Featured Book
After over 10 years in print, Aisling D’Art‘s small coloring book, Coloring, Hippie Style, has – once again – surged in popularity.
Here’s its description.
Relax. Find yourself in a gentler time, when peace and love guided the planet… and inspired the hippie movement.
This small coloring book (5 1/4″ x 8″) will take you back to the 1960s, when art was inspired by the Beatles’ music, posters by Peter Max, and all things Woodstock.
You can download a free sample coloring page at this link.
Featured Author
In recent months, we’re pleased to see renewed interest in Shannon Bowen’s nonfiction books about a neighbor’s child abuse.
Sadly, it’s a topic that needs steady monitoring.
Though Shannon wrote them to get the attention of New Hampshire (USA) government offices, and fix a broken child protection system, her story has resonated with readers worldwide.
If you’re interested in a raw, unedited, and heartbreaking story, read Momma, Don’t Hit Me!
To reach Shannon for related projects, write to Shannon@NewForestBooks.com.
Links We Love
New fiction authors are encouraged to read Save the Cat! Writes A Novel, by Jessica Brody. You can learn more at her website, JessicaBrody.com.
Also, we recommend “tropes” books in authors’ respective niches. They can save you considerable time.
We also love these articles: How to Start Writing Again, by Mike Shreeve, and Scene Layering with an Example, by Rebecca Zanetti.
You may also enjoy this advice. Our authors have found it useful.
Coloring Books and Trademarks
Recently, some authors have worried about efforts to trademark popular and descriptive phrases related to coloring books.
Though we cannot give legal advice, our authors aren’t concerned about their coloring books’ titles.
First, it’s our understanding that trademarks cannot be enforced retroactively. That is, no one can trademark “bold and easy” and then try to take down existing coloring books using that phrase, if they were published before the trademark application was filed.
Also, per Justia, “Marks that are merely descriptive generally are not protected or accorded trademark rights.”
So, since the first “bold and easy” coloring book clearly stated that the phrase was descriptive, (the lines were “bold” and that made it “easy” to color the pages), we doubt that related trademarks can be registered.
Likewise, we raise an eyebrow if anyone tries to trademark adjectives like “cute” or “cozy.”
If you need further clarification for peace of mind, we recommend consulting an attorney.
Your AI Questions, Answered
Authors have asked our opinion of the use of AI in publishing.
For basic tasks, including general plotting and the very simplest of editing, AI can be useful. Grammarly is among our favorites for correcting typos and some awkward phrasing.
However, anything beyond that is risky. AI might suggest a concept, plot, or even character or location names that too closely match existing books, movies, plays, and TV series.
We still recommend hiring an actual human editor, preferably one that’s not relying on AI. If you’re not sure if your writing is professional enough, you may not recognize if an AI editing service made your book worse.
So, hire a professional with a good reputation.
Book covers can be a hefty expense for authors. Midjourney and other AI services can produce very good book cover art if you’re on a limited budget. However, AI art can be easy to spot. That could cause potential readers to dismiss your book, fearful that AI also produced the text.
AI can write effective book blurbs. However, some AIs write in a distinctive, recognizable style that – like AI book covers – might dissuade a reader from buying your book.
In general, we think AI can be a useful tool for authors, but it must be used cautiously.