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Make Your First Impression Count

“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 cover will cost you—either money or time. If you decide to do it yourself, we look at some tools to help you, so you can determine which one best suits your needs.

You might think TikTok is just for teenagers to share bad dancing attempts, but it is emerging as a strong platform for selling books. We take you through how to set up your account and grow your author brand.

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At Indie Author Magazine we believe that inclusion is fundamentally important. But in fiction, how do we avoid harmful stereotypes when trying to be inclusive of situations beyond our own experience? This month’s Devil in the Details looks at representation of disability in fiction. 

You only get one chance to make a first impression—let’s make it a great one!

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Picture of Erika Everest

Erika Everest

Over fifteen years in the corporate sector, managing international projects and teams, gives Erika Everest a strong foundation for managing the globally-dispersed editorial team working at Indie Author Magazine. She has co-curated eight anthologies in the past three years, and works with authors for proofreading, beta reading, editing, formatting, and newsletter set up and maintenance. With a PhD in Biostatistics and a postgraduate qualification in International Business Management, Erika values strategic and analytical thinking. She also values unicorns, tiaras, and happily ever afters. She has published three novels in a series of fairytale retellings, and likes to procrastinate by writing nonfiction books to help authors.

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Read Indie Annie's Latest Advice:

Dear Indie Annie,

I’ve just hired a new cover designer for my series, but English is not their first language. I want to make the process run smoothly. Any tips for working around a language barrier? Lost in Translation Dear Lost in Translation, Oh, poppet, collaborating across cultures can feel as daunting as decoding hieroglyphics! But with patience and open communication, you can transcend language barriers. View this as a thrilling expedition with your design sherpa! What you

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July 1, 2024 No Comments

Dear Indie Annie,

I know it’s important to understand who you’re writing and marketing to, but how do I develop my ideal reader avatar? Every time I try, it feels like I’m limiting myself. Needing to Niche Down Dear Niche,  Oh darling, focusing on your target audience feels as frightening as finalizing a paint palette for your parlor. Why choose when there are so many gorgeous colors to pick from? But defining your ideal reader liberates your creativity

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June 1, 2024 No Comments

Dear Indie Annie,

In the past, I’ve hired editors, cover designers, and even a virtual assistant. Passing off those responsibilities makes sense, but internal formatting always seems so straightforward. At what point is it worth investing in professional formatting services? Frugal Formatter Dear Frugal, Oh my, that moniker sounds like you’re an inhabitant of Middle Earth, but I digress. Formatting your own manuscript seems as simple as building a bookcase from IKEA: just insert tab A into slot

Read More »
May 1, 2024 No Comments

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