Tag: Smashwords

Technical Difficulties

by eileentroemel, posted in Life, Writing
Every day this week I’ve worked on cleaning up images and getting the document ready for print format.  Unfortunately I’ve had technical difficulties. 
First I had to learn how to change the dpi (dots per inch) of each image.  Fortunately it was fairly simple once I had the right program. 
Second I had to take the new images and clean it up.  Because my images are drawings that have been scanned there was a lot of gray surrounding the lines.  For a digital image that has to be cleaned up as well which I did but when you increase the dpi then more imperfections appear.  In print , the gray surrounding the lines makes the image blurry or fuzzy.  With 45 images for the entire manuscript it is time consuming to pull each one up in Paint and use the eraser to go along each line.  However, every spare moment I’ve had this week I’ve been working on them.
Unfortunately, I’ve had additional technical problems.  I sat in my office chair early in the week and one of the wheels broke off.  Now if it had just fallen off, duct tape would have fixed it but it actually broke.  This meant I didn’t have my comfortable chair.  At first I was using a dining room chair which is okay for short periods of time.  When I spent any amount of time in it though, my back and legs hurt worse than normal.  Ken brought up an old office chair from the basement last night and it is okay but still not as comfortable as my chair. 
This mean after I worked on fourteen pictures last night I couldn’t stand to be in the chair any longer and had to give it up for the recliner.  With the precision work I have to do, I need a desk and solid surface for my mouse to be on.  I’m down to eight pictures with each one taking about an hour or so depending on how complex the picture is. 
Since I had to redo all the images, I made a point of double checking that they were working.  I uploaded a partially finished manuscript to CreateSpace to see if their system liked the new photos.  This gave me a double check that all was well and I just needed to finish the images.  I was thrilled to find that the document had no errors and the images looked amazing.  Plus by doing that I was able to rearrange images so they worked better. 
Images in a digital format have to be in line with the text.  There is no creative placement.  With print I’m able to move them around and place them where I think they look the best rather than where they work digitally.  While it has been a lot of work to change up the images, I feel like it has been a good lesson learned as it has allowed me to produce a better product.
At this stage, all I want to do is work on finishing the images.  Unfortunately, I have a lot to do this weekend.  My todo list is filled with grocery shopping, errands, gift wrapping, food prep and so on.  I’ll still carve out time though.  Barring any more technical difficulties, I’m hoping to have a paper version ready by the end of the weekend.  Fingers crossed and chair situation resolved, I hope to accomplish this.  Then I can look at poetry books next.   
Smashwords:
Amazon:
While you are out shopping, take a look at Secret Past too.  It is available here:
Available on Barnes and Nobles:
Available for sale at:https:
Available on Amazon:

Moon Affirmations on Amazon!

by eileentroemel, posted in Writing

Last night I had Moon Affirmations go through final approval for Smashwords.  This means I’m able to use the same file – with a few adjustments – submit to KDP which is the e-publisher for Amazon. 

After an hour or so working on it, I submitted it last night and now it is available on Amazon.  I’m very excited about this book.  It is completely different from other meditation books because it uses the phase of the moon to focus your energy.  This means during a new moon, you would focus on beginnings or starts to the projects, relationships, and so on. 

Next step for this meditation book is to get it in print.  I’m working on that but discovered all of my images need to be reworked to a higher DPI.  I was four steps from being done when I discovered this.  This means I have to work on it as I’m able and hopefully will get all the images updated, cleaned up and ready for print this week.  However, time is my most limited resource. 

In the meanwhile, go check out the meditation book at:

Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/432900

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Moon-Affirmations-Daily-Meditations-Energy-ebook/dp/B00K08TF3K/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1398791925&sr=8-5&keywords=moon+affirmations

While you are out shopping, take a look at Secret Past too.  It is available here:

Available on Barnes and Nobles:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secret-past-eileen-troemel/1119169953?ean=9781499159868
Available for sale at:https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/426548
Available on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Past-Eileen-Troemel-ebook/dp/B00JL38Z7C/ref=la_B00JL4PEJ8_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1398097355&sr=1-1

R&R

by eileentroemel, posted in Writing
There are times when I’m exceedingly productive and accomplish everything I’ve set out and more.  This weekend has been one of those weekends.  I’ve finished the third graduation gift, pre-production work on another manuscript, and had time to chat with all my girls.  It has been a good weekend.
The graduation gifts are done.  I can set them aside until I get gift bags and wrap them up for my student workers.  Now I can focus on the two baby gifts I want to make.  Vicki asked me to make bibs for one of her co-workers so I’ll be doing those.  Plus I want to make something for my faculty who just adopted a sweet little girl. 
Moon Affirmations is nearly done.  I’m waiting on some illustrations and information from the illustrator.  Once I have those then I’ll be moving forward with that.  I keep thinking I’ll just start on the next document that I need to create for publishing but I know it is best to wait until Smashwords accepts the current document because then I know it is in good shape for the KDP.  It all builds from one to the next but in my excitement I want to jump forward to get more done.  My battle with myself for patience will be tempered with crocheting. 
I have coupons to go through before I head back to the recliner for crochet time.  Once the coupons are done I will probably be a bum the rest of the weekend with tv watching and crocheting. 
Recently I’ve watched The Butler and Philomena.  They were both very good movies.  Both are thinking movies rather than action.  In Philomena, Judi Dench was fabulous as an Irish woman looking for a baby the nuns adopted out.  It is based on a true story.  She did an amazing job and it is worth seeing.  The Butler was the same.  This man came from the south and became a butler at a hotel who was noticed by a white house staffer.  It was a good movie covering a large span of history both in the white house and in our country.  There were many stellar performances in there.
Tomorrow it is back to my day job and reality.  I’ve enjoyed my longer weekend and down time.  I feel better than I did last week and feel like I’ve accomplished what I needed to with taking Friday off.  I’m feeling less overwhelmed by work and more relaxed.  Apparently I have a warped sense of what R&R is supposed to be but if it worked that is all that matters.
Coming soon!  Moon Affirmations
Secret Past is available here:
Barnes and Nobles:
Smashwords:
Amazon:

