THIS BLOG POST IS FOR THOSE WHO DON’T KNOW HOW TO USE KDP. THE IMAGES I WILL EXPLAIN WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. IT IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD AND HOPE IT WILL ASSIST THOSE WITH LOW TECH SKILLS.
THESE IMAGES BELONG TO KDP WEBSITE AND ARE USED TO ASSIST YOU IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS.
THE FIRST THING YOU NEED IS AN AMAZON ACCOUNT. A LOT OF US BUY THINGS OFF AMAZON. IF YOU DO IT MEANS YOU CAN GOOGLE KDP PUBLISHING AND SIGN IN WITH THE SAME USER NAME AND PASSWORD. IN THE IMAGE BELOW IS SHOWS YOU SOME TABS IN BLUE WHICH YOU CAN CLICK ON. YOU WILL NEED KINDLE EBOOK.
WHEN YOU CLICK THE KINDLE EBOOK TAB AND SCROLL DOWN A LITTLE YOU WILL SEE WHERE YOU CAN START A KINDLE EBOOK. THERE ARE THREE PAGES TO FILL IN.
IT WILL TAKE YOU TO A NEW PAGE (SHOWN ABOVE) WHERE YOU CAN START FILLING IN THE DETAILS OF YOUR BOOK. THE FIRST FOUR ARE: LANGUAGE, BOOK TITLE, SUBTITLE. PLEASE NOTE WHAT LANGUAGES KDP/AMAZON SUPPORT.
KEEP SCROLLING DOWN AND FILLING IN THE INFORMATION: SERIES (IF YOU HAVE ONE) EDITION NUMBER AND YOUR AUTHOR NAME.
ADD CONTRIBUTORS YOU WISH TO ADD.
IF YOU ARE PART OF A MULTI AUTHORED BOOK THEN YOU CAN ADD UP TO TEN AUTHOR NAMES, THE REST WILL NEED ADDING VIA REQUEST ON AUTHOR CENTRAL.
NEXT PART OF THE ABOVE IMAGE IS TO HELP YOU MARKET YOU BOOK TO YOUR FUTURE READERS. FIRST IS THE DESCRIPTION, WHICH IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT TELLS YOUR READERS A BIT ABOUT YOUR STORY. THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN ENTINCE THEM IN. YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE IT’S INFORMATIVE,EDITED AND NO ERRORS, USE SOME OF YOUR KEYWORDS. IT’S ALSO A GOOD IDEA TO LET READERS KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY TRIGGERS AND WHAT ENGLISH (IF THIS IS YOUR LANGUAGE OF CHOICE) IT’S WRITTEN IN. REMEMBER THERE IS DIFFERENT SPELLINGS AND WORD USAGE IN THE VARIOUS ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES.
MAKE SURE YOU OWN THE COPYRIGHT FOR YOUR BOOK. KDP SOMETIMES ASK FOR PROOF.
KEYWORDS!
ANOTHER IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR MARKETING. YOU NEED TO FIND WORDS THAT REPRESENT YOUR BOOK. THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN CHECK WHAT WORDS OTHER AUTHORS IN YOUR GENRE... THIS RESEARCH IS ESSENTIAL IF YOU WANT READERS TO FIND YOUR WORK. CHOOSE CAREFULLY. ASK OTHER AUTHORS IN THE GROUPS YOU BELONG TO, IF YOU ARE UNSURE. ALSO THERE IS AN APP CALLED PUBLISHER ROCKET WHICH YOU CAN BUY WHICH IS GREAT FOR FINDING KEYWORDS. THE LAST PART OF THE IMAGE SHOWS HOW TO PICK YOUR CATEGORIES.
THIS IMAGE ASKS YOU TO TELL THEM THE AGE BRACKET FOR READERS AND ALSO IF YOU WISH TO RELEASE YOUR BOOK STRAIGHT AWAY OR HAVE IT ON PRE-ORDER. AFTER YOU HAVE CHOSEN YOU CAN HIT SAVE AND CONTINUE AND IT WILL TAKE UP TO PAGE TWO.
