Understanding Lulu

I'm getting there with Lulu.com. The publishing process is relatively painless. It enables me to get 'the alpha to omega' in print and in Amazon and B&N for less then eighty quid/ 160 dollars.

Moderate proficiency with Adobe Acrobat and Photoshop and Microsoft Word and a PDF creating software (I use CutePDF, but any would do) was all that was required. That and some painstaking proofreading. A tip there, for anyone interested. If you save a Word document as a PDF and then in the PDF application click read aloud (in Acrobat, thats under VIEW, for some strange reason), the programme will literally read aloud the entire document in an extremely monotonous American voice. Following as it reads, those pesky, read-them-a hundred-times-and-never-noticed-glitches become apparent. (Reading aloud always catches errors that sight reading misses, as our brain is designed to recognise what it thinks should be there...)

I'm now waiting for the proof copy to be printed and sent to me, and for the ISBN number to arrive from the ISBN agency in the UK. Lulu should then automatically produce a barcode .gif for me to upload onto the existing back cover and Bob's your auntie's live in lover.

So, 80 quid for the barcode info and a distribution package including direct sales through Lulu.com, Amazon.co.uk and .com and Barnes&Nobel.com, amongst others. Also 5 quid for my own review copy, to check print quality etc.

Now it's over to you. Order information will be placed on my site www.scottlangston.org as soon as it is available, along with links to the major online retailers. I'll also send an emailing to readers who bought 'IS'.

Free copies of 'IS' or 'Benny and Binny'

November approaches.

Comment on this blog, stating why you or your organisation should be given a free copy of either book. Each month, I'll give one book away to the most deserving cause. You are free to enter as many times as you wish, but once chosen, you cannot receive further copies!

November only - receive you copy freepost.

Previous recipients have included schools, hospitals and homes for the elderly.


Or click on the images to order you copy now.

Pattaya Off - my artistic release?

I have stumbled across another project, one which takes my mind completely away from the frustrations of formatting and reviewing 'the alpha to omega' and from the fears of re-kindling 'The Year of the Monkey'.

I had a call from a Belgian photographer who has produced a book of images of Pattaya. For the uninitiated, Pattaya is a small city a couple of hours south of Bangkok with a very well deserved seedy reputation. It more or less began life as an R&R station for US troops during the Vietnam War and the Go Go Bar / prostitution industry goes from strength to strength.

Juliette has captured the city sleeping, recovering from its excesses, in a diverting coffee-table book with accompanying poetic commentary. It is this last, which is in her native French, which led to my involvement. She is looking to re-publish, in English, following renewed interest in her work. So, not straight-forward translation (my French isn't up to it, not would my creative soul allow me to do such work!), but the capturing of the essence in English and re-working the themes and the nuances.

Here is a taste of things to come. Again, a work in progress, so the end result might change...

Pleasure in the heat

Of the tropics, of a woman

Seeking what you thought you desired

A lifetime ago

Now that you can

Eternal promise of sunshine

Escape from winter’s discontent

And fickle seasons

An endless spring

Delirious in the re-discovered youth

You never knew

An escape from the past

From submission

And resignation

Free at last

So much life wasted.

Too late to start again?

the alpha to omega - developments

I'm reasonably happy that I've got the front cover down.


I've also been doing the rounds of ISBN research and finished up by buying myself a batch of ten ISBN numbers, the first of which will be attributed to 'the alpha to omega'. I'm already playing with the idea of a second edition of 'is': I am, after all, now registered as both author and publisher.

One thing at a time. With luck, I'll soon be able to turn my attentions to 'The Year of the Monkey', and actually do some writing.

POD publishing

I have spent most of the day further researching the merits and otherwise of Print on Demand publishing.

Vanity press, digital print runs, ISBN ownership, proofreading, editing, copy-editing, internet writers' agencies, copyright laws, country of residence laws, intellectual property ownership, 'traditional' publishing houses and their place on the net, binding, cover page design, paper qualities and weights...

...and the sorry fact that the bulk of POD books sell in the region of 111 copies, mostly to family and friends of the author, and a few lucky sales on Amazon...

I instinctively know this to be true. But I don't want it to be. I think I have probably sold in the region of 200 copies of 'Is', so I'm statistically a success story, but I won't be retiring tomorrow.

