KDP Hardcover Review

With the re-release of A Blue So Dark, I decided to give the KDP hardcover a whirl.

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Overall, I Love the KDP Hardcover

KDP only offers a case laminate–no separate jacket. The cover is actually fused to the book. The matte finish keeps it from seeming too textbook-y, which is also a plus. Overall, it’s just a really nice quality hardback book.

There Are a Few Drawbacks

The Cover – As soon as you grab a template, you’ll see there’s a significant portion of the cover that wraps around the edges of the book. It’s far bigger than the trim space on the paperback. You need more blank space, areas with no text or important graphics. For the KDP paperback, I usually start with an Ebook cover, then adjust to make sure the text isn’t in the section to get cut off. This took far more work. I was lucky that the cover image had a lot of blurry abstract dark blue background. But I still had to lay two images down and blend the edges to get it to work.

The Amazon Product Page – I’ve been publishing hardbacks through Ingram (which feature a cloth cover with a separate jacket). I’d hoped that having two hardbacks with identical covers and jacket copy (yet different ISBNs) would allow both hardbacks to be featured on the product page, giving readers an option of which version they’d like to buy. After talking to KDP, though, I found out that wasn’t possible–the Ingram publication isn’t considered part of my “account,” and they won’t manually link that edition.

In the future, I’ll use the type of book I’m publishing to help me decide which hardback I’ll publish. Adult mainstream fiction? I’ll probably go with the hardback with the separate jacket, through Ingram. Nonfiction? Children’s books–picture books, even MG? I think the case laminate through KDP would be a solid choice.

Overall, though, if you’re looking to get into the hardback game (and find Ingram a bit too pricey*), KDP is a great option.

~

*FYI: IBPA currently provides coupon codes for members, which makes both new books and revised manuscript uploads free. Five uses per month.)

REVIEW – THE ART OF THE KISS

I always read my reviews–Amazon, Goodreads, Instagram, blogs, etc. All of ’em. I’ll admit, I used to read them a bit warily. But these days, I look forward to them. I always learn from them–they teach me so much about my own work. And recently, they’ve really started giving me a great deal of confidence to try new storytelling techniques.

THE ART OF THE KISS does a bit of time-jumping and contains multiple POVs, including an omniscient narrator. With a photographer as one of the main characters, I often say the book is told in “snapshots.”

A recent review from THE LAKELAND TIMES calls THE ART OF THE KISS “a uniquely crafted and relayed story of two people and the testament of love.” And goes on to describe the book:

Schindler’s storytelling in “The Art of the Kiss” is slowly and carefully built, brick by brick and memory by memory until it creates a life as a whole. It examines life at its core, relationships at their best and often their worst, tugging at heartstrings and giving way to deep thoughts of the new, the old and the now. Ultimately, it is a modern fairy tale retold for the modern age. A story of the passage of time, the changes that inevitably come with age and the beauty of youth. 

It is a particular way of novel-building — an omniscient narrator who sets a scene and issues the story bit by bit. Michael and Sharon are well-drawn and in-depth, likable yet real to life. The reader sees each side from all angles, giving the story a different twist. It is conversations and thoughts, ideas and memories, much like journal entries or diary notations. Pieces from postcards or greeting cards.

With its small town setting, likable characters and lovely narrative, “The Art of the Kiss” is both nostalgic and artistic, a perfect read for the summer that takes a beach read a step above and beyond.

You can read the review in its entirety here.

CALLING ALL BLOGGERS

I discovered the book blogosphere in ’09. I had sold my first book, A BLUE SO DARK, and I was taking my very first steps into developing an online life. Seems strange to say now, but back then, I had no online presence at all—no social media accounts, no digital subscriptions, nothing.

It all felt so strange to me.

And then…

The blogosphere.

I met bloggers coast-to-coast…and in Puerto Rico…England…Readers utterly devoted to their genre of choice. To helping authors spread word of their work. In ten years, bloggers have hosted interviews and vlogs and giveaways. They’ve reviewed my work. They’ve participated in cover reveals…

And more.

The “more” being that over the years, we’ve continued to be in contact. I’ve been in touch with YA reviewers who went on to college, then graduated college, then became teachers or writers themselves. We’ve shared triumphs and heartaches.

It’s been a powerful community. Emphasis on “community.” I’m eternally grateful to be part of it.

I’m sending out the call to adult bloggers—like contemporary fiction? A slight dash of magic? Maybe even some reinvented fairy tales? Non-traditional characters? Not-you-typical love stories?

Please do get in touch: hollyschindlerbooks (at) gmail (dot) com. I’d love to add you to the review team.

The best part of any “community” is that it can (and should!) be constantly growing.

NEWS, NEWS, NEWS – REVIEWERS NEEDED!

I feel like I’ve been posting incessantly about copyediting and polishing…now, I’m finally ready to start talking about publishing!

I’ve got a couple different projects–for two different age groups–about to release.

ADULT

The first is an adult general fiction novel. I’ve been working on this one in fits and spurts for more than a year. I know, I know–on blogs and on social media, us writers (yep, myself included) have always had a tendency to slobber over pending releases like proud parents. How many times have you heard all of us proclaim, “This is the book of my heart!”?? I’ll soooo be guilty of this if I spend too much time describing the work. (In fact, that sentence popped into my head as I started to write this post.) I’ll just say here I’m really excited about this one. I’ve experimented slightly with overall structure, and my main characters are again somewhat non-traditional.

I’m also looking to expand my pool of reviewers. I’ll be distributing my initial review copies through my newsletter. I hope you sign up for my adult newsletter–which will also provide early cover reveals, etc.–here.

MG

The second soon-to-release book is a new MG work. It’s a blend of fiction and how-to; if you’re a teacher or tutor or a parent who knows you’ll soon be looking for something to keep your kids’ minds engaged over the summer months, I hope you’ll sign up for my MG-specific newsletter. Again, I’m looking to expand my pool of reviewers, and I’ll be offering opportunities for newsletter subscribers to get their hands on a copy for review. Sign up for the MG newsletter here.