Book Design: The 2008 Olympics and What It Has in Common with Writing…

It seems like the Olympic trials 2008 was just yesterday, yet it was weeks away. It comes every 4 years and we all gather around watching top athletes do their thing… their passion and excellence showing in every breath they take.

They’ve worked hard for this, studied, researched and practiced over and over the skills necessary to succeed…and place for their category. Most likely this has been a lifetime goal, to be a participant in the Olympics, to belong to that special group.

As an author you too have your own special Olympics. The book you are writing takes special preparation. Over time your book becomes a bigger part of you and your life. You find that you think about your subject and the next piece of information you will share. You are following your passion.

Keep it up. Create the passion that makes you a gold metal winner too!

Enjoy the journey!

Remember, do something every day toward your book, web-presence, product, service and promotion.
Karrie Ross,  Book Designer, Web-presence, Branding, Coaching & Consulting Services

Using cartoons in your book cover design

Book Design: Use of Cartoons

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE!!
Your book cover is more than you see…it’s what you think as well. More than once a new publisher has come to me with a cartoon for their cover ‘because all the other books in the catagory’ had used a similar image so it must work. Not necessarly true. Cartoons. Is your book funny? Does it need to be introduced in a non-threatening way? Leave your options open to other possibilities when you hire a designer. Knowing the right questions to ask make all the difference in the final result.

Remember, do something every day toward your book, web-presence, product, service and promotion.
Karrie Ross,  Book Designer, Web-presence, Branding, Coaching & Consulting Services

Tomato Soup Cake… my Sons’ favorite!

Tuesday, April 17th 2007

Tomato Soup Cake… my Sons’ favorite!
Other related subject: Great Receipe!
Tomato Soup Cake (1971) My son Jasen’s traditional Birthday Cake

Mix the following:
2c flour
1c sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp allspice
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda

Add the following:
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped walnuts
optional 1 cup dates

Mix all the dry ingredients above then add and stir with a spoon as the mixture will be thick…you can try a mixer but be careful not to burn up the motor! the following ingredients.

1 tsp vanilla
1 can Campbell’s Tomato Soup
1/2 cup vegetable oil

Place mixture into an 8×8 baking
pan or loaf pan…flour the
bottom only to prevent sticking

Bake 45 mins to 1 hr at 350º or until a toothpick or clean knife when inserted comes out clean

cool then frost with the following butter cream frosting

1 3oz pkg cream cheese (soft)
1 T butter
1tsp vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar

combine first three ingredients then gradually add the powdered sugar until smooth and frost cooled cake. I like it refrigerated…tastes better but similar to carrot cake.

Enjoy!

Remember, do something every day toward your book, web-presence, product, service and promotion.
Karrie Ross,  Book Designer, Web-presence, Branding, Coaching & Consulting Services

Getting Insurance for your business…Other related subject: Small Business Insurance

Tuesday, March 20th 2007

This may seem off subject for my blog but I have the toughest time with things like insurance and lawyers and corporation procedures… so when I was told I needed to have general libility insurance I litteraly freaked! To put it mildly. The lawyer who told me, referred me to an insurance man who said I didn’t make enough for him to bother with me! REALLY! Then the search began for a company who could write me a policy… and I called all over locally, the internet, friends gave me names… finally I realized I belonged to NASE, the National Association for the Self Employed… yes, I didn’t think of it in the first place… and they helped me. There is a company, Hartford Insurance that has an online form for small businesses…. easy to fill out and their response was timely. Here is the webaddress, the companys name is Crescent Insurance.
http://www.crescentinsurance.com/business_owners.asp

Posted by: Kareen on Sep 20, 06

Remember, do something every day toward your book, web-presence, product, service and promotion.
Karrie Ross,  Book Designer, Web-presence, Branding, Coaching & Consulting Services

Book Cover Design: BEA and How to Use it to Help you Research Interest for Your Book

I attended BEA with two intentions. First from the view of a Book Cover & Interior Designer and the second from the view of a new Author.

I noticed myself falling back into the comfort of the first since this is known to me and the way I make a living. I found many interesting services for authors from printers to doll makers for children’s books. I also came away with good information regarding what publishers are looking for to better inform my book design clients who use my services.

I attended on the last day of the show in the hopes of being a more welcomed conversation to the booth vendors, which turned out to be a good decision and I got some free books at the end!

