All posts by JB Schroeder

JB Schroeder: A New Cover for Runaway!

Runaway has a New Cover, and I’m super excited to reveal it here! But I’m sure you are wondering why I would redesign a book that’s been on the market barely a year?

It’s hard to get tangible feedback in this business, but recently, I ran an ad for Runaway. I got a decent click through rate—except once folks hit Amazon, very few purchased. I’ve got great reviews (thanks you fab readers!), some darn good quotes called out, readers asking for more stories featuring Charlie and Mitch (which I am planning, but it’ll take a while!), a reasonable price point, and I think the cover copy sounds pretty enticing…What’s left? The cover.

My gut had already been telling me that between the young model I chose and the implication of youth the word ‘runaway’ implies that the cover was coming off as a Young Adult book. And therefore perhaps not jiving with the ads, the copy, or what all those excellent reviews say about the book. As you all probably know, I’m a graphic designer specializing in the book biz. So yeah—I kinda messed up. It’s awfully hard to be objective about your own book, I was seriously pressed for time, and let’s face it: stock art is limited. A model with a serious expression? She’s a needle in the haystack of happy smiles and sexy come hither lips, let me tell you. And unfortunately in this case, the side effect of serious was: too young. (See the old version in the side bar at right).

Beyond simply improving Runaway’s appeal, I think it’s smarter in the long run (and less confusing for new JB readers) to have a bigger delineation between my two series (Retrieval, Inc. versus the Unlikely Series).

The good news though: I am a designer. I’m also indie published—meaning I am not at the mercy of a publisher’s decision or their timetable. I can change things up as often as I need to until I find what works….wish me luck! And write and tell me what you think! I’d love to hear! ~JB

www.jbschroederauthor.com

Runaway

Unhinged

4 Comments

by JB Schroeder on June 6, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in Book Covers, Our Books, Writing Career

Tagged cover reveal, Indie Publish, JB Schroeder, Redesign, Retrieval Inc., romantic suspense, Runaway

Posted by JB Schroeder on June 6, 2016

https://thevioletfemmes.wordpress.com/2016/06/06/jb-schroeder-a-new-cover-for-runaway/

JB Schroeder: Release Day for Unhinged!

I’m so proud to announce the Official Release of Unhinged today! It’s is the first book in the Unlikely Series. But don’t let the fact that I’ve split my books into two different series throw you. In my head they are still all part of part of the same. If you enjoyed Runaway, you’ll love Unhinged, too. You’ll find that like Charlie, Tori is a woman with a lot to overcome, a strong will, and some big motivation. Aiden, the hero, is tough, smart, and accomplished. Neither lets the other get away with much! And bonus, Runaway’s Mitch has a bit part in Unhinged.

Unhinged was a real labor of love—one of those books that really kicks your butt but is worth the effort in the end. I’m talking about what I learned writing it today on Kiss and Thrill. Join us for the full scoop! www.kissandthrill.com

Back cover copy for Unhinged is at the end of this post, and the book is available at the following:
Amazon eBook & Paperback
Barnes&Noble Paperback

Happy reading, and thank you!
~JB

Tori Radnor’s future is looking brighter after scoring a big break with her start-up venture. Mega-successful Aiden Miller has agreed to help. Although her job isn’t the only thing drawing Tori to her new partner, she is determined to keep it strictly business. She owes that to her teenager, after letting her almost-ex nearly destroy them. When she and her son become an elusive villain’s target, her carefully constructed plans begin to unravel. Is Aiden somehow involved—or is he the safest bet?

Aiden is facing a cross-roads personally and professionally when the police discover his Poconos store is part of a well-established drug ring. Alluring Tori and her employees are not complications he needs. Inexplicably, as his desire for the kind-hearted social worker increases, so does the danger—leaving protective Aiden between a rock and a hard place.

As the villain’s taunts escalate into terrifying attacks, Tori and Aiden must confront their worst fears—before it all becomes Unhinged.

