Today is 12-12-12. I think that is so neat. Today is the day of twelve. To celebrate the otherwise meaningless grouping of the number 12, I wanted to post a blog entry.
Slightly after noon, around 12:12pm *wink wink*, I decided to look at some of my old journals. My parents travel a lot and one of the most amazing things they did was take my brothers and I along with them. Before I was 18 years old, I had a lifetime of memories from exotic places, experiences that I take with me to this day. Having an affinity for writing from a young age, I kept a journal for each trip they took us on.
Looking through the journals, I ran across one from our first trip to Egypt. I'm sure you're noticing that I said 'first trip.' That's a very interesting thing, actually. When we went to Egypt that first time, we thought we would never be back. Then a trip to the Mediterranean took us there again and a trip over Africa took us there yet again. All said and done, my parents have been to Egypt 6 times, with me in tow for 3 of those 6. It seems to be a hub for numerous tours throughout that region, each tour assuming no one on the tour has ever been to Egypt. So, they all go there.
I focused on the first Egypt journal, because it was 21 years ago, nearly exactly. We left on Christmas Day 1991. Since today is 12-12-12 and 21 is the inverse of 12 and the fact that it was during Christmas (note: Christmas Eve is 12 days away), I thought it would be appropriate to take out an excerpt for this 12-12-12 blog entry.
Being only 14, I was a typical teenager. Much of the journal is me talking about my new Game Boy I got for Christmas and how far along I was getting on this game and that one (Navy Seals and Tetris seemed to be my favorite). I paused for a moment as I read about how we went through New York City first and went to the World Trade Center. One of my brothers and I sat on the floor in the Trade Center lobby as we waited to get on an elevator to go to the top. I remember the World Trade Center, especially the view from the top, but I didn't remember about playing the Game Boy. I was playing Navy Seals and commented about how I beat the game and rescued the hostages. Never in a gazillion years could we have known that the World Trade Center would one day be gone.
After a few more moments of pause, I went on to the Egypt part of the trip. I was not very good at describing things back then, but there was one event that I had forgotten about that once I read it in the journal, I can picture it very well in my memory.
Egypt was having the coldest weather they'd had in over 40 years. We were at the pyramids and the wind was cutting through our clothes. Despite the cold, we were mesmerized by the different culture, the desert, and the pyramids themselves. There were numerous camel jockeys around, all of them trying to get us to ride their camels. To a 14 year old, the draw was almost too much to bear. Riding a camel suddenly sounded like the best idea anyone had ever suggested in my entire life. There is more to this story, but I will stick with my experience in order to keep this entry manageable. I thought I'd be writing something short, but it's turning into a novelette, lol.
As it turned out, riding a camel was a part of the tour. Oh my gosh, the excitement. Everyone got on their camels and off they went. My older brother, Kish, who was 18 at the time, and I were the only ones left.
As we approached the camel, it suddenly got taller, very tall, might as well have been as tall as a building, and it wasn't even on its feet yet. It made this throaty, guttural noise at us and Kish took a step back. At 18, I guess he was a little more aware of his immortality than I was. Being 14 and ready to conquer the world, I jumped right up on the camel's back. It didn't really seem so tall anymore and didn't make a fuss, so my brother prepared to climb on as well.
As soon as Kish started climbing up on the camel's back, the camel jumped straight up, throwing both of us off. The camel jockey caught me and shoved me back up onto the camel's back. Kish, however, was thrown into a complete front flip and landed on his back. As he laid, stunned, on the ground, I realized that one of my shoes fell off.
So, there we were in the middle of the desert with the pyramids in the background as our group got further away, Kish lying on the ground with the wind knocked out of him, and me on top of this insanely tall camel, my head somewhere near orbit, looking for my lost shoe. Next thing I know, the camel goes down on his front knees, nearly knocking me off again.
As soon as I was close to the ground again, I tried to jump off. The camel jockey, however, grabbed a hold of me and wouldn't let me off the camel. The excitement of riding a camel was completely gone. All I wanted was to get off, trying to do just that as the jockey tried to talk my brother into getting back on. Kish wasn't about to try again, comically shaking his head at the jockey as the jockey tried to coax him to just get on the camel, that it wouldn't do that again. Kish, of course, didn't believe him.
Meanwhile, our group has completely left us. We realized this was the only way to get back to them, so we cooperated, but we were pretty scared. Somewhere in my struggle to get off and the convincing of my brother to get back on, my shoe was handed to me.
Things finally settled down and we found ourselves sitting safely on top of a walking camel and then suddenly realized that it was going in the opposite direction as our group. We started trying to tell the jockey, but he didn't seem to understand us. Then, something happened where the man left and a kid about ten years old started guiding our camel. He understood English better and turned the camel in the right direction.
As we were walking, he asked, "Want to trot?"
"La la la," I said immediately, which means, "No no no," in Arabic.
The kid then said something back and took off towards the direction the group went. That's not a trot, I thought to myself, that's a run. The camel, apparently not one wanting to be left behind, took off after him.
Now, it is hard to describe what being on a galloping camel is like. You think you will fall off with each step as you wonder if it would really matter because your spine has been so jarred and compressed that surely you'd be paralyzed before you fall off anyway. To top it off, there were numerous large rocks around that the camel didn't seem to notice or care about. I was sure he would trip on one and we'd go flying.
I didn't think about it at the time, but we were so far behind we couldn't even see our group. The kid was only trying to catch up. But, while it was happening, I was wondering what we did to the kid to deserve such torture.
Finally catching up with our group, the camel had barely come to a stop before the kid said, "Lean back, lean back." Before I could understand what he meant by that, the camel suddenly dropped to his front knees. I fell forward and Kish grabbed me before I fell face first over the camel's neck.
We finally got off of it safely and the allure of riding a camel was completely gone until 2005, when we went to Petra. I think by then that I had forgotten about my first camel experience.
But that is another story...
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Review: Centauri Twilight by Cynthia Woolf
This book was great! It was so much more rugged and meaner than the first book. The situations were darker and the villains were even nastier. I really liked all of that about this book. The author can diversify well and, I must say, I'm loving the darker side.
I felt so in touch with Anton and Lara. These characters were great. I couldn't put the book down, I was so horrified by what all they had to endure and was just as equally wishing them all the best in the universe. I had to keep reading to make sure they got all the best that they so deserved. I felt so emotionally invested in them.
The world-building feels so much broader than in the first book too. It was good there, but that coupled with all we find out about Delaz and Centauri in this book just really brought it all to life for me.
There were a couple of things that didn't seem to fit, but certainly didn't dull my enjoyment of the story. For one, I wasn't fond of the term 'mind wizards.' I can understand Delaz calling psychiatrists that, but Centauri calling them that didn't make sense to me. Why would a super advanced planet of humans refer to psychiatrists or mental health specialists as 'mind wizards?'
It also didn't make sense to me that Anton was going after Jondalara for his queen, Audra. There was a very large portion of text devoted to describing his guilt over being alive, yet he felt he owed Audra for saving his life....a life he didn't want saved. It would have made more sense if he resented her at first and only went after Lara to enact revenge on the family that hurt him. Later, when he comes to terms with his situation and can find reason to be happy to be alive again, then he can be thankful to Audra for saving him and be happy he was doing something wonderful for her. But, that at the beginning felt a little contradictory.
Again, though, these things did not dull my enjoyment of the book. It's a very good story. I just think it could be a stronger story if Audra didn't have this sort of 'unconditional love' thing from all the main characters that come in contact with her.
http://www.amazon.com/Centauri-Twilight-sci-fi-romance-ebook/dp/B005U5MGVG/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344191191&sr=1-1&keywords=centauri+twilight
I felt so in touch with Anton and Lara. These characters were great. I couldn't put the book down, I was so horrified by what all they had to endure and was just as equally wishing them all the best in the universe. I had to keep reading to make sure they got all the best that they so deserved. I felt so emotionally invested in them.
The world-building feels so much broader than in the first book too. It was good there, but that coupled with all we find out about Delaz and Centauri in this book just really brought it all to life for me.
There were a couple of things that didn't seem to fit, but certainly didn't dull my enjoyment of the story. For one, I wasn't fond of the term 'mind wizards.' I can understand Delaz calling psychiatrists that, but Centauri calling them that didn't make sense to me. Why would a super advanced planet of humans refer to psychiatrists or mental health specialists as 'mind wizards?'
It also didn't make sense to me that Anton was going after Jondalara for his queen, Audra. There was a very large portion of text devoted to describing his guilt over being alive, yet he felt he owed Audra for saving his life....a life he didn't want saved. It would have made more sense if he resented her at first and only went after Lara to enact revenge on the family that hurt him. Later, when he comes to terms with his situation and can find reason to be happy to be alive again, then he can be thankful to Audra for saving him and be happy he was doing something wonderful for her. But, that at the beginning felt a little contradictory.
Again, though, these things did not dull my enjoyment of the book. It's a very good story. I just think it could be a stronger story if Audra didn't have this sort of 'unconditional love' thing from all the main characters that come in contact with her.
http://www.amazon.com/Centauri-Twilight-sci-fi-romance-ebook/dp/B005U5MGVG/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344191191&sr=1-1&keywords=centauri+twilight
Monday, July 30, 2012
Review: Bounty by Krystal Brookes
I really liked this story. It combined two of my favorite things: survival and a tortured heart. Rob had to endure a lot of heartache and pain, but he never would have met Gemma if things hadn't happened the way they had for him. For such a short story, there sure was a lot packed in there.
The world-building, descriptions, characters, interactions, dialogue, and situations were all very well done. It all flowed so smoothly and I couldn't stop reading once I had started. There was an underlying humor that I was amused to see how they pulled off, especially one situation that Rob orchestrated in order to make the other prisoners believe something. It was a dark humor, but I love that! While Gemma didn't think it was too funny and the situation itself really isn't all that funny, I thought only someone with a dark sense of humor could pull it off. I certainly don't want to give anything away, though.
Have I mentioned the romance yet? There is an abundance of romance. I'm amazed at how the author fit everything into such a short story so well. It has danger, suspense, romance, and a very happy ending.
http://pinkpetalbooks.com/Bounty-by-Krystal-Brookes-Dangerous-Men-Dangerous-Places.html
Friday, July 13, 2012
Review: Centauri Dawn by Cynthia Woolf
I am a little embarrassed to say that I put this book down for a couple of months after reading the third (fourth?) sentence, the one with the caramel and ice cream analogy. I didn't think I could take the book seriously after that. Then I figured that maybe I wasn't supposed to be taking it seriously, so I picked it up again. I still don't like that sentence, on more than one level, but I'm so glad I read more! It gets pretty exciting immediately after that.
I love the characters in this book. Other than the obvious ones, I was really into the secondary characters. Slavarien was a true and perfect villain that I loved to hate. He made my skin crawl and I love that the author was able to make me react to him in that way. I simply loved the little detail that he was the most handsome older man that Audra had ever seen. That just really cemented him in my mind, somehow making his injustices all the more diabolical.
I adore Maggie and Ray. Margareta has some amazing strength for everything that she had to endure and my imagination was running wild with how it all was effecting Ray. I don't want to give anything away by mentioning too many of the characters, as there are some enjoyable twists in the story that I don't want to ruin for any future readers, but I am looking forward to reading more about them in the next book.
The dialogue was a little stale in some places and a bit contradictory in chapters 4 and 5. However, I very much enjoyed the action and pace of the story. I really liked the plot and I just loved the dream sequences and what they all meant in the storyline.
There were a couple of neat concepts, in terms of the science fiction element of the book. I liked how Audra related things to what she'd seen on TV. I'd probably do that too, if I were in a situation like that. The comulator was a very cool concept and I loved the little detail thrown in about how one person has an older version of it, thus showing the technology is improved over time, much like iPhones and devices like that.
There was a lot of fun, well-placed humor. I laughed out loud several times throughout the story. "Hiding in clear water is not a wise plan." LOL! That threw me into giggle fits!
