Sheila's Guests and Reviews

I'm considering republishing some of my childrens' Bible stories on Createspace so they'll be available on Amazon. I'm still not sure how it will work, but it's going well so far. The cover creator's not as nice or as flexible as Lulu's, and they won't write on the spine if you've got less than 135 pages, which is a bit of a shame. There's lots of information about distribution that I've not read yet--will I ever get these books in bookstores or libraries? I'm hoping maybe an ISBN will at least help with the local library who refused to even look at them when I started self-publishing with Lulu. Ah well, I'll let you know. (The reason I don't just use Lulu distribution is the higher Lulu print costs plus the wholesale pricing structure would make at least some of them cost too much.) I do like the interior template on Createspace. It's kind of a bind shifting my text across but the formatting's nice, the choice of font (...

Deadlines are such fun. Lulu's doing a brilliant deal--if you want to self-publish, why not go over there and look; or even if you just want that nice thump-factor of a book in your hand to see what it would look like (books in hand are great for proof-reading too). So now I'm frantically working to a deadline, trying to get my Joshua's Journeys stories finished before the deal runs out. I think there'll be about forty when I'm done, and I've just finished number seventeen. Of course, I've been researching them and putting off writing for ages--about a year--so it's about time. Like I said, deadlines are wonderful!

We had a good talk at our writers' group today, about characters in stories and how we might define them, so we can make them consistent and different from each other. Someone mentioned how characters often seem like extensions of the writer--all so similar they start to sound the same. Someone else mentioned characters that change (or creep) to fit the story or the scene; we agreed some change, some surprise, is good, as long as it's not purely arbitrary. Then there are those characters that start off different but all fade into one during editing--I think the ones in the novel I've been working on are doing that, but luckily it's not the novel I've signed a contract on. So many things to watch out for--I'll enjoy using those self-analysis quizzes on the internet to sort things out, but not just yet. For now, I'm taking some time off editing and working on writing instead. I've got a great coupon to use on Lulu, so I've challenged myself to finish...

Last October I challenged myself to write (or at least post) a drabble a day on my writing blog . A year's gone by and now, give or take the odd day missed and some with two postings, I've got a whole years-worth of drabbles. I've collected them into hand-made mini-books to sell as drabble-birthday cards, with a master copy on Lulu, Drabble-IT , that contains the whole set. (366, 'cause I added one, just in case the year in question should plan to leap.) If you should happen to be looking for a calendar with a difference (or with stories and poems), well, I'd love to sell you one... Meanwhile I've challenged myself this year to post a dribble a day--50 words instead of 100. It's definitely harder so I'd really appreciate the occasional visit, just to keep me on my toes: http://sheiladeethdrabbles.blogspot.com

There was a story in our local paper this morning that promises an interesting future for Print on Demand http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2010/10/portland_state_university_book.html . It seems that Lulu and HP have produced a print-on-demand machine that looks kind of like a large photocopier. Books uploaded and designed in a special section of Lulu can be printed on the spot with no long waits or shipping costs. Portland State University Bookstore is one of three locations trying out these "publishing machines." Professors can provide tailored text books at a fraction of the usual price, and test out the content before committing to the expense of traditional publishing. A 300page novel will cost around $12; a 100page book with color illustrations around $18... And, if I'm reading the article correctly, real people will really be able to publish there. Just think, if this takes off; the machines might be installed in Office Depot or Kinkos, making pri...

There's two reviews of my book, Genesis People, in this month's Poetic Monthly Magazine , volume #51. They're both really nice and it's so neat to see them there. Maybe I should ask them to review the sequel, Exodus Tales, as well:) Anyway, I'm feeling slightly over the moon and wanted to let everyone know. You can download the magazine free (or buy it) so I'd love to read what you think.

I was heading out door for a trip to the tulip farm yesterday when my friend pointed to the rather large parcel on the doorstep. My Lulu books had arrived! But the sun was shining and tulips were calling my name. Aren't they gorgeous? The sun's shining again today so I guess I'm running out of excuses for not cutting grass and pulling weeds. I'll work on pushing the button to publish those books later, after I've checked through them all. But meanwhile, life is good. It's nice to see my name in print and the covers looking so very bright and real. And nice to see tulips.

