So after ordering my THIRD proof on the 7th of Sep they arrived on the 26th as I tweeted about. I checked over the cover which I had had professionally put together as my versions were just not working, and had very quickly been approved with no problem by CS.
So I just needed to fix some text which I did and re-uploaded the inside pdf Wednesday night. I was hoping for a quick turn around so I could put them up for sale, BUT NOOOOOOO, this morning I received an alert which told me the inside pdf was okay but the cover had issues and they would have to change them and I would have to order ANOTHER proof.
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!?!?!?!?!?!?!
This is beyond ridiculous.
I emailed them and reminded them I had uploaded the cover with NO PROBLEMS from their end and ordered a proof on the 7th of Sep and it printed fine. I only changed the inside pdf NOT the cover and to NOT CHANGE ANYTHING.
Bloody hell, talk about things not going to schedule. I checked back on my blog posts to see when I had blogged about doing to whole self-pub thing and it was April 4th. So it looks like my books won't make an Oct 1st debut, I have a feeling it will be six months exactly when they are.
God, what a lesson!
Jewels xxoo
Friday, September 30, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
My Favourite Things: My personal appearance kit!
Remember the stationary set I got as a pressie a few months ago.
Well, I've been looking around all over the place for something to put it in. Along with other bits and pieces I may need during my personal appearances dahlings! And I finally found them!!!!
Everything fits nice and neat!
And then there's my book pouch!
With enough room to fit all of my stickers in the left pocket, some business cards, notebooks and four large pink paperclips on the right. In the pockets underneath are my notebooks for sketching or writing.
Well, I've been looking around all over the place for something to put it in. Along with other bits and pieces I may need during my personal appearances dahlings! And I finally found them!!!!May I introduce my pen/sharpie/highlighter pouch!
Everything fits nice and neat!
And then there's my book pouch!
With enough room to fit all of my stickers in the left pocket, some business cards, notebooks and four large pink paperclips on the right. In the pockets underneath are my notebooks for sketching or writing.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Novelist fires her book publisher for putting 'fluffy and degrading' covers on her books.
A week or so ago I found this story on Twitter, about an author who has sacked her publisher.
Novelist Polly Courtney is dropping her publisher, complaining her books are marketed in a ‘sexist’ and ‘degrading’ manner. The 32-year-old writer, who shot to fame after penning an expose of life in the Square Mile, dramatically sacked HarperCollins at the launch of her new book last night.
Despite helping her put out three successful novels, she attacked the publisher for ‘patronising women’ with ‘fluffy’ marketing campaigns. She said her new novel, It’s A Man’s World, was given a racy jacket and inappropriate title against her wishes.
The story follows the fortunes of a woman trying to make it at a lads’ magazine – facing a personal crisis when she realises she has forfeited her principles in the process. But despite its sober message, the jacket features a slender pair of women’s legs in high heels and a short skirt with the title reading: ‘It’s a man’s world – but it takes a woman to run it’.
Courtney, who has previously posted photographs of herself pole dancing on the internet, said the image was too racy – and wanted the novel to be taken more seriously. She said: ‘They dressed up my book as something frivolous, light and racy, which is the complete opposite of what’s inside my books. It is degrading to the writing and ultimately degrading to women. It’s sexist. A lot of chick lit patronises women. There’s intelligent writing out there and I don’t know why it has to be sold in such a fluffy package. The reason I left the City was to tell the story of how it really was and that there was sexism. Now my message is in danger of being lost.’
Courtney left investment bank Merrill Lynch to write her expose, Golden Handcuffs, about the perils of being a woman banker in the Square Mile. The self-published novel, which hit the shelves in 2006, was loosely based on her experiences as the only woman on a team of 21, where she said she felt like a secretary and endured sexist comments about her legs. The book attracted so much attention that HarperCollins decided to help her publish three further novels – with the latest one, It’s A Man’s World, released today.
Courtney said the novel aims to give a serious message about the damage lads’ magazines do to society – a concept not conveyed in the jacket design. Speaking at her book launch in central London, she said: ‘For those of you wondering what next for Polly Courtney, I can promise you that there will be more books. I can also promise you that they will not be published by HarperCollins or any other large publishing house. I will be ‘taking things in-house’, so to speak, and returning to self-publishing.
