originally thought. P..."
I appreciate it! I know you all will look beyond the cover. I also appreciate that LI made any effort to try and fix same cover.
For a publisher it's just one of hundreds of covers on their site. For authors...well, we tend to take it all a little more to heart. But I know every cover can't be brilliant. There are bound to be some duds in there. The fact that there's so little time to promote in any case makes it all sort of moot. So I can afford to chill a little.
Josh wrote: "Susan wrote: "Josh wrote: "LI is liable to think I'm inciting folks to riot,"OK, Josh, I can hold off on the onslaught at LI. Your mindset above does seem a little more accepting than I origina..."
I wonder how KZ Snow always get the best covers.
Josh wrote: "For a publisher it's just one of hundreds of covers..."Maybe that's true, but don't they take into consideration who the author is when they create a cover? It has to be obvious to them that you are one of their top sellers and therefore deserve top treatment.
"The fact that there's so little time to promote..."
Giving you a lousy cover and making you wait almost until the last minute for it just doesn't seem right. It really is adding insult to injury.
Mod
Lou, you have nothing to lose by suggesting it. They are very obviously bogged down, so they might be more open than usual to the idea. I would definitely try.
Mod
Maybe that's true, but don't they take into consideration who the author is when they create a cover? It has to be obvious to..."
:-D I'm trying to calm myself down here, Susan. You're getting me all riled again! Seriously though, I'm just trying to take the long view on this. I've had some nice covers through LI -- though the best have been through Carina (although that Yellow Sands cover through Samhain is one of my all time absolute favorites).
Mod
OK, Josh, I can hold off on the onslaught at LI. Your mindset above does seem a little more accepting tha..."
Maybe she gives better instructions on what she needs? Or maybe they figure my name in giant letters will be enough. God knows my name is big enough on that thing.
Josh wrote: "Cleon wrote: "Josh wrote: "Susan wrote: "Josh wrote: "LI is liable to think I'm inciting folks to riot,"OK, Josh, I can hold off on the onslaught at LI. Your mindset above does seem a little mo..."
*sends a virtual hug* I am sure your sales will be fine. No offense, but I think
's cover is far from pretty, but the book sells quite well.
Josh wrote: "I'm just trying to take the long view on this."OK sorry about that. Emotions got the better of me. :)
Mod
OK, Josh, I can hold off on the onslaught at LI. Your mindset above does seem ..."
That's pretty ugly, I must agree. :-D Ugly covers don't hurt sales from loyal readers, but I think they deter new readers. But then if word of mouth is positive, eventually, hopefully, that can be overcome.
Josh wrote: "Ugly covers don't hurt sales from loyal readers, but I think they deter new readers. But then if word of mouth is positive, eventually, hopefully, that can be overcome. "I always try to not judge a book by its cover but sometimes that's hard to do, especially when the cover is particularly bad.
Also, while he's one heck of a lovely fellow, I'm getting a little tired of seeing 'pretty little safe boy' on every other cover. It seems that there needs to be some 'new blood' in the model world.
Josh wrote: "though the best have been through Carina (although that Yellow Sands cover through Samhain is one of my all time absolute favorites)."
The Yellow Sands cover is absolutely terrific -- wish you could get the same artist to do all your covers!!
Mod
I know. Some of these models need to be put out to pasture. So do some of these boring, generic I-am-a-male-male-romance covers. How about something that give a flavor of the book beyond the gender of the protags?
When you compare the new cover of Snowball in Hell with This Rough Magic...two historical gay romances, both mysteries, one lightly comic, one dark but otherwise not too dissimilar and yet one cover could be just about anything m/m.
Okay. There I go again. I am now zipping it. Time to get ready to go watch kidlings hunt Easter eggs.
ns wrote: "Josh wrote: "though the best have been through Carina (although that Yellow Sands cover through Samhain is one of my all time absolute favorites).
"
The Yellow Sands cover is absolutely terrific -..."
Totally Agree!...I think it's best for me to not say anything, since I've grousing about LooseId all week with this cover...now that they've actually have one....
"
The Yellow Sands cover is absolutely terrific -..."
Totally Agree!...I think it's best for me to not say anything, since I've grousing about LooseId all week with this cover...now that they've actually have one....
Lou wrote: "I asked, they shut me down. Oh well. I'll cross my fingers and hope for the best. "Sorry to hear that, Lou -- good luck with the book!
Lou wrote: "It seems to me that 90% of the covers in this genre look about the same. I've learned to completely disassociate books from their covers. I don't think that's a good thing."