I'm guest blogging over at Moonlight Lace and Mayhem today, so if you want to read about my self-publishing journey, I'd love to meet you there. Of course, I'll also be catching up on housework, yardwork, shopping, washing etc... all those wonderful things I've been ignoring while chasing my latest Lulu self-publishing deadline (which I met last night). Maybe Moonlight will Lace my Mayhem with coffee and pleasant conversation. Please drop by and cheer me on. http://moonlightlacemayhem.blogspot.com

I got two of my free proofs from Lulu in today's mail - Revelation (an Easter to Pentecost calendar based on the book of Revelation) and Psalms and Parables (a set of 150 children's stories based on psalms.) They books look great, but of course I'll have to read them with fine-toothed comb held firmly in hand before I go public. Meanwhile my final proof's driving me up the wall. Time's running out and I've yet to convince the Lulu program that it's a new publication and therefore deserves a free proof. Still, they have reinstated live chat to help their users, so I'm far less frustrated than I would be otherwise. Here's hoping the coupon, and proof, arrive in time for me to make my order before the March sales event finishes - nothing like deals to make headaches and deadlines :)

"Patience is a virtue." That's what my Mum would say, usually when one or another of us was failing to be patient about something. The thing I need to learn is to be patient even with computers, even with computer programs, even with other people's programs running over the internet... I finally finished formatting and editing my 150 stories and uploaded them as a "new project" on Lulu. I was a bit dismayed by the way the "file conversion" seemed to hang at 95% complete, but... you know... patience and all that. I exercised patience, got on with reading emails and blogposts etc., and I waited. Half an hour later (at least, that's how it seemed), 95% became 100% and I started to design my cover. I'd already made the picture I wanted (using Microsoft Paint), and I knew what words I'd need. I hadn't used the new Lulu cover creator much before, but it's really quite neat - even lets you pick colors from your picture to use in your b...

It's such a little word. "And" I do use it a lot. Quite a lot, in fact, as I've discovered while editing my 150 children's stories based on the Parables. But (that's another of my over-used words) I promised my Mum I'd get the stories published soon (self-published on Lulu - they've been the rounds of real publishers and even got a "really interested" from one, but nothing more) . So I've been working on them, "and" removing "and"s.... and "but"s. Meanwhile, on NPR this morning someone was talking about the misuse of "like" in the younger generation. The only problem was the misuse of "y'know" throughout the discussion. I guess we all have our favorites. In my world we used to say "Um" and "Er" instead, which was equally uninformative. And a close friend in England says "Right." I'm trying to check that my dialog sounds okay in those 150 stories, but t...

It's February. I'm supposed to be frantically writing book 3 of Hemlock for our writers' group challenge. But I promised my Mum I'd publish my next book of children's short stories soon, so I finally agreed to stop putting off reformatting it... ...and finally remembered why I'd stopped in the first place. 44 stories is okay - a few cut and pastes, file > page setup > set margins and headers and footers so they don't overlap, set the gutter, apply to all sections (and wonder where sections came from), edit the stories - start even, end odd - then you're done. I remember struggling to make the page numbers appear on the contents list - turned out it had hardwired the page-size in when I switched from docx to doc. But, as I said, easy enough. That was Genesis People, last January, just before my Mum went back to England the last time. This one's Psalms and Parables, and she's going back on Thursday. There's one hundred and fifty psalms an...

I got a check in the mail the other day. A very special check: It came from a Christian Retreat Center bookstore that had actually sold some of my books! I ran round the room. I opened and closed the envelope and opened it again. And I gazed in awe at the numbers, the calculations, the percentage I got paid, then just kept looking at the words. I got paid! Yes, that's really what the letter said. They really did sell some of my books and pay me! So tomorrow I'm taking a box with me to a church bookstore in town, hoping perhaps they might take some on consignment too - hoping even more for more buyers. And I'm checking on Lulu and wondering... Maybe one day...

When I posted some pictures of my books on a website recently, someone immediately asked whether I'd done any research. I guess it's a pretty valid question —it’s a bit much to expect people just to trust me when I'm only self-published. But it would take forever to list all the books I've used. Remembering that ten's a really good Biblical number, I decided to make a list of the ten most readily available and pleasantly readable books that I've used. That way I can remember them, and maybe you might enjoy them too. Meanwhile, if you want to see what I made of my research, you can find my Bible books at http://stores.lulu.com/sdeeth . If you click on one you can even preview the first ten pages. My top ten books for researching Bible stories: 1. Various translations of the Bible, including deuterocanonical and apocryphal books, the Jewish Study Bible Tanakh Translation—invaluable for its insights into culture and interpretation—and a Chronological Study Bible, w...

