# My first novel (fantasy) has just been published! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 8, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-novel-fantasy-has-just-been-published/652404 "2013-03-08T17:53:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2013, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-novel-fantasy-has-just-been-published/652404/41 "2013-03-17T07:38:06Z")
$12,000 a week isn’t nothing. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2013, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-novel-fantasy-has-just-been-published/652404/42 "2013-03-20T14:25:55Z")
Sales continue, though I wouldn’t quite call it a brisk pace. I’m still waiting for the first genuine review… hopefully the first batch of readers will be finished soon, and hopefully a few of them liked it enough to post a review. The prologue of the novel is now available for free on [my website](http://www.sailoroftheskysea.com/prologue-free.html) if anyone would like to get a glimpse at my writing. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-novel-fantasy-has-just-been-published/652404/43 "2013-03-22T03:53:11Z")
Congrats, **iiandyiiii**! I picked up your book and I’ll post a review after I’ve read it. The positive response you’ve gotten has made me brave enough to do the same thing with my own novel. 😃 So I wish you all the best and plenty of sales! ---
**Author:** ![Reepicheep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@Reepicheep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reepicheep)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-novel-fantasy-has-just-been-published/652404/44 "2013-03-22T05:12:32Z")
**iiandyiiii** congrats on publishing your first novel. May it be the first of many others. Ok I don’t like the cover, it looks like the cover of a YA novel. Your world building is good, you are not doing info dumps. The first betrayal is handled well (I am not far enough along for other major betrayals but I’m sure they will happen). Good explination of your hero’s rage. I’ll do full review of the book when I finish but for now I am engaged in the story (good becasuse I don’t normally read fiction unless it’s either romance or sci-fic). ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-novel-fantasy-has-just-been-published/652404/45 "2013-03-22T09:08:43Z")
> [@Reepicheep](#): > > **iiandyiiii** congrats on publishing your first novel. May it be the first of many others. > > Ok I don’t like the cover, it looks like the cover of a YA novel. Your world building is good, you are not doing info dumps. The first betrayal is handled well (I am not far enough along for other major betrayals but I’m sure they will happen). Good explination of your hero’s rage. I’ll do full review of the book when I finish but for now I am engaged in the story (good becasuse I don’t normally read fiction unless it’s either romance or sci-fic). Thanks so much for the feedback. I hope you continue to enjoy it! ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-novel-fantasy-has-just-been-published/652404/46 "2013-03-22T09:15:58Z")
As far as the cover goes, here is my thinking: I looked into hiring a professional artist, and there were some available within my budget range (less than a few hundred dollars)- but I wasn’t happy with what I was seeing from them. Basically, for a few hundred dollars, I could have gotten a cover that would have been something like a picture of an anchor and a compass (or a cutlass and a flintlock pistol, or other nautical-types of objects) sitting on a table. I thought that was way too generic and boring- they weren’t going to do the scene from the book I wanted, at least not unless I paid a lot more. So I asked a relative who has decades of watercolor art experience. This wasn’t exactly the type of art she’s used to doing (her paintings were mostly still life and landscapes) but she was willing to try for free (and a cut of the book profits if it was a big hit). It took a long LOOONG time- several months- and I know the cover is not perfect, but it does capture the scene from the story I wanted on the cover. For those who don’t like it, I hope you can look past it and still give the book a chance. You can read the prologue for free on my website. ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-novel-fantasy-has-just-been-published/652404/47 "2013-03-22T09:44:12Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > As far as the cover goes, here is my thinking: I looked into hiring a professional artist, and there were some available within my budget range (less than a few hundred dollars)- but I wasn’t happy with what I was seeing from them. Basically, for a few hundred dollars, I could have gotten a cover that would have been something like a picture of an anchor and a compass (or a cutlass and a flintlock pistol, or other nautical-types of objects) sitting on a table. I thought that was way too generic and boring- they weren’t going to do the scene from the book I wanted, at least not unless I paid a lot more. So I asked a relative who has decades of watercolor art experience. This wasn’t exactly the type of art she’s used to doing (her paintings were mostly still life and landscapes) but she was willing to try for free (and a cut of the book profits if it was a big hit). It took a long LOOONG time- several months- and I know the cover is not perfect, but it does capture the scene from the story I wanted on the cover. For