6 Comments

by JB Schroeder on May 24, 2016 • Permalink

Posted in New Release, Our Books

Tagged Release Day, Unhinged, JB Schroeder, Romantic Suspense, Unlikely Series, Poconos

Posted by JB Schroeder on May 24, 2016

https://thevioletfemmes.wordpress.com/2016/05/24/jb-schroeder-release-day-for-unhinged/

New Release: RUNAWAY

Drumroll please….JB Schroeder’s debut novel RUNAWAY has hit retailers! Early reviews call it “a page turner,” an “edge of the seat” read, and a “gritty thriller” that is “smart, riveting, and sexy!” Best of all, quite a few wrote that they “couldn’t put it down” or “stayed up all night to finish!”

So yes, it’s my Big News Three Months Late! Because I’m a dork and didn’t manage to post everywhere I should, like, hello, my own group blog! And because guess what? Indie pubbing is even harder and more time consuming than I imagined. And I’d promised part two of another post I owed you, and I felt oddly linear about that. And then there’s summer with everyone underfoot, and… I’m going with the better late than never motto, okay? ; )

In a way it’s kinda good I’m so behind, because I can squee a bit and tell you HOW EXCITING it was to release a book. The enthusiasm and support I got from family, friends, and my writing community was amazing. The texts and emails from friends saying “OMG” throughout as they read were so fun! Reviews are showing up with four and five stars! And now, there are even reviews from People That Don’t Know Me Personally! Someone Recommended it to them! How cool is that?! Let me tell you, it is all THRILLING!

I know you readers have been privy to my ups and downs over the last few years, so I’m doubly pleased to share this big “up” moment with you! Despite the blog’s semi-hiatus, I will try to be better at keeping up. If you are so inclined there’s also my newsletter, via my website. Brief excerpt and blurb follow, as well as all links. Heartfelt thanks for sharing this journey with me! ~JB

_______________________

Henrietta flapped both hands in exasperation and her generous bosom heaved. “You deserve more.”

Charlie shook her head. “Please, Henry. This is the only way for me.” Tears threatened, so she clenched her jaw. “I promise you, I’m content. It might not seem like much from the outside looking in, but this life is a blessing.”

_______________________

Sixteen-year-old Laura Macnamara walked out her backdoor and disappeared without a trace.

Six years later, while looking for his missing teenage sister, Detective Mitch Saunders uncovers a disturbing link between the two cases. His search leads straight to Laura—all grown up and posing as Charlie Hart. Despite their instant attraction and the ever-present danger to his sister, Charlie refuses to help him. Still terrified and guarding secrets, she cannot afford to face the past. Yet Mitch will stop at nothing to bring his sister home—and that includes exposing Charlie to a truly sinister evil.

If she can’t stay hidden, she must run—again.

Runaway is available in eBook at the following retailers (and print book is also available at Amazon or B&N):

Amazon | Apple | B&N | Kobo

jbschroederauthor.com

10 Comments

by JB Schroeder on September 17, 2015 • Permalink

Posted in New Release, Our Books

Tagged Debut Author, debut novel, gritty thriller, JB Schroeder, new release, page-turner, Runaway

Posted by JB Schroeder on September 17, 2015

https://thevioletfemmes.wordpress.com/2015/09/17/new-release-runaway/

JB’s Steps to Indie Publishing 2 (Setting-up Business as an Author)

Today, I’ll share what I learned about building a business as an author, in hopes that you’ll fare slightly better—or at least start earlier—because what I expected to take a few weeks, took about 2 months (partly because every step is dependent on the previous step)!

