Audio Design & Website

Today I received my audio cover in email.  I liked the way it looked.  Now people can order just the audio version or they can order the book and get the audio download for free.  All of this was part of my contract.  Now I can't wait till I have them both together.  I want to play the audio while showing the book to my students.  I think they would enjoy that more than hearing me read it. 

I also received an email today saying they would begin working on my website.  I need to supply the content and then they will begin putting it all together.  After they are finished, they will update it for one month and then it becomes mine.  I plan on having tabs for: Home & Events, About the Book, About the Author, and Lesson Plan Ideas.  I can have up to 5 pages, but I don't think I will need that many.  I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Audio Book is Finished

A week ago, I received the first proof on my audio version of "My Finny Fin Fin."  I was excited.  I plugged my earphones into my laptop.  I clicked a few buttons and then it was up.  I pushed play and was very surprised to hear echos, lots and lots of echos.  I listened to the whole book a few times like that.  I didn't like it at first.  Then as I listened more. I thought maybe the narrator was trying to make it sound like it was under the ocean.  So it grew on me some.  I unpluged my earphones and left for a few mintues.  When I came back to listen again, I noticed when I plugged in my earphones, there was a check mark in the "Arena" sound box.  I unchecked that and then listened again.  The real recording was there.  LOL  I realized that I was the one who created the echos. 

After I listened to the recording the way it was suppose to be, I went and picked up my printed copy of my book.  I checked the words as the narrator read it.  I listened for page pauses.  I found a few mistakes.  One word was left out and another inserted where it shouldn't be.  I also noticed that their weren't pauses for the page turns on some of the pages.  So I sent my correction form back to the multimedia producer to fix the mistakes.

I received the final proof email today.  My producer congratulated me on the completion of the audio book.   He sent the final copy to be reviewed as well as all the forms.  So I eagerly played the story.  I liked it.  He had made one of my character's voice deeper, which was a change I wasn't expecting.  I pulled out my paper copy of my story and listened to the audio version while looking at the pages.  The voice went well with that character.  There were no mistakes this time.  So I printed out the Audio Content form and will be sending it off today.

I went on line to Barnes and Nobel just to see if my book was listed.  It was!!!  I was thrilled.  It doesn't have a picture with it yet, but they are taking preorders already.  They discounted it down a little as well.  Next, I went to Amazon.com, but no luck.  My official release date is Feb. 15th!  That is when it will be completely ready on both sites. 

I'm still waiting for my shipment of books to come in.  It has been two weeks since I ordered them.  My marketing director told me it would take 2 to 3 weeks before I would get them.  They should be coming anytime.  I can't wait! 

What to do While Waiting for Books

I am hoping my books do not take 3 weeks to come in.  I can't wait to get them.  It has only been 3 days since I ordered , so it will probably be awhile still.  In the meantime, I have been researching author social sites to join.  I want to learn from those who have been around for awhile.  I joined "AuthorsDen.com", "AutorNation.com"and "The Book Marketing Network."  I read lots of good ideas on the forum of AuthorsDen and their or many groups to join on The Book Marketing Network.  I recommend these sites for all authors. I also found this site that has a list of social networks to try out.  I plan to check out more of them.  http://www.bookmarket.com/socialnetworks.htm

I have also been working on getting author's fan page members up.  I have posted my goal of being in the 3 digits and asked for my friends and families help.  I told them that if I get my numbers up, then people who do not know me will be more likely to join and take a look at my book.  I went from 44 to 91 in one day.  I am almost at my goal.  Then I will make a new goal. Some who joined even "Shared" my page with their friends on facebook.  So that was an added benefit.  I do plan to ask my members to "Share" the page with their friends and family soon.  I just want to finish concentrating on getting new members quickly though for now. 

I have also been researching marketing ideas.  This link has many ideas. http://www.bookmarket.com/
It had links to awards, podcasting, book trailers, and lots more.  I found this link on how to make your own book trailer.  I may try that or get my creative son to make it for me.  My publisher does offer this service at a price.  I have seen their  work and know they would make a wonderful book trailer for me.  I would need to save up some money for it.  Right now, I would like to use any extra money to order more books.  So I am thinking of making my own for now using this link: http://hubpages.com/hub/Create-Your-Own-Book-Trailer-Free

Another idea I want to work on is to create a page with lesson plans on it for teachers to use after reading my book to their class.  I would pass this page out as they buy the book.  I plan to attach it to my soon to be website that the publisher is making for me.  I thought I could blog some lesson ideas or put them on my facebook status. 

I have lots to do before my vacation is over.  I guess I'd better get started!

