My poetry and how The Bard Word hasn't happened yet
76Bard of Ely and books
Ann B. Keller on Amazon
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BRIGGEN
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The Devil's Crescent
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Crenellations
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Bards and Sages Quarterly: October 2009
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Ann B. Keller and Deborah Simpson
- CJStone on HubPages
Hello. If you are a writer you are welcome here. It's a weird compulsion we share. In my life nothing was ever quite real until it was written... - Deborah Simpson at Myspace
MySpace profile for Author, Deborah Simpson with pictures, videos, personal blog, interests, information about me and more - Ann B. Keller's profile at Myspace
MySpace profile for Ann B. Keller-Author with pictures, videos, personal blog, interests, information about me and more
The Secret on Amazon
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The Secret
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The Secret Daily Teachings
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The Secret (Extended Edition)
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The Secret Gratitude Book
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Law of Attraction: The Science of Attracting More of What You Want and Less of What You Don't
Price: $9.96
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The Secret (Original Edition)
Price: $12.96
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It's not easy being a poet
The struggling poet is almost a cliché and my experience as one has illustrated the term well but some months back I thought at last my luck had changed and I was going to have an anthology of all my own writings. Now that it hasn't happened I think the time has come to tell the story so here goes.
First of all I would add that my hopes had been raised by having a go at practicing "The Secret" or the Law of Attraction as it is also known and widely publicised. A friend of mine had suggested I give it another go and had tried to convince me it was real and worked. The idea is that whatever you want out of life you can get if you visualise yourself receiving it with gratitude from the universe. I am sure you have all heard about it.
My friend, knowing my situation, had said that I really deserved money for all the things I do and all the talents I have. Of course, I agreed! So there I was thinking daily about how I was going to get money and was going to be a success as a writer and then the next part of the story came into play at Myspace.
An American writer friend called Ann B. Keller had admired my poetry and she asked why it wasn't published. I said finding a publisher for anything is hard enough but for poetry even harder. Then Ann said she knew of a publisher called Triad Publishing that she thought would publish my work and she pointed out that she had her own book with the company.
I went and had a look at the site and it all looked great apart from I had the feeling money was needed somewhere along the line. It wasn't a "vanity press" where you pay them and they publish your work and try to get you to buy it afterwards and any publicity for the work is left up to you. Triad offered a lot more than that like sorting out an ISBN for you, getting your book on the Amazon and Barnes and Noble sites for you and arranging book launches at shops. But yes, there was a fee.
I told Ann and Triad that there was no way I could afford it, not even in instalments that the publisher was offering. My friend said she thought it was crazy that a talent such as mine was blocked from publication because of lack of money and she offered to pay for my book, which I very gratefully accepted.
I thought maybe this is the Law of Attraction working and that at last I have found a sponsor and at last I will have a book out of my work! I began working on what poems should go in and decided to include my song lyrics too as a separate section. I came up with a great title - The Bard Word.
I had to get just over 80 poems minimum and eventually I had them all sorted out and had written a bio and introduction to go with the book. I got my good friend CJ Stone to write a preview comment to go on the back cover.
CJ and my friend Ann had a look at all the poems and lyrics I had chosen and they both thought it was a great collection. I received a contract from the company and it looked OK and I signed it and returned it to Triad and received my copy back from the owner Vern Firestone.
I sent everything I had done to my editor at the company Deborah Simpson and she made some suggestions, which I either agreed with or decided against. The book was all sorted out with a contents page and in the format it was required for publication. All that was left was the cover artwork, which was to be done by the company's graphics department. Ann had paid in the money that was needed and everything was ready to go.
I was excited and Ann was excited and I had visions of hopefully seeing the book out in time to sell some as Xmas gifts. I knew I could get it reviewed and with it going on Amazon I was looking forward to sales.
I had done everything that was needed apart from approving the artwork which I couldn't do until it was ready. But I never got to do this. I never got any further communication from the boss of Triad despite many emails sent.I tried posting commenst at his Myspace site but they were never approved - I wonder why?
Then it got worrying. Deborah had quit her job as poetry editor following problems she had had with Triad and there were reports that other writers were leaving because their contracts had not been kept to. Deborah posted about what had happened in her blog at Myspace and moved her work onto lulu.com.
Ann had to sadly see that the company she had had faith in wasn't what it had appeared at all. She told me that Vern Firestone had said he wasn't giving her her money back because he was going to publish my book. But he never did.
I am an optimistic person and hung on for nearly six weeks in the hope that he would do so and that I would hear from him but I never did. Eventually I disappointedly sent an e-mail ultimatum saying that if I didn't receive a reply by the end of the week that I was going to pull out of the deal because I had heard nothing about my book for months and my mail wasn't being responded to.
I never received any answer to this so after the week was over I drafted a letter to Firestone and Triad Publishing and sent it by recorded delivery to say I was ending the contract. I asked for Ann's money to be returned to her. I have heard no more from Triad although I am told that legal action and complaints against the company has been taken by others.
I intend putting The Bard Word on lulu.com if and when I can figure out how to do so and can come up with a cover design from somewhere.
That was my good and bad experience of trying to get The Bard Word into print. My struggle as a poet continues. As for the Law of Attraction it looks like it only works part of the way for me!
Update: This project is currently delayed further (as of 7th November) while I decide what to do after being shocked by the new International shipping prices at lulu. I created a CD there the other day and went to buy a sample copy only to find that they wanted over €105 shipping costs for it! Yes, thats right - for 1 CD to be sent to Spain!!! I contacted their Chat Line and someone called Ivy B confirmed it was correct but they are making changes to the pricing. I asked when this would be done and she couldn't tell me. I went to the lulu forum for International Orders and found a whole lot of posts and threads by other customers who are not at all happy with the insane prices being charged!
House of Cards by Bard of Ely
This life you're living is a House of Cards;
First level of the game:
You're right on it, down to Earth.
Next step up is pure electric;
Energy warriors, spectres and ghosts.
Travel the domain of demons and wizards;
Find your way out through the middle door.
Go on higher, find the pure light,
Or take a detour around some planet.
