Finally, good news about the progress of the new book, "THE GOD GAMES: Legend of Kor". It looks like things are moving very fast now; so fast that it is taking my breath away and I am feeling just the least little bit anxious as to whether I have the stuff it takes to complete all of the steps needed and be able to promote the book in a positive and exciting manner. I thought the worst of the work was done, but at the end of the publishing project, I see a new mountain ahead and that is to make the book a success; to have my ideas out there in public and judged as to its worth by-hopefully-a large group of people. To be able to develop a sales strategy that hurts no one, but does peak their curiosity. Soon there will be readers and I hope that I can always be there for my readers and give them the enjoyment they deserve and create in their minds new questions about the origin of the Cosmos and our roles and purpose in experiencing our life games on the planet Earth.
I worry endlessly about typos, and incorrect grammar, but even more so, I worry about whether I have made my characters believable and their mission understandable.
Outskirts Press sent me two possible covers for the book. I chose a cover after much debate, and she is pictured at the end of this blog. I believe the cover was designed by genius artists and they sure did capture the spirit of the book. I hope you will like it. I tried for the element of "popping" out at readers from across a room. I think that their design will do that.
Friday, I received the galley proofs for the inside of the book; what is really the book's content. It took me two days of scouring the proofs to come up with 24 errors which they then had me make corrections for on a corrections sheet. I am so glad that I had a final time to look over the book and make corrections. My goal is that my readers should not have to struggle with errors as they try to read the book; it is so irritating to be reading along, all absorbed, and then to have a typo stop you in your tracks. It just takes some of the rhythm out of reading a book and detracts from the serious message you are attempting to convey. Sometimes, if there are too many errors, a person just gives up on the story and puts down the book. I pray that I have caught all of the errors, but being human, I expect that perhaps one or two got through. I pray a lot about this.
Now comes the marketing of the book. I have always felt very uncomfortable with trying to sell a product to people. I like to see people make their own choices without being badgered. Now, I must try to sell a product that I have created and love and really have no problem talking about, but I still feel like I would rather people choose the book for their own reasons-such as wanting to be entertained, or having their brain stretched with new thoughts. And, there is another challenge: it costs real money to market a book-or anything else for that matter. Outskirts Press has a great marketing program and I have chosen several of their options for how I'd like to market the book, but again I must rely on my son, David, to foot the bill for me. In order to get his help I must be very clear about what each marketing tool will accomplish for the book and, bottom line, how they will bring in readers for the book, and therefore bring in the funds to be able to pay him back for all of his help. I am praying with all of my strength that the Lord will help me in this area and speak to David's mind and heart and encourage him to take a chance on the marketing of the book.
Outskirts Press (OP) is telling me that the book should be ready for sale at the end of June, or first week in July. Thank you Lord, for making it available for the summer reading extravaganza; couldn't be coming out at a better time. I have nothing but high praise for the people who work at OP. No matter how challenged I may feel about a certain step, they are there to guide me along, and they leave nothing to chance. For each halting step that I take, they are there with the troops and explanations that are clear and as simple as possible. (One baby step at a time!) They are very encouraging. So, even though my heart is a little troubled about the future and if I can accomplish all that will come up, still I have great hope because of the professionalism of my publisher, OP.
Have a very great day, and tomorrow we will discuss the marketing choices that are before me, and what you can be looking for in the future. Greetings to my many friends around the world, your support gives me real hope for the future, and to my friends in America who give me so much encouragement; I would be lost without your readership.
I worry endlessly about typos, and incorrect grammar, but even more so, I worry about whether I have made my characters believable and their mission understandable.
Outskirts Press sent me two possible covers for the book. I chose a cover after much debate, and she is pictured at the end of this blog. I believe the cover was designed by genius artists and they sure did capture the spirit of the book. I hope you will like it. I tried for the element of "popping" out at readers from across a room. I think that their design will do that.
Friday, I received the galley proofs for the inside of the book; what is really the book's content. It took me two days of scouring the proofs to come up with 24 errors which they then had me make corrections for on a corrections sheet. I am so glad that I had a final time to look over the book and make corrections. My goal is that my readers should not have to struggle with errors as they try to read the book; it is so irritating to be reading along, all absorbed, and then to have a typo stop you in your tracks. It just takes some of the rhythm out of reading a book and detracts from the serious message you are attempting to convey. Sometimes, if there are too many errors, a person just gives up on the story and puts down the book. I pray that I have caught all of the errors, but being human, I expect that perhaps one or two got through. I pray a lot about this.
Now comes the marketing of the book. I have always felt very uncomfortable with trying to sell a product to people. I like to see people make their own choices without being badgered. Now, I must try to sell a product that I have created and love and really have no problem talking about, but I still feel like I would rather people choose the book for their own reasons-such as wanting to be entertained, or having their brain stretched with new thoughts. And, there is another challenge: it costs real money to market a book-or anything else for that matter. Outskirts Press has a great marketing program and I have chosen several of their options for how I'd like to market the book, but again I must rely on my son, David, to foot the bill for me. In order to get his help I must be very clear about what each marketing tool will accomplish for the book and, bottom line, how they will bring in readers for the book, and therefore bring in the funds to be able to pay him back for all of his help. I am praying with all of my strength that the Lord will help me in this area and speak to David's mind and heart and encourage him to take a chance on the marketing of the book.
Outskirts Press (OP) is telling me that the book should be ready for sale at the end of June, or first week in July. Thank you Lord, for making it available for the summer reading extravaganza; couldn't be coming out at a better time. I have nothing but high praise for the people who work at OP. No matter how challenged I may feel about a certain step, they are there to guide me along, and they leave nothing to chance. For each halting step that I take, they are there with the troops and explanations that are clear and as simple as possible. (One baby step at a time!) They are very encouraging. So, even though my heart is a little troubled about the future and if I can accomplish all that will come up, still I have great hope because of the professionalism of my publisher, OP.
Have a very great day, and tomorrow we will discuss the marketing choices that are before me, and what you can be looking for in the future. Greetings to my many friends around the world, your support gives me real hope for the future, and to my friends in America who give me so much encouragement; I would be lost without your readership.
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