Ill-timed? Despite Polly Courtney's revelation that she is leaving her publisher, HarperCollins says her book will 'fly off the shelves'. 'I’m really proud of what’s inside this book. I’d just say one thing: don’t judge a book by its cover.’
Her move follows a decision by newsagent WH Smith earlier this year to remove the ‘women’s fiction’ branding from its shelves after it was branded sexist.
Courtney graduated from Cambridge with an engineering degree before being recruited into a £37,500-a-year banking job with a £7,500 golden hello bonus. During her time there, she was allegedly told she must have ‘slept her way into university’ and was barred from work social events. She left Merrill Lynch after taking £10,000 voluntary redundancy but still works in the City as a freelance strategy analyst. In 2006, Courtney’s website carried photographs of her pole dancing – which she said she had done ‘for a laugh’. She self-published one other novel before being picked up by HarperCollins, which published a further two before today’s release.
HarperCollins refused to comment on Polly Courtney’s public rejection of the publisher, which uses the imprint Avon. A spokesman said: ‘Avon is right behind Polly Courtney’s timely and important book. Our experience tells us it has a great look and feel and we think Polly will be delighted when she sees it flying off the shelves.’
I have to ask, why did she wait so long? They had already published three of her novels, and were releasing the fourth, so surely by now she had some say in what went on the cover. Surely when she signed the contract she could've had control over the cover, although most first time traditionally published authors get NO say and NO control over anything. Were the first three covers to her liking? The fourth wasn't. Maybe she should have made sure she was going to have more say over the cover before sacking the publisher. As for the title, as a stand alone novel, the title is up to her, not the publisher, she's not writing a Mills and Boon for God' sake. But self-pubbing will now get her more sales I suppose.
Jewels xxoo
Novelist Polly Courtney is dropping her publisher, complaining her books are marketed in a ‘sexist’ and ‘degrading’ manner. The 32-year-old writer, who shot to fame after penning an expose of life in the Square Mile, dramatically sacked HarperCollins at the launch of her new book last night.
Despite helping her put out three successful novels, she attacked the publisher for ‘patronising women’ with ‘fluffy’ marketing campaigns. She said her new novel, It’s A Man’s World, was given a racy jacket and inappropriate title against her wishes.
The story follows the fortunes of a woman trying to make it at a lads’ magazine – facing a personal crisis when she realises she has forfeited her principles in the process. But despite its sober message, the jacket features a slender pair of women’s legs in high heels and a short skirt with the title reading: ‘It’s a man’s world – but it takes a woman to run it’.
Courtney, who has previously posted photographs of herself pole dancing on the internet, said the image was too racy – and wanted the novel to be taken more seriously. She said: ‘They dressed up my book as something frivolous, light and racy, which is the complete opposite of what’s inside my books. It is degrading to the writing and ultimately degrading to women. It’s sexist. A lot of chick lit patronises women. There’s intelligent writing out there and I don’t know why it has to be sold in such a fluffy package. The reason I left the City was to tell the story of how it really was and that there was sexism. Now my message is in danger of being lost.’
Courtney left investment bank Merrill Lynch to write her expose, Golden Handcuffs, about the perils of being a woman banker in the Square Mile. The self-published novel, which hit the shelves in 2006, was loosely based on her experiences as the only woman on a team of 21, where she said she felt like a secretary and endured sexist comments about her legs. The book attracted so much attention that HarperCollins decided to help her publish three further novels – with the latest one, It’s A Man’s World, released today.
Courtney said the novel aims to give a serious message about the damage lads’ magazines do to society – a concept not conveyed in the jacket design. Speaking at her book launch in central London, she said: ‘For those of you wondering what next for Polly Courtney, I can promise you that there will be more books. I can also promise you that they will not be published by HarperCollins or any other large publishing house. I will be ‘taking things in-house’, so to speak, and returning to self-publishing.
Ill-timed? Despite Polly Courtney's revelation that she is leaving her publisher, HarperCollins says her book will 'fly off the shelves'. 'I’m really proud of what’s inside this book. I’d just say one thing: don’t judge a book by its cover.’
Her move follows a decision by newsagent WH Smith earlier this year to remove the ‘women’s fiction’ branding from its shelves after it was branded sexist.
