Today the only reason I don't just throw in the towel and quit the publishing biz and pay back the money I owe and call it quits, is because I've been given up on before... and I've failed at things before and quit things before and gotten fed up, and angry, and despondent... and too many are watching and seeing if the "loser" is going to lose yet again, as they all predicted.
It's my pride that keeps me going now. And nothing else.
Why is SA so blasted corrupt, on all levels???
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Congrats Les!!
Leslie Hyla Winton Noble - make a note of that name please! The author of "Baa Baa Black Belt", "Regina", and "Tabika" one and two has been head-hunted by an American publishing company for the rights to ebooks, hardcover and possibly even, movie rights on his books!!
I'm proud to have him aboard P'kaboo as our wonderful and patient editor, highly skilled and knowledgeable and never shy to roll up his sleeves and do research on behalf of the author. I'm also proud to be able to say that we at P'kaboo distribute his books - where applicable (we're a still fledgling company ourselves and don't yet have access to all that many bookshops). He is self-published via "JustDone" in Durban, who have listed his books on Lulu.com, from where the American publisher prospected him.
Well done Les, here's to you, and HUGE success!
I'm proud to have him aboard P'kaboo as our wonderful and patient editor, highly skilled and knowledgeable and never shy to roll up his sleeves and do research on behalf of the author. I'm also proud to be able to say that we at P'kaboo distribute his books - where applicable (we're a still fledgling company ourselves and don't yet have access to all that many bookshops). He is self-published via "JustDone" in Durban, who have listed his books on Lulu.com, from where the American publisher prospected him.
Well done Les, here's to you, and HUGE success!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Wow - a year has flown by
This blog is about the publishing and it's the publishing that is making it too busy for me to mind more than one blog. (!)
When I re-read my last blog post, I detected a fair spot of BA - Bad Attitude. I apologize to any readers who found this offensive. I was very caught up in the drive for success, and things weren't going fast enough. It turns out that patience is rewarded.
P'kaboo is coming on beautifully. We're at www.pkaboo.net and I've programmed a lot of that website myself (ok one can see it - but it is functional). We are now proudly distributing 5 books and a CD, with 4 further books overtly lined up for publication and one to three books and four CDs hiding in the woodworks.
Having the website has made it such a lot real to me, how strange that is! I also had to grow into the process and conquer this terrible, horrible shyness that stops me from picking up the phone and making the relevant calls. My editor (winks at Colonialist) has tried to persuade me various times to call rather than email, and still I remain people-shy - but admitting it has helped, for heavens' sakes I'm forty not four, and it's time that my self-confidence matched my physical size.
Friday I had an interview at the local newspaper, Rekord East, they are also reviewing the Solar Wind for me and are interested in attending book launches. Which are within grasp now, after a year of weirdness and karma.
My last post was done before our last studio concert, and before, in fact, that wave of life hit me.
On the 23rd of April my car was stolen. Sure, I live in South Africa so one sort-of expects this - but not the horrible after-shocks. The insurance taking 6 weeks to pay out, and then only half of what it costs to get a replacement vehicle of similar age, brand and quality. Being without a car for more than a month, juggling work, and home, and everything.
Just as I was in the throes of finding a replacement car, I stepped on a sewing needle and it broke off in my foot. I couldn't believe it was still in there (because it was such a large piece, and it didn't hurt quite as much as I thought it would). So, being unable to get it out or even see it, I carried on with life... for a number of days, until I realized that my foot didn't want to heal and got seriously tired walking. This wasn't good in the light of no car, so we took it to X-rays, which revealed half of the needle still in there, and migrating towards the bone. The Doc booked me into hospital to have it removed surgically because it was too deep. It was taken out at 2h30 at night by a young surgeon who admitted to being more scared of this op than the bullet he'd dug out of someone's intestines earlier that evening. Because there is such a lot of fine machinery inside a foot, and because finding the thing was a matter of luck. He did find it.
I spent the next ten days on crutches; an experience I DON'T want a repeat of! I was still on crutches when we bought the car I drive now. A 16-year-old Jetta - a year older than the Toyota that was stolen.
I put my head down and worked, and nursed my foot and taught hundred violin lessons, and then the message reached me that my grandfather had fallen down the steps and was in hospital. A week of sheer madness on all parts, preceded his death after we all were under the impression that things were picking up. He had been a very charismatic and highly independent and revered man, and his sudden death rattled the family badly. We were emotionally incapacitated for a month, until his memorial service.
