We thrive on the continuous feed of a series and the pace, the desire to know more — the adrenaline rush and thrill of the unexpected. Emotionally we are hooked when we pursue more with the fervent desire that it won’t end.
Bundled books/boxsets continue to be what readers want in instantaneously following through on a story in the heat of the action, or to know now with the next flick of the digital page rather than later, not wanting to wait months or years for a sequel or the tenth in series.
Sequels/Trilogies/Series
Trilogies and sequels are good takeaways when on a long haul flight or the daily train or bus commute to work. Writers often write a trilogy or series with two or more ready to be released in quick succession to fulfil the reader’s need to have the next in series ready to go.
I have been writing novels one at a time with each book reading as a standalone novel, and when the second book is released with some marketing and social media awareness created, the next book is picked up by readers — either by the same readers who read the first in the trilogy or others who pick up the second or third. Either way, it is a win situation as the books are being read, regardless at which stage of the collection — this is every writer’s joy.
A writer will create ( I avoid saying ‘produce’ as it implies a mechanical rather than a creative process) at their pace, and use personalized strategies to generate interest. There’s much to be gained from listening to podcasts and Facebook live presentations on how writing and marketing work best for some. The key is to follow, listen and learn to educate oneself on the modus operandi that works for you.
Retail Platforms
In signing up for a Draft to Digital webinar I picked up that boxsets or book bundles do well on that platform. Amazon’s KDP Select allows readers to grab the boxsets/book bundles for future reading and has the benefit of price countdowns as strategic marketing. When the downloaded, saved books are read, the author accrues higher royalties and with Kindle Unlimited, there is the page-per-read royalty scheme. In the active ALLi and SPF FB groups, much is to be gained from interacting with or reading posts on the latest publication trends and experiences.
Trial and error, like all good lessons in life, allow for the best decisions on how to market your book.
Timing
If considering doing a boxset consider when is the appropriate publishing stage for your books. I did a sequel boxset a year later and trilogy boxset six months after the third book was published — all books may read as standalone novels so the boxset/bundling offers another price point and convenience of access on the go.
Digital Requirements
A boxset requires a separate ISBN to be identified as a new collective publication. As far as book covers go, the 3D image is most suited to Amazon and flat covers for Apple Books, Kobo, or D2D as your platforms of choice.
A backlist, if not a series, can be offered as an omnibus collection or if teaming up with other authors writing in a similar genre as you are, makes this another avenue for book bundles at competitive price points to best serve the reader. The royalty split must be legally agreed upon for equity and professionalism to prevail.
Happy writing, Happy publishing, Happy Book Bundling!
Please share your ideas on box sets or book bundles in the comment box below.
As writers, it goes with the territory that autobiographical bits of ourselves will slip into our writing. A creative project, the creative process is emotion-driven, its passion on a page — bleeding… My collection of short stories, out this week, Life’s Seasons into the digital and print worlds is a diverse collection that emanates from my visions of life and some from a generous muse — or perhaps a subconscious memory on history or culture of different times and places.
Here’s a little teaser on some of the stories:
The book cover is drawn from a story set at a picturesque beach resort when an incident occurs to disturb the world of the observer. Final View is both dark and lighthearted through the voice of an aging mortician — her take on why she serves the way she does. Now, I don’t know any morticians, personally, but this story found me. Those Were the Days, is part autobiographical and part imagined on life as a university student. Ancient cultures fascinate me, hence in, Moving On, the life choice of young Anqui emerged to represent the clash of the old and the new. Crime fiction is a passion and a particularly enjoyable teaching experience so The Call of the Outback was born with Inspector Donovan out and about during his early retirement days when a crime finds him, not your typical crime fiction story, but my spin on how things find you where your passion lies. Then a story about a writer in search of her muse, set on the ocean aboard a luxury cruise ship stems from my love of the ocean although the story is far from peaceful, akin to the symbolism of a turbulent ocean. And there’s more in Stilled Heart, a University Professor struggling with not knowing what happened to his family during an air raid, and meeting a young, hopeful writer who shares the same sense of loss. A secret from the past is revealed by Jacob, a messenger of dreams in Wandering The Earth. And there’s Mai in Adrift, hiding her past on how she arrived in a new country. The shame apartheid enforced in my world is a trigger for Mai’s tale.
Haruki Murakami’s view on the writing of short stories captures the essence of pouring the self into what we write.
My short stories are like soft shadows I have set out in the world, faint footprints I have left. I remember exactly where I set down each and every one of them, and how I felt when I did. Short stories are like guideposts to my heart... ― Haruki Murakami
Without a doubt, the voices and visions of a writer’s world seep into the stories we tell, dressed in different clothes, stretched through the imagination with colour, light and shade, and not forgetting what the muse wills, and so stories are born.
Launch day this week is 22/8/19 for the ebook and 29/8/19 for the Print editions in hardback and paperback. For more on each story you are invited to go these links for the full description:
So many voices, so many stories in a country as diverse as Australia, each sharing a connection to people and place.
