Judging a Book by Its Cover

After refreshing the interior of my book, I believe it is time to look at its jacket.  Does my cover really work for my book?  Here is the original cover:

I liked it because the peachy colors made it very feminine and the type was the same as the interior.  I designed the ring using stock imagery and the circle tool in Microsoft Publisher.  Very inexpensive and, I think, it conveys the interior's content.  But does it work?

Short of returning to college to study cover art, I did a simply Google search.  Here are some of the useful tips I discovered:

Inspiration

The following link shows very artsy, fartsy covers.  Clearly, these people have Adobe Photoshop.  Although I will never be able to create letters out of water, I do find these images to be refreshing and inspiring.  Also exceptionally well thought out...

"50 Best Book Covers Of 2012: Design Observer Announces Winners"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/27/best-book-covers-2012-_n_3509364.html

To Serif or Not to Serif 

Serifs are the little flairs on fonts, such as this Times New Roman Font.  Non Serif fonts are like this Ariel font.  Serif'd fonts are the easiest to read and the most commonly used font in books.  Either way, the font chosen can really make an impression on the reader, especially on the cover.  This begs the question, should I use a serif font or not?  Here is an article that I believe has some great ideas on this point...

"5 Great Fonts for Book Covers"
http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2011/08/5-great-fonts-for-book-covers/

I like that article, but it doesn't really help me with my topic, legal - So, I just typed in the Google search engine: legal book cover art.  What appeared in the Web search field is the issue of copyright laws.  This is not what I had in mind.  So instead of changing my search terms, I decide to click the Images tab.  What I find there was most interesting:

I am not sure if you can see that, but a majority of the book's titles are in ALL CAPS.  Hmmm.  That is an option I am going to try now...

I LIKE IT!  I think it really conveys a new look.  Much more dignified.  Reserved.  Trustworthy.  I even did the whole INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE BIG WORDS.

Finally, the colors.  As much as I like the peachy-ness of the other cover.  I kind of want it to go to another place.  However, when I change the color of the font, the title seems weak against the white cover.  Now, I am thinking a black cover with a colored font on top, but I like the image of the ring (blue diamond, gold band).   Thus, I have filled the text box black.  Should I do blue letters?  No.  Should I do gold?  Well, what does the color wheel say?

According to HDTV's color instruction, blue is a primary color and orange is its secondary color:
http://www.hgtv.com/decorating-basics/color-wheel-primer/index.html

For my needs, I am thinking I should go with a more reddish-orange than gold.

Are you ready for the before and after?  I am!  Let me see...

 And now...

Wow!  I think I really like it!  The difference is amazing.  The ring really pops and the font looks...sexy.  Yeah, I said it.  I think it is a great change!  I will have to order a copy to see...I think the background is a little dark, but I think it works...

Exciting changes before the weekend.  Have a good one!

CC

Table of Contents?! We don't need no stinking Table of Contents?! Um, yeah we do...

I had no idea that at one point I would ask myself about my own work, "What chapter is that in?"

Table of Contents.  They are actually quite necessary.  And kinda hard to write.  I decided to just go to the last chapter and work forward.  I have read the beginning of the book so much, it was refreshing to start from the back.  I simply skimmed the chapter and then wrote a sentence.  Come to find out, I had two chapters that essentially covered the same topic.  The best part of discovering that was discovering...well, that!  The worse part of discovering that was the insecurity of the work as a whole that set in emotionally :(  I hope it isn't crap.  How embarrassing...

Oh, well - Here are my TofCs...

Table of Contents

1.
Our Constitutional right to marry as established by
Loving v. Virginia

2.
Brief introduction to legal procedure
(Why Louisiana has a civil code, how marriage laws and contract laws intertwine, etc.)

3.
You may not have realized this, but contractual obligations were initiated at the proposal

4.
Get excited!!!
Let’s talk about PRE-NUPS!

5.
Lots covered in this chapter, such as:

Covenant Marriages: Double-Duty Marriage Locks

Common-Law Marriages: Not!

The Big Three:
Absence of a Legal Impediment
Marriage Ceremony
Mutual Free Consent

(Fascinating reading, really.)