In the last post, I covered that I personally think it’s a good idea to set up your pseudonym legally for protection and for financial separation, however, there are various ways to do this. I became a sole proprietor LLC with my pen name (see previous post: https://thevioletfemmes.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/jbs-steps-to-indie-publishing-1-an-authors-legal-and-financial-decisions/). In registering ($125 in NJ, and more if you incur lawyer’s fees), you’ll receive a corporate ID number from the state. The lawyer sends also a certificate of formation that lists the same number as well as the business name you’ve chosen. I assume that a DBA situation would be much the same.
Use that corporate ID number to request an FEIN (Federal Employer Identification Number) from the IRS. The lawyer could have done it, but here I opted to save money by doing it myself. Two interesting things to note: you can have more than one EIN, however if you already have one, you cannot sign up for another one online. Online is fastest (a few days), fax next (a week supposedly but proved to be about 2.5 wks), and mail by far the longest (a month). An EIN is a good idea regardless. Otherwise your social security number is floating around everywhere, increasing your risk of identity fraud. There is no charge for an EIN.
Once you have your EIN you must register your new business with the state (because yes, they’ll want to collect taxes as well). I chose to do this myself, but admit that my lawyer spoon fed me the forms and the info for the tricky spots. The forms are also available online via the IRS. You will receive confirmation. Again, no fee.
Open a bank account under your pseudonym. This one also was a surprise: the bank I’ve used forever and would have preferred both for familiarity, loyalty, and so that I could link accounts required a minimum balance of $1400 for small business checking. $1400!!! Uh, NO. And, because I’d become an LLC, I really couldn’t (legally) open a personal checking account with the pen name. I’m happy to report that ConnectOne offers free checking and no minimum balance for their small biz customers. Look online for the details of what each bank offers, then call them, as there’s a whole list of things you need to bring with you, including all of the documents I’ve discussed today, your driver’s license, and a credit card.
You probably want to apply for a credit card under the pen name. Editors or cover artists usually prefer checks or PayPal, but what if you attend a conference that involves a flight and a hotel and numerous restaurant meals? What about that hefty price tag on bulk ISBNs? If you keep this card entirely separate from your personal stuff, you’ll also have a very easy way to track all writing expenses for the year. One author I heard speak suggested a cash-back credit card. It makes sense to put money back into your business, plus it’s simpler than jumping through the hoops of complicated travel or shopping rewards cards. Besides, the whole goal is not to be buying groceries, gas, and clothing on your business card, right? The two highest ranked cash-back cards I found were American Express Blue and Citi Double-Cash Card.

Having the business set-up complete was a GIANT relief. (At least until I realized there was quarterly tax filing involved!) My apologies that it took me so long to continue this thread. Good luck to you and thanks for reading! ~JB

www.jbschroederauthor.com

8 Comments

by JB Schroeder on September 8, 2015 • Permalink

Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by JB Schroeder on September 8, 2015

https://thevioletfemmes.wordpress.com/2015/09/08/jbs-steps-to-indie-publishing-2-setting-up-business-as-an-author/

JB’s Steps to Indie Publishing 1 (An Author’s Legal and Financial Decisions)

I am on the path to indie-publishing my books and all the questions I’ve gotten make me think I should share what I’ve learned as I go. Today, I’ll jump forward to my “Step 2 PLUG AWAY AT THE BUSINESS SET UP END OF THINGS.” The most important piece of this—setting up my pen name legally—was complicated, so I’m dedicating a whole post.

Free Photos business exchange picture, Author: zcool.com.cn, from All-free-download.com

Many authors use their real names everywhere and certainly it keeps things simple. I’ve also seen lots of authors who work their finances and legalities (money, taxes, bank, legal, copyrights, barcodes, etc) under their real name but use a pseudonym on the cover of the book and on social media. Personally, having no real legal rights to my pen name just feels like asking for trouble.

My goals in setting up the pen name legally from the start were thus: First, I wanted a bit of separation between the real me and the pen me. Second, I wanted to be able to keep all finances separate, both now in spending money to get started, and later, because I figure the more books out there (and hopefully growing income) the more complicated and expensive it will be to change. Third, I never want to find myself in a stressful and expensive legal mess.

There is very little solid information on this online, and over and over I read that you should consult with a qualified attorney as well as a certified public accountant (ideally both should be versed in issues specific to authorship like copyright issues, royalties, etc). I did, although I felt comfortable with the folks who already know my unique financial situation and whom I trust. I will attempt to put what I took from the process here in layman’s terms in hope’s that it’s helpful to another author. A caveat, however: do your own research and consults to figure out what makes sense for you, in your state. I am absolutely not qualified to give legal advice.