There have been other things after that, my daughter breaking her arm, and my having to defend my studio against some low-lives, but nothing further to stop the flow with the publishing. I'm back.
Publishing is fun - producing a brand new book from thin air. The publicity is the part I have to grow into, and am slowly getting the swing of it.
Items covered in the interview on Friday were:
Where is P'kaboo going?
We are an (as yet) small publisher, with our main goal to launch new talent. There are such a lot of truly deserving authors out there! We are picking up volume faster than I had anticipated.
We also help already self-published authors market, if we find their work deserving. From my own experience I know how blasted difficult it is for a writer, an essential introvert, to punt his own work. It is easier to latch onto an established machinery and allow us to market, and sell the books at a mark-up from the price at which you sell to us. My friend Mark would call it "putting the cat over the fence".
We offer author services too, which obviously also form part of our publishing. We offer professional editing, graphic design and some other minor items. If you are self-published we might insist that you have your book or CD cover done professionally, and that your book gets professional editing before we agree to market - it all depends on the quality of your work. Of course it helps if you've already done so on your way to self-publication.
We want to diversify into music and art as well. By now there are three music books in the cooker. One is a re-publication, authorized to us by the author, and what a privilege to have him aboard - I'm not going to let on yet who it is, suffice it to say that in violin circles, he is well-known. Only one of the three (my Violin Tunes) is on the "Coming Soon" page of futurology in P'kaboo. There are, as mentioned above, four CDs waiting to be released - once again, not yet advertized. As for art, I'm looking not only at two full-colour books in loving memory of two great artists, but simpler things too... calenders, postcards, art books by artists, prints. These I'm looking at because I know a number of young people (all under 20) whose art deserves publication; and for variety, to keep the business interesting. This is fun.
If you wish to receive updates and launch invitations, please connect with the mailing list on www.pkaboo.net and email me your request.
Now excuse me please... I don't know when I'll be by again but I will.
When I re-read my last blog post, I detected a fair spot of BA - Bad Attitude. I apologize to any readers who found this offensive. I was very caught up in the drive for success, and things weren't going fast enough. It turns out that patience is rewarded.
P'kaboo is coming on beautifully. We're at www.pkaboo.net and I've programmed a lot of that website myself (ok one can see it - but it is functional). We are now proudly distributing 5 books and a CD, with 4 further books overtly lined up for publication and one to three books and four CDs hiding in the woodworks.
Having the website has made it such a lot real to me, how strange that is! I also had to grow into the process and conquer this terrible, horrible shyness that stops me from picking up the phone and making the relevant calls. My editor (winks at Colonialist) has tried to persuade me various times to call rather than email, and still I remain people-shy - but admitting it has helped, for heavens' sakes I'm forty not four, and it's time that my self-confidence matched my physical size.
Friday I had an interview at the local newspaper, Rekord East, they are also reviewing the Solar Wind for me and are interested in attending book launches. Which are within grasp now, after a year of weirdness and karma.
My last post was done before our last studio concert, and before, in fact, that wave of life hit me.
On the 23rd of April my car was stolen. Sure, I live in South Africa so one sort-of expects this - but not the horrible after-shocks. The insurance taking 6 weeks to pay out, and then only half of what it costs to get a replacement vehicle of similar age, brand and quality. Being without a car for more than a month, juggling work, and home, and everything.
Just as I was in the throes of finding a replacement car, I stepped on a sewing needle and it broke off in my foot. I couldn't believe it was still in there (because it was such a large piece, and it didn't hurt quite as much as I thought it would). So, being unable to get it out or even see it, I carried on with life... for a number of days, until I realized that my foot didn't want to heal and got seriously tired walking. This wasn't good in the light of no car, so we took it to X-rays, which revealed half of the needle still in there, and migrating towards the bone. The Doc booked me into hospital to have it removed surgically because it was too deep. It was taken out at 2h30 at night by a young surgeon who admitted to being more scared of this op than the bullet he'd dug out of someone's intestines earlier that evening. Because there is such a lot of fine machinery inside a foot, and because finding the thing was a matter of luck. He did find it.
I spent the next ten days on crutches; an experience I DON'T want a repeat of! I was still on crutches when we bought the car I drive now. A 16-year-old Jetta - a year older than the Toyota that was stolen.
