04-13-2012 06:22 AM
Congrats.
The second what Kevin says, if you want to market the book then you ideally should get it on Amazon and for that you need an ISBN.
When you justify the text you might like to re-read it - I noticed you refer to " the elegant Hotel de Coranado hotel"; the second 'hotel' is redundant, the reader can work out from the name that it is a hotel, and the fine city of Charlotte (where I dined in one of the worlds best steak houses) is in the state of North Carolina.
All the paragraphs are indented with the exception of one on page 8
It is a small book. If you use standard single line spacing it will be about 80 pages; might it be an idea to merge it with the second story in the series to give the purchaser value for money?
Best of luck
04-13-2012 08:56 AM - edited 04-13-2012 09:02 AM
Removing spam is what moderators are for....![]()
And congratulations on your new book!
Glenn
04-13-2012 12:16 PM
Thanks everybody,
Wow am I embarrassed. I use Word all the time and did not know about "Justify", but it sure made a difference in my book format!
I did a third proofreading over the last 24 hours and also added a copyright page and moved my "other books" list to the back end as recommended.
As for the book size, I came to the decision on that (and I may be wrong-headed here I admit) by looking at the books my expected audience reads (juvenille/young adult). Most of the books seem to be about 150 wrds per page and about 100-150 pages long. I was trying to make it in the same vein. I may revise it and combine book 1&2 down the line.
Now one last question. I did get an ISBN for the book now (978-1-105-66652-0), but when I went to Extended Reach, it said I cannot submit to other retailers. What if my local bookstore wants to buy my book? There are a lot of independent stores out here and I'd like to think I can give them the ISBN # for them to order it. Also, now that I have submitted it to Extended reach, how long before it can be found online?
Thanks again for all your help everyone!
R
04-13-2012 12:24 PM
Rustymeister wrote:
What if my local bookstore wants to buy my book? There are a lot of independent stores out here and I'd like to think I can give them the ISBN # for them to order it.
Unfortunately it is very unusual for bookshops to order POD books because 1) they don't get the discount they are used to and 2) they can't return it if it is unsold.
There have been many discussions on this subject if you look through the forums. If you want shops to be able to order it you need to pay for Global Reach. But - being available isn't the same as shops actually buying it. The best way is to take a sample into you local shop and if they are interested buy in quantity at the orint price and sell directly to the shop. First do your sums, there's not much profit.
Also, now that I have submitted it to Extended reach, how long before it can be found online?
around 8 weeks
04-13-2012 01:03 PM
Rustymeister wrote:
Thanks everybody,
Wow am I embarrassed. I use Word all the time and did not know about "Justify", but it sure made a difference in my book format!
I did a third proofreading over the last 24 hours and also added a copyright page and moved my "other books" list to the back end as recommended.
If you are doing your own proofreading, I'd recommend finding someone to go over your book objectively. It's very, very difficult for any author (no matter how experienced) to proofread their own work (let alone edit it!). Be a worthwhile thing to do, I think.
04-13-2012 01:16 PM
Thanks Ron and yes I 100% agree. Unfortunately I do not have proof-readers at my disposal and cannot afford to hire someone. I co-authored this book with a college professor friend of mine, but unfortunately he had a number of life events take place and so the work was largely on my shoulders. It is indeed hard to be objective proof-reading your own work. Especially when I am so self-conscious. I mean I am my own worst critic which doesn't lead to a great deal of self-confidence ![]()
I do have a lead on some friends who may help me at least, just have to work out the circumstances.
R
04-13-2012 08:40 PM
Wow am I embarrassed. I use Word all the time and did not know about "Justify", but it sure made a difference in my book format!
I have been using it for years also, and it is also amazing what you find when you click an empty space in the Ribbon that you can add to the Ribbon.
I did a third proofreading over the last 24 hours and also added a copyright page and moved my "other books" list to the back end as recommended.
It's never ending is it?
Sometimes you can get sick of the sight of your own stories.
As for the book size, I came to the decision on that (and I may be wrong-headed here I admit) by looking at the books my expected audience reads (juvenille/young adult). Most of the books seem to be about 150 wrds per page and about 100-150 pages long. I was trying to make it in the same vein. I may revise it and combine book 1&2 down the line.
Hrmmm, in that age band there is little difference between that and adult book layouts. The difference starts when you write for early learners, which would be from 2 to 5 perhaps, or people with poor eyesight!
Now one last question. I did get an ISBN for the book now (978-1-105-66652-0), but when I went to Extended Reach, it said I cannot submit to other retailers. What if my local bookstore wants to buy my book?
You cannot submit it to anything with a Lulu ISBN, Lulu do it. If you wish to go beyond that, then you have to market the book yourself extensively, in fact you should do anyway. But Amazon is vast and worldwide and surely big enough?
There are a lot of independent stores out here and I'd like to think I can give them the ISBN # for them to order it.
Indeed you can, or even a free sample. There is nothing at all to stop you also trying to sell your book to anyone, it is still your book.
Also, now that I have submitted it to Extended reach, how long before it can be found online?
Around 8 weeks. But do not forget it will also be listed on your own Lulu Spotlight within 24 hours, and you can tell people it's there as well.
05-02-2012 02:47 PM

