3words August begins tomorrow

Just saying. 🙂

No doubt I’ll see you here, right?

Right?!

 

 

Wonky Monky now in paperback

Well, the first story.

Available here:

https://www.createspace.com/4876482

 

 

And here:

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?

 

 

Wonky Monky reviews

 

Fun and delightful story! 13 July 2014

I enjoyed this thoughtful tale. The characters and the story were well written.After reading Wonky Monkey I bought wonky Monkey too and just finished it. Very delightful and fun read.

 

Delightful story for young and old. 13 July 2014

Just finished reading this delightful story. I enjoyed the characters and the story was well written, Waiting now for Wonky Monky 3. Keep up the good work David, I believe these stories have a place in our world to help children to cope with life. I will read it to my Grandsons ages 11 and 7.

 

 

I do love my Wonky Monky stories, so these are an absolute delight to receive. 🙂

Thank you so much.

Oh, and I do have a Wonky Monky 3 storyline in mind… I just haven’t been able to begin it because I’ve been more focused on editing others of late. But it WILL be started sooner rather than later. 🙂

3words July – tomorrow

3words will be returning tomorrow.

This time “we” will be writing for just 20 days, so “we” will generate a 2000 word story.

I’ve had no ideas so far regarding character, setting or plot etc, with which to set us on our way, so if you have an idea let me know.

Oh yeah, the “rules”:

It’s simple –

1. “We” choose a character name, setting or event so we all begin in the same place
2. Every day I post 3words here & via Twitter using #3wordswonky69
3. Every day any participant writes 100 words of a story INCLUDING the 3words
4. Post your 100 words via the #3wordswonky69 or on your blog or keep private
5. TWENTY days later (on the 20th) you will have a 2000 word story
6. Perhaps I’ll anthologise any interested participants’ stories into an eBook?

As we progress, others involved can suggest words for us to use, and no doubt I will incorporate some.

Anyone wanting to play along either post a comment to let me know, or just simply play along via the #3wordswonky69

 

 

editmonkey on your shoulder

Would you appreciate or benefit from having a little EDITMONKEY sitting on your shoulder, helpfully pointing out when you:

• use the wrong there/their, stationery/stationary, affect/effect
• should have a full-stop in place of a comma
• are missing quotation marks
• are using a passive voice
• use some words too often
• use words like very that can be replaced by stronger ones

?

Well, Economy Edits was created to help the indie writer on a budget. Find us @

economyedits.wordpress.com

 

 

requests update

A simple post for once, just to note the number of requests for each title. Yes, the numbers/names look a little sad n lonely at the moment, but hopefully in time…

 

SEVEN SNEEZES

• Requests: 4 … Katie, Liz, Olivia, Eduardo
• Reviews: 0

 

TELL ME SOMETHING TRUE

• Requests: 1 … Tamsin
• Reviews 0

 

KISSING CAFE WINDOWS

• Requests: 1 … Kay
• Reviews: 0

 

WONKY MONKY

• Requests: 0
• Reviews: 0

 

SWIMMING IN CLOUDS

• Requests: 0
• Reviews: 0

 

 

 

Kissing CaFriday Windows, part 1

Yay. Doing the right book on the right day. 🙂

Only…

What?

Nothing.

No, go on, spill it…

Ok, well, I’ve not been OVERLY focused on JUST Kissing Cafe Windows today.

D’oh!

No, bear with me…

I DID start the process rolling to create a paperback version of the book, so that’s good. And I also promoted it in a few places, albeit with my other books, too, as seen in my earlier post where I offer a free pdf copy for reviews (btw, YAY to Katie for taking me up on the offer – if you want to see YOUR NAME here then do likewise; I’m just saying).

I also contacted that friend regarding the altered cover for Wonky, but haven’t heard back. I also spent a little time on ECONOMY EDITS, but I think that’s allowed. Oh, and I started answering questions for another interview that will hopefully appear sometime in the next eight weeks – more info when I have it.

Plus, I need to find time to try and drum up more interest in July’s 3words… 🙂

 

 

a FREE copy of MY book for YOUR review

Hi.

Are you interested in reading one of my books for free in exchange for an Amazon review?

That’s why you’re here, right? I thought so.

Simply let me know which of my books below you would like to START with (see what I did there… enticing you to read one then another… subtle, huh?), and I will email you a copy. Easy. 🙂

And there are FIVE EXCITING OPTIONS. (Did you become extra-excited by the caps?)

