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I set myself a target to start writing again in earnest on May 1st, rather than just dabbling with the new novel. The reason I've held back is that I am limited on writing time and wanted to give But First Maintain the Wall all my attention and not to rush through the final stages. The novel has been read by the professional proof reader, and I've made all the amendments. I have changed the document to a book sized file and set everything out as I want it to be when it goes to print. This includes acknowledgements, an introduction and the copyright page.
The next job is to re-format again, in order that the novel can be read as an e-book. For this the document is put back to A4 size and I have to choose from a limited range of fonts. The fancy chapter headings have been changed back to Arial. With electronic books being read on various devices of different sizes, I can't see exactly how my words will look on a screen and so now each chapter has a page break so they will always start on a new page. I've added a contents list and hyperlinked it. What is hyper-linking? It means that if the reader wants to go to a particular chapter they can click on that chapter in the contents and go directly to it.
So, what is stopping me from publishing my fourth novel? I am waiting on the cover designer who had some other work to complete first. She's working on my cover now and I've seen the background, so hoping the figure will be added very soon and then it's just the words to go on. I can't wait to see the finished sample.
I'm hoping that within the next week the files will be sent to the printer and proof copies of But First Maintain the Wall will be on their way...
The next job is to re-format again, in order that the novel can be read as an e-book. For this the document is put back to A4 size and I have to choose from a limited range of fonts. The fancy chapter headings have been changed back to Arial. With electronic books being read on various devices of different sizes, I can't see exactly how my words will look on a screen and so now each chapter has a page break so they will always start on a new page. I've added a contents list and hyperlinked it. What is hyper-linking? It means that if the reader wants to go to a particular chapter they can click on that chapter in the contents and go directly to it.
So, what is stopping me from publishing my fourth novel? I am waiting on the cover designer who had some other work to complete first. She's working on my cover now and I've seen the background, so hoping the figure will be added very soon and then it's just the words to go on. I can't wait to see the finished sample.
I'm hoping that within the next week the files will be sent to the printer and proof copies of But First Maintain the Wall will be on their way...
- Published on
This weekend I did my first craft fair for the year. I've been sharing a stall with author friend, C.S Clifford (Steve), at these events since last summer. Our books are so different that we are not in competition with each other, we get to share the costs and keep each other company. This time we were at the lovely Silcocks Farm, near Tenterden. It was a great day and I enjoyed meeting lots of friendly people. Silcocks Farm is a wonderful setting with some gorgeous old buildings.
At the same time, my books were selling at my rented shelf space at Lathe Barn, Burmarsh, Romney Marsh. This is a new venture for me. Crafts 4 You have opened up a shop at this popular children's farm and cafe. Rather than take commission on sales, they rent the shelf space. It's a lovely space, with some great things for sale. They also have some space for crafters to run workshops, so there's an idea for the future...
At the same time, my books were selling at my rented shelf space at Lathe Barn, Burmarsh, Romney Marsh. This is a new venture for me. Crafts 4 You have opened up a shop at this popular children's farm and cafe. Rather than take commission on sales, they rent the shelf space. It's a lovely space, with some great things for sale. They also have some space for crafters to run workshops, so there's an idea for the future...
- Published on
But First Maintain the Wall has now come back from the proof reader. All good feedback about the research and content.
The next stage with But First Maintain the Wall is to write the blurb, an introduction and change the pages to book size, then make sure it's all looking tidy. No pages with one line on them.
I've been putting off dealing with the front cover as I want to go with a professional cover designer but am nervous of spending the money and moving into this new area. It's got to be done though and I want stormy sky with the sun coming through, along with seawall, and preferably a rough sea. The weather conditions haven't been right so I asked for help from a Facebook page, Romney Marsh Sunrises and More. I saw another author, James Collins, do this recently, and love the finished cover. I didn't get the rough sea but found a picture with dunes (they can be flattened to look like seawall) and a fantastic sky. It's gone to the same designer that James used and I'm hoping she'll be happy with it. And that she can add a figure in 1750s clothes.
But what about the new novel? Errr, I'm just doing a little every now and then. I must concentrate on this one first and not abandon it at this stage.
The next stage with But First Maintain the Wall is to write the blurb, an introduction and change the pages to book size, then make sure it's all looking tidy. No pages with one line on them.
I've been putting off dealing with the front cover as I want to go with a professional cover designer but am nervous of spending the money and moving into this new area. It's got to be done though and I want stormy sky with the sun coming through, along with seawall, and preferably a rough sea. The weather conditions haven't been right so I asked for help from a Facebook page, Romney Marsh Sunrises and More. I saw another author, James Collins, do this recently, and love the finished cover. I didn't get the rough sea but found a picture with dunes (they can be flattened to look like seawall) and a fantastic sky. It's gone to the same designer that James used and I'm hoping she'll be happy with it. And that she can add a figure in 1750s clothes.
But what about the new novel? Errr, I'm just doing a little every now and then. I must concentrate on this one first and not abandon it at this stage.
- Published on
I've been thinking for a while that I should start an author blog and now seems like the ideal time. I'm on the cusp of completing my fourth novel and starting my fifth. But First Maintain the Wall was finished in February and, by the time it reached that stage, it had already been read and checked by two good friends. Big thanks to author C.S Clifford for suggesting a point where two more chapters could be added and I am so grateful to my editor. Maud, for all her help with grammar, pointing out the phrases which are too modern and for her enthusiastic help with the scenes set in Wissant, France.
The novel is now with a professional proof reader and I am agonising on what to do about a front cover. Previously, I have taken my own photos. But this novel is based around the maintenance of the Dymchurch Seawall, which is now a slab of concrete and not at all what it would have looked like in 1758. I'm just going to have to get out there with the camera and have a go, or find another seawall which is more in keeping with the era. There's another issue: I can make my other novels sound interesting, but anyone asks about his one, and I say it's about looking after the seawall. I need to work on that; it sounds very dull! It's not!
In the last few months I have joined Facebook, put the books on Kindle Unlimited (they were already on Kindle), done a book signing and an author talk, as well as a few craft fairs locally. The plan now is to do more promoting of myself and less writing, just for a couple of months, but I have started the next novel...
The novel is now with a professional proof reader and I am agonising on what to do about a front cover. Previously, I have taken my own photos. But this novel is based around the maintenance of the Dymchurch Seawall, which is now a slab of concrete and not at all what it would have looked like in 1758. I'm just going to have to get out there with the camera and have a go, or find another seawall which is more in keeping with the era. There's another issue: I can make my other novels sound interesting, but anyone asks about his one, and I say it's about looking after the seawall. I need to work on that; it sounds very dull! It's not!
In the last few months I have joined Facebook, put the books on Kindle Unlimited (they were already on Kindle), done a book signing and an author talk, as well as a few craft fairs locally. The plan now is to do more promoting of myself and less writing, just for a couple of months, but I have started the next novel...