The ending seemed a little rushed with abrupt scene changes, but I'm betting that everything else that needs to be said and done will be in the next two books. Thinking about it, though, it could be seen as things happening very fast for the characters themselves. They were running out of time for something that had to be done and there was a lot going on at once, so things were happening very fast and abruptly for them too. I bet they'll be happy to find time to rest after all that, or worry themselves to death once they can process that huge revelation, lol.
All in all, I enjoyed reading "Centauri Dawn" and am looking forward to reading "Centauri Twilight." (Actually, I couldn't wait...I've already started.)
http://www.amazon.com/Centauri-sci-fi-romance-Series-ebook/dp/B005DUB1X2/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1342288084&sr=1-1
I love the characters in this book. Other than the obvious ones, I was really into the secondary characters. Slavarien was a true and perfect villain that I loved to hate. He made my skin crawl and I love that the author was able to make me react to him in that way. I simply loved the little detail that he was the most handsome older man that Audra had ever seen. That just really cemented him in my mind, somehow making his injustices all the more diabolical.
I adore Maggie and Ray. Margareta has some amazing strength for everything that she had to endure and my imagination was running wild with how it all was effecting Ray. I don't want to give anything away by mentioning too many of the characters, as there are some enjoyable twists in the story that I don't want to ruin for any future readers, but I am looking forward to reading more about them in the next book.
The dialogue was a little stale in some places and a bit contradictory in chapters 4 and 5. However, I very much enjoyed the action and pace of the story. I really liked the plot and I just loved the dream sequences and what they all meant in the storyline.
There were a couple of neat concepts, in terms of the science fiction element of the book. I liked how Audra related things to what she'd seen on TV. I'd probably do that too, if I were in a situation like that. The comulator was a very cool concept and I loved the little detail thrown in about how one person has an older version of it, thus showing the technology is improved over time, much like iPhones and devices like that.
There was a lot of fun, well-placed humor. I laughed out loud several times throughout the story. "Hiding in clear water is not a wise plan." LOL! That threw me into giggle fits!
The ending seemed a little rushed with abrupt scene changes, but I'm betting that everything else that needs to be said and done will be in the next two books. Thinking about it, though, it could be seen as things happening very fast for the characters themselves. They were running out of time for something that had to be done and there was a lot going on at once, so things were happening very fast and abruptly for them too. I bet they'll be happy to find time to rest after all that, or worry themselves to death once they can process that huge revelation, lol.
All in all, I enjoyed reading "Centauri Dawn" and am looking forward to reading "Centauri Twilight." (Actually, I couldn't wait...I've already started.)
http://www.amazon.com/Centauri-sci-fi-romance-Series-ebook/dp/B005DUB1X2/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1342288084&sr=1-1
Friday, June 22, 2012
SFRB Blog Hop: The Unexpected
Welcome to the Science Fiction Romance Brigade Midsummer Blog Hop! This is the first ever blog hop that I have participated in, so I'm pretty excited. It also happens to be the Science Fiction Romance Brigade's first ever blog hop, so excitement all around.
I have a short story for you, or the beginning of a longer one. One thing that surprised me about the theme of the hop, summer solstice, is that a story popped into my head and now seems to be taking over my thoughts. I think this blog hop has inspired a book! I like where it's going in my mind and I've been taking tons of notes and already have a rough outline. Of course, it could be a dud, but I'm having fun with it either way.
Let me know what you think. Plus, there are two grand prizes to be given away in a drawing:
First prize: A Kindle Touch or Nook Touch
Second prize: a library of science fiction romance titles from over 20 authors (most likely ebooks with one print anthology), and an Anabanana Gift Card.
In order to enter the drawing, simply comment on as many blogs in the hop as you'd like (mine included). For every comment, your name will be placed in the drawing for the awesome prizes. If you comment on every blog included in the hop, your name will be placed in the drawing 37 times. That's pretty good odds! So, enjoy the read, comment, and you can be the happy owner of a new Kindle Touch.
Home base for this blog hop is the Science Fiction Romance Brigade website, found here: http://sfrcontests.blogspot.com/. The names and links of all the participants are down below. Check them out, comment on their posts, and gain more entries for the drawings! The drawing will be held on June 24th and the winners will be posted on the SFRB website.
Enjoy!
8888888888
A commotion in the corridor jolted Anda awake. She could hear yelling, but she couldn't understand a syllable of the high-pitched Mudgian language. What sounded like a siren blared in the distance.
Anda got out of her makeshift bed and headed to the door to take a look. When she stepped out into the hallway, she saw several Mudgians heading in the opposite direction. A Mudgian she recognized suddenly zipped past her.
"Ikan," she called his name and he turned around. "What is happening?"
"Nokon passed out," Ikan paused for a moment, apparently thinking. "He passed out due to what you humans would call 'heat exhaustion.'"
"Heat exhaustion?" Anda said.
"It is unseasonably hot," Ikan explained.
Anda looked out of a window at a frozen expanse. The landscape was frozen, frozen solid. Everything she laid her eyes on was frozen. The buildings themselves looked to be made of ice, or maybe it wasn't ice. It actually looked colder than ice; snow would be too warm for this place. Beyond what appeared to be a city of frozen skyscrapers was a frozen expanse as far as the eye could see, what she could see of it anyway. She suspected it was frozen beyond all that as well.
They told her it was the summer solstice, which didn't make any sense. It didn't look a thing like summer out there. She had been cold during the long journey from Earth and was looking forward to a warm summer sun. There wasn't even a sun to be seen, except a distant star that gave off about as much light as a full moon on Earth.
The place was a freezer. How that fact wasn't included in the brief puzzled her. She had imagined that it would be a swampy, mud-covered planet, especially with a name like 'Mudgeon.'
Heat exhaustian seemed about as unlikely as her growing a second head.
"But, your planet is..." Anda hesitated, unsure if what she might say would be impolite.
"Frozen?" Ikan finished for her.
Anda smiled sheepishly, "Yes."
"I have never been outside of the ship on Earth. It is very very close to your sun. You practically live in your sun," Ikan rambled.
Anda couldn't stop herself from laughing a little. "It's not that close to the sun."
"I beg to differ," Ikan stated. "It is so hot on Earth that our first explorers to there vaporized when they stepped off of their ship."
Vaporized? Was he serious? She simply stared at him.
"That is why Mudgians wear protective suits when we are there," he continued. "The suits keep the right environment for us, but we can't stay outside of our ships for long, even in the suits."
Okay, he was serious.
Anda really didn't know what to say about that and Ikan seemed to be glued to his spot in the corridor, staring at her as she stared at him, so she asked what had been on her mind since she left Earth.
"Ikan, why am I here?"
All Anda knew was that she had been summoned to Mudgeon for the Summer Solstice Marriage Ceremony. Mudgians only got married one day a year on their planet, so it was a big celebration for everyone. Someone always knew somebody who was getting married and it was a planet-wide holiday.
Anda didn't know why she would be invited to such an event. She wasn't getting married. She didn't even have an intended to marry. Furthermore, she was human, not Mudgian, and she didn't know a single Mudgian that was getting married. Why she would be anywhere close to the planet during the solstice was a mystery to her.
"They didn't tell you before you left?" Ikan asked.
She shook her head.
"Oh, well, the summer solstice is the only day we marry on our planet."
"Yes, I know that, but why am I here?"
"You're here to get married, of course," Ikan said, as if it was the most obvious conclusion that she should have made already.
The first thought that went through her mind was the absurd one: she was going to be a popsicle on her wedding day. In retrospect, her next thought should have been her first, but she didn't bother analysing that in her shock: they couldn't make her marry someone she didn't love. And certainly not a Mudgian.
Why would a Mudgian even consider it? No alliances were needed. No business needed to be done. There was concern that the human race was dying out, but human and Mudgian physiologies were so different that reproduction was out of the question entirely. The only thing a human had in common with a Mudgian was that they were both bipedal. There was simply no reason for a human, Mudgian union at all.
"Your intended is being brought over now," Ikan continued.
Right at that moment, a door to their right swished open and in stepped a sight that nearly stopped her heart. She did a mental check to make sure her mouth wasn't hanging open. She had to make a conscious effort not to touch her chin to make sure. A thrill shot through the very core of her being, but she gave no outward appearance as to how this new arrival was affecting her.
The new arrival had black hair cropped close to a nicely-shaped head and an equally nicely-shaped square jawline. He did not appear to be military, but he had a commanding presence that exuded confidence. He was tan-skinned, wearing a sleeveless black tunic that accented finely tuned biceps. The tunic was zipped halfway, revealing a solid chest. His black pants were perfectly tailored. She could see that his legs were as muscular as his arms and chest and she imagined he had a nicely-shaped rear too.
Even being aware of all of that about him, she couldn't avert her gaze from his deep blue eyes. There was something about them. They didn't exactly look haunted, but there was a knowing look that both intrigued and frightened her.
He was tall, handsome, very masculine, and very very human.
888
I have a short story for you, or the beginning of a longer one. One thing that surprised me about the theme of the hop, summer solstice, is that a story popped into my head and now seems to be taking over my thoughts. I think this blog hop has inspired a book! I like where it's going in my mind and I've been taking tons of notes and already have a rough outline. Of course, it could be a dud, but I'm having fun with it either way.
Let me know what you think. Plus, there are two grand prizes to be given away in a drawing:
First prize: A Kindle Touch or Nook Touch
Second prize: a library of science fiction romance titles from over 20 authors (most likely ebooks with one print anthology), and an Anabanana Gift Card.
In order to enter the drawing, simply comment on as many blogs in the hop as you'd like (mine included). For every comment, your name will be placed in the drawing for the awesome prizes. If you comment on every blog included in the hop, your name will be placed in the drawing 37 times. That's pretty good odds! So, enjoy the read, comment, and you can be the happy owner of a new Kindle Touch.
Home base for this blog hop is the Science Fiction Romance Brigade website, found here: http://sfrcontests.blogspot.com/. The names and links of all the participants are down below. Check them out, comment on their posts, and gain more entries for the drawings! The drawing will be held on June 24th and the winners will be posted on the SFRB website.
Enjoy!
8888888888
A commotion in the corridor jolted Anda awake. She could hear yelling, but she couldn't understand a syllable of the high-pitched Mudgian language. What sounded like a siren blared in the distance.
Anda got out of her makeshift bed and headed to the door to take a look. When she stepped out into the hallway, she saw several Mudgians heading in the opposite direction. A Mudgian she recognized suddenly zipped past her.
"Ikan," she called his name and he turned around. "What is happening?"
"Nokon passed out," Ikan paused for a moment, apparently thinking. "He passed out due to what you humans would call 'heat exhaustion.'"
"Heat exhaustion?" Anda said.
"It is unseasonably hot," Ikan explained.
Anda looked out of a window at a frozen expanse. The landscape was frozen, frozen solid. Everything she laid her eyes on was frozen. The buildings themselves looked to be made of ice, or maybe it wasn't ice. It actually looked colder than ice; snow would be too warm for this place. Beyond what appeared to be a city of frozen skyscrapers was a frozen expanse as far as the eye could see, what she could see of it anyway. She suspected it was frozen beyond all that as well.
They told her it was the summer solstice, which didn't make any sense. It didn't look a thing like summer out there. She had been cold during the long journey from Earth and was looking forward to a warm summer sun. There wasn't even a sun to be seen, except a distant star that gave off about as much light as a full moon on Earth.
The place was a freezer. How that fact wasn't included in the brief puzzled her. She had imagined that it would be a swampy, mud-covered planet, especially with a name like 'Mudgeon.'
Heat exhaustian seemed about as unlikely as her growing a second head.
"But, your planet is..." Anda hesitated, unsure if what she might say would be impolite.
"Frozen?" Ikan finished for her.
Anda smiled sheepishly, "Yes."
"I have never been outside of the ship on Earth. It is very very close to your sun. You practically live in your sun," Ikan rambled.
Anda couldn't stop herself from laughing a little. "It's not that close to the sun."
"I beg to differ," Ikan stated. "It is so hot on Earth that our first explorers to there vaporized when they stepped off of their ship."
Vaporized? Was he serious? She simply stared at him.