THE ABOVE IMAGE IS WHERE YOU CHOOSE DRM (IT IS MEANT TO PROTECT YOUR BOOK THOUGH CAN BE EASILY BROKEN) AND UPLOAD YOUR EBOOK MANUSCRIPT. AS YOU CAN SEE, ONCE MY MANUSCRIPT IS LOADED, AMAZON WILL TELL YOU IS THERE IS ANYTHING MISSING OR ANY SPELLING TO CHECK. ON THIS ONE I HAVEN’T PUT IN THE LINKED CONTENTS PAGE WHICH IS SOMETHING ALL EBOOKS NEED. I WILL ALSO CHECK THE SPELLING, HOWEVER THESE TEND TO BE FOREGIN WORDS OR DIALECT ISSUES. AFTER YOU’VE AMENDED THE MANUSCRIPT, RE-UPLOAD IT AND THEY WILL PROCESS THE FILE WITHOUT FURTHER ISSUE, WELL UNLESS KDP ARE HAVING A BUGGY DAY OR YOUR MANUSCRIPT IS STILL INCORRECT.
IN THE IMAGE ABOVE IS SHOWS THE AREA FOR UPLOADING THE EBOOK. YOU ONLY NEED THE FRONT COVER TO UPLOAD. IT NEEDS TO BE A JPEG OR TIFF AND FIT THE CRITERIA SIZING KDP REQUESTS. I ALWAYS USE A JPEG FILE. IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE DOING A PAPERBACK OR HARDBACK BOOK THEN YOU WILL NEED A COVER TEMPLATE TO GET THE CORRECT SIZING, WE CALL THE FINISHED COVER A WRAP COVER AND THEY ARE USUALLY UPLOADED AS A PDF.
AFTER YOU HAVE UPLOADED THE BOOK COVER YOU CAN CLICK ON SAVE AND CHECK YOUR EBOOK OUT ON THE KINDLE PREVIEWER. YOU CAN ALSO DOWNLOAD FROM THE LINK SHOWN IN THE IMAGE. IT IS ALWAYS WISE TO ALSO DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE HTML FOR ARC READERS.
YOU CAN ALSO PUT IN AN ISBN NUMBER (IF YOU OWN ONE) OR LEAVE IT WITH AN ASIN NUMBER PROVIDED BY KDP. YOU MAY ALSO ADD A PUBLISHER, BE THIS YOUR OWN BUSINESS OR ONE YOU’VE USED TO ASSIST YOU. SAVE AND CONTINUE TO PAGE THREE
THE LAST FEW IMAGES WILL BE ABOUT PRICING AND HOW THE ROYALTY WORKS AND HOW YOU GET PAID FOR ANY SALES YOU MAKE.
THE FIRST IMAGE SHOWN BELOW IS ABOUT KDP SELECT, THE DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS YOU HOLD AND WHICH AMAZON STORE YOU’LL SELL MOST OF YOUR BOOKS FROM. READ THE INFORMATION ON THE LINKS IF NEED BE OR ASK IN A GROUP. MOST GO FOR ALL TERRITORIES AND AMAZON.COM, THOUGH IF YOU LIVE IN ONE OF THE OTHER COUNTRIES LIKE UK, EUROPE, THEN YOU CAN PICK THEM AS YOUR STORE OF CHOICE.
NEXT…
AS SHOWN BELOW IS YOUR CHOICE OF ROYALTY. YOU CAN DO 35% OR 70% THOUGH THERE ARE CRITERIA TO ADHEAR TO DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU PICK. IF YOU PICK 70% YOUR BOOK HAS TO BE PRICED AT $2.99 OR ABOVE. ONCE YOU PUT YOUR PRICE IN IT WILL SHOW YOU YOUR ROYALTY FOR EACH SALE AS WELL AS LISTING ALL THE OTHER COUNTRIES.
