National Novel Writing Month is once again drawing to a close. This year I challenged myself to write two books in one month. I did manage to finish the first book by the 15th, but have put off the second book a bit. Instead of working on the second book, I kept working on the first. And now, before the end of the month, the book is a book.
It’s got an unbelievable title. “Untrue Tales From Beyond Fiction – Recollections of an Alternate Past :: Book One – An Introduction to Dodgeball . OR . Conception and Induction . OR . How To Begin An Apocalypse” See, it’s the first book in a series, the Untrue Tales From Beyond Fiction. Which are subtitled “Recollections of an Alternate Past”. It’s Book One, and it has three titles of its own: “An Introduction to Dodgeball”, “Conception and Induction”, and “How To Begin An Apocalypse”. Yep. Unbelievable.
It’s priced at a very reasonable $14.99.
The current edition is the “Pre-Release Edition” – there may be some slight changes to the text and cover before the “First Edition” becomes available in December. The first sequel should be available in February 2005, with subsequent releases coming every few months.
Oh, and there’s one more small thing I’d like to try.
This book has three titles of its own, and I’d like it to have four covers. One with all three titles at equal size, like the current cover, and one for each title that emphasizes that single theme. So, for example, a cover that positioned the book as though it were a book primarily about the game of dodgeball as described in the text and the title “An Introduction To Dodgeball” most prominent on the cover, with the name of the series and the other titles tucked away. Copy describing the book as though exactly what that title implies would be an excellent touch. And two more covers covering the other two titles individually would be keen, too.
But I’m keen to get back to work on Book Two, and on the redesign on Modern Evil, so this is a request to you, a solicitation of your assistance in the designs. If you are seriously interested in working on a cover design, let me know, and I’ll get you free access to a digital copy of the book to work from. Right now all I can promise you in return for your cover design is my gratitude and and appropriate credit and acknowledgement. I was thinking of doing a contest, but what could I offer that people would want and consider worth their efforts? A custom binary T-Shirt? Make a suggestion, and we can work something out.
Any cover submissions should include designs for the front cover, back cover, and spine. I’ll give you specifications when you let me know you’re interested (along with a link to dl the book), but it would be 5″x8″x300dpi for each of the main covers, and you’ll need about half an inch of bleed. I have templates for you.
I think that’s all. I’m looking forward to seeing your suggestions and submissions.
Moo.
