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Book teaser tips and tricks

/ Author, Brian K. Larson / Leave a comment

Book teasers are another intragyral part of marketing your work. Just like last week’s blog on book covers, your book teaser is just as important. Your teaser or book blurb, tells the prospective reader what to expect inside. However, there are a few tips and tricks that will help the reader choose you, over your competition.

Let’s not confuse your book blurb with a book synopsis. They are two completely different, yet similar things. A teaser draws your audience in. You introduce your character, their traits, and the problem they must solve. A synopsis is a complete overview of your book, including your plot twists and turns. The synopsis also includes how the novel ends and is used to market your book to agents and publishers. The teaser is used for marketing to your prospective audience and should not include too much detail.

There are certain elements to a book blurb that you must include. But there are certain elements that you should not, such as any spoilers. The blurb shouldn’t be too lengthy, either. Keep it down to a couple of hundred words. If you’re too wordy, you’ll lose prospective readers.

Whether you’re writing a blurb for science fiction and fantasy or a self-help book, they must contain similar elements. In a non-fiction or self-help book, the main character is the reader and it’s the problem they are looking to solve and what that solution is.

In fiction, you tell them who and what the problem and goals are.

Here’s an example of a book teaser that I wrote for ‘Pirates of the Galactic Empire.’

It’s the year 3245. Earth’s Republic evolved into the Galactic Empire. After the outpost wars, the Galactic Space Force became the peacekeepers. Up from the ashes rose rogue pilots. These pilots became the Pirates of the Galactic Empire.

This is a story of one of these, not so lucrative, pirates, Sean Finnigan. The only thing going for him, and the reason his crew follow him. Well, except for Petra, her unhealthy infatuation, as Finnigan called it, was her reason for following him. No, he owns one of the ancient card treasures, the fifth card. Pirates rumored, that if you were in possession of all five, you could open a gateway to paradise.

Join this, Ruthless Pirate Extraordinaire, or so he wants everyone to think, on this first installment, ‘Roadmap to Paradise.’

Scroll up and grab your copy today

Right away, you know the year, what’s happened and what’s taking place now, all under forty words. In the next paragraph, you find out who the main character is and what goes on between him and his co-prognosticator, Petra. Then, I start building about a mystery and their search for and how many treasures there are to reach their goal: finding the roadmap to paradise.

It’s clear, short, and contains a small bit of humor. Using this in the teaser shows the reader that there will be more of the same inside. By relaying to the reader that Sean wants nothing to do with Petra, yet Petra wants everything to do with him tells the reader there will be interesting dialogue and sexual tension between the two. Another important detail I wanted the reader to know, is that our main character already has one of the mystery cards. 

You’ll notice a few key details outside of the normally written teaser. There is a key feature not well known by authors that Amazon supports. Those are the ability to use hypertext code within your blurb. This allows you to highlight certain words, phrases, and aspects that draw the reader in. It allows you to stand out above your competitors.

By using this code <b>turns bold text on</b>, while using this code, turns off bold. You can also use <i>and</i> for italics and<H1>and</H1> for header text. They can also be used together as in <b><i>for bold italics and again</b></i>, to turn that feature off. 

At the bottom of my teaser, I use this header with bold text to invite the prospective reader to take an action. You can use numerous combinations in your teaser that Amazon supports. Those codes show up in my example above. I suggest searching Google for hypertext codes that are available. Keep in mind, that they can be overdone, just like a lengthy teaser.

There are a ton of writers out there that write exceptional masterpiece novels, but one area I see, over and over, is a failed book blurb. Not interesting, having spoilers, or just too wordy will instantly turn off a prospective reader. Keep it simple, short, and to the point. Make it interesting by adding emotion where appropriate. The reader wants to know key things; what is this book about?  It’s our job as writers to tell them all about it in only a couple hundred words.

Tune in next week as I discuss another key aspect of self-publishing, mastering keywords.

Until then, this is author Brian K. Larson, sparking imaginations, one book at a time.

A book cover is worth a thousand words

/ Author, Brian K. Larson / Leave a comment

Book covers are extremely important aside from the contents that you labored and toiled over for months. If you want people to read your awesome writing, you have to entice them to get it and you do that with the book cover.

