3words August begins tomorrow

Just saying. 🙂

No doubt I’ll see you here, right?

Right?!

 

 

how brave is an agent?

HOW BRAVE ARE YOU? is the working title of the compelling and eye-opening book I have been editing for the wonderful Nicole Delacroix:

http://nicole-delacroix.com/nicoles-blog/

https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NicoleDelacroix/about

It is a riveting and sexyfun read, being a somewhat voyeuristic ride through the innermost thoughts of all the kind (and kinky) souls who anonymously completed Nicole’s questionnaire. I was intrigued, shocked, amused and (yes, I’ll admit it, a little) titillated by its honesty and good-time-sass. 😮 🙂

So yes, the final run-through is now complete, and I want to thank Nicole for letting me play a part in her crazywonderful ride, and wish her & HBAY all the very best in finding an agent/publisher.

The question now is: HOW BRAVE IS AN AGENT?

If you think you know of one who might just be brave and insightful enough to be interested in an unputdownably sexy read, please get in touch. 🙂

 

 

3words Redux kindle available

Yes, that’s right – I managed to NOT focus on my EconomyEdits job for the weekend, the first two consecutive days I’ve not client-edited since I began.

Thanks for the ok, Nicole. 😉

On top of that, I actively worked on ME things. First, I tarted up all the 3words shorts that I wanted to include in the collection. Then I created an eBook. And then I began working on the paperback version (give it a couple of days – tomorrow’s busy, and I’m back on the job again :)).

Oh, and I finished reading my novel TELL ME SOMETHING TRUE. I don’t like to toot my own horn, but… Man, I enjoyed reading that. I do think the intentional typos could be an issue, though, so will be stop-gapping that tomorrow or Tuesday by adding a “WARNING: TYPOS AHEAD!” type page at the start. And then see from there.

But today is more about 3words Redux now being available on Amazon as an eBook, and can be found here:

I do like that cover. 🙂

And don’t forget – 3words August will be upon is in just a few days… so please seriously think about committing just 10 minutes a day to an ongoing story. You never know – you may love it! Obviously, I think you will. 🙂

 

 

a question for readers and writers

My novel TELL ME SOMETHING TRUE is about life and writing, and how each affects or directs the other. It features an amateur / wannabe writer as its main character, and even less able amateur / wannabe writers as its lesser main characters (with non-writers also present in large numbers, so don’t worry 😉 ).

However, because they are amateur writers, I actively chose to leave in & insert some typos and tense & punctuation errors, as they wouldn’t be perfect as writers or editors of their fiction, and I thought these errors played an important part in the story. Don’t get me wrong, there aren’t thousands, despite it being a 700 page book, but they are randomly scattered.

And yet, while I’m re-reading it in paperback form, I’m now left wondering if –until this idea becomes obvious that it’s intentional, and the proliferation of wannabe writers is understood– readers will simply think the book isn’t fully edited. And, as a paid editor, I really wouldn’t want that. 😮 🙂

So, my question to you is this: which of these options below do you think I should do, and why?

• (a) Leave everything as is – if the reader doesn’t “get it” or walks away early so be it
• (b) Leave everything as is, but add an ‘idiot guide’ type feature at the start to ‘warn’
• (c) Correct all typos for the MAIN character, but leave others to “highlight difference”
• (d) Correct all typos etc for the MAIN character as per (c), but ADD the ‘idiot guide’
• (e) Correct ALL typos as it will otherwise alienate readers as amateurish or pretentious

I think I want to stand true (for the moment, at least) with (a), but if enough voters suggest otherwise I will seriously consider editing.

Plus, the more I think about it, the more I think I (and a potential reader) might benefit from a line added one the dedication page, along the lines of: “There are some intentional typos in this novel. The reason for this will become clear as you read.” ?

Thank you for your time.

 

 

CreateSpace & Kindle covers – an idea

A quick word about creating covers for Kindle and paperback via Amazon and CreateSpace.

Yes, both can be strugglesome and limiting. As I’m sure you’ve found.

But something I’ve found that is possible with covers at both is… you can design your own front (and back, with CreateSpace) cover elsewhere via another platform and then upload the whole thing as a single file. This will then cover ALL of the front (and back at CreateSpace) if you opt for the relevant template. Of course, the file needs to be BIG to avoid blurring, and the DPI for the image preferably mahoosive.

Another thing I found is that you can play around with the Author & Title text boxes. I liked one design for my collection Swimming In Clouds, but didn’t like where the Author & Title boxes were PLACED, so, I simply switched them around, and effectively had my author name as my book title and my book title as my name.

For example, in the image below:

 

This was created using a Kindle template. However, DAVID BURTON is in the book title box, SWIMMING IN CLOUDS is in the subtitle box, and TEN TALES OF FAILURE AND HOPE is in the author name box. All I did was type over the text in each box as above, then clicked preview and saved that file. Of course, when I backed out the initial page now showed that TEN TALES OF FAILURE AND HOPE was the author of “DAVID BURTON – SWIMMING IN CLOUDS”. All you need do is retype the correct information in the correct boxes, so everything will now list as it should via Amazon. Of course, when you re-open the preview you’ll find everything is rejigged as I just said above, with DAVID BURTON now where SWIMMING IN CLOUDS is in my photo, etc. But all you need do is upload the image and make sure it covers the whole cover and then hit preview and ultimately save, leaving your details where you would prefer them on the cover, but still assigned correctly for Amazon purposes in the file information.

