The road to success as an indie author has been paved with nothing but learning. The same is true of every other business, but this one has more resources for those setting out. I blog to illustrate my journey in hopes of being one of them.

Let me share a key mistake I made with the cover of my first release that is killing its sales. (At least this is what I blame.) My book cover as seen on the right has an unfamiliar name at the very top. Most need a phonetic spelling to pronounce it. One person even asked if it's a foreign language. ...Great!

We all know books are judged by their covers and that judgement happens in a few seconds. Any book an adult cannot pronounce the title of is not one they'll buy for a child.

The actual title is Fired Up, but it's the first episode in the Eusta Diddoo - Runaway Pony series. I wanted that name to become popular among its readers, but it's not going to happen. The next cover will simply read: Fried Up. Then along the base we'll print: Runaway Pony Series - Episode 1. I'll introduce the character, Eusta Diddoo, with a phonetic spelling on the first page. That should be simple enough.

I also want to redo the cover art to show the pony exiting the front gate of the farm with a backpack over one shoulder. This should raise questions in the onlooker's mind. Why is the horse leaving the farm? What's he carrying? Where is he going? Such questions help turn shoppers into readers.

I'm also taking the suggestions of a reviewer to add more pictures and split the text into chapters. These short segments will be called scenes. Then I want to add an illustration for each scene. There will be eight in this episode.

Naturally artwork and cover design costs money, and right now hot tubs aren't selling very well. It may be a while before I can correct this mistake and release a second edition of Fired Up with greater marketability, but that's the plan. Wish me luck...

Thanks for stopping in
- Jonra Springs