Last weekend I asked the incomparable Talhí Briones to comment on the cover I had designed. She didn’t hold back and reminded me of things like balance and the rule of thirds.
It led me to redesign the cover. I think the changes, although minor, make it a much stronger cover.
What do you think?
The Copper Tarnish Original CoverThe Copper Tarnish Final Cover
Pre-orders for the book will be coming soon.
If you want a book that you can pre-order now, check out Talhí’s Mrs. Victoria Buys a Brothel.
1865, United States— It took thirty years and a dislocated arm for Victoria to leave her abusive husband. Heartbroken, she has to choose her own life over the hope of ever seeing her son again. She escapes the manor in the dead of night, only bringing with her a white wedding dress.
She ends up in Swainsburg, a minuscule town in Wyoming, where she’s adopted by the local prostitutes. To save them from expulsion, she buys the building and learns that in these parts, entertainment is worth more than gold. It’s almost easy, even fun, to organize piano recitals and cancan shows for the cowboys of the area, but being a Madam comes with responsibilities and dangers she isn’t ready to face. Her husband, after all, has contacts everywhere.
It’s hard to navigate the delicate tensions between respectable ladies and whores, between white society and the ‘others.’ Her new friends are women who carved their place in this merciless life; people who, like her, ended up in Swainsburg when they got tired of running.
Victoria doesn’t notice, can’t even imagine the possibility; but she falls in love. The townfolk say the widow Díaz is strange, but Natane is actually incredibly awkward, kind, and very lonely. Victoria has no name for this burning friendship, but the feeling grows and demands to be acknowledged.
This is a story about women who age, gossip, drink, love… and help you hide the body of your dead husband.
In honour of this past weekend having been Can-Con I thought I’d write about writing.
I’ve been published now for just over 8 years and there’s a lot I didn’t know about the industry that I wish I did.
5. Publishing is a hurdle not a finish line.
Everyone who writes dreams of the big publishing contracts with advances that will let you quit your job and become the next Stephen King. It isn’t that easy unfortunately (and it wasn’t for Mr. King either.) Most new authors don’t get advances or if they do they’re very small. Even older more established authors don’t get advances anymore.
Once the book is out there’s all kinds of things that have to be done and there’s the next books to think about. It’s a constant cycle.
4. Everyone is underpaid, understaffed, and struggling.
Rarely do authors make enough money to live off and that’s fairly well known but the same can be said about everyone else involved. The majority of small presses are volunteer or owner run. The medium sized ones aren’t much better off and rely on staff that can wear multiple hats.
The same goes all the way down. Booksellers, printers, designers, typesetters, artists, and editors. All of them have multiple jobs and does it out of passion, not for lots of money. (I can’t speak about the big 5 but I’d assume like any corporation that the CEO’s and stockholders are well paid and that’s about it.)
3. A publisher doesn’t sell your book, nor does a distributor.
WIth a few exceptions where a publisher has lots of faith and extra cash, they are in the business of making the best book possible, not selling your book. They will promote and some publishers do events where your book is for sale but it’s your job to push the book.
The same with any distributor, they distribute and will occasionally promote but it’s your job to sell the book.
One of the reason’s it seems that every tik-tok star is getting a publishing contract is that a lot of book selling is really selling you. (Not ideal for a curmudgeonly introvert like myself.)
2. Books don’t last forever.
Books have a shelf life or life cycle. They are born and they hopefully sell and then eventually they die. Big named books being an exception as usual. Most publishing contracts have a 5 to 10 year clause that says if your book doesn’t sell the rights return to you. (If your contract doesn’t say you get the rights back after your book is out of print, insist they change it.)
Series have longer lives because the first few get a boost with every new release.
1. Everything costs money, sort of.
If you are self publishing, you’re paying for everything. If you get a publisher they pay for as much as they can. With a publisher the money should go toward the author.
That’s mostly true, but it’s not always true. Sometimes you need to pay an editor to make sure your book is good enough for submission. Sometimes you need to pay for graphic design work for promotion, and if you’re going to sell your book solo at events, that’s your responsibility.
But just because you aren’t paying for things doesn’t mean they don’t cost the publisher which is why they can’t throw around advertising money like the Big 5.
*Warning* There are a lot of companies out there promising to make your book a best seller. They promise to do everything for a large sum of money. Best case scenario you don’t make your money back. Worst you lose the merchandising, film, and even the copyright to your own books. Writer Beware is an excellent source if you’re approached by these predatory companies.
Today we’re talking about the 1977 film The Rescuers.
Story
It followed the basic recipe of old noire detective stories even, ending on a boat. The story is well contained and cute, but not super original and wastes a lot of time on antics instead of story or characters.
