I received an email about two weeks ago from production welcoming me again to the publishing company and the steps I needed to take. I have been so busy with work and my kids schedules that today was the first time I could look over everything again.
The email asked for me to re-submit my story to make sure it met the submission guidelines to ensure that the entire production process would run more smoothly and quickly. I clicked on the link within the email and it took me to their submission requirements website.
The first step was to review my story and make sure I had it the way I wanted it. So I read it over a few times and then decided to do some more research. I'm glad I did. I worked on adding a few more details to my story, which I hope improved it. I changed my title as well and decided on my authors name to put on the title page. Then I had to save it in a certain format. The only thing I wish I would have done first, was print it out the way I had originally wrote it. I kept saving it to the same file so now I do not have a copy of my original story. So I recommend for anyone out there who is writing a story to either print out your original or save the editing in a different file just in case you like the original better.
The next step took me to the childrens book guidelines. I had to write the "Backmatter," which is the teaser that goes onto the back. I have to say that took some time and a few prayers. I even had to call my best friend for help with my last line. I liked how it turned out though.
After that, I had to write the Author's Bio. That also took some time and wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. But I ended up with something I liked. I saved it in the format required.
My last step was to send the publishing company an email and attach my files. So now it is in their hands again. I hope I hear from them again soon.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Contract arrived at publisher
I tracked my conctract through UPS and printed out the arrival receipt. Later I received a call from the publisher as well as an email letting me know they had it. The publisher says that they are sending my information to production and I should be hearing from them at the beginning of next week to start the process.
I spent some time this morning checking out books that have a similar theme to my book so I can look at the illustrations. I want to see colors and the styles that I like. I know eventually I will need to let the illustrator know what I have in mind so I need to get some ideas. I am also kicking around a few titles for the book. I will email that to them when they ask.
I'm excited and don't really have any expectations. I just want to experience all of this and if the book does well, then that will be even better. I will continue to pray that I get a wonderful illustrator and Editor.
I spent some time this morning checking out books that have a similar theme to my book so I can look at the illustrations. I want to see colors and the styles that I like. I know eventually I will need to let the illustrator know what I have in mind so I need to get some ideas. I am also kicking around a few titles for the book. I will email that to them when they ask.
I'm excited and don't really have any expectations. I just want to experience all of this and if the book does well, then that will be even better. I will continue to pray that I get a wonderful illustrator and Editor.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
My Publishing Experience - The Beginning
I want to keep track of my experience with the publishing world. I'm just beginning now and figure this will help me remember what all occured during this experience and may help a new author out as well.
It all started one day while I was teaching my class. I was modeling an assignment I wanted them to do. So I began writing a story in front of the class so they could see what they were expected to do. My students enjoyed it, so I shared it with another class. That teacher used it for her class as well and said they liked it. Later that week while at home, I noticed a site -writing.com and explored that. I decided to try and remember my story and type it there so I could use it again next year to teach with. I changed a few things and then posted it. I received comments including one from a lady saying her child had read my story and loved it. She said if I ever publish, her daughter would be the first to buy it. I smiled and went on with life.
I said a few prayers about wanting to write a book, and that the idea for a story would have to fall into my lap as well as the publisher. Awhile later, I went back to the writing site and read other comments. I then found a link to a publisher. I looked at their site and thought, "Why not." I submited my story and never told a sole. I didn't think anything would come from it.
About two months later I received an email saying they were in the process of reading my book. They would contact me within a week. Again, I didn't think anything would come from it. Two weeks later I was checking my mail and noticed an email from someone I didn't recognize. She asked if I was still interested in publishing and that I hadn't responded to her previous email asking for my address. I then realized I must have deleted her first email without ever reading it. So I went ahead and sent her my address still not expecting anything.
Two days after I sent the email, I came home after a long day at work and saw a parcel by my front door. I opened it up and it was a contract from them. I was surprised and excited all at once. I brought it in and quickly glanced over it. The first person I showed it to was my oldest son. He didn't say much, just smiled. Then I took it to my dad so he could look it over. He told me to do some research on the company. My husband came home and I told him about it as well. He agreed I needed to do some research. So I did.