Today on the blog we have Rhonda Forrest, a high school teacher, from beautiful, sunny Queensland. Rhonda began writing under the pen name ‘Lea Davey’. Her first two novels, Silkworm Secrets and The Shack by the Bay were published under the pen name, Lea Davey, however her latest novel, Two Heartbeats, published October 2018 has been published under her real name, Rhonda Forrest. Having always lived in Queensland, the vast Australian Outback and the pristine Whitsundays feature strongly in her stories. Rhonda Forrest shares her story and tells us more about her writing journey.
Meet the Author
Rhonda Forrest/Lea Davey
Biography – I was born in Brisbane and grew up in Rochedale, which at the time was a rural farming area. It was a fabulous place to grow up and as kids, we spent our time playing in the bush, riding horses and living in a community where everyone knew each other. I married at the age of 21 and my husband and I moved to acreage at Bannockburn where we lived for thirty years. Along with a menagerie of animals it was here that we brought up our three daughters and made life-long friends with many of our neighbours. At the age of 40, after a multitude of different jobs and running my own business, I decided to study. After 4 years of full-time study, I graduated as a high school teacher of History and English. Recently we have moved to Tamborine Mountain and live between the mountain and a 100-year-old cottage with a rambling garden up in the Whitsundays. Both places are quiet and idyllic places to live and write.
Writing Journey – As a child, I loved reading and was surrounded by books. My mother who is 90, still to this day reads every day and as a teenager, she always handed me her books after she had finished them. Nothing was off-limits and I vividly remember being enthralled by books written by Harold Robbins, James Michener, Wilbur Smith and Jackie Collins. I used to always think that one day I would write a book, however, it wasn’t until about five years ago that I had time to seriously think about pursuing my writing. Long hours spent out on a tinnie in the middle of the ocean fishing, allowed plenty of time for daydreaming and the story of, The Shack by the Bay began rolling around in my head. Once I started writing the words flowed easily and I knew that I had found a new passion in my life – writing!
Genre – All of my books are different. The Shack by the Bay is contemporary historical fiction, Silkworm Secrets is contemporary fiction and Two Heartbeats is Romance. My favourite genre is historical fiction although I also love to read true-life stories.
Motivation – If you want to do something you should just have a go at it. I don’t think I ever considered failing, actually I don’t think about the end result that much, I just go for it. Really you have nothing to lose and once I start writing it’s hard to stop until the story is finished. The editing and parts that come after the actual writing for me are the hardest parts and I would love just to be able to write and to have someone else do the rest for me. But when this is not possible I stay motivated, buoyed along by the lovely reviews and comments I get from readers. With writing, it is not about the money that you make (because that is limited) but rather the motivation that comes from readers who love your books. One of the most exciting things is to look on the Brisbane library website and see that all 5 copies of your book are being borrowed!
Influencers – Probably the biggest influence for me in relation to my writing was the Australian author Coleen McCulloch. It was after I read her book, The Thorn Birds, in 1977, that I decided I would write a book. It took 40 years to have time to do that, but eventually, it happened.
Favourite Books – Just recently I read Boy Swallows Universe which is set in Brisbane so lots of familiar places and just a fabulous entertaining read. My Instagram page has a countdown of my top 50 books and these range from Mao’s Last Dancer to All the Light We Cannot See as well as, The Old Man and the Sea and Australian classics, The Cattle King and My Place. I have so many favourite books, but I do love historical fiction. The Garden of Evening Mists, A Good Muslim Boy and The Space Between Us are also some of my favourites.
If you want to do something you should just have a go at it
Favourite part of the Australian Landscape That’s a difficult question as there are so many parts I love. I have travelled throughout Australia and it is often the coastlines that take my breath away. Crashing waves on rugged cliffs in South Australia, white sandy beaches with turquoise waters in Western Australia, red boulders with soaring waves in Tassie and of course the familiar pristine waters of the Whitsundays, rich with turtles, whales and dolphins. Equally beautiful though is the scrubby bush with the sun searing down on it and soaring gum trees, the bark dappled and ghostly against our vivid blue sky. We really do live in the most beautiful country and I always appreciate the beauty that surrounds me, be it the rolling hills around Tamborine Mountain, the thick rainforests just down the road from my house or the hazy valley views from the lookouts up here on the mountain. I love it all and much of that love of the landscape comes through in my books.
Book Covers – Designing book covers has been a journey in itself. The cover for The Shack by the Bay comes from part of a photo that I took of a shack down in Tasmania while Silkworm Secrets cover was a painting a friend did for me. For Two Heartbeats I engaged the help of a graphic artist, Ethel Beckett, also from Brisbane, who did a fabulous job giving me exactly what I wanted.
