Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Neve Maslakovic on December 15, 2011 at 8:12pm

Rossandra, I'm getting ready to order postcards to bring to a library event (and also to have on hand to give out in general). Didn't think of putting my photo on them, just the usual stuff -- book cover, website, etc. I like the photo idea. Do you know of a good place to get them done online?  I'm putting my pen name on the postcards because they are meant for readers... Are you making business cards to give out to agents, other writers, etc? I'd probably still go with your author name.

Permalink Reply by Rossandra White on December 15, 2011 at 8:30pm

Thanks so much for responding Neve.  Good idea, just my author name, otherwise it's confusing.  I was looking at Vista Prints, though I think they're kind of a cheapy deal, though they did have a million designs and one I think might work.  I don't know if they'll add a photo.  And yes, I want the cards to give out to all and sundry: for people to read my blog, agents, other writers etc.

I'm going to post this later as a discussion but I'll share this idea with you seeing as how you're ready to get "out there"--something I learned in my Costco newsletter.  Seriously--but this is what this one guy did to promote his book: he went to Costco's photo center and uploaded a photo/or other image and made 6X7 1/2" cards of his book: $14.99 plus tax for 50 photo cards in lustre finish with cards.  And then with his inkjet printer added the novel's plot summary on the back.  He had this to say, "On photo paper the ink is slow to dry and may smear. Catch the printed cards as they emerge from the printer and keep them separated until dry."  Good idea, eh?

Good luck!

http://www.rossandrawhite.com

Permalink Reply by Neve Maslakovic on December 16, 2011 at 7:00am

I've heard good things about Moo Cards, though they're on the pricy side. I'm thinking book cover (Regarding Ducks and Universes) on one side of the card and a quote or two on the back plus the webpage info. I want to leave room on the back so I can sign the cards if I don't have books on hand.

Have fun designing! 

Permalink Reply by Rossandra White on December 16, 2011 at 2:07pm

What an utterly charming, delightful cover you have for your book!  Sounds verrry interesting.  Will have to check it out.  Looked at Moo, images and styles not to my liking and as of now don't have any ideas of how I want the card to look, so I won't be designing it myself.  I'll know what I want when I see it kind of thing.  By the way who designed your cover?

http://www.rossandrawhite.com

Permalink Reply by Neve Maslakovic on December 16, 2011 at 5:29pm

Thanks Rossandra, it is a nice cover, isn't it? (I wasn't the one who designed it so its OK for me to say that!)

The book's publisher is AmazonEncore (they are the first of the Amazon imprints) and all the editing, cover design, etc, went through CreateSpace.

I took a look at your blog, what an interesting life story you have! 

Permalink Reply by Rossandra White on December 16, 2011 at 8:06pm

Thanks Neve.  I have a "fan" page on Facebook for my first as yet, unpublished novel, Monkey's Wedding, proclaiming my intentions to self-publish after very near misses with two publishers.  I've been dragging my heels.  So, did you do a lot of research before you went with CreateSpace?

Permalink Reply by Neve Maslakovic on December 17, 2011 at 8:10am

AmazonEncore is a traditional imprint, Amazon's first (I think they are up to 6 now, Thomas & Mercer for Mystery and Thrillers,  Montlake for Romance, and so on). You can read more about them here. As to how I came to be published by them -- I entered my manuscript in ABNA 2009 (I didn't win!) and AmazonEncore's acquisition editor saw the MS and and liked it and they made me an offer. You can read more about the whole thing on my webpage, http://www.nevemaslakovic.com

Next year's ABNA is accepting submissions until mid-January, have you considered entering since you have a novel ready? Just a thought :)

Permalink Reply by Rossandra White on December 17, 2011 at 7:42pm

Thanks Neve.  Good info.  So did AmazonEncore do all the editing, everything?   

Permalink Reply by Neve Maslakovic on December 18, 2011 at 8:41am

Yeah, they did everything a traditional publisher does.

Permalink Reply by Regina Y. Swint on December 18, 2011 at 12:19pm

Hi, Rossandra!

I'd say use the name that you mostly use.  I'm guessing that Rossandra is your pen name.  I think that would be great on a business card.  I don't have any cards yet, but I hope to put some together, soon.  I believe I'll be making them myself, unless I can find a really good deal for someone who does them really well.

I'd probably not use a photo, but that does sound cool.  I don't know if I could find a photo that I like enough to put onto a business card.  I'd definitely include your website and email address, as well as the genres you write.  I guess there's only so  much that one can fit onto a  business card, unless you plan to use the backside, too.  I've heard of some people doing that.

~Regina.  rys

Permalink Reply by Rossandra White on December 18, 2011 at 12:33pm

Thanks Regina, yeah, I'm with you on the photo.  I just hate photos of myself.

I have a dilemma about what genres to list: the thing is I have written two YA novels and a memoir.  But I won't be writing any more YA, but plan on another memoir as well as focusing on essays.  So, do you think that perhaps I should just say author of (novel name, YA etc./memoir) and essays? 

Permalink Reply by Regina Y. Swint on December 18, 2011 at 12:55pm

Well, I think it's always a good idea to let folks know what you have written, such as:

Rossandra White
Author of Monkey's Wedding

Or you could add to that with:
Author of Monkey's Wedding, a Young Adult Novel

But maybe you could just include the genres that you write/have written on the back of the card.  That will make it look cleaner or less cluttered.  Then again, I don't rightly know.  Now would be a good time for some samples from other authors.  I'd love to have business cards made, but I wouldn't know which ideas to use and which to put somewhere else.  Creating is fun, but takes a lot of time, too.  Whew!