I checked the better business rating and they had an "A+". I searched throught sites that had positive and negative comments about them. I continued to pray about it as well. The contract due date was approaching faster than I wanted. I emailed my contact back and asked for more time. She gladly gave it to me.
After praying about this over the past weeks, I realized that I should do this. The next step was convincing my husband. He thought I should self publish and gave me many sites to back up his claim. I don't think I really ever got him to see it my way, but he did say I could do what I needed to do.
I told a few friends about this adventure and they all said I should do it. One asked me to send her my story. I actually was surprised at how I felt about doing that. I didn't want to do it. I felt "exposed". I emailed it to her anyway and then waited to hear back. She said she loved it. It is funny that I didn't think twice about letting unknown people on the web read it, but it bothered me to have a friend read it. I guess I was afraid she may not like it. I'm glad I was wrong.
Anyway, I emailed my contact some questions and also spoke to her on the phone. Liking what she had to say, I went home after work, read the contract again, and then signed it. It had to be in the mail the following day. (Nothing like waiting till the last minute.) So today after work, I put everything together and drove to the UPS store and after saying a prayer I sent my contract off. They should get it tomorrow. So now my adventure begins.
It all started one day while I was teaching my class. I was modeling an assignment I wanted them to do. So I began writing a story in front of the class so they could see what they were expected to do. My students enjoyed it, so I shared it with another class. That teacher used it for her class as well and said they liked it. Later that week while at home, I noticed a site -writing.com and explored that. I decided to try and remember my story and type it there so I could use it again next year to teach with. I changed a few things and then posted it. I received comments including one from a lady saying her child had read my story and loved it. She said if I ever publish, her daughter would be the first to buy it. I smiled and went on with life.
I said a few prayers about wanting to write a book, and that the idea for a story would have to fall into my lap as well as the publisher. Awhile later, I went back to the writing site and read other comments. I then found a link to a publisher. I looked at their site and thought, "Why not." I submited my story and never told a sole. I didn't think anything would come from it.
About two months later I received an email saying they were in the process of reading my book. They would contact me within a week. Again, I didn't think anything would come from it. Two weeks later I was checking my mail and noticed an email from someone I didn't recognize. She asked if I was still interested in publishing and that I hadn't responded to her previous email asking for my address. I then realized I must have deleted her first email without ever reading it. So I went ahead and sent her my address still not expecting anything.
Two days after I sent the email, I came home after a long day at work and saw a parcel by my front door. I opened it up and it was a contract from them. I was surprised and excited all at once. I brought it in and quickly glanced over it. The first person I showed it to was my oldest son. He didn't say much, just smiled. Then I took it to my dad so he could look it over. He told me to do some research on the company. My husband came home and I told him about it as well. He agreed I needed to do some research. So I did.
I checked the better business rating and they had an "A+". I searched throught sites that had positive and negative comments about them. I continued to pray about it as well. The contract due date was approaching faster than I wanted. I emailed my contact back and asked for more time. She gladly gave it to me.
After praying about this over the past weeks, I realized that I should do this. The next step was convincing my husband. He thought I should self publish and gave me many sites to back up his claim. I don't think I really ever got him to see it my way, but he did say I could do what I needed to do.
I told a few friends about this adventure and they all said I should do it. One asked me to send her my story. I actually was surprised at how I felt about doing that. I didn't want to do it. I felt "exposed". I emailed it to her anyway and then waited to hear back. She said she loved it. It is funny that I didn't think twice about letting unknown people on the web read it, but it bothered me to have a friend read it. I guess I was afraid she may not like it. I'm glad I was wrong.
Anyway, I emailed my contact some questions and also spoke to her on the phone. Liking what she had to say, I went home after work, read the contract again, and then signed it. It had to be in the mail the following day. (Nothing like waiting till the last minute.) So today after work, I put everything together and drove to the UPS store and after saying a prayer I sent my contract off. They should get it tomorrow. So now my adventure begins.
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