I put my head down and worked, and nursed my foot and taught hundred violin lessons, and then the message reached me that my grandfather had fallen down the steps and was in hospital. A week of sheer madness on all parts, preceded his death after we all were under the impression that things were picking up. He had been a very charismatic and highly independent and revered man, and his sudden death rattled the family badly. We were emotionally incapacitated for a month, until his memorial service.
There have been other things after that, my daughter breaking her arm, and my having to defend my studio against some low-lives, but nothing further to stop the flow with the publishing. I'm back.
Publishing is fun - producing a brand new book from thin air. The publicity is the part I have to grow into, and am slowly getting the swing of it.
Items covered in the interview on Friday were:
Where is P'kaboo going?
We are an (as yet) small publisher, with our main goal to launch new talent. There are such a lot of truly deserving authors out there! We are picking up volume faster than I had anticipated.
We also help already self-published authors market, if we find their work deserving. From my own experience I know how blasted difficult it is for a writer, an essential introvert, to punt his own work. It is easier to latch onto an established machinery and allow us to market, and sell the books at a mark-up from the price at which you sell to us. My friend Mark would call it "putting the cat over the fence".
We offer author services too, which obviously also form part of our publishing. We offer professional editing, graphic design and some other minor items. If you are self-published we might insist that you have your book or CD cover done professionally, and that your book gets professional editing before we agree to market - it all depends on the quality of your work. Of course it helps if you've already done so on your way to self-publication.
We want to diversify into music and art as well. By now there are three music books in the cooker. One is a re-publication, authorized to us by the author, and what a privilege to have him aboard - I'm not going to let on yet who it is, suffice it to say that in violin circles, he is well-known. Only one of the three (my Violin Tunes) is on the "Coming Soon" page of futurology in P'kaboo. There are, as mentioned above, four CDs waiting to be released - once again, not yet advertized. As for art, I'm looking not only at two full-colour books in loving memory of two great artists, but simpler things too... calenders, postcards, art books by artists, prints. These I'm looking at because I know a number of young people (all under 20) whose art deserves publication; and for variety, to keep the business interesting. This is fun.
If you wish to receive updates and launch invitations, please connect with the mailing list on www.pkaboo.net and email me your request.
Now excuse me please... I don't know when I'll be by again but I will.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
mind maps and flyers
Things are getting fairly busy now. The third run of the Solar Wind, this time with the edits of Les Noble and a new ISBN number, is under way (except that I need to battle them about the cover). A batch of flyers has been created and is being distributed to bookshops. The logic in those is that instead of handing out precious, expensive book copies for "consignment", we hand out flyers and get them to order copies of the books they want. COD. Iain's constructing a website, it's beginning to look (at least in concept) like something usable.
Les has teamed up with me re the sale of our books. P'kaboo officially represents his books (although the publisher is JustDone). I've also taken on a novel that Douglas was sweet enough to hand me for experimentation - his brilliantly written "Almost Dead in Suburbia". I've got a bedtime story by Ominiki that we're straightening out; and hopefully, once written, a novel by Les. Then of course there is my "4-leafed Clover" but the catch is that that book, like the "Waterwolf", the "Violin" and whatever else I wrote way back, needs a complete overhaul. I'm hopeful for "Clover" because it's only got 30 000 words - a nice short little novelette. But it will be a challenge to present all those rebellious, violent ideas in an acceptable format (not for the reader who is 11 and associates fully, but for the teacher). Ikki, who tries to present herself as "Vicky" and can't get rid of her old nickname though, is actually a very troublesome teen! I'm afraid Connie will have to moderate all the way where Ikki's wild horses run away with her.
Then, the "Assassin" needs a re-read, aloud with Iain listening, because despite the professional edit it still feels to me as though, from a dramatic point of view it falls short. Too much sop and mood and not enough substance. Oy vey! At the same time I'm squizzing through "Freedom Fighter" to straighten it out for Les and his edit. But the Assassin has to be a winner or else people will never bother with Freedom Fighter. I need a "test run" and reader feedback. What Ruthven fed back was not encouraging, neither was what Karin said. (Both fell off the series at book 2.) The Assassin also needs a cover and the financing for the first run.
