Greetings, everyone.
Another important milestone: I’ve received the proofread manuscript back. There don't seem to be too many typos and errors, so reviewing and applying the changes shouldn't take long. However, with only a week to go, there are at least two significant factors that could push back the launch. One is the cover design. Hardly any progress there. Then there's the 72-hour processing time on KDP. So, if I want the manuscript to be available on the 13th, I must upload it on the 10th. Besides that, there's still the matter of the back matter, keywords, and the sales blurb.
Speaking of which. Just as our fellow authors were murderboarding my blurb on Joe's group coaching call (yes, at that exact time), I got some vital feedback from my editor, Jill. An important and timely reminder I'd like to quote here:
It occurred to me – after percolating overnight, apparently – that to me, your book doesn’t feel like a “teen romance.” There is romance throughout, yes, and it’s a major theme, I wouldn’t call your book a “romance.” There are bigger things afoot – Vadim is learning to navigate the world, and find his place in it, and wrestle with figuring out what his own moral code will be as he becomes an independent adult.
If I was a merchant shelving your book without any outside direction other than having read it, I would put it with coming-of-age books like (showing my age here) The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, or Catcher in the Rye. Not sure what the current bestsellers would be to compare, but they imply a level of seriousness that may be lacking in a lot of romance covers.
Just a thought. If you’re still having trouble deciding on cover inspiration, you might look in that category.
I must say, Jill is not the only one to mention that my novel may not meet the genre expectation of a romance. It's not in the first person; it's mostly from his point of view, rather than hers, and the "happily ever after" is more implied than shown. So I'd better revise the sales blurb to include (and focus on) the coming-of-age theme, rather than on the Gretna Green wedding. (Which was ultimately thrown out during our murderboarding session.) I actually have a version written from the coming-of-age angle. Most of the input from the group coaching call holds true for it, too.
I also forwarded Jill’s feedback to the cover designer. To think of it, if choosing a cover theme for a teenage romance isn't easy, try coming up with one for the coming-of-age. Again, I can only hope that the cover designer has some experience with "crossover genres" and could provide something meaningful fast. Meanwhile, I'll do my best to get everything else done by the end of the coming week. If it happens that I miss the October 13th deadline, at least it won't be by much. I'm still planning to have both the e-book and paperback ready in time for Author Advantage Live. (Which, if I'm not mistaken, is October 23-25.)
Hope you are as excited about the upcoming launch as I am.
Have a great weekend.
Leonard.