Today fantasy author N.R. (Nancy) Williams joins us in the doghouse to talk about her just-released novel, The Treasures of Carmelidrium. I’ve had the pleasure of watching her final process from a distance (and even being involved in a little part of it), since we were both involved in Dani Greer’s blog book tours class at the same time. The Treasures of Carmelidrium. is her first novel, and I can tell you, since I got to read a little bit of it, that it’s a good one. For more information about it check out Nancy’s website here. To buy the book, click here. Now I’ll scoot over and let Nancy drive for a while:
Thank you Bodie a.k.a. Sherry for letting me visit your blog on the last day of my blog book tour to promote The Treasures of Carmelidrium.
If you are a writer you’ve heard about the editor thing over and over until you wish people would stop talking about it. I know I was tired of that conversation. Money was so tight for me, and my book had been through so many critique eyes, that I thought it was ready. Every writer I knew began to tell me again and again that I needed an editor. Then Heidi Thomas offered to work with me on a sliding scale. I agreed. So for all you writers out there in book land, it is worth your time to explore different editors until you find the one who will work with you, especially if you plan to self-publish. My book is ten times better because I hired Heidi. Thanks so much girl friend.
(Heidi may not be able to offer you the same deal).
I also needed a book cover. Amazon has free book covers, but I didn’t want my book to look like several hundred other covers. I wanted something that gave a clue as to what the book was about. Originally, I thought I’d do my own cover, but I was overwhelmed with edits and decided to ask for help. Sherry offered, and I think the cover is awesome.
Now I’d like to ask Sherry to relate a little of the process that she goes through to match a book cover to a book and its author.
Take it away Sherry.
Sherry says:
Thanks, Nancy. Since designing book covers is a big part of what I do, I’ve devoted a lot of thought to what constitutes a good design–and a bad one. I’ve even blogged about it in the past. If you’d like a detailed look at cover design click here, and here.
A good design can be summed up in five words: It. Helps. Sell. Your. Book. In the final analysis, that is your book cover’s job. There are other, secondary tasks–the cover should give a potential purchaser an idea of the book’s subject matter and general approach. It’s nice if it indicates visually what category your book falls into (romances, westerns, and biographies, for example, tend to have very different covers, stylistically). It’s nice if it’s pretty. It’s nice if it indicates that it’s part of a set. But all that is secondary. Your book cover’s main job is to sell your book.
When I design a book cover–and when I designed the cover of The Treasures of Carmelidrium–that was my primary focus. What would sell this book–and keep on selling Nancy as a writer? Before I started designing, I asked Nancy for an exerpt from the story, so I could judge tone and atmosphere. We talked about what she saw as the central images–and after reading her excerpt I could see she was spot on. I kept the title type simple, and large enough to be easily read from a distance (even though TTOC is being released digitally first) because selling in a bookstore requires both things. In other words, we developed this cover to meet all contingencies–it’ll work, no matter what the sales venue is.
Since The Treasures of Carmelidrium is a fantasy, it was important to convey something of that in the cover, while still keeping enough visual distinction to make the book stand out on the shelf. Many fantasy books use highly illustrated covers. To make Nancy’s book easier to spot, we went the “Twilight” route, and kept the cover simple. To convey the “fantasy” aspect of the book, I created a design that reflects the look and feel of illuminated book covers–there’s a tooled leather texture over most of the cover, and the front has simulated gold embossing (cheaper than the real thing, and still attractive). Since Nancy’s planning at least one sequel, it’s a good thing that this design can be easily adapted for subsequent volumes. Switch the background color and texture and the central image, and you’ve got a cover that’s unique to each book, and maintains a visual identity with the set as a whole. It makes it easy for browsers to see that the books belong together–ideally on their bookshelves.
I can go on and on like this, but I’ll stop now–thanks for stopping by, Nancy. Here’s hoping The Treasures of Carmelidrium enhance your own personal horde!
Thank you Sherry. I will be stopping by all day to review your comments and answer questions. Don’t forget to leave your email. I will post the winner on my blog tomorrow once I have a chance to let my grandson pull the names from a bowl.
N. R. Williams (Nancy)
Thank you Bodie, a.k.a., Sherry, for hosting me today. I find your book cover process amazing.
This is the last chance you all have to enter my contest to win a free e-book. So be sure to leave you email to qualify. I pull all names at 8 p.m. Pacific Time USA.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
Glad to have you, Nancy!
Although I don’t usually read fantasy novels, I look forward to reading yours, Nancy. Sherry is so right about book covers and yours is lovely. I’m glad you hired Heidi Thomas. You couldn’t have gotten a better editor.
I agree Senior…on both counts of Heidi and Sherry.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
Hi Sherry, Pleased to meet you.
Hi Nancy. Well it’s the last day of your book tour and I hope it has been a great success for you. I wish you luck with your promotion and sales.
The piece about the cover interested me because it’s the first thing someone sees when they aren’t familiar with you or your work, so it really has a lot of work to do. It’s interesting to get an insight from someone who does professional cover illustrations. Thank you for that.
bcd_tony@yahoo.com
Hi Nancy, Hi Sherry,
The cover art certainly depicts something hidden, something rich (the treasures?) and Missie’s flute. I’m looking forward to opening it!