Marketing Phone Call

I was able to talk to my marketing director today.  It was our first phone conversation.  He told me that my book would be released on Feb. 15th!!  I'm excited about that.  We talked about some marketing ideas.  I asked about having a book signing at "Chick Fil-A." He said the publishing company had a good relationship with them so he would set something up.  The reason I wanted to go to Chick Fil-A is that it as filled with so many kids and that is the audience my book is for.  I was glad to hear that others have done this in the past.  I felt like I was on the right track. We also talked about book signings at school and release party signings.

I  placed my first book order today too.  The publisher had a special going on, so I will be getting bookmarks, push cards, business cards, some t-shirts and on line radio advertising along with my order.  I can't wait to see what the bookmarks will look like. I ordered books to take with me on book signings and to have on hand for anyone who wants an autographed copy.

I asked if the audio part had to be finished before anyone could buy my book.  He told me that the audio takes a few months and that it would not hold up the release of the book.  People can order the book as soon as it is on line. 

So now I feel like my dream of being a published author is coming true.  Each step takes me closer and closer.  I can't wait to hear who receives my book first from the on-line orders on the publisher's website.

Audio Voicing

My book moved into the audio voicing stage in November.  I was sent to a site to choose from a few different voices.  It wasn't as easy as I thought it would be.  I had one of my sons help me with this.  I stared at the characters on my book as I listened to each voice.  I turned in my top 3 choices.  I am now waiting to hear back with a sample for me to ok.  The next step will be checking the narration for errors.  After that the book will move into the artwork stage.  This is where they take the artwork from the book and fit the packaging for the audio book.  I sent the audio department an email today to see when I would be sent the sample. 

A week ago, I noticed that my book was placed on the Publishers on line book store. So I decided to go ahead and create a fan page on facebook and begin to tell my friends about it.  I shared the link to my book and people started ordering!  I was thrilled.  It was hard to go to sleep after that.  I also bought a journal to start writing down marketing ideas that I learn about from others or think of on my own. I found my publisher's facebook page and joined that.  I began reading and meeting other authors.  I have asked many questions and have been given some great advice.  Some of them became fans of my facebook page and I became fans of theirs.  It is nice to finally meet other authors from the same publishing company.  I wish I would have found the Publisher's site a long time ago.

 I am waiting till after Christmas to call the marketing director.  I want to ask him if the early orders will be sent out yet, even if the audio part isn't finished yet.  I will need to place an order so I will have books on hand to begin selling before the official release date. 

Graphic Design Stage

After my illustrations were complete, my book as moved into the graphic design phase in October.  My designer started with the cover first.  She sent me 3 different ones and said to keep in mind my customers. So I decided to take all three to my 2nd grade class and let them vote on the one they liked.  They were divided between two.  I asked them what they liked about both and then sent an email to my designer asking her if she could combine the two.  She did and so the cover was finalized. 

The next phase was the Initial Proof, which is the layout design.  She took my manuscript and made it look like a book.  She integrated the illustrations.  Once she was done, I had to ok it. I needed to make sure the visual experience matched the tone of the book.  This is the time when I needed to pay attention to fonts, font size, formatting, and the spread - what the book will look like on the inside.  I was so excited to see this part.  It was the first time I saw all the illustrations.  I showed it to a few friends and they loved it.  I was impressed with my illustrator. She did a great job.

Then we went to the Final Proof phase. The designer continued to work on the layout of the inside.  She created the back cover and spine using the backmatter I created awhile back.  The backmatter is the teaser about the book.  She also put in a section about the author and a picture.   When she was done, she sent me a copy in the mail to be checked over.  I was so excited.  I brought it to school and showed it to a few people.  I even read it to my class and had them write down their favorite part and illustrate it.  I then took it home and looked over it trying to find any mistakes.  If I had found any, I was suppose to mark directly on the book with red ink and visit a link to get a correction form.   I was fortunate that I didn't need it.  My book was fine.  So I had to mail back the book, so they could use it as a color match for the final product .  I really wanted to keep it, but I mailed it in as quickly as I could so that the next phase could begin. 

Illustrations Scenes

My illustrator sent me her scene ideas that she plans on drawing for the book. If I like the ideas, then that is what she will go with. If I don't, I can make suggestions to change them. Turns out I liked her ideas, so we won't have any changes. Once I ok the scene ideas, she gets to make it the way she wants. So I am saying lots of prayers that she will have great drawings to go with her ideas. This is the part that I wish I could ok every single drawing. But they won't do that. I think they will email a few of the finished scenes just so I can see how it is going. I don't think I can change anything once they are drawn. I guess I will find that part out when I hear back from her again.