Book covers tell your story before the reader even turns one page. There are several elements that are needed in order to compel readers to pick your book over the thousands of others in the competition. Those elements are focusing on the big picture, a clear focal point, book title and subtitle along with your name. Seems fairly simple, but I’ve seen authors leave out important details or choose cover art that is confusing and cluttered.

 Let’s take a look at one that I designed recently. This is actually a new cover for a book already published. As you can see, I am drawing the audience to the focal point on the cover. The dragon head coming at you demands your attention. Next, the title of the book is fixed at the top with the subtitle below. Since this is an anthology or collection in a bundle, I added the titles in smaller font near the bottom. This tells the reader what books are included in this title. Finally, my name, with a slightly larger font than the text above, yet smaller than the title.

The first thing the reader sees is that dragon head. That conveys a clear message that there are dragons within. Dragons are a key part of this work, so it makes sense to display one in all its glory. Next, the title ‘Warlords’ communicates that there are wars and battles inside those pages and the subtitle of ‘Saga’ tells the reader this is a lengthy story. Readers love long reads and there’s a clear picture painted for the prospective reader by telling them what books are included. This one has four volumes; Warlords of Antares, Empress of Antares, Blood Scroll of Antares, and Rise of the Warlords.

Your name as author is just as important as the title. Some authors choose to display their names at the top in a much larger font. This works if you’ve built a successful reader base that is looking for your work. I chose to put my name at the bottom since my main focus is the title and its contents.

There is a familiar term that is widely known and that’s, ‘don’t judge a book by its cover.’ Well, that is absolutely false when it comes to choosing your cover. In fact, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Covers are extremely critical in catching the reader’s eye. Pictures are really worth a thousand words. It has to get the reader interested in what’s inside. Once they open the cover and start turning pages, your writing prowess will keep them interested and turning pages.

You can hire a book design artist and spend hundreds of dollars on your cover, but truthfully, if you have a good imagination and a few basic editing skills, you can do it well under a hundred. I use Shutterstock royalty-free images. This means when you purchase an image, it’s yours to build and use. There are a few restrictions, one of which is the limitation of how many downloads if you are buying the standard licensing. However, you can by the extended license, that comes with a commercial usage that covers any media. I typically buy a package of five downloads for under fifty bucks.

Next is using some software to place your text. Again, you can spend hundreds, even thousands, on software. You don’t have to break the bank to design your own. I use two software packages; both are free to use and are called iPhotoDraw and GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program). Using this free software is extremely versatile. With iPhotoDraw, I can choose any font, size and placement. You can add special effects, such as shadowed text or glowing and radiant. Remember, you don’t want the cover to be too cluttered; keeping is simple is always best. With GIMP, I can manipulate images, and add to or take away elements. I can also change the image resolution, which is very important when printing. I set all my covers to a resolution of four hundred. The industry standard is a resolution of three hundred.

With book covers, if you’re not getting a good response from your readers, it’s okay to change them out once in a while. I’ve done that a few times and I always seem to get a bump in sales. If you’re not getting a lot of action on a book, try changing out the cover.

To recap, it’s very important to choose a book cover that will call the prospective reader to open it up and look inside. Keep the covers simple, yet informative by ensuring your title, subtitle and name are oriented appropriately. Choose an image that will pop and bring attention to a key element in your book. It’s more cost-effective to make your own if you have the skill set. However, you can find reputable book cover designers. If you go that route, take your time and work closely with the designer so they will capture the necessary elements.

Next week, I’m going to talk about the book synopsis and teasers.

Until next time, this is author Brian K. Larson, sparking imaginations, one book at a time.

How To Deal With One-Star Reviews – Be a Duck…

/ Author, Brian K. Larson / Leave a comment

It happens. It’s a fact of this business. You may not get a one-star review for some time, but it can happen. Your book is selling and it’s getting a few four and five stars and then the unthinkable happens. That glaring one-star review appear one morning. It shows up like a sore thumb. It bums you out and you feel defeated. It hurts seeing that lowly one-star, staring back at you from the screen.

Your mind goes into overtime, thinking everyone hates my book! How could I write such a horrible book? I’m a terrible writer! I guess I should just quit since nobody likes it anyway. Maybe I should just unpublish the book and toss it in the trashcan.

The feelings are real. The pain is real. Someone just crapped all over your precious work. A book that took you months to write and edit finally gets published. You treated it like your own child. You feel like your child has been murdered or a knife stabbed into your back. That awful feeling in the pit of your stomach, you think, ‘How could they possibly hate it that badly to click just one star?’

