Quoted from bigdaddy07:
I know all about that journey. I started framing the story out in 2010. I had the first draft for books one and two finished over three years ago. I've been just editing and refining them for the last three years. Keep in mind the learning curve was steep and that I had times of fatigue, where I would put the manscripts away for two to three months at a time.
The back and spine will be wrap-around with a continuation of the front cover.
As far as marking, that's the real trick now. My wife has taken point on this with social media and grassroots (hitting up local shops to carry it). I would be interested in what marketing strategies worked for your wife and what didn't work. This is the new mountain I have to climb.
Ugh: editing/proofing, giving proofs to friends to read...seemed to go on FOREVER. Like the movie "Groundhog day". She's a perfectionist and excellent writer and I don't think she's ever completely satisfied. I would proof, but it was more from a technical aspect (i.e would the police do this instead of that, timelines OK, what would I have done, does this make sense, etc.). I'm an engineer, so obviously I would look at things differently than her.
Oddly enough, and to her frustration, I've never read her finished books from beginning to end. Read the same chapters countless times, first chapters, middle ones, last ones, other ones...all out of sequence too. I feel like I already read them a dozen times since I know what's going to happen. I think she's still somewhat pissed at me to this day. LOL
She's joined a few writing groups, and I think she has managed to sell more books and has higher ratings than the people with a publicist. Lot's of aspects involved - the story's got to be good, artwork has got to be intriguing, and finally marketing is the biggie. You might have the best book ever, but if no one reads it...serious bummer. No doubt breaks are need to reset the brain.
PM me your private e-mail and I will pass it on to her.
Good luck!