ONE THING I HAVE LEARNT IS THAT IF YOU DON’T LIVE IN ONE OF THE COUNTRIES WHERE THERE IS AN AMAZON STORE, THEN YOU WON’T GET PAID MONTHLY. INSTEAD YOU GET PAID WHEN YOU REACH 100 IN THE CURRENCY OF THAT COUNTRY. THE REASON I KNOW IS DUE TO LIVING IN NEW ZEALAND AND HAVING TO WAIT FOR PAYMENTS.
I HAVE ADDED IN THE WHOLE LIST OF COUNTRIES SO YOU CAN SEE WHICH ONES ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU.
THE LAST PHOTO IS ABOUT BOOK LENDING WHICH IS LOCKED SO WHY THEY ASK I HAVE NO REAL IDEA. JUST BELOW THAT IS THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS YOU ARE AGREEING TO. IT ALSO STATES HERE THAT IT CAN TAKE UP TO 72 HOURS TO MAKE YOUR BOOK AVAILABLE ON AMAZON. PLEASE REMEMBER IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET THROUGH THEIR SYSTEM AND INTO THE OTHER STORES AROUND THE WORLD.
IF YOU ARE HAPPY WITH HOW EVERYTHING LOOKS YOU CAN NOW HIT PUBLISH. IT WILL EITHER GO TO PRE-ORDER (IF THAT IS WHAT YOU CHOOSE) OR IT WILL SUBMIT THE MANUSCRIPT TO GO LIVE ONCE KDP ARE HAPPY YOU’VE FOLLOWED THEIR PROCEDURES CORRECTLY.
THERE IS SO MUCH TO LEARN, UPLOADING IS ONLY ONE OF MANY AREAS. IF YOU ARE UPLOADING FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH A NEW ACCOUNT, YOU’LL NEED TO FILL IN THE BANKING INFORMATION AND THE TAX INFORMATION.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, YOU WILL FIND THAT KDP HAS FILLED IN THE AREAS FOR PAPERBACK AND HARDBACK IF YOU GO BACK AND WISH TO PUBLISH THOSE TYPES OF BOOKS AS WELL.
I WISH YOU ALL GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR WORK AND PUBLISHING.
It has always been my belief that hard work shouldn’t go to waste. I also believe that if something is not a good fit in one place, there’s always a place for it elsewhere.
The following showcase was deemed incorrect for a magazine I submitted to, so I’m sharing it here with you.
Greetings to All…
Before I begin to share the first book in my memoir trilogy, ‘Pathway to Freedom Broken and Healed: Book One How a Seeing Eye Dog Retrieved My Life’ with you, I’d like to say thank you for reading… And now, my Book Showcase.
From the back text…
Created with GIMP
In this, the first book in her memoir trilogy, Pathway to Freedom Broken and Healed: Book One, How a Seeing Eye Dog Retrieved My Life, Second Edition, Patty shares how her decision to gain complete independence with the help of The Seeing Eye Guide Dog school in Morris Town New Jersey reveals to her a glimpse into worlds she had never before known existed.
Once home from The Seeing Eye, she soon realizes all is not right in her world.
Watch your step as you journey down the pathway with Patty and Campbell. For there are many obstacles along the way.
There are triumphs and tribulations, tears, and fears. But through it all that forever guide by her side, King Campbell works tirelessly to keep her safe from harm.
Preface
Before I begin my tale, both old and new, I want to thank you for reading this book. I want to thank those who have been reading my story from the beginning and continuing, and I hope you will be with me for many years to come.
To new readers, I thank you for joining me. Good times and bad, so far, it has been quite a trip.
I’ve faced trials and enjoyed triumphs. I’ve had sickness, and I’ve had healing. I’ve learned lots about myself I didn’t know and discovered things I both loathed and adored. I am what I am, and the best part is that I’m finally learning how to love all of me.
Why have I Written This Book?
There are many reasons. But mostly, I want to help people know more about me and those like me in the hope that after you’ve read what I have to say, you’ll understand how persons with multiple disabilities work.