Many states require that if you do business as anything other than your legal name that you register a DBA (Doing Business As). I fully expected to go that route, but guess what? A DBA’s purpose isn’t to hide your real name. Quite the opposite in fact, it’s actually to provide the public with names of owners behind a fictitious business name. Basically, you are required to notify all counties you might do business in that person X is now doing business as person Y, and yes, this information is publicly accessible. So, whoa, a DBA in NJ is more like shouting your name to the world than hiding it…and just how many counties would that be? More information at: http://www.sba.gov/content/register-your-fictitious-or-doing-business-dba-name If, however, a DBA is right for you, you or your lawyer can register it via your county clerk.

In my case, both the lawyer and accountant urged me to become, with the pen name, a sole-proprietor LLC (a member-managed single-member limited liability company, taxable as a sole proprietorship). First, this affords more privacy than a DBA when it comes to the general public. And on my copyright pages I am legally allowed to put “JB Schroeder, pseudonym” and not list my real name at all. It also allows me to set up a bank account and credit card under that name, which I wanted for privacy and financial reasons. The LLC in conjunction with the bank account separates my pseudonym from my personal finances, my husband’s finances, and our joint finances. This is important come tax time, and in case of any eventual legal issues. The liability protection is basically none (but I’d at least have a leg to stand on if I ever needed to involve lawyers). I believe it also blocks anyone else (at least in same state) from using the exact same name. There is a fee of $125 to register the LLC with the state of NJ. The lawyer’s fee was heftier, but worth it because I’m confident that it’s done correctly and is my best option at this time.

Do realize that being an LLC does not mean that I am incorporated. If you are considering incorporating, be aware of two things. One, other authors tell me that it doesn’t make sense until you are making six figures regularly. And two, per my lawyer, incorporating means you must act like a multi-person corporation, even though it’s likely just you. Following the structure/rules/obligations of a corporation down to the letter sounded stressful, time-consuming, and rather ridiculous, but it’s a must—otherwise you might face legal or tax trouble. Beyond that, do your own research as I didn’t look into the details of incorporation.

Good luck making the decision for yourself, and please feel free to share any knowledge you’ve gleaned on this topic in the comments. I’ll cover what to do with this information next time.

18 Comments

by JB Schroeder on January 26, 2015 • Permalink

Posted in Publishing

Tagged An Author’s Legal and Financial Decisions, DBA (Doing Business As), incorporating, JB’s Steps to Indie Publishing, setting up the pen name legally, sole-proprietor LLC

Posted by JB Schroeder on January 26, 2015

https://thevioletfemmes.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/jbs-steps-to-indie-publishing-1-an-authors-legal-and-financial-decisions/

No More Spinning My Wheels: The Decision to Self-Publish

When I started my author page on facebook, I promised to keep updating folks on my path to publication. I shared when I landed an agent, finaled in contests, submitted manuscripts, and received rejections (of which there’ve been many). Lately, I’ve been fielding a lot of questions about the status of my manuscript submissions—which means it’s time to do a serious update. Picture flashing signs, exit looming, blinker on… ready?

©karenroach via BigStock

In August I asked my agent to pull the submission of my second book from the last two editors who had it. I also told her that she and I should part ways. She was incredibly gracious, said she’d do the same in my position, and wished me well. A bold move from a newbie author who’s been trying hard to get published for years, right? Yes and no.

Let me preface by saying that I still believe in the traditional path. There are benefits, and I’m not ruling it out in future. (Heck, I spent twenty years working for or with traditional publishers as a designer. In truth, I feel quite a bit of loyalty in that direction.) But as time dragged on, I realized that path had me rather stuck in the road. I was hitting the accelerator, but my wheels kept spinning in the mud. Worse, I started to suspect that even if a tow truck came along, I wouldn’t like the driver’s plan to get me rolling, let alone his price. I began to fret: what if I did get an offer—something I’ve waited so long for—and I felt I had to decline? And while I waited, I daydreamed: What if I could make this happen myself—without paying into his big tow-truck conglomerate or signing his long-term contract?