Angel wings can take you home,
Or show you how to fly away.
The game you're playing is one of trickery,
It's all done by mirrors and wires,
Speed your footsteps through the maze of time;
Vanish in your own reflection.
Multiple lives in this House of Cards,
Many, many rounds and there are no rules.
Wheel of Fortune spins the Joker,
All alone in crowded rooms.
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Comments
Dear Bard, I only wish you had contacted me in the business 20 years through new york pulishing to the easier self-publishing route. You could have your own site for around $500 and then write articles like hubpages and get droves of targeted people to you site. Money is not an excuse! You'll get more out of your investment than you paid in. You could do the book as an eBook, no printing costs. Shame to not get your gifts out there a much faster way than a POD publisher who doesn't do much. sincerely, Judy Cullins, www.bookcoaching.com
LOL.
Thanks, Shades! I am an expert on struggling! lol The worst part of all about this was that Ann lost the money she put up on my behalf. The Bard Word will get published eventually somehow and in the meantime I can give my friends a bit of publicity.
Judy, thanks for posting but money is every excuse when you don't have it and I don't! $500 seems an awful lot of money for a website when it's possible to have websites for free - I can think of several options on this including freewebs.com. The problem is that unless you get traffic to the sites nothing much happens anyway as I have found out long ago. This is why having a proper publisher in my opinion is the best way because they get the books into shops or at least they should do. As for ebooks I have no experience of them but I would have thought a good old-fashioned book was far preferable.
It still is, Bard. I don't want to read your poems online. I want them in my hands, in a book. Just me and the page and the perfect creek bank or fireside.
Yeah, I hate reading online - it's a necessity but hardly relaxing or a good way. As for printing an ebook I can't seeing as both my printers died! Give me a proper book any day!
A book is always best Steve. Reading online is for research not relaxation. I must admit I had a bad feeling about that poetry book, but at the time it seemed that things were going your way. But then it all went belly-up yet again. I must admit you are a past master at the art of struggling, and definite proof that the Law of Attraction is a load of old bollox. Don't give up though mate. I'm sure we'll have that book of poems in our hands one day.
Thanks, Chris! I am viewing all this as yet another learning experience although I'm not sure what I have learned! lol
Well you've learned not to pay any attention to all that Law of Attraction clap-trap at least. I only feel sorry for your friend who lost a lot of money on the deal. I think maybe lulu is the way forward. At least you don't have to put up any money up front, and by the sounds of it the end product is very good.
There is this radio show out here, the "aware show". . . on kpfk and you can stream it live at kpfk.org among other brilliant shows they have. This lady from the aware show is always talking about healing and health and the power of the mind. She once said that if you believe there is a million in your bank account than you will have that million. Turns out that she now has thyroid desease. After all these years teaching how you can get rid of cancer and all health issues, how anything you imagine will happen, will happen through the power of intention, she is not in perfect health? I will say that theintentionexperiment.com is really neat and many of the things she offers on her show are. Things she calls hiccups are the bumps in the road, it is how we handle them that determines if they are good or bad. The worst is over! That is a phrase you are suppose to use in emergency situation and saying the worst is over has been proven to stop the bleeding in hospitals. I have also heard that in relation to the law of attraction, you have to believe without a bit of doubt.
I too was at the brink of success. I had invested in a non-toxic, biodegradable fire retardant. I actually got a hardware store to buy it. The only thing was the manufacturer decided he didn't want to sell it. There goes my $ 10,000 a month. Now, I will just use my welfare and student money to sue him. We are very litigant in this country and I want in! Plus if I don't fight, i will always regret not taking the opportunity. So I still can believe in my $50-100,000 a year. You can all will it to happen for me. The intention here is simply that I receive what I worked very hard for. I didn't just land a sale with a hardware company overnight, I really put in time and money in something I believed would help people. Now it is fire season in CA and the air quality is so poor, very toxic, even pesticides were burning this time. I could be making a real difference in peoples lives. I worked hard to make that difference and my intention from suing is to get what I worked for. My intention in life is to make things happen for sustainable energy. I want to force health down the throats of the government and offer free energy and water to the people. The intention is key. What I learned despite not having the money is; I could be a success. I could land the big sale, I could get the info out there and market it. i gained and should gain my money and payment of my time back.
What you have gained: your poems are organized and ready for publish, the have been edited professionally. You already make money writing for the paper, right? So you are already receiving some money for your talents. Obviously, you have learned enough about online ventures that you are not going to fork over $500 for another maybe. You have gained too! You have gained a full edited and organized collection of your works ready for publish. You have gained support from writers. Perhaps you have gained and the law of attraction is still working. You are still writing and you have a small following and you are making some money for your talents. On the intention experiment site, the lady (i forget her name at the moment) basically says that you have to make your intentions exact. If you want money than your intention is to have more money than you need. If all you intend is to have enough to live on perhaps you already have received all you have intended. If you intended people from all over the world read your work, than you have already reached that far. If you intend for mass populous to read it, than that is your focus of intent.
I hope this helps because I am starting to feel too wordy. I do think there is something to the power of intent. I am not certain it is a guarantee that will prevent all obstacles. Keep believing and make your end intent more clear.
You are right, Chris, and MD, yes, I have seen countless examples of people with special powers or secrets to success etc that are in reality a bad advert for these things if you loook at their reality. So what you tell me about the lady with the health problem doesn't surprise me.
I have also been told you must be exact in what you want - my friend Keith told me that I had been asking for a girlfriend and got one - my cat Tiggy. He says I should have specified what species! lol
Yes, I make some money from a paper here but it is a pittance and I am currently well below the average wage here even with other money I get from sites I write for. I have been trying to get other 'proper' jobs including teacher's assistant but have so far failed.
Best of luck in your own battle to get the money you deserve!
As for the air quality I am aware that a lot of chemtrail believers who are suffering real ailments are blaming the wrong source - yes the air is very polluted but not by chemtrails.
That is terribly bad luck Steve, I am really sorry your book didn't end up published, but if you are determined enough I am sure you will get it published one way or another.
