So the author contacted me after I shared this cover on a Facebook group. Please note I am also an Indie author. I’m not a traditional publish snob looking down upon her from my ivory tower.
• Conversation started today
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11:48am
Nikki Walker Author
Did you post the In Search of a Healing Place Book Cover? Did you know that that cover has been replaced? Did you seek me out to offer genuine advice? Do you know what my story is? Or do you just go around trying to destroy the effort a person has made? Do you know if this was just the straw to make me give up? What if I was a person so down and already on the verge of suicide? Would you want your negativity to be the thing that pushed me over?
Indie writers should be in it together. If you have a better option, why not approach me and make me aware of it. You hate the cover and many like it. Did it ever occur that this was just how you felt about it? These are things you should take into consideration before attacking someone again. You have done nothing great for the industry attacking me.
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11:49am
Lauren Hodge
Dude, I submitted that weeks ago, before we ever talked. I didn’t make the final call, they did.
Also note, this site also links to new covers (if they’re ever done)
•
11:49am
Nikki Walker Author
I am a women. Please remove this cover now. Thank you.
#woman
I don’t know who ‘they’ is. But I would like this removed now.
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11:50am
Lauren Hodge
Lousy Book Covers is beyond my control. You are welcome to be one of the thousands of authors to make the same request.
You are welcome to email them when you have a new cover. If you didn’t want the cover publicized, why’d you release it?
If I didn’t want you to do better, why’d I point you in a direction to get a better cover done cheaply?
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11:52am
Nikki Walker Author
You do no help to the industry or me by ostracizing authors like me.
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11:52am
Lauren Hodge
We all make indie-pub mistakes. Own your mistakes so no one else can
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11:53am
Nikki Walker Author
I don’t mind if it is done in the right manner. Why not start a group to give advice to help. This could really push the wrong person over the edge. I wouldn’t want that on my conscience, do you?
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11:53am
Lauren Hodge
If pointing out the obvious (and look at the comments, I’m not the only one who thinks this) is akin to an alienating act, the indie-pub environment is every man for himself.
I am not responsible for the actions of others. I have no control over their perception nor the actions derived thereof. Therefore it doesn’t weigh on my conscience at all.
If someone thinking your cover is lame pushes you over the edge, you shouldn’t be in publishing. I didn’t say you were lame, I said the cover was lame. You are not your cover.
•
11:56am
Nikki Walker Author
That doesn’t matter. I have written to her as well. Please give what I am saying some thought. There are a lot of people who struggle with low self esteem. This was the best that I could do at the time. Putting what is akin to a scarlet letter on me is not helping me. Anytime you knock someone else down to make you look better, it is not productive.
•
11:56am
Nikki Walker Author
I would like my cover removed immediately.
•
11:57am
Lauren Hodge
Their self-esteem is their perception. I am not in control of it. It is not my job to raise someone’s self-esteem, nor is anyone capable of doing that. They call is SELF esteem for a reason.
You can want your cover removed all you want. Just because you want it, doesn’t mean you’re going to get it.
Err, pointing and laughing at lousy book covers doesn’t make me look any better. In fact, it makes indie-pub look worse.
You are in the publishing world. It’s not known for its forgiving nature. Realize that fact and act accordingly.
•
11:59am
Nikki Walker Author
Exactly. So each time you attack a person or their work you take that chance. Who authorized you to be so presumptuous? As I stated, you don’t know me. You just saw a cover that you hated. Who made you the speaker for the indie-pub world? Find another way is all I am saying. You want to help me, think hard at how you can be more productive. You seem to be a smart person, I’m sure you can find a better way.
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11:59am
Lauren Hodge
I gave an opinion. You are welcome to ignore it.
Also, readers don’t know you.
•
12:01pm
Nikki Walker Author
You keep speaking so that you don’t have to listen. I hear you–fix the cover. What have you heard from me?
•
12:01pm
Lauren Hodge
It’s not my job to help you be productive. It’s my duty as an indie-pub supporter to make this field the best quality I can. If that means low quality work is labeled as such, so be it.
•
12:01pm
Nikki Walker Author
This conversation is done. No need to keep speaking. Have a wonderful day. I feel sorry that this is the only way you know how to communicate with people. Thank you. Have a wonderful day.
•
12:01pm
Lauren Hodge
I have read everything you typed. I simply don’t care about your emotional response.
Very well, I leave you to your perception.
I know, right? Does she thinks readers will be forgiving? She put the cover out there. Even if she is getting the cover redone, this is not the way to respond to criticism. I mean, it’s good entertainment for me, but doesn’t make her look like a champion of quality work.
I noticed that her e-name always ended with “Author.” Guess you’re demolishing her self-image, so it’s gotta be “all your fault.”