I’m a middle-aged, single, blind woman who has other disabilities as well. I suffer from Bipolar Disorder, Fibromyalgia, and short-term memory loss. Over the years, these things have, at times, been real problems for me and those I love and care for.
The good news? For the most part, I have all of the issues firmly in hand, and other than a slip-up every now and then, I’m doing quite well.
I hope you enjoy this book. If at any time you’ve questions, drop me a line at patty.volunteer1@gmail.com. I’m happy to chat.
Thanks again for reading, and Blessed be.
Excerpts…
Chapter One: Epiphany
Clueless…
It was an unusually warm spring afternoon in May of 2010. My good friend Phyllis, her guide dog Emmy, and I were out for the day. We’d been shopping and had gone to lunch in the mall. We were returning to the store where Phyllis had left her packages when I came to the realization that yes, I really did need a guide dog.
We had just left Ruby Tuesdays, and not ten minutes before, while finishing lunch, I’d asked her how we would stay together. She told me to simply listen for the bell on Emmy’s collar and stay right behind her. I was cane traveling at the time and had no idea what was in store for me. I’d been around plenty of guide dogs and their handlers, but I’d had some sight then, and I’d never tried to follow a handler in a crowded area—and certainly not while cane traveling totally on my own. So, I had no clue what was about to happen to me. I would come to see what happened next as a true epiphany.
We were going along quite well when suddenly, we came to a very crowded area in the mall; Emmy found an opening in the crowd, and with Phyllis following along, took it. I was left eating their dust, saying, “Where the hell did they go?” I stood for a moment, letting what had just happened sink in, and then realized I had not one clue how to get to where Emmy and Phyllis had been going. I’d never walked through this mall—or any mall, for that matter—alone, and so knew nothing of how it was laid out. I was forced to ask for and accept help from someone who honestly annoyed me. The person had this ‘poor little blind girl’ attitude that always gets under my skin.
Once Emmy, Phyllis, and I were reunited and outside waiting for the bus, I asked what had happened. She explained what Emmy had done and apologetically admitted she hadn’t realized we’d been separated until they’d gotten where they were going.
“You know,” she joked. “These things wouldn’t happen if you didn’t go round chasing a stick.”
I went home that night and gave what she’d said some serious thought. The next day, I phoned her to ask how I could get more information about applying for training at ‘The Seeing Eye.’ I’d wanted a guide dog for years, but somehow, something always seemed to be in the way.
I was a single mom, and when my daughter Polly was very young, my mother didn’t think it was a great idea for me to be away from her for so long. Then when Polly got old enough, she could’ve been left. I wasn’t in a place that would’ve been safe for me to work a dog. Nor did I go anyplace where I could work one because I’d ended up where there was no public transportation. I’d had an orientation and mobility instructor visit me once while living there, and his opinion was that I simply wasn’t ready to own and handle a guide dog. I must say, since having the whole experience, I’ve often wondered how different my life and Polly’s might’ve been had I ignored everyone’s well-meaning advice and changed my situation in the necessary ways so I could’ve gotten a Guide Dog.
Eventually, in 2005, I moved to another apartment complex, where I lived until October of 2010. There, with my then Fiancé Donnie’s help, I rehabilitated myself a little.
Rehabilitating myself meant I needed to relearn some of what I’d forgotten when I’d ended up in an apartment where I had no public transportation. I needed to relearn some cane skills. I had to learn how to navigate the bus system and get reacquainted with doing things I’d always done but had forgotten during my years of living in isolation. It wasn’t until then I began to seriously consider making the change from cane traveler to guide dog user.
Suddenly, I knew I could wait no longer. I knew in my heart that, without a doubt, it was time for me to take this step. I was also quite sure ‘The Seeing Eye’ was where I wanted to train.
