Wednesday, March 20, 2013

A SIGNED CONTRACT

Last night I finally took the big step and signed the publishing contract with Outskirts Press. I feel so free now. The decision has been acted upon and now it is full speed ahead.

Now we will see how the publishing business really works. After signing the contract they had me choose the options that I desired to have in getting the book literally put together. I chose to pay for U.S. Copyright registration; Library of Congress number (LCCN); Standard interior formatting; e-book format; professionally designed custom cover (I sent them the illustration I had drawn and explicit instructions on the cover that I wanted on the book, and they in turn take my rough artwork and turn it into what I believe is a great cover for the book); 10-pack of internal images so that my map of Kor and the Veral Solar System can be included inside of the book; and I chose the Paperback format instead of the hard cover because I felt that the softer book will be easier for students and readers to tuck the book into a bag or backpack and easier to pass to a friend to read. I want the book to be read wherever you happen to be and not to worry overly about taking care of the spine of the book or its edges. Today, it is the most popular format for a book. And if I am wrong about this, I can always go back and have them publish it in hard cover at a later date. I also chose to have it formatted for an e-book. So the book will be available in softcover print and in e-book forms.

OP also had me choose the size of the book (6x9) and the kind of paper I wanted for the inside of the book and I chose a heavy-weight, cream-colored, eco-friendly paper. It seems to me that the cream color would make for a "softer, easier" read, especially on the eyes. My goal is to have produced a comfortable "friend" book that you can take along wherever you go and be happy to share with your friends.

OP had me write an author's bio and a headline and short synopsis of the book for the back cover, they also collected a color picture of myself for the back cover. The other thing they asked for is a longer synopsis, 3,800 characters (including spaces) for a sales tool to the book stores and on-line description of the book's plot.

Now I am waiting to hear from OP, my friend and publishing assistant Larry G. He has been terrific and so understanding of each of my foibles and struggles to get the book to him in one file. The book was quite wonderfully received by the editor, who approves or disapproves a book for publication, she said Bravo! that I had done a great job of writing and found the book to be exciting and the characters rounded and whole and said that they had become her friends while she read the book. She was sorry when it ended and looks forward to the energynauts further adventures in the remainder of the Trilogy...and beyond? As long as I am alive there will be new adventures for my four friends as they travel across the Cosmos in answer to ONE's children's prayers. I have them, in my mind, visiting beings who live on the world of an electron, in the Cosmos that is inside of a very old rock. This is just so much fun!

A week from today I will be madly packing for our trip to California. It has been 27 years since I have been on an airplane and I am looking forward to the experience. And I can hardly wait to show Willie (my grandson who is 12) palm and eucalyptus trees, and the beautiful semi-tropical plants and flowers. We will be renting a car and going to so many places and I will get to visit with my friends, Christine & Tony, and Anders & Scott.

Thank you for having patience with my down moods lately, I am flying today and life is just getting so exciting. Things are never static and I am sure I will have my ups and downs even in this exciting process. However, I believe that the process will also help me to grow and develop; it has already given me some new skills on the tech side of life and computers. Have a great day and I will see you tomorrow.

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