I made a mind map of all that needs to happen. I gave the different classes of "things" different colours, the "next step" red, the marketing yellow, the separate books blue and the processes green. I noted that there were several processes that worked by themselves once started (e.g. Douglas edited by Les - a necessity, both ways, once for the fresh pair of eyes and outsider assessment, and secondly then for the professional "shliff", because self-editing can only take you that far). There are other processes that need my hands-on involvement or even direct own input. Case in point, Susetti Soletti.
Reviewers are a sore point. I mailed off a whole lot of books and got nary a review. Sure, Fran Lewis did indeed post one - a sweet one, but it's more a precis than a review. Nevertheless it has utterly usable bits in it. But the reviewers from the newspapers??? I'm at the point where I want to say, hang them, we'll make our own waves until they can't ignore us anymore and then we'll graciously "allow" them to review - if we still need it. (I suppose, with books they really want to review, they buy their own copy and review it anyhow. Well that suits me just fine - less overheads for P'kaboo.)
Newspapers - I'll bet on the Rekord East so far, for launches. There are two or maybe even five in the offing. Near future: Assassin, Almost Dead. Later (hopefully this year still): Freedom Fighter; Ominiki's story which she forbade me to mention the name of; and possibly the 4-Clover.
Idk what further I can do to generate publicity. No, that's not quite true, I have a few ideas. But, a step at a time.
Basta.
- the 'orse
Les has teamed up with me re the sale of our books. P'kaboo officially represents his books (although the publisher is JustDone). I've also taken on a novel that Douglas was sweet enough to hand me for experimentation - his brilliantly written "Almost Dead in Suburbia". I've got a bedtime story by Ominiki that we're straightening out; and hopefully, once written, a novel by Les. Then of course there is my "4-leafed Clover" but the catch is that that book, like the "Waterwolf", the "Violin" and whatever else I wrote way back, needs a complete overhaul. I'm hopeful for "Clover" because it's only got 30 000 words - a nice short little novelette. But it will be a challenge to present all those rebellious, violent ideas in an acceptable format (not for the reader who is 11 and associates fully, but for the teacher). Ikki, who tries to present herself as "Vicky" and can't get rid of her old nickname though, is actually a very troublesome teen! I'm afraid Connie will have to moderate all the way where Ikki's wild horses run away with her.
Then, the "Assassin" needs a re-read, aloud with Iain listening, because despite the professional edit it still feels to me as though, from a dramatic point of view it falls short. Too much sop and mood and not enough substance. Oy vey! At the same time I'm squizzing through "Freedom Fighter" to straighten it out for Les and his edit. But the Assassin has to be a winner or else people will never bother with Freedom Fighter. I need a "test run" and reader feedback. What Ruthven fed back was not encouraging, neither was what Karin said. (Both fell off the series at book 2.) The Assassin also needs a cover and the financing for the first run.
I made a mind map of all that needs to happen. I gave the different classes of "things" different colours, the "next step" red, the marketing yellow, the separate books blue and the processes green. I noted that there were several processes that worked by themselves once started (e.g. Douglas edited by Les - a necessity, both ways, once for the fresh pair of eyes and outsider assessment, and secondly then for the professional "shliff", because self-editing can only take you that far). There are other processes that need my hands-on involvement or even direct own input. Case in point, Susetti Soletti.
Reviewers are a sore point. I mailed off a whole lot of books and got nary a review. Sure, Fran Lewis did indeed post one - a sweet one, but it's more a precis than a review. Nevertheless it has utterly usable bits in it. But the reviewers from the newspapers??? I'm at the point where I want to say, hang them, we'll make our own waves until they can't ignore us anymore and then we'll graciously "allow" them to review - if we still need it. (I suppose, with books they really want to review, they buy their own copy and review it anyhow. Well that suits me just fine - less overheads for P'kaboo.)
Newspapers - I'll bet on the Rekord East so far, for launches. There are two or maybe even five in the offing. Near future: Assassin, Almost Dead. Later (hopefully this year still): Freedom Fighter; Ominiki's story which she forbade me to mention the name of; and possibly the 4-Clover.
Idk what further I can do to generate publicity. No, that's not quite true, I have a few ideas. But, a step at a time.
Basta.
- the 'orse
Saturday, March 13, 2010
the wheel is turning...
phew!!
What a busy time! The Assasssssin is finished where edits are concerned, only one scene still needs to be approved.