Chapter Two: Journey to the Seeing Eye
No Good Excuse…
April second, 2011, finally arrived, and it was time to go. My dad was in the driveway waiting; my luggage was loaded. I stood at the door with tears in my eyes, saying my goodbyes. On what should have been one of the most exciting days of my life, I was upset. Why? Because as had become the norm more and more of late, Donnie was putting himself before me. Furthermore, he had no good excuse for his selfishness.
I’d asked Donnie to come with us to the airport, and he’d refused. His excuse was he had his son that weekend, and his son had a friend over. My dad had told us more than once it wouldn’t be a problem; he’d even offered to let the boys hang out and watch planes take off and land after I’d gone, but Donnie still wouldn’t go. I asked him why, but he never gave me a straight answer. Considering we’d argued about my going the night before, to me, the answer was obvious. Though he’d never admit it in front of his son or my dad, he simply didn’t want me to go. He was pissed off because I was going ahead against his wishes.
As I started to step out, I decided to try once more. I loved him so very much. Why could he not enjoy this with me? What did I have to do to make him realize I wouldn’t stop loving him or needing him once I had this dog?
“Donnie?” I pleaded. “Please, come with us? This is one of the most important days of my life. I want and need you to share it with me.”
“No!” he exclaimed in a low, gruff voice. “I told you last night, if you do this, I won’t be here when you get back.”
“Fine. I’d suggest you get packed, and don’t bother leaving anything behind to come back for later,” I growled in a low, harsh whisper, suddenly furious. He wasn’t bullying me out of this. “I’m done dealing with you and your bullying ways. Just one question.” I sneered.
“What?” He snapped.
“What are you going to do without my income once I’m back and reclaim my job? The stupid idea you’ve got they’re going to want you more than me, well, it’s just what I said, stupid. Lynn would never fire me and hire you, and he’d never demote me and put you over me. You’re just full of horseshit. Stay here; be an ass. I don’t care. This time, I’m having my way, and if you don’t like it, fine. I’m not your mom. You can’t throw a hissy fit and make me change my mind.”
I stood for another minute, but finally, there was nothing to do but go on without him. So, I wiped away my tears as best I could, said goodbye, and was on my way.
Chapter Three: Dog Day
That First Meeting…
Time wasn’t moving for me as I sat on the floor, petting and talking to Campbell. Even as trained as he was, he was trying to accept yet another new person into his life. If he heard a noise in the hall, he would get distracted and whine for Drew. I snuggled him close, telling him in a soothing voice he was safe in my loving hands. As the afternoon went on, he began to trust me. We both had a lot of love and faithfulness to give. My heart opened to him and his to me. Then and still today, I knew and know a dog, either guide or pet, requires love and reassurance just as any other living being does.
Chapter Four: The Walk
Knowing and Triangle of Energy…
I’m not sure how much time passed while Campbell and I sat in each other’s arms, getting to know one another. I couldn’t tell you when Drew knocked on my door and came back into my room. It seemed to me Campbell and I had escaped into our own private world, and for us, no other people or animals existed.
After some time, I began to come back to myself and my surroundings. I realized Drew was there and raised my head, turning to him as if returning from a long distance.
With tears in my eyes, I said, “It’s as if I’ve loved him forever.” I still had one arm wrapped snugly around Campbell; it was as if I were afraid that if I let go, he’d disappear.
I could hear the emotion in Drew’s voice when he said, “I’m pretty sure it’s the same for him.”
We stayed like that for a moment. It was simply a feeling I wasn’t ready to let go of. Holding Campbell in the crook of my arm, the energy I felt from him was unlike anything I’d ever felt. I could feel his longing for Drew. I could feel his wanting to love me but being frightened to do so.
I could also feel Drew’s energy. It, too, was rather scattered. I could feel his love for Campbell, but I could feel his hope this match would work as well. Friends, I simply can’t describe the moment any other way than to say for a time, brief though it was, there was a triangle of connection, linking Campbell, Drew, and me.
Then, shattering the spell, Drew asked, “What do you know about harnessing the dog?”
