a much needed makeover.
That’s right, I said it.
The original version of Dance on the Sun was by no means horribly designed, but it definitely needed a makeover, one that I was actually quite excited to execute. Over the course of the year, I’ve learned a lot more about self-publishing and my skills in design—as well as my access to wonderful designers—has increased greatly. By utilizing Vellum, I was able to bring the interior of the book to a higher level of professional design, while also improving the legibility and setting myself up to be more consistent across titles in the series.
I also got to include something that I really wanted to the first go round, which was my glossary. I’m a bit of a word nerd, and developing the languages for Dance on the Sun was one of my favorite parts of the world building. While I wanted readers to be able to understand the meaning of the foreign words based off the context alone, I thought it would be a unique and fun feature to include the glossary at the back, in case anyone was curious about the etymology of the words. I kept in the pronunciation guide at the front of the book, and also added a map showcasing both countries and the land between. I have a full map for the entire continent that, once finished, will be posted under the Tales of Angaride page in books.
Another update in this second edition are the chapter headings and ornamental breaks, better reflecting themes and motifs of the story, while also looking far more cohesive than before. I had so much fun picking out the new elements and got positively giddy every time I applied them to the formatting. The vision came together so easily, each piece in its proper place the way I had imagined it at the very beginning.
The most notable difference, and perhaps the most important, is the new cover.
I adore the illustration my good friend Somi made for the first edition, and I really struggled with the idea of getting rid of it. After talking with Somi and chewing on it some more, we both agreed that going forward with the series, it would be best to have covers that are all clearly connected, and all within the same style. I also wanted to attempt a cover that related closer to the fantasy/romantasy genre, rather than the full illustration. I will still be commissioning Somi for character portraits in the future, and the original illustration of Reykjan will be on the TOA page as well, but the new cover really embodies the vibe of the book, and I think has a very magical feeling element to it. It feels warm and bright, and sets the expectation for a story that matches.
Overall, I’m so happy with how the second edition turned out and I can’t wait for you all to get to experience it in just a few short weeks!
Dance on the Sun will be on sale on Amazon starting December 1st, paperback for $17.99 and ebook for $2.99! It is always available to read for free through Kindle Unlimited.