FWIW, I really hate those gradiose tags after someone’s name, and it’s something I will NEVER do. I’m subscribed to an online writers group (which shall remain nameless) that is composed of clueless newbies all doing lame-o self-promotion with tags after their names. I’ve never posted to this group due to the level of amateurism, but I do read the posts — and the tags — in amazement.
Harry Truman said it right, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
Yes, I admit it. I am a total amateur who did my own covers as well. As I am no graphic artist I kept it simple. Better that people think my cover plain than wonder what I intended it to say. You are right Lauren, the moment that cover went public it was open to prise or ridicule from anyone. Nikki, fix it and forget about it. Trust me, the rest of us will as well but not if you keep nattering about being wronged.
I get so sick and tired of hearing the old, “What if this was the thing that sent someone over the edge” line. If a person is that unstable, they shouldn’t be putting themselves out there.
This is why I don’t deal with most other indie authors. Ignorance, idiocy and arrogance.
If I were able to talk to Nikki for a moment, I would say this:
Nikki, I was in the same position you were in four years ago when I decided to use a vanity press to release my first book. I believed that just the act of writing a book was all that was required of me to be successful. I’m a lot wiser now. In fact, after attending several conventions and seminars, and making contacts with many fellow authors and publishers, I’ve come away with one very important, indisputable fact: all writers feel pain. All of them. Even the ones who are “overnight successes,” they feel pain too. Rejection and criticism are part of being a successful writer, because they are the metrics of improvement. If someone looks at your finished work and says that there’s too many grammar landmines or the plot is ridiculous or the lead character is a cardboard cut-out, it’s your fault and no-one else’s. If you designed the cover and people are laughing at it, being defensive won’t do you any good. Actually, the more defensive you get, the more people will laugh at you.
The biggest difference between the writers who sell and the ones who don’t is thick skin. If you want to take the self-publishing shortcuts like millions of other “aspiring” writers, knock yourself out. But if you really want your work to stand out, allow people who are knowledgeable to criticize you. That’s how you get better. And as for the ones who come off snarky and little rude, let those comments wash off your back and move on. Sure, it hurts a little, but briefly. And that pain is not an act of war–it’s an opportunity to gain readers.
Oh. Ouch. What in the world is this mess supposed to be? It makes my eyes hurt.
HIRE A COVER ARTIST!!!
The numerous transparent faces just makes the cover confusing and unattractive. And the mix of backgrounds is not helping matters either.
And maybe stick to one font or two related fonts.
You getting very sleepy. Very, very sleepy.
Count von Count says, “One, two, three eye crossing layers. Ah, ah, ah.”
So the author contacted me after I shared this cover on a Facebook group. Please note I am also an Indie author. I’m not a traditional publish snob looking down upon her from my ivory tower.
• Conversation started today
•
11:48am
Nikki Walker Author
Did you post the In Search of a Healing Place Book Cover? Did you know that that cover has been replaced? Did you seek me out to offer genuine advice? Do you know what my story is? Or do you just go around trying to destroy the effort a person has made? Do you know if this was just the straw to make me give up? What if I was a person so down and already on the verge of suicide? Would you want your negativity to be the thing that pushed me over?
Indie writers should be in it together. If you have a better option, why not approach me and make me aware of it. You hate the cover and many like it. Did it ever occur that this was just how you felt about it? These are things you should take into consideration before attacking someone again. You have done nothing great for the industry attacking me.
•
11:49am
Lauren Hodge
Dude, I submitted that weeks ago, before we ever talked. I didn’t make the final call, they did.
Also note, this site also links to new covers (if they’re ever done)
•
11:49am
Nikki Walker Author
I am a women. Please remove this cover now. Thank you.
#woman
I don’t know who ‘they’ is. But I would like this removed now.
•
11:50am
Lauren Hodge
Lousy Book Covers is beyond my control. You are welcome to be one of the thousands of authors to make the same request.
You are welcome to email them when you have a new cover. If you didn’t want the cover publicized, why’d you release it?
If I didn’t want you to do better, why’d I point you in a direction to get a better cover done cheaply?
•
11:52am
Nikki Walker Author
You do no help to the industry or me by ostracizing authors like me.
•
11:52am
Lauren Hodge
We all make indie-pub mistakes. Own your mistakes so no one else can
•
11:53am
Nikki Walker Author
I don’t mind if it is done in the right manner. Why not start a group to give advice to help. This could really push the wrong person over the edge. I wouldn’t want that on my conscience, do you?
•
11:53am
Lauren Hodge
If pointing out the obvious (and look at the comments, I’m not the only one who thinks this) is akin to an alienating act, the indie-pub environment is every man for himself.
I am not responsible for the actions of others. I have no control over their perception nor the actions derived thereof. Therefore it doesn’t weigh on my conscience at all.
If someone thinking your cover is lame pushes you over the edge, you shouldn’t be in publishing. I didn’t say you were lame, I said the cover was lame. You are not your cover.
