Illustrator Launches New Logo, Website

So I loved the old website and the old logo, but I can't say I don't love the new:

Here's the thing:  it looks just like him!  I can't say the old one didn't look just like him, too:

Amazing illustrator who should be up to his eyeballs in work.  Click on the new logo at the top to see his website.  Just as good as the old, but a few more skulls.  lol.

The Elusive Book Review

And here I sit, patiently waiting and hoping that at least one of the giveaway winners will deign to post a review of Mickey and the Gargoyle.  Anyone that's pulled up my book's listing on Goodreads has seen by now that there's only one review in there, a gag review by me, the writer.  I'd love to swap that out for a real review some time soon. 

Personally, I think it's unethical to allow writers to review their own books--hence my 'prank' review.  If I'd leave that up once a real review was posted, mine would the skew the rating.  So I've vowed to remove mine even if the first review that pops up there is a scathing one-star commentary.

Right about now, I'd love it if Goodreads would provide giveaway winners with the ability to click a button verifying they've received the book, the same way they give writers a button to click when they've sent out the winning copies. For right now, I'm just checking daily for reviews.  :)

 

Giveaway Sucessful!

In the end, 958 people entered to win a copy of Mickey and the Gargoyle--I was surprised when it reached 100.  And I'm very anxious to get that first real review on Goodreads--even if it's a bad one.  I'll take my lumps. 

I had a few corrections to make in the book and so that delayed things a bit.  I had to wait for the revised copies to be shipped to me from the publisher but I got notice today they've gone out.  I should have them by the end of the week and be able to get those copies out to the winners by the weekend--Monday at the latest.

While I'm at it, I'd like to congratulate the winners on Goodreads:  Zena Petchey and Leah Cheung of Great Britain, and Kate Baynard, Candace Morales, and Amanda Guerra of the US.  Hope you all enjoy the book!

Ebooks - Finally Got the File Working

When I first got my book up on the Amazon website, I had to bail out of an ebook version of Mickey and the Gargoyle because of 1) changed titling fonts, and 2) wandering indents.

Well, Kindle still doesn't support the Matisse font but I did fix the indent problem.  I had to edit every single one of my 2,225 paragraphs one-by-one.

Now available for Kindle. Trying to get it up for Nook but PubIt! doesn't like my file size or the cover--neither will upload.  Odd.  The file size on the interior and the resolution on the cover file are both within their stated requirements.  I'll keep working on it. 

Goodreads Giveaway

Not sure why the code they give me doesn't display properly as widget code, but the giveaway on my book is up and will be running through the end of January, 2013.  Check it out.  If you're on Goodreads, enter to win a free copy.

Amazon...sucks.

"Look Inside" has been quite a hair-pulling experience.  First, it seemed like forever before the feature began working on Amazon. 

Flaw #1: Takes 6 - 8 weeks before it appears on your title's listing on the website.

Why so long?  So much occurs in a split second over the internet--why so long to put up a preview on a site where they have the pdf of your entire manuscript?  Their FAQs say 7 - 10 days.  The emails I got back from support said 6 - 8 weeks.  Amazon said CreateSpace was holding things up.  CreateSpace said Amazon owns the feature so they're the holdup.  Hmmm.  So you sit there between the rock and the hard place, completely powerless and waiting for the preview to show up on your listing.  I was rapt with anticipation.

Well, be careful what you wish for.

It's all very confusing because, even though Amazon owns CreateSpace--which should mean they're the same company--you have to check between four different accounts in order to exercise any kind of 'dashboard' control: Amazon, Author Central, CreateSpace, and Look Inside.  I go to my Amazon account and don't see my book--in that account, I'm just another shopper.  Maddening.

Flaw #2: Several different accounts to keep up with, though all four are the same company. 

Yeah.  Shoot me.  I hate to grouse.  This is my first book and my first experience with all of this, and they don't appear to make any real effort to make it user-friendly.  When I sign into Amazon, I should see my book--anything I own, buy, or sell on that site.  I had to explain to the support person who responded to one of my many queries what 'dashboard' control was.  Are you serious?

On CreateSpace, there is an option in the pulldown menu that is specifically labeled 'dashboard.'  Join Goodreads--you can go to your dashboard.  I don't think I've ever joined any discussion forum on any site on the web, ever, that didn't give you a dashboard.  Start a blog on any site--they'll give you a dashboard.  And I was asked what dashboard control was, by someone supposedly in tech support.  Um...

Having to keep track of four different accounts might not be a big deal...until you need to fix something, change something, add something, or delete something.  And ta-da, that's what dashboard control is.  For 'ease of use,' Amazon gets a 2 out of a maximum rating of 10.

Flaw #3: Built-in spoilers.

