less than this - Latest Comments

Re: undisciplined, unfocused, distractable

modernevil — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:41:15 -0000

I've got 11 of 13 episodes finished & ready for Podiobooks.com - the other two, I'm going to have a female record some of the dialog for, and after another couple hours' work, it'll be done.

I still need to mix it & compress it for the Modern Evil Podcast, and for sale as an MP3 audiobook. Oh, and design packaging for it on CD. Possibly twice.

Technically, this is because I make my own deadlines. A "proper" publisher would have a year or two between the finished book and publication, to take care of things like this. (Well, and marketing - I certainly don't do that "right".) So I made myself the deadline of "before NaNoWriMo" and I'm sticking to it. Sortof.

Re: undisciplined, unfocused, distractable

Hillary Oliver — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:36:05 -0000

So don't do the audio book for a while if you're burned out on that project. The beauty of being independent right? You make your own deadlines! ;D

Re: independence in words is not seen as equal

modernevil — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:38:47 -0000

Thanks for your comment. I definitely see the value in having extra eyes available for copyediting. Making sure my words are spelled correctly & my sentences obey grammar rules (except when I intentionally bend them) and finding typos are great help; almost all texts have simple errors. It's editing for content, message, & marketability that I'm (mostly) referring to.

Re: independence in words is not seen as equal

twitter-14948080 — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:55:53 -0000

As both a writer and an editor, I will say that I would never allow any of my longer work to greet the public until it had at least been reviewed by people whose knowledge of the writing craft (and of grammar and punctuation) I respected enough to consider their opinions. In other words, I don't require a professional editor, but I do believe my work needs to BE edited.

I would also not be surprised to learn that those aural artists you mention have people whose knowledge and opinions they respect vet their work--and listen to what's said. That's not to indicate they'll blindly make changes based on input, but they acknowledge, as do I, that after a time the creator becomes too familiar with the creation to be able to obtain sufficient distance to see flaws. We see what should be there instead of what IS there.

However, your point regarding the unrelenting bias against non-traditionally published books is well-taken, nor does it apply only to the self-published. On several occasions, I've asked reviewers to please scratch comments about their having found "a few typos" in one of our books, unless it's their custom to make that same observation about traditionally published books. Usually, they've understood my problem with it and obliged.

We make every effort to ensure our books are as error-free as they can be. If some major flaw is discovered, we will go to the time and expense to correct it. However, human beings aren't perfect, and even the most skilled proofreader is likely to miss something. By calling attention to it, even if the error in no way impedes one's enjoyment of the book, simply feeds the naysayers who insist nontraditional=amateur.

Ironically, reviewers who never read the books they discuss aren't new. They've been around pretty much forever--I've heard traditionally published authors telling how a newspaper review was nothing more than the publisher's press release reprinted under someone's byline. So, the ongoing attacks on new-model publishing has precedent, which doesn't make it any less obnoxious.

Re: independence in words is not seen as equal

modernevil — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:47:51 -0000

There is also the matter of credit: On music albums and on films, everyone who worked to create the art is credited. I can see who the editor was, the sound mixer, the writer, et cetera (whether or not they were different people). For books -where it is assumed all professional books have a team of people working on it, including at least one editor- the only person credited is the author. Sometimes the author will mention their editor/agent/et al in the Acknowledgements, but aside from the name of the publishing imprint, there's no real, consistent information about who else worked on a book.

So the status quo is to believe that an author is incapable of creating a worthwhile book on their own while at the same time giving them sole credit for the finished work.

Does that make sense?

Re: Cheating, Death – unboxing the paperbacks

kathleenkelly — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:32:59 -0000

Hello

I am a book blogger and I would be interested in reviewing your novel.. Amazing how quick that went...wow. My daughter has written and finished a novel and is working on her second. She was contacted by a publisher and it would cost over $1000 and of course like I said she is an aspiring author so does not have the $$$ to do this at this time. So anyway I digress. Congrats on the book!!!

Re: Cheating, Death – unboxing the paperbacks

modernevil — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:07:52 -0000

Already have a couple of responses from book bloggers; nice. Thanks, Rachel, Maya, and Mandy! Tell your friends!

