Book Cover Critiques for Self Published Authors | BWWM Romantic Suspense Book | Episode 1
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- Yay! It's book cover critique day with yours truly! I hope you guys enjoy this new series that I'm rolling out and I hope you guys find some helpful tips throughout this series. I hope it helps you during your cover design process and allows you to start with the best cover you possibly can BEFORE you release. Also, it's okay if you didn't get it right the first time, rebranding is a good thing and helps breathe new life into your books and backlist.
If you'd like your cover critiqued, please feel free to email me at lyraparish@gmail.com, but know that I've already received (as I'm checking right now) over 30 covers! Thank you so much for trusting me with your book babies. I'm honored! With that being said, I may only be able to get to one per week so I hope that's okay. If you don't mind waiting, please send over whatever you'd like me to look at and I'll be happy to add it in my folder.
As mentioning in my video-@bytheBrooke has offered a discount for those who want to use her services. Of course, you don't have to, but I thought it was kind of her to offer. Watch the video 'till the end to find out more about that!
Check out her designs here:
www.bythebrooke...
Deidre...thank you so much for allowing me to look at your covers and give my honest opinion. I'm honored! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.
-------
Let's be Pen Pals:
Courtney Young | PO BOX 697 | Groves, TX 77619
Do you have a question about self-publishing?
ASK ME ANYTHING FOR MY Q&A MONDAY SERIES: forms.gle/fVbK...
My List of Recommended Books for Self-Published Authors:
Dear Writer, You Need to Quit - amzn.to/3at1yyk
Romancing the Beat - amzn.to/38rfc2C
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel - amzn.to/34pmNxl
Let's Get Publishing Series - amzn.to/2WvDKBP
Newsletter Ninja - amzn.to/3oPOXwx
Help! My Facebook Ads Suck - amzn.to/3as81IH
//A B O U T M E//
Pen names: Lyra Parish & Kennedy Fox (we're an author duo!)
I've been in the indie scene since 2011. I published my first romance novel in 2014 (Weak for Him). Under Kennedy Fox, we've made USA Today 5 times since 2017. As Lyra Parish, I made the top 100 list several times on Amazon.
If you're looking for those books, you will not find them. I unpublished my Lyra Parish backlist in 2020 with zero regrets. You can watch that video here: bit.ly/3k8P6pa
Want to check out Kennedy Fox's Books? Visit: www.kennedyfoxb...
___
//Searching for a Motivational Writing Group?//
I have a writing group on Facebook where you can earn stickers for writing 10K in a day or 50K in a month. You can choose your own day. It's a supportive community that's also fun. If you're international, feel free to join! I've sent stickers to people all around the world since July 2019! In 2021, those who write Half a Million or 1 Million words in a year, will be sent an enamel pin!
groups/write10kinaday
___
//S O C I A L M E D I A//
→ TikTok:
/ lyraparish
/ kennedyfoxbooks
→ instagram:
lyraparish
kennedyfoxbooks
→facebook:
/ lyraparishauthor
/ kennedyfoxbooks
→ twitter:
lyraparish
kennedyfoxbooks
→ my personal email: lyraparish@gmail.com
→ If you want to follow my writing partner too:
Tiktok: / brookekfox
Instagram: brookekfox
Facebook: / authorbrookecumberland
Twitter: / blcumberland
//Affiliate Links //
Dashing Divas - Nail polish stickers I LOVE because I suck at painting them!
(Get $5 off!)
bit.ly/3DBERUb
Sips by Tea Subscription Box (Get $5 Off!)
www.sipsby.com...
Vellum - Best Book Formatting Program EVER!
a.paddle.com/v...
Scrivener - Application I use to write!
a.paddle.com/v...
Otter - Dictation app I use (get a month of pro-light for free)
otter.ai/refer...
Streamyard - Best Live Streaming Software! (get $10 off!)
streamyard.com?pal=5688077045465088
Flodesk - Newsletter Sender (get 50% off). It's easy to use + afforadable!
flodesk.com/c/...
#writer #author #selfpublish #writingadvice #selfpublishing #writingtips #authortube
Oh my gosh, this was so FREAKING helpful! I had never actually put my covers together like that before and as soon as you put them together I was like 'Dang these need to go lmao.' I will definitely be shooting you a message as I agree with everything you said and would like to know how you go about doing a title change without losing like the reviews etc. If that's even possible. Also, how do you let people know it's the same book in case they already bought it? Stuff like that, but I'll shoot you a message. This was awesome though, I really appreciate you taking the time to walk me through and explain all the factors that would make my packaging amazing. 🤗
Yay!!! I’m so glad it was helpful! Sometimes it’s hard to see things because you’re so close to it and have seen it so many times. My inbox is always open! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Time for Deidre-Ann Anderson to become a household name! 🙌
I’m in marketing and branding, and I thought of a few good first book names with your theme:
First Strike (of a match)
First Degree (like the burn)
Fireproof (“or so they thought”)
Flammable (they are ready to ignite)
Embers
@@andrev5992 Thank you so much, Andre! First Strike hits different for me. I like it! But I also think using one word to match the other two would be good too. I'll keep these in mind though because First Strike is growing on me.haha.
