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| Proposed artwork for the full-length novel |
As you know, these are companion books for the Millennium board game. Book One, Edge of the Apocalypse has become the title for the full-length novel (about 270 pages). I'm also using the same artwork for the cover since it looks and works so well.
My original concept was to publish the novel in a three-part series, which is now available on Amazon. Each book is about 90 pages long because I wanted to keep them short for quick reading. Each book in the series has a red, white, or blue band on the spine.
Soon I'll be publishing the full novel on B&N in hardcover as a collectible book. (Currently working on samples, hardcovers with dustjacket.)
The book is still under review at B&N and its printing delayed due to COVID-19 so I look forward to getting that first copy before I edit the final version, which will include some backstory about how the book series evolved.
The printing of the board game has also been delayed due to COVID-19 issues so this is a good time to revise and update both products before final printing. Hopefully, everything will be available by September 11, as scheduled. It's going to be a close call because I still need to shoot the gameplay video but I hope to squeeze it in before my deadline.
Self-publishing is a headache but it offers so much flexibility and control, and that makes it worthwhile. Not to mention that self-published books serve as proof of concept for larger publishers. So a deal with a major publisher is still possible even if you self-publish.
Yes, a warm audience has merit
but momentum is more important.
I plan to pitch the series somewhere along the line but right now I'll be happy if I strike out on my own. For someone like me, I love all the control and options from writing to editing to artwork, the whole shebang. I do it all and love it all. Not that I recommend editing and illustrating your own books, but it is possible to do it all competently if you have the experience and you take your time.
Loving what you do is great but making a profit with your own work is even better. So the bottom line is to figure out how to monetize your products. That usually takes a bit of money and testing but there are ways to promote your work for free or at a low cost with great results. But that's another story for another time. Stay tuned for that.
At this point, I'm still a voice in the wilderness but that will change as soon as everything is published. There's no point in promoting unfinished work. It's difficult enough to get attention once, let alone several times. Yes, a warm audience has merit but momentum is more important.
In my playbook, it's all about impulse buying. If you present your product (concept) to the right audience at the right time for the right price or best offer, enough times, you can't miss your intended target. You've got to eliminate all the red lights in your sales funnel. It's that simple. Again, this is another hot topic for another time.
Check out The Edge of Time Book Series. They're a quick read and worth your time. I promise.
Your comments and questions are always welcome.
Stay well.