those who don’t like it, I hope you can look past it and still give the book a chance. You can read the prologue for free on my website. Yeah, budget constraints on self publishing must be a bitch. I’ll reiterate my earlier point. It’s not so much that the cover is bad, but it’s misleading. It says you’re looking at a children’s/YA book, and apparently not just to me. And nothing in the synopsis or the Amazon page says otherwise. There must be good ways to intimate to readers that it isn’t a YA book. (Although honestly, I can’t think of one right now) ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-novel-fantasy-has-just-been-published/652404/48 "2013-03-22T09:52:20Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > Congrats, **iiandyiiii**! I picked up your book and I’ll post a review after I’ve read it. > > The positive response you’ve gotten has made me brave enough to do the same thing with my own novel. 😃 So I wish you all the best and plenty of sales! Thanks very much. I’d be happy to answer any questions or offer any other assistance on self publishing now that I’ve published one book in ebook and paperback form. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-novel-fantasy-has-just-been-published/652404/49 "2013-03-22T09:55:33Z")
> [@bldysabba](#): > > Yeah, budget constraints on self publishing must be a bitch. I’ll reiterate my earlier point. It’s not so much that the cover is bad, but it’s misleading. It says you’re looking at a children’s/YA book, and apparently not just to me. And nothing in the synopsis or the Amazon page says otherwise. There must be good ways to intimate to readers that it isn’t a YA book. (Although honestly, I can’t think of one right now) Maybe if I’m lucky, I’ll get a positive review that headlines something like “ignore the YA artwork, this is a great American _adult_ fantasy novel”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-novel-fantasy-has-just-been-published/652404/50 "2013-03-22T10:42:39Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Maybe if I’m lucky, I’ll get a positive review that headlines something like “ignore the YA artwork, this is a great American _adult_ fantasy novel”. 🙂 Hahah. Nicely done. Rally round, SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-novel-fantasy-has-just-been-published/652404/51 "2013-04-05T15:58:45Z")
The first real, no bullshit, not-a-relative-or-a-friend-or-an-acquaintance, reader review of my novel was posted today. And it was a [good review](http://www.amazon.com/review/R2KO6JO6Y6IL5G/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00BQO25SY&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text)! I am disproportionately excited. ---
**Author:** ![Zuzu\_s\_Petals](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@Zuzu\_s\_Petals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zuzu_s_Petals)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-novel-fantasy-has-just-been-published/652404/52 "2013-04-05T16:25:28Z")
> [@bldysabba](#): > > It’s not so much that the cover is bad, but it’s misleading. It says you’re looking at a children’s/YA book, and apparently not just to me. And nothing in the synopsis or the Amazon page says otherwise. There must be good ways to intimate to readers that it isn’t a YA book. (Although honestly, I can’t think of one right now) First, congrats to the OP for finishing your book and getting it out there! However, I wish people would stop saying the above. No offence to the OP, but children’s/YA covers produced by traditional publishers don’t in general look amateurish, which I’m afraid this one does. (Sorry. But I write for children/YA and am finding this a bit irritating!) Good luck with your book, **iiandyiiii**! ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-novel-fantasy-has-just-been-published/652404/53 "2013-04-05T16:49:09Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > The first real, no bullshit, not-a-relative-or-a-friend-or-an-acquaintance, reader review of my novel was posted today. And it was a [good review](http://www.amazon.com/review/R2KO6JO6Y6IL5G/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00BQO25SY&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text)! I am disproportionately excited. Congrats! That’s awesome. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-novel-fantasy-has-just-been-published/652404/54 "2013-04-26T14:48:11Z")
Two more [very positive](http://www.amazon.com/review/R148216AUBBYQJ/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00BQO25SY&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text) and [gracious](http://www.amazon.com/review/R2UJFK1DIJZV55/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00BQO25SY&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text) reviews, and one of them is even from a rather prolific “Vine Voice” reviewer. Thank you, Silas Sparkhammer (great name, by the way) and Jonathan Bixby! The ebook is still available for the low, low price of 99 cents. And you can download a free sample. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Galwegian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galwegian/32/3426_2.png) [@Galwegian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galwegian)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-novel-fantasy-has-just-been-published/652404/55 "2013-04-28T21:05:06Z")