The old adage, ‘you can’t judge a book by it’s cover’ doesn’t work for me. I have picked up (and put down) many books just beacause I *feel* something with the artwork.
Congratulations on a fascinating blog tour!
margo.benson@yahoo.co.uk
It’s amazing how many people really work together in such a valuable way in what is considered a solitary craft. Nancy, it sounds like you had a great team all giving their best to The Treasures of Carmelidrium. Congrats 🙂
Hi, Nancy! Hi, Sherry!
It was quite interesting to read a post on editing and book covers by someone who designs covers and someone who was self-published.
Hi Tony. It is interesting how the cover makes the story and Sherry did such a wonderful job on mine.
I’m with you Margo, I will reach for an attractive book first, but the writing had better be there too.
Yes, it does take a team of excellent players even if you are self-published. I will let Sherry do future books too.
Hi Golden, glad you could make it. I certainly learned a lot getting, “The Treasures of Carmelidrium,” reading for publication.
Thank you all for stopping by. Tony and Margo are entered into the contest because they left their email.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
The cover really pops, even when reduced–important, when it’s in a row or list of thumbnails in an electronic catalog. The 3-D flute is different and intriguing. I haven’t read TREASURES, but it would take a good book to inspire such a good cover!
ma@marianallen.com
I’ve been enjoying reading the comments–thanks, everyone, for stopping by. It really is amazing how many people are involved in producing a quality book.
Thanks for your comment. Marian. It’s nice to hear from someone else how the book looks.
It is fun to read all the comments, Bodie a.k.a., Sherry. You did a great job.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
Hi Nancy and Bodie,
What a great place for your last stop, Nancy! The 3-D flute really pops out. Nice cover design. Nice you found a good editor as well as a great cover designer.
Good luck!
Monti
http://tinyurl.com/28gffmj
Hey, Monti–
Nice to see you again!
Great post, and I absolutely agree — it’s essential to work with professionals.
Thank you Monti. You left your email so I have you in the contest.
Hi Lisa, nice to meet you. I’m glad you stopped by.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
Hi, Nancy, Hi, Bodie,
Since I am one of the privileged few to have already read the book, I LOVE the cover.
SInce the flute is an integral part of the story it’s genius to extract that image and make it pop off the cover. The rich orangy-red background color adds warmth and texture next to the cold, steely silver of the flute. Reds also attract the eye.
Excellent job of design, Bodie, as a fellow illustrator I commend you.
Nancy,
All the best with your novel.
Michael
Thanks for visiting, Michael–do you have a website where we can view your work?
Thank you so much, Michael, your praise is appreciated.
Bodie, Michael has a illustration page on his blog, from there I suppose you could find out more.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
And we are glad you took the step and hired Sherry! Professional editing makes all the difference in the world.
I love that cover designers put so much thought into the process. And as for having an editor, I totally agree. I recently was loaned a book from a friend written by her sister in law. No editing. I can’t get beyond the 5th page! It’s so full of misspellings and words that are just wrong. Yikes!
I love the cover and I can’t wait to read the book!
Thank you Becky, I am honored. Sherry did a wonderful job!
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
Hi L. Diane, yes, everyone was right about that. Money was an issue for me and I think for others. But if you search for the right editor you will find him or her.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
I’ve made the decision to not send out another book unless it’s been professionally edited (not even my gift books). I did that with the gift book I did for my nephews and niece (I figured it’s just for family, right?) Well, I was so disappointed to find typos when I had a chance to review it. Luckily I can re-upload a corrected copy to CreateSpace, but with conventional publishing that’s not a realistic option. I’d just have to live with the errors until the next printing.
That’s a wise decision Bodie. I will never underestimate the need for an editor to eyeball my work again.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
Hi Sherry! I was amazed at the talent that goes into the book cover process. I LOVE Nancy’s cover. There was so much in this post re the editing process (thanks Heidi) and the cover. These days book covers have come of age and goes a long way towards selling the book, as you so wisely say.
Well, Nancy, I’m sorry your tour is over, but I’m sure you’ve got something up your sleeve next!
Denise 🙂
Oh yes I do. Tomorrow, which is today for you L’Aussie, and apparently Sherry’s blog thinks so too, but it’s not for me. Side-tracked there. Tomorrow is announce the winner day on my blog. I will also answer some questions friends have asked along the way.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
It’s after 9 p.m. here in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, so the contest is now closed.
Thank you so much Sherry for hosting me on my last day of this blog book tour for “The Treasures of Carmelidrium.” I appreciate it.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
I loved this informative post. You gave me some good ideas for our next book. Thanks. Although I haven’t followed your whole tour, I’ve really enjoyed the stops I’ve been able to participate in.
Well, it’s over. The Magic Dog has had his evening run and is now lying by the fireplace, gnawing on a cob of dried corn (he finds them in the field next door and brings them home for a late-night snack. He prefers his corn on the cob, hot, and buttered, but he’ll eat it parched if he must.) I’ve put the boy to bed, and have located both of the Hawaiian cats. All is as it should be. Good night. Thanks for visiting, everyone.