"That is why Mudgians wear protective suits when we are there," he continued. "The suits keep the right environment for us, but we can't stay outside of our ships for long, even in the suits."
Okay, he was serious.
Anda really didn't know what to say about that and Ikan seemed to be glued to his spot in the corridor, staring at her as she stared at him, so she asked what had been on her mind since she left Earth.
"Ikan, why am I here?"
All Anda knew was that she had been summoned to Mudgeon for the Summer Solstice Marriage Ceremony. Mudgians only got married one day a year on their planet, so it was a big celebration for everyone. Someone always knew somebody who was getting married and it was a planet-wide holiday.
Anda didn't know why she would be invited to such an event. She wasn't getting married. She didn't even have an intended to marry. Furthermore, she was human, not Mudgian, and she didn't know a single Mudgian that was getting married. Why she would be anywhere close to the planet during the solstice was a mystery to her.
"They didn't tell you before you left?" Ikan asked.
She shook her head.
"Oh, well, the summer solstice is the only day we marry on our planet."
"Yes, I know that, but why am I here?"
"You're here to get married, of course," Ikan said, as if it was the most obvious conclusion that she should have made already.
The first thought that went through her mind was the absurd one: she was going to be a popsicle on her wedding day. In retrospect, her next thought should have been her first, but she didn't bother analysing that in her shock: they couldn't make her marry someone she didn't love. And certainly not a Mudgian.
Why would a Mudgian even consider it? No alliances were needed. No business needed to be done. There was concern that the human race was dying out, but human and Mudgian physiologies were so different that reproduction was out of the question entirely. The only thing a human had in common with a Mudgian was that they were both bipedal. There was simply no reason for a human, Mudgian union at all.
"Your intended is being brought over now," Ikan continued.
Right at that moment, a door to their right swished open and in stepped a sight that nearly stopped her heart. She did a mental check to make sure her mouth wasn't hanging open. She had to make a conscious effort not to touch her chin to make sure. A thrill shot through the very core of her being, but she gave no outward appearance as to how this new arrival was affecting her.
The new arrival had black hair cropped close to a nicely-shaped head and an equally nicely-shaped square jawline. He did not appear to be military, but he had a commanding presence that exuded confidence. He was tan-skinned, wearing a sleeveless black tunic that accented finely tuned biceps. The tunic was zipped halfway, revealing a solid chest. His black pants were perfectly tailored. She could see that his legs were as muscular as his arms and chest and she imagined he had a nicely-shaped rear too.
Even being aware of all of that about him, she couldn't avert her gaze from his deep blue eyes. There was something about them. They didn't exactly look haunted, but there was a knowing look that both intrigued and frightened her.
He was tall, handsome, very masculine, and very very human.
888
Monday, May 28, 2012
Overcoming Fears: Excerpt From Untitled Sci Fi WIP
I've noticed that authors give excerpts of their works in their blogs and then realized that I've never done that. I get a little antsy about sharing my work. Being super new at this, I never know what is too much to reveal, what is too little, or whether or not people would like what they read to begin with. Part of this author thing, I'm coming to realize, is overcoming our fears.
So, this post is me taking a step in overcoming my fears. I like to write about alien beings and what life could be like for beings not of our world. Being human, I can't really take the human element out of it (nor would I want to since my audience is, well, human), but the characters in the excerpt from this work in progress are metaloids, mechanoids, mechs...I'm still working on what to call them. Nothing about them is organic, but they aren't robots either. In fact, being called a robot by a human would be insulting to them.
The below excerpt is set in the Scrap Yards of Histerron, which is like a junk yard. Histerron is a Skellyd city (Skellyds are the 'bad guys' of the story, but being 'bad' or 'good' in the story is not really so black and white...I definitely explore the gray areas with each faction.).
Enjoy!
*****
Bazin saw them too late; two Skellyds. He jumped behind a pile of scrap metal, rolling out his arm-mounted cannon, waiting for the attack.
The attack never came.
He was beginning to think that, perhaps, they didn't see him. Bazin peeked out from his hiding place to see if they were still there; they were. They looked like they were lying low, waiting for something.
After a few more moments, it was clear that they hadn't seen him after all. He decided to sneak around them from behind to get the drop on them before they knew what hit them...
As Bazin came around them from behind, he stopped dead in his tracks. Dropping his arms down to his sides as he rolled his cannon back in its casing, he stood up, staring at them as he walked in front of them. His core sank at the horror before him.
They were two bonded Skellyds. They had been executed. They had probably been the only bonded Skellyds in the city, hiding it for as long as they could.
Bazin just stared at them, several emotions taking hold that twisted his core. He still hated them because they were Skells, but the single act that they would be frozen in forever gripped him...
They were holding hands.
The part of Bazin that was now buried deep within his being, but still existing, felt sad for them. They were all still Galtrons. If there was anything good about a Skellyd, it was eradicated now, reduced to nothing but the scrap the majority of the Skells thought it was. This is what bonded Galtrons in the Skellyd faction had to look forward to; to be unceremoniously killed and thrown out with the rest of the garbage.
Bazin reached out to Miaxa. He just had to feel her, to know she was there. She was still keeping him out about her true condition, but she was restless about something else he couldn't get a sense of. Even so, the minimal contact was comforting.
As Bazin stared at the clasping hands, he strangely thought of Zerra. This was her fate. Only monsters would turn on their own kind, leaving the ones they turned on to fend for themselves. As much as he despised her Skellyd ideals, he was forced to see her as a Galtron, as someone not much unlike himself. Zerra was mourning a loved one. He was mourning a loved one. They were suffering the same way, just a different situation for each of them. Bazin felt a tiny bit of sympathy for her.
"Appropriate to find you here," a sneering voice sounded from behind him.
The voice interrupted Bazin's thoughts and he cursed himself for lingering there too long, but he did not let on that he was utterly surprised at getting caught.
"You belong here with them," a Skellyd smaller than Bazin was saying as Bazin turned around. "You bonded piece of scrap metal."
Bazin saw that the mech was a scout. The scout kept talking, "There's a reward out for you. Deglan wants you dead or alive."
The Skell scout had, no doubt, contacted his comrades, but he was obviously too eager to collect the reward for himself rather than wait for them.
"So I've heard," Bazin finally spoke. This scout was going to be easy to take down, but Bazin knew not to let his guard down, nonetheless.
"Where's that pretty little coremate of yours?" The scout just didn't know when to shut up. "I'd love to make her acquaintance once you're out of the way."
Growling in disgust, Bazin didn't hesitate to roll out his cannon and shoot. The shot went right through the scout, the mech's image wavering as the energy was dispersed briefly, only to land its mark in a heap of scrap metal behind him.
The scout was making use of a hologram. No wonder he was so confident.
"A little trigger happy, aren't we?" the scout taunted.
Bazin knew how holograms worked. The real, solid, scout couldn't have been that far away. Bazin surveyed the area, taking note of every piece of scrap that could be large enough to hide a mech that size. Without hesitation, he began shooting everything that he had just scanned.
The scout was obviously tracking Bazin's progress as he blew up each and every single pile of scrap within visual range. The mech was forced to reveal himself, running out from underneath the next pile Bazin took aim at.
Bazin ran straight at him, grabbing the scout up by his arm, twisting it around until he had the mech bowing forward from the sudden pain in his hand. The Skell's CPU jack was easily accessible from this position and Bazin wordlessly went for it. The mech struggled harder as he realized Bazin's intentions, but it was all for nothing.
"You're nothing!" the Skellyd yelled helplessly as the connection was made.
Bazin wasted no time in plundering the mech's mind, recording what was useful, ignoring everything else. Bazin paused as one important piece of information presented itself. Leeda was at Histerron. He didn't question how the scout knew this. That was not important.
The scout tried to push him out as Bazin dug deeper along a line of code revealing something about the city of Histerron itself...and then he had it. Bazin was visibly startled when he found out that Histerron was actually a living mech. The scout was able to push him out then.
"Deglan will purge Galtron of your weakness!" he spat venomously, still trapped in Bazin's grip, but madder than ever.
The mech cried out when Bazin immediately crushed his hand. The scout may have been angry, but nothing could top the absolute loathing Bazin was feeling.
*****
Well, here I go, throwing this out for everyone to see. I haven't decided if this will be in the first book or the second. Things keep changing and evolving as I write and I find that Bazin's story may be better suited for a second book. I barely give a glimpse at Zerra, but her story may be the first book. Either way, I've certainly written enough for two books! LOL!
I'm also struggling a bit with what genre this would be in. It certainly is a science fiction and it certainly has romance in it, but I'm not certain if it would be categorized as a SFR (Science Fiction Romance). It mixes the two, but the more I read of science fiction and the more I read of romance, I get worried that it doesn't really follow the full expectations of either one. There is a happy ending, but the characters go through hell to get there. So maybe it does? I'm definitely confused by book categories and how one would know which category his/her book goes in.
This is definitely a learning process. :)
(Okay, I have no idea why the top part of this post is in small font and this last bit is normal font. Sorry for the small print, but I've been trying to get it all this normal size, but I can't seem to get it to work.)
(Okay, I have no idea why the top part of this post is in small font and this last bit is normal font. Sorry for the small print, but I've been trying to get it all this normal size, but I can't seem to get it to work.)
Monday, April 9, 2012
Blue Galaxy by Diane Dooley
"Blue Galaxy" by Diane Dooley is a very enjoyable read. Even though it was short, it didn't feel short. I found that I liked that about the story. The story was fast-paced with no overdevelopment of characters and no unnecessary descriptions in the world building. In fact, there was just the right amount of character development and world building.
The science fiction element to the story is interesting and believable. I loved the sling shot method of traveling and the story behind the testing of that. I liked the air blast method of taking showers; it definitely makes sense that water would be costly. There were a lot of very good ideas like those that tickled my sci-fi fancy just right.
Then there's the romance side, which was very fun and definitely satisfying. You get to know Javan right off the bat. Sola is more of a mystery, and I don't want to give anything away, but she surprised me in the middle to the end of the book. What she did is certainly questionable but, for whatever reason, I couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear. Each one of them has a very good balance of strengths and vulnerabilities and I loved how they manipulated each other throughout the story. Again, it was very fun!
I would love to read more stories in this universe. I'm particularly interested in Destin Grady. There seemed to be more to him than what Javan thought of him. I've read the story twice now and my mind keeps wandering to what Destin's story might be...
I will definitely be reading more of Diane Dooley's work and recommend "Blue Galaxy" to anyone who loves a good romance with the bonus of it being set in science fiction.
http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Galaxy-ebook/dp/B004T4LQ9C
The science fiction element to the story is interesting and believable. I loved the sling shot method of traveling and the story behind the testing of that. I liked the air blast method of taking showers; it definitely makes sense that water would be costly. There were a lot of very good ideas like those that tickled my sci-fi fancy just right.
Then there's the romance side, which was very fun and definitely satisfying. You get to know Javan right off the bat. Sola is more of a mystery, and I don't want to give anything away, but she surprised me in the middle to the end of the book. What she did is certainly questionable but, for whatever reason, I couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear. Each one of them has a very good balance of strengths and vulnerabilities and I loved how they manipulated each other throughout the story. Again, it was very fun!
I would love to read more stories in this universe. I'm particularly interested in Destin Grady. There seemed to be more to him than what Javan thought of him. I've read the story twice now and my mind keeps wandering to what Destin's story might be...
I will definitely be reading more of Diane Dooley's work and recommend "Blue Galaxy" to anyone who loves a good romance with the bonus of it being set in science fiction.
http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Galaxy-ebook/dp/B004T4LQ9C
Friday, March 9, 2012
Where's Ironhide? 2010 & 2011
This is just for fun. Enjoy!
In 2010, my husband and I moved to Washington, DC. We took a bus trip to New York that November. Of course I had to take Ironhide along.
Then, in the winter of 2011, it snowed in DC, unlike this year. I am disappointed at the lack of snow this year. But, I had a lot of fun with it last year!