I stood and took the harness from him. In fact, I did know something about this. Phyllis had made sure to teach me how to put the harness on and take it off. She had said she didn’t want me to go to class, not knowing anything at all. I remember it felt good to know something in this new world.
Drew went over all the parts of the harness with me and made sure I understood their functions.
“As you slip the harness over his head, you’ll notice how his chest fits into the curved part at the front. Once he’s settled, you’ll find a strap with a buckle hanging down on his left side. That goes under his belly and attaches to a hook behind his right leg.”
Running my hands along the various straps, I soon figured out how the system worked, ending with everything fitting snuggly across Campbell’s chest and connecting securely around his middle.
“You look good in your working clothes, Bug.” I bent and ran my hands over his body, and he gave my face a lick with his big slimy tongue.
“That stiff U-shaped handle lying on his back is the part you hold,” Drew explained. “You’ll feel everything you need to know right through the handle.”
Once I’d put my handsome boy in his harness correctly, we were ready to begin.
Seeing…
As we started out the door Drew Advised, “First, you want to remember, always keep him on your left. Heeling or guiding. Except in specific circumstances, that’s his side. Now, let’s have you heel him out the door, to begin with. There’s always a chance, what with the two of you being so very new to one another, he could run you into the door frame. We don’t want the first reaction he gets from you to be a correction.”
“Makes sense to me,” I agreed. And then we were off.
I heeled Campbell through the doorway. But to Campbell, it was business all the way. He did such a good job bringing me through; he might as well have been working. I fairly cheered, going into the hall.
“Yay, Campbell! Good boy!”
Drew walked behind me; he seemed to be amused by my happiness regarding how we had performed together for our first time.
As we started down the hallway, he instructed me to pick up the harness handle. Doing so, I instinctively reached out with my right hand and touched the wall, then began to trail it, as I’d always done. Drew immediately removed my hand. Putting it firmly back at my side, he said sternly, “No! Don’t do that. You’ll encourage him to run you into things if you do.”
This stopped me in my tracks. I turned and looked up at him. With my eyes misting up and my lip trembling, I said, “But Mr. Gibbon, if I don’t touch the wall, I can’t see where I’m going.”
He took what I’m sure was a steadying breath to keep from laughing and then said more gently, “Honey, that’s what the dog is for.”
Chapter Fourteen: Endings and Goodbyes
Campbell’s Comfort Zone…
Sinking onto my bed, I buried my face in my arms and began to cry. Just then, Campbell came bumbling out of his crate, where he’d been resting with the door open and nudged me. “Hey, Bug. Momma’s okay. Just feeling a bit sad. It’s alright.”
I petted his soft fur, and he began washing away my tears and nipping my chin as if to say, ‘Don’t cry. I got you, mom.’ I had no way to know, but this was only the first of many times when Campbell would comfort and reassure me, making me feel safe and secure.
Later as I put last minute things in the suitcase, Campbell followed me around the room, sniffing everything and wagging his tail furiously all the time. He wanted to help me pack—or, as it turned out, unpack. As soon as I put the things in, he tried to take them out again. Finally, I had no choice but to shut the big pest in his crate with his bone, in the hopes he would chew himself to sleep for a while. But no way! He decided if he couldn’t distract me by unpacking my suitcase, he would lie on his back in his crate, toss his bone up in the air, and let it make lots of noise banging around. When I told him to knock it off, he simply moaned a big moan and tossed it up in the air again.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Campbell, you really are just like your mother, and you sure know how to chase the blues away.” I knew in my heart Campbell, and I would make a successful team, and I was proud of what we’d already accomplished together. I just hoped Drew and the rest of my training team were proud of us, too. After this morning’s disagreement with Donnie, I’d all but given up on hoping he’d be proud of me.