I’d like to try it too, especially with the positive reviews. However, do you know if it will become available on kindle at some stage on [amazon.co.uk](http://amazon.co.uk)? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-novel-fantasy-has-just-been-published/652404/56 "2013-04-28T21:10:52Z")
> [@Galwegian](#): > > I’d like to try it too, especially with the positive reviews. However, do you know if it will become available on kindle at some stage on [amazon.co.uk](http://amazon.co.uk)? It already is- you can get it [here](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sailor-of-the-Skysea-ebook/dp/B00BQO25SY/). I hope you enjoy it! ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-novel-fantasy-has-just-been-published/652404/57 "2013-04-28T21:43:29Z")
After explaining to folks that the name of our group has nothing to do with drugs (sometimes needed, more often not - make of that what you will), one of my favorite things to brag on y’all about to those who may not know of us (yes, there are a few), is that we have among our stellar membership\* (not in order of importance) Jeopardy contestants and finalists (My favorite), physicians, lawyers, actors, musicians, philosophers, artists, comedians, and writers - many _budding_ and many published and therefore bona fide. You _are_ bona fide **iiandyiiii** , right ? In short, I never miss a chance to tell people where I get my answers to questions they may or may not have asked, and I never forget to tell them how very fortunate and proud I am to belong here. So now I get to add _you_, **iiandyiiii** to the list, and I congratulate you on your accomplishment. I have not read your book, but as soon as I do, I’d be happy to comply with your request for questions and critiques. Again, heartfelt congratulations and may this be the first of many books to come. \*That asterisk - totally forgot why I put it there, sorry.:smack: Quasi ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-novel-fantasy-has-just-been-published/652404/58 "2013-04-28T21:50:20Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > After explaining to folks that the name of our group has nothing to do with drugs (sometimes needed, more often not - make of that what you will), one of my favorite things to brag on y’all about to those who may not know of us (yes, there are a few), is that we have among our stellar membership\* (not in order of importance) Jeopardy contestants and finalists (My favorite), physicians, lawyers, actors, musicians, philosophers, artists, comedians, and writers - many _budding_ and many published and therefore bona fide. You _are_ bona fide **iiandyiiii** , right ? Well, I am published. If that counts, than yes. I’m a writer, but I can’t yet say that writing is my career. Someday, I hope to be able to. > [@](#): > > In short, I never miss a chance to tell people where I get my answers to questions they may or may not have asked, and I never forget to tell them how very fortunate and proud I am to belong here. > > So now I get to add _you_, **iiandyiiii** to the list, and I congratulate you on your accomplishment. I have not read your book, but as soon as I do, I’d be happy to comply with your request for questions and critiques. > > Again, heartfelt congratulations and may this be the first of many books to come. > > \*That asterisk - totally forgot why I put it there, sorry.:smack: > > Quasi This is all very kind of you to say. I hope someday to actually be someone that, beyond my accomplishments in my personal life, people would be proud to tell someone that they know. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-novel-fantasy-has-just-been-published/652404/59 "2013-04-28T22:36:54Z")
That “bona fide” comment was supposed to have had a smilie with it, and was meant to be funny and a takeoff on “O Brother Where Art Thou?” Instead, it came out sounding like I was questioning the book’s validity. I hope so much you know I would never do that. Q ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-novel-fantasy-has-just-been-published/652404/60 "2013-04-28T23:05:52Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Two more [very positive](http://www.amazon.com/review/R148216AUBBYQJ/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00BQO25SY&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text) and [gracious](http://www.amazon.com/review/R2UJFK1DIJZV55/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00BQO25SY&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text) reviews, and one of them is even from a rather prolific “Vine Voice” reviewer. > > Thank you, Silas Sparkhammer (great name, by the way) and Jonathan Bixby! > > The ebook is still available for the low, low price of 99 cents. And you can download a free sample. 🙂 My pleasure! (I’m Silas Sparkhammer!) Definitely enjoyed your book. The thing that stood out the most was the realism of pre-industrial life. Like, having to dig latrine pits when roughing it in the woods. Or how much doggone work is involved in shoving a keel-boat upstream. (We never read about Aragorn and Boromir having to dig latrine pits!) Not much more I can say without spoilers: deuced good read! A pleasure! P.S. “Silas Sparkhammer” is stolen from Jack Vance, “The Book of Dreams.” P.P.S. Was “Phink” an allusion to [Mike Fink](http://www.yesterland.com/keelboats.html)? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-novel-fantasy-has-just-been-published/652404.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-first-novel-fantasy-has-just-been-published/652404.md?page=4)