NB:This update originally appeared on crowdfunding website Kickstarter on 9th August 2013 and was intended for backers of the successful campaign to fund the publication of Finding Arun, my debut novel.
Happy Friday you beautiful backers!
I hope you’re all well and looking forward to the weekend – I know I am! Just a little update from me this morning, asking for a lot of help from you (again!).
Beta-reading, Blood, Sweat and Tears
After a huge amount of blood, sweat and tears, Finding Arun is finally FINISHED *WOOP!* I’m done going through the editor’s comments and after making a few additional tweaks of my own, plastering my walls in whiteboard notes and adding a whole new (but very necessary) chapter, I think I’m done!
Last night/this morning I packed off the draft, along with a small questionnaire, to those of you that very kindly volunteered to beta-read the book and I’m looking forward to receiving your feedback. As mentioned in the previous update, I may make some small changes following review by the beta-readers, but then it’s time to pack this baby off to the proof-reader!
Book Covers
The most important thing that I need your help with today is the book covers. As you know, I launched a contest on a crowd-sourcing site to have the two covers I need designed (limited edition and general sale). The contest was whittled down to six designers and now I need your help to decide which two designs should be chosen.There’s a quick poll here where it would be great if you could view and rank the designs, and let me know in the comments the specifics of what you do/don’t like (fonts, colours, spacing, alignment etc) and whether you like the design for limited or general sale edition. The poll will only be open for the next 48 hours, so go and vote NOW!
As you are reviewing, please remember that the designs are not yet finalised. Many of the images are low resolution (appearing low quality/blurry because they have not yet been purchased!) and we still have time to tweak things such as fonts, colours and alignments, so if a design is your favourite but you’d like to see a few modifications then don’t discount it – just note your thoughts in the space provided.
It is important that we pick a cover that not only hints at the story, but one that is also original, bold and eye-catching so that we can attract as many new readers as possible. The book will only be sold on the internet initially, therefore it is essential that a thumbnail image of the cover tells us everything that we need to know. Finally, in the last few stages of design we will try to bring a degree of consistency between the two covers chosen, but it is important that the limited edition and general release covers are distinct from one another.
The Nagging Bit
I don’t mean to be a nag, but there’s still quite a few of you that haven’t filled out your Kickstarter reward surveys – *you know who you are*. I would be ever so grateful if you could get that done by the end of the weekend, as I am in the process of finalising delivery details for the rewards, plus I need some info to make sure you are correctly acknowledged in the book/on my website. Don’t make me come and find you…
Miscellaneous Ramblings and Next Steps
A few other things that you may or may not be interested to know:
- I’ve received my ISBN numbers, so Finding Arun is officially on its way!
- I had a canapé tasting at the book launch venue – yummy! Those of you attending are in for a treat…
In terms of next steps, it’s off to the proof-reader, making any corrections that arise and then I shall begin laying out the interior of the book.
I should tell you that now I’m feeling incredibly scexy (simultaneously scared and excited); it’s all coming together, publication is fast approaching and I simply couldn’t have done it without you. As always, thanks for your ongoing support, it keeps me going when I want to throw my laptop out of the window!
Until the next time, much love, Marisha xxx