Time Pullers by Horton Deakins receives honor

posted by 4RV Publishing  

 

      Horton Deakins' science fiction novel Time Pullers was named one of the USA Book Awards five finalists in its category. To be so honored with all the many entries is an accomplishment.

        Congratulations, Horton. 4RV is proud to see your novel added to the award winning books this year.

         

      Time Pullers can be found through various online and brick and mortar bookstores as well as the 4RV Bookstore.

What is a cover's sole purpose?

by Aidana WillowRaven

I've noticed a disturbing trend among thumbnails and cover shots of more and more book covers seen on sites like amazon, or author websites and blogs. Ambivalence.

Due to some very successful books bearing abstract cover designs and minimalistic visuals or symbols, some authors and publishers think they can stick almost any abstract visual on a cover and think it's going to attract an audience.

A book cover has one job and one job only. Yet, that job is worth 70% of a book's marketability and sales strength so it's a HUGE job. It must attract readers.

For a book cover of any genre, there has to be a hint as to what the genre is or people won't bother to even read what it's about. This seems somewhat basic, I know, but you have about a full second, maybe less, to catch a reader of your genre's attention. Your cover has to tell them your book is their genre almost instantly. See the cover I did for One More Mystery, by Vivian Zabel? It's very minimalistic, but you know right away, between the title and the cover art, that this would interest a crime/suspense/mystery reader. If your more into high fantasy, you know right away this book isn't it.

But you say you have a blog to build readership or a killer blurb that will  draw them in convince them to spend their money? Well, guess what, no one will bother to read your blurb or your blog if you don't first get their attention. That is the job of your cover.

Now you ask, "But what about those best selling crime and horror novels that have abstract covers?" Duh, those books/authors already have a following and fan base. Stephen King could spit on a napkin, sign it, slap on his next book, and it would sell ... because he's Stephen King. 90% of all authors are not, nor will they ever be.

Try to remember that your cover may not need to be what most would consider a full illustration, but if you want abstract, make sure it relates in a way that doesn't require reading the book before anybody knows even what the genre is.

All covers need to be simple enough to help a reader decide what the book is about and complex enough to gain that reader's attention. Too much (another topic I should address in a post) is as bad as a cover that doesn't relate to the book.

It's important for authors, designers, and publishers to know that a cover will attract or detract from a book, and a book is judged by its cover. Ambivalence will not attract that 70% of all book buyers.

Aidana WillowRaven

Art Director & VP of Operation

4RV Publishing

Promotion: Reviews of Time Pullers

by Vivian Zabel 

          Time Pullers, by Horton Deakins, is 4RV Publishing's first science fiction novel. The cover, designed by Aidana WillowRaven, represents the altered view readers will have about UFOs and other staples of SciFi.

          The novel has received many reviews and comments, all positive. Personally, I found the book intriguing, and I'm not an avid science fiction fan. However, I'll have to add Horton Deakins to my list of favorite writers in this genre: Anne McCaffrey (and with Elizabeth Ann Scarborough), Edgar Rice Borroughs, and Terry Brooks' earlier books.

          Let's read some of the reviews and comments about this "different" science fiction novel.

From Lew Silverberg :

I have finished reading the Time Pullers and want you to know how much I enjoyed reading it.  The book was full of surprises for me.  Not just the plot and the character development, but the originality and creativity that is evident.  Also evident the amount of research you put into it.  Different languages, different cultures, the military – all show how much you had put into the writing of the book.  Interestingly I also found much in it that I saw as auto biographical – much of you is in the story.  I guess you write about what you know, and what you know is often yourself, so it comes out on paper.  I was lost in a lot of the science –I take it on faith that there is something in there but it was over my head.  Nevertheless, I found it an exemplary work and I want to congratulate you for achieving it.  But the final twist I never saw coming!  Perfect! 

I guess you feel great pride at having completed it – or at least you should be proud.  So on behalf of me and my cousin Willa Silverberg here’s a salute to you!!!

(Author’s note: Willa Silverberg is a character from the book)

From Marian B.

Very compelling story! I had a hard time putting the book down this morning so that I could get a few other things taken care of! Very inventive!

From Suzanne M.

My son and his family left last Sunday and my brother-in-law and his family left on Wednesday, so I finally had the opportunity to start your book last night.  I am only 50 pages in, but I’m REALLY ENJOYING it!   

Your writing is very readable and the imagery works for me.  I could hear the brakes on the big rig as Clark Gable tried to stop at the gate.  I am visual, so I pictured the ’76 Trans Am as red and Dr. Dubois’ Citroen as black. 

I’m looking forward to diving into the story this weekend.

(note: Suzanne went on to finish the book and said she enjoyed it and would recommend it.)

Amazon Reviews: 

Five stars (by Jerry):  A great hard science fiction time travel book. Very intriguing and hard to put down. The scientific theory explanations are what sets this book apart from other sci-fi books. The detail of the time travel theories and the process leaves you convinced, and you have to remind yourself that this is fiction. Interesting characters, suspenseful storyline. If you enjoyed “Contact,” you will enjoy "Time Pullers"

Five stars (by Larry):  Very interesting book with some local color. A thinking person's book with intrigue and action. Moves along nicely. At each chapter's end, you want to know what is coming next.

 Reviews on the cover:

“Intrigue, duplicity, parallel universes and alternate realities combine to make this a novel that perhaps hits too close to home. Thank you Mr. Deakins for a fun read!” 

Wayne Harris-Wyrick, Celestial Wizard
Director, Kirkpatrick Planetarium , Science Museum Oklahoma

“Full of logistical details on how to deal with a threat from the past that can seriously ruin your day in the future.”

Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
Author of more than a dozen novels and co-author with Anne McCaffrey

          Time Pullers can be found through most bookstores, Amazon.com, and the 4RV Bookstore.