6.
The shortest chapter in any book ever.

I can sum it up here actually:
Marriage does not automatically change your last name.

Now you don’t even have to read it.

7.
Congratulations – Welcome to the laws imposed on your marriage automatically by our state legislature!

Did you know there are mutual duties imposed on your marriage by law?

And answering a married person’s favorite question:
“How do we own stuff together?”

8.
Management -  Acting prudently and in the
best interest of the “community”

9.
Louisiana Succession Laws
~
What happens when a loved one passes away with or without a will?

10.
Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s Hotline
1.888.411.1333

11.
Finding the right attorney

Epilogue

Recommended items to file away for a rainy day

References
(Includes a Quick Introduction to Legal Citation)

Fini

CC

Is anything ever really complete?

Upon forwarding my book information out to my friends and colleagues, I found myself revisiting the actual text and making quite a few edits.  I strongly agree with the writing concept that as much as you love writing something, it might not work in the end and you have to edit yourself.  You have to say, as much as I think that is funny and well composed, it does not work for the reader or the audience and needs to be altered.

The impetus for these changes was that someone who commented was not someone I had originally pictured in my audience.  Once HE was there (I focused my book primarily on women), I realized my introduction could be off-putting and too narrow.  It wasn't all encompassing.  It wasn't permitting the reader to get comfortable.  Rather, it seemed to make the reader say to themselves, "I am going to be fighting against the grain of this book and I am only three sentences in and already annoyed."

A slash here and a slash there, I think the book's introduction is more coherent and soft.  The only issue now are the printed books from my previous prints.  I have decided those will be galleys and there were changes made post-production :)  I am working it out.

CC

From the Proposal to Ever After: A Louisiana Woman's Guide to Marriage and Community Property Laws [Kindle Edition]

Ok, I don't think Facebook is a good marketing tool. Here is my experience...

I can honestly say I have been an addict of Facebook since I first started it in 2005.  But that has been because it revolves around my personal life.  My friends, my connections, my likes.  In regards to a professional use, I am not sure it is working for me.  Here is why.

The Facebook page was my original focus.  I figured it would be the brain of my marketing.  Type in the search engine: boom, you have all the Louisiana bridal shops in the area.  Need contact information: boom, check the About section.  Want to create an ad: boom, click here, input Visa card number and: boom, you have an ad.  Yeah, not quite.

Now, before I rip it, let me give it some props.  I did discover a Louisiana Bride blogger who reviewed my book.  We both communicated with great ease over their messaging service.  It was nice to reach out and touch someone who is just as obsessed with their Facebook accounts as I am.  That worked out awesomely and I am indebted to her for her completely unbiased review.

But...I wasn't looking for a Louisiana Bride blog, I was seeking Louisiana Bridal shops, magazines, retail locations.  The search engine on Facebook pulled up little.  Facebook search is no Google search.  Facebook only pulls what we put into it.  If you don't know it is New Orleans Louisiana Bride, then it doesn't pull it up.

When you do know the retail store's name you are looking for, it can be great.  There is the store, there are their hours.  But what about reaching out and touching them?  If I send them a message, will they read it?  Well, as obsessed Facebook fans know, you can tell when someone has viewed a message.  Not one of the messages I sent over Facebook to a retail location was read.  That tells me something too: are these companies really using their Facebook accounts or is their Facebook page like their abandoned 2007 website.  Who knows?

My other issue with Facebook was developing an online ad.  I really thought it would be an ideal ad location because you can narrow your field to exactly who you are looking for: women, Louisiana, over 18, family, etc. - Whatever terms you seek, you can get it pretty close because of the algorithms they developed.  But then, you get to the actual order time and it gets really complicated.  Do I want to pay per click?  Or do I want to pay indefinitely?  WTF?!  Indefinitely?  No.  Per click - how many clicks?   What am I signing up for?  The ambiguity of it all was frightening.  I never did it.  Plus, I heard this:

"GM Says Facebook Ads Don't Work, Pulls $10 Million Account" 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/joannmuller/2012/05/15/gm-says-facebook-ads-dont-work-pulls-10-million-account/

If GM isn't seeing it as a successful avenue, why should I?