I would have to agree...I dunno if it's that they don't care or that they're completely off the mark on what a cover should convey
I would have to agree...I dunno if it's that they don't care or that they're completely off the mark on what a cover should convey
Lou wrote: "It seems to me that 90% of the covers in this genre look about the same. I've learned to completely disassociate books from their covers. I don't think that's a good thing."I was just browsing the MLR site, and discovered they used the *same* covers for multiple books! This confused the heck out of me.
Why? Isn't it very confusing for readers? Would they not get confused and assume they already have the book? Wouldn't it be better to make up some block graphics? Even just the title/author name in big giant letters would be an improvement, yes???
ns wrote: "Lou wrote: "It seems to me that 90% of the covers in this genre look about the same. I've learned to completely disassociate books from their covers. I don't think that's a good thing."
I was just..."
I totally agree...it upsets me that the publishers don't take the responsibility of promotion at all seriously...It's damaging, it takes away from the legitimacy of the genre, if that makes any sense...These are good books by serious authors (well a great deal of them anyway)and their work is put out there with whatever covers, no information, real promotion...This Rough Magic comes out tomorrow LooseId has no cover and no price...like right this minute. And it's not just this book they do it all the time.
I was just..."
I totally agree...it upsets me that the publishers don't take the responsibility of promotion at all seriously...It's damaging, it takes away from the legitimacy of the genre, if that makes any sense...These are good books by serious authors (well a great deal of them anyway)and their work is put out there with whatever covers, no information, real promotion...This Rough Magic comes out tomorrow LooseId has no cover and no price...like right this minute. And it's not just this book they do it all the time.
Lauraadriana wrote: "This Rough Magic comes out tomorrow LooseId has no cover and no price...like right this minute. And it's not just this book they do it all the time."Now, now, you're being very unjust. TRM comes out Tuesday (April 26th). That's a WHOLE 24 hours later! They have A WHOLE 36 hours to go!!
ns wrote: "Lauraadriana wrote: "This Rough Magic comes out tomorrow LooseId has no cover and no price...like right this minute. And it's not just this book they do it all the time."
Now, now, you're being ve..."
LOL...You're right not fair to take those 12 hours from them :o) ARRGHH...they've well and truly made angry...
Now, now, you're being ve..."
LOL...You're right not fair to take those 12 hours from them :o) ARRGHH...they've well and truly made angry...
I'm annoyed that those guys have faces... And they are not how I imagined them to look like when I read the excerpt, especially the one with the 80s haircut... *roll eyes*I wonder how eager publishers want control over cover designs. Small indie music publishers are always happy when the bands are willing to provide the cover artworks, as long as they are copyright ok. Maybe it's worthwhile to work with a few trusted designers, if the ebook right will be locked for a long, you don't want to see a bad cover floating around for 5 years...
Having said that, this cover is not particularly bad in the m/m romance publishing world, it's just a bit random and generic... And Josh, you've been rather lucky in the past ;P
is another truly horrible cover although I am sure the book is great, judging by the author and the review. There are also truly wonderful covers with truly terrible content. In this genre, covers are definitely not the best way to judge content. In terms of artistic merit, I don't think anyone can beat this cover yet:
. However, she also has her share of not to great covers.
I'm seconding Susan. I'm far too thrilled about the story itself coming out to even notice a cover... I can't wait for April 26th to roll around!
Cleon wrote: " is another truly horrible cover although I am sure the book is great, judging by the author and the review.
I read that book recently and it's pretty good!!
is another truly horrible cover although I am sure the book is great, judging by the author and the review. I read that book recently and it's pretty good!!
Lauraadriana wrote: "Cleon wrote: " is another truly horrible cover although I am sure the book is great, judging by the author and the review. I read that book recently and it'..."
It's on my wish-list!
Mod
But you asked. If you hadn't, you'd have likely regretted it. This way you did what you could.
Mod
Loose Id is run by four ladies who call themselves the Quad. They're all lawyers or ex-lawyers, so I'm sure they're more sensitive about potential legal problems than most.
I think cover art contracts in this genre are currently sewn up by a handful of artists, but that will change as more and more authors turn to self-publishing and micro-publishing -- and that's most definitely the direction things are going.
Mod
It's probably true that most covers fall in the "okay" category. The ones that stand out are the really good and the really bad.
Mod
I know. I know. We can't always have fabulous hand-crafted covers like the ones from Blind Eye Books.
The truth is, in a month I won't even remember this cover. I'll barely remember the book! :-D
Q&A with Josh Lanyon
Books mentioned in this topic
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What's scary is this is Josh Lanyon's book, one of the most successful and popular authors in this genre. I can't imagine if it's a new author.