I just saw a mockup of my book cover. It is so cool.
Writing
Behind the Scenes in Book World
Photo by Kate Ter Haar
An update
It’s been three weeks since I sent the final draft of my novel, Her Own Vietnam, to my publisher for editing. While I wait to hear from her, there’s a lot for me to do.
Here are some of the things that are on my mind during this hidden gestation period as my manuscript evolves into a book.
Design
It’s not up to me to figure out cover images or page layout. A professional designer will do that, and my publisher will have the final word. But I am fortunate that Rosalie – unlike many publishers – actively engages her authors in design decisions and creative thinking about what the book should look like. So while I’m not worried about specific fonts or photos, I am thinking about the feeling I want the book cover to project – and hoping the designer can find a way to express that feeling visually.
Blurbs
Some readers study blurbs, some scorn them, but you’ve gotta have them. Two writers are currently considering blurb requests for my novel, and I’m working up the nerve to ask another well-known writer for a blurb. (Generally the publisher requests the blurbs, but in some cases the author might ask.)
As I mentioned in a previous post, it’s a delicate matter to ask someone to blurb your book. And like most people, I am uncomfortable asking for favors. The writer I’m about to approach has already been very generous to me. Is it over the top to ask her for yet more assistance? We’ll soon see.
Reviews
I suspect a novel like mine is going to find most of its readers through word of mouth. But the very first readers, particularly those who might stock the novel on their bookstore or library shelves, will most likely learn about it from reviews.
It is the publisher, not the author, who sends books out for review and Rosalie has already developed a list of review outlets for my novel. But I want to add to her list by learning about all the places I think my potential readers might hear about the book.
Who are my potential readers? Women (and men) who are interested in women’s stories. Who think about the human impact of social issues. Who fought in wars or marched against them, or both. Who are willing, for the length of a novel, to try on someone else’s life.
What about you?
I have three friends whose book recommendations are always on target. I have a couple of others whose stamp of approval for a book might as well be a skull and crossbones.
What about you? How do you hear about books to read? Is it through a particular website or magazine? A local bookstore? A trusted friend?
Do you have any advice for me about how to reach, well, people like you? Leave a comment and start the conversation: How will find your next book?
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Let’s Talk Blurbs
One of the things a writer and publisher must do is collect blurbs – those brief bursts of praise from other writers that you see on book covers.
A blurb may be only a sentence or two long, but when you ask a writer to provide one, you’re asking for a pretty big favor.
First, she has to read your manuscript. As anyone who has ever gone to book group unprepared can tell you, this is quite a time commitment.
Second, she has to like it. If not, she’ll decline to write the blurb.
Ouch.
I am thrilled to say I already have three great blurbs from writers I admire. But over the next few days, Rosalie and I will be asking a few other writers as well. I’ll keep you posted.
What’s your take?
What’s your take on blurbs? Do you notice them? Do they influence whether you pick up a book? If so, what persuades you – what the blurb says, or who said it?
Let me know what you think. Maybe I’ll ask you to blurb my book!
Hope springs eternal.
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She’s leaving home
It’s official. I have sent the manuscript of Her Own Vietnam to my editor who, conveniently, is also my publisher, Rosalie Morales Kearns. An editor by profession, Rosalie is also a fantastic writer, author of the short story collection Virgins and Tricksters.
Sending her the book is the first step – and the first test – in the process of letting go. For a long time, I was the only one who obsessed about this novel. Now there will be two of us.
My editor gets down to business. (Photo by Horia Varlan.)
(Please help me by singing in your head the Beatles song about “She’s leaving home after living alone for so many years.” You know the one.)
This begins a period of waiting to see what Rosalie thinks. But there’s plenty for a writer to do while the editor ponders her manuscript.
More on that soon.
Start with a Story 