Times Square, New York City, NY
US Capitol Building, Washington, DC
US Capitol Building, Washington, DC
In 2010, my husband and I moved to Washington, DC. We took a bus trip to New York that November. Of course I had to take Ironhide along.
Then, in the winter of 2011, it snowed in DC, unlike this year. I am disappointed at the lack of snow this year. But, I had a lot of fun with it last year!
Times Square, New York City, NY
US Capitol Building, Washington, DC
US Capitol Building, Washington, DC
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Self-Publishing eBooks: Getting Down To It
This was already included in the previous post. However, there was a pretty large introduction as to how I came upon it all and I figured that there might be people not interested in the backstory of my research. So, this post gets right down to my findings.
This is what I've found out in my preliminary research to self-publishing ebooks. If you are interested in self-publishing your manuscript, this may help to jump start your own research.
AMAZON
Amazon with the Kindle e-reader is the big fish in the sea. Kindle Direct Publishing is a way to get your book out there for free. (Didn't mean to rhyme. *laughs at myself*) You can find their home page here: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/signin.
They have a wonderful Kindle Publishing Guide that coaches you every step of the way: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/help.
They also offer pretty large royalties: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/help?topicId=A30F3VI2TH1FR8.
The sad news about Amazon is that they have introduced a program, KDP Select, that allows people to 'borrow' books for free. Many Indie Publishers were doing very well selling books between 0.99 and 2.99. At that price, it's like giving away books for free already and gobs of people hopped on those prices. Now, however, if someone can get a book for free by 'borrowing' it, then why pay? Even if it is only 99 cents.
This new program is concerning. Amazon says the author gets part of a pot of money when people borrow his/her book for free. This would conceivably work, if you are a top selling author. However, I'm not seeing the benefit for new, unknown, authors.
Even though this is scary, there are still a couple of upsides. First of all, in order for readers to borrow books for free through this program, they have to be members of Kindle Prime. Readers get a one month free trial, but after that they have to pay $80 a year and are only allowed to borrow one book a month.
If someone is using the Kindle to buy and read .99-2.99 books, and I'm sure there are people out there who do this, then Kindle Prime will not appeal to them at all.
Since the reader is only allowed to borrow 12 books in one year and has to pay 80 dollars for those 12 books, then the math is in our favor. Kindle Prime members would have to be borrowing books that cost way more than 99 cents in order for that to work out for them. Because of this, it may be that books selling for 0.99-2.99 are safe. I would assume that if someone is paying that much, then that person would be going for books that cost much more than 0.99-2.99 just so that they'd be getting their money's worth in the subscription.
The worst news about KDP Select is that if you choose to be a part of it, then you can't publish your book anywhere else for an allotted amount of time. Again, as a new and unknown author, I don't think this a good option for me. Thank goodness being a part of KDP Select isn't mandatory. You can still publish through KDP and not have to be a part of the Select program.
The second upside to all these new scary things that Amazing is doing is that, while Amazon may be the biggest fish in the sea, it isn't the only fish in the sea.
With that thought, I now introduce Barnes & Noble's publishing platform:
PUBIT!
The PubIt! homepage can be found here: http://pubit.barnesandnoble.com/pubit_app/bn?t=pi_reg_home.
Through PubIt!, you would be selling your book through the NOOK e-reader. They have similar royalty payments as Amazon. Information on their royalty can be found here: http://pubit.barnesandnoble.com/pubit_app/bn?t=support#more_support.
Look under 'Pricing and Payment Terms.' This is also a pretty good support page. It's not as good as Amazon's and it took me awhile to find it, but there it is.
One thing I've noticed Indie authors doing is publishing on both the Amazon and Barnes & Noble platforms. Apple also has their own platform, as well as Kobo.
Apple is complicated and you need a Mac to work through their system. I do not have a Mac, so I didn't look into them any further.
KOBO
The technical requirements for kobo are also a bit daunting, but if you want to give it a try: http://merch.kobobooks.com/help/images/A_Vendors_Guide_to_Kobo.pdf
Kobo is also working on the developement of a self-publishing portal and you can submit your email address for notification of when it will be available: http://www.kobobooks.com/companyinfo/authorsnpublishers.html.
Hopefully when they get that finished, it won't seem as difficult to publish through their system.
AGGREGATION SERVICE PROVIDERS
Not all of the e-reader companies are working together. They each have their own thing and they, understandably, want to make money through their own products. The great thing about being an Indie author is that you can publish through all of them. The only thing they ask is that you not sell your book for less with another e-reader company. In other words, if you sell your book for $2.99 through, say, PubIt!, then you will have to sell your book for $2.99 through all the other e-reader platforms.
There are companies out there that will publish your book through several e-reader platforms at once. Amazon, however, likes to stand on its own, but there are some companies that will distribute to them too.
One suggestion would be to publish through Amazon and then publish through an aggregation service provider in order to get to all the other e-readers. Just remember, don't choose to put your book in KDP Select if you are doing this, because you can only sell through Amazon if you put your book in that program.
It looks like the easiest aggregate is:
SMASHWORDS
Check out their website here: http://www.smashwords.com/about/how_to_publish_on_smashwords.
They reach Apple iBookstore, Barnes & Noble, Sony Reader Store, Kobo, and the Diesel eBook store.
Royalties are 60% and they only take 15% of the net each time they sell your book. They have a very good support page with a wealth of information on how to publish through them: http://www.smashwords.com/about/supportfaq.
They even provide free ISBNs. For information on what an ISBN is, take a look at this page: http://www.isbn.org/standards/home/isbn/us/isbnqa.asp.
Just so you know, you don't have to have an ISBN to publish to the Kindle (Amazon provides its own number for your book, the Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN)). So, if you publish through Amazon first, you don't need to worry about acquiring an ISBN before publication. The other systems require ISBNs, however, so going through Smashwords will get you one for free.
As with anything that seems fairly easy, there is a downside to KDP, PubIt!, and Smashwords: You have to format your ebook to fit their platforms. Depending on your skill level and patience, this can be a discouraging task. Each website for each publisher gives directions on how to format your ebook to fit each of their e-readers. It can be a long and arduous part of the self publishing ebook process.
There is a program that can help you in these conversions called Jutoh. This is an ebook editor for $39.00. You can find it here: http://jutoh.com/.
There are numerous individuals that you can hire to do these formats as well. I am not to this point with my own book, however, so I don't know any to recommend. I'm simply sharing what my limited research has turned up. Though, Smashwords does have a list of ebook formatters and cover artists. You can send an email to list@smashwords.com and request "Mark's List."
If you're not up to all that, never fear. There are aggregate providers that will do it for you for a fee, of course.
EBOOKIT
The homepage to eBookit can be found here: http://www.ebookit.com/index.php.
This company charges $149 to convert your book for just about any and all e-readers, including the Kindle. They will even help you with your cover. They seem to have a pretty solid plan and will distribute your book to all the major e-reader platforms. For another fee, they'll even advertise your book for you. You get the most profit if you sell through their store, of course, but even with their take on what you sell through Amazon, B&N, Apple, etc., this might be a low stress way of getting your formatted book out there.
The only worry I have with this company is the fact that they say that updates to your book are billed at "only $49.00 per hour." That seems steep and the 'only' part made me laugh a little. I'm not sure if this means they periodically have to update your book or if all updates are only done if requested by the author. They have a pretty good support page, though, which can be found here: http://www.ebookit.com/thefaqs.
BOOK BABY
This company seems to have a pretty solid plan as well. The home page to book baby can be found here: http://www.bookbaby.com/.
Book Baby's motto is "Self Publishing Made Easy." They will publish your book for as low as $99, which includes all conversions, and will distribute it to Apple's iBookstore, Amazon, Sony Reader Store, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Copia, Gardners, Baker & Taylor, and eBookPie.
This company does not take any commissions at all, but they do have a $19 annual fee.
Here is their pricing list: http://www.bookbaby.com/pricing.
Book baby will help with your cover, with conversions, and will provide an ISBN for an additional $19. Here's how it works: http://www.bookbaby.com/howitworks.
That concludes the extent of my research. I have not tested any of these options myself, but having it all in one place will be helpful for when I get to the publishing stage of my books, if I decide to go the indie route. Hopefully this was helpful for you as well.
I also found this blog post by Henry Baum. It has some helpful information about eBookit and Book Baby and the comments are very helpful too: http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/blog/2011/04/ebookit-book-baby-publish-green/.
Happy writing!
This is what I've found out in my preliminary research to self-publishing ebooks. If you are interested in self-publishing your manuscript, this may help to jump start your own research.
AMAZON
Amazon with the Kindle e-reader is the big fish in the sea. Kindle Direct Publishing is a way to get your book out there for free. (Didn't mean to rhyme. *laughs at myself*) You can find their home page here: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/signin.
They have a wonderful Kindle Publishing Guide that coaches you every step of the way: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/help.
They also offer pretty large royalties: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/help?topicId=A30F3VI2TH1FR8.
The sad news about Amazon is that they have introduced a program, KDP Select, that allows people to 'borrow' books for free. Many Indie Publishers were doing very well selling books between 0.99 and 2.99. At that price, it's like giving away books for free already and gobs of people hopped on those prices. Now, however, if someone can get a book for free by 'borrowing' it, then why pay? Even if it is only 99 cents.
This new program is concerning. Amazon says the author gets part of a pot of money when people borrow his/her book for free. This would conceivably work, if you are a top selling author. However, I'm not seeing the benefit for new, unknown, authors.
Even though this is scary, there are still a couple of upsides. First of all, in order for readers to borrow books for free through this program, they have to be members of Kindle Prime. Readers get a one month free trial, but after that they have to pay $80 a year and are only allowed to borrow one book a month.
If someone is using the Kindle to buy and read .99-2.99 books, and I'm sure there are people out there who do this, then Kindle Prime will not appeal to them at all.
Since the reader is only allowed to borrow 12 books in one year and has to pay 80 dollars for those 12 books, then the math is in our favor. Kindle Prime members would have to be borrowing books that cost way more than 99 cents in order for that to work out for them. Because of this, it may be that books selling for 0.99-2.99 are safe. I would assume that if someone is paying that much, then that person would be going for books that cost much more than 0.99-2.99 just so that they'd be getting their money's worth in the subscription.
The worst news about KDP Select is that if you choose to be a part of it, then you can't publish your book anywhere else for an allotted amount of time. Again, as a new and unknown author, I don't think this a good option for me. Thank goodness being a part of KDP Select isn't mandatory. You can still publish through KDP and not have to be a part of the Select program.
The second upside to all these new scary things that Amazing is doing is that, while Amazon may be the biggest fish in the sea, it isn't the only fish in the sea.
With that thought, I now introduce Barnes & Noble's publishing platform:
PUBIT!
The PubIt! homepage can be found here: http://pubit.barnesandnoble.com/pubit_app/bn?t=pi_reg_home.
Through PubIt!, you would be selling your book through the NOOK e-reader. They have similar royalty payments as Amazon. Information on their royalty can be found here: http://pubit.barnesandnoble.com/pubit_app/bn?t=support#more_support.
Look under 'Pricing and Payment Terms.' This is also a pretty good support page. It's not as good as Amazon's and it took me awhile to find it, but there it is.
One thing I've noticed Indie authors doing is publishing on both the Amazon and Barnes & Noble platforms. Apple also has their own platform, as well as Kobo.
Apple is complicated and you need a Mac to work through their system. I do not have a Mac, so I didn't look into them any further.
KOBO
The technical requirements for kobo are also a bit daunting, but if you want to give it a try: http://merch.kobobooks.com/help/images/A_Vendors_Guide_to_Kobo.pdf
Kobo is also working on the developement of a self-publishing portal and you can submit your email address for notification of when it will be available: http://www.kobobooks.com/companyinfo/authorsnpublishers.html.
Hopefully when they get that finished, it won't seem as difficult to publish through their system.
AGGREGATION SERVICE PROVIDERS
Not all of the e-reader companies are working together. They each have their own thing and they, understandably, want to make money through their own products. The great thing about being an Indie author is that you can publish through all of them. The only thing they ask is that you not sell your book for less with another e-reader company. In other words, if you sell your book for $2.99 through, say, PubIt!, then you will have to sell your book for $2.99 through all the other e-reader platforms.