'the alpha to omega' is all ready to go. I've been through PABD, who have relaunched themselves as Spire Publishing (always suspicious of renaming organisations, as it is often to flee bad press and litigation - this is in no way to imply that this is the case with PABD, who did what they said they would do, and did it well). The smart money seems to be with iUniverse, who, after all, were picked up by either Amazon or B&N (hey, I'm not trying to be accurate). I've extensively researched Trafford, another of the biggest POD publishers, and although it looks good, something doesn't feel right. I have learnt to trust this instinct in many areas of my life. AuthorHouse, another company to go though major name change, also felt wrong, despite many good reviews. I have had a good look at AuthorsOnline, which seemed a tad expensive compared to what else is out there. RaiderPublishing looks reasonable, one which I must research further. Lulu.com is apparently one to choose for no-frills author-does-the-bulk publishing. They are all merging into one just now...

I'm tired and uninspired. I could have spent the day writing.

the alpha to omega - a foretaste

Here's a snippet, and a possible book cover. It's my first attempt, so is likely to change. The novel is set in Greece and is written in diary format. You can find out more about it by following this LINK.

Now that I am back, again sitting outside in the sunshine, I can hardly believe what I’m feeling. If I close my eyes, I can be there again, not just as a memory, but actually there…

The dog ran on ahead, stopping frequently to look back at us, head cocked questioningly, before he ran on again, tongue flapping and saucer-feet padding the ground playfully, in search of a new distraction. We weren’t talking - not about anything important at least. We were just being. It was one of those almost frosty November days: our breath rose visibly and lost itself amongst the dappled confusion of bright sunlight and leaf shadow. I looked across at her from time to time, taking in her profile, her smile… Once, just once, she caught my look and held it momentarily. In that instant I lived a lifetime. In that look there was a world of knowing. She was saying, “Yes, I understand you.” I felt safe: the playing was over and this could be why I’m here, to live this life. We never touched, never spoke intimately of anything and yet I knew that here was a possible future. I think she felt it, too.

The intrigue I feel about this woman is immense. I have a compulsion to get inside her head, to know everything. Being with her is one continuous déjà vu. Something about her touches me in a way I’ve never been touched before. I almost believe that if I were to close my eyes and concentrate enough, I could talk to her now, wherever she may be. I feel alive and vibrant. I feel I am.

Can feeling this much be wrong? Where is this going?

Giveaway

Each month, for the next twelve months, I shall GIVE AWAY a copy of either 'IS' or "Benny and Binny'.

To qualify, you need to comment in this blog, citing why you - or the cause you are promoting - deserves a free copy of either book. It's that easy. Each month, I shall publish here the name and location to where the free book was sent.

When I ran this on my website after first publishing 'Benny and Binny', several schools and hospitals, for example, received free copies for their libraries.

Depending upon your location, I may ask for a contribution towards postage, but this can be negotiated on an individual basis.

An online interview...

Tell us the book title and your author name.
My name is Scott Langston and the title of the book is “is”. Originally, I had intended to book to be called ‘The Domino Effect’ – one of the themes in the novel is how the actions of one character can have unforeseen impact on another character – like falling dominoes. I even commissioned a Magritte-style cover page with this image. However, the novel became something a little different as it went through several edits, and ‘is’ summed up better the overall message of the novel.

What inspired the book?
I started writing this book when I was twenty years old. Many of the themes were beyond my grasp, and it wasn’t until I ‘refound’ the novel fifteen years after starting it that I had something approaching the maturity to do the book justice. If I had to pin it down to a precise moment, the novel was born after watching the film ‘Four weddings and a funeral’, specifically the funeral scene. I found it very moving, and imagined having to write such a eulogy myself.

What makes this book special to you?
It has certainly been a labour of love! As I said, I have physically lost the book on two occasions – the first time requiring a re-write almost entirely from pencil notes in an old scrap book. From first putting pen to paper to finally seeing the book in print took twenty years. That’s a long time. The book has been a part of my life, and my continual tinkering with it represented my desire to be a writer.

What makes this a book that other people MUST read and WHY?
I think the book has a lot to say about the fundamentals of how life is. It’s spiritual, without being overtly religious. It raises many questions and, I hope, answers a few too. It’s about perspective – another way of looking at life and death and God. If these questions do not interest you, then you probably shouldn’t bother reading the book!

What people NEED to read this book and WHY?
Nobody needs to read this book. Nobody needs to do anything. That’s one of the ventral messages of the book. There is no requirement – life just ‘is’.

What sparks your creativity? Any tips to help others spark their own creativity?
Writing is a muscle like ay other. It needs exercising and flexing, otherwise it wastes away. I keep a blog, as well as trying to have more than one project ongoing at a time. When one dries up, I can try my hand at something completely different. That’s how ‘Benny and Binny’ was born – a children’s story I wrote with an illustrator friend. You can find it, along with ordering details, on my website – www.scottlangston.org. Right now, I’m working on a novel set between Vietnam and France, dealing with roots and belonging. It’s the biggest project I’ve tackled so far. I’m also tinkering with a novel for teenagers about philosophy, tentatively called, ‘Henry Porter and the Stone Philosopher’.