Courtney graduated from Cambridge with an engineering degree before being recruited into a £37,500-a-year banking job with a £7,500 golden hello bonus. During her time there, she was allegedly told she must have ‘slept her way into university’ and was barred from work social events. She left Merrill Lynch after taking £10,000 voluntary redundancy but still works in the City as a freelance strategy analyst. In 2006, Courtney’s website carried photographs of her pole dancing – which she said she had done ‘for a laugh’. She self-published one other novel before being picked up by HarperCollins, which published a further two before today’s release.
HarperCollins refused to comment on Polly Courtney’s public rejection of the publisher, which uses the imprint Avon. A spokesman said: ‘Avon is right behind Polly Courtney’s timely and important book. Our experience tells us it has a great look and feel and we think Polly will be delighted when she sees it flying off the shelves.’
I have to ask, why did she wait so long? They had already published three of her novels, and were releasing the fourth, so surely by now she had some say in what went on the cover. Surely when she signed the contract she could've had control over the cover, although most first time traditionally published authors get NO say and NO control over anything. Were the first three covers to her liking? The fourth wasn't. Maybe she should have made sure she was going to have more say over the cover before sacking the publisher. As for the title, as a stand alone novel, the title is up to her, not the publisher, she's not writing a Mills and Boon for God' sake. But self-pubbing will now get her more sales I suppose.
Jewels xxoo
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Would you fight for the safety of your family and home? Even if it meant being charged with murder?
This week, a man confronted an intruder in his house, and the police are now considering charging him with murder.
Donald Brook was in his backyard shed when he heard noises in his house and went to investigate about 3.15pm. He found a burglar, who threatened him with a stun gun. After an altercation Mr Brooke stabbed his attacker twice - in the arm and chest - now Donald Brooke faces an agonising wait to see whether he will face charges over the thief's death. Neighbours told of the immediate aftermath of the incident, in which Mr Brooke pleaded with the offender to "come back, you're injured" as the wounded man fled. Ignoring Mr Brooke's request to return, the 31-year-old criminal ran to a nearby car, where another man was waiting behind the wheel, and drove off. The wounded intruder got out of the vehicle at Fairfield and was then taken in a critical condition to Liverpool Hospital. He died at 9.30pm.
"Detectives spoke to the resident soon after the event," Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Gillam said. "It is too early to talk about charges. It's a complicated matter and all aspects of the law have to be considered, including self-defence."
The dead man was well known to police and had previously been investigated for a number of crimes involving robbery. He was due to appear in Burwood court next week on a number of charges.
Now while I’m all for the guy defending his house this is something that pisses me off. And I mean the law of things.
1 – The cops tell us we can defend our home, ourselves, our family, our property, yet
2 – When we do, they love arresting and charging us with the crime.
We have the right to self-defence, yet when we use it, it’s used against us.
Now, either the law needs to be changed and clarified, OR, we should never be arrested.
I know what I’ll be doing.
DEFENDING TILL THE DEATH!
The intruder’s, not mine!
Jewels xxoo
Donald Brook was in his backyard shed when he heard noises in his house and went to investigate about 3.15pm. He found a burglar, who threatened him with a stun gun. After an altercation Mr Brooke stabbed his attacker twice - in the arm and chest - now Donald Brooke faces an agonising wait to see whether he will face charges over the thief's death. Neighbours told of the immediate aftermath of the incident, in which Mr Brooke pleaded with the offender to "come back, you're injured" as the wounded man fled. Ignoring Mr Brooke's request to return, the 31-year-old criminal ran to a nearby car, where another man was waiting behind the wheel, and drove off. The wounded intruder got out of the vehicle at Fairfield and was then taken in a critical condition to Liverpool Hospital. He died at 9.30pm.
"Detectives spoke to the resident soon after the event," Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Gillam said. "It is too early to talk about charges. It's a complicated matter and all aspects of the law have to be considered, including self-defence."
The dead man was well known to police and had previously been investigated for a number of crimes involving robbery. He was due to appear in Burwood court next week on a number of charges.
Now while I’m all for the guy defending his house this is something that pisses me off. And I mean the law of things.
1 – The cops tell us we can defend our home, ourselves, our family, our property, yet
2 – When we do, they love arresting and charging us with the crime.
We have the right to self-defence, yet when we use it, it’s used against us.
Now, either the law needs to be changed and clarified, OR, we should never be arrested.
I know what I’ll be doing.
DEFENDING TILL THE DEATH!
