Question about cover art.

[lovecraft68]

Let's ask Selena whether I'm riding her coat tails. Let's ask her what my books are worth to eXcessica.

She rides through here. Maybe she'll comment on that.

No speculation. Let's hear some real-world talk.

Yeah, yeah , yeah Maybe she will. maybe she will come to your rescue. In fact I am sure she will because you will most likely PM her and say Selena help me! You were the kid that befriended the bully and hid behind him when you made your snippy little come backs weren't you? maybe she will back you but the fact the comment tweaked you is enough for me. As far as me and Royce go, you know you could be right I obviously don't have the answers but when people are new at something they are enthusiastic rather than pompous like "those who have been there before" at the end of the day we write porn we are not doing anything note worthy like saving lives and I'm sorry if I'm not going to take it as seriously as you do. However my framed cover will look better if it's someone producing my vision rather than it being a photo someone else took that I bought for $10. Your work is a paycheck for you hence you can only look at it in black and white dollars and cents. I'd rather have fun.

 

[RoyceConnors]

Let's ask Selena whether I'm riding her coat tails. Let's ask her what my books are worth to eXcessica.

She rides through here. Maybe she'll comment on that.

No speculation. Let's hear some real-world talk.

Brag brag brag. Look at me, look at me. Aren't I special? I'm the best at everything, listen to me, listen to me. Narcisistic much? Have that looked into before it gets out of hand and find there's no cure but to stare in the mirror and praise yourself all day.

Oh wait, you already do. Ya snooze, ya lose. Way she goes when yer havin' a good time, ain't it. Any problem getting your head through standard sized doors and such?

 

[sr71plt]

I'll leave you two to fantasizing about counting your chickens.

(P.S., two of my published pen names are female too. Triplets. )

 

[RoyceConnors]

I'll leave you two to fantasizing about counting your chickens.

(P.S., two of my published pen names are female too. Triplets. )

Do we care? Go fantasize that anyone listens to you and does what you say. The only place it'll happen is in that head of yours and no where else.

I don't care if I sell a copy or not. It's the thrill of writing something well enough to be taken seriously. My cover will be my reward for acheiving that goal. People will see it and admire the great looking cover, giving me praise for a story they never read. $100 bucks is worth it to have that alone. Maybe I'll do another frame and post my reviews as well.

 

[lovecraft68]

LMAO, I'm writing under a female pen name as well. The guys looked at me strange at first, until I explained why. Once they understood, the next hour was sitting around picking out a woman's name that sounded good. It was harder than hell to make them promise not to say anything.

I was skating by okay because honestly I don;t say to much about my writing anyway. My daughter gave me crap until I said my pen name would be "Amy Dad" and I will bring copies by to drop off at the school. Unfortunately my lovely wife was kind enough to tell my father who's favorite expression when I was growing up about pretty much anything was "What are you a fag?" So now i get messages on my cell phone "hey Laura wearing anything pretty today?" "hey Laura don;t get your panties in twist and is it that time of the month.?" sigh you know to me this guarantee's some level of success just fro the simple fact I couldn't even take credit for it. That's okay my wife thinks she is funny? I'll use her face for Laura's bio pic. She is a life coach and motivational public speaker. Her clients will get a kick out of her other career!

 

[sr71plt]

Maybe I'll do another frame and post my reviews as well.

You're likely to have to write them too. That's another aspect of this business that's easier to speculate on than to actually accomplish. (But I'll let you discover that one your own.)

Glad to see you guys backtracking closer to reality in your assumptions and expectations.

 

[RoyceConnors]

You're likely to have to write them too. That's another aspect of this business that's easier to speculate on than to actually accomplish. (But I'll let you discover that one your own.)

Glad to see you guys backtracking closer to reality in your assumptions and expectations.