Re: Cheating, Death – unboxing the paperbacks

parajunkee — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:35:05 -0000

Hi Teel...love zombies. Sent you an email.

Re: Cheating, Death – cover preview

Name — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:11:55 -0000

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be unhelpful, I suppose that I was beating about the bush in an effort to not be overly critical. If I walked into a bookstore, say Bookman's, and saw your book with this cover I would probably not pick it up. This is based on the fact that It does look like a 1970s cover, and the 1970's books I've read never did anything for me. As for your writing style, it isn't 1970 and is unique unto itself, but I wouldn't know that based on the graphics. As for the pluses to the current cover, I agree with Hillary, the wrap around cover is nice. The blues and darker colors are very nicely blended and the general haphazard placement of the headstones is appreciated.

Re: Cheating, Death – cover preview

modernevil — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:35:22 -0000

It just occurred to me: Amazon customers don't normally see my back covers, anyway, for the same reason; Amazon won't respond to my inquiries. Because I'm being so bitter about it, I've just re-requested access to their "Inside the Book" program for the umpteenth time. Perhaps I shall hear back from them this time? Sigh.

Re: Cheating, Death – cover preview

modernevil — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:17:58 -0000

I stopped myself there. I was getting into a bit of a ramble about all the care I put into designing the cover. I don't mean to come across as defensive; I'm trying to communicate my thinking. I do appreciate feedback, but I feel the only thing you said about MY cover was "it looks like something from the 1970s" and then went on to talk about something else, rather than to talk about the cover presented. It felt like I'd presented you a Lemon Pudding Cake and asked what you'd thought and after noting that it reminded you of the 1970s, you started talking about all the great chocolate desserts the restaurants are serving these days-- instead of talking about the cake I'd made.

It isn't helpful.

Re: Cheating, Death – cover preview

modernevil — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:14:17 -0000

Hmm... An interesting take. For reference, I am definitely more interested in selling the contents than the cover - the new tagline I'm trying out at Modern Evil Press is "Books for people who like to think."

I quite like the idea that it looks like something out of the 1970s. I was looking at some vintage covers from the '60s and '70s just this morning & thinking that I'd like to do some covers like that for future books (or future editions of my existing books). I feel I'm quite a bit away from where I could be, but am glad that was an initial impression. If you look at my other book covers, all visible at modernevil.com, you may see that I have an intentionally minimalist aesthetic at work, and that I incorporate elements in my fiction book covers to extend the branding; these books look good together on a book shelf. I want the book covers to have the feel of "classic" or "timeless" books, and for you to want to keep them and to display them proudly on your book shelves.

In case you don't read a lot of modern zombie books, the reaching hand has actually become shorthand to readers that communicates "zombie book" - it even works with Forget What You Can't Remember's cover, which is a relatively plain photograph of a completely normal hand; a lot of people know at a glance that there are zombies in it. Since it's a more detailed look at the zombie outbreak in that book (and I'll be trying to sell them side by side), I intentionally used a hand that was the opposite of FWYCR's cover - it is a light hand on a dark background rather than a dark hand on a light one, and is (either a left hand rather than right, or) reaching toward the reader rather than away. It's supposed to communicate a relationship with the other book, when they're together.

Re: Cheating, Death – cover preview

modernevil — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:20:42 -0000

Re: Amazon: I've tried to get Amazon to do anything particular with my books' pages, for years. I can't get them to respond at all. It's quite frustrating. If Lightning Source didn't push my books' descriptions & cover images through their channels, they probably still wouldn't be there. I would love to have search inside & look inside enabled for all my books. At worst, I'll put it in a "review" like I put more description in my "review" of FWYCR.

This book covers roughly 1 day in Denver, starting where the zombie outbreak starts & following Melvin Spall's experiences during the outbreak.

Re: Cheating, Death – cover preview

Name — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:10:00 -0000

My first impression of the cover art is that the most modern looking thing on it is the publishing company's logo. This book looks like something out of the 1970s. Unfortunately, cover art means a lot more today than it did in the 1970s (when the contents are what sold the book). I would suggest taking a look at modern covers and take note of the fact that they usually contain pictures of the characters, a specific spot of scenery, or a very detailed view of a special object in the book. "Detail", as the mantra says, "is key."