Because I’ve been watching, carefully, ever since self-publishing got rolling. I’ve been noting the signposts. Do’s and don’ts. Possibilities. Warnings. Failures. And most of all success stories—especially the quiet ones…

I began submitting to editors via the agent in mid-April of 2012. In that time, my skills as a writer have grown. So has my confidence. The rejections I received are positive. The agent and I have exhausted the houses I was really gung ho about. The others, I feel, are not worth pursuing as they are unlikely to take a chance on my cross-genre books. The self-publishing world has grown and soared. Not just in scope, but in quality. And, as some surprise standouts have shown, the internet is often the perfect place for unusual books or new trends to find an audience.

I’m tired of waiting on a winch and a ramp and somebody else’s wheels. I’m ready to roll forward. Okay, maybe I’m not ready to drag race, but I’m certainly ready to leave the safety of the neighborhood. Because let’s face it. I’ve got to actually make money off this gig. I need to make a living, or I can’t keep spending my time writing. I don’t count on being some zillionaire. I just want steady income from my writing. I want my stories out in the world, touching somebody. And more and more, I find I want to be in control of how they get there. It’s bound to be a steep hill, especially at the beginning. I don’t have a built-in audience. I’ve got a helluva lot to do and to learn.
I will have to scrape and scrounge to afford to hire out those pieces I can’t do myself, like editing. I will have to keep writing even as I run a business. I fully expect to work harder than I ever have before.

But you know what? I only need to do better than the small newbie advance and set royalty percentage I might have eventually gotten from a traditional house. I only, at first, need to cover the costs of self-publishing. And then, to make a better income than what I’m making design-wise. Those are the baselines. If I hit them, I will consider myself successful. If I reach those marks sooner rather than later, I’ll be thrilled. I’m incredibly excited about the possibilities and, regardless of the level of success I achieve, I don’t doubt for a second that this is the right course for me. But it’s going to take time. And the road is long.

Am I terrified? Hell, yes. I could totally eat these words. I could be a dismal failure. I could end up hanging my head in shame—mortified because I shared all this and then blew it.

But then again, maybe not.

~JB

33 Comments

by JB Schroeder on December 1, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Publishing

Tagged decision to self-publish, income from writing, indie publishing, JB Schroeder, path to publication

Posted by JB Schroeder on December 1, 2014

https://thevioletfemmes.wordpress.com/2014/12/01/no-more-spinning-my-wheels-the-decision-to-self-publish/

Identity Crisis: Changing Pen Names

©Igor Borodin, via Bigstock

Those of you who’ve been following this blog for a while know that I’ve recently changed my pen name despite the fact that I’ve spent the last few years trying to make Jenna Blue mine… Crazy, right?

Oh, it is, though I didn’t take the decision lightly. First, beyond the practicalities of switching everything over, and the extra effort to re-build a brand, if you will, I chose Jenna Blue for a good reason. It had meaning to me. Unfortunately, it meant something entirely different to most everyone else hearing it for the first time. I can’t tell you how many people respond “that sounds like a porn star name.” Uh, really? Why? Crystal or Amber, it is not. I brushed off that same reaction over and over, thinking hey, all stage names and pseudonyms sound weird, until suddenly they don’t. If you manage to become successful enough, the name loses any other connotation but yours, right? Still, concern took root. My stories aren’t exactly sweet, but if readers are expecting erotica, they will be disappointed.

In the meanwhile, I’ve become friends with a fantastic suspense author named AJ Scudiere (ReadAJS.com) who, after an accidental experiment, discovered that a less feminine-sounding name got a far better response from agents representing her genre. No kidding—in this day and age. Lesson learned, however: perceptions do matter in this business. We talk and talk about branding, right? From book covers to your online platform, you need a consistent message. Readers want to know what to expect…and you guessed it, the first clue you give them is your name.

Currently, I write romantic suspense (RS), although my stories don’t fit into the tidy corners of that genre’s usual box. Also, my writing has been repeatedly called out as gritty. That word isn’t, perhaps, quite right, but there is a weight or a heft—maybe a gash torn from that expected cube—that speaks to both my voice and my subject matter. I am, I feel, writing RS with some women’s fiction in the mix. But even my contemporary romances—when I get to them—will still have my voice. Hmmnn. Jenna Blue was feeling more and more wrong.