Hey! If you need any help finding stock pictures that have POC and interracial characters, let me know! I’ve discovered some tricks that have helped me add thousands of pictures to my folders (I’m also willing to share the link tho those folders)!
@@teralynmitchell5444 Hey Teralyn, yessss please. It's such a struggle finding POC stock images that I just resort most times to using the guy only on covers (as so far they are mostly white). Any help you can offer would be GREATLY appreciated. What's your preferred platform to be contacted?
This is what professional generosity looks like, because there are “opinions”, and there are Opinions, and this is the latter. If you’re willing to take this much time out of your successful writing career to help other authors succeed, you’re a gem. Thank you!
Thank you! That means a lot. I try to be helpful!
Thank you all so much for watching! I hope you found this video helpful. ❤️❤️❤️
Oh, if you’d like to check out Brooke’s designs, make sure to visit her site here:
www.bythebrookedesigns.com
Yesss! Love this series already - it’s SO helpful to see cover decisions and the thought process behind them in action!
Omg, thank you! :) I love looking at different genres and seeing the trends. It's almost like a game! :)
This video was EXCELLENT! From start to finish everything you said was so well explained and can help soooo many authors (myself included since I'm a book cover designer)! I'm so excited to see more from this series, Courtney! Great job! And like Courtney said, I would love to give a discount to anyone who either gets their cover(s) critiqued in this series or who simply mentions that Courtney sent you my way. Refer to her video description in order to click on my website link since RUclips keeps removing my comment on here for sharing my link with you all haha.
Thank you so much, Brooke! I hope people contact you and I can't wait to see what you make! Eek!!
www.bythebrookedesigns.com
Can I be more amazed of how much information and helpful advice you offer to the writing community? Yes I can!
Courtney, this is another fantastic series! All of your suggestions and tips were shown so concise and with so much kindness. And you even gave more information and suggestions besides the covers.
And thank you to Deidre for let us learn from her covers! That was such a courageous action and definitely tells how much being a successful author means to you Deidre.
Aww, thank you!
Thanks so much for this video. I have learned so much!
Yay! That makes me so happy! ❤️❤️
It's one thing to give recommendations, it's another to see it in action. I feel I have no artistic background but I could pullout things to make my cover special from a group of bestsellers in my genre, and it would be fun! Thanks for this series!
I loveeeeee looking at covers. It’s almost like a game! If you can pick out key elements and create something that’s original but also fits the genre, you’ve got yourself a winner. ❤️❤️❤️
Very constructive. Helpful and to the point without being offensive. I really enjoyed your professional insight. I have been doing this kind of test with all kinds of genres, really useful. Also helps to figure out new potential genres to write in, if their covers appeal as a reader as well.
Thank you! I never want to come off offensive, just honest, because that's what helps people improve their packaging. :) I find that when I look at genres I'm not familiar with, it's sometimes easier for me to see the trends because my own personal bias that I have with my genre isn't present. Absolutely, with research, finding those upcoming genres/tropes is helpful, especially if you're a trend chaser and can write/publish fast.
Amazing insight. I learned so much.
Yay! That makes me so happy!
So excited for this series!
Yay! Thank you!!!
This was a great video and I hope you get to keep making more! Since I'm starting out in my self-pub career (and have almost no money to put into this) I'm trying to do my own covers until I can make enough to buy nicer covers. I have moderate skills at photoshop so I feel somewhat confident. But this advice was perfect and made me realize I need to change the background image of the test cover I just made. Thank you for giving us your time and your advice!
There are a lot of authors who design their own covers and do a fantastic job at it! :) Just takes the time of learning photoshop and improving your skills! :)
Yes, this was helpful! Thanks, Courtney!
You're so welcome!
Loving the start of this series! Got you a subscriber, maybe one day I'll submit my covers
Thank you so much!
This was an amazing video! So helpful to see not just the cover comparisons, but the discussion on blurbs and categories, to boot!
This is so cool! I'd watch all your videos like this!
aww, thank you!!
Good Job Courtney! You were firm, but fair and gave actionable advice. 10/10
Aww, thank you so much! ❤️❤️ I appreciate that!
Wow! These cover videos are full of so much marketing information. Thank you!!!!!
I’m so happy you’re finding them helpful!