Thanks, Cindy! I think I am going to have to spend a long time figuring out how to design a cover and how to upload it all at the right size at lulu. Then when I have done one I will know how to do more.
Bard of Ely, sorry to hear about the bad luck with your poetry book. I think we can always count on ourselves -- the problem is in expecting other people to do something. It's great that you had a friend who believed in you and backed it up with her own money. I hope your friend gets her money back... and that you remain friends.
By the way, how did you decide lulu.com is the place to publish online? What are the advantages compared to other sites?
Thanks, Aya!
lulu.com is free, well known, reliable and produces an excellent product as I have now seen proof of! If you can follow all their publishing details and navigate through it all you can end up with a professional looking print on demand book. I have just been looking there tonight and they even do a large range of ready made free cover designs you can choose from if you cannot supply your own art.
Bard Of Ely, it does look like a good option. Keep us apprised of how it goes with your book!
Thanks! When I figure it out how to upload my book on there in the right size and format and have sorted out a cover and got a copy to see it all looks OK, as soon as all that's done I'll be telling the world! lol
Bard-
Raw deal! But remember - failure only comes to those who quit, and you don't sound like you're going to quit trying. Attract the solution to this problem - and there are many other books that discuss this metaphysical mystery, including those by Dr. Wayne Dyer. Loved House of Cards.
Bard -
I too have contemplated the Power of Intention/Law of Attraction phenomena and am so far undecided. What I am convinced of is one simple thing - the whole idea is a very mystical way of explaining a simple truth - that you get out of life what you put into it. As Epictetus said (in so many words) - its not what happens to us, but what we make of those things that happen to us. Maybe you can attract more money into your life by having a clear, specific intention for wealth. Maybe not. Who knows? But your hubs are not only interesting and well-written, but also thought-provoking and inspiring. And so in this sense, you are certainly giving something to this world. And as long as you are giving, you are sure to receive in some form or other - though the profits may not be immediately tangible!
Thanks for your responses, cegainesjr and Nordy!
Seems to me the Law of Attraction works for some and not for others and others get wealth and other desirable things without knowing anything about the idea - many, for example, inherit money or are born into it! The people behind marketing The Secret already have the money and are making more selling something which is supposed to be free. I don't think they are using the Law of Attraction but rather the Law of Marketing and Good Publicity! lol
For many years I have found I get a lot of things that I have little or no use for or don't want and even things that are difficult to sell or get rid of eg. when I was living in Wales an ex-supporter of Guru Maharaji sent me all the way from Sweden, a boxed set of cassette lectures by the guru. To a follower of Maharaji a wonderful gift of value but try finding someone who wants such an item or try selling it and its a different matter and thus it went to join a load of hoarded belongings I had to get shot of to move. Most ended up given away or sold for a pittance. A witch from Australia sent me some Aboriginal rain-making blocks. I brought them with me just in case I am ever in touch with her again and she asks have I used them! Recently a Scientologist sent me two DVDs but I can't play them as I have no DVD player. These are the sorts of things that come into my life that become objects I don't know what to do with them but I really don't believe I got by the Law of Attraction. At the same time things I do want I never get or I get after a tremendous amount of struggle but I am well aware that how ell I do in life is fantastic in comparison with millions of other people. I was reading the other day of a guy here who has lived in his car for years and gets 200€ a month from "odd jobs" but cannot get a proper job despite continued efforts and thus cannot afford to rent a place or better his condition. A newspaper had done a story on him so maybe that will help change things for him? I hope it does!
Dearest Bard,
As a lover of poetry myself, I am saddened at the turn of events regarding your wonderful book!! And saddened to hear that your dear supportive friends were taken advantage of!!
I am a publisher of poetry!! My HubPages avatar is actually part of the cover to my most recent work!! Sirens of Circumstance, writen by J. S. Allen, a playboy turned pastor, with over 50 years of poetry! Do not give up!
1. I believe Triad is here in the U.S.!! There are many options for going after them for returning the money!! The least of which is to give them a deadline to return the money or you will be flooding the web with your story of dealing with them! Other ways include Publisher Associations, the Better Business Bureau, State Office of Corporations, County Business License Dept., etc.! There is no reason for such nonsense!
2. A book cover is not a problem! Lulu.com is a GREAT site and offers TONS of photos/graphics, etc. for covers for free if you go with their program!! Their quality is high, their upfront costs almost nil and for someone not familiar with all the in's and out's of publishing, it is a wonderful choice!!
3. The days of finding a large publisher willing to take on a new author, give them an advance, and do the promotion are long gone! There are only about 5-8 large publishing houses left and after this economic meltdown there may be even fewer!! Famous people sometimes get advances and contracts - and often just the opposite! Look at how many people were turned down, published their own books, and are now on top!!
4. Print-on-Demand is the way to go for new authors!! ALL ligit printers can help with the simple process of ISBN's (www.Bowkers.com) and getting your book on Amazon.com and B&N.com, etc. A few days on the web and you can learn everything you need to know so you are not disappointed again!! It's not rocket science, honest!!
One of the very best information sites is: DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com
More than 500 pages of helpful information:http://ParaPublishing.com
As a publisher myself, this is my first stop with any question/obstacle I might run across!! AND IT'S ALL FREE!!
I guess you can tell I get a bit agitated when I hear a blossoming author/poet gets taken for a ride!! If you have the know-how to write for HubPages, you can do your own book!!
I hope some of the above information helps!! Please do not give up!!
Blessings always, Earth Angel!!
Thank you so much for your advice and support, Earth Angel!
As it stands Ann has just contacted me today to say she will help me again - this time to set up at lulu and she understands how to do it.
As for Triad I understand that many people have taken legal action against the company.
I will get The Bard Word out!
Hi Steve. I'm sorry you had that rotten experience with trying to get your poetry book published. It's great to see all the help you've been offered just from telling your story. Hopefully it will go better for you next time around.