The intruder’s, not mine!
Jewels xxoo
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Do you have someone in your life who always thinks it's the end of the friggin' world for some reason?
Someone who thinks that because they have pain from something that they should never go out anywhere because they're in pain.
Someone who thinks because their car conks out once in every 6 months but restarts when you turn it over means they never go anywhere unless it's their own area.
Someone who thinks they should cramp your style and your life with their issues and dump their crap on you instead of dealing with it themselves.
Someone who's never happy with what you do and always whinges and whines and complains and can't just be grateful you did anything for them at all.
I'm sick of people who give me the shits!
Jewels xxoo
Someone who thinks because their car conks out once in every 6 months but restarts when you turn it over means they never go anywhere unless it's their own area.
Someone who thinks they should cramp your style and your life with their issues and dump their crap on you instead of dealing with it themselves.
Someone who's never happy with what you do and always whinges and whines and complains and can't just be grateful you did anything for them at all.
I'm sick of people who give me the shits!
Jewels xxoo
Monday, September 19, 2011
FAME 101: Do you want to famous?
I got this book last week and immeadiately got to highlighting the necessary line/paragraphs/chapters that pinpoint my life.Do you want to be famous?
I'm going to try and follow this book as much as possible, but since I don't want to be a speaker, parts don't apply to me.
So peeps, once my books come out I'll be trying to implement as much as possible.
I'm going to be famous peeps!
But then I already knew that!
Jewels xxoo
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
September 11 still has meaning ten years later.
Yesterday, Sep 11, was a crappy day for me, and then I watched the french brothers documentary and saw the planes going into the building again. After the three hour show was over I realised my life is not all that bad. It's not all that good, but not all that bad.
Jewels xxoo
Jewels xxoo
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
Second lot of CreateSpace book proofs on way!
Well peeps, I fixed all the problems with spelling and formatting, hopefully, fingers x'd, and have uploaded new and improved insides and a new Lotto cover, as it needed to be fixed.
So I am now awaiting the new proofs of which I did pay superfast shipping for, $30 something to get it on Tuesday the 13th of Sep. Lets hope it gets here and that it has all worked out. If it has, then my books will be up for sale and if not, more fixing and more proofs.
Who said self publishing was easy?
Jewels xxoo
So I am now awaiting the new proofs of which I did pay superfast shipping for, $30 something to get it on Tuesday the 13th of Sep. Lets hope it gets here and that it has all worked out. If it has, then my books will be up for sale and if not, more fixing and more proofs.
Who said self publishing was easy?
Jewels xxoo
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
My CreateSpace book proofs are here and in need of help!
So I finally got my book proofs and here they are. They are in need of help, as there are a few formatting and spelling errors which I finally managed to fix, family lobbed in and I'm three days behind, but I thought I'd show you.
Does it matter that the guards foot and the bus have been cut off?
Simple grey spine.
Front page.
Cyn-b-demented got herself in her, Harrie too.
Lotto's cover needs work.
The back was fine until I noticed a mistake. Bummer!
Plain blue spine.
Title page.
Dedications page. Of course it was dedicated to my gorgeously gorgeous ex Michael Weatherly.
Does it matter that the guards foot and the bus have been cut off?
Simple grey spine.
Front page.
Cyn-b-demented got herself in her, Harrie too.
Lotto's cover needs work.
The back was fine until I noticed a mistake. Bummer!
Plain blue spine.
Title page.
Dedications page. Of course it was dedicated to my gorgeously gorgeous ex Michael Weatherly.
Cyn got into my book as well.
So now I need to load up new versions to Smashwords as well as I found spelling mistakes and added a few things I left out last time.
Oi, what a time consuming hassle!
Jewels xxoo
Friday, September 2, 2011
Spring cleaning! I'm cleaning out, shaving my legs and going on a diet!
This was me this morning, trying to shave my legs for tomorrow's chiro visit. I also weighed myself this morning, ugh, winter weight has attached itself to my body. And while it's not yet spring, that's around the 21st, something to do with the equinox or something, I started about three weeks ago by cleaning out my wardrobe and reorganising my bags, shoes and clothes. I have no idea what's next except for my study which has my notebooks and stationary and all sorts waiting around for my brand new folder (for my press kit) to come. I'll post pics when it gets here and I deck it all out.
Jewels xxoo
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