SAW A RAINBOW

Yesterday, around 6 PM I saw a rainbow. We had heavy rains in the morning, overcast the entire day with intermittent light rain. The sky around then had dark spots. Went into a Hallmark with my wife to get a birthday card, and some instant scratch Lotto tickets for a friend of the family. When we came out, the sun came out, the clouds broke and right in front of us see saw a complete rainbow.

So, I saw a rainbow. Big deal. Why would it matter if I did or if I didn't? The thing is when I check my email, I had received word that the physical copy of my book had been shipped via PRIORITY MAIL... meaning if the cards are right I should be receiving it today...If everything is fine and I approve it today...My book will become available through "my" e-store by Wednesday and Amazon by October 19th.

Guess, I'll be spending a lot of time updating various web sites where the old copy of my book appears.

CLOSER, EVER CLOSER

Just got word a physical proof has been order by the Support Team at Create Space working on my book. They advised me that it would about 5 days before it will be mailed out. As soon as I approve it, it will immediately become available through a direct link to their e-store, followed in about 15 days on Amazon.com

I read a post in one of the groups I belong to on LinkedIn.com, and after clicking on the link provided I believe I now have a possible story idea for another children's book.

I have a personal tagline which is on my business cards =
"YOU'll NEVER KNOW WHERE YOUR NEXT STORY IDEA WILL COME FROM"

So far I have gotten story ideas from;
1. Watching the antics of my two cats [Published / and is now being re-released as
as self-published book].
2. From my wife who had an idea for a story about a boy and his bean. [Manuscript
completed...waiting get it published...need $$$ from sale of first book.]
3. From an online critique ... a short-short story less than 2500 words revolving
around a fountain. [Manscript completed but now needs a major re-write.
4. From checking out a link from a group I belong to on LinkedIn.com [outline for
story line being formatted first in my head and then on paper. Right now
I have the mid-point of the story to the end...need to formulate now I will
begin it.

ANOTHER HURDLE MADE

Just approved the interior for my book. I've been advised I will be receiving a hard copy of my book within 8 business days.

So right now I'm just counting the days until my proof copy arrives. And the counting starts NOW.

TIME DRAGS

It's amazing no matter how many times you re-read what you have, you'll usually find something else whichs needs a little tweeting. Just as I got ready to give my final approval, I found two more little changes which I needed to make. Now I'm awaiting to get the next PDF.file for my book for my approval. Hopefully, I should get it tomorrow or Thursday.

I found some more minor changes in my second manuscript for a children's, and in my third manuscript I eliminate an entire portion [it could convey some wrong ideas as to how to behave to some readers. I read a post in another group I belong to, went to the link which had been provided, and to my surprise I'm now have the possibility of yet another story for a children's book. But then again, it fits the personal tag I have = "YOU'LL NEVER KNOW WHERE YOUR NEXT STORY IDEA WILL COME FROM".

STEP by STEP

About two days ago I submitted the changes I need to have for the interior of my book. The only restriction I had, is a limit of 20 changes, before I would be charged any additional fees.

I had a few text changes in a handful of paragraphs. How do I not have each change in a paragraph count....Simple copy the text from my original submission, paste it into what I want the text to read field, make my changes, and then tell them to replace the whole paragraph.

Since my book has illustrations, I need to have the text facing the appropriate illustrations. In the end, the next to the last page of text was almost blank due to the manner the text had been formatted. It didn't create any real problem, however it became tedious having to count every line on a page and then insert a page break to even out the last few pages of text. The end product will hopefully come out I way planned.

According to my count I still have about 7 changes left which I can make.

According to the timeframe I had been advised of, I should get a new PDF.file with these changes by Wed/Thurs.

THINGS HAVE SLOWED

Still in the process of approving the setup of my book with CreateSpace. I have only so many opportunities to make changes before they will start charging me. The cover [front and back] have already been approved. Now working with the book's interior is correct [size of illustrations, font type and size, and all margins]. Once that is okay, I can move on to the tedious task of being a "galley slave". No, not the kind under CAPTAIN BLIGH, the one using a RED PENCIL going through page after page making under the changes I want after the editor has gone through it. But, alas, the days of the RED PENCIL and paper are gone. Instead, I have the tedious task of indicating on a form, the page, paragraph, line for my change. Once they receive these changes, I have to wait for them to send me another PDF file for my approval. Once that is approved, I will receive ONE COPY of my book...once I give the green light, my book will available of AMAZON.com

ANOTHER STEP CLOSER

After a few tweets regarding the size of the illsutrations, text font size, etc., I've just approved the interior mockup of my book's first few pages. I had approved the book's design for the front and back cover previously. There I had been given two design concepts to choose from, and after some consideration I chose to go with one concept for the front cover and the second second for the back; each one with a minor tweet.

Now with this stage of the process done. I now have to wait until I receive a PDF file of my entire book, which is going to follow the format of the mockup I've just approved. Once I give my approval here, I then will received a hard copy for my final approval. I anticipate that these two steps will take approximately three week to complete [hopefully it will be less]. This would make my book available for purchase by the beginning of September.

As far as my other writing efforts are concerned;
I've now completed a total of 112 pages of 256 in my lastest editing/rewriting of my paranormal romance.
I have begun an outline for my YA paranormal.
In addition, I beginning to mull ideas in my head for a serials of YA books, probably involving the sci-fi/fanasty/time travel genres.

One thing I really have to do is to set-up a more defined timetable of what plan to do each day regarding my writing endeavors, distractions are allowed, but they should run my daily routine.