What has been the biggest stumbling block in your writing? Can you share some tips to help others get past similar problems?
I took a year off work to write full time at the same time as we had our baby daughter. I was under the impression that I could care for her and write at the same time. In short, children have been the biggest stumbling block for my writing. I need time and space to write, and kids don’t allow for much of either. That said, my life is considerably richer for having become a dad, and that can only come out in my writing eventually!

I guess another hurdle has been the management of distractions. When I turn on the computer, it’s all too easy to spend hours fiddling with stuff I’ve already written, updating my website, or simply surfing, rather than actually writing. I now have a dedicated laptop for writing which doesn’t have internet access.

What do you think motivates people to become authors? What motivated you to get into this unusual industry?
I believeI write because I have to. If you simply want to write, then my advice would be: don’t bother. Find something else to do and save yourself a whole lot of trouble. Writing is a lonely and often demoralising business – except when the connection comes through and then it’s without equal. So, it wasn’t really a choice – I have to write.

Tell me about the most unusual things you have done to promote any books?
Book promotion is my weakness. I have done the rounds of local bookshops where ‘Is’ was set, and a few copies have been sold that way. I’ve run book signings. I haven’t really done anything inspiring in the field of self-promotion. I know I ought to.

FICTION - If there is a setting, tell us how you decided on that setting and what you did to create a complete and vivid setting for your readers?
I grew up in Cornwall. It never crossed my mind to set my first novel anywhere else. It’s a truly magical and inspiring locale – even now as I write this |I can smell the sea air and hear the seagulls – though I’m 3000 miles away.

FICTION - What inspires you about the hero or heroine in your book? What makes them memorable for the reader? What motivates the hero and/or heroine? You can include information about both if you want.
I’m not sure Martin inspires me. He’s a protagonist, rather than a hero in the true sense of the word. Insomuch as everyone’s first novel is biographical, I guess Martin is in some respects me. His getting to grips with life and his enlightenment are ideals I would reach for.

FICTION - Is there a villain or something that causes friction in your story? Tell us about what or who it is and how that contributes to the story. Any details about conflict and friction is good information to know.
The conflict rests between expectations and risks, between safety and leaps of faith, between believing and knowing. Martin takes risks, when society would have him do otherwise. He trusts to himself, when society would have him do otherwise. He is prepared to love, not just another, but himself. This is perhaps one of the most difficult yet rewarding things we can achieve in life.

Website: www.scottlangston.org

Order from the author: http://www.scottlangston.org/is.html

Order Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Scott-Langston/dp/1897312202/ref=sr_1_5/026-1296762-2011605?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192680476&sr=8-5

Moving on

Having finished the re-write, I printed out a hard copy and started re-reading - only to find myself once again re-writing. I have a problem with the style. I think is needs a major overhaul, but at the same time, I'm done with this story in my head. I don't want to go through it again.

So, promise to self. I shall do one last read through, correcting style as I go. I shall then produce the final copy and submit to a PROFESSIONAL proofreader. And then I shall be done with it.

More is stirring in The Year of the Monkey (YOTM). It's becoming something else, something I never imagined four years ago when I started writing it.

Meat...and a possible return to form.

Recognize meat for what it really is: the antibiotic- and pesticide-laden corpse of a tortured animal. ~Ingrid Newkirk, National Director of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

Entirely unrelated is the fact that I have just finished a fairly major structural re-write of 'the alpha to omega'. I have prettied it up in places and cut away some of the more repetitive introspections. I now need the space of a few days before embarking upon a 'last'? re-read of the whole novel. Then, who knows, it could be joining 'is' on bookshelves across the globe in 2008. It would, in fact, be another good thing to put behind me, allowing me - motivating me - to get on with creating rather than re-hashing, and to see where 'the year of the monkey' is going to take me.

Cautious optimism surfaces.

Fame?

Since depositing both Benny and Binny and 'Is' in the school library, I've had a steady trickle of awed kids coming up to me asking, 'Is it true? You wrote a book?'

It's a good feeling. I feel inspiration brewing.

I've also completed my Counselling Diploma.

Scott Langston B.A., P.G.C.E., T.E.F.L., Dip. Coun.

How's that for a mouthful? God forbid that I ever see that written anywhere else...