Secret Past

by eileentroemel, posted in Writing
My book is now available on Amazon.  You can find it by searching out my name or here is a link:
Sunday I published on Smashwords.  Monday I worked on improving the files so the document and cover picture would be accepted into their premium catalog.  Tuesday I redid the file.  Wednesday it was accepted into the premium catalog.  Now today I’ve got it set up on Amazon and it can sell around the world. 
My story – something concocted out of my brain – is available to people all over the world.  It is astonishing.  The process was daunting to start and even to finish the prep work.  Part of me kept trying to make everything perfect before I could “finish” the book and publishing process.  I made excuses – I have to finish organizing the office, bills, craft room, and so on…
I don’t know what hit me on Sunday but I sat down to my computer and went through the last few steps and then just got it done.  I was surprised at how simple it was to get it out there.  I’ve had anxiety – in a good way – about making sure it is accepted and then getting it out for publication on Amazon. 
Now I wait to see how it is received.  But I can’t just sit around and wait.  If I want to make sales then I have to figure out how to market my book. 
I’ve worked in marketing and it is not as glamorous as people think it is.  It is a lot of grinding to get people to take notice.  My little romance novel is sitting on the shelf amongst the hundreds, thousands and maybe even millions of other novels out there it is bouncing up and down saying “Pick me, pick me.”  But then so are all those other novels.  The question now is how do I get my novel to be noticed? 
Suggestions?  I’d love them.  Additionally if you want to write a review – I would love that too.  It is easy with Amazon, you can post it right on the page.  Do you know someone who likes to read romance novels?  Let them know mine is there waving its hand just waiting to be picked.  Meanwhile, I’ll be doing research on marketing… 

Censorship

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

From the moment words started being published censorship became an issue.  There will always be topics which offend all sorts of people.  This offense can lead to a desire to say a book (or other discussion of the topic) should be banned or censored.

PayPal, a company that offers a secure online payment method, last month issued an ultimatum to Smashwords a distributor and self-publishing company.  Smashwords helps authors publish their books.  In the erotic section of the books offered some books contain what PayPal doesn’t like – bestiality, rape, and incest.
On February 14, the head of Smashwords was informed by PayPal that their book list needed to be cleaned up or their account would be limited.  According to Smashwords website, they have over 100,000 titles from over 37,000 authors.  Coker, head of Smashwords, emailed authors who responded with outrage over this attempt at censorship.
PayPal asserts that the banks and credit card associations they deal with are conservative and they have to adhere to their demands or lose business.  Coker urged authors and publishers to voice their opinions to PayPal and the credit card companies.
PayPal recently did the same to Bookstrand which resulted in Bookstrand dropping most Indie authors.  Coker is working with PayPal, the authors and publishers, and censorship / free speech groups to resolve this issue.  Fourteen of these groups signed a letter to PayPal condemning their actions. 
In general most people would agree that these topics can be offensive.  However, almost all the Greek (and other Pantheons) myths involve rape, incest, and even bestiality.  Will those be banned?  Many famous and classic stories have been banned like Huckleberry Finn, Catcher in the Rye, and Catch 22.  Controversial issues spring up in many forms.  For instance, gun control and gun usage can fall under the controversial heading.  Does this mean we should prevent stories and books on hunting or murder mysteries from being published?  Last of the Mohicans couldn’t be allowed than because that features guns.
Censorship is a complex and difficult topic.  Obviously few think the erotic fiction being targeted is classic literature.  PayPal is attempting to provide a standard.  It’s meant to keep offensive writing away from the public.  The problem with this type of censorship is it becomes a slippery slope that will easily domino into a landslide of banning books – good and bad – that shouldn’t be banned.  Additionally whose standard will the companies adhere to?  The standards of a few groups shouldn’t prevent books and stories from being printed.  There are so many groups choosing one standard is likely to offend a number of others.  Where would we be without our myths and books like To Kill a Mocking Bird?  If authors don’t push the envelope than how does society look at itself to determine what needs to be changed?

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/50969-anti-censorship-and-privacy-rights-organizations-sign-letter-for-smashwords.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly%27s+PW+Daily&utm_campaign=dc3ffe1933-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email