There are companies out there that will publish your book through several e-reader platforms at once. Amazon, however, likes to stand on its own, but there are some companies that will distribute to them too.
One suggestion would be to publish through Amazon and then publish through an aggregation service provider in order to get to all the other e-readers. Just remember, don't choose to put your book in KDP Select if you are doing this, because you can only sell through Amazon if you put your book in that program.
It looks like the easiest aggregate is:
SMASHWORDS
Check out their website here: http://www.smashwords.com/about/how_to_publish_on_smashwords.
They reach Apple iBookstore, Barnes & Noble, Sony Reader Store, Kobo, and the Diesel eBook store.
Royalties are 60% and they only take 15% of the net each time they sell your book. They have a very good support page with a wealth of information on how to publish through them: http://www.smashwords.com/about/supportfaq.
They even provide free ISBNs. For information on what an ISBN is, take a look at this page: http://www.isbn.org/standards/home/isbn/us/isbnqa.asp.
Just so you know, you don't have to have an ISBN to publish to the Kindle (Amazon provides its own number for your book, the Amazon Standard Identification Number (ASIN)). So, if you publish through Amazon first, you don't need to worry about acquiring an ISBN before publication. The other systems require ISBNs, however, so going through Smashwords will get you one for free.
As with anything that seems fairly easy, there is a downside to KDP, PubIt!, and Smashwords: You have to format your ebook to fit their platforms. Depending on your skill level and patience, this can be a discouraging task. Each website for each publisher gives directions on how to format your ebook to fit each of their e-readers. It can be a long and arduous part of the self publishing ebook process.
There is a program that can help you in these conversions called Jutoh. This is an ebook editor for $39.00. You can find it here: http://jutoh.com/.
There are numerous individuals that you can hire to do these formats as well. I am not to this point with my own book, however, so I don't know any to recommend. I'm simply sharing what my limited research has turned up. Though, Smashwords does have a list of ebook formatters and cover artists. You can send an email to list@smashwords.com and request "Mark's List."
If you're not up to all that, never fear. There are aggregate providers that will do it for you for a fee, of course.
EBOOKIT
The homepage to eBookit can be found here: http://www.ebookit.com/index.php.
This company charges $149 to convert your book for just about any and all e-readers, including the Kindle. They will even help you with your cover. They seem to have a pretty solid plan and will distribute your book to all the major e-reader platforms. For another fee, they'll even advertise your book for you. You get the most profit if you sell through their store, of course, but even with their take on what you sell through Amazon, B&N, Apple, etc., this might be a low stress way of getting your formatted book out there.
The only worry I have with this company is the fact that they say that updates to your book are billed at "only $49.00 per hour." That seems steep and the 'only' part made me laugh a little. I'm not sure if this means they periodically have to update your book or if all updates are only done if requested by the author. They have a pretty good support page, though, which can be found here: http://www.ebookit.com/thefaqs.
BOOK BABY
This company seems to have a pretty solid plan as well. The home page to book baby can be found here: http://www.bookbaby.com/.
Book Baby's motto is "Self Publishing Made Easy." They will publish your book for as low as $99, which includes all conversions, and will distribute it to Apple's iBookstore, Amazon, Sony Reader Store, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Copia, Gardners, Baker & Taylor, and eBookPie.
This company does not take any commissions at all, but they do have a $19 annual fee.
Here is their pricing list: http://www.bookbaby.com/pricing.
Book baby will help with your cover, with conversions, and will provide an ISBN for an additional $19. Here's how it works: http://www.bookbaby.com/howitworks.
That concludes the extent of my research. I have not tested any of these options myself, but having it all in one place will be helpful for when I get to the publishing stage of my books, if I decide to go the indie route. Hopefully this was helpful for you as well.
I also found this blog post by Henry Baum. It has some helpful information about eBookit and Book Baby and the comments are very helpful too: http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/blog/2011/04/ebookit-book-baby-publish-green/.
Happy writing!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The Self-Publishing Option In Today's World
So, we all know about the Indie Revolution and have read many blogs and news articles stating that 2012 is the year of the Indie author. I have read this, at least. Like many others, I am intrigued by the success of Indie authors like Amanda Hocking. I've done a lot of research into the self-publishing option because of all the recent buzz. It turns out that there are numerous other people looking into this option as well.
I'm not usually one to follow the crowd, but in this case, I'm chasing after it. I feel like I'm ten steps behind everyone else, but the good news is that there seems to be room for all of us.
I first looked into self publishing five years ago. I was just getting into writing fan fiction and was becoming pretty popular in that area. It was then that I realized I could write fiction. Traditional publishing scares me to death. All of the restrictions I hear about it, all the changes that can be done to a storyline, seemed too overwhelming to me. So, I decided to look into self publishing just to see what it entailed. Just to keep the record straight and as an addendum here: I don't discount mainstream or traditional publishing by any stretch of the imagination. I'm just scared of it.
Five years ago, around 2007, self publishing wasn't looking like a good option at all. It was expensive. Many companies required you to buy a certain amount of books and you would be left wondering how to market the hard copies. I was reading articles about people selling books from their basements. Storage was quickly becoming the next part of that research and the entire process seemed so cumbersome and, quite frankly, not conducive to profit at all.
The author would be so far in the hole by the time he/she made a deal with one of these companies, spending thousands of dollars, that the author would be spending the life of the book simply trying to pay that money back. That wasn't an acceptable option. At that point, there wasn't anything on the web about publishing through an e-reader, not to mention the stigma of vanity press to begin with, so I quietly snuck away from it and never looked back.
I continued writing fan fiction. I was giving myself away for free, but it was such a rewarding experience that I couldn't stop. I was having so much fun. I got to know people, helped them with their own story lines, gave reviews, and got lots and lots of reviews in return. Those darn reviews were like a drug. I literally couldn't stop writing. I needed that review fix.
Then, around 2009, someone I knew got a publishing deal. I shared with her what I was doing with fan fiction and she blogged about me. Several more reviews came in. I was tickled pink about it.
She later shared a little advice with me: Stop writing fan fiction and start writing my own world. She boosted my confidence by telling me I had talent. Sure, I was getting positive reviews for my fan fiction, which were confidence boosters themselves, but this was a published author telling me I have talent. She even helped me outline a book with an idea that was stuck in my head. Still, though, I was scared. I continued writing, but it was still only fan fiction.
Next thing I know, I get an email from a friend in California who knows all about my writing aspirations. She said very little, encouraging me just to click on a link that she had included. By this time it was early 2011. The article the link led me to was about self publishing sensation Amanda Hocking.
I was in a frenzy to understand how this Amanda Hocking person did this and my Cali friend and I exchanged numerous excited emails discussing it. After all, I had looked into self publishing and it was virtually unattainable. How was this even possible? The article was talking about Indie publishing being so easy and I scoffed at that.
The more I read, though, the more I began to realize that I might have missed something, or that something wasn't there a few years before that was there now. It spoke of the Kindle and Amazon and I decided my research needed a reboot.
The Kindle came out in 2007. I knew of it. I knew other book companies were making and marketing their own e-reading devices. I just wasn't paying attention. I had no idea of the possibilities for unpublished, unproven authors like myself.
Well, I am paying attention now.
I am certain that there must be other people out there with a story similar to mine, scrambling to understand this Indie Revolution with the hopes that they can become a part of it. Perhaps what I have learned in my research will help someone to get the ball rolling. Perhaps everyone already knows all this stuff. I'm behind the power curve, as usual. However, I can't be the only beginner and we all have to start somewhere. If this post helps even just one person, then it is worth it to share.
AMAZON
Amazon with the Kindle e-reader is the big fish in the sea. Kindle Direct Publishing is a way to get your book out there for free. They have a great publishing platform. You can find their home page here: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/signin.
They have a wonderful Kindle Publishing Guide that coaches you every step of the way: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/help.
They also offer pretty large royalties: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/help?topicId=A30F3VI2TH1FR8.
The sad news about Amazon is that they have introduced a program, KDP Select, that allows people to 'borrow' books for free. Many Indie Publishers were doing very well selling books between 0.99 and 2.99. At that price, it's like giving away books for free already and gobs of people hopped on those prices. Now, however, if someone can get a book for free by 'borrowing' it, then why pay? Even if it is only 99 cents.
This new program is concerning. Amazon says the author gets part of a pot of money when people borrow his/her book for free. This would conceivably work, if you are a top selling author. However, I'm not seeing the benefit for new, unknown, authors.
Even though this is scary, there are still a couple of upsides. First of all, in order for readers to borrow books for free through this program, they have to be members of Kindle Prime. Readers get a one month free trial, but after that they have to pay $80 a year and are only allowed to borrow one book a month.
If someone is using the Kindle to buy and read 99 cent books, and I'm sure there are people out there who do this, then Kindle Prime will not appeal to them at all.
Since the reader is only allowed to borrow 12 books in one year and has to pay 80 dollars for those 12 books, then the math is in our favor. Kindle Prime members would have to be borrowing books that cost way more than 99 cents in order for that to work out for them. Because of this, it may be that books selling for 0.99-2.99 are safe. I would assume that if someone is paying that much, then that person would be going for books that cost much more than 0.99-2.99 just so that they'd be getting their money's worth in the subscription.
The worst news about KDP Select is that if you choose to be a part of it, then you can't publish your book anywhere else for an allotted amount of time. For this reason alone, I will never use this 'service.' Thank goodness being a part of KDP Select isn't mandatory. You can still publish through KDP and not have to be a part of the Select program.
The second upside to all these new scary things that Amazing is doing is that, while Amazon may be the biggest fish in the sea, it isn't the only fish in the sea.
With that thought, I now introduce Barnes & Noble's publishing platform:
PUBIT!
The PubIt! homepage can be found here: http://pubit.barnesandnoble.com/pubit_app/bn?t=pi_reg_home.
Through PubIt!, you would be selling your book through the NOOK e-reader. They have similar royalty payments as Amazon. Information on their royalty can be found here: http://pubit.barnesandnoble.com/pubit_app/bn?t=support#more_support. Look under 'Pricing and Payment Terms.' This is also a pretty good support page. It's not as good as Amazon's and it took me awhile to find it, but there it is.
One thing I've noticed Indie authors doing is publishing on both the Amazon and Barnes & Noble platforms. Apple also has their own platform, as well as Kobo.
Apple is complicated and you need a Mac to work through their system. I do not have a Mac, so I didn't look into them any further.
KOBO
The technical requirements for kobo are also a bit daunting, but if you want to give it a try: http://merch.kobobooks.com/help/images/A_Vendors_Guide_to_Kobo.pdf
Kobo is also working on the developement of a self-publishing portal and you can submit your email address for notification of when it will be available: http://www.kobobooks.com/companyinfo/authorsnpublishers.html.
Hopefully when they get that finished, it won't be as difficult to publish through their system.
AGGREGATION SERVICE PROVIDERS
Not all of the e-reader companies are working together. They each have their own thing and they, understandably, want to make money through their own products. The great thing about being an Indie author is that you can publish through all of them. The only thing they ask is that you not sell your book for less with another e-reader company. In other words, if you sell your book for $2.99 through, say, PubIt!, then you will have to sell your book for $2.99 through all the other e-reader platforms.
There are companies out there that will publish your book through several e-reader platforms at once. Amazon, however, likes to stand on its own, but there are some companies that will distribute to them too.
One suggestion would be to publish through Amazon and then publish through an aggregation service provider in order to get to all the other e-readers. Just remember, don't choose to put your book in KDP Select if you are doing this, because you can only sell through Amazon if you put your book in that program.
It looks like the easiest aggregate is:
SMASHWORDS
Check out their website here: http://www.smashwords.com/about/how_to_publish_on_smashwords. They reach Apple iBookstore, Barnes & Noble, Sony Reader Store, Kobo, and the Diesel eBook store.