•
11:56am
Nikki Walker Author
That doesn’t matter. I have written to her as well. Please give what I am saying some thought. There are a lot of people who struggle with low self esteem. This was the best that I could do at the time. Putting what is akin to a scarlet letter on me is not helping me. Anytime you knock someone else down to make you look better, it is not productive.
•
11:56am
Nikki Walker Author
I would like my cover removed immediately.
•
11:57am
Lauren Hodge
Their self-esteem is their perception. I am not in control of it. It is not my job to raise someone’s self-esteem, nor is anyone capable of doing that. They call is SELF esteem for a reason.
You can want your cover removed all you want. Just because you want it, doesn’t mean you’re going to get it.
Err, pointing and laughing at lousy book covers doesn’t make me look any better. In fact, it makes indie-pub look worse.
You are in the publishing world. It’s not known for its forgiving nature. Realize that fact and act accordingly.
•
11:59am
Nikki Walker Author
Exactly. So each time you attack a person or their work you take that chance. Who authorized you to be so presumptuous? As I stated, you don’t know me. You just saw a cover that you hated. Who made you the speaker for the indie-pub world? Find another way is all I am saying. You want to help me, think hard at how you can be more productive. You seem to be a smart person, I’m sure you can find a better way.
•
11:59am
Lauren Hodge
I gave an opinion. You are welcome to ignore it.
Also, readers don’t know you.
•
12:01pm
Nikki Walker Author
You keep speaking so that you don’t have to listen. I hear you–fix the cover. What have you heard from me?
•
12:01pm
Lauren Hodge
It’s not my job to help you be productive. It’s my duty as an indie-pub supporter to make this field the best quality I can. If that means low quality work is labeled as such, so be it.
•
12:01pm
Nikki Walker Author
This conversation is done. No need to keep speaking. Have a wonderful day. I feel sorry that this is the only way you know how to communicate with people. Thank you. Have a wonderful day.
•
12:01pm
Lauren Hodge
I have read everything you typed. I simply don’t care about your emotional response.
Very well, I leave you to your perception.
Wow. Priceless. And I love the parting shot; when all else fails, THEN get passive-aggressive.
I know, right? Does she thinks readers will be forgiving? She put the cover out there. Even if she is getting the cover redone, this is not the way to respond to criticism. I mean, it’s good entertainment for me, but doesn’t make her look like a champion of quality work.
I noticed that her e-name always ended with “Author.” Guess you’re demolishing her self-image, so it’s gotta be “all your fault.”
FWIW, I really hate those gradiose tags after someone’s name, and it’s something I will NEVER do. I’m subscribed to an online writers group (which shall remain nameless) that is composed of clueless newbies all doing lame-o self-promotion with tags after their names. I’ve never posted to this group due to the level of amateurism, but I do read the posts — and the tags — in amazement.
Harry Truman said it right, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
Yes, I admit it. I am a total amateur who did my own covers as well. As I am no graphic artist I kept it simple. Better that people think my cover plain than wonder what I intended it to say. You are right Lauren, the moment that cover went public it was open to prise or ridicule from anyone. Nikki, fix it and forget about it. Trust me, the rest of us will as well but not if you keep nattering about being wronged.
Oops. *praise* I meant.
I get so sick and tired of hearing the old, “What if this was the thing that sent someone over the edge” line. If a person is that unstable, they shouldn’t be putting themselves out there.
This is why I don’t deal with most other indie authors. Ignorance, idiocy and arrogance.
If I were able to talk to Nikki for a moment, I would say this:
Nikki, I was in the same position you were in four years ago when I decided to use a vanity press to release my first book. I believed that just the act of writing a book was all that was required of me to be successful. I’m a lot wiser now. In fact, after attending several conventions and seminars, and making contacts with many fellow authors and publishers, I’ve come away with one very important, indisputable fact: all writers feel pain. All of them. Even the ones who are “overnight successes,” they feel pain too. Rejection and criticism are part of being a successful writer, because they are the metrics of improvement. If someone looks at your finished work and says that there’s too many grammar landmines or the plot is ridiculous or the lead character is a cardboard cut-out, it’s your fault and no-one else’s. If you designed the cover and people are laughing at it, being defensive won’t do you any good. Actually, the more defensive you get, the more people will laugh at you.
The biggest difference between the writers who sell and the ones who don’t is thick skin. If you want to take the self-publishing shortcuts like millions of other “aspiring” writers, knock yourself out. But if you really want your work to stand out, allow people who are knowledgeable to criticize you. That’s how you get better. And as for the ones who come off snarky and little rude, let those comments wash off your back and move on. Sure, it hurts a little, but briefly. And that pain is not an act of war–it’s an opportunity to gain readers.
Please consider that, and good luck.