Two other practical problems presented themselves in the meanwhile. First, another author has come onto the scene in other romance: Jenna Black. Yep, dang my slow start, her name is a little too similar for comfort—both for her sake and mine. Even more important, however, is my day job. I design as Julie Schroeder. But I’m not on social media that way—only Linked In, which I prefer to reserve solely for graphic design work. Nearly everything else was under Jenna Blue. Pleased authors who wanted to say thanks had to tweet with my Jenna Blue handle…uh, oh. How to grow a business when you aren’t easily findable, when you’ve made your multiple identities rather too separate? Yet, doubling my social media obligations simply wasn’t an option either.

I considered just using my real name for everything, as I’m sure anybody who really wants to find you, can, but while I was debating, someone close to me plastered a picture of me—one I hate, and not remotely recent (yes, I’d rather look current than young)—on facebook. And I realized by my swift, horrified, and somewhat unreasonable reaction, that retaining control of my online author persona, was important. I needed, for myself and my family, a level of separation, no matter how sheer. And yet, my names needed to be close enough, to allow both halves of my life to work together.

After much thought, I settled on JB Schroeder. Beyond the sense that it has a more appropriate feel for what I write (yes, audience?), I also thought I just might be able to answer to it. I still don’t even blink when someone says Jenna. There are a few people who do occasionally call me JB (my initials once upon a time), so it’s not like it doesn’t have meaning and history for me.

Still—submissions pending, contests entered—I had to wait. What if I wiped out Jenna Blue and one of those editors or judges decided to check out my presence online? Finally, when I made a decision to switch tracks on my writing career, the time was right to bring JB Schroeder to life. My apologies for the confusion in the meanwhile. And if you’ve got a pseudonym story of your own, we Femmes would love to hear it.

JB Schroeder
JulieSchroederDesigns.com

16 Comments

by JB Schroeder on October 6, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged AJ Scudiere, identity crisis, JB Schroeder, Jenna Black, Jenna Blue, Julie Schroeder, pen name, pseudonym

Posted by JB Schroeder on October 6, 2014

https://thevioletfemmes.wordpress.com/2014/10/06/identity-crisis-changing-pen-names/

Review of the OUTLANDER Premier on Starz

Property of Starz Entertainment, LLC. Outlander @2014 Sony Pictures Television, Inc.

Alright, so I can’t resist. I can’t even claim for this to be a “what do series adaptations teach us about our writing” post (or maybe I can).

There are folks who can’t quite get into (or through) the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon series, someone, even a couple of people on this blog (ahem, I’m not naming names). But those of us who do love the series, LOVE the series. We’re talking totally obsessed, fan-girl-type obsession.

Because, oh, the deeply-drawn characters, the vivid descriptions, the unexpected twists, the rich setting, not to mention drama, history, politics, adventure, and of course the love story that spans decades!!! See? And I’m telling you, I am not one who has time to obsess over anything. But I’ve been excited about both Gabaldon’s newest release Written in My Own Heart’s Blood (Bk 8), and the Starz series. And so, intending to tell my daughter where the good stuff really started, I re-read the beginning of Outlander (Bk 1), and determined to reread An Echo in the Bone (Bk 7) in order to fully enjoy the new one. Except, oops, my “browse” of A Breathe of Snow and Ashes (Bk 6), turned into a full read… Meanwhile, the power of promotion was hard at work. A fellow restaurant patron overheard the cashier ask what I was reading and commented “yeah, they are making a series.” I gushed, of course. Then, wow, when I saw that there was a YouTube video of the cast on a Comic Con panel. I saw Diana Gabaldon, Caitriona Balfe (Claire) and Sam Heughan (Jamie) on CBS morning news. So, when—eeek!—Starz offered the first episode free on demand a whole week ahead of the official premiere? Well, I finally took time for me, and did something completely out of character—I sat myself down in front of the tube in the middle of the afternoon! I can’t tell you how psyched I was as I hit play, and again, at each new scene.

