http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1?format=rss Tribe.net. Local Connections http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#e01706da-dddd-459f-94cb-b94cfa0ac37d I've updated my webpage and it now includes the first two chapters from what will hopefully be my next book. It's another fantasy adventure called The Shadow of the Rose. Let me know what you think! http://www.freewebs.com/markhockley/ Sun, 02 Nov 2008 19:35:12 GMT http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#e01706da-dddd-459f-94cb-b94cfa0ac37d Mark 2008-11-02T19:35:12Z http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#9d98fb7f-9d9d-4c7c-9f7c-9574490aca5a I thought this review that was just posted on Amazon UK might be of interest. I'm really pleased with it because the reader absolutely 'got' what the novel is meant to be about. 'If ever you've strayed in a dodgy part of town you'll have felt what this novel at times conveys; a sense of anxious dread and paranoid suspicion. Evil doesn't play by the rules or rather it does but the rules are hidden. You're left constantly wondering what lurks beyond the next page and 'The Magic Lands' doesn't disappoint with twsts and turns aplenty. Surreal, beguiling, entrancing, deflating, uplifting and even at times demanding the book reminds you of life itself and I guess that's the point. I'd recommend this for the older teenager and above or a bright younger teenager as the concepts, whilst wrapped in a context akin to a child's story, are altogether adult and belong to a world we know in real life to be decidely grey and occasionally bleak. However there is hope - but again, as in real life, at a cost - and the reader is ultimately rewarded for the journey they take with the two boys and their companions. I'll leave you to discover what that is for yourself but if you like your novels to reach out, grab your brain and go 10 rounds instead of lying passive like the pulp they often are then I highly recommend this book to you. 'The road is cruel and dark, my friend.' ' Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:24:09 GMT http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#9d98fb7f-9d9d-4c7c-9f7c-9574490aca5a Mark 2008-09-30T18:24:09Z http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#ada9f3d5-c755-4a8e-9a07-85c1d3b8ec93 Well in that case JM I think you're absolutely right!! :) Wed, 17 Sep 2008 07:36:42 GMT http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#ada9f3d5-c755-4a8e-9a07-85c1d3b8ec93 Mark 2008-09-17T07:36:42Z http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#75084f2f-f985-4733-905f-2aa9b9fcc147 Oh. I'm sorry. I thought you were asking for advice on how to entice more teenaged readers to buy your book by encouraging judgements based solely on its cover. Tue, 16 Sep 2008 21:59:51 GMT http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#75084f2f-f985-4733-905f-2aa9b9fcc147 JM 2008-09-16T21:59:51Z http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#bbbbd87c-7f23-490f-907e-38ba92f2cfae I'm sorry to say there's a problem with the link at the moment. Not sure why, but hopefully it will be fixed soon. And I'm also sorry to say there's not very much sex in my story, so I'm not sure how appealing it will be :) Tue, 16 Sep 2008 21:08:54 GMT http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#bbbbd87c-7f23-490f-907e-38ba92f2cfae Mark 2008-09-16T21:08:54Z http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#7be50de3-db84-4764-a182-aad3aa8c6061 Hmm. The link doesn't work for me, but sex always sells. Maybe not a set of bulging breasts or pectorals, but just a hint of leg or arm would do. Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:51:26 GMT http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#7be50de3-db84-4764-a182-aad3aa8c6061 JM 2008-09-16T18:51:26Z http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#9033bdcd-901e-4310-adaf-7ddf5f8dbd35 I think that if I had the choice I would rather go for something similar to Andrew's suggestion. The book is a difficult sell to be honest. It uses the conventions of a children's fantasy novel to explore darker, more challenging themes. As it stands the cover does not really reflect that, although the synopsis hopefully manages to. But I feel the cover and the synopsis are not really a good match. Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:20:41 GMT http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#9033bdcd-901e-4310-adaf-7ddf5f8dbd35 Mark 2008-09-16T09:20:41Z http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#94189897-acdc-45c9-ae50-63d227d67ab2 Do you have a choice in the cover? And does this cover reach your assumed audience? This cover to me says young adult, escapist fantasy, not necessarily incredibly well-written, but maybe a pretty diverting read for a 14 year old inclined to fantasy. I wouldn't necessarily buy it, but I might peruse it, being that sort of a geek myself. Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:02:39 GMT http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#94189897-acdc-45c9-ae50-63d227d67ab2 Shannon 2008-09-15T23:02:39Z http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#d8339026-e922-4166-8c48-b414da8de41f I'd suggest a different cover. Something simpler. But that's my aesthetic. Maybe just a wolf shadow and the title. Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:02:08 GMT http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#d8339026-e922-4166-8c48-b414da8de41f $item.owner.firstName 2008-09-15T17:02:08Z http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#5e97accf-36f7-440e-96a8-0c01e2d352a9 Ooof. When I'm buying online, I usually already know what I'm looking for ... sometimes I glance at the suggestions Amazon or whatever makes and take a couple because - oooh, oooh, people who liked X also liked Y. But online, I look even less at covers. They're just little nonsense colored boxes up on the left of the screen. Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:56:52 GMT http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#5e97accf-36f7-440e-96a8-0c01e2d352a9 JM 2008-09-14T21:56:52Z http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#73182125-f883-4537-af8a-c515e46fa0dc Hi Jeff, That's a fair point. I wonder if it works differently if people buy on-line? My feeling is though that the synopsis is a lot more important than the cover. Sat, 13 Sep 2008 14:36:45 GMT http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#73182125-f883-4537-af8a-c515e46fa0dc Mark 2008-09-13T14:36:45Z http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#bfe0e25a-1cc3-4858-b8b1-7387592da9d4 The bookstores I go to normally stock books with only their spines showing. I find myself pulling them out and immediately scanning the synopsis, often without even looking at the cover. Sat, 13 Sep 2008 10:44:44 GMT http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#bfe0e25a-1cc3-4858-b8b1-7387592da9d4 JM 2008-09-13T10:44:44Z http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#b519991e-3851-4fc4-946c-0d54cea57ae4 Hi everyone, I’m very happy to say that I’ve recently had my debut novel published and would love to swap thoughts and opinions on what makes a compelling read. Obviously, some of my motivation is market research, but if I don't ask people who are interested in books who can I ask! With this in mind, what do you think attracts a potential reader? Would it be the front cover or is it more likely to be on the strength of the synopsis? Just how important is the cover art and what really determines our decision to invest the time to actually sit down and read a book? As a new author, I feel these questions are very important, so any insights you can give will be greatly appreciated. It may help me not to make the same mistakes if I ever get around to writing another one! For anyone interested you can read more about my book, The Magic Lands, here: http://hometown.aol.co.uk/markjohnhockley/myhomepage/mywork.html Sat, 13 Sep 2008 08:58:00 GMT http://literacynerds.tribe.net/thread/69b562b1-348a-447e-9211-c2bc36bf48a1#b519991e-3851-4fc4-946c-0d54cea57ae4 Mark 2008-09-13T08:58:00Z