Notes to Myself: No Third Option.

by Louis Bertrand Shalako

c2010

All Rights Reserved


On Lulu I now have four e-books in pdf format. On opening up the preview, they all look more or less the same. According to my reading of the help pages, I could try to make Epub files by using Calibre. That's fine, as my pdf's, once converted to Epubs, revealed all sorts of errors and warnings when subjected to a free verification site/process. Simply put, Lulu's system wouldn't eat them.

The only trouble there is, I actually sat through the Calibre sales pitch and demo/tutorials...I already had a system that worked...I don't know. I just don't know! That was months ago.

It's a question of how badly I feel I need Epubs, or any format, really; on Lulu, when I already have them on Smashwords. (Or Kindle, or whatever.) How much time would it take? And is it ultimately worth it? Those pdfs on Lulu are all based on the Smashwords .doc files. They're very clean, with minimal formatting, and in that sense, the fully-formatted pdfs that I make at home are much more attractive, book-like objects. Two I made months ago loaded up fine...the next ones didn't. If I have four books on one site, in one format, they should all look the same in terms of formatting.

At the very least, now the pdfs read 'Lulu Edition' inside, rather than 'Smashwords Edition,' which is what started this whole ball of wax off to begin with. (I used Smashwords Epubs to upload to Lulu in a moment of brain-fade. Those converted to Epubs.)

Incidentally, I dragged and dropped a simple pdf, the one that wouldn't load into the Lulu site, into my PC Mobipocket Reader. It took some time to 'build' a file, essentially the same process as the Mobi Creator uses, and the final product was readable.

All formatting was stripped away. All blank lines, all centering, all paragraph indents were gone. This might be fine to read on a phone. The original pdf opened up with the exact same formatting you can see on Lulu. All you have to do is click on it. So, why anyone would do that for any other thing except to read the file on a phone is a mystery. As for the two books on Myebook.com, they hold the account open, and people can read them if they want to.

No matter what I try there, I can't get the next two books to load up. And for that reason I am reluctant to remove the previous two book versions and try to fix any little problems, like the fact that page one starts on the left when it so easily could have started on a right-hand page. For that reason alone, the Myebook reader has been useful. Assuming I can get things to load into it, it can be used as a 'book-simulator.'

This is a nit-picking, detail-oriented process, I don't much like looking like an ass all the time, and it's no wonder that I am unhappy. This is not creativity, it is merely necessary to learn it, and to learn it well.

But it clearly isn't my strong suit.

I've been going through a bunch of leads for reviews and stuff like that. The few good ones seldom review e-books, and there are quite a few ringers. I got the list from a paid service whom I won't identify, and quite frankly, much of it looks like bullshit, except for the obvious ones like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, etc.

Looking back, a year ago my goal was to self-publish one paperback book, at my own expense, and I started off with a basis of no knowledge whatsoever. In a very real sense I have failed at achieving the goal! The e-book industry is a growth industry, with real potential for the future. If I had more nerve, I might charge $20.00 an hour to format e-books for people, but of course that just leads to angst and conflict with the ODSP. Either I succeed brilliantly, beyond my wildest dreams and get off of ODSP, or fail miserably, and stay on it. There is no third option. That is about all I have to say in my defense.

State of the World 2010.

by Louis Bertrand Shalako

c2010

All Rights Reserved


This is our state of the world address for the end of 2010.

I managed to get two e-books up on Myebook and all subsequent attempts have failed. After spending the day making a fresh pdf of 'The Case of the Curious Killers,' it is disappointing. I tried re-naming the file, etc. I don't know what is going on there. But at least I have two books there.

I checked into Lulu.com, and there are four books there available as pdf's at $1.99 each. I don't quite know what I did wrong there, as the first bunch were EPUB's. At least I can see a product page, and I understand the system. After reading a bunch of automated e-mails, it was clear that some of the problems were due to clicking on the wrong button.

'Print run failure notices,' etc. As for POD with Lulu, maybe in a month or two. Not right now, although my new pdf of 'Case' is an obvious candidate. I make nice pdf's, after all this experience.

I asked some questions of Google rep 'Mark,' and that was maybe 24-36 hours ago. No response, but it is Christmas Eve. All I can do is try to delete stuff and keep the account open...? For some reason that I can't determine exactly.

I've opened up the Distribution Channels on Smashwords, and in a few days and weeks maybe the books will after all appear in Diesel, Barnes & Noble, Apple and God, I just don't know where.

I reported my income to the Ontario Disability Support Program and they are threatening me with 'income interruption.' I won't even get a royalty check until I earn over $100.00.

The ODSP is asking me, "Are you still operating a business?"

They refused my application for the 'Work Related Benefit,' (up to $500 annually,) because, according to them , "You are operating a business and therefore don't qualify."

I have decided not to appeal if they cut me off, neither will I apply for or accept welfare. All I can do is report my income honestly and let them behave the way they always do. It's not like the bastards ever ask a question.

Addendum: Here we go again. I found a free online service that will turn any one of a number of formats into EPUB files. This file failed to upload to Lulu. So I simply republished in pdf. Fine as far as that goes.