You need to do what I do. Become a duck. What exactly do I mean?  Ducks have this ability to keep dry, even in the water. When a duck dunks its head under and comes back to the surface, the water flows off their backs.

That one-star review is like water on the duck’s back. Let it do no harm to you or your attitude. Let’s face facts: you aren’t going to please everyone all the time. There will be those among us that have nothing better to do than troll us on Amazon. Some people are jealous of what you are able to do. It takes a special type of person to write. It takes long hours of isolated laborious work. We nurture our work, but not everyone is going to like it.

Unfortunately, in today’s society, the ones that really love your work, don’t take the time to give you a high rating. It seems only a handful of readers review anymore and now that Amazon has made it easier to just click a star rating, you don’t even have to write a review of a book. If only more readers would provide feedback. Sure, those four and five-star ratings are awesome to see, but a written review provides valuable insights; a gauge into what the reader thinks of your work. Use this as a learning opportunity.

I get those one-star reviews. Even the biggest authors like Stephen King get bad reviews. They don’t let bad reviews stop them. Neither should you.

There isn’t anything you can do to prevent those ratings unless they are attacking you personally. However, if you get a one-star with a written review, read what the reviewer is saying. It can give you clues as to why they didn’t like it. Perhaps, it was just not their cup of tea. Or they might give you some constructive critique on grammar. There are grammar police on the internet who would like nothing better than to cut you down by telling you there are grammar issues or you used the wrong word someplace.

Take those to heart and investigate what information is being revealed by your reader. I oftentimes find what they are saying to be true. I go back and fix those issues. Then, I respond to them thanking them for their honest review and that those issues have been addressed. 

If the reader just didn’t care for the story, there isn’t anything you can do to stop that from happening. But if you have someone telling you they didn’t like it, I respond to them, thanking them, again, for their honest review. I apologize that they didn’t care for it and politely ask what exactly they didn’t like? This is valuable interaction with your reader base.

I am being totally honest about that last statement. There have been a few times that the reviewer goes in and changes that star rating. I’ve seen a one-star change to three. I’ve seen a two-star review move to four. I’ve even had one reader totally change their opinion saying it was a great story but still needed some editing. I took what was being provided to me and made the book better by fixing those small issues.

To wrap up, just know most people will like your work. Those who really loved it will leave high marks. There are some people that troll the internet. They are out there to bully you. They’re out there to make fun of you and fill your mind with negative energy. Keep in mind that if you do get an unfavorable written review, there isn’t anything you can do about it. unless the review is attacking you personally. I’ve had that happen a time or two and Amazon will remove hurtful and attacking remarks. That reviewer will receive a warning, reminding them of the review policy. If they continue to leave hurtful remarks to anyone, they are banded for future reviews.

Until next time, this is Author Brian K. Larson, sparking imaginations, one book at a time.

Sneak peek into Realm of Revein’sev (Book 6 in Warlords)

/ Author, Brian K. Larson / Leave a comment

Many ask how my writing process is going. I want to share a sample from my current work. This is from book 6 in the Warlords series titled Return to Revein’sev. In this sequence, Major Race Jennings meets with Gor’con in the spirit realm called Revein’sev. Ruki Grey’con, the Empress of Antares accompanies Race along with the little squirrel-like creature named, Chipper. After consuming Antarian blood in the last book, Realm of Revein’sev, he is now changing into an Antarian, who actually are Sasquatch from Earth. Race is delivering Gor’con’s staff, after his death, and meets him at the Mountains of Ramari.

Race watched as the spirit being, Gor’con, held the glowing staff. Shimmering in the light, Gor’con’s body solidified. Ruki’s eye’s widened and her brow rose at the sight.

Gor’con opened his eyes after taking in the feeling of his new body, then, shot Race a piercing glare and shouted, “Let your training begin!”

Swinging the glowing staff, Gor’con aimed his strike at Race, who instinctively deflected this first blow. Chipper leaped from Race’s shoulder, hit the ground, and rolled three times.

The staff swung up and around Gor’con’s head before flying down towards the top of Race’s head. Crossing his arms over his head, he successfully defected the second blow.

“RACE!” Ruki shouted as she attempted to step in front of Gor’con.