LOL about the title. A quick search on "smashwords" reveals 47 titles containing or dealing with assassins. A very favourite topic these days! Well, I'm not the first and won't be the last, but it's still a catchy title and mine is different from the others (as is everyone else's). It doesn't matter, it seems to be obligatory to have a book titled "Assassin" so that one is taken seriously. (I could have called it "field of shards", much more abstract, or "Master Plan" - probably tens of thousands around with that title too - but it's already advertized as "The Assassin", so there you are. I bet you there are countless books titled "Freedom Fighter" too, but none called "The Morrigan", other than from Wiccan literature! There is a reason for this. There are only so many words in the English language. Many more writers than words.
So stepwise the following has to happen:
- The fliers, once printed, need to be distributed
- Solar Wind print run of 50 (can't afford 100 at this point).
- Sales need to happen rather fast;
- Launch of the Assassin.
I am COUNTING on those fliers - lets hope that they don't let me down!!
What a busy time! The Assasssssin is finished where edits are concerned, only one scene still needs to be approved.
LOL about the title. A quick search on "smashwords" reveals 47 titles containing or dealing with assassins. A very favourite topic these days! Well, I'm not the first and won't be the last, but it's still a catchy title and mine is different from the others (as is everyone else's). It doesn't matter, it seems to be obligatory to have a book titled "Assassin" so that one is taken seriously. (I could have called it "field of shards", much more abstract, or "Master Plan" - probably tens of thousands around with that title too - but it's already advertized as "The Assassin", so there you are. I bet you there are countless books titled "Freedom Fighter" too, but none called "The Morrigan", other than from Wiccan literature! There is a reason for this. There are only so many words in the English language. Many more writers than words.
So stepwise the following has to happen:
- The fliers, once printed, need to be distributed
- Solar Wind print run of 50 (can't afford 100 at this point).
- Sales need to happen rather fast;
- Launch of the Assassin.
I am COUNTING on those fliers - lets hope that they don't let me down!!
Friday, February 12, 2010
Solar Wind Log, 12 Feb 2010
I'm about to reread and re-edit the Solar Wind 1 for the last time, integrating all Les' edits as well as smoothing some of the terminology. This will of course mean she needs a new ISBN number. The back cover also has to be redone to incorporate the review, but the cover pic stays the same. So what if she's not square-rigged but Bermudan? It's nearly a tradition to have the cover pic not quite fit the correct description.
After smoothing her, next print run. After that: Flyers. Yip. So here we go.
After smoothing her, next print run. After that: Flyers. Yip. So here we go.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
the next step - pamphlets
Alright, let's get our mind together here.
My next step in the plan was to produce pamphlets, to distribute to all bookshops in lieu of 5000 consignment copies. Well, Bernhard from Irthling.com did a beautiful job on them (see below); there are single details (e.g. a sentence elucidating that Les' books are only marketed by P'kaboo) that need to be changed, and that is all.
But: If I print all those flyers and suddenly there is a demand for MORE THAN 36 BOOKS... (which is the stock I have currently) - I have to have the next print run in stock! I can't do this and sell out and oops - 3 weeks no books! So at least I have to print 50 more books, which means, the edited updated version, which entails, new ISBN, maybe the cover graphic improved... definitely the blurb improved and the review added.
So, step 1 AGAIN, fix up SW1 and get print-ready, print a run of 50 new books, and THEN go for the flyers!
The flyer does not want to load. It's a zip file. Zipped closed.
I'll return to Federi now and see what I can do for him.
My next step in the plan was to produce pamphlets, to distribute to all bookshops in lieu of 5000 consignment copies. Well, Bernhard from Irthling.com did a beautiful job on them (see below); there are single details (e.g. a sentence elucidating that Les' books are only marketed by P'kaboo) that need to be changed, and that is all.
But: If I print all those flyers and suddenly there is a demand for MORE THAN 36 BOOKS... (which is the stock I have currently) - I have to have the next print run in stock! I can't do this and sell out and oops - 3 weeks no books! So at least I have to print 50 more books, which means, the edited updated version, which entails, new ISBN, maybe the cover graphic improved... definitely the blurb improved and the review added.
So, step 1 AGAIN, fix up SW1 and get print-ready, print a run of 50 new books, and THEN go for the flyers!
The flyer does not want to load. It's a zip file. Zipped closed.
I'll return to Federi now and see what I can do for him.
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