I write for clients over at Elance and I've learned to just kind of roll with it. Whenever I get a project, I always know there's at least a 30% chance the person who just hired me will disappear or change their mind or whatever, and once in awhile I do get stiffed. But about 70% of the time I get paid and it's not overly painful, so I keep doing it. I'm not getting rich though.
Bill keeps telling me to write a book, but then I read stories like yours and I think, geez, all that work just to get frustrated and rejected. No thank you! lol! Still, someday I will write one anyway. I really want to. Thanks for telling your story here.
Pam, what is so great about this is seeing how many people are coming forward with advice and help and in turn I can see this as hopefully pointing the way for others to get their own work out on lulu.com or elsewhere. Something I really love about Hub Pages is what a brilliant community of people are here and the responses here show that. CJ knows that I am always writing my own story and he describes this in Last of the Hippies and I agree with him that that is what I do and other people do whether they realise it or not. This is a chapter, if you like, about what it takes to get my book out and an introduction to it. Eventually it will be done!
Steve, it sounds like lulu is the way forward for you, and if you do figure it out you can help all the other writers here on hubpages by writing a hub about it. Good luck with it all.
Chris, Ann is going to help me again! She knows how to do the formatting for the place - its is going to happen! When I know how to do this I am going to be far more inspired to get other books on there I think.
It's my usual technophobia causing me problems again - I even had a technophobia dream last night - at least that was my explanation and I've written it up as my latest hub. Vee Van Dam gets a plug too and I found one of his books on Amazon!
You are very welcome Steve!!
I am delighted to hear Ann is still willing to help even in the face of a set-back!!
I will look forward to following your progress!! Keep us all posted!!
Blessings always, Earth Angel!!
Ann is very kindly sorting out the format for the text for me and going to help with the cover. She knows how to use the lulu set up. At present I am considering using some artwork of mine that people like - it is a collage called The News. I am running a thread in the forums here though to see what people think makes a good poetry book cover. I think it is important to chose a good image. I am having problems deciding though. It is like writing a bio that condenses yourself and all your work in one word, or in this case one image!
Dearest Steve,
I know the world of publishing is a bit daunting in the beginning!! As recently as two years ago I wouldn't have recommended it to a novice!! But daily the entire process is being streamlined to give even a newbie the same chance as those who have been around for years!!
It is a glorious new world based on the value of content!! Define your goals!! Are you doing this just for fun?? Are you only selling to friends and relatives?? Do you want to recoup your investment?? Would you like to make some money?? It is very important to be specific!!
Again, if you can write HubPages, you can publish your own book!! And with Ann's help, it will be a wonderful experience!! It may be a different skill set than you are used to, but it is no more difficult than driving a standard shift car!!
In terms of book covers, they are immensely important!! It is the book cover that first catches a reader's attention!! In publishing we know that an author gets approximately 2 seconds to catch someone's attention!!
I suggest you write a Hub on your choices of book covers, post the choices, and let everyone vote and comment!! One criteria alone: Would someone buy your book based on the cover alone?? If the answer is no, go back to the drawing board!!
Poetry and art is a very personal thing to put out there on the web or in book form!! It is full of false praise and harsh rejection!! BUT it is not personal!! And it forces us as authors to take a rigerously honest inventory of our skills and talents!!
In publishing, there is no such thing as less than perfect!! Of course, none of us can reach perfect, but the standards are amazingly high!! Publishing is not a matter of "doing your best" and hoping it is good enough!! It is reading and editing and rereading and more editing and having critical readers go over every word in your book!! And then kicking it up a knotch again!!
There are many artists/poets/writers/musicians out there who just want to create their art and not worry so much about the publishing, mechanics nor business end!! I have never seen an artist that was not better after the learning the process!!
Learning all facets of a trade gives new perspective, appreciation and depth to an artist! It even builds new brain synapses!! Publishing poetry without knowing the skill-set is like costume designing without knowing how to sew!! Publishing poetry without learning the skills to market the finished product is like costume designing with no fabric!!
Do I sense a tiny bit of hestiation in your movement forward?? Again, you are laying your heart and soul out there on the line!! It feels brutal in the beginning!! (Kinda like childbirth!!) If so, you need to be honest with yourself!! For until you can be honest with yourself, you cannot be honest with another person!!
You have many people who are ready to step up to the plate and help you!! If you are ready to accept their help, it is only fair that you be 100% present and ready to go!! They are doing their part - you need to do yours!! Or, just take a break because it all feels a bit too fast!! The soul works at speeds of which we have little understanding!!
There is nothing slow about publishing!! The key is momentum!! Even if you submitted a perfectly formatted PDF manuscript today to Lulu.com, you are still cutting it close for the Holiday push!! It takes 30-45 days to get books after you approve the galley!! Any of my authors who are running behind, I am suggesting we concentrate on Valentine's, February 14, 2009!!
You are an excellent poet Steve!! Do not sell yourself short!! Blessings to you and Ann and Deborah and Chris and all your wonderful friends who love and support you!!
Blessings always, Earth Angel!!
Hello again, Earth Angel! Thank you for your continued advice. As for the contents that was all ready to go before. It is just the cover that concerns me. I thought of using a piece of artwork I did many years ago entitled The News. It is a collage and people like it! Ann has put the title and my name on it and I have added it to the photos here above. I am not sure about the font or text colour. But does it work?
I think original art here expresses another part of me - Bard of Ely as the artist as well as writer. Ready mades at lulu are going to have been already used by other authors.
Good Morning!!
Yes, that is a good looking book cover!! The font looks great!! If the color is black it looks a bit harsh - might I suggest a really really really dark green?? Dark burgundy or dark blue?? Almost black but not quite!! Also, a tight drop shadow behind the title make make it pop a bit more!!
You are doing GREAT!! Wonderful choices!! I can hardly wait to order a copy!!
Blessings to you and yours and this GREAT book!! Earth Angel!!
What fantastic comments you're getting Bard. There are so many kind and generous people here on hubpages. Good luck with the book. I'm sure such dedication and talent will be rewarded. It's just a matter of things all falling into place like a giant, cosmic jigsaw!
Thanks again, Earth Angel, and Amanda!
