This one is all Deranged Doctor Design (except the subtitle, Survival of the Fairest, which was a gift from Tazlima), and provisionally, I quite like it, although I'm willing to entertain suggestions for improving it.
The big problem with this duology is that the first story ends in a cliffhanger. The way I wrote it, it has to. It's in two parts, first person, intitially from the POV of Snow White, and the second part from the POV of Prince Charming. Snow White loses consciousness at the end of her story. That's central enough that I'd consider it canon.
What always bugged me about SW is that here's this prince who shows up, and he could have a dozen mistresses or kill puppies in his spare time, but we're all so happy that he's taking SW away because he's rich. Blech. So part 2 is Jack's story.
They're too big to combine, at least as physical books. As it sits currently, SW part 1 is 115k and part 2 is 85k. So I'm doing the best I can with this cover (and the next, which isn't yet done) to make it clear that this is a single story in two parts.
Does this cover do this?
I'm also eager for marketing suggestions for it. Lots of people here don't self-publish, but we're all readers. How should I deal with a two-part, two-novel story where part 1 ends in a cliffhanger? Parts 1 and 2 in the same ebook, with only the physical books pubbed separately? Or publish the ebook for Part 1 cheap ($.99, which I dislike, but I could get over that), and part 2 full price? Or go ahead and sell both books for $2.99 each?
Which treatment wouldn't make you angry, as a reader?
I'm already planning on having a line at the end of the blurb for part 1 that states: The story concludes in Snow White and the Civil War part II, if I sell them as separate ebooks.
The main goal isn't to maximize profits. I just want to publish this story that I do believe in very much and not piss anyone off.
Anyway, feedback on my marketing quandary and /or cover very much appreciated.
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