tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142930702674170471.post7189251090434458741..comments2023-02-21T00:26:51.051-08:00Comments on Why Isn't My Book Selling?: A Covert WarVictorinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06052077366367623323noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142930702674170471.post-40400498463766180262011-08-25T08:41:20.170-07:002011-08-25T08:41:20.170-07:00The best prologues are ones where something happen...The best prologues are ones where something happens. Look at GRR Martin's prologues in SoIaF, for example. They shouldn't be used to explain in advance of the story. Why do we need to know this stuff in advance? I am not anti-prologue but I have exactly the same expectation of a prologue as I do of chapter 1. It has to have something happen. It has to catch my attention. It has to introduce a character. Otherwise, I put it down and go on to something else. Sorry if that sounds harsh, because I only mean to help. It is hard to hear that something you've written doesn't work, but I suspect you are being really hurt by that beginning.J. R. Tomlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01109874615059334200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142930702674170471.post-76844509072452080622011-08-25T02:53:02.836-07:002011-08-25T02:53:02.836-07:00Well, thank you all for your very constructive com...Well, thank you all for your very constructive comments about the cover, blurb and prologue of my book. I've never looked at it in that light. When the book was first published, I asked for a field of poppies and and AK47 on the cover. My publisher agreed to do this, but the book (the hardback) looked like a Mills & Boon which disappointed me. The dark cover of the paperback version was a mistake, but all part of the learning curve. My son, who produces the covers for my paperbacks realised that the true colour of the jacket was lost in the printing process. He has now addressed that problem with my latest POD (Roselli's Gold). I can understand now why the content of the jacket confused people, because the whole concept was mine and I was obviously aware of what happens in the story. The notepad is actually the prologue, and it is this that Susan Ellis is reading when the story opens in Chapter One. Apart from people I know who have read the book, I haven't seen a review from anyone else. Perhaps someone who has purchased it as a Kindle will be kind enough to post their opinion. But thanks again for all your comments, and thank you Victorine for allowing me space on your blog.Michael Parkerhttp://www.michaeljparker.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142930702674170471.post-5826213732390812192011-08-24T20:51:49.390-07:002011-08-24T20:51:49.390-07:00Definitely what everyone has said. This doesn'...Definitely what everyone has said. This doesn't start like a thriller at all and starts with a flashback. Why not start where the story starts? <br /><br />The cover is all right although I don't get the point of the notepad. Still, I do think it says thriller. It just needs a few tweaks but the opening, beyond that I can't tell, definitely needs work.J. R. Tomlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01109874615059334200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142930702674170471.post-73410736958377548542011-08-24T20:05:47.965-07:002011-08-24T20:05:47.965-07:00Agree with the others on the opening. It doesn'...Agree with the others on the opening. It doesn't fit the genre. <br /><br />Also the MC is so 'in his own head' from the beginning that I'm afraid the author has already lost control of the story. "Stream of consciousness" is a literary device not meant for action oriented genre fiction.<br /><br />HOWEVER - not only can this be fixed with an editing pass to turn thought into dialog, doing so will bring your story to life. Instead of 'thinking' the MC will be living these scenes. I think it will be worth the effort!<br /><br />Best Wishes.K. A. Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07020119815910396933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142930702674170471.post-86146860721412681342011-08-24T18:38:53.533-07:002011-08-24T18:38:53.533-07:00I like the cover, although I think the author'...I like the cover, although I think the author's name could be a little clearer or maybe just larger. I can see the flower and the notepad being used as tools in a covert operation. I'm carrying red flowers so you know who I am. I use the notepad to decode messages.<br /><br />I agree with Vicki about the opening. Before I read her post I thought, this isn't a thriller, it's a love story. <br /><br />There's no tension in the opening. A thriller should grip me from the beginning and keep me holding my breath.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04832055618604176686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142930702674170471.post-29194710784146729442011-08-24T18:26:52.608-07:002011-08-24T18:26:52.608-07:00I think you're spot on. I hate to say this to ...I think you're spot on. I hate to say this to a fellow writer, but this isn't ready yet. :(MeiLin Mirandahttp://www.meilinmiranda.com/noreply@blogger.com