# Updated the cover art for my novel, and doing a free promotion **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 9, 2013, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updated-the-cover-art-for-my-novel-and-doing-a-free-promotion/663022 "2013-07-09T09:09:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [July 9, 2013, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updated-the-cover-art-for-my-novel-and-doing-a-free-promotion/663022/1 "2013-07-09T09:09:32Z")
I finally got enough negative feedback on the cover art for my novel, [Sailor of the Skysea](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BQO25SY), so I hired an artist. This one is being received better so far, I think. Also, it will be available free (ebook) on 9 and 10 July. Other authors have said that their sales picked up after free promotions- so I’m hopeful it will boost mine as well. We’ll see! ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updated-the-cover-art-for-my-novel-and-doing-a-free-promotion/663022/2 "2013-07-09T09:19:00Z")
Reading the description and looking at the cover, I think you made the right choice - this one does feel like a closer match in tone than the last one. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updated-the-cover-art-for-my-novel-and-doing-a-free-promotion/663022/3 "2013-07-09T09:47:05Z")
Having actually read the novel, I’d say the new art is a better match for the book. ---
**Author:** ![iftheresaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecae2f/32.png) [@iftheresaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iftheresaway)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updated-the-cover-art-for-my-novel-and-doing-a-free-promotion/663022/4 "2013-07-09T12:17:18Z")
I’m only about a third of the way through the book, but I agree that this cover is much better - the previous one looked a bit too much like a kid’s book. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updated-the-cover-art-for-my-novel-and-doing-a-free-promotion/663022/5 "2013-07-09T12:46:22Z")
I haven’t read your book, but I’ve seen the old art and this is an improvement. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updated-the-cover-art-for-my-novel-and-doing-a-free-promotion/663022/6 "2013-07-09T18:54:11Z")
Free, you say? \ I can be bribed. Just bought it - I’ll check it out as soon as I’m able. ---
**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:** [July 9, 2013, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updated-the-cover-art-for-my-novel-and-doing-a-free-promotion/663022/7 "2013-07-09T20:09:56Z")
Thanks for all the input- I’m glad you all seem to like the new cover. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updated-the-cover-art-for-my-novel-and-doing-a-free-promotion/663022/8 "2013-07-09T23:08:52Z")
Yeah, it looks nice. You made a good choice. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updated-the-cover-art-for-my-novel-and-doing-a-free-promotion/663022/9 "2013-07-09T23:09:55Z")
Since I’ve finished the novel my book review is [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=696020). The rest of you feel free to add your comments. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updated-the-cover-art-for-my-novel-and-doing-a-free-promotion/663022/10 "2013-07-09T23:11:52Z")
Amazon says the Kindle edition is free at the moment; will it work with my iPad’s iBooks iReader iSoftware? ---
**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:** [July 9, 2013, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updated-the-cover-art-for-my-novel-and-doing-a-free-promotion/663022/11 "2013-07-09T23:28:23Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Amazon says the Kindle edition is free at the moment; will it work with my iPad’s iBooks iReader iSoftware? I’m not sure. It is on free promotion today and tomorrow, but if the Kindle version doesn’t work, I can email you the .epub (PM me with your email address). ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updated-the-cover-art-for-my-novel-and-doing-a-free-promotion/663022/12 "2013-07-10T02:50:22Z")
Much better cover. (With apologies to your original cover artist, who gave it a good try; the dynamics are simply off.) This one much more closely matches the tone of the book. ---
**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:** [July 10, 2013, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updated-the-cover-art-for-my-novel-and-doing-a-free-promotion/663022/13 "2013-07-10T15:05:21Z")
Made it to the top 300 on Amazon! I’m still hoping for top 100, but I don’t know if that’s possible. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2013, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updated-the-cover-art-for-my-novel-and-doing-a-free-promotion/663022/14 "2013-07-10T15:57:11Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Made it to the top 300 on Amazon! I’m still hoping for top 100, but I don’t know if that’s possible. Patience, young one. I used to have public domain books in the top 300 on Amazon. All it got me was a few grand in free money each month. Cajole/convince your buyers to tell a friend. ---
**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:** [July 12, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updated-the-cover-art-for-my-novel-and-doing-a-free-promotion/663022/15 "2013-07-12T00:15:12Z")
Overall results for the free promotion: I peaked at around #272 overall on Amazon, and #18 for all fantasy novels, with well over a thousand downloads. I guess I won’t know if it’s a success until the downloaders read the book- if they like it, hopefully they’ll tell their friends and I’ll get a sales boost. So I may not know for a few weeks or so. I did have an above average sales day today, but that could be coincidence. I also had several dozen downloads in the UK, Canada, and Germany (of all places!), and most surprisingly, a handful in India. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2013, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updated-the-cover-art-for-my-novel-and-doing-a-free-promotion/663022/16 "2013-08-14T11:57:05Z")
Starting a new free promotion today- the [ebook](http://www.amazon.com/Sailor-of-the-Skysea-ebook/dp/B00BQO25SY) will be free 14 and 15 August. Up to 32 customer reviews, with a 4 star average. Read! ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2013, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updated-the-cover-art-for-my-novel-and-doing-a-free-promotion/663022/17 "2013-08-16T12:02:48Z")
Did you enjoy a measurable sales boost from the previous promotion? ---
**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:** [August 16, 2013, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updated-the-cover-art-for-my-novel-and-doing-a-free-promotion/663022/18 "2013-08-16T12:13:07Z")
There was a small boost, but it’s hard to tell if it was because of the promotion. Lots of people downloaded the book, but who knows if they read it soon after or waited- the hope is that if enough people have a copy, eventually they’ll read it, and the ones that like it will tell their friends. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2013, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updated-the-cover-art-for-my-novel-and-doing-a-free-promotion/663022/19 "2013-08-16T12:17:33Z")
I imagine a greater number of reviews can also foster interest. You have to be wonder, however, if you are cannibalizing your own sales with multiple promotions. ---
**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:** [August 16, 2013, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updated-the-cover-art-for-my-novel-and-doing-a-free-promotion/663022/20 "2013-08-16T12:25:37Z")
I think I’ve got a good amount of reviews- 30+ is more than most indie novels. More couldn’t hurt (unless they’re negative, of course!). My sales are low enough that I’m not too worried about cannibalizing them 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/updated-the-cover-art-for-my-novel-and-doing-a-free-promotion/663022.md?page=2)