The Shack by the Bay (Lea Davey) An isolated fishing shack on a beautiful bay in the Whitsundays provides Luke with a retreat where he can find peace and solitude. However, the discovery of family war relics and a developing relationship with the beautiful Lily connects family histories and reveals a story that threatens to destroy his chance at real happiness. Will the wartime secrets prove to be the breaking point for a beautiful romance? Or can two families put the deeds of the past behind them? Romantic and purely Australian, The Shack by the Bay captures the pristine beauty of the Whitsundays and the wartime memories of older Australians while introducing an eclectic blend of friends and family. Silkworm Secrets (Lea Davey) Ruby and Bobby are best friends who spend their spare time together in a tree house where they retreat from the adult world and share their secrets. To Ruby’s dismay, Bobby’s family life is far different from her own and when he is forced to leave home at a young age it seems that the two may never see each other again. But after many years the events of the past resurface, and as an adult, Ruby is unexpectedly faced with the gravity of their secrets and the seeking of justice. A court case forces her to search for Bobby who has not been seen since he left home as a child. Will she find him amidst the vastness of the Australian outback and if she does, will he want to return to what he has spent his entire life running away from. This is a story about the secrets that children keep, the strength that comes from a childhood friendship and a special family love that overcomes the hardships of the past.
Two Heartbeats (Rhonda Forrest) When Jess heads west for a fresh start in a small mining town, the dusty outback is a far cry from her former life in the city. Despite having no knowledge of country life, she finds herself loving the isolation and local people. All she has to do is keep her head down and work hard to create a better life for herself and Johnno, the only person she has ever truly cared about. The caring warmth of a new circle of friends allows Jess to feel that maybe, for once, her life is heading in the right direction. However, problems arise when her temper and stubborn nature collide with her new boss, Daniel, who is suspicious of her background story. Has Jess been honest, or is there a hidden secret to justify his distrust of her? Set amidst the rugged outback of Australia, with a cast of eclectic characters, Two Heartbeats is a story of friendship, resilience and the hope that ultimately loving relationships may triumph over obstacles defined by the past.
With gratitude to Rhonda for sharing her writing journey, and books with us today. Please add your thoughts in the box below:
The adage ‘never judge a book by its cover,’ is a questionable one, in the world of publishing. Writers and publishers agree that a professional cover is the first point of reader attraction. The successive triggers that consolidate interest are, genre, blurb, knowledge of the author’s body of work etc.
When is a cover visualised?
Most often the inspiration for a cover emerges during the writing process, or at the end of the first draft (this is pretty much my experience). Some writers have a vision for a cover from the conception stage when the story idea strikes, and they stick with it. Others might see the initial perception for a cover morph over time, in consultation with the designer, or an epiphany might trigger a new wave of creative thought.
Creating a book cover should be a collaborative effort with the professional expertise of a cover designer
What decides the choice and layout of images on a cover?
Plot, character, and setting have a huge part to play. A metaphor that hits the nail on the head is effective in creating curiosity to lead the reader in. It’s subtle and insightful.
My debut novel, Across Time and Space, captures the evocative landscapes of London and Florence, with the protagonist in the foreground, her assailant centre-ground and the landscapes she traverses, in the background. While this is the main plot, the sub-plot, is not represented, to avoid cluttering the cover. There is a definitive reading path, depth in the placement of images from the foreground all way to the villa in Viareggio, seen in the background. The colour choice represents the Tuscan setting.
With the sequel, Vindication Across Time, the theme had to be maintained. The crime in the first book, Across Time and Space is played out in Book Two, in Florence, with the justice department, and media issues that arise. This cover has a Florentine backdrop, with the Ponte Vecchio in the background, and representation of the courthouse, in centreground. The face of the protagonist, Meryl, in the top left corner, is at the centre of the drama that unfolds. The male figure in the bottom, right quadrant, is mysterious, leaving the reader guessing who he is, (if you read Across Time and Space, you would have a pick of male characters to speculate upon) and what role he might play in Meryl’s world. Colours play their part in creating meaning, the word, ‘vindication,’ in red symbolises the significant unveiling of truth in this novel, the losses incurred in pursuit of truth. The dark suit of the male protagonist implies, he might be sinister or harbouring a hidden secret. The top half maintains the Tuscan setting, while the bottom half is enclosed by a dark building – the seat of justice, where truth, lies, and deception are acted out.
There is a visual shift, to reflect a new story, a different saga. This cover is a metaphoric representation of characters and events. Green for renewal; fragility and beauty are emblematic through the butterfly image. Dark and light through the colours of the wings, imply situations encountered, and the personalities of a mother’s daughters, two wings, with different colours on one butterfly.
The Rain – A Collection of Short Stories reflects the metaphor of rain in its physical, emotional and psychological ramifications on the lives of characters. Dark tones, with the glimmer of light with the female protagonist foregrounded, suggest the mood that pervades the stories. The image in the bottom right-hand quadrant is that of a hut in the title story.
Flick through any online retail bookstore, and a plethora of covers compete for attention. A cover catches the eye – title, author, blurb are the next attraction and selection.
Covers tell a story, a summary through images.
Well-thought-out covers guide readers’ personal perceptions, speculations, and curiosity, asking, ‘what story does this book tell, will it entertain and ‘move’ me?’
Seek the expertise of a cover designer and discuss the vision you have for your cover.
What’s your book cover choice? Share your ideas in the comment box below. Sign up today for a free e-Book.
You must be logged in to post a comment.