I still find it interesting that you go on like you're the only person to ever get published and get a review. So no one else has the ability, but you, to accomplish that. I'll let it be known that I was asked to submit my story collection. I didn't have to beg, plead or pander myself to get there. So the likelyhood of getting good reviews isn't a pipe dream. Will I splash it all over my sig. and constantly rub noses in it? No. But I might post a few royalty checks to shut you up.

 

[sr71plt]

I still find it interesting that you go on like you're the only person to ever get published and get a review. So no one else has the ability, but you, to accomplish that. I'll let it be known that I was asked to submit my story collection. I didn't have to beg, plead or pander myself to get there. So the likelyhood of getting good reviews isn't a pipe dream. Will I splash it all over my sig. and constantly rub noses in it? No. But I might post a few royalty checks to shut you up.

No, I'm not the only one who's been published. I think that, rather, you go on like someone who knows about being published--and reviewed--and you're not. And being not, you try to pull down the advice of anyone who is.

But you've thrown in the towel on being profitably published, and even don't mind dropping cash on top of your vanity, so I guess, when that caveat exists on any suppositions you make, it's all good--in that context.

P.S. Have your publisher post those royalities (not that I asked). Your claims will mean nothing.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I see SR is using his wealth of knowledge in the Dale Carnegie method for making friends and influencing people.

What a twat!

 

[sr71plt]

You have published e-books, Zeb. Where do your covers come from and how much is spent on them? Do they cost $100?

That's the topic. Do you have information to provide? You actually have publishing experience.

Or did you come here just to pile on?

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I have already spread my knowledge to the two who have asked for it.

As for piling on, I was just critiquing your method of influencing people and winning friends.

You really need to work on that aspect of your personality. You really do.

 

[sr71plt]

It's not just the two posting to the thread who will find this information beneficial, Zeb. Is there some reason why you can't share your experience in the cost of e-book covers on this thread? That's not very helpful. I've reported what I know one of my publishers pays for cover art and what I strongly suspect the other one does as well--because I pick most of the cover images for my eXcessica books and know what the use of the images cost.

Am I the only one here truly trying to be helpful to those considering getting into e-booking? And the only one whose agenda here isn't to backbite?

With the number of e-books you have, surely you have some concept of cost analysis for producing and marketing one. Share with the community.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I believe I did in post #3.

 

[sr71plt]

In an indirect way, you did, Zeb--obviously didn't want to upset Love and RC in combining with them to gangbang me, though.

What Zeb isn't directly saying is that his covers come from the same places as mine do (e.g., DreamsTime) and they cost anywhere from $1 to $10 apiece to use.

Hasn't commented on the cost efficiency of paying $100 for a first, self-published and marketed e-book, though.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

In an indirect way, you did, Zeb--obviously didn't want to upset Love and RC in combining with them to gangbang me, though.

What Zeb isn't directly saying is that his covers come from the same places as mine do (e.g., DreamsTime) and they cost anywhere from $1 to $10 apiece to use.

Hasn't commented on the cost efficiency of paying $100 for a first, self-published and marketed e-book, though.

Actually, I use very little from dreamstime, I mostly use Free Clip art from various sources. Those I have used from dreamstime have been free to use as long as you credit the copyright holder.

So to answer your question, I have a bit of scotchman in me...I haven't paid for the clip art. I compose my covers from bit's and pieces into a brand new whole.

 

[lovecraft68]

In an indirect way, you did, Zeb--obviously didn't want to upset Love and RC in combining with them to gangbang me, though.

What Zeb isn't directly saying is that his covers come from the same places as mine do (e.g., DreamsTime) and they cost anywhere from $1 to $10 apiece to use.

Hasn't commented on the cost efficiency of paying $100 for a first, self-published and marketed e-book, though.

Only in your wildest dreams would I ever bang you! I better watch out or I may become a character in one of your GM stories. On your having a female pen name as well honestly I kind of figured you would. Obviously GM needs to have a male name but you write in different categories so figured you would have a "Mrs." in the house.