[To access the Starz episode: http://www.starz.com%5D

And man, did Starz and Executive Producer Ronald D. Moore deliver! All the leads are cast perfectly. The only supporting character who might not have been (IMHO) was Murtagh, and that had nothing to do with acting. It’s only that Murtagh is supposed to be quite ugly…and this actor was certainly not. (Murtagh is not named in the episode but he’s the one who saves Claire from Black Jack Randall and delivers her to the Scottish outlaws.)

Truly, Balfe was brilliant, it was so cool to see the actor Tobias Menzies switch between Frank Randall and Black Jack Randall, and seriously, five lines from Sam Heughan and I was in love with Jaime all over again. The Scottish brogue, the teasing glint in his eye, his wise words. And, yeah, there’s the fact that he’s smokin’ HOT. The adaptation is very close to the beginning of the book. As far as I noticed, the only thing left out was the pub scene where Claire meets the elderly plant collector who then takes her out looking for specimens. Hardly important. But even the little things were thrilling, like hearing the correct pronunciation of “Sassenach.” I will say, I never pictured the highlanders in those cute little caps. What I wonder are they called? Truly, my only disappointment was that there were no preview scenes for the next episode! Because I wanted more.

So—yes, I can relate this to writing—why is it that, optioned for the big screen or no—readers so love a book series? Is it the chance to dive deep into character and stay there? Learn more about a certain world in each subsequent story? Watch a relationship flare, steady, and thrive? Is it the comfort of returning to a setting we love, like coming home? To embrace again characters that feel as familiar as family?

Tell me, why it is you love series? Which are your favorites? And, most importantly, are you writing them?

[As a sidenote: yes, I’ve changed my pen name, from Jenna Blue to JB Schroeder. Expect a future post about it…]

19 Comments

by JB Schroeder on August 12, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Movies, Reading, Writing

Tagged Book Series, Caitriona Balfe, Claire Randall, Diana Gabaldon, Jamie Fraser, JB Schroeder, Outlander Review, Sam Heughan, Starz

Posted by JB Schroeder on August 12, 2014

https://thevioletfemmes.wordpress.com/2014/08/12/review-of-the-outlander-premier-on-starz/

Good Cover Design, Part 2

In Part 1 of Good Cover Design, I discussed Genre, Keeping it Simple, and Instant Readability. Here’s the link to that post if you missed it: https://thevioletfemmes.wordpress.com/2014/04/21/good-cover-design-part-1-2/. Today’s topics are: Clear Branding, Basic Design Principles, Trusting your Gut, and Working with a Professional Cover Designer.

[Please remember that I am not distinguishing here between self-pubbed examples and traditionally published ones in this post. I use the author’s name for simplicity, and my focus is simply Good Design. In some cases, yes, the design decisions were made by the authors, in others, kudos go to the publisher’s design (and perhaps marketing) departments.]

Courtney Milan’s The Brothers Sinister Series

Kristan Higgins’s Blue Heron Series

Debra Webb’s Faces of Evil Series

Clear branding: Not only do you have to hit the genre correctly, it’s smart to develop an AUTHOR brand—a consistent treatment that speaks to your voice, your style, your genre—in other words, what a reader expects to find in a book written by YOU. The examples that always come to mind for me are Courtney Milan’s The Brothers Sinister series of historicals (same type treatment, a lone heroine, a jewel-colored dress, and muted wallpaper background), Kristan Higgins’s Blue Heron contemporary romances (happy color, spring/summer scenes, simple type that speaks to contemporaries with humor), and Debra Webb’s Faces of Evil romantic suspense’s (clearly dark and dangerous, heavy hitting, and part of a series. How cool is that film strip with the number of the book in the series? And wow do those solid background colors leap out at you). You don’t have to write a series, however, to make your name/your brand, recognizable. Kristan Higgins’s other books have similar art, the same overall style, and always the size and treatment of her name. Do note, however, that in all cases, the author’s name is more prominent than the book title. The authors I mentioned in Part 1 are known for following this principle as well. Many argue that the author’s name is the single most important aspect of the cover. Another point that bears mentioning is to make it easy on yourself: don’t choose a design that’s going to be hard to implement as your series or brand marches on.