Chapter Fifteen: A False Start
Ring Around the Runway…
Once we were on the plane and settled in our seat, I began to arrange my things for the trip to Charlotte, North Carolina. Then the fun started. For the next three hours, we made our way from one part of the runway to another. There were terrible storms in the area, and our flight had been delayed. For a while, I dozed. When Campbell got restless, I requested a cup of ice for him. Since I had no seatmate, I allowed him to stand and gave him a good ear rub while feeding him pieces of ice. He happily took them from my hand and gave me thankful kisses in return.
“You’re welcome, Bug,” I laughed.
Finally, the pilot made the announcement we’d all been dreading. Our flight had been canceled, and we’d be going back to the terminal. Eventually, the flight attendant appeared beside me, ready to escort me off the plane.
I put Campbell’s harness back on and got him into position—which, as Drew had predicted, was no easy task. Finally, I had him situated, and then I learned we wouldn’t be exiting the airplane via the jetway since it was already in use by other planes. The ground crew was bringing a large set of stairs. The stairs were put in place, and when it was time for us to leave, I didn’t think there would be any problem.
Afraid and on Our Own…
Boy, was I wrong! It turned out that these stairs were very high, and the platform at the top was grated and see-through.
Having been trained to avoid such things, Campbell sat down in the plane’s doorway and said in his best doggie language. ‘NO WAY! Ain’t nothin’ good gonna come from that,’
Knowing I had to get us down, I began a gentle dialog. “Come on, Bug. Hup…Hup… Let’s go now. Let’s get on back to the airport.”
“Ma’am?” one of the security guards called, “would you like us to carry him down for you? He looks a little flipped out.”
I thought the idea over and shook my head. “I’d best try and talk him down. We might encounter this some other time, so we may as well overcome it now. Besides, if he got really freaked from being picked up, he might jump from your arms. A fall like that could end his career before it even begins. Spot me, and let me know when I’m coming to the edge of the stairs.”
“All right, but be careful.”
My fear of heights nearly overtook me. I knew the stairs were possibly as much as twenty-five feet off the ground. Neither Campbell nor I were the least bit happy about our situation, but I tossed my terror aside and turned myself around, so my back was to the stairs. Thunder rumbled in the distance. The wind blew hard, shaking the metal platform beneath us. Campbell shivered with fright, and panic bubbled inside me. But I couldn’t show any of my own fear to him. I knew it was essential for me to handle this situation carefully because what I did would affect us as a team for the rest of our lives together.
I began to back up, squatting down and murmuring to Campbell. He was crouched down and whimpering, afraid to move.
I started to pull him and continued talking very calmly and softly to him. “All right, Bug. Almost there. That’s right. Just a little more. Come on, boy. Hup…Hup…
He was as scared as I was, and it was obvious he didn’t want to do it, but he came slowly across with me. I couldn’t imagine what must have been going through his mind. But I could imagine how happy he would have been to see Drew appear at that moment. Come to think of it, it wouldn’t have hurt my feelings any, either, but we were on our own. What I didn’t know then was it was the first of many times we’d be afraid and on our own.
When I reached the steps, I stood, turned us around, and heeled Campbell into position beside me. I petted and praised him up and down. He’d done a fabulous job of obeying me, and it no longer mattered to me how frightened he and I had been moments before. What mattered was we had made it.
“Campbell, you ready?” He sneezed and gave a big, jingly-jangly shake. I picked up the harness handle and proudly walked down the flight of stairs with my dog. At the bottom, I knelt down and put my arms around his neck. “Good boy. Oh! That’s Mommy’s good boy. I love you. Good boy.”
The flight attendant was in tears. I was in tears; I hugged him tightly and buried my face deep in his fur. As I took a deep breath and filed away the memory of his smell, he nuzzled my neck with his nose. That was the smell of trust, of love. It’s a smell I hope I will never, ever forget.
Suddenly the people at the bottom of the stairs were clapping. Campbell, of course, thought it was a party for him. He began to wag his tail, spinning it furiously around and around. He licked my face all over with his big tongue, and I knew we were good again.
He then guided me beautifully through the airport.
Chapter Twenty-Two: A Double Life
The Nightmare Begins…
Sitting there, trying to compose an email to my volunteers, people who were so much a part of my life, they felt like family. I didn’t know how much longer I could go on pretending everything was all right. If Lynn had doubts… But I had to force those things from my mind. Drew would be here soon, and as much as I loved Donnie, Drew’s visit meant the world to me, and I wanted nothing to ruin it.
Just as I poised my fingertips over the keys to begin my email, the phone rang.
“Hello? 2 1 1, how can I help…”
Donnie’s voice interrupted me. “Patty, the police are here. They’re allowing me to phone you to let you know they’re taking me into custody.”
My heart leaped into my throat, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. “What… What do I do?” I asked in a choked whisper. “Donnie, what do I do?”
“Honey, take a breath. Calm down. As soon as we hang up, call my lawyer. Tell him they’ve picked me up and have him come to the jail. We’ll be leaving as soon as they catch Rocky.”
“Rocky? What do you mean?”
“When the officers opened the door, Rocky took off. A couple deputies are chasing him.”
I suddenly felt like I’d been dropped into a poorly written episode of ‘Cops.’ “Do you mean to tell me they’re chasing that dog?”
“Yes, they can’t very well go off and leave him loose. I have to secure the house. Listen, honey, I love you. Don’t be afraid. I’ve got to go.”
With that, he hung up. For a moment, I simply sat, unable to do anything more than hold the phone in my hand. When it began to buzz with a busy signal, letting me know the line had disconnected, I put the receiver back into the cradle and sat there at my desk, my face buried in my hands, trying hard not to fall apart.
When I finally got myself together, I made the call to the lawyer’s office. Then I pressed the intercom button for the conference room where Lynn was holding a meeting. When his voice came onto the line, I said, “Lynn, I’ve got an emergency at home. I’m going to call the volunteer on duty after me, let her know I must leave, and then I’ve got to go.”
He didn’t question me. We’d been waiting for a day such as this, and to confirm, he asked, “Are you sure Donnie can’t help you with this?”
Taking a breath to steady my voice so those in the meeting wouldn’t be alarmed, I answered, “No, sir. I’m sorry, but he’s been detained for the evening.”
Reviews
Review for – Pathway to Freedom Broken and Healed: Book One – How a Seeing Eye Dog Retrieved My Life
Dec 29th, 2020
I met Patty last November and was immediately intrigued by her authenticity and witty personality. Over the past year, we have become great friends, and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her on a personal level. When I heard her new book was ready for purchase, I immediately ordered it! Due to my busy schedule, I read a little here and there, until finally, during the holiday, I was able to sit down with book in hand, really delve into the book, and I was captivated! Patty’s story is one of trauma, perseverance, and overcoming. Her writing style draws you in and will leave you laughing one moment and crying the next, all the while standing in awe of her honesty and transparency. As a person of sight, I had no idea of the vigorous training it took to pair someone with their service animal, and I completely appreciated every single detail Patty shared of her training with Campbell at The Seeing Eye. As someone who has also suffered from domestic violence, I appreciated Patty’s willingness to allow her readers to see inside her personal battle with the mental and emotional trauma that you experience at the hands of an abuser. Anyone who reads this book will be informed, educated, and inspired!
Christy McMakin
Review for – Pathway to Freedom Broken and Healed: Book One – How a Seeing Eye Dog Retrieved My Life
Dec 31st, 2020
I had the privilege of editing and proofreading “Pathway to Freedom: Broken and Healed: Book One How a Seeing Eye Dog Retrieved My Life.” The true story details how a highly trained dog helps a strong blind woman step through an open door into the freedom she’s been longing for.
The thing about open doors, though, is that they open to everything–the beautiful and the tumultuous, the issues we’re eager to take on and the ones we’d rather not deal with. Through the changes that shatter the toxic status quo, Campbell is the rock Patty needs to weather the storm.
This book is an educational read about Seeing Eye dogs and their training. More than that, it should be in the library of every women’s shelter across the country. Patty’