Ahh, the author photo. If you’re like a lot of authors, knowing what works and doesn’t work can be a mystery. What should I wear? Should I smile or look serious? Do I have to hire a photographer? These questions are important, but ultimately, you want the end result...
Author newsletters and great marketing strategies go hand in hand. Newsletters provide an opportunity for authors to: Connect with their readers Share updates on their lives, new books, etc. Inform them about upcoming sales Build an email list Share book...
In a previous article on the Pantone Color of the Year, we took a look at the company Pantone and its over 70 years of being in the business of color. From lifestyle products to hardware and devices, the company has almost single-handedly created a multi-industry...
When designing your book cover, you have to decide if you’re going to be on-trend or outside the box. The choice is up to you, but there are pros and cons to both. The best strategy is to create a cover that represents your story, you as the author, and also meets...
Daily, I get questions from published authors: Is it worth it … to put in the time and energy to mount a bestseller campaign on Amazon?
Does your book have a professional cover that is competitive with your genre? Is there a typo in the first 10 pages or a major grammar or boo-boo?
When the Pantone Color Insititute set out to merge culture and color in 1999, who knew the explosive impact that creating the Pantone Color of the Year would have across all industries, including book publishing? Wherever you sit on the creativity spectrum, it’s hard...
What makes cookbook covers appealing? Great-looking food, of course! You can have the best-tasting food in the world, but without quality food photography and staging, the food might as well be grayscale on a white background. When it comes to cookbook covers,...
Before we get to the 10 best WordPress themes for authors, let’s get one thing out of the way. Yes, you need an author website! Too much enthusiasm? I think not. Over the years I’ve seen way too many authors miss out on opportunities to engage with their audience...
What is it about your favorite movie trailer that makes you want to see the movie? Is it who's starring in it? Is it the danger or suspense that makes your arms feel all prickly? Is it the laugh-out-loud dialogue between co-stars? Or, is it a promised escape into...
What are minimalist book covers? Good question. If you’re familiar with minimalism’s “less is more” philosophy, then you already have a good starting point for understanding how to design minimalist book covers. The focus of minimalist book covers is to either:...
When you are a self-published author, creating a strong brand is critical if you want to be taken seriously. This includes your publisher name, your website, your logo, and more. It’s not just about a great book. In this post, we’ll take a close look at the...