tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142930702674170471.post7022614228639129280..comments2023-02-21T00:26:51.051-08:00Comments on Why Isn't My Book Selling?: Zombie Love: The OutbreakVictorinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052077366367623323noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142930702674170471.post-13913507729492435352012-03-24T22:41:19.866-07:002012-03-24T22:41:19.866-07:00Thank you all for your comments. I plan on taking ...Thank you all for your comments. I plan on taking (almost) all of these into account, especially re-working the cover, and working on the description or summary.<br /><br />Does anybody know if I can make the sample read on Amazon different? Like a different section as opposed to the Prologue. I feel that the prologue is not an accurate representation of the book itself.Eric Sobolikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16730913183448872368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142930702674170471.post-80096034170288391812012-03-11T09:49:23.552-07:002012-03-11T09:49:23.552-07:00Eric, I went to Amazon and read the sample. You ne...Eric, I went to Amazon and read the sample. You need to hire a copyeditor (it is tow-headed, not toe-headed, which brings an image to mind that I'm pretty sure you don't want :-).<br /><br />Your action is interesting and wry at the same time (at least in the sample I read). A good copyedit will likely make sampling readers give you a shot and improve your sales figures.Kelly McClymerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04038223302234193266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142930702674170471.post-75467392641812615372012-03-11T09:38:24.977-07:002012-03-11T09:38:24.977-07:00I had the same reaction as Vicki to the cover. I t...I had the same reaction as Vicki to the cover. I think you're going for the feel of a black and white "I Married a Zombie" type movie that was highly popular in the 50s and 60s, but with a parodic twist. If so, and that's why you chose b/w, then showcase with a font that does what those movie posters did (dripping red font, etc.). But I'm not sure your YA audience will get it, so I like the suggestion to colorize the girl and keep the zombie b/w if you can. Definitely don't like the boxed author name. It isn't playful or horror-oriented. If you wanted to keep the boxed effect, I'd suggest that you frame it like a school book report, using the title as the report title and the author name like a byline. I think that could appeal to your YA audience.<br /><br />Your description needs to be specific and hook-y:<br /><br />[Zombie Love is the story of a widespread virus, in a way that has never been done before. As people lose loved ones, some decide that sometimes the people you love are the only ones worth fighting for. As factions form, and the world crumbles, people must choose sides. Help or destroy.] Distanced. Cut. <br /><br />[When a virus is developed as the ultimate cure all by reversing death itself, the world is plunged into a crisis of faith, dedication, and love.] Vague. Cut.<br /><br />[In book one we meet] cut <br />Summer Storm, a normal high school teenager, [ who is thrown cruelly into a set of circumstances that nobody should have to deal with. She] *add something like: only wanted to find a date for the prom, not save the world from zombies. Too bad. Someone has unleashed a virus that reverses death itself, and now has to fight back [against everybody she knows as she battles] for the only thing worth fighting for. Love.<br /><br />A book blurb should use strong and evocative words that speak to the readers of that genre (unleashed/virus/reverses death itself speak to the zombie crowd; only wanted to find a date for the prom/save the world from zombies/too bad speak to the YA crowd. Read some blurbs for books similar to yours and look for some relevant and evocative words for your book.<br /><br />The opening annoyed me, but that's not relevant because the opening of most horror movies annoys me :-) You capture Sam's personality really well. But since I want to know about Summer Storm and her voice, I can't speak to whether I'd keep reading once I'd gotten to see the world from her perspective.<br /><br />Good luck with this.Kelly McClymerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04038223302234193266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142930702674170471.post-84307050339015109712012-03-07T17:40:16.625-08:002012-03-07T17:40:16.625-08:00The cover is cool.
The description is too tell-y...The cover is cool. <br /><br />The description is too tell-y. Don't tell the reader what the book is. Show them the story.<br /><br />In the first 300 words, you managed to make me hate this character so much that I wouldn't read on.<br />Two reasons:<br />In the first place, Sam's an arrrogant schmuck. I could forgive that, presuming he's about to receive a kick in the you-know-whatsits, but...<br />I cannot forgive the judgement-filled description of the boy.<br />First off, acne occurs in boys well into the teenage years, so he's more likely to be 17 or 18. That's not pre-pubescent.<br />Secondly, as someone who suffered a fair bit of it in those years, I can assure you that there is absolutely nothing you can do about it, and Sam's whole judgement of the boy based on that one thing to do with his appearance raises irrational ire in me. I'd fling the book across the room.<br /><br />Sorry. It's probably just me, but you totally overdid the hyper-insenstive-bastard-unsympathetic character for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142930702674170471.post-29762004886231597832012-03-06T12:54:06.184-08:002012-03-06T12:54:06.184-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04832055618604176686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142930702674170471.post-52488657792622124762012-03-06T12:49:30.560-08:002012-03-06T12:49:30.560-08:00Hated the cover, but that's not to say it'...Hated the cover, but that's not to say it's not a good one. I'm just not a fan of zombies.<br /><br />However, if I were a fan, I would say it's a pretty good cover. It does need a little color. Is there any way to colorize the girl but leave the zombie B&W? It would really give a good contrast between the living and the dead. (May I shudder again?)<br /><br />I think Summer needs to be the focus of the blurb. What circumstances is she thrown into? Which side is she on? Why is she the central character?<br /><br />The first 300 words are pretty good and, if I liked this sort of thing (which I don't), I would continue reading. <br /><br />Sorry, but I don't like zombies even if they are stand-up comics. :))Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04832055618604176686noreply@blogger.com