When a movie adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Witches was released in October 2020, viewers weren’t just upset by a change to the story; they were offended. In the film, the Grand High Witch, whose fingernails resembled cat claws in the book, had hands with only two fingers and a thumb, or split hands, a […]
A pinch of this and a dash of that makes for sweetly satisfied readers Small Town Romance is one of those tried-and-true genres that withstands the test of time. While they seem easy, there are a lot of components that people take for granted. By the end of this recipe, you’ll be able to tailor […]
Book Cover Design Formula By Anita Nipane Book 4 of the author’s series focuses on the basics of what readers expect when looking at a book cover, and how authors can measure their cover against those expectations. It’s a straightforward read with lots of specific detail from her perspective as an art director and marketer. […]
As the designer on the team, I’m excited to provide you with several ways to up your cover game in this issue of Indie Author Magazine. But, in another life, I am an Occupational Therapist, and have worked with people with disabilities throughout my career. So I’m especially glad for our Devil in the Details […]
It’s no secret that a good cover can sell a book. Once you have a cover made, you want to get that cover in front of as many eyes as possible. This means making advertisements, newsletters, social media posts—even videos—so you can share with your audience and build it. Not everyone is prepared for the […]
“Judge a book by its cover.” We’re told not to, but we all do it. First impressions count, and this is your chance. What will your cover tell the world about your story? In this issue we explore some of the design elements that make a cover stand out for the right reasons. A good […]
Depending on several factors, the saying “Man Plans, God Laughs” might be familiar to you as a Yiddish Proverb, a quote from author Michael Chabon, or the name of a Public Enemy Album. I’m firmly team third camp. However you know this witticism, its truth remains. The best laid plans are often waylaid by events […]
Is It Time to Embrace Your Inner Superhero? Secret identities aren’t reserved for superheroes. There are no masks, no capes, no utility belts; and despite the lack of a fabulous wardrobe, an author may still require an alter-ego for success. These noms de plume, commonly known as pen names, can, if used correctly, be an […]
Andrew Dobell is a highly regarded British designer whose bright and colorful covers are easily recognizable. He’s also an author who straddles several genres, which makes him the perfect person to ask questions about how his writing influences his cover designs and vice versa. From the Art Andrew started out as an illustrator, finding freelance […]
The Only Question is How: Sweat Equity or Actual Money? The book cover is the first impression potential readers will have of your work and is what stops them scrolling as they search for something new to read. Beside considerations of genre, title, niche, and tone, your most important question is, how do you source […]
How Color Mapping and Psychology Can Help Your Cover Stand Out In the May issue, we talked about how authors generate trust by having their covers reflect the story within. We pulled several bold and rather red action adventure covers together to compare and contrast the elements to illustrate how the bold designs, font, and […]
Dear Indie Annie, I’ve finished my first book and sent it off to my editor. While he’s ripping it apart, I’ve started looking into all the things I need to do to self-publish my book—and it’s… a lot. I’m so confused by what I need to do first. And I often find conflicting information. How […]
If you’ve perused author-centric Facebook groups and some articles here at Indie Author Magazine over the last sixty days, you’ve likely seen chatter about the unveiling of Amazon’s new serialized fiction platform, Kindle Vella. But serial fiction isn’t new. Writers have been peddling their wares on platforms like Wattpad, Radish Fiction, and Royal Road for […]
#3 July – Cover Design If you see a font you want to identify, check out Font Squirrel Matcherator. Just upload an image with type and this tool will show you the fonts that match. The Brusheezy website has a vast collection of Photoshop documents (PSDs), brushes, patterns, textures, actions, shapes, styles, and gradients to […]
Being an author is often considered a lonely existence. But secluding yourself to write feverishly and drink yourself to angst-ridden death is now terribly out of fashion. The authors of today are a new breed. We have Facebook groups and accountability groups, and meet at book fairs, Clubhouse rooms, conferences, and writing retreats. At any […]
Prioritize Your Strategies for a Healthier, Happier Author Life Ah, the Fear of Missing Out (a.k.a. FOMO). That nagging panic that tricks us into thinking if we don’t try the newest, flashiest marketing strategy populating our news feeds, our author business will wither. It is distracting at best. At worst, it can plunge the unsuspecting […]
As writers, we want readers to love our book as much as we do, so it behooves us to give it the best possible cover that we can. Whether it’s designing one ourselves, purchasing a premade, or commissioning a custom cover, we want the cover to capture the reader’s attention. The cover helps us come […]
Hosted by K. M. Weiland Helping Writers Become Authors provides writers help in summoning inspiration, crafting solid characters, outlining and structuring novels, and polishing prose. Learn how to write a book and edit it into a story agents will buy and readers will love. https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/podcasts/
TikTok is a social media app that allows users to create short videos (fifteen or sixty seconds, with three-minute videos being beta tested). You can also add filters, background music, stickers, and captions to videos, and create split-screen videos with other creators. What’s in a name? A username is the @username other TikTok users can […]
Hosted by Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke Each week Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke explore different aspects of human behavior and the brain. In conversations hosted by producer Rebecca McInroy, the two renowned psychologists cover everything from the effects of sugar on the brain, to what’s happening in our minds while […]
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