 

[michchick98]

Only in your wildest dreams would I ever bang you! I better watch out or I may become a character in one of your GM stories. On your having a female pen name as well honestly I kind of figured you would. Obviously GM needs to have a male name but you write in different categories so figured you would have a "Mrs." in the house.

I think you're taking his use of the word "gangbang" in the wrong context here. I think what he means in this instance is everyone is ganging up on him for the way he words his posts or the way they're reading his posts (calling him arrogant among other things.)

Of course, I could be wrong....it's been known to happen a time or two.

 

[lovecraft68]

I think you're taking his use of the word "gangbang" in the wrong context here. I think what he means in this instance is everyone is ganging up on him for the way he words his posts or the way they're reading his posts (calling him arrogant among other things.)

Of course, I could be wrong....it's been known to happen a time or two.

pssst I know what he meant I was just using it to make a joke. And ummm well he is just a little arrogant wouldn't you say?

 

[michchick98]

pssst I know what he meant I was just using it to make a joke. And ummm well he is just a little arrogant wouldn't you say?

I never said he wasn't, but I won't jump on the bandwagon on this thread, I think there are enough people getting up "in his face" already.

 

[sr71plt]

Arrogance cuts more than one way. I'll take knowledge-based arrogance over naive arrogance any day of the week. The former was earned; the latter is empty. There's plenty of arrogance on this thread to go around.

 

[favoritesgoddess]

It's completely up to the writer to decide how much money he or she is willing to part with in publishing his or her story. If a hundred bucks for a cover is affordable and is a reasonable expense for you, go for it. It's your money.

But if you're seeing it as money that can easily be recouped in sales, I think you're overestimating the earning potential of your particular title. I think the likelihood of any self-published debut incest e-book becoming a best-seller is unlikely, no matter how awesome and/or expensive the cover art.

 

[lovecraft68]

It's completely up to the writer to decide how much money he or she is willing to part with in publishing his or her story. If a hundred bucks for a cover is affordable and is a reasonable expense for you, go for it. It's your money.

But if you're seeing it as money that can easily be recouped in sales, I think you're overestimating the earning potential of your particular title. I think the likelihood of any self-published debut incest e-book becoming a best-seller is unlikely, no matter how awesome and/or expensive the cover art.

You are correct in both points. The art is worth it for me for personal not financial reasons. It is an achieved goal and to me worth doing right.
For your second point I have no best selling illusions. If it makes a few bucks fine. If it somehow does better great. If it flops? Then I can say I accomplished something I wanted to and go from there. If It does well enough that I am encouraged to publish more I will go a more economical route but I want the first one to be special even if it is only special to me.

 

[lovecraft68]

Arrogance cuts more than one way. I'll take knowledge-based arrogance over naive arrogance any day of the week. The former was earned; the latter is empty. There's plenty of arrogance on this thread to go around.

Personally I consider myself stubborn over arrogant but it's a free country(for now) call me the way you see me. I will always appreciate the honesty.

 

[RoyceConnors]

I do believe that was the point Lovecraft and I were originally concerned with, was finding that perfect cover art for the first publication. It wasn't a matter of cost that we were concerned about, but the ability to find it somewhere. We have been given some great people and sites to check out in our quest and they have been thanked by us for their assistance.

I believe arrogance happens, when someone believes what they have done for their first publication is the definitive statement to be made for every subsequent writer to follow. Offering advice is completely different than giving an opinion.

Now that all necessary 'opinions' have been made, the thread is about cover art and it should return to that now. Just saying.

 

[sr71plt]

Fact is that the two of you changed your expectations in the middle of this thread and in the middle of other posts about your projects--to meet the needs of your arguments.

Again, you will do what you do and then you will get the result you get. If you weren't realistic in what you did, you won't be pleasantly surprised with what you got--unless you readjust your expectations, which you apparently are doing--at least for public consumption.

And of course you shoot the messengers.