Earth Angel, I am really glad you like it and I will tell Ann your suggestions!
You are so very welcome!
Any time I may be of service, please feel free to call on me!!
One more suggestion on the cover, you might consider adding "Poetry" by Steve Andrews!! (Or something that denotes the contents of the book!!)
I really think the cover is GREAT!! I look forward to seeing the upgrades!! Are you going to wrap it around to the back of the book??
The "spine" of a book can be of critical importance as well!! Especially if you are going for a wider market than just friends and family!! 98% of all books in stores show the spine only!! Generally speaking, the spine is only wide enough to print on if your interior pages are approximately 125 in number!! This includes all white pages and end pages!!
Also, you mentioned you are an artist!! Me, too!! Did you know embedded images, black and white, (really gray scale) are treated just like text?? Each page in the file needs to be "flattened" so in addition to text you can add logos, accents, photos, art images, etc.
It's been a busy day and I am flying out the door again!!
Blessings on the Bard Word!! Earth Angel!!
Earth Angel, Ann has done the text in blue and another in in very dark red and I have just sent her this:
In astrology I am Aries ruled by Mars which is red. Red is the colour of passion, of blood! There is a line in my poem I Am: "I am blood and I am in you, I am words and these are true." And in Hymn the last line: "The animal passion of our blood" So that works well with that! On the back I suggest the artwork I am using as my avatar signed by the artist Paco de Colmenar attached a credit to him with the credit for my artwork too and link: http://www.myspace.com/paco_mac and there are preview comments CJ Stone wrote: A fine collection of poetry and song from the inimitable Bard; some poignant, some whimsical, some searching, some lost, but all wrought with delicate artistry and precision by a genuine master wordsmith. CJ Stone, columnist & author. http://www.cjstone.co.uk/
In the forum thread Vitae says I should use my avatar pic so I am thinking it can go on the back.
I agree it would be good to bleed onto the spine but not sure what that involves and how easy it is to do.
I want to sell to as many as possible, of course!
I will add the new version above in the main hub.
Dearest Steve,
Darn!! I just wrote you a long reponse and it disappeared!! In short, I LOVE the new font color!! And Chris's endorsement quote!!
Will write more later!! It was really good stuff I wrote!! Auuuuuggggghhhh!!
Blessings always, Earth Angel!!
Thanks again, Earth Angel! Sorry to hear you lost what you wrote.
At present I am thinking of doing the whole cover with my artwork including the spine. I think it would make the spine more arty and individual.
See??!! GREAT minds think alike!!
Okay, a shower, a walk, some lunch, a strong cup of java and I am back at the keyboard!!
First let me say thank you for letting me share here on your Hub!! I have a zillion things on my plate right now, yet the wild divine keeps urging me to find ways to be of service to you!! I learned long ago I do not know all the secrets of spirit, only that if I am still, the most beneficial-to-others route on my life journey will roll right out in front of me!! So, thank you!!
* Great news about using your artwork for the entire cover including spine!! GREAT choice!! I agree, it will make a wonderful cover and spine!! No, it is not hard at all!! A few simple clicks in PhotoShop!!
* A standard size book is 6" wide x 9" tall (or vice versa) and is referred to as a "trade paperback!!" It is the most efficient size both in cost and allowing book sellers to place your book on the shelf at eye level!! Odd sized books, which I love, are placed on the top and bottom shelves and get 80% less attention!!
* Again, a digitial printing press can only print on the spine of books that are thick enough and have room for at least 1/16" both above and below the text!! Lulu.com has a simple spine/page calculator!! If I recall, the thickness is approximately 125 pages minimum, unless a thicker paper is used!!
* Artwork to any printer, including Lulu.com, is submitted in one piece!! A 6" x 9" book with 1/2" spine would need artwork that is 9 1/2" tall (allows 1/4" bleed at top and bottom) x 13" (6" front + 6" back + 1/2" spine + 1/2" for quarter inch bleeds!!) And remember, the front cover is on the RIGHT side of the total page so it "wraps" correctly!!
* The blood red choice on font color, with your reasoning, is GREAT!! A tight drop shadow will make it pop even more!! Any chance a little teardrop of blood could hang down from the "d" in "Word?" Don't forget to add "Poetry" or something else to the title - or it will look homemade instead of professional!!
* Also, the name you choose for publisher, like "Bard Publishing," etc. must be selected prior to ordering ISBN's and bar codes!! DO NOT buy someone else's unused ISBN's or bar codes!! DO NOT allow it to be put in anyone else's name!! Bard Publishing would go on the front, the back and the spine!! Hopefully in deep red!!
* Generally speaking, the price of the book is determined at the time of ordering the ISBN and bar code - so it can be incorporated into the bar code!! Some people choose the "900000000" bar code but many large distribution houses, like Amazon.com and B&N.com will not distribute books without pre-pricing/codes in place and printed on the back cover!!
* I would keep most of the back and front cover fonts in red as there is so much other information that goes on the book cover that must be in black!! ISBN, bar codes, publisher, price, category, etc. The rule of thumb is: If you use the same font color, you can use different fonts - if you use many font colors, stick to the same font!! Again, loose rule but works well!
* Consider using a real life photo of you, even small, on the back cover and the lovely avatar artwork, in greyscale, inside on one of the title pages!! Two reasons: 1) copyright issues, 2) television, radio, newspapers and magazines will not even think of calling a new author without a current photo on the back!! It doesn't have to be a big deal; a friend, a camera, and good outdoor lighting for a head shot!! You will need one anyway for your press kits!!
* The avatar is great!! Alas, I have seen too, too, too many times where an artist, having given full permission, reniggs once the book becomes successful!! An absolute must is for the copyright of the artwork to be transferred, legally and in writing, to you!! In the U.S. the words "work done for hire" must appear somewhere in the document, even if it's just for love or fun or trade or a beer!!
That's all for now!! I'm getting worried all will disappear again!! Hope it helps!! Again, thank you for allowing me to be of service!! I am always available to help in any way I can!!
Blessings to the Bard-Group!! Earth Angel!!
