Author Archive
No UK travel for 2012
Posted by: | CommentsIn case any of our English or Scottish family are checking this blog, I have sad news that our UK trip has been cancelled. There are various reasons which I will not go into here. If you are family and wish a further explanation Facebook me, email me or just go above to our Contact Page and I’ll get back to you soon.
This website format is from iThemes Builder
Posted by: | CommentsI’ve had a lot of requests for info on how I got this blog looking so great. So thanks for your comments and here is what you need to know to set you on the right track.
I found this blog template from “iThemes” and purchased it for $79. The cost has come down now and the company is now iThemes plus Builder … 2 template systems which are from the same company giving us phenomenal blog templates (and training) for a great price.
They are always having sales, which is how I purchased the rest of their stuff … especially good for website designers! My template is “Flexx.” It’s from iThemes but I now recommend you check out their Builder information as well. You can also easily update your site to a Builder Theme if you already have iThemes in use. Something it took me a long time to realize. They have lots of videos to help you and many of their old videos are now being updated, thank goodness (earlier, I wasted a lot of time trying to find what I needed)!
Here is the place to start: www.iThemes.com
Good luck.
ebook tips: Webinar by Emily Craven
Posted by: | CommentsI was re-familiarizing myself with Twitter today and found a great Blog if you’re considering writing an eBook.
Emily Craven’s, The E-book Revolution offers a lot of info to read through and if it’s as good as her webinar you won’t want to miss it! I have listened to the whole 70 min webinar and think it is amazing. It is entitled: 5 Fast Simple Secrets to eBook Success. Sign up for it right at the top of her website.
Emily is both intelligent and educated and obviously loves her subject. She gives a ton of good info, tips and links too so have a notepad ready. She is enthusiastic and very quick in her presentation … you have to pay attention. I think her audience will also be hyped by listening to her, I certainly was and she gave me many ideas. She also gives writing and editing tips and interesting suggestions that work for any type of writing/book and not just for ebooks.
I can’t say enough about Emily’s fantastic job here and I am so glad I happened on her website by accident. I only wish I had discovered her info when Robert and I first started out! (In actuality most of this info was not in existence, so there you have it … merely a pipe dream!)
There is one downside of all this that may bother a few people, although in all fairness it should not with all the FREE info she gives out. Emily does try to sell you a program at the end but it was very reasonably priced and I may have gone for it if it was still available. However, she gives the names of the presenters which you could lookup and get info direct from their websites if you are interested enough.
Anyway, good luck and enjoy Emily’s webinar. You will be glad you did.
Finding Images for Book Covers
Posted by: | CommentsThere are many ways to find great images for book covers and I have used several methods for our 12 novels:
watercolour cover image
1. An actual human artist (Victoria Chronicles – 3 covers); and Lizzie Series – last 3 covers of series); painted by Barbara Porter to my specs via email.
Dreamstime.com image
2. An online photo supplier ie., Dreamstime.com or other such photographic supplier where you purchase for a small price a license to use a photo for a certain number of copies (covers, articles etc.). You have to read the rules & reg. I paid less than $100 to use this great image of a Spanish ship for 10,000 copies. I would be very happy to pay this amount again when we sell 10,000 paper/ebook copies of Race For a Treasure!
photograph by author
3. When all else fails and you can get the photo you need, take it yourself, as I did for Whispers Across Time (Fiction). It’s not always that easy, as this photo proves … I took during the daytime
during the early writing stage then realized the cemetery scenes all took place at night. Photoshop to the rescue!
public domain image
4. Our first cover, Lizzie, was a Renoir painting in public domain. Our graphic designer (for lettering etc on cover) found this on a website and the original image had been somewhat changed (colour etc).
I hope this gives you some ideas and inspiration for your next cover.