Re: Cheating, Death – cover preview

twitter-15577147 — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:39:11 -0000

Oh, so is this a retrospective on FWYCR? Or a Prequil? (reading the back of the cover)

I like the way the picture wraps around the book.

When you post it on Amazon, are you going to do the "book preview" and make the zombie index viewable?

Love,
~Hillary

Re: I love what I do

Name — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:53:23 -0000

I admire you for really doing it. keep on keeping on. I have no clue about the artwalk sales. I think price is better than no price. I become a parrot that night. I missed my old spot last week, but I did pretty good. Nov. will be great, I bet. Do you want me to move back to that side of the street, or rather another place? Hi to Mandi.

Re: Problems of Perception

twitter-15577147 — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 06:23:49 -0000

The only thing I can come up with on the shirts/books is to maybe build lucite lock boxes with a diagonal top to display your product. I'd put the shirts in the box and just let the clear top show the shirt, and maybe punch a hole in the bottom left corner of one of each book and tether it to the Lucite box that has the rest of the copies inside. That way they can pick the books up and feel/see them, but can't wander off without paying. Somewhere on the box, maybe in the front put the price in black letters on a bold color paper, like neon green. It would look very professional and hopefully cut down on the theft.

As for the art- I got nuthin. Sadly, I'm one of those folks who'd like to have a copy of some of the things you've already sold, while none of your newer works interest me... mostly because they're so bright and graphic, and my house is mostly muted peaches, tans, blues, and greens (except the kitchen which is electric green). Some of your artwork seems affordable at your reduced pricing, but some of them are still out of my financial grasp, like the google one. I know you are an artist for a living, and dropping the price too much makes it so you can't cover your overhead... but I iz broke, and everyone I know iz broke. :(

Love,
~Hillary

Re: looking toward NaNoWriMo 2009

modernevil — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:29:51 -0000

Alright, I've sent an email to Lindsey (community liaison) asking to have an official North Valley region created. We'll see what happens.

Re: looking toward NaNoWriMo 2009

BookWhirl.com — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 03:25:01 -0000

Thank you for sharing this great information about NaNoWrimo. It's a great avenue for writers to practice more on their skills. It's also a perfect opportunity to meet other writers and to share tips and suggestions to contribute to each others benefit and improvement.

Keep on writing, we belive in you--always.

Sincerely,
BookWhirl.com | You have the book...We have the Marketing Resources.

Re: looking toward NaNoWriMo 2009

twitter-15577147 — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:49:57 -0000

I'm with Mandy, contact them! The worse case scenario is you end up where you already are.

I guess my two cents on the pod-cast would be to see how your writing goes. If it seems like your words-per-day or what have you is being hurt by your compulsion to podcast simultaneously - don't. Your readers understand that NaNoWriMo is a contest with a time line and would even forgive you if you started podcasting and had to stop half way thru the month to concentrate on the actual writing. :)

Love,
~Hillary

Re: looking toward NaNoWriMo 2009

twitter-14380344 — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 22:10:13 -0000

My two cents? Contact them about doing the official North Phoenix group. You have a good handle on where are appropriate places to write, what places will be interesting and / or can handle a group...plus you have time. I think the unofficial group could easily become an official group. You're going to spend most of November thinking about it anyway...just take it on.

Plus then I won't be so exhausted from staying up writing AND traveling. :)

Re: I’m not sure the Olivetti is the right machine for this novel

modernevil — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:03:26 -0000

Turns out I don't seem to even have a President. Perhaps I am mis-remembering, and my friend gave me the Smith-Corona Skyriter instead of a President... but in addition, I thought I had a total of NINE typewriters, but found only eight when I got them all out. Strange, indeed.

Re: I love what I do

Hillary Oliver — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:31:54 -0000

Yea for doing what you love :)

Re: Cover for ‘Cheating, Death’

twitter-13983802 — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:14:59 -0000

Nice. Is the hand a person's, or a zombies? Because it could look more... zombieish.

Re: Cover for ‘Cheating, Death’

Hillary Oliver — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:04:12 -0000

Looks Good!