And what about my Twitter account?  Oh, please.  That is my own personal abandoned site.  That is the most collasol waste of internet space.  Granted, I think it occasionally grabs a follower, which is great, but I am pretty sure the follower is following me because they want me to follow their page.  I probably should check it more and be more interactive on it, but Twitter bores me.  I do not get it.

So, for today, I have visited the retail locations actual websites and emailed them a communication.  I am curious if I will receive any replies.  All of these shots in the dark will be helpful though when I decide to finally invest in actually SNAIL MAILING these individuals.  It may be the only way I can get through though.  We shall see...

CC


http://www.amazon.com/Proposal-Ever-After-Louisiana-ebook/dp/B008A0UVPG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370471596&sr=8-1&keywords=from+the+proposal+to+ever+after

A BOOK REVIEW!!! Someone actually read my book and then wrote about it...

Oh, the joy!  An actual person READ my book.  Not only did they read it, they took the time to REVIEW it.  Here is how it all went down...

I had been feeling uninspired about the marketing aspect of self-publishing life.  It is just, like, work.  So, I decided to get out of my comfort zone and look into Louisiana bride Facebook pages.  I was going this direction because I know there are bridal shows in New Orleans, but I could not figure out how to get to additional information on the event.  

As I was typing key words into Facebook's search engine, I came across an adorable, pastel-ly, chevron lined blog called Louisiana Bride.  The blog is adorable (I recommend you visit it: www.louisianabrideblog.com) and she is a very regular poster all things like love, life, food, etc.  After poking around her posts, I thought I would go out on a limb and see if she would be interested in knowing more about my book and perhaps even reviewing it for her blog.  

Shockingly, she accepted!  I quickly zipped her a copy from CreateSpace and only had to wait.  A couple of weeks later, boom!  I had a review.  Here is what she had to say:

MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2013

FROM THE PROPOSAL TO EVER AFTER :: BOOK REVIEW

I was recently sent a copy of Camille Carter's book From the Proposal to Ever After A Louisiana Woman's Guide to Marriage and Community Property Laws to review and share. All opinions are my own, I was not paid, but I was given a copy for the book for free. 

Have you ever thought about marriage law? Who's legally in charge of the money in the event of your husband's death, or even yours? What happens to property you owned before you were married? Does your spouse have rights to your inheritance?

Those questions and many more were answered by Camille in her new book From the Proposal to Ever After. As a woman we happily marry without ever thinking twice about marriage law. No one ever gets married with plans to divorce, but in the event it ever were to happen you would need to know a little about the state laws.

Not only were divorce laws covered, but Camille also hit on a topic we've discussed on many occasions...death. I've thought for some time about getting a living will together and now more than ever I think we definitely need to. In case you didn't know, Louisiana works under community property laws, I was actually surprised at what all was included in community property law. Something I found very interesting was that in the event your husband were to die that 50/50 law of Louisiana's doesn't immediately deem you the now 100% owner of everything the two of you owned. Nope. his half doesn't go to you but your children, if you have no kids then it goes to his parents. Next it trickles down to his siblings, their kids...and eventually landing at cousins. I think that was the most eye opening thing I learned, while it was very good to know the marriage law, the way things pan out in death was most interesting to me.

I could turn that into a big soap box though.

I really loved this book, it was well written, & Camille did a great job at putting legal terms into words we can all understand better. I learned so much about Louisiana marriage law from this book, and plan to take what I've learned and implement it into our plans for each other, if that makes sense. While divorce isn't in our planned future, many other things that fall into Louisiana marriage law will come upon us at one time or another.

I highly recommend this book to any woman or even man who live in Louisiana or were married here. If you are about to marry you should definitely read, it never hurts to know what the law has to say and how it will affect you in different circumstances.

To learn more about From the Proposal to Ever After check out the following links ::

You can purchase Camille Carter's book From the Proposal to Ever After on Amazon for $9.99 in paperback or for Kindle. If you have a Nook you can order here.

You can also find Camille on Twitter, Facebook,  or at her blog.

Click here to view the actual post!

I do believe this is a small step for From the Proposal to Ever After and a giant leap for Camille.  I could not be happier :)  

CC