Bluesphinx

“Dear Stephen
Congratulations. Your book, Windfall of the Wise, will be available for sale soon. Now you may be wondering, “What’s next?” Let me provide some answers for you. In approximately two weeks, you can expect to have your book available for purchase through AuthorHouse, including in the online bookstore. About a week later, you will also receive a proof copy of your book. Once you have reviewed your proof copy, please contact our Book Sales department at…..”

Here I am readers. Things are becoming more tangible. But before arriving here there had been a small exchange of views, commencing last week that went like this;
Full Article.

It was all going far too smoothly! I was hoping to see the book published this week, but the inevitable glitch has hit my plans. The problems started a few days ago when I received no less than two e-mails, each containing my galley, and requesting that I sign it off. Intrigued because I had already gone through this part of the process a couple of weeks previously, I just signed it off again.

 Then I noticed that the remaining e-mail was from a Ben Z*****. Now since my first dealings with the company I have had no less than three ‘personal’ design consultants, and I have to say that it is not good, when each time you contact them you are having to deal with a different person. I hope that Ben is the last one in the chain, although I shall not be holding my breath!

 Anyway, Ben informs me that the company has incorrectly formatted the book’s size,  I am assured that this is not my fault, and they will get the problem sorted out as quickly as possible. Well that’s all right then! Meanwhile, I’ll just sit here while time marches on shall I? Actually, I would be happier if the book was left in the size that it had been incorrectly set at. Why? Because of the price, that’s why.

 The price is set by the company-there is a formula based on the number of pages which determines the price the book will be set at. The problem is that I do not get to see this until the end-it is the last step in the process. Well, I had asked them to produce the book in the size of 5×8 inches. All the galleys that I have so far been working with have been 320 pages long-this puts the book into a certain category, one which disappointingly sets the price too high. A price just above £13 is too steep in my opinion, and runs the risk of pricing itself out of the market. 

 Then to be told that I have been looking at a galley that is in fact 6×9 it carries less pages that the intended 5×8in weighing in within the hefty 400 page category is bad news because it then goes out at no less than £15! So now I need to try and find a way of reducing the page count, and the only way that I can think of doing that is by either removing some of the text (Not an option really), or editing out a lot of the gaps between the paragraphs,(a huge project, and one that will cost me money, and set back the launch date by at least a month!)

 All this could have been avoided if instead of telling me about the formula at the end of the process I had been provided with the formula at the start of proceedings, a standpoint from where I could have factored in all layout arrangements without compromising myself in any way.

 But I will not judge them too harshly-yet! We all make mistakes, and suffeer problems, and I judge people on the way that they deal with those mistakes and problems. If they helpme sort them out with the minimum of fuss and expense then as far as I am concerned all wel and good-let’s hope that my next post carries a report to that effect. See Ya!

I am pleased to announce the joyous news that the proofs, or ‘Galleys’, having been adjusted a couple of times are now at last approved, and been sent back. The price has finally been agreed. An extract from their latest e-mail to me reads like this;

“Your galley approval has been received for Windfall of the Wise. If you have not already, please send your cover approval also. (DONE!) Once we receive these forms, we’ll be able to send your book to our printers.

I have a few things I would like to outline for you to ensure timely completion of your book:

1) Please be sure you have sent your pricing agreement to us. (DONE!) We need the agreement before we can submit the book’s file to our printer……”

Then it goes on to say; 

“3) Now is the time to think about promotional options for your book. If you haven’t already discussed these with your marketing consultant, please do so at your convenience. Don’t forget to ask about volume books” (O.K. WILL DO!)

  It’s all very exciting! and they tell me that it is going to take a couple more weeks until I am holding a physical copy of my creation in my hands-I can’t wait! When it happens, I’ll let you know how good it feels. Mam would have been so proud! Speak soon.