1 Topic by cobber (edited by cobber 2017-08-29 18:10:59)

Topic: Thanks to TNBW - Getting ready to publish

Hi all,

After fifteen years noodling with this project, I'm getting ready to publish State of Vengeance. Many members of this site have helped make this book a reality, so thank you. I could not have done it without the members of TheNextBigWriter. I'd especially like to thank Jube and Randall Krzak, the two reviewers who made it all the way through the book. I owe both a tremendous number of reviews and will reciprocate.

I'm aiming for a book launch on September 21.

Below is the cover and the blurb I have crafted.

State of Vengeance

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"Do not leave today on your trip."

Four hours before her vacation flight to Spain, young mother Rachel Katz receives an anonymous text warning her not to go. Thinking it a prank, she and her husband, struggling hedge fund manager Zeke Katz, decide to ignore the message.

From the offices of an emerging hedge fund to the halls of Washington D.C., to the streets of Karachi and New York, Rachel and Zeke’s fateful decision will alter the course of human history and change their lives forever.

From thriller writer Jake J. Harrison comes a classic revenge story wrapped in global terrorism, financial machinations, quantum computing, political conspiracies, and end of the world prophecies.

"An exciting clash of power, faith, and deals. You won't want to put it down!" - Randall Krzak, author, The Kurdish Connection

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I'm also almost done with the: State of Vengeance website

I've begun testing different marketing messages on Facebook and will print out 30 hardcopies. I have a list of people to send them to. If anyone on TNBW would like to be a reviewer, I'd be happy to send a free copy. I'm going to do a Goodreads giveaway and also run a contest on several different sites.

Any other suggestions?

I plan to share what works and what doesn't with this wonderful community. Thank you again.

Quote Post 1

Re: Thanks to TNBW - Getting ready to publish

Nice looking cover - an attention grabber! I wasn't here while you were posting the book but I'm delighted you brought your project to fruition. Best of luck with it!

Quote Post 2

Re: Thanks to TNBW - Getting ready to publish

Nice looking cover - an attention grabber! I wasn't here while you were posting the book but I'm delighted you brought your project to fruition. Best of luck with it!

Thanks, Sideman!

Quote Post 3

Re: Thanks to TNBW - Getting ready to publish

Cobber, please cross-post your observations about what works/doesn't work to the Marketing Your Writing group. It's a big group (60 members), but with too few posts. Unfortunately, anything posted solely to Premium will be quickly lost.

Congratulations on your book.
Dirk

Quote Post 4

Re: Thanks to TNBW - Getting ready to publish

Great blub....Very intriguing....Congrats to you...Denise

Quote Post 5

Re: Thanks to TNBW - Getting ready to publish

Beautiful book! It absolutely does what it's supposed to--grabs your attention without too-small lettering or distracting images.Showing the word 'vengeance' in a fiery gold conveys anger. The flames and the almost-invisible code whet our appetite for the story. Super job!  JP

Quote Post 6

Re: Thanks to TNBW - Getting ready to publish

Cobber, please cross-post your observations about what works/doesn't work to the Marketing Your Writing group. It's a big group (60 members), but with too few posts. Unfortunately, anything posted solely to Premium will be quickly lost.

Yes, absolutely. I've started some Facebook advertising and will start by posting my experiences there.

Quote Post 7

Re: Thanks to TNBW - Getting ready to publish

Great blub....Very intriguing....Congrats to you...Denise

Thanks, Denise!

Quote Post 8

Re: Thanks to TNBW - Getting ready to publish

Beautiful book! It absolutely does what it's supposed to--grabs your attention without too-small lettering or distracting images.Showing the word 'vengeance' in a fiery gold conveys anger. The flames and the almost-invisible code whet our appetite for the story. Super job!  JP

Thank you, JP. I went through a bunch of covers to get to this one. Maybe I'll post the others if people are interested in the progression.

Quote Post 9

Re: Thanks to TNBW - Getting ready to publish

If people are looking to have a cover designed, this is the company I used. I was happy with the work they did.

http://octagonlab.com/

I spent hours cruising different cover design sites looking for a company that had a thriller portfolio. In this case, I didn't think a company that designed mostly romance books would necessarily be the best fit.

I'm pretty happy with the design although I would have liked a central image or symbol to really bring it all together. But I think the cover communicates the general theme of the book, so I'm happy with that.

Quote Post 10

Re: Thanks to TNBW - Getting ready to publish

Congrats, Cobber. That's really exciting news, and I agree the cover is terrific. When it's available, I'll definitely buy a copy and post a review. I really enjoyed the story, found it topical and compelling, but got bogged down in my own writing and revisions so didn't do it justice. I will make amends when you publish! Gray

Quote Post 11

Re: Thanks to TNBW - Getting ready to publish

Congrats, Cobber! Agree the cover looks great. I read a good part of the book when it was up on TNBW but somehow missed the rest. Good luck with sales!  Jack

Quote Post 12

Re: Thanks to TNBW - Getting ready to publish

Congratulations. Great blurb and cover.

I have been able to sell books by giving free talks to local groups and libraries. I don't charge, but sign and sell at the end.  Look for book fairs too.

Good luck.
Sherry

Quote Post 13

Re: Thanks to TNBW - Getting ready to publish

cobber wrote:

If people are looking to have a cover designed, this is the company I used. I was happy with the work they did.

http://octagonlab.com/...

Thank you for sharing the link to the people who did your cover! Those prices look great. I agree with others that your cover looks really professional.

Are you self-publishing? I was just saying to someone the other day that I feel if one is going to go the self-pub route, they should invest in a really good cover. That's unfortunately what will attract buyers, I think. Bad cover, they assume the book's bad and move on without investigating. Yours looks really great! The website is also professional. Best of luck with the launch! smile

Quote Post 14

Re: Thanks to TNBW - Getting ready to publish

Congratulations! I didn't read your book, but I do like the cover. Octagon Lab did three mystery covers for me and I was pleased with his work.
Best of luck! I hope you sell a GA-zillion!
~Ann

Quote Post 15

Re: Thanks to TNBW - Getting ready to publish

Congrats!  How awesome!  Your cover is very nice, and I will check out those folks. 

Wishing you the best of luck with it. 

MJ

Quote Post 16

Re: Thanks to TNBW - Getting ready to publish

Congratulations! I didn't read your book, but I do like the cover. Octagon Lab did three mystery covers for me and I was pleased with his work.

I think I may have seen that on your author page and liking your covers, checked them out. I also saw them on another list so the two recommendations helped me feel comfortable with them.

Quote Post 17

Re: Thanks to TNBW - Getting ready to publish

Are you self-publishing?

Technically, I am. I am using the WordMaker Media imprint, spun-off from this site. I've also hired some members of TheNextBigWriter to help me with book design and marketing.

Quote Post 18

Re: Thanks to TNBW - Getting ready to publish

I have been able to sell books by giving free talks to local groups and libraries. I don't charge, but sign and sell at the end.  Look for book fairs too.

Great ideas! I'll have to think about what kind of talk I can give based on the book.

Quote Post 19

Re: Thanks to TNBW - Getting ready to publish

cobber wrote:

I have been able to sell books by giving free talks to local groups and libraries. I don't charge, but sign and sell at the end.  Look for book fairs too.

Great ideas! I'll have to think about what kind of talk I can give based on the book.


When I've given talks at local libraries, many people have asked about my writing journey as well as my novel, so that's something to consider. Good luck!

Quote Post 20