Jan22

Big news! New cover!

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I’ll tell you right now that the moral of this story is it pays to complain advocate for yourself.

I was told ads for my book were running. I had paid for those ads, so I asked the new orders lady I had befriended if she could get a hold of them to send me.

She did. One ad was just a “Quote Card” with my book cover and a reviewer’s blurb. That was fine, I guess.

The other two had good wording, but the AI images of the people looked like children, not 18-year-olds. I felt this was misleading and confusing to the viewer.

I pondered. I waited. Then I acted. I harnessed my newfound friendship with Orders Lady to see if she would advocate on my behalf. This morning she reported that my ads were on the docket for the company’s weekly meeting. They discussed it at length, and it was now in their hands.

I thanked her and let it go for the time being. Then maybe an hour later, I got an email from the publisher himself informing me that they’d run a full audit on my ads, which hadn’t done well [shocker] and the Amazon page. He believed the problem was the cover, so he sent me a new design he’d like to start using immediately.

“Let me know what you think!” he said.

My response: “I love it. Do it!”

Isn’t this wild? I was just telling you about my cover being awful, which was my fault, and here complaining about misleading ads turned into a brand new cover that I believe DOES have some of that mystery, suspense, and allure that my mom’s library friend said was lacking. (In case you’re wondering, I didn’t believe asking for a new cover was even an option.)

Okay, enough lead up already. Here it is:

Chilling, right?

What do you guys think? Though, I should mention, I could be jumping the gun here. Maybe they’ll come back with something else, which would just make my posts confusing and potentially annoying. But they sent me this, and I said run with it. So maybe this is what it will be.

For comparison, here’s the old cover:

Wish I Was Here by Ilsa Rey
This doesn’t give much clue as to the tone of this “thrilling roller coaster of a ride,” as one reviewer called it.

And now Booky and others can quit complaining about the length of that poor cop’s hair, already! 😉

Now this presents an interesting question…

I probably have about 25 copies of the original book here. What do I do with them?

Anyone who has the book already has a “Collector’s Edition”! If it was signed by me, even better! If I become famous, those first editions could be worth far more than the $20.95 Amazon charges for them. (I only ask an even $20.)

So, an investment, anyone? Get ’em while you still can? Maybe I’ll save some as premiums for future super fans.

Here are your points to ponder and please respond to in the comments:

  • Which cover is better and why?
  • What should I do with my original copies?

Oh, and right right right–last post’s trivia answer was Glasgow. A lot of you knew that. Good job, my multicultural friends!

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78 responses »

  2. Yep, that new cover is MUCH better. I’m happy for you that it went so well and relatively easy.

    Dang hippy cop with his commie pinko hair won’t be bothering me any more! Of course, now the challenge is to find the NEXT thing to complain about on your blog. I just put new batteries in my complainometer, so it shouldn’t be long 😉

    Liked by 3 people

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    • It’s a good thing you didn’t grab one from me when you saw me, Janis! Way to hold out! 😛 I’ll eventually have to order some with the new cover. I may need to unload the originals, though, first. Will ponder this issue more.

      I will show it to the librarian friend probably tomorrow. I eagerly await her opinion!

      Liked by 1 person

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    • That empty–or is it? Haha! Excellent. And I’m glad you still liked the old one. I think I do too. But, yes, the new one has a lot more mystery to it. 🙂 You have questions. The book has answers!

      Liked by 1 person

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    • Yes. you said it, tref. My daughter thought the old one looked more like a romance book, but that’s only, as she put it, Plot B. The new cover speaks more to the main plot. She’s invisible. Her life sucks now. How is she going to get out of this mess? It’s kind of exciting. You like that old cover, tref? Signed collector’s edition, eh eh? 😉

      Liked by 2 people

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      • You are a champion among champions, tref! (Is that how you’d like me to inscribe your book?) I have to go to the post office tomorrow morning. I’ll get you your Exclusive Signed Collector’s Edition book in no time. You may even enjoy reading it too! 😉

        Please shoot me an email at Ilsa Rey Author @gmail.

        Like

  11. My opinion is that the new cover is a lot better than the original one. You could donate the ones you have to different places. Shelters and things like that, maybe? Gift them to your martial arts buds?

    Liked by 3 people

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  12. So much better, Ilsa! This is intriguing, captivating and definitely chilling! You should get lots of thumbs up on this new cover. Don’t forget to change the one in your sidebar above – a great placement for the book and the new design will stand out there! Good luck for future sales and have a great weekend!

    Liked by 2 people

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      • I am still in the very beginning of writing my first book. I have written about 25% of a first/unedited version. And I am absolutely clueless about the whole publishing process, this is all new to me. I have no idea where to start or how to find someone who might publish it. Or self-publish, or – I don’t know… 🤷🏼‍♀️🤣I thought I’ll write it first (takes me long enough anyway) – and then we’ll see… I am just realizing that’s a very lazy-relaxed Austrian approach. Let’s wait and see 🤣🤦🏼‍♀️

        Like

    • It really is. I put one in the local little lending library on my street. There goes one! 🙂

      OMG, I just had an idea. I’ve been pushing my kids’ school to have a creative writing elective that I would get to teach. Maybe as part of it, the students read this book…. Ooooh… I must remember this idea….

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  16. So while talking to the orders lady did you make any mention of the color of Jiu Jitsu belt you have? Just asking …

    Yes the new cover is a lot better. And what to do with the old books, well:

    Door stops

    Fire starters

    Keep until you’re rich and famous then sell at charity auctions for homeless cats.

    Keep until everyone thinks you’re rich and famous and sell to collectors for extra income.

    Give to the karate class and see if they can chop them in half with their hands.

    call me if you need more ideas…

    Liked by 2 people

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    • Keep until everyone thinks you’re rich and famous–haha. What a scam it would be to pull that off! I think my solution is in my comment to Autumn. Now I just need to be sure that creative writing class gets added to the schedule. I’ve already been okayed to teach it. It’s just a matter of fitting another high school elective in.

      Worst case, I fall back on your ideas, Andrew. You are always a fountain of wisdom for me!

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  17. Yes!! I do like it better and it does seem a better fit for sure ! Definitely sell those special edition collectors copies you have, no reason to lose money on them. You might even run a contest or drawing of some sort to win one if you do an appearance where you sell copies somewhere in person. A library, bookstore, etc. they usually love to host local authors and might get them to sell or have you book available. Good for you for speaking up. Not only are you a martial arts master but you are becoming a bookseller master – on your way to a ‘green belt’ perhaps one day? (Of cash)

    Liked by 2 people

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    • I’m laughing at that last part! Haha. Oh, Beth. You crack me up. Those are all great ideas! I especially like the one about the contest or drawing. (Now to find a place to do an appearance…) Thank you! I’m probably going to reference back to this comment in the future. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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  20. Congratulations! Is this what Mark calls “manifesting”?
    I like the new cover better because the old cover clearly says “young adult” with the trio of youthful faces, whereas the new cover doesn’t pigeonhole it so much and it’s more likely to attract readers of all ages
    I say bring your old copies to book signings and tell people they are rare limited edition copies – then charge double for them. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

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    • I had not thought of manifesting! Yes, totally a Mark thing. I didn’t think getting a new cover was an option, but the timing of me wishing I had one, then getting one, was amazing! Good call on the pigeonholing. That bothered me a bit that YA scares away older folks who would still enjoy it. As to the last point, I like the way you think, TTA! 😛

      Liked by 1 person

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