In this publishing weekly update, I want to talk about the reality of the “author’s journey”, which usually involves a lot of learning the hard way. My plan, which I fully accept is a self-imposed deadline, was to publish Whispers from the Machine in March. This is still technically possible: the book is finished, the editing is complete, and the typesetting is done. In fact, the E-book is already available for pre-order on Amazon! However, I’ve hit a significant roadblock regarding the print copies.
The 700-Page Cover Design Hurdle
The core of my issue this week revolves around print production. Due to my own naivety during the initial design stages, I made a critical mistake with the book cover dimensions. I previously wrote a blog post about the creative side of the cover design, but while the art is fantastic, it was designed for a 500-page spine. The final version of the book is actually closer to 700 pages.
Due to my own naivety during the initial stages, I made a critical mistake with the cover dimensions. I previously wrote a [blog post about the cover design here], but while the art is fantastic, it was designed for a 500-page spine. The final version of the book is actually closer to 700 pages.
Because the spine is too small, the files simply won’t work for print-on-demand. I tried to make minor adjustments using Photopea, but this fix requires professional skills beyond my current level. Unfortunately, after reaching out to my original designer, I’ve been met with radio silence. It’s disappointing, but I take full responsibility—this was my error, not hers.
Moving Forward: From Fiverr to 99designs
I’m now in a predicament where I need a brand-new cover. This adds unwanted costs and extra time to the project, but I refuse to settle for a “bodge job” solution just to meet a date. As I planned this publishing weekly update, I realized that quality must come before speed. I want the final product to be of the highest quality for my readers and for my own shelf pride.
For this next phase of the project, I’m moving my search to 99designs instead of Fiverr. I’m hoping this will be a more managed process than the weeks I spent short-listing designers previously. While I intend to stay close to the original brief and the aesthetic I’ve already established, I’m staying open to new creative directions that might elevate the book even further. Using a platform like 99designs allows me to see multiple interpretations of my brief simultaneously, which is a silver lining I wanted to highlight in this publishing weekly update.
Visualizing the Stapledon Series
This setback actually creates a new opportunity for me to be more intentional with my branding. I can now look more broadly at how the cover fits into the wider Stapledon Series. My concept is for the books to follow a color spectrum that matches the mood of each installment.
Interestingly, the titles will also “get louder”, moving from a Whisper in book one to a Shout by book four. Having a designer look at the series as a whole rather than a single title will ensure the branding is cohesive from the start. This ensures that when all four books are sitting on a shelf, they look like a matched set rather than a collection of individual projects.
The Leap into Audiobook Production
As part of this publishing weekly update, I’m also excited to announce I’m finally committing to an audiobook! I’ve been on the fence due to the significant upfront investment, but my “completionist” mindset won’t let it go. I want this story to be accessible in every possible format for every type of reader.
I started the audition process for narrators this week. I won’t go into the technical details in this post, but boy, choosing the “right” voice is paralyzingly difficult. It is incredibly subjective; a voice that sounds perfect for a villain might not carry the narrative weight for the protagonist. I’ll save the “can of worms” regarding narration for a future post once I’ve made more progress on the selection.
Is the March Deadline Still Possible?
To conclude this publishing weekly update, this week feels like a bit of a sidestep rather than a step back. Progress is being made in some areas, but we are facing delays in others. While I’d love to launch all formats together in March, I may have to let the date slip slightly if I want the launch to be unified.
Fingers crossed for an exciting new cover soon, one that is officially “idiot-proof” against my own accidental incompetence!
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