Thank you for all this great advice, Earth Angel, which I'm sending on to Ann!
Gambaru! (Japanese: Never Give Up!)
You are more than welcome!!
Blessings to you and the Bard Group this wonderful Sunday!!
Earth Angel!!
Just me checking in with the Bard Group!!
I hope you guys have your hands full getting the Bard Word ready for the Holiday rush!! That's what I am doing for my authors!!
Blessings always, Earth Angel!!
Hi Earth Angel! Actually it has all got sadly delayed again - see my update - lulu has had crazy, and I mean crazy, shipping prices for the past week or so and their forum has been full of complaints. I created a CD there and they wanted €105.31 to send 1 sample CD to Spain by "standard shipping" and even more by "Express". So faced with that insanity I thought again about putting my work on there and am no further forward.
Blessings to you Bard!!
That's crazy for Lulu to charge so much for shipping!! Did you check to see if it was "pure" shipping charges or if Lulu had marked up for "shipping and handling??" I just received an email from Lulu offering free shipping?? I wonder if it's a geography thing??
No, I didn't see the update!! Alas, I have had my hands full at the moment!! I did, however want to check in on Team-Bard to see if there was any way I might be of service!!
Do not dismay over the delays!! Actually, I have had a few unexpected delays myself!! One, I may grumble at!! A string of delays lets me know the Universe has better ideas and I need to listen for the ever present silent Divine!!
This Holiday Season seemed to be getting a "dark cloud" associated with it!! Everyone in my part of the world seemed worried to death about doom and gloom!! Yet, the actual manifestation of scarcity is rarely seen nor felt!! (We are very blessed here!1)
So I began to ponder about putting my authors out there to be associated with a bleak Holiday, OR putting them out there in January with hope and optimism and a new U.S. government team!!
Turns out, many of the large manufactures were thinking the same!! Apple isn't releasing its best stuff until AFTER the Holidays!!
It's only a couple of weeks in actuality, yet, the "feel" is quite different!! Maybe the Universe has been whispering to all of you as well!!
Plus, books of poetry do not do well around the Holidays, oddly enough!! Self-help books seem to take center stage!! Poetry is most popular around Valentine's Day (February 14 here in the states!!)
I will go looking for your updates in another Hub maybe?? In the forums? How about posting the link here in the comments section so Ms. Blonde here can find it!!
Again, I send blessings and good fortune to you my friend!! You will do amazing I am sure!!
Blessings always, Earth Angel!!
Okay, Ms. Blonde just found the update!!
Keep us all posted!! We are all routing for your success!!
Blessings again, Earth Angel!!
Hi Earth Angel! I did it but haven't approved as yet because I haven't seen the sample copy which is on its way. Unfortunately I couldnt see how to get the art on the spine and it looks as if it will have a boring plain lulu spine in b&w.
I tried CreateSpace before I went back to lulu and that presented me with new problems which were frustrating including needing to convert the art into PDF and as a one piece not as back and front as at lulu. I had to learn what PDF files were and get a converter but even after all that I still couldn't put what I had together because I don't have an image editor that would do it. I had to ask a friend in Germany who very kindly sorted it out but it was still no good because it wasn't the right size. As well as this I was unable to complete their royalty payment forms because it wanted a 9-digit bank routing number and mine has 6 which it would not accept. I finally got a reply from support saying I had to open an international account or one in America. At that point I gave up on CreateSpace having found it very difficult to use.
Meanwhile back at lulu major problems and insanity continued with international shipping prices for CDs. I decided maybe I could send the CD to Ann to check and then have that out in America only. The problem there was that the artwork has all been messed up by a lulu barcode and also by chopping off text although the sizing worked fine on a site I had it on before and looks fine on the lulu template preview!
However, after several complaint threads by me and a lot of others by other unhappy customers at lulu they put an economy international price up for books that was reasonable but "not recommended" by lulu. Their other Standard and Express prices were still crazy. I ordered using the "not recommended" new Economy price and am currently waiting to get my copy.
Last time I looked at lulu's forum there were still a lot of complaints and no explanations by lulu.
Seems I picked a very bad time to attempt the self-publishing route but progress has been made.
No, Dearest Bard, you have not picked a picked a bad time!! Everything you mentioned above happens on each and every book project I have ever done!! It is exasperating!! I have to run as I am swamped for the next few days, yet, I just didn't want to leave you thinking that any of the above was out of the ordinary!! The learning curve in self-publishing is like climbing Mt. Everest!! If anything, what I can offer is a "frame of reference!!" Honest, this is what it takes!! Nothing above is out of the ordinary!! If it were any easier, everyone would be doing it!! Don't dispair!! You are doing GREAT!! Blessings always, Earth Angel!!
Earth Angel, it exists! It arrived today and the cover looks great. The spine isn't a selling point with the standard B&W but I can live with that! Also it hasn't kept Ann's choice of font for the titles inside but unless I can change it so it does I can live with that too.
A surprise - it was printed and mailed from Spain so I don't know what all the mad shipping prices are about still and if anything they seem more insane!
It's all progress made and I am getting much nearer! :)
CONGRATULATIONS!! That was a big hurdle to get over!! I am delighted to hear the good news!! You are now an "author" not just a "writer!!" You go Bard!! Blessings to Ann as well!!
The publishing industry only recognizes a very, very limited number of fonts!! Unless each and every page is formatted, flattened, embedded in an individual file as though each page was "art" and NOT "text" there is no way to get the "fancies" included!!
ALL printing houses have 4-6 default fonts that your text will revert to without notice!! Rarely is that information printed in clear site; just something I have learned over the years!!
Remember, you don't have to order and zillion copies right away, nor put it on Amazon.com, etal until you get all the wrinkles out!!
If the spine is acceptable in all ways except the B&W, Lulu can change that for you in a heartbeat!! I think they charge for editing in 15 min. increments!! For $20 bucks you should be able to get the spine just like you want it!!
Certainly it should be corrected BEFORE it goes to bookstores as spines are really, really important!! If, however, you are purchasing copies to sell to friends, they are a bit more forgiving!!