I stuck that EPUB file in my Mobipocket Reader and it seems to have huge spaces between the lines, page numbers appear there but no page breaks...it's a mess. My question is, does the Lulu conversiion process strip all that out? I had better get back there and see if I can preview that content...

...and we're back. Three of them look very good, but 'Heaven' has an extra cover image inside, which is not serious. I'll see if I can fix that tonight. I've reduced prices at Lulu to $1.49, and apparently pdf's are supported in virtually all devices.

What Am I Doing Wrong, Mark?

by Louis Bertrand Shalako

c2010

All Rights Reserved


All righty then. I sent a contact e-mail to Google Books and asked them to close my account and not to contact me. Predictably, I have a very nice e-mail from 'Mark,'
who no doubt would like to know what it is all about.

Mark, I have information on four books in the system, and the file uploads keep failing. Now, when I try to install Google Uploader, I get a warning.

It says, 'There was an error in the database signature,' and it also says, 'this file is from a trusted source but it is either out of date or not yet valid.'

Okay, Mark, in your e-mail you point out that I might want to participate in Google E-Books and yes; that is true.

What am I doing wrong, Mark?

I am uploading pdf's and hopefully the form ISBN-Content (Title?) is correct...right?


ADDENDUM: What I did was to paste that into an e-mail and shoot it back to Mark. Hopefully we get some data, and we'll keep you posted.

All right, so on Lulu I uploaded EPUB's that unfortuately had 'Smashwords Edition' inside. The only way to solve that was to edit the original .doc file and make a free pdf. Now instead of selling EPUB on Lulu, it looks like I am selling pdf's on Lulu. On some theoretical level, I understand that now the thing to do is to take the corrected pdf versions and make EPUB's...somehow, somewhere. Er; someday.

On the plus side, the pdf's on Lulu clearly state, 'This Lulu Edition published by Shalako Publishing,' and that sort of thing is important for the sake of credibility.

Right?

So far I have worked an 11-hour day, but it's early yet, and who knows, it might even get better.

EVEN MORE: Eight hours this morning and about five so far tonight. That doesn't include cooking, going to the grocery store, cleaning the bathroom and doing the laundry. Twenty bucks in gas and a couple packs of smokes...thank God no one called and volunteered to give me 'respite.'

They want to sit on my couch for a couple of hours and do nothing? While I take my eleven bucks and go off and attend to some personal needs?

'Bleep you.'

I now have four pdf's on Lulu. I have two books for online reading at Myebook and I don't know what all. I uploaded two more books to Google Books just in case I'm doing something right, added Twitter to my Smashwords profile, read things, and just kept kind of busy in a general sort of way...

Festina Lente. Make Haste Slowly.

by Louis Bertrand Shalako

c2010

All Rights Reserved


The danger in talking about our work is that we reveal too much. All this must look so badly organized and scatter-brained.

This morning I have been working away since about 6:00 a.m. I'm trying to get four e-books up on Lulu.com.

Theoretically it is a nice easy job and at first it was going well. You can upload a variety of file types, and once you've gotten in and so far into the process you can go back and edit the cover image--at first it looks like you're stuck with their generic design, but just keep going.

Anyhow, it's easy enough to download a free author file from Smashwords, in EPUB format, and that seems to work well. The problem is that those have the phrase, 'This Smashwords Edition published by...etc.'

It should be easy enough to take that out. I have an original .doc file, and that's fine, it is a supported file format.

I don't know how to explain or even figure out what is going on in there. But I uploaded at least two proper .doc files, and those should be all right. Unable to locate one of the others, I used an EPUB file until I can fix the offending phrase, (and the ethical thing to do is not to promote this for a while, right?)

Okay. Now that fourth file was up once and then I deleted it. Now I cannot load either .doc or EPUB file, the error warning comes up and it just won't eat it. I don't know, and for some reason it seems to go into another interface--it's not the same one as the e-book publisher. Is the thing confused? Does it think I'm trying to convert an existing print book?

Intuitive as I undoubtedly am, this one will require a little analysis. For all I know, this will 'clear itself up,' after 24 hours or so. How the hell would I know?

This sure looks glamourous from the point of view of an objective witness.

The basic idea with Lulu is to find out if I can really publish POD for 'free until you sell.'

Now, that's a whole 'nother ball of wax, with bar code placement, book spine text/design, and 'rear cover art.'

Clearly this is another learning curve, and I do get tired sometimes.

On Smashwords, I can go in and read online in html format for free. That is the first 'x-percent' of the book. On Lulu, the 'preview'; is author selected. I chose small excerpts from around inside the books. It might have been better to stick with the first few pages, and then I could more easily check the opening materials.

1.) Maybe make an edited pdf.

2.) Try again!

3.) Try other file types.

4.) Try making a fresh edited EPUB with Mobi Creator.

5.) Keep thinking.

Google Books.

by Louis Bertrand Shalako

c2010

All Rights Reserved

I have just requested through the contact form that Google shut down my Google Books account for the 'Partner Program.'

I have also advised them not to contact me regarding the account or the contact form.