Royalties are 60% and they only take 15% of the net each time they sell your book. They have a very good support page with a wealth of information on how to publish through them: http://www.smashwords.com/about/supportfaq. They even provide free ISBNs. For information on what an ISBN is, take a look at this page: http://www.isbn.org/standards/home/isbn/us/isbnqa.asp.
As with anything that seems fairly easy, there is a downside to KDP, PubIt!, and Smashwords: You have to format your ebook to fit their platforms. Depending on your skill level and patience, this can be a discouraging task. Each website for each publisher gives directions on how to format your ebook to fit each of their e-readers. It can be a long and arduous part of the self publishing ebook process.
There is a program that can help you in these conversions called Jutoh. This is an ebook editor for $39.00. You can find it here: http://jutoh.com/.
There are numerous individuals that you can hire to do these formats as well. I am not to this point with my own book, however, so I don't know any to recommend. I'm simply sharing what my limited research has turned up.
If you're not up to it, never fear. There are aggregate providers that will do it for you for a fee, of course.
EBOOKIT
The homepage to eBookit can be found here: http://www.ebookit.com/index.php.
This company charges $149 to convert your book for just about any and all e-readers, including the Kindle. They will even help you with your cover. They seem to have a pretty solid plan and will distribute your book to all the major e-reader platforms. For another fee, they'll even advertise your book for you. You get the most profit if you sell through their store, of course, but even with their take on what you sell through Amazon, B&N, Apple, etc., this might be a low stress way of getting your formatted book out there.
The only worry I have with this company is the fact that they say that updates to your book are billed at "only $49.00 per hour." That seems steep and the 'only' part made me laugh a little. I'm not sure if this means they periodically have to update your book or if all updates are only done if requested by the author. They have a pretty good support page, though, which can be found here: http://www.ebookit.com/thefaqs.
BOOK BABY
This company seems to have a pretty solid plan as well. The home page to book baby can be found here: http://www.bookbaby.com/.
Book Baby's motto is "Self Publishing Made Easy." They will publish your book for as low as $99, which includes all conversions, and will distribute it to Apple's iBookstore, Amazon, Sony Reader Store, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Copia, Gardners, Baker & Taylor, and eBookPie.
This company does not take any commissions at all, but they do have a $19 annual fee.
Here is their pricing list: http://www.bookbaby.com/pricing.
Book baby will help with your cover, with conversions, and will provide an ISBN for an additional $19. Here's how it works: http://www.bookbaby.com/howitworks.
That concludes the extent of my research. I have not tested any of these options myself, but having it all in one place will be helpful for when I get to the publishing stage of my books. Hopefully this was helpful for you as well.
I also found this blog post by Henry Baum. It has some helpful information about eBookit and book baby and the comments are very helpful too: http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/blog/2011/04/ebookit-book-baby-publish-green/.
Let us all now go and help make the prediction for 2012 true. Perhaps this really will be 'The Year of the Indie Author.'
Happy writing!
I'm not usually one to follow the crowd, but in this case, I'm chasing after it. I feel like I'm ten steps behind everyone else, but the good news is that there seems to be room for all of us.
I first looked into self publishing five years ago. I was just getting into writing fan fiction and was becoming pretty popular in that area. It was then that I realized I could write fiction. Traditional publishing scares me to death. All of the restrictions I hear about it, all the changes that can be done to a storyline, seemed too overwhelming to me. So, I decided to look into self publishing just to see what it entailed. Just to keep the record straight and as an addendum here: I don't discount mainstream or traditional publishing by any stretch of the imagination. I'm just scared of it.
Five years ago, around 2007, self publishing wasn't looking like a good option at all. It was expensive. Many companies required you to buy a certain amount of books and you would be left wondering how to market the hard copies. I was reading articles about people selling books from their basements. Storage was quickly becoming the next part of that research and the entire process seemed so cumbersome and, quite frankly, not conducive to profit at all.
The author would be so far in the hole by the time he/she made a deal with one of these companies, spending thousands of dollars, that the author would be spending the life of the book simply trying to pay that money back. That wasn't an acceptable option. At that point, there wasn't anything on the web about publishing through an e-reader, not to mention the stigma of vanity press to begin with, so I quietly snuck away from it and never looked back.
I continued writing fan fiction. I was giving myself away for free, but it was such a rewarding experience that I couldn't stop. I was having so much fun. I got to know people, helped them with their own story lines, gave reviews, and got lots and lots of reviews in return. Those darn reviews were like a drug. I literally couldn't stop writing. I needed that review fix.
Then, around 2009, someone I knew got a publishing deal. I shared with her what I was doing with fan fiction and she blogged about me. Several more reviews came in. I was tickled pink about it.
She later shared a little advice with me: Stop writing fan fiction and start writing my own world. She boosted my confidence by telling me I had talent. Sure, I was getting positive reviews for my fan fiction, which were confidence boosters themselves, but this was a published author telling me I have talent. She even helped me outline a book with an idea that was stuck in my head. Still, though, I was scared. I continued writing, but it was still only fan fiction.
Next thing I know, I get an email from a friend in California who knows all about my writing aspirations. She said very little, encouraging me just to click on a link that she had included. By this time it was early 2011. The article the link led me to was about self publishing sensation Amanda Hocking.
I was in a frenzy to understand how this Amanda Hocking person did this and my Cali friend and I exchanged numerous excited emails discussing it. After all, I had looked into self publishing and it was virtually unattainable. How was this even possible? The article was talking about Indie publishing being so easy and I scoffed at that.
The more I read, though, the more I began to realize that I might have missed something, or that something wasn't there a few years before that was there now. It spoke of the Kindle and Amazon and I decided my research needed a reboot.
The Kindle came out in 2007. I knew of it. I knew other book companies were making and marketing their own e-reading devices. I just wasn't paying attention. I had no idea of the possibilities for unpublished, unproven authors like myself.
Well, I am paying attention now.
I am certain that there must be other people out there with a story similar to mine, scrambling to understand this Indie Revolution with the hopes that they can become a part of it. Perhaps what I have learned in my research will help someone to get the ball rolling. Perhaps everyone already knows all this stuff. I'm behind the power curve, as usual. However, I can't be the only beginner and we all have to start somewhere. If this post helps even just one person, then it is worth it to share.
AMAZON
Amazon with the Kindle e-reader is the big fish in the sea. Kindle Direct Publishing is a way to get your book out there for free. They have a great publishing platform. You can find their home page here: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/signin.
They have a wonderful Kindle Publishing Guide that coaches you every step of the way: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/help.
They also offer pretty large royalties: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/help?topicId=A30F3VI2TH1FR8.
The sad news about Amazon is that they have introduced a program, KDP Select, that allows people to 'borrow' books for free. Many Indie Publishers were doing very well selling books between 0.99 and 2.99. At that price, it's like giving away books for free already and gobs of people hopped on those prices. Now, however, if someone can get a book for free by 'borrowing' it, then why pay? Even if it is only 99 cents.
This new program is concerning. Amazon says the author gets part of a pot of money when people borrow his/her book for free. This would conceivably work, if you are a top selling author. However, I'm not seeing the benefit for new, unknown, authors.
Even though this is scary, there are still a couple of upsides. First of all, in order for readers to borrow books for free through this program, they have to be members of Kindle Prime. Readers get a one month free trial, but after that they have to pay $80 a year and are only allowed to borrow one book a month.
If someone is using the Kindle to buy and read 99 cent books, and I'm sure there are people out there who do this, then Kindle Prime will not appeal to them at all.
Since the reader is only allowed to borrow 12 books in one year and has to pay 80 dollars for those 12 books, then the math is in our favor. Kindle Prime members would have to be borrowing books that cost way more than 99 cents in order for that to work out for them. Because of this, it may be that books selling for 0.99-2.99 are safe. I would assume that if someone is paying that much, then that person would be going for books that cost much more than 0.99-2.99 just so that they'd be getting their money's worth in the subscription.
The worst news about KDP Select is that if you choose to be a part of it, then you can't publish your book anywhere else for an allotted amount of time. For this reason alone, I will never use this 'service.' Thank goodness being a part of KDP Select isn't mandatory. You can still publish through KDP and not have to be a part of the Select program.
The second upside to all these new scary things that Amazing is doing is that, while Amazon may be the biggest fish in the sea, it isn't the only fish in the sea.
With that thought, I now introduce Barnes & Noble's publishing platform:
PUBIT!
The PubIt! homepage can be found here: http://pubit.barnesandnoble.com/pubit_app/bn?t=pi_reg_home.
Through PubIt!, you would be selling your book through the NOOK e-reader. They have similar royalty payments as Amazon. Information on their royalty can be found here: http://pubit.barnesandnoble.com/pubit_app/bn?t=support#more_support. Look under 'Pricing and Payment Terms.' This is also a pretty good support page. It's not as good as Amazon's and it took me awhile to find it, but there it is.
One thing I've noticed Indie authors doing is publishing on both the Amazon and Barnes & Noble platforms. Apple also has their own platform, as well as Kobo.
Apple is complicated and you need a Mac to work through their system. I do not have a Mac, so I didn't look into them any further.
KOBO
The technical requirements for kobo are also a bit daunting, but if you want to give it a try: http://merch.kobobooks.com/help/images/A_Vendors_Guide_to_Kobo.pdf
Kobo is also working on the developement of a self-publishing portal and you can submit your email address for notification of when it will be available: http://www.kobobooks.com/companyinfo/authorsnpublishers.html.
Hopefully when they get that finished, it won't be as difficult to publish through their system.
AGGREGATION SERVICE PROVIDERS
Not all of the e-reader companies are working together. They each have their own thing and they, understandably, want to make money through their own products. The great thing about being an Indie author is that you can publish through all of them. The only thing they ask is that you not sell your book for less with another e-reader company. In other words, if you sell your book for $2.99 through, say, PubIt!, then you will have to sell your book for $2.99 through all the other e-reader platforms.
There are companies out there that will publish your book through several e-reader platforms at once. Amazon, however, likes to stand on its own, but there are some companies that will distribute to them too.
One suggestion would be to publish through Amazon and then publish through an aggregation service provider in order to get to all the other e-readers. Just remember, don't choose to put your book in KDP Select if you are doing this, because you can only sell through Amazon if you put your book in that program.
It looks like the easiest aggregate is:
SMASHWORDS
Check out their website here: http://www.smashwords.com/about/how_to_publish_on_smashwords. They reach Apple iBookstore, Barnes & Noble, Sony Reader Store, Kobo, and the Diesel eBook store.
Royalties are 60% and they only take 15% of the net each time they sell your book. They have a very good support page with a wealth of information on how to publish through them: http://www.smashwords.com/about/supportfaq. They even provide free ISBNs. For information on what an ISBN is, take a look at this page: http://www.isbn.org/standards/home/isbn/us/isbnqa.asp.
As with anything that seems fairly easy, there is a downside to KDP, PubIt!, and Smashwords: You have to format your ebook to fit their platforms. Depending on your skill level and patience, this can be a discouraging task. Each website for each publisher gives directions on how to format your ebook to fit each of their e-readers. It can be a long and arduous part of the self publishing ebook process.
There is a program that can help you in these conversions called Jutoh. This is an ebook editor for $39.00. You can find it here: http://jutoh.com/.
There are numerous individuals that you can hire to do these formats as well. I am not to this point with my own book, however, so I don't know any to recommend. I'm simply sharing what my limited research has turned up.
If you're not up to it, never fear. There are aggregate providers that will do it for you for a fee, of course.
EBOOKIT
The homepage to eBookit can be found here: http://www.ebookit.com/index.php.
This company charges $149 to convert your book for just about any and all e-readers, including the Kindle. They will even help you with your cover. They seem to have a pretty solid plan and will distribute your book to all the major e-reader platforms. For another fee, they'll even advertise your book for you. You get the most profit if you sell through their store, of course, but even with their take on what you sell through Amazon, B&N, Apple, etc., this might be a low stress way of getting your formatted book out there.
