Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Being an author-publisher looks a lot like work...

I don't have a review ready to go today. I could blame it on having been on the road with my oldest son, visiting colleges (colleges? We're just getting some traction on this parenting thing, and it's almost over?). That would even be partly true. But I'm also working hard on all the final details for Halitor the Hero, which is still on schedule for its Nov. 30 release date!

There's a lot to do. Once the MS is clean and lovely as far as content goes (got there last week), the formatting begins. I spent yesterday in battle with MS Word getting it to where the ebooks should be perfect (I often wish my books had illustrations, but I admit that it is easier to create an ebook without them!). Now I'm working on the print version, which is easier in some ways (no need for live links!) but requires more of what I'm less good at, i.e. an artistic sense. This font or that? And I set myself a big challenge this time: I hired my amazing cover artist, Danielle English, only for the front cover. I'm doing the back and spine myself. In theory, this is well within my skills. In practice...the jury is still out!

Once that's done and all the chapter heads are just as I want them (and headers! footers! page numbers!), and I upload the whole thing, I'll finish that short story for Friday's blog and get back to your regularly scheduled entertainment!

Oh, and about that "NaNoEdMo" idea, where I was going to get Death By Trombone through the first round of edits by the end of the month? Not looking so good! But I am working on it, so I know I'll get there eventually. Maybe even by the end of the year (just in time to start the second round of edits in the new year).

Meanwhile, you can pre-order the ebook of Halitor from Amazon AND from Smashwords!


And don't forget the exciting pending release of the BookElves Anthology! I'll link up as soon as we have a pre-order page, because there are some cool holiday stories in there! Huge thanks to Princelings of the East author Jemima Pett for all the work she's doing on this!


And don't forget that Goodreads Giveaway for Halitor!


6 comments:

  1. Sounds like you are busy busy busy. Good luck with rest of your 'work'.
    Love the cover by the way.

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    1. Thanks, 'Worm! I am getting a sore backside from sitting at the computer so long.

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  2. Well, my good news is that I started a new file with threads of stories for the final Princelings book today. It may have to be split into two, or some of them make it into the anthology work I've had in mind as a filler before the final book, but...

    I wish I could get rid of all the other stuff I have to do (all of my own making, of course) and just write!

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    1. I hear you! Of course, much of what is overwhelming me is truly of my own making, but having given birth to that kid 17 years ago, I now have to help him figure out the college thing so he will eventually leave home!

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  3. Ugh, formatting! I jumped through all kinds of hoops for Felicia's last book to do it all ourselves and not have to spend money. It came out great in the end but, yes, it is definitely work. A TON of work! Headers and having them disappear at the right point... ahh...good times. :) Best of luck with it all. I'm sure it will turn out great. The best part of doing it yourself is if anything needs to be changed, you can do it! Have a great weekend, ahead.

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    1. Yes--headers and footers were the worst! I have really nailed the ebook formatting, including the live-linked table of contents. But I have to relearn headers and section breaks every time. Maybe if I get enough of my own and other peoples' projects through I won't have time to forget!

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