Score: 0.5
Characters
I really like the interplay between the two mains, there was a nice romance arc to them. I also like the competent but humble male lead. It’s a nice switch.
The little girl was cute and the albatross hilarious, but the others were a little boring. The villain felt like a bad copy of Cruella.
Score: 0.5
Dialogue
The dialogue was efficient and had some nice quippy lines. Again, most of the best dialogue was between the two main characters.
Score: 1
Visuals and Music
Watching it on Blu-ray meant being able to see the brush strokes on the stunning backgrounds. This movie was beautiful. I can see where this still influenced other film makers.
The music was good, especially the songs.
Score: 1
Fun
It’s a fun, easy to watch adventure movie with two likeable main characters. What’s not to like? The 6yo and the 4yo were glued to their seats (a refreshing change).
Score: 1
Overall
A classic adventure movie that is absolutely beautiful to watch and has two of the most likeable main characters in animated history.
December 4 (December 13 for local pickup/delivery in Ottawa)
Sales
Free local delivery on purchases of $20 or more, and use code HOLIDAYLIST for 15% off until December 13
Gilove2dance Designs
Buttons, prints, keychains, stickers from various fandoms including Doctor Who, Voltron, Avatar: The Last Airbender, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and more!
Free Shipping in Canada over $75 with code CANFREESHIP
Mirror World Publishing
An Independent Canadian Press of Escapism Fiction for all ages! We publish paperbacks and ebooks in science fiction, fantasy, romance, and adventure as well as children’s books and some art books.
Or for Ebooks, Use code: BOGO at check out to Buy one, Get one
Pastel Dreams Nikki
Selling creepy cute, pastel goth, and fairy kei products such as mask bundles, scrunchies, hair bows, dice bags, and much more! New products are created every month 🙂
The Princess Party Project aims to make royal visits a little more accessible with free birthday party visits! Currently taking requests for holiday video messages.
HOLIDAY15 for 15% off between November 1st and December 10th
Sofi’s Silly Slime
Sofi’s Silly Slime is where I create and make handmade custom and designer slimes, make DIY Slime kits, prepare party favours, loot bags and sell other sensory items like squishies. Slime is beneficial for creativity, focus, fine motor skill development,
I offer contact free curb pick up, CONTACT FREE delivery, as well as International shipping at current Canada Post rates. From October 6th to December 29th we are offering FREE DELIVERY TUESDAYS.
Stitchnanigans
Geeky, nerdy and snarky cross stitches, patterns and kits. Geeky cabuchon pendants as well!!
Thésaurus Tea is blended with dainty claws by a geeky dinosaur, and then steeped in fandom! While we have all the usual classic blends (and more!) that one might expect of any tea shop, we also host an ever-growing list of original teas based on popular s
Coupon Code JenEric before you check out to get 10% off between November 1-December 15
Tubby Tabby Soaps
Tubby Tabby Soaps is a (queer) family-owned, small-batch, handmade soap company based out of Ottawa. Sometimes geeky and sometimes classic, we make soaps and solid shampoo bars that always keep the earth in mind.
ON/QC: December 11, 2020. Rest of Canada: December 4, 2020. USA: November 27, 2020
Sales
JENERIC for 10% off regular-priced products. Valid until December 31, 2020.
twoemu creations
Handmade items from new & upcycled materials, many items in geeky prints. Aprons, Hanging towels, Christmas Stockings, Bow ties, Scrappie Critters and more
Sofi’s Silly Slime is where I create and make handmade custom and designer slimes, make DIY Slime kits, prepare party favours, loot bags and sell other sensory items like squishies. Slime is beneficial for creativity, focus, fine motor skill development,
I offer contact free curb pick up, CONTACT FREE delivery, as well as International shipping at current Canada Post rates. From October 6th to December 29th we are offering FREE DELIVERY TUESDAYS.
Tubby Tabby Soaps
Tubby Tabby Soaps is a (queer) family-owned, small-batch, handmade soap company based out of Ottawa. Sometimes geeky and sometimes classic, we make soaps and solid shampoo bars that always keep the earth in mind.
Handmade items from new & upcycled materials, many items in geeky prints. Aprons, Hanging towels, Christmas Stockings, Bow ties, Scrappie Critters and more
Free Shipping in Canada over $75 with code CANFREESHIP
Pastel Dreams Nikki
Selling creepy cute, pastel goth, and fairy kei products such as mask bundles, scrunchies, hair bows, dice bags, and much more! New products are created every month 🙂
Special on 8×8 wood panel custom pieces and a few other special promos
Gilove2dance Designs
Buttons, prints, keychains, stickers from various fandoms including Doctor Who, Voltron, Avatar: The Last Airbender, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and more!