The only worry I have with this company is the fact that they say that updates to your book are billed at "only $49.00 per hour." That seems steep and the 'only' part made me laugh a little. I'm not sure if this means they periodically have to update your book or if all updates are only done if requested by the author. They have a pretty good support page, though, which can be found here: http://www.ebookit.com/thefaqs.
BOOK BABY
This company seems to have a pretty solid plan as well. The home page to book baby can be found here: http://www.bookbaby.com/.
Book Baby's motto is "Self Publishing Made Easy." They will publish your book for as low as $99, which includes all conversions, and will distribute it to Apple's iBookstore, Amazon, Sony Reader Store, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Copia, Gardners, Baker & Taylor, and eBookPie.
This company does not take any commissions at all, but they do have a $19 annual fee.
Here is their pricing list: http://www.bookbaby.com/pricing.
Book baby will help with your cover, with conversions, and will provide an ISBN for an additional $19. Here's how it works: http://www.bookbaby.com/howitworks.
That concludes the extent of my research. I have not tested any of these options myself, but having it all in one place will be helpful for when I get to the publishing stage of my books. Hopefully this was helpful for you as well.
I also found this blog post by Henry Baum. It has some helpful information about eBookit and book baby and the comments are very helpful too: http://www.selfpublishingreview.com/blog/2011/04/ebookit-book-baby-publish-green/.
Let us all now go and help make the prediction for 2012 true. Perhaps this really will be 'The Year of the Indie Author.'
Happy writing!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Where's Ironhide? 2009
Ironhide's travels in 2009. The first photo is my absolute favorite. I have a lot of fun making it look like this toy is actually there. Well, it is actually there...
Lifelike is the word I'm looking for. I have a lot of fun making the toy look lifelike, like he's really standing there, enjoying these sites and posing for some photos.
Atlantis, Bahamas
Parliament Square, Nassau, Bahamas
Key West, Florida
Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas
Walt Disney World, Epcot, Orlando, FL
Lifelike is the word I'm looking for. I have a lot of fun making the toy look lifelike, like he's really standing there, enjoying these sites and posing for some photos.
Atlantis, Bahamas
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Passport Renewal Made Easy Part II
Did you all know that there is a limit to a blog post? I didn't know that until I tried posting my 'Passport Renewal Made Easy' post. It ended at STEP 2 when I tried to post it. So, 'Passport Renewal Made Easy' will have to be in two parts. I'll go ahead and start with STEP 1 again just so all the steps are in one place.
So, here's the rest of the post. This is continued from http://kyndrahatch.blogspot.com/2012/02/passport-renewal-made-easy_07.html :
STEP 1: For a passport renewal, you need to fill out form DS-82 . You can find the form here: http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds82/ds82_843.html
STEP 2: You have to send in your current passport (even if it is expired). If it is expired, it has to have been issued when you were 16 years old or older. It has to have been issued within the last 15 years. It has to be your current name, or a name that you can legally show you changed (like if you got married, include your marriage certificate).
If none of the above applies to you, then you cannot use form DS-82. This blog entry will not help you. Go to this link for more information on how to proceed (or see the links below to see if any of them will help you): http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html
If the above does apply to you, proceed to step three.
STEP 3: Print form DS-82 and fill it out. DON'T FORGET TO SIGN AND DATE IT ON PAGE 1.
STEP 4: Staple your passport photo to the area indicated on the form. The passport photo requirements are outlined very well here: http://travel.state.gov/passport/pptphotoreq/pptphotoreq_5333.html
When you staple your photo, staple it just like this: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_4426.html
STEP 5: Get a check or money order ready. These are the fees http://travel.state.gov/passport/fees/fees_837.html:
Choose one of the following options (Remember: this is for a renewal, not a first time applicant):
a. Adult Passport Book and Card: $140
b. Adult Passport Book only: $110
c. Adult Passport Card only (if you already have a book): $30
Consider both of the following options in addition:
a. Expedited Service: $60
b. Overnight Delivery: $12.72
In my case, I only needed a book. I don't know the benefit of a card yet, especially since you can just use the book for every border you cross.
So, in my case, I started with $110.
If you don't mind waiting about 6 weeks for your renewed passport, you can just send in the $110 with the application.
However, I added $60 for the Expedited Service. They say that it would be 2 to 3 weeks with this service, but mine only took a total of 7 days.
Add another $12.72 for overnight delivery. If I didn't add this in, I probably would have gotten the passport in 10 or 12 days.
Do not request these services on any extra papers. By writing a check for $182.72 (which is the total of $110 + $60 + $12.72) you are requesting these services already. Try to quell any obsessive/compulsive behavior; this is how you request these things, trust me (and I'm as obsessive/compulsive as they get).
STEP 6: Get a Document Mailer envelope. The website recommends Tyvek, but I got a USPS Express Mail document mailer envelope at the Post Office. DO NOT SEND IN A REGULAR LETTER-SIZED ENVELOPE.
STEP 7: Place old passport, form DS-82, check or money order for total (my case was $182.72), and extra passport photo (you get two when you get them at a pharmacy like Walgreens) in the envelope and seal it. Just place these all in there losely. Do not staple or paperclip anything together. The only stapling you'll be doing is what is required in STEP 4.
STEP 8: Write the word 'EXPEDITE' in large letters above the area where you put the address: http://travel.state.gov/passport/hurry/hurry_831.html
STEP 9: Fill out a USPS Express Mail address form that the postman will stick to the envelope (can be found at the post office). I am definitely saying you should use the US Post Office. Passport is Government and USPS is Government, so might as well keep it all Government. It must be Express Mail. I did Express Mail when sending my passport and paid the $12.72 for them to Express Mail it back to me. I think that was key to getting my passport in only 7 days. http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/forms_4553.html
Address the envelope to (This is for the Expedited Service):
National Passport Processing Center
Post Office Box 90955
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0955
http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_4426.html
STEP 10: Your passport should be back to you shortly! You can look at current processing times here:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/processing/processing_1740.html
The Expedited Service time said 2-3 weeks when I sent in my form and passport, but it only took 7 days door-to-door!
----
If you need your passport in less than 14 days, go here for more information:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/npic/schedule/schedule_852.html
If you are trying to get a passport for the first time, go here for more information:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html
If you are looking for a Regional Passport Agency near you, go here:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/npic/agencies/agencies_913.html
If you need to add pages to your current passport, go here for more information:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/correcting/add/add_850.html
If you are looking to get your passport in a hurry, I'd say there is a risk involved with all options to get a passport. I'm sure there are some couriers that can get your passport to you in the time they say they will. If you're willing to pay the extra fees and need your passport RIGHT NOW, then I'd say go for it. Unfortunately, I don't know who to recommend since I have no experience with them.
In the end, it's best we all check our passport expiration dates periodically to make sure we don't get ourselves into a situation where we need a passport in a hurry to begin with. I know my husband and I learned our lesson!
Good luck and happy traveling!
So, here's the rest of the post. This is continued from http://kyndrahatch.blogspot.com/2012/02/passport-renewal-made-easy_07.html :
STEP 1: For a passport renewal, you need to fill out form DS-82 . You can find the form here: http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds82/ds82_843.html
STEP 2: You have to send in your current passport (even if it is expired). If it is expired, it has to have been issued when you were 16 years old or older. It has to have been issued within the last 15 years. It has to be your current name, or a name that you can legally show you changed (like if you got married, include your marriage certificate).
If none of the above applies to you, then you cannot use form DS-82. This blog entry will not help you. Go to this link for more information on how to proceed (or see the links below to see if any of them will help you): http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html
If the above does apply to you, proceed to step three.
STEP 3: Print form DS-82 and fill it out. DON'T FORGET TO SIGN AND DATE IT ON PAGE 1.
STEP 4: Staple your passport photo to the area indicated on the form. The passport photo requirements are outlined very well here: http://travel.state.gov/passport/pptphotoreq/pptphotoreq_5333.html
When you staple your photo, staple it just like this: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_4426.html
STEP 5: Get a check or money order ready. These are the fees http://travel.state.gov/passport/fees/fees_837.html:
Choose one of the following options (Remember: this is for a renewal, not a first time applicant):
a. Adult Passport Book and Card: $140
b. Adult Passport Book only: $110
c. Adult Passport Card only (if you already have a book): $30
Consider both of the following options in addition:
a. Expedited Service: $60
b. Overnight Delivery: $12.72
In my case, I only needed a book. I don't know the benefit of a card yet, especially since you can just use the book for every border you cross.
So, in my case, I started with $110.
If you don't mind waiting about 6 weeks for your renewed passport, you can just send in the $110 with the application.
However, I added $60 for the Expedited Service. They say that it would be 2 to 3 weeks with this service, but mine only took a total of 7 days.
Add another $12.72 for overnight delivery. If I didn't add this in, I probably would have gotten the passport in 10 or 12 days.
Do not request these services on any extra papers. By writing a check for $182.72 (which is the total of $110 + $60 + $12.72) you are requesting these services already. Try to quell any obsessive/compulsive behavior; this is how you request these things, trust me (and I'm as obsessive/compulsive as they get).
STEP 6: Get a Document Mailer envelope. The website recommends Tyvek, but I got a USPS Express Mail document mailer envelope at the Post Office. DO NOT SEND IN A REGULAR LETTER-SIZED ENVELOPE.
STEP 7: Place old passport, form DS-82, check or money order for total (my case was $182.72), and extra passport photo (you get two when you get them at a pharmacy like Walgreens) in the envelope and seal it. Just place these all in there losely. Do not staple or paperclip anything together. The only stapling you'll be doing is what is required in STEP 4.
STEP 8: Write the word 'EXPEDITE' in large letters above the area where you put the address: http://travel.state.gov/passport/hurry/hurry_831.html
STEP 9: Fill out a USPS Express Mail address form that the postman will stick to the envelope (can be found at the post office). I am definitely saying you should use the US Post Office. Passport is Government and USPS is Government, so might as well keep it all Government. It must be Express Mail. I did Express Mail when sending my passport and paid the $12.72 for them to Express Mail it back to me. I think that was key to getting my passport in only 7 days. http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/forms_4553.html
Address the envelope to (This is for the Expedited Service):
National Passport Processing Center
Post Office Box 90955
Philadelphia, PA 19190-0955
http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_4426.html
STEP 10: Your passport should be back to you shortly! You can look at current processing times here:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/processing/processing_1740.html
The Expedited Service time said 2-3 weeks when I sent in my form and passport, but it only took 7 days door-to-door!
----
If you need your passport in less than 14 days, go here for more information:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/npic/schedule/schedule_852.html
If you are trying to get a passport for the first time, go here for more information:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html
If you are looking for a Regional Passport Agency near you, go here:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/npic/agencies/agencies_913.html
If you need to add pages to your current passport, go here for more information:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/correcting/add/add_850.html
If you are looking to get your passport in a hurry, I'd say there is a risk involved with all options to get a passport. I'm sure there are some couriers that can get your passport to you in the time they say they will. If you're willing to pay the extra fees and need your passport RIGHT NOW, then I'd say go for it. Unfortunately, I don't know who to recommend since I have no experience with them.
In the end, it's best we all check our passport expiration dates periodically to make sure we don't get ourselves into a situation where we need a passport in a hurry to begin with. I know my husband and I learned our lesson!
Good luck and happy traveling!
Passport Renewal Made Easy Part I
I sent an expired passport in the mail Thursday, Jan. 29th with the hopes that maybe I'd get it back in 3 or 4 weeks. Now, this was a big maybe and a huge hope. Exactly one week later, however, and I mean only 7 mere days, I got a knock at the door. It was the mailman with a document envelope.
On the envelope, there was a request to waive the signature. I knew immediately that it had to due with the passport. However, my next thought was that they needed me to send something to them giving them permission to waive some sort of signature.
I opened the package with dread in my heart, thinking that now I'd have to wait yet another week for this passport. I looked in the envelope and, lo and behold, that passport was in there!
I thought for sure it was some sort of trick, a fake, a promise that the passport is coming and that they're showing me that this is what it's going to look like when it gets to me...Something like that that wouldn't really make much sense, but my active imagination was convincing me it had to be something other than the real thing.
