This is a steep learning curve. Although technically, as a self published author, I am free to produce my work in whatever format I want, there are certain conventions that are worth following to help make the whole thing look more professional!
So far I have;
* Indent on every paragraph apart from the first in each section/chapter - which should be fully left aligned with no indent - Exception to this is where an Illuminated/Overlarge initial letter is used. I don’t like that and find it hard to read, so I don’t use it.
* Font should be a standard and easily read one - most prefer Times new roman and I use that even though I don’t like it, I prefer Arial, but most books are in Times New…
* Page numbers should start at 1 on the first page of the actual text/story, not on the title page, copyright or any other page and they should stop at the final page of text/story.
Aside - I worked out how to do this in Word today. I’ll write up a how to set of instructions in a day or so, more to remind myself than anything! It involves splitting the document into sections and messing about with the footers…
* Chapters should start on a fresh page and it’s preferable to leave a large gap so they start half way down the page. Opinion seems divided on this and does seem to depend on if there is any additional information at the start of the chapter, a chapter title or just a number.
There are other legally obligated things that need to be included too, another post and another day for that I think.
Eagerly (and impatiently) awaiting the first sales figures….
Or several.
The Portal Between turned up on Barnes and Noble.
Then a friend sent me this link to the Book Butler. I count 6 countries on there…..
World domination anyone?
I am getting a lot of satisfaction from every little stage of this.
Today the book description turned up on Waterstones.
The Portal Between on Waterstones.
It’s been up on Tesco for a while, and they’ve reduced it!
The figures from any sales made during April are due to be reported in the next 10 days or so. This is the first time I’ve not known what’s happening with book sales. Up til now I’ve had access to sales through Lulu and I’ve known when each sale has happened.
This is a bit scary, but exciting scary if that makes sense.
Considering the delay in the Portal Between coming through the retail distribution channels, I’m not expecting big numbers. This time ANY numbers will be great to see, but I’ll report back here when I know!
It’s going up!
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 46,216 in Books
Blimey. I’m assuming that means it might be selling a few then? Also there are now 14 new and used for sale on there, two are mine. The online profile is growing.
It changes all the time and it’s been as low as 350,000 or there abouts, but it does come up now and then, which is very exciting!
Sam’s just done something unexpected, and so has Elder. But more importantly, where are the chickens?
Not Lily’s chickens, Kate’s been looking after them, although she is confused by the lack of eggs from yesterday, and what is wrong with the greenhouse door?
Yes, I know, lots of questions but I don’t want to give it all away now do I?
Suffice to say that the sequel is progressing well and is heading in a different direction to the one I had in mind. I do prefer this way of writing. It’s very organic, fluid and changeable, and the story is driven by the characters and pretty much writes itself from the deepest, darkest depths of my subconscious. But only after the gardening and housework have been done, and baking. The house here smells of gingerbread people, got to have home baked goodies.
It’s a common theme in fantasy that magic is unique to an individual and that the abuse of magical power leads to your downfall.
Lily’s magic runs in her family, it’s hereditary and tends to follow the matrilineal line - Mother to Daughter, but not always. Sometimes it skips across to a son, and sometimes it throws a wild card and turns up in an unexpected place - because that makes for great stories! An untrained magic wielder can cause havoc… Lily’s magic can also be gifted to another if the bond between them is strong enough and if the other person has some magical ability to start with. Kate couldn’t take it, it just wouldn’t work and it might even do harm. Anyway, she doesn’t want it.
That leads me to think about who Ametsam might have been, where his magic came from. Is he a wild card? Is there an opposing patrilineal (male) magic existing? Was he ever truly human? Was it the use of the magic that made him assume demon form? And the persistent question I keep getting asked, what, exactly did he do to Sam?
And what about Andrew?
Just a thought.
Then there’s Sam. Where did her innate magic come from? There’s Tom and Susan to consider too, do either of them manifest any innate ability at some point?
Thoughts and comments welcome, as always.
The Add to cart button on The Portal Between’s Amazon.co.uk listing. It’s taken 12 weeks rather than the projected 8 but it’s there.
It’s starting to feel real now.
The Portal Between (Paperback)
by Sarah Barnard (Author)
That makes me grin every time I see it, Sarah Barnard (Author), it’s something I’ve wanted to be recognised for a long time, a dream come true.
I’ve been inventing other Portal Series inspired things too and you can find them on the Ethics Trading merchandising page. I think I need a new mug.
In the meantime, Lily is a bit limp and in trouble, and she and Sam are on the wrong side of a portal while the bad guy wreaks havoc over in Sam’s realm. Or is it Lily’s still?
I don’t know any!
Lulu act faster than most publishers in reporting sales back to the author, I’d like to say all publishers but I don’t have the evidence. However, sales that I know have happened through retail channels during April won’t be reported until the beginning of June.
That’s still remarkably fast but once the process has started then it should flow through every month, assuming there are some sales.