Below is another example, and one I am currently considering for my WONKY MONKY series. The image of the monkey and the noticeboard is an image at i-Stock that I am close to buying.

 

All I did with this was open it with Paint, then stretch it, and then simply create some text boxes and filled in the relevant information, leaving me with this:

And then I uploaded it to a CreateSpace template, adding the blurb on the back, so we have this:

I simply need to convince myself that this looks good enough to justify the expense for the image. 😉

Any thoughts?

 

 

swimming in clouds paperback arrived today

Looks, feels and smells (yes, I said it) fabulous. 🙂

If you’re jealous, feel free to get your own:

https://www.createspace.com/4878938

I’ll post a pic of me n my books when the other two arrive. OR, if I can finalise a Wonky cover style, when the four plus Wonky arrive. Bet you can’t wait. 🙂

 

These are ten of my favourite stories, being tales of everyday people struggling through sadness and hope while hoping for connections within distance, all of them trying to find a liveable pathway through the minutiae of daily living.

In A SWIM IN THE CLOUDS, two once-close sisters reconnect through words and books, but mostly through action while confronting their dark past, and their hopes for a better future.

In GIRAFFE SPOTS, a lonely man who is missing his sister’s support learns how to blow bubbles and forgive while spending an afternoon in the park with three surprising new friends.

In UP AGAINST A WALL, an everyday family man stoically performs his job, but lives for his family, while feeling his life is unappreciated by all, especially his beloved, distant daughter.

In BOBBY LOU, a once-exiled and self-confessed flasher returns to his home town seeking redemption, reconciliation or understanding, and rekindles an important connection.

In HAZARD LIGHTS, two lonely co-workers struggle to be true while keeping their affair a secret, yet daren’t admit even the most rudimentary feelings towards each another.

In COLD, a relationship-questioning drunk discusses his problems with his partner’s cat in the garden while said partner sleeps, seeking answers or reason but finding only mistakes.

In HALFWAY HOME, a long-term family man struggles to find any kind of happiness in his distant wife or mocking daughters, and finds he feels happier living within his sleeping reality.

In EVERY MINUTE, a boy and his mother struggle to find any kind of sleep or peace, pining for the man of their house who is no longer with them, while wishing for a better future.

In HOW EASY WE BREAK, a barely-functioning, self-distancing alcoholic tries to keep hold of himself but slips, and slips again, influencing and harming those who would love him.

In LADDERS, a currently unemployed, middle-aged, repeating-father is unhappy at home, but finds an unexpected way to dream while resolving his past mental and physical issues.

 

 

3words July – day 9 of 20

Today’s words are: ENOUGH – CONTINUE – AMAZING.

And my ongoing story:

 

“Should I know what you mean?”

Sandy simply stared at him.

Danny smiled and shook his head. “You mean my story?”

“Sure.”

“Let’s see. I’ve always been a guy’s guy-”

“Is that right?”

“What?”

“No, no. If you say so. Please continue.”

Danny rolled his eyes. “But recently we’ve not been hanging out so much.” He looked away, but quickly back. “And I met this girl. We hit it off immediately. It was amazing.”

“Right,” Sandy snorted. “And she’s Australian?”

“How did you guess?”Danny laughed, guzzling beer.

“Fine,” she said. “If you’re not man enough to go first, I will.”

 

 

kcw – first copy received

Not by me, as my copies haven’t arrived yet, but by Lois, who I revealed the other day was the first person to buy a copy from CreateSpace. Thanks for sharing a photo of my “baby” arriving home…

economy edits logo & testimonials

Just managed to create this, and felt like sharing… A re-shaped copy of my logo  and testimonial snippets from economyedits.wordpress.com

Now I simply need to find places to put it… 🙂

 

 

tell me something MORE

In an exciting development late last night, I had a very pleasing email conversation with the joy-sharing current reader of my novel TELL ME SOMETHING TRUE

She shared some kind words about the story, which touched and pleased me greatly, as although it’s probably an awkward read due to its length and number of “main characters”, it’s still a novel I love.

We then discussed the cover. I said I thought it played nicely with the idea of all the questions and direction choices within the tale, but as she suggested alternatives I instantly knew I preferred those ideas.

So I looked at my online source for images and found a few that kind of matched the ideas we were discussing, but was dismayed by the cost (from £45- £90 or higher), as I really don’t have that kind of budget at the moment, despite how we all know we should invest in our covers.

But then this friendly-helpful reader said she has artistic friends who she thought would be happy to help. And for “just” a mention/credit. How sweet/kind/generous is that?

So yeah, in the coming weeks we may see another change to the TELL ME SOMETHING TRUE cover, but if we do, I think it’s going to be the best one yet, and the one that feels closest to the story within my novel’s pages.

I have been meeting the ABSOLUTE BEST people on the internet this week. 🙂

Many thanks to Tamsin. You can find her here:

http://writocracy.blogspot.co.uk/

&

https://plus.google.com/118277372998239972920/posts