Widow/Orphan Control: Done
Table of Contents: Done
Author's Bio: Done
Cover: ...Stalled
I hate cover design. I really do. I have this sort of elementary-school-cardboard-cutout style, and getting everything to a semi-decent look takes a lot of time and attention to detail. I hate it.
If only I wasn't too cheap to pay someone else to do it for me.
There is something about having complete creative control over a project like this, though. I know going into it that the cover artwork is going to be ugly, so that part doesn't disappoint. It's just the actual process of buckling down and getting the cover made that's making me batty.
Well, this too shall pass.
29 April 2011
19 April 2011
I remember this being a lot harder.
Well, I started typesetting A Rumor of Real Irish Tea yesterday. My first time around, with A Boy Called Hawk, I think it took a couple of weeks to get everything right the way I wanted it. (That book is by no means perfect, either - every time I glance through my proof copy, it seems like I find some new little mistake I made. I'm looking at you, Capitalized-preposition-in-a-chapter-title. You gunky.)
I'm starting to get worried about this time around, though. Today is Day 2, and all I have left is widow-and-orphan control, TOC page numbers (which can't be added until widow-and-orphan control is done), and the About the Author at the end.
Seriously?
I must be forgetting something. I must be. Either that, or I'm a whole lot better at this than I thought I was (and I really don't think I am). But I've already formatted the chapter titles, put in the drop-capitals, set up all my headers and footers (I swear that alone took me three days last time, because the stupid things kept linking to one another behind my back), and inserted the front matter for the book. That last item was actually pretty easy, though, since I just pulled the copyright page straight from ABCH and changed out the three items that needed it.
I guess all the work I put into the first book is paying off. And I do have its file right there to use as a reference. It's rather nice.
Right now the page count is ~340, which puts the book probably in the $13-14 range. Maybe more, maybe less. I haven't pinpointed a final list price yet. And my deadline is still June-ish. No point in getting overly excited and moving it up, right?
:P
I'm starting to get worried about this time around, though. Today is Day 2, and all I have left is widow-and-orphan control, TOC page numbers (which can't be added until widow-and-orphan control is done), and the About the Author at the end.
Seriously?
I must be forgetting something. I must be. Either that, or I'm a whole lot better at this than I thought I was (and I really don't think I am). But I've already formatted the chapter titles, put in the drop-capitals, set up all my headers and footers (I swear that alone took me three days last time, because the stupid things kept linking to one another behind my back), and inserted the front matter for the book. That last item was actually pretty easy, though, since I just pulled the copyright page straight from ABCH and changed out the three items that needed it.
I guess all the work I put into the first book is paying off. And I do have its file right there to use as a reference. It's rather nice.
Right now the page count is ~340, which puts the book probably in the $13-14 range. Maybe more, maybe less. I haven't pinpointed a final list price yet. And my deadline is still June-ish. No point in getting overly excited and moving it up, right?
:P
05 April 2011
Somewhere on the Way to Switzerland...
Somewhere on the way to Switzerland (conveniently pictured above), A Tale of Real Irish Tea became A Rumor of Real Irish Tea, and I have to say, I like the flavor of it so much better (yes, pun intended, or at least noticed and allowed to slip by without more than a sidelong glance). I also took the time to write a draft of the summary for the back of the book instead of enjoying my usual habit of staring out the window at passing scenery. It was quite the sacrifice.
SPOILER WARNING: The following summary picks up where A Boy Called Hawk left off, so if you haven't read that book, you probably don't want to read this summary. There. I've done my duty. If you read on, you're obligated to give feedback.
(Only kidding.)
A Rumor of Real Irish Tea summary (draft):
Disgraced and distrusted, Oliver Dunn and his handler Emily have been sentenced to the Prometheus Institute's ignominious F campus. Their truant prey, the four erstwhile West children, still wander at large just beyond the grasp of the GCA, and Oliver still holds the key to their capture. To restore his reputation, he and Emily must join forces with a military general, a charming news reporter, and a know-it-all administrative assistant to corner the Wests and put their mischievous rampage to an end. Oliver is up against bureaucratic red tape, outlandish conspiracy theories, a secret, subversive organization, and the machinations of Hawk, Hummer, Honey, and Happy in this follow-up adventure to A Boy Called Hawk.
Every time I go over this, I change something else. Right now I have mixed feelings about the two lists, especially since they're back to back. I like them each individually, but I'm not sure how well they work together stylistically. I thought about just cutting the first one, but then... I didn't. It's something for me to mull over in the next few weeks.
My vagabond days should be behind me now, so it's time to get to work in earnest. My publication deadline is June-ish (you like how I'm so very specific about these things?), and right now I'm almost ready to start typesetting, so I'm still well within that time frame. Here's hoping it stays that way.