Marketing - to Publishers Electronic Press Illustrations Quality

21 October 2011, Marketing - to Publishers Electronic Press Illustrations Quality

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little.  I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon.  The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel.  Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing.  In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes.  You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published.  I'll keep you informed along the way.  At this moment, I'm showing you the marketing material I put together for a novel.

Today's Blog:  If you include illustrations in your book, the most important thing is the quality of the illustrations.  Many people fancy themselves artists.  If you wouldn't put it up on a wall, you aren't an artist.  Perhaps this message won't reach the self-deluded.  If your enemy won't hang it on his wall, you aren't an artist.  That might not be clear enough either.  If someone would not pay you for your artwork--don't put it in your novel. 

I'm not kidding when I tell you, I have seen more poor art in self-published books than on refrigerators.  So, number one, ensure the quality of any art you put in your books.  Use maps and charts and not your own illustrations--unless you are a professional artist.

More tomorrow about the pedigree of illustrations in published and electronically published books.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples:   http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites:  http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.