Basic design principles: you want a balanced, eye-catching design with a pleasing color scheme. Unless you are working around the art, your type shouldn’t hop around. Meaning sometimes the title is centered and the author name must be flush right where it’s readable. But if there’s room and a choice, keep it consistent for balance. As for color—go attractive but not obnoxious. Complimentary to the art you’ve chosen, contrasting enough to be easily visible. The reason those solid brights work for Debra Webb is because the film strip itself is understated and the type is all black. And certain colors denote holiday stories, others imply genre. Had we chosen red type for the grayscale Katharine Ashe cover (see last month’s post), we might have inadvertently leaned towards a typical treatment for erotica, so just be mindful of the choices you make.

Your gut: you have to like it, of course! If one design furthers your excitement over this book you slaved over and another leaves you cold? Well, there’s your answer.

Working with a Professional Cover Designer: There are loads of good cover designers out there, found by a quick web search, or via the databases of your writing groups. You can get quality, custom designs, for incredibly reasonable prices these days, and most every designer will do their best to please you. The biggest deciding factor, to my mind however, is to choose one whose design style you really love. That way, chances are good, you and your designer will be on the same page from the get go. After that, communication is key. It will help them to know exactly what you want (or don’t want), what you like, why something bothers you, etc. Most designers will welcome visual examples of books and treatments you love, as well. Much like getting general feedback on a manuscript with a rejection, a mushy “it’s missing something” or doesn’t further the process very well. So use the words and expression that are a writer’s gift, and respectfully explain.

Thanks for visiting The Violet Femmes today! Hope you found the Cover Design posts helpful!

16 Comments

by JB Schroeder on May 19, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Publishing, Resources, Tech Tips for Writers, Writing Career

Tagged branding, Brothers Sinister, Courtney Milan, Debra Web, design principles, Faces of Evil, Genre, Katharine Ashe, Kristan Higgins, professional cover design, romance

Posted by JB Schroeder on May 19, 2014

https://thevioletfemmes.wordpress.com/2014/05/19/good-cover-design-part-2/

Good Cover Design—Part 1

example Katharine Ashe’s My Lady, My Lord

Given the surge of self-publishing in recent years, more and more authors are taking their covers into their own hands. Whether you purchase a graphics program and learn the skills to do it yourself, or hire a professional book designer like me, the fact is, the author has far more control than ever before. With that control, however, also comes the burden of getting it right. Never fear, by keeping in mind a few basic principles, you, or you in conjunction with your designer, will be able to create a cover that helps you sell. Today’s post will focus on Genre, Keeping it Simple, and Instant Readability.

[Before we get started, please note that I am not distinguishing here between self-pubbed examples and traditionally published ones in this post. I use the author’s name for simplicity, and my focus is simply Good Design. In some cases, yes, the design decisions were made by the authors, in others, kudos go to the publisher’s design (and perhaps marketing) departments.]

Genre: Reader’s don’t just need a HEA in a romance, first they’ve got to know it IS a romance, and better yet, what sub-genre of romance it is. Just like it’s okay to try something a little different to garner attention (see the cover I did with Katharine Ashe for My Lady, My Lord with it’s unusual grayscale image)—at the same time you must give readers what they expect. Typical in historicals, we used an embracing couple, added more hair, period clothing, and of course, some swashy type. Your setting is a big key to depicting genre. Think Marie Force’s The Fatal Series. She fades a nighttime cityscape and a couple together, with a dark feel: obviously a romantic suspense. Bella Andre uses a couple and setting in a similar way in The Sullivans series—yet through color and choice of art, the feel is completely different. Voila, a contemporary romance. Small town contemporaries, often show a couple posed on quaint main street or square, likewise, the backdrop for a western will use lush fields, a charming barn, or a dusty landscape. Likely, you know what the conventions and expectations of your genre are—but if you need a visual reminder go to an online book retailer and pull up a specific genre via keywords or the authors you are most similar to for comparison.
(more…)

21 Comments

by JB Schroeder on April 21, 2014 • Permalink

Posted in Publishing, Tech Tips for Writers, Writing Craft