Marketing - to Publishers Electronic Press Dingbats

19 October 2011, Marketing - to Publishers Electronic Press Dingbats
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:  Let's talk about illustrations and dingbats.  First, dingbats are not your mother-in-law but they are similar to the stuff you find in fonts called variously, dingbats, wingdings, etc.  Not that long ago, a scene demarcation in a novel, was indicated by a double break.  This is commonly used in manuscripts and can be found in some published works.  In general, to save space and to make a stronger demarcation, publishers began using three asterisks to note a double break.  Today, most publishers use a dingbat to denote a double break.  What is a dingbat?  If you look at my novels, you will see examples.  My publisher is very up on these things, they provided specially designed and chosen dingbats for each of my novels.  I proposed and provided the dingbats for my Chronicles of the Dragon and the Fox series--my daughter designed them (she is an excellent artist).

The main point here is that for double space breaks, you need a dingbat.  The dingbat should be the same through a chapter or a novel--there is a lot of latitude here.  I recommend only one per novel.  The trick is that you can and should design your own.  Illustrations are similar.  By the way, if you don't know what a double space break is all about--keep reading this blog, I'll get to it. 

What kind of dingbat will I want to use in Aksinya?  That is a great question.  Perhaps a scroll or a small demon.  A pentegram might be the right touch.  I want my daughter to make a series of about five to seven drawing for the novel.  Perhaps she might draw a dingbat that really reflects the story.

More tomorrow about 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/.