No, it was the real thing! Oh, happy day!
I want to spread this good news to anyone who needs a passport renewal right away. It was so easy to do and I didn't have to use a courier.
Let me give a little bit of a background on how I came to learn to do this:
My husband and I are planning a trip in April for our 10 year Anniversary. As usual, we waited until the last minute. Despite that, everything was going along smoothly in the planning until we discovered that his passport had expired in January. Our travel agent suggested we not book the trip until we get the passport renewed. Since the trip is so soon, there was a possibility of it selling out.
So, I near-frantically started researching how to get the passport renewed in a hurry. The last thing I wanted to happen was to find that we waited too late to book and then completely missed the trip due to an expired passport.
I looked at using a courier. Some promise to get you a passport in 24 hours, or some such insanely fast timeframe. However, you pay dearly for this service...upwards of 200 more dollars for your passport, in addition to the passport fees. Those fees are already very high. Tacking 200 more dollars on something that's already 110 dollars is a reason to give me pause.
Not only that, but I started looking at reviews for said couriers and found that the 200 dollars isn't even refundable in a lot of cases. So, if you don't get your passport in the promised time, you can't get your money back.
That's just too much of a risk for me. It was actually an unacceptable risk, especially when I read in some reviews that people were still waiting after two week's time when promised a passport in 24 hours, after paying all that extra money! There were counter-reviews saying that you have to follow the directions of these couriers to the letter in order for it to work in the first place. One misplaced staple and you could be hosed. At those ends, I figured I might as well just send in the passport myself.
We called the nearest passport agency in our area and tried to make an appointment. That was when we found out that you cannot get a passport renewed in person at an agency unless you need your passport in 14 days. We don't need our passport until April, so we were out for an in-person renewal.
I thought about the courier again, afraid that if I didn't get some kind of help with this that we'd lose the booking for our trip and wouldn't be able to go.
I then found a website that looked promising: http://travel.state.gov/
And found this very helpful page: http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
This website has it all! Step by step instructions for getting a passport, renewing a passport, getting extra pages in an existing passport, visas...everything you'd ever want to know about how to get yourself a passport, a visa, or even a passport card. There is way more useful info than I can write about in this one post. Since we are only talking about passport renewals, let's get to it! (I have included some links below for anyone that may stumble across this post that is looking to get a passport for the first time.)
It took me awhile to go back and forth between all the links and instructions in the website. There is one thing this website is, and that is thorough. I'm going to include step by step instructions along with the links so you can reference where it's all coming from. This way, you won't have to go through all the trial and error research through the site like I had to do. You need your renewal in a hurry, right? No time to learn to navigate a website at a time like this!
STEP 1: For a passport renewal, you need to fill out form DS-82 . You can find the form here: http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds82/ds82_843.html
(This blog post cut me off right at this point. Part II of "Passport Renewal Made Easy" can be found here: http://kyndrahatch.blogspot.com/2012/02/passport-renewal-made-easy-part-ii.html)
On the envelope, there was a request to waive the signature. I knew immediately that it had to due with the passport. However, my next thought was that they needed me to send something to them giving them permission to waive some sort of signature.
I opened the package with dread in my heart, thinking that now I'd have to wait yet another week for this passport. I looked in the envelope and, lo and behold, that passport was in there!
I thought for sure it was some sort of trick, a fake, a promise that the passport is coming and that they're showing me that this is what it's going to look like when it gets to me...Something like that that wouldn't really make much sense, but my active imagination was convincing me it had to be something other than the real thing.
No, it was the real thing! Oh, happy day!
I want to spread this good news to anyone who needs a passport renewal right away. It was so easy to do and I didn't have to use a courier.
Let me give a little bit of a background on how I came to learn to do this:
My husband and I are planning a trip in April for our 10 year Anniversary. As usual, we waited until the last minute. Despite that, everything was going along smoothly in the planning until we discovered that his passport had expired in January. Our travel agent suggested we not book the trip until we get the passport renewed. Since the trip is so soon, there was a possibility of it selling out.
So, I near-frantically started researching how to get the passport renewed in a hurry. The last thing I wanted to happen was to find that we waited too late to book and then completely missed the trip due to an expired passport.
I looked at using a courier. Some promise to get you a passport in 24 hours, or some such insanely fast timeframe. However, you pay dearly for this service...upwards of 200 more dollars for your passport, in addition to the passport fees. Those fees are already very high. Tacking 200 more dollars on something that's already 110 dollars is a reason to give me pause.
Not only that, but I started looking at reviews for said couriers and found that the 200 dollars isn't even refundable in a lot of cases. So, if you don't get your passport in the promised time, you can't get your money back.
That's just too much of a risk for me. It was actually an unacceptable risk, especially when I read in some reviews that people were still waiting after two week's time when promised a passport in 24 hours, after paying all that extra money! There were counter-reviews saying that you have to follow the directions of these couriers to the letter in order for it to work in the first place. One misplaced staple and you could be hosed. At those ends, I figured I might as well just send in the passport myself.
We called the nearest passport agency in our area and tried to make an appointment. That was when we found out that you cannot get a passport renewed in person at an agency unless you need your passport in 14 days. We don't need our passport until April, so we were out for an in-person renewal.
I thought about the courier again, afraid that if I didn't get some kind of help with this that we'd lose the booking for our trip and wouldn't be able to go.
I then found a website that looked promising: http://travel.state.gov/
And found this very helpful page: http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html
This website has it all! Step by step instructions for getting a passport, renewing a passport, getting extra pages in an existing passport, visas...everything you'd ever want to know about how to get yourself a passport, a visa, or even a passport card. There is way more useful info than I can write about in this one post. Since we are only talking about passport renewals, let's get to it! (I have included some links below for anyone that may stumble across this post that is looking to get a passport for the first time.)
It took me awhile to go back and forth between all the links and instructions in the website. There is one thing this website is, and that is thorough. I'm going to include step by step instructions along with the links so you can reference where it's all coming from. This way, you won't have to go through all the trial and error research through the site like I had to do. You need your renewal in a hurry, right? No time to learn to navigate a website at a time like this!
STEP 1: For a passport renewal, you need to fill out form DS-82 . You can find the form here: http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds82/ds82_843.html
(This blog post cut me off right at this point. Part II of "Passport Renewal Made Easy" can be found here: http://kyndrahatch.blogspot.com/2012/02/passport-renewal-made-easy-part-ii.html)
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Where's Ironhide? 2008
I started taking photos of a 2007 Hasbro Ironhide action figure in various places in 2008. These are some of the early shots.
Universal Studios, Orlando, FL
Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom, Orlando, FL
USS Alabama battleship, Mobile, AL
I have so much fun with this!
I have so much fun with this!
Friday, February 3, 2012
Procrastinating Central
I can't believe I've nearly had this blog for a year now. And have I done anything to move myself forward to getting published? The short answer is 'No.'
Has anyone seen that Simpsons episode where Lisa Simpson is trying to write a book? She keeps finding other things that she feels she ought to be doing first, or she finds things that generally distract her in every way from writing even one sentence. That is exactly how it is for me! My husband and I got a good laugh out of that episode.
On one hand, I got a job last April that kept me employed and super busy for 9 whole months. I'm terrible in that I didn't even blog much during that time. If I wasn't writing my books, I certainly wasn't writing in my blog either. *sigh*
On the other hand, I'm scared. I spend a lot of time looking at people who are successful and trying to see what they do. There is a huge emphasis on social sites on the web and, for some reason, I've never been good at that. I get very few followers on every social site I join. Perhaps that has to do with my lack of updating? Oh yes, I'm sure that has something to do with it, LOL. Perhaps I should make a concerted effort to update my blog and send out at least one tweet a day.
I have a facebook account, but it's under my cat's name. I need to make one for my Kyndra Hatch penname. I've always been curious, though. Has anyone figured out the difference between facebook and twitter? It just seems I'd be writing the same stuff on facebook as I do (or should be doing) on twitter.
I'm getting off track from the subject of being scared, though. Anyway, I keep going over my book ideas and the events they contain and psyching myself out that no one would be interested. I'm not sure how to shake this feeling. I have to, though, or I'll never know if people are truly interested or not.
I think a lot of authors feel this way. It's a scary prospect, getting a first book out there. There are so many unknowns and we, as humans, are afraid of the unknown.
There is also the fact that I want to use my fanfiction plot for my original work. I've created my own world, taken everything out that isn't universal, taken the obvious copyrighted stuff out. It was a Transformers fanfiction, so basically I've taken the Transformers universe out of it. What I'm left with is the plot that has always been my own. I really like this plot and I'm having loads of fun playing with it now that it is in my own world. I'm not restricted by it being fanfiction anymore and it's amazing how it has changed and evolved.
Am I even allowed to do this, though? I've asked a lawyer and he said it would be fine. An editor friend of mine in Canada has been encouraging me to write it as my own original work for a couple years now. However, I'm still uncertain.
Another unknown with it is that the first book has an event that might be too tragic for many readers. I've tried to get around it, but that part of the plot hasn't changed, especially since it drives the entire storyline. Everything works out for everyone by the end of the series, but getting through and past that first book might kill it before it even gets started. It was received well in the fanfiction version, though...
I'm psyching myself out again, aren't I? My husband keeps telling me to write my book however I want to write it. The first thing I need is a manuscript...and then I go from there. One step at a time and quit psyching myself out.
Basically, it's procrastinating central over here and I need to quit finding reasons to procrastinate. LOL!
Has anyone seen that Simpsons episode where Lisa Simpson is trying to write a book? She keeps finding other things that she feels she ought to be doing first, or she finds things that generally distract her in every way from writing even one sentence. That is exactly how it is for me! My husband and I got a good laugh out of that episode.
On one hand, I got a job last April that kept me employed and super busy for 9 whole months. I'm terrible in that I didn't even blog much during that time. If I wasn't writing my books, I certainly wasn't writing in my blog either. *sigh*
On the other hand, I'm scared. I spend a lot of time looking at people who are successful and trying to see what they do. There is a huge emphasis on social sites on the web and, for some reason, I've never been good at that. I get very few followers on every social site I join. Perhaps that has to do with my lack of updating? Oh yes, I'm sure that has something to do with it, LOL. Perhaps I should make a concerted effort to update my blog and send out at least one tweet a day.
I have a facebook account, but it's under my cat's name. I need to make one for my Kyndra Hatch penname. I've always been curious, though. Has anyone figured out the difference between facebook and twitter? It just seems I'd be writing the same stuff on facebook as I do (or should be doing) on twitter.
I'm getting off track from the subject of being scared, though. Anyway, I keep going over my book ideas and the events they contain and psyching myself out that no one would be interested. I'm not sure how to shake this feeling. I have to, though, or I'll never know if people are truly interested or not.
I think a lot of authors feel this way. It's a scary prospect, getting a first book out there. There are so many unknowns and we, as humans, are afraid of the unknown.
There is also the fact that I want to use my fanfiction plot for my original work. I've created my own world, taken everything out that isn't universal, taken the obvious copyrighted stuff out. It was a Transformers fanfiction, so basically I've taken the Transformers universe out of it. What I'm left with is the plot that has always been my own. I really like this plot and I'm having loads of fun playing with it now that it is in my own world. I'm not restricted by it being fanfiction anymore and it's amazing how it has changed and evolved.
Am I even allowed to do this, though? I've asked a lawyer and he said it would be fine. An editor friend of mine in Canada has been encouraging me to write it as my own original work for a couple years now. However, I'm still uncertain.
Another unknown with it is that the first book has an event that might be too tragic for many readers. I've tried to get around it, but that part of the plot hasn't changed, especially since it drives the entire storyline. Everything works out for everyone by the end of the series, but getting through and past that first book might kill it before it even gets started. It was received well in the fanfiction version, though...
I'm psyching myself out again, aren't I? My husband keeps telling me to write my book however I want to write it. The first thing I need is a manuscript...and then I go from there. One step at a time and quit psyching myself out.
Basically, it's procrastinating central over here and I need to quit finding reasons to procrastinate. LOL!
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