Tag: novel

Novels, Writing

Toot toot—all aboard!…

I’ve decided to give this scheduling thing a try so will put this one in for next Mon that gives you a about a 2 week break from my babbling. I know I promised a mont but what can I say, I miss you. Lol.

So I have been busy as Rosa, BUT also done some stuff for Me Percy. I’ve uploaded the new cover for Ruth In Pieces and sent for a print proof (Already available as an ebook – HERE). Trouble is I accidentally pushed publish button in the first instance, then had to wait 72 hrs to take it out of publish and order the proof. They then sent me another message saying my book is published…so I went in again and asked for a proof again…still no notification that my proof is ready.

Anyone else dumb like me and made this mistake? What happened? Help?

Anywho, it is twice as thick as my other mysteries, so it will take me a while to check it and re-edit it…along with all the other stuff.

I always make the mistake of thinking I’ve got the Amazon process mastered, but there is always some little problem. Take the cover for example – I always get a template, use it, never change anything on it and then feeling smug submit it. BUT, there is some thing wrong, usually the size. I use their size but no it is off by 1 0r 2 mms and therefore inadmissible. SO, I go back and enter the new image size and usually ‘voila’ it works.

The interior is okay, because I use Vellum and never have a problem down loading the content…unless I myself screw something up.

Needless all this fooling around with the marketing end has sidelined my writing. I do have a schedule, but have gone off track for the past few weeks and now I’m off to Rockhampton for a friend’s big 60th bash. Whoo hoo! Travelling by train, a first in a veeeeryy long time for me. Poor dog is not allowed so is staying with my daughter and family. Hope he doesn’t fret too much….hope I don’t fret too much.

Okay time to put this on schedule See you after.

PS Stupid thing is not showing up as scheduled, even though when opened for edit it shows the 19th when I go back it says it’s still in draft. I’ll close the site and see if that works.

Novels, Short Stories, Writing

Still working at it

Well the bad news is that I’m not really any closer to deciding on the cover for Ruth. The good news is that I’ve had lots of very helpful feed back from the good people in the Indie CoverProject Facebook group. We’ll see what they think of the latest ones I’ve just posted there.

My other news is a lot more exciting. I have been accepted for a grant from the Townsville City Council through my local community association RaDCA. So if you hapen to be at a loose end on the dates below come on over…

I’ll let you know how it goes. I’m very nervous. Lots of work to do beforehand. So I’ll leave you with that thought. ‘Bye

Writing

Feeling Frustrated!!

Hi, I apologise for the lapse of time since my last post, but I have been wrestling with trying to get paperback prints of my books. I really, really wanted to go local…Look, I know that they can’t quote as low as the bigger printers, but no one I approached would even come down to a viable print-cost for me, the author. I tried to explain: 1. That I didn’t expect the same prices as larger printing firms, but needed something reasonable. 2. That there would be many orders to follow. 3. That there are other authors in Townsville, of whom there are many, who are interested in supporting local industry. 4. That I really, really wanted to support local.

BUT…no one wanted to come to the party! One company had given me a quote some months earlier, so I went to them to explain all the above. The woman agreed to give me a new quote, which duly arrived by email…it was even more than the first!

SO…I thought surely someone in Australia must be able to do better. I sent off for quotes with the above information, to several companies. No quote came near, many didn’t bother answering, or returning calls.

NEXT…I decided I’d probably better go with the international printing company which has printing facilities in Melbourne. Lots of authors in Australia use this company, with apparently no problems. After a number of errors in uploading by me, due in large part to the non-intuitive way of finding one’s way around their pages, the book got the go ahead and I went on to add the info needed. However, my account has been stuck for weeks with the message on it saying ‘revision incomplete’, and I can’t find how to get into wherever that can be fixed. I rang to get help, was told their people were busy and they would ring me back. That was 2 weeks ago.

NOW…I am going to try to start there, with a clean slate. I will remove my book completely and start from dot one…fingers crossed.

IF THAT DOESN’T WORK…I will have to fork out big bucks for overseas printing. Costs are quoted in USD and look very reasonable until you convert and add the inordinately high cost of delivery, which I expect is because of the weights involved.

AAaarrrrgggg!

Er, excuse me…I know this is a long whinge, but I am so frustrated I feel like I’m going nuts, I’m invisible, don’t matter and am bloody useless.

LOL…on the upside, Book 2 of the Beaufort’s Landing Series is almost ready to go up on Amazon. I’m just dickering around about the title. I think I’ve settled on ‘Tidal Secrets’…almost, I think.

I will try to be happier in my next post. If you can help me overcome this printing conundrum, I would appreciate it very much.

Wish me luck, Percy.

Novels, Writing

Alack Alas

Sigh! Here I was getting all excited about having Escape to Danger ready for sale as a paperback before Xmas so my friends and neighbours here could purchase them for pressies, but the best laid plans etc.

I will now plan for a book signing for sometime in the new year, all ways supposing I can upload the cover to the printer to their requirements. I made some mistakes at first but went back and corrected them, however it proved impossible. I really wanted to have it printed in Australia, but looks like that won’t happen. I think I am on top of it now and will resubmit it though they have not responded to my last submission.

On a happier note, I did load it onto Amazon for printing without too much trouble and ordered a proof, which has arrived. Thank god I did ask for the proof. I found what to me was a big timeline error, and a number of typos, which I have now fixed. The quality and look of the book was pretty schmick. So, it will be available as a paperback from Amazon books soon.

I have started Book 3, but have put it on hold to work on the above and also do a further edit on ‘Daughter of Anger’ Book 2 of the DNA series to enter into a Allen and Unwin’s Crime novel competition. I need to get a move on cause it closes 26th Feb 2021. Plenty of time you might say, but don’t forget the silly season has started and I am bound to be distracted.

Speaking of which, allow me to get in early and wish you a happy, healthy and safe holiday season, celebrated in which ever way you do with the people you love.

I may get in another post before the end of the year but I make no promises. 2021 is going to be a ripper. Get excited and stay positive. Talk soon, Percy.

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Writing

DON’T READ THIS…

Book 1 in the Death ‘N Anarchy series.

Now available as an ebook on Amazon

DON’T READ THIS BOOK unless noir psychologique is your thing.

Be warned… It broaches many disturbing subjects.

Not to give too much away, but there is a serial killer out there, and it may be someone you know – someone charming and kind…and deadly. They are everywhere – living next door, pillars of the community, in your family. 

You will call them evil, but they are you and me – to a lesser or greater degree. They are people you like and/or admire. They are human; complex, damaged and cruel: oft-times kindly, generous and loving. 

If you are filled with rage and hatred and want to hurt them, want to kill them; what does that make you; what does that do to your soul? 

Look into their eyes. They were once young and innocent, until something happened to change them, weren’t they? OR, were they born evil, already damaged by an aberration in their D.N.A.? Look into their eyes during their last moments; they are frightened of death, but long for it; terrified by life, but long for it. They are human.

Of course, the whole book is not filled with horror. As in life, there are good even joyful moments, full of love and laughter; tenderness and beauty; adventure and travel; exploration and discovery. 

You must understand, whether protagonist or antagonist, or sometimes one and then the other, the characters are human after all. However, you know that…you’ve met them…

Percy Rose.

P.S. I got some kick-back for writing such racy, nasty, weird, horrifying stuff.

Others loved it…go figure…