Paperback publishing
… and other things
My novel has been out in Kindle form for a couple of weeks now and last week I published a paperback version on Amazon.
This is a slightly more complicated procedure because it means I have to alter the cover image to cater for different proportions and continue the image around to cover the spine and potentially the back cover as well.
I’m not a graphic whizz and getting the image to be outpainted enough to extend all the way across to the back cover is beyond my ability, especially since I soon began getting extra Opera Houses popping up.
In theory, the image would extend to show more of the CBD skyline, the curving waterfront of Farm Cove extending around to Mrs Macquaries Chair – a rock shelf on a point of parkland where an early governor’s wife used to sit and watch the harbour – with the Sydney Botanic Gardens providing a rising green backdrop and probably a ferry or two on the water.
As can be seen, I only got as far as the spine. Maybe I could have found some way to bodgy the image further across but I’m under the gun on another project.
Besides, I ran into problems
I sent a copy of the ebook to a friend and within a couple of hours I began getting text messages.
Punctuation shortcomings and inconsistencies. The worst, at least in my eyes, was that Crispin Shrike was hunting in the fiction section of the library for his books under ‘F’, reflecting not just his previous name but his previous style of book.
I’d done a global search-and-replace for Finch and Alastair/Alistair but forgotten about the two library scenes.
And a few other bits and pieces.
How embarrassing! I’ve been over every chapter several times and although I knew it wasn’t perfect I thought I’d caught all the big problems.
There are a few minor problems with timing on the trip to Port Arthur I’m aware of, and will fix before I upload fresh versions.
A new publishing platform
I have the book up on Kindle Select, meaning Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read it without paying anything extra, but that locks me into the Amazon ecosystem.
For the ebook. Not for print. I’ve published a print book on Draft2Digital, where it will be available for those who don’t like Amazon. A few such souls exist.
Link to be provided shortly once it goes through all the stages.
In other news
I’m working on two books:
The sequel to Jane Austen Goes to Sea
The cosy mystery that Carrie sits down to write
Neither have anything more than working titles at the moment. More to follow as it happens. I have an idea or two for a series of cosy mysteries and their cover images but really nothing much more than thoughtsketches.
I’m deeply into a spreadsheet to keep track of times, characters (read ‘suspects’), and clues. I have to ensure that my amateur sleuth can get everything straight and more importantly, the reader has a chance to follow along and maybe solve the mystery first.
All the while keeping the tension crackling.
This is not easy.
Uh-oh. Wait. The sheriff has just swung into action, based on grainy security camera footage of a man in a kilt. Gotta rush!
Britni
Oh yes the love of publishing. You know it is ok not to be perfect. We are humans after all. Most books have mistakes even with multiple edits. I am sure your book is just the way it meant to be. I been using D2D and Lulu for publishing. Simpler just formatting one time.
I copy/paste so much in the past and missed SO MUCH! Now I use the one doc... I'm still crazy but a little more sane. I love D2D... will have to try them with print. I use them to publish library ebooks of my titles in KU.