There's going to be a summer fair in our neighborhood on Saturday and I've booked a stall to sell some of my self-published books. Last Christmas I just had the Christmas and Easter books on sale. This time I'll add my Thanksgiving book and Genesis People, and take orders for two other books as well. I was worried about the sale because, for the first time ever, my book parcel contained damaged books. Lulu's packaging is usually incredibly good and I wasn't sure what to do. But Lulu have come through for me. Though they can't replace the damaged books in time for the fair, they will arrive very soon afterwards. And, since it's a local affair, I can take orders using my proof copies, and fulfill my deliveries as soon as the parcel arrives. I'm really grateful to Lulu for their help. I'd never had to complain to them before, and I wasn't sure how they'd respond. But they've been very kind and helpful. And now I can look forward to Saturday ...

I went to Rose City Romance Writers this morning as a guest of Minnette Meador , but everyone made me so welcome I felt like everybody's guest. They're a wonderful group - so encouraging, so fun, and with such a vast range of experience. Of course, the bit Minnette hadn't warned me of was that I'd have to stand up and introduce myself. So who am I, I wondered? I've been calling myself a wannabe writer for so long but I suddenly couldn't find the words. After all, I'll soon have three short stories in print. Doesn't that mean I sort of am a writer? They applauded my successes and I felt great, then they asked me what I write. There's a mystery story , a science fiction tale , and a trio of historical pieces ; and there's the two women's literary novels (unpublished), the middle-grade/young adult series (likewise), and the Christian books (self-published, with more coming soon.) I've not done a very good job of branding myself there, so ...

I had all these wonderful plans. 1,000 words a day on textnovel? That was surely do-able. And I could keep writing my favorite WIP at the same time couldn't I? After all, it's easy enough to read more than one book at once. Plus there's that piece that I'm doing the research on--must be time to put metaphorical pen to paper there (or finger to keyboard). And the book reviews... Then there's the incredible news that a bookstore wants some books from me and please will I mail them--suddenly none of the million boxes I've failed to throw away are quite the right size. And there's the final edits and checks on those Lulu books that I want to start selling in summer. I should order them soon... And the cooking, and the cleaning, and the shopping and the washing and persuading the son to revise for his exam, while sympathizing with the other son who hasn't time to do anything else but revise. And the dandelions; I really ought to cut some of those dandelions ...

It looks like I'm walking on air again, with another exciting email yesterday, so please excuse me while I do the happy dance. 2009 is just such a good year! First I made the quarter-finals of ABNA . Then Lulu put my books on Amazon . Then my short story got accepted for Mythica ’s Maybe Tomorrow. And now my triptych of Western Tales has made it into VoiceCatcher 4. Now, if I could just make a few good sales...

Lulu have put my books on Amazon as part of their "Amazon marketplace pilot." It's really exciting, especially now that the Amazon prices are the same as the prices I set. But of course, just having the books out there doesn't mean anyone's going to buy them. Or even that anyone's ever going to find them. My books are pretty small needles in a very large Amazon haystack. And seriously, how many readers - besides my husband, my mother and my best friend - will ever think to type "Sheila Deeth" into Amazon's search bar? So I tried typing a book title in instead. Did you know that "Christmas!" is the same as "Christmas" in an internet search? Yes, I know; I should've known. The exclamation point really doesn't help, and my Christmas book appears so far down the list that no one would ever turn that many internet pages. "Easter!" is just as bad. But "Genesis People" fared better. Once I'd told Amazo...

I just got an email from Lulu telling me my books had been “selected for listing on Amazon.com's Marketplace!” I’m not sure what the selection criteria are—perhaps everyone’s books were selected; who knows—but it’s kind of nice to type “Sheila Deeth” into the search bar on Amazon and find real books appear. Almost as good as seeing them in a bookstore—which reminds me, I need to go back to the one and only store that stocks them and pick up the unsold copies of my Easter book. Only three books, but I’m planning to release more soon; and they cost more on Amazon than on Lulu, but maybe it balances out when you add in the postage. Or you can buy directly from me… Still, I’m excited. I feel like I can almost pretend to be an author.