And the second view as author being new and unknown brought several surprises. I eventually braved it up and asked at a few booths if they were taking submissions. Some were kind and handed me sheets of rules but no business cards. There were two publisher booths that actually had Reps sit down and discuss possibilities with me, they were interested in my topic…!

I’m not sure if it was the topic or the publisher or the fact that I smiled and laughed a lot! Whatever the reason, I did get business cards and a much warmer welcome than I did a few years ago when I just had a children’s picture book to sell.

I did hear from all the publishers I had the chance to exchange a few sentences with, that they were interested in authors who were savy to publicity and self promotion of their books and if they had an internet platform.

Remember, do something every day toward your book, web-presence, product, service and promotion.
Karrie Ross,  Book Designer, Web-presence, Branding, Coaching & Consulting Services

Book Cover Design: How Authors can build their own websites that empower them to sell books…

Websites! You all need them. Some of you can actually make and maintain them. But what about those of you that really find it hard to do?

To create and maintain your own websites so you save money and are empowered to express yourselves when you want to and not have to wait for someone to make the changes for you and charge an arm and leg!

So, I’ve been working on a way for you, the authors that use my services, can take care of their own websites whenever you want to!

It took me a long time but I figured it out and I now offer it as a service

I have a complete package that walks you through the URL purchase, hosting setup and how to maintain the site you build.

Take a look, here’s the link for more information.

Remember, do something every day toward your book, web-presence, product, service and promotion.
Karrie Ross,  Book Designer, Web-presence, Branding, Coaching & Consulting Services

Which is correct….Forward or Foreword?

I see this all the time…and which is correct?

Let’s refer to the dictionary.

Forward: ahead of time; early; moving toward a point in front; progressive

Foreword: an introductory remarks, preface or prefatory note

SO
The answer IS……….FOREWORD!

don’t forget it and be sure your book uses the correct spelling.

Remember, do something every day toward your book, web-presence, product, service and promotion.
Karrie Ross,  Book Designer, Web-presence, Branding, Coaching & Consulting Services

Media Kits after your Book Design

Sun Sep 10, 2006

Once your book design is done be sure to creat a media kit an important part of your marketing. A kit is your resume, it tells and shows what you’re about. It should include: a short bio, image of your book cover, contact information, list of questions you can answer, book flyers, business card, poster, bookmark, any news media tie ins, what your product / service is and web link etc. Once your kit is assembled, Media professionals will have all the info necessary to determine what you offer for their interviews. Contact me to assist you with your media kit… karen@bookcoverdesigner.com

http://www.bookcoverdesigner.com

Remember, do something every day toward your book, web-presence, product, service and promotion.
Karrie Ross,  Book Designer, Web-presence, Branding, Coaching & Consulting Services

Don’t forget to send a thank you note!

This tip courtesy of Rick Fishman newsletter

A “Rick Tip”

Don’t forget to send a thank you note!

I know it sounds crazy- but most people don’t send a thank you note after they do a
media interview…

Big mistake! Always send a note the the host and the producer.

In the note…
1- Thank them for having you on ( or for the interview)
2- Remember a specific item from the interview and talk about that
3- Give them your cell # and offer to be on anytime at the last minute
4- Tell how much fun you had on the show and how you got a great reaction (
phone calls and e mails etc)
5- Ask them for a “testimonial” and ask them to send it to you on their stationary (
for your press kit)
6- Ask them for an mp3 of the show ( or a tear sheet if it is a print interview)

For more tips go to http://www.plannedtvarts.com and sign up for our “TIP SHEET”
That’s it for this week
To Your Success
Rick
www.plannedtvarts.com

Remember, do something every day toward your book, web-presence, product, service and promotion.
Karrie Ross,  Book Designer, Web-presence, Branding, Coaching & Consulting Services

Celebrity Testimonials

Celebrity Testimonials
Book Design: Celebrity Testimonials
Get those “more-bang-for-your-buck’ testimonials for your back cover…This online database contains contact information for celebrities managers, agents and more…for over 54,000 celebrities and public figures worldwide.
http://www.contactanycelebrity.com

Remember, do something every day toward your book, web-presence, product, service and promotion.
Karrie Ross,  Book Designer, Web-presence, Branding, Coaching & Consulting Services