Chipper stood back near the looking-glass exit and watched as Race defended every blow.

Whisps of fog swirled around Ruki. As the mist wrapped around the glowing staff, another Antarian took form. Then, the staff continued to move through the air as Gor’con spun around. Extending the staff out, he aimed at Race’s ribs, but he moved swiftly and blocked the incoming strike with a sidekick with his foot. 

The forming Antarian wrapped around Ruki, taking her to the ground in a tackle. Then, the Antarian changed back to the whisps of white fog and swirled around in the air, close by.

Chipper chattered her approval at Race’s performance as Gor’con continued swing after swing, and Race glanced each hit away. Then all at once, Gor’con stopped swinging and planted the base of his staff on the ground before him. Chipper ceased chattering as Race paused in a defensive stance. Then Ruki joined Race, holding position at his backside.

“Well done, Race,” Gor’con praised through a wide smile.

“What the heck was that all about?!” Race protested, refusing to lower his guard.

“You came to deliver my staff and to seek my help, did you not?”

“Yeah, I kinda did—but why the attack?”

Chipper added her protest by scolding Gor’con with her small voice and twitching tail.

“And who was with you to prevent my interference?” Ruki asked.

The wisps of misting fog flowed back to the glowing staff and wrapped around it above Gor’con’s hands. The mystery Antarian began to take shape. First, the hands formed. The large fingers and hair-covered knuckles solidified. Then, the arms appeared, and then the body. Finally, the misting fog changed to large hairy muscular legs and the torso grew up to the neck before the Antarian’s head revealed who he was.

“Ma’Ruuk!” exclaimed the two.

Chipper jumped up and down, clapping her front paws together.

“Why did you do this?” Ruki exclaimed.

“The help Race sought is training. We are in the mountains of Ramari. The place of training, it is,” Ma’Ruuk answered. “It is where I trained Danielle and it is where Gor’con will train you, for what lies ahead.”

“What lies ahead, anyway?”

“Still an inquisitive human,” Gor’con laughed. “You must put aside those human traits and do this, more as Antarian!”

Ma’Ruuk removed his hand from the glowing staff and changed back into the wisps of fog, leaving Gor’con swinging his staff at Race once more.

Chipper chattered at Race as a warning of the attack.

Race, remaining on the defensive, kicked with his foot, deflecting the staff. Then, jumping to the side, he dove at the ground and rolled away from the next striking blow.

“I’ll give you more Antarian, alright!” Race shouted with rage, then leaped at Gor’con’s feet, missing his next attack. Connecting with his feet, Race knocked Gor’con off balance and to the ground. Grabbing the staff, Race pulled it from Gor’con, causing him to vanish along with Ma’Ruuk. The wisps flowed and swirled all around them as Race continued to hold the staff.   

 “Ha! Is that Antarian enough?” boasted Race. “Yeah, huh-huh. Is that all ya’ got, big guy?” Race paced back and forth, reading Gor’con and being ready for any move.

“That’s enough, my Race,” Ruki advised. “You got him on this round.”

“Whattya mean this round?”

One wisp of fog flew up to the staff and swirled around Race’s hand. Steam issued from under his grip. Letting out a yelp, Race let go of the staff, “Hey, OW! What the hell?!”

Chipper again chattered her protests as Ruki said, “The vapor burned your hand, Race! Are you okay?”

“No, I’m not okay, that really hurts!”

The staff rose from the ground with Gor’con’s apparition forming once again.

This caused Race to forget about his burning hand and leaped at the staff. His grip pulled the staff with Gor’con’s form solidifying. The two struggled for the staff’s ownership.

“I’m beginning to understand what’s happening, my Race,” Ruki shouted, “This staff is allowing them to manifest as corporeal beings, once more.”

Gor’con held the staff with one hand and held a palm up with his other,” You did very well, Race,” he praised, “You have come a very long way. You are nearly ready.”

Chipper squeaked her approval and jumped vigorously, again. Her face seemingly smiling all the while.

Another set of hands swirled around the staff, forming Ma’Ruuk. His eyes looked deep into Race. Race relaxed his stance and listened to what this ancient Antarian had to say.

Then, Ma’Ruuk began, “This training is, indeed, very necessary. The thing that you must do, is nearly before you.”

I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek. 

Until next time, this is Author, Brian K. Larson, sparking imaginations, one book at a time.