LOL! A friend just sent me a screenshot from this video because she saw my cover in it, so I decided to watch it. Very good advice on covers, categories, and blurbs, etc. I'm glad I found your channel!
Oh awesome! So glad you’re here! ❤️
Awesome information. I learned so much. Thank you so much for this, and I look forward to the rest of the series!
That makes me so happy! You're welcome! Thanks for watching. :)
Wow! This shows that covers are so important in selling books. The old saying "you can't judge a book by it's cover," might be right, but the truth is that people do look at covers first. I'm not planning on publishing anything in the near future but when I do I'll remember your advice. Looking forward to future videos on this subject.
Absolutely, Shelly! I think covers are judged a lot of the time, unless they somehow go viral or are hyped by Oprah, then it doesn't really matter. LOL. But the odds of that happening are slimmer than winning the lottery. Thanks so much! I'm looking forward to making more!
This was so helpful! I look forward to watching more of these.
Yay! I'm so glad you found it helpful. Thank you so much!
I love this series so much already and I will definitely submit covers when I'm ready. Thank you for doing this!
Eep, that makes me so happy! Thank you!
This is so helpful Court! I'm learning a lot about branding and book covers :) Thank you to the 3 awesome and brave authors who submitted for a book cover critique! 💪
I'm so glad you're finding it helpful! :)
Super helpful video! Now I know why my old series didn’t do well. Same exact mistake with all six books. Valuable advice ❤️
You can always rebrand and put new life into it! :) So glad you found it helpful!
What a great series! Not ready to publish but I'm taking lots of notes to take into consideration.
You'll be a pro by the time you start publishing! Ahead of schedule with writing and amazing covers!
This is amazing! Would be great to see this as a recurring series, they bring so much value. I even like the name Courtney's Critiques. Thank you!
It is going to be a reoccurring series! 🙌🙌🙌
@@TheCourtneyProject Awesome!!
Loved it!
Thank you! :)
This was amazing, Court! And now I finally understand what y’all be talking about when you say the “thumbnail test.” I can now do this for my books and see if it stands out like a sore thumb or fits in just fine. I can also try this with the covers I’m practicing making and make sure I’m making covers that fit from the get go. I’m excited about this series. You did this with such grace and kindness that is helpful. Thank you for always being willing to do what you can to help us newbie and aspiring authors! ♥️
Absolutely! Remember, there's no need to reinvent the wheel. I see authors trying to create something new, and it doesn't sell, because readers are accustomed to seeing certain things in covers. If you're an unknown, familiar themes in artistry helps them connect with your book instead of turning them away! I can't wait to see what you find in your research and doing the thumbnail tests on your books. :)
@@TheCourtneyProject I understand that and I don’t mind leaning into that. I want my covers to be on brand so I’ll be sure to keep doing research and do the thumbnail test on drafts my cover designer send me! I’m excited with this new tool for my arsenal!
Hey Courtney! Are you going live soon? I really need to get some words in and your lives are the only thing that do it for me haha 🤣
Yes, I am! Probably this weekend! I'm thinking Saturday! :)
This was so interesting! I've been looking forward to this so much!
Oh yay!!! There are more to come! :)
That was so insightful!! I was taking notes the entire time. Thanks so much, Courtney, for taking the time to do this. ❤️
You’re welcome! I’m glad you’re finding it helpful. ❤️❤️
This was an amazing walk through on how to create great covers! I want to go back and watch all of your cover critiques-right now. Thanks!
Thank you! :) This is episode one, lol, because I was too nervous to actually start the series beforehand. There are many more to come!
@@TheCourtneyProject Awesome! I'm excited for the rest of the series. I can understand the nerves, but too many people can benefit from this type of critique. You're sharing such great information for people who are looking to level up their design approach. I'm glad you finally took the plunge. You rock! :)
Greatly appreciate this video.
Question: will the same rules apply to stand alone romance novels?
Yep! Sure will! You’ll want to make sure your back matter is updated with where you want them to go next since there isn’t a world or character link to lead them to the next one!
Five minutes in and I've learned so much already. You're so amazing Courtney! #fangirlmoment
Eeeppp!! That makes me so happy!!
This is very helpful. Special thanks to Deidre - Ann Anderson for sharing her covers.
Glad you found it helpful! :)
Hi sister, the editing of my book on the crucifixion is about to begin soon. Would you give me your thoughts on cover?
I’m doing them in the order I received them just to make it fair to everyone. ❤️❤️
@@TheCourtneyProject Okay. I still havent had one created by Im going ti soon. Its for my first book ever...When I get it created, I will contact you and send it in. Im watching your videos nows and really finding things helpful. Thank you and God bless!
I’m gonna message ya on IG need to get you that thing we chatted about. Lol lol
Oh man not only do the fonts not match, they are all terrible :(
So good!!
Thank you! :)