A Quick and Dirty Update...
I'm looking at the clock, recognizing how long it usually takes me to write these Blog entries, and noting that I need to be dressed and on scene for a fundraising event in less than an hour and a half. Can it be done? I've got this...
GO!
Last week I talked about the woes of waiting for editing on Wolfkin to be done. It puts a hard brake on progress in the publishing phase, but it's a necessary (repeat NECESSARY) part of production. Since then, my editor returned the first 30 pages of what she got done (well over double what we had agreed upon for her initial confirmation run). I'm tickled pink. She caught plenty of my goofy errors, had excellent input on less common flubs, and she's made great recommendations on things that can make my writing stronger (in this volume and in general). All concerns I had in waiting to see what this private contract editor could do for me are resolved. She's rock solid and excited about the project. We've got a winner.
GAME ON!
Game on indeed. In fact I tooled around on Createspace and confirmed that it was entirely possible to start the publication process without a completed manuscript. I now have my project started and my ISBN numbers assigned. (Now I'm just hoping I didn't screw up by not paying the $99 fee to get the universal ones. I couldn't remember which version I did for Ash to Ashes. Fingers crossed it doesn't come back to bite me in the posterior.) I also found the fonts I needed to be consistent with my previous title's interior, and started reading guides on how to setup the word document for book printing. Granted, I can't actually start working on that aspect yet, but it's good base knowledge to review. I can also play with it a bit on the other document I'm working on (more later).
Now you may be asking, "But C. Robert, why would you go with Createspace when they screwed you up once already?" That's a good question. Thank you for asking. The reason is pretty simple, really. Ash to Ashes is already with Createspace. They're still doing the printing and publishing aspects. Yes, they made my life more complicated by taking away the paid services (and really complicated the lives of all the folks they let go in the process), but they still stand as a decent umbrella company to publish through. Being able to buy my vendor copies at cost is no small benefit to consider, especially given that my highest sales returns so far have actually come from face to face sales or direct order. Also, they turn out a good product in good time. Granted, the overall quality of that product is now going to be entirely up to me and my editor/cover designer to meet the standard of the first book, but I feel pretty confident that we can succeed.
In the mean time, I've been working on another project that seems to be flowing along pretty well. My first short story is coming together nicely. I'm getting a little uneasy about the length of where the final copy is headed, but the content is fun and interesting. My goal is to have something that I can start hocking to periodicals to gain some better coverage and exposure for the series as a whole. If the requirements fit, I'll also be submitting it for publication with either Createspace or Kindle Direct Publishing (I'm not sure if one or both have minimum page counts for print copies). Either way, I'll figure out a way to have copies of this short story on hand at conventions and possibly for direct sale if my full book suppliers won't carry it.
Tonight I'm joining a Murder Mystery dinner event for the Seneca Free Library. They're raising funds for a musical garden on the east lawn. The murder mystery is Alice in Wonderland themed and somehow I got recommended as a natural pick for Tweedledum. I'm trying not to read too much into the implication, but I'm excited about the opportunity to participate just the same. It sounds like the event sold 50 tickets, so it should be a good turn out even with the stinking snow that's threatening to fall...in April...in the spring. (Gotta love the Midwest. *sigh*)
Well, I'll be. I did it. Record time. Full rundown of updates and still plenty of time to get changed and out the door! Booya!