 

First up, my romantic tale of one woman’s life:

 

This follows Lizzy Anderson from her first birthday when she realises she sneezes in sevens (hence the title – had to be a reason, right?). She struggles through a tough and lonely childhood, meeting the love of her life aged 9, and again at 18. They begin a life together, and we are drawn in to her journey, hungry for her highs and lamenting her lows as she weaves through adulthood, parenthood, love and death during one woman’s life, leading to old age and the inevitable. ( approx 310 pages / 93,000 words  )

 

Next, my possibly confusing dare of a read:

This story centres around Ed, a middle-aged, frustrated would-be-writer, family man struggling to maintain his grasp on a reality he finds he never really wanted, having been caught in the flow where there were more interesting lives he could have lived, if only he’d made other choices at three key moments in his life. When a catalyst creates a window of opportunity for him, Ed decides to write the novel he’s always dreamed about, but gets lost in a metafictional frenzy of ideas, struggling to find his true self while he and seven others live the same life. ( approx 730 pages / 275,000 words )

 

Next, a deliberate change of pace with my good friend Wonky:

Wonky lives in a carpet, and is the protector of 12 yr old Odd Bob, an overweight and often-bullied friend who used to talk with Wonky in the downstairs loo of his family home. As he grew up, he lost faith in Wonky, but Wonky’s always been there, trying to help and do the best he can for his friend. When the bullying worsens and Wonky’s frustration grows regarding being unable to help as much as he wants to, something strange was always going to happen. And it does. This is the first tale in a series. The second is already available. The third will be started soon. ( approx 40 pages / 12,000 words )

 

And finally, my two collections, the first being three novellas set in a cafe:

In the first tale, Cafe Books, a young man returns to his home town to help his mum with her cafe. He swore he would never return because of past problems with one particular girl, but can’t deny his mother. Then the girl walks into their cafe and all kinds of feelings, memories and secrets are exposed. In the second tale, Ten Minute Windows, a lonely and frustrated mother frequents the same cafe and sits at her favourite table every day, for just ten minutes, being the only time she has for herself. One day there’s an obnoxious man at her table, and he keeps coming back, day after day. In the third tale, Kissing The Mist, an undecided young fiancee seeks the advice of her much-loved, book-fan grandmother, bringing another old, second hand book as a gift. Only, this time the book comes with a history and the grandmother’s past unfolds and unravels the young woman’s delicate grasp on the life she’s found herself living.

 

And finally, my collection of (mostly) shorter stories:

This features ten of my favourite stories from the last twenty years, and include: a Pushcart Prize nominated story of two alienated sisters and one twisted father; a chance meeting in a public park between a man, a cheeky young girl, her dog and her mother; a super-short life story of an unappreciated working man who lives for his family; a once-exiled flasher who dares to return to his childhood village hoping for some kind of redemption; two co-workers struggling with their undisclosed-yet-known-about affair and their own feelings toward each other; a man talking with his lover’s cat at night in the garden, trying to right their problems, but only exacerbating them; a much-mocked/unloved father feeling compelled to spend more and more time in his dream-based reality; a mother and her young child mourning the loss of the dear man in their life, while trying to remain positive; an office clerk struggling with a family death and his drinking problems during an unwanted anniversary; and a man reflecting on his abused childhood and abusive wife, desperate to believe in something.

 

So there we have it. Or them. Hopefully something will tickle your fancy and you’ll want to read. And then review. Just leave me a comment or send me an email with your (first, heh) choice and I’ll express deliver a pdf copy to your inbox.

Many thanks for reading this far. I just wish I had something extra special to offer you by way of reward… oh wait…

Wonky Wednesday, part 1

Yeah, I know it’s Thursday, but I forgot what day it was yesterday.

Anyhoo…

Today I spent some time working on the Wonky Monky 1 story, trying to get it ready for PAPERBACK release. Yes, by me. But still. My little Wonky. In paperback. Well, soon. Not today. But we’re getting there. Just like with Tell Me Something True and the 3words collection… perhaps ALL NEXT WEEK. 😮

Also toying with a new cover, and have been seeking illustrations, but they either don’t quite feel right or they are hexpensive. I might even contact an old arty friend I recently re-found to see if she can conjure up something. But feels a tad rude. We shall see.