That is one of the things about Print-on-Demand publishing!! When I have a new book coming out, I do everything I can to get it perfect including having the manuscript read by at least 6-10 "critical readers!!" Then I have 50-100 copies printed and I sell them!! Never fails, there is always one or two errors that ALL of us missed!!
Also, I may have mentioned this before, but a 2009 copyright date could work to your benefit!! Especially since we are so close to the end of the year!!
Okay, gotta run!! Again!!
CONGRATULATIONS Bard, Ann and the Bard Team!! YOU did GREAT!!
Keep me posted!!
Blessings always, Earth Angel!!
Thanks for the info, Earth Angel!
I am currently stuck again not having been able to find out how to sort the spine out or get an ISBN to include in the revised text for publishing. I don't really want a B&W spine. I don't mind paying $20 to get it looking like I want it but I need an ISBN or it won't get on the market properly. Somehow Ann got hers before she approved her work but I haven't done so. I am not sure if I have to delete it all and start again!
It is definitely going to be a next year job now!
Sorry to hear the bad news. It happened to me, too. Mine is a little better in that I got my book, but then your publisher was my publisher and he took everyone's money and ran. (Well, people that he owed.) I got ZERO royalties, if any. I was lied to again and again. I am sure you were, as well. I was excited. I thought that TRIAD was going to really be my "time to shine."
I was promised that I would have my book by February of 2008. I finally got it in May. the only good thing was that I did not lose money. I am sorry for those who did lose money.
My book came out, but it was NEVER promoted on the TRIAD web site. I was told by the publisher that HE could not wait to market my book. IT NEVER HAPPENED. He lied.
He met someone, divorced his wife, left town, dropped all of his TRIAD authors, and did not care to do what was right and ethical. I was told that he has moved to a near-by town.
I have around 10 copies of my book, now, but they are dead in the world of publishing. I can not order any. They no longer exist with the printer since TRIAD went under.
I thought that I had found a LEGIT person that believed in me. I was wrong.
I saw a lady yesterday who said, "When is the sequal coming out." I could not tell her that my publisher dumped me, my book, and all of us.
Sorry to hear your story, Randy, but I thank you for sharing it! We can but put it down to experience, terrible as it was, and carry on. Not giving up in the face of adversity is something I believe in!
February 2009!!
Congratulations Bard on Dancing with the Children!! They are fortunate to have you!!
Books, like children, have their own timing for being born!!
Hope the ISBN worked out!!?? If not, let me know when you are ready and I will see if I can steer you in the right direction!!
In the meantime, keep writing!! Keep dancing!!
Blessings always, EarthAngel!!
Hi Earth Angel! No more progress on this. I left a thread at the lulu forums explaining my problems and asking for help with finding how to bleed the cover art on to the spine and how to get an ISBN and no one has replied. In the meantime I have been working and had more high priority stuff to get on with like sorting out my database entry proposal at O-Books for a reissue of my book Herbs of the Northern Shaman. Depending on what I enter here may clinch a deal or lose it! I have been told by a fellow authot on there that it is a "nightmare" using the database and this is what I have found. To get books published I think has as much to do with other skills as it does with writing!
Hi Steve,
Haven't been around much lately, but this hub popped up on the "Hubtivity".
Have you heard of Booksurge?
This is a Print on Demand company that was started by a group of authors who were fed up with the hassles of getting a book printed. They were so successful at publishing,m that their company was bought out by Amazon.
One of the benefits of publishing there is that your book will go onto the Amazon catalogue.
There are variou options for publishing, but if you have got a completed PDF file, it's around $US 300.
I know a couple of people who have used this system, and they are very happy with it.
See www.BookSurge.com for more info.
Regards, and good luck:
Eric G.
P.S. I have a friend who is a writer, and had several books published through Element books. When they went under, he lost a LOT of money. He's still in the process of looking for a publisher for his old and new books, and even he is having a battle.
I haven't been able to convince him to try Booksurge or similar - He's pretty hung up on the "Proper Publisher" thang.
I don't want to pay for my book to be published and am concentrating on a "proper" publisher too! Having found one that is very interested in another book I now have to convince them! Thanks for the info though, Eric!
I too was taken advantage of by Triad Publishing Group so I know exactly how you feel I also wrote a poetry book "Words of Life" I got published but no money or royalties whatsoever. He would also not return my phone calls and book signings he promised were not fulfilled if anyone knows how I can take action in a legal way I would love to. It was wrong and hurtful to all the authors at Triad that Vern took advantage of and it is quite sad how someones dream gets crushed by just wanting to express and create. I have been down about this for awhile as I am almost finished with my second book I pray I will be directed to more professional mature people in this industry. I am sorry to hear what happened to you but keep your head and spirit up.
God Bless
Bobbi Jean Lonkoski
Thanks for posting Bobbi Jean, and just keep on trying! Good luck!
Wow!!
It breaks my heart to hear so many people were ripped off by this group called Triad!! That soooooooooooo goes against why we publishers publish in the first place!! It certainly isn't for the money; it is more a labor of love for those with a similar passion for the written word!!
So, just in case there is anyone else out there about to make a terrible mistake, let me clarify a few things about publishers and the publishing industry!!
There are basically three kinds of publishers:
1. Large Publishing Icons!! The "proper publishing companies" like Random House, Simon, etc.!! There are only a half dozen or so large houses left!! The days of getting a large publishing house to take on a new author are long gone!! See my comments from four months ago!!
2. Self-Publishing Houses!! They are the bridge between being all alone in the game and the Big Boys!! They use Print-on-Demand technology and can walk you through the steps ala carte!! That is what Earth Angel Publishing does!!
3. Vanity Presses!! They print your book and you do all the rest!! They are called Vanity Presses because they stroke an authors ego and often promise things they have no possible way of delivering!! They are going by the way side slowly!! Alas, the few good ones that were out there got caught up in the tons that were really awful!! (I have a girlfriend with 5,000 copies of her outdated book in her garage from a Vanity Press!!)