Big, big flaw.  Huge flaw.  I cringed as soon as I went to the Amazon site to my title's listing, saw that the "Look Inside" feature was up and running, and took it for a test drive.  First, shoppers can't see beyond page 6.  I start numbering pages in my book with page 1 of chapter 1.  I'm not going to number the dedications page or a prologue if I had one, or the table of contents.  Sorry, that would be knuckle-headed.  Some books don't physically number those pages either but they account for them.  You know that's the case when you open the book and the first page of the first chapter is numbered '12.'  I hate that, but it's beside the point. 

So I flip through to the actual story--what anyone thinking of buying the book would be interested in to the exclusion of everything else (and why not? That's where they're going to judge whether the story is exciting or boring, or the writing is good or bad, correct?)  And surprise, the preview stops at page 6.  In my book, that's not even through the first chapter.  I'm a completely unknown writer and this is my debut title.  Six pages just isn't going to cut it.

Second, my ending was up and viewable by the public.  Maybe I'm from the moon or something, but that's a spoiler, right?  This would be an issue for any work of fiction, wouldn't it?

Non-fiction is safe.  What's at the end of a non-fiction book?  Addendum?  Bibliography?  Appendix?  Even if part of the ending was featured, would 'spoiler' ever been an issue?  It's non-fiction.  Okay, say they put up a preview that shows the ending of a book about the Titanic.  Hmm.  Okay, at the risk of ruining it for someone out there, uh, the boat sinks.  Sorry.

How about a cook book?  Listen, if you're okay with me peeking at your county fair award-winning recipe for boysenberry pie that appears in the front of your book, then I'm sure you won't get your bloomers in a twist if I also get a look at your recipe for hunter stew that appears all the way in the back.  Again, a preview of the end of a non-fiction book is rarely, if ever, an issue.

Well, in fiction, a preview that includes back-matter is nothing short of a spoiler.  When was the last time you walked into a Wal-mart to the book section, flipped to the end of a book to see who the killer was, and then put it back down?  Who does this?  Nobody.  "Hmm, yep, the butler did it.  Don't need to read this one."

It's inane, if you ask me.  A preview on a fiction book should be 100% front-loaded.  Being able to see the back cover is fine, and that's not part of the preview anyway.  My title's front and back cover were already viewable before the "Look Inside" feature was even up and running--it's an image file.  So for what logical purpose would 'the powers that be' over at Amazon make the ending of my or anyone else's fictional book part of the preview?

From a few online dictionaries:

Spoil ' er  noun

1. a person or thing that spoils, as in the person or publication that reveals a plot twist or resolution from a book or movie
2. a remark which reveals important plot elements from books or movies, thus denying the reader or viewer the proper suspense from reading the book or watching the movie 
3. when someone reveals a previously unknown aspect or resolution from a book or movie which you would have rather learned on your own
4. a published piece of information that divulges a surprise such as a plot twist in a book or movie                 

Previews such as those available in features similar to Amazon's "Look Inside" should be 100% front-loaded on all fiction titles. Flaw #4: Writers who write the books that are being previewed have absolutely no say in how much or what part of the book is preview-able Set maximums--that's fine.  There will be the occasional overzealous writer who wants to make their whole book preview-able.  So set a maximum.  However, the writer should be able to determine what is viewable.  Problems such as these would not arise if the writer was given the control of what and how much is included in a preview.  And yet, it's random.  Why?  There are apps in beta testing that work better than the "Look Inside" feature.  Amazon, work on the program before you offer it as a feature.  Before. And when I say it's glitchy, I'm not the only one having issues.  But where you really run into trouble is when you find that you hate the thing and decide you want out.  It takes days, even weeks to get it back off of there, and this process is aggravated by the fact that you have four separate accounts rather than just one.  Good luck finding any 'opt out' option.  It's like you've been inducted into the cabal.  Here's a guy who couldn't find it either.  And another one.  And Amazon will tell you that revealing your book's ending by way of this glitchy feature isn't copyright infringement.  I beg to differ. So you email support.  You get an automated response saying they received your inquiry and will respond within 2 days.  Back and forth and back and forth, and finally, it comes down.  Then, mysteriously, a week or so later, it's back up again.  And the process starts all over again.  Read the comments posted on that first article--you get in and can't get back out again.  Amazon needs to show more respect to the people who are writing all the books selling through their website. But like so many things nowadays, the grousing of customers means nothing to 'the powers that be,' and it's a 'shut up and smile' kind of a thing. Want a preview?  Check out the tabs at the top of this blog.  I give you six chapters to chew on.  You can't get that at Amazon.  You've never heard of me.  I'm an unknown writer and this is a debut book.  Six chapters, I give you.  Given the circumstances, do you deserve any less?

