Comments on: Ugly isn’t a Crime–It’s a Sin

By: Kate Siegel

Kate Siegel — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:43:59 +0000

Amen! Thank you for realizing and explaining the value added by a professional designer. This summer, I worked with an author on both editing and designing his self-published book. The result? The director of the faculty Author Development Program at Emory University made it a point to send me an e-mail: “I have to say, the quality of design and production on Bill’s book is better than I see at most university presses these days.”

Yes, I cost more than the “package deals” offered by the DIY publishing companies. But it’s worth it. The author told me “the difference between your professionalism and so many people that I’ve come in contact with about this book is ASTONISHING. … I mean it. You do wonderful work, you do what you say you’re gonna do and you don’t do things half (assed) way!!! I hope you know how much I’m glad that I wandered into your life.”

Just because I own and use Microsoft Word doesn’t mean I call myself an author.

By: Charlotte Boyett-Compo

Charlotte Boyett-Compo — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 05:13:18 +0000

I have seen some truly horrendous covers. My second book with one of my publishers was a prime example. It is so awful I blanch every time I see it. I was standing in a bookstore looking down at it…wincing…when the lady beside me picked it up. She laughed, turned to me and said, “Isn’t that the most atrocious thing you’ve ever seen?” I had to agree. It is utterly awful but the publisher won’t change it. The book has garnered glowing reviews over the years but no one can overlook the ugly cover.

If the cover is so bad a potential reader won’t even pick it up except to laugh at it, what chance does the author have to sell that book? Of the seventy+ novels I’ve published, there are three such glaringly terrible covers (all from the same publisher) and those books are the bottom three in sales.

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:08:52 +0000

You are right. What can I say? Are you available to guest blog on The Red Hen Association site?

By: Patti

Patti — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:00:23 +0000

Just as a computer doesn’t make anyone an artist, it doesn’t automatically make you a writer. Your message will be more powerful if you proofread your prose. Typos and misspellings diminish the authority of your message. I found two misspellings in the first two paragraphs of this blog entry.

“Peddle to the metal driving” is one. “Peddle” means to sell. The thing you put your foot on is a “pedal.”

“Canvass” means to ask questions, as for a poll. The thing an artist paints on is a “canvas.”