Don't despair!! But don't be foolish either!! "Hope" is not a plan!! Winning the lottery is not a good retirement strategy!! Counting on a "proper publishing house" to pick up a new author is just as silly!!
Sorry to burst any one's bubble but sooooooooooooooo many people are being taken advantage of out there because con-artists are telling them what they want to hear!!
If you have the ability to read/write here at HubPages, you can produce your own book!! If you can surf the Internet for subjects of interest, you can figure it all out!! It's a thousand little skills but none of it is rocket science!! Honest!!
I'm still sending beacons of love and light to Bard so that the book is born when it is ready!! I know it will be brilliant!! In the meantime,
Blessings always, Earth Angel!!
Thanks for that, Earth Angel! It's been ready for months but I am unable to get past the barriers I had at lulu. I cannot find anywhere on the site where you can pay to have the cover sorted out. I cannot get any replies on their forums and I am losing interest in the place plus I have been too busy to spend any more time there. Sadly The Bard Word has become one of many unfinished creative projects of which there are many! I am waiting to hear about another proper company taking another book at present. It all depends on the pricing for colour photos whether I get a deal or not. Fingers crossed!
That sounds GREAT Bard!!
Don't be discouraged about the Bard Word, you have a book in the works that is moving forward!! Everything you learn on one book helps the next one immensely!!
FYI: the only place in the world to get a good price on color for the interior of a book is China!! A little hard to work with, but great prices!!
Sorry you had so much trouble at Lulu!! I think in this economic collapse, some companies have begun to beef up their customer service, and others have decided it's a waste!! I stick with the ones who know customer service is king!!
On your book cover!! As an example, say your finished book size is 6 inches wide by 9 inches tall!! This is what the industry calls "standard trade paperback!!" Easier, cheapest, fastest!! Suppose your book is 1/2 inch thick!! The cover art that you would submit to a printer would be 12 & 1/2 inches wide by 9 inches tall (plus the margins each printer requires)!! The front cover would be on the right hand side and the back cover on the left hand side!! Right down the middle would be your spine!! So when you print your complete book cover out on 11 x 14 paper, you should be able to trim it and fold it to look exactly like what a printer will produce!!
If that is still a bit confusing, find a book that is roughly the size yours is going to be!! Open the book up so you can view the back, the spine and the front all at once!! See?? It's all ONE piece!!
Hey!! Don't fret about unfinished projects!! I have at least 50 creative endeavors going at one time!! As I look around my office at this very moment I have: jewelry I am making for a girlfriend's BD, two rock sculptures I told another friend I could fix for her, 60 greeting cards I sell waiting for me to put on price tags to go to a place who ordered them a week ago, three silk scarves I am painting, four watercolor commissions, three giclee's that are drying, two biographies I am writing, a digital frame someone hired me to load 2,000 photos onto, not to mention six books I am currently editing!! I have tilapia baking for one sick friend and lasagna for another!! The next two days I have back to back meetings all day!! Plus four cats and two dogs who need constant attention!!
Did I mention that although I have been paying my landlord on time every month for almost three years, they stopped paying the mortgage?? Yes, I am also looking for a place to move!!??
Creative minds need lots of creative stuff going on at one time!! We need to be both "free" of constraints and "disciplined" to produce!! One foot on earth, one foot in heaven!!
Yep, I have my fingers crossed and my toes crossed!! I didn't know there was any other way!!
Keep in touch gentle soul!!
Blessings always, Earth Angel!!
Thanks, Earth Angel! You have even more on your plate than I have! Good luck with it all!
Did I mention it is March and the Holiday Tree is still up in the living room??
Life is fun and rich with opportunity!! Especially the opportunity to laugh at ourselves!!
Happy to be of service to you Bard!!
Blessings always, Earth Angel!!
Bard,
I just wanted you to know that Vern was on a talk radio show called radioblog.com bragging on how he has the best publishing company in the industry over 100 happy authors it was quite disturbing to listen to. I really feel upset that this so called publisher is bragging, I am going to post how he took advantage of me and other authors, I would love that other people whose dreams were crushed by him should also do the same. Its just so sad.
Best Regards
Bobbijean
He is simply a liar and a conman and I am sorry to hear he was on a radio show! Let us hope that more people do not get taken in by him though! Thanks for posting!
I hope not Bard because it would be awful to see more people get there dreams crushed by this spirit breaker. I urge people to post on the radioblog those who Vern took advantage of, just to listen to it made my stomach ill and I really feel its time bad Karma catch up to old Vern. Take care and may peace and happiness to where your hearts and hands are full of I wish you my friend.
Bobbijean
Well Bard, it's sad really it is. Keep up the search man. It'll come. I know it can be hard and trying, but most really great things are like that. It's tough enough trying to get any book published, but poems I thin are even harder. I'm just keeping mine and may hav a local pulisher do a few for my wife and family for their pleasure. Beat of luck now. Charlie
Thanks, Charlie! Right now it is not a priority - finding a new job is!
I have another book - Herbs of the Northern Shaman - that just very very nearly got published by O-Books ( a proper publisher) but printing cost for colour photos went against it!
I am focusing on finding another day job!
Dearest Bard!!
So how is the book/poetry/job and other areas of interest treating you??
Blessings always, Earth Angel!!
This project got no further and I lost the school job I loved in May when the woman I was a replacement for came back off maternity leave. So I am hoping to find similar and have gone as far as saying I will move to another island if it means a permanent job.
However, my Herbs of the Northern Shaman was finally accepted for publishing again by 0-Books despite the costs of colour printing but I now have a wait of over a year for that to happen. I do have Welsh Wizard out as an album on DMMG Records though.
Thank you for asking, Earth Angel!
Shadesbreath says:
14 months ago
Wow dude, that sucks. Money and markets are anathema to art. The machinations and mandates of money and markets smother ideas and relegate the populace to commerically viable tropes rather than nuance and possibility. I'm really sorry to hear that your book of poems is suffering such tribulation, but you'll get it out there man. Don't give up. When artists stop struggling, the whole thing falls in upon itself. We may not make any money, but we hold it up, dude. Each one of us in our small way. Keep plugging at it.