Okay, this seems to be working...

Snapshots of the pdf file seem to be working.  It's not perfect, but it's the best so far.  Now that I've gotten all the chapters up, I've deleted the "Look Inside" tab, as it's no longer necessary.  You can see the chapter titles for the whole book in the 'Contents' tab, and then read chapters 1 - 6 at your discretion by clicking on the tabs (above) for each chapter you want to see.

I had to make 'snapshots' of each individual page, so you'll notice that each page appears as an image.  As you view the images, you may also notice that there appears to be a wider margin on one side of each page than there is on the other, and that it shifts back and forth from one page to another.   

This is not an error.

It is because these are the images from the publisher's print file.  The side of each page that has the wider margin is the side/edge of that page that is seated in the printed book's spine.   

When you're in the tab for the chapter you're reading, click on the first page.  That will open up another window with a large image of the first page in that chapter, and you'll notice small icons along the bottom.  These icons are for all the other pages in that chapter.  When you finish reading one page, you can then go to the next page by clicking on the next icon along the bottom.

The resolution in the printed book is nice and sharp and crisp, as would naturally be the case.  The resolution in the images is a little less sharp, but basically, you're reading the actual book.  

Let's see how this goes.  Like I said, it's worked the best of all the methods I've tried so far.

Amazon Author Page

Got my 'author page' set up on Amazon. I'm still trying to figure all this out.  I'm approaching 50.  I remember 8-tracks and bell-bottoms and cassette players.  I remember record albums.  I think I do pretty good with the whole internet, computer, social networking thing for an old woman.

Oh yeah, please go buy my book.  :D

Now live on Amazon!

I don't have the "Look Inside" feature up and running yet, and it might be a few days before I have the ebook file working--having formatting issues on that one--but the paperback is up and live on Amazon.  As with any POD books, the prices tend to be higher than what you'd pay for a bestseller paperback in, say, Walmart.  Just know that the writers of these books have no control over that.  You can keep the price somewhat reasonable, per CreateSpace, by going with their most common trim size which is 6 x 9, and that's the size I went for.  POD publishers set the minimum price--not the authors.  Just so you know.

Per the email I received, it may be weeks before the "Look Inside" feature is active.  It's done automatically.  I'm very anxious to see that up and running, as I think it's entirely necessary for a writer in my situation, or should I say "predicament."  Unknown writer, debut title, self-pubbed?  No way I'll sell even a single copy until prospective buyers are able to look inside and check out the storyline somewhat, and gauge the level of writing.  Even then, if I sell so much as ten copies, I'll just figure I've been sucked into an alternate universe.  I'm just so excited!

This title is Christian fiction.  I am a Christian children's writer, mostly of fantasy and mystery.  I don't trade morality for 'tension' or decency for 'character flaws' or the Christian worldview for 'keeping up with the times.'  I don't subscribe to the notion that Christian fiction--particularly that which is written for kids--has to be boring, schmaltzy, or out-of-touch.  It can be fun.  It can be hilarious.  It can be adventurous. 

I also don't get bogged down in 'tribalism.'  If you're looking for Christian fiction that chains itself to a particular denomination or doctrine, you'll be sorely disappointed.  Any book I write can be read by any Christian child, and this first story is no different.

My own denomination is another story.  I was raised Catholic, am now studying Orthodoxy, and feel quite to home in either church.  You will find links on this blog to websites and online radio stations for both denominations.  And I don't care what denomination you are, your heart's gotta be made of little frosty ice cubes to not enjoy a loaf of raisin Monk's bread!  Yum!  Seriously, we don't need any more in-fighting, back-biting, divisiveness, and negativity than we already have.  No tribalism.  Only a fool divides his own numbers.

And then there's John 13:35 to contend with.    

This is the first book in a series.  Mickey and the Gargoyle is about an eleven-year-old boy and his nine-year-old sister who go looking for a lost baseball and instead, end up finding a portal.  Kind of a modern version of Wizard of Oz where the tin man, scarecrow, and lion that help Mickey and Fidget find their way through the dark, creepy underworld are three gargoyles named Grigori, Constantine, and Otto.

Gargoyles are, so far, only portrayed as evil monsters--in books, movies, video games, and cartoons--and yet, historically, they were made for scaring evil away from churches.  But as Mickey said, "What kind of a monster guards a church?"  That's not a monster at all--that's a protector.

To me, that absolutely screamed "undiscovered hero in Christian children's fiction."   And given current trends toward dark and gothic themes, this series will appeal to those interests and still manage to satisfy that without glorifying or glamorizing the dark side of the world or the dark side of people.  It does not take kids down a dark path and then attempt to redeem itself at the very end after the damage is done.  

I have another series in the cradle stage that I hope to be an exciting, funny Christian parallel to Encyclopedia Brown or Joe Sherlock.  I hope it will also remedy some of the hostility and downright bullying that is approaching fever-pitch in this country and culture against fat people.  Not stout, heavy, 'big-boneded' or any other euphemism.  Fat. The word is fat, and I don't mind a bit because it's not the word that hurts.

Why is this issue important to me?  Because bullying is bullying, and I am the fat kid. 

There's nothing like it in the world...

...holding your very own book.  About the only time I have for reading a book is on the buses I ride every day on my way in to work, and this time, I'm reading my own story.  Too exciting!

 

And no, I never thought I'd see the day!

I'm reading it through again.  Pray I find no errors.  I've read it so many times, I've nearly got it committed to memory, but this is the proof copy.  I want to approve it this weekend so I can get the book live on Amazon.  If I see even one more error, I have to start the whole process over again and I just don't want to get bumped back to square one again.  I've spent too much time on that square.

Mickey and the Gargoyle

Mickey and the Gargoyle

I've never been much of a blogger, but I now find myself in the unique position (yeah, right) of having written a book.  If I sell ten copies, I'll do several back-flips on a trampoline that's been set on fire.  I need to be blogging if I want people to find me and find my book.  That's just the way of things in the world today.  And I've decided not to harass, harangue, or cajole friends, relatives, coworkers, and passing acquaintances into buying my book.  There are still lines out there that I refuse to cross.  No spamming friends on Facebook and Twitter.  No arm-twisting. 

My book's just about ready to go live on CreateSpace and Amazon, though I want to go on the soapbox for a minute in order to give you a heads-up about ordering through Amazon.  Excellent website, however, the self-published, POD (print on demand) books ordered through that site are printed at a different facility than the ones ordered through the CreateSpace website, even though they are the same company.  

The problem isn't with the Amazon website--it's the printing facility.

However, a lot of writers who go the route of POD and have their books listed on Amazon are frustrated with the binding problems.  We write a book, someone expresses enough interest and confidence in that title to go to the bother of ordering it, and they receive a book, open it, and pages fall out.  Writers like us are already fighting tooth and nail for the slightest bit of respect and validity, and this certainly doesn't help.

The long and short of it is this: I'm recommending that anyone who decides to order my book for their kid, please order through the CreateSpace listing that is linked above.  I'm sure Amazon will address the binding issues at this facility where they print the POD titles, but until then, go to CS.

Off the soapbox and back onto the issue at hand:  I've never been so excited in my life.  This book is the first in what will be a series.  This is Christian children's fiction, fantasy/mystery, and middle grade--that's readers aged 8 - 12.  In the world of Christian fiction, fantasy falls under the heading of 'speculative.' 

This story is a modern-day Wizard of Oz of sorts, with eleven-year-old Mickey Walker and his nine-year-old sister, Fidget, finding themselves trapped in 'the dark, creepy underworld.'  Their 'tin man, scarecrow, and lion' are three gargoyles:  Grigori, Constantine, and Otto.  

Perhaps this strikes some as an odd premise for Christian fiction specifically, and children's fiction in general.  Gargoyles are portrayed in books, magazines, video games, and even cartoons as vicious, evil monsters.  Perhaps they neglected to check the history books.  First, gargoyles were created in order to cast water from buildings.  Medieval gutter spouts.  That's what they were, primarily, and that just doesn't sound too scary to me.  

Second--and more importantly--they were designed to scare evil spirits away from old churches.  Doesn't sound like a malevolent being to me.  As Mickey says in this first book, "What kind of monster guards a church?"   He then very accurately determines they're not monsters--they're protectors.  The whole idea of this just absolutely screamed out "undiscovered hero in Christian children's fiction" to me, and I think it worked quite well.  Hopefully, your kid feels the same way.

And finally, I want to put in a word here with regard to the book's illustrator, William R. Palacio.  I'm not much for commercials, but if I feel strongly about any product or service, I'll put in a good word for them, and without any money changing hands.  If this guy isn't absolutely up to his eyeballs in work, there's something tragically wrong.   I still can't believe I was able to afford him.  Are you kidding?  I'm a bus rider.

If you're writing a book, particularly a children's book where this artist really shines, you better email this guy. 

This guy isn't just amazing--he's affordable.  Those two things don't usually go hand-in-hand.  You only ever get one or the other...unless you hire William Palacio.  Check these out:

Bill's glowing recommendation aside, this book will be live on both CreateSpace and Amazon--barring any unpleasant/unforeseen issues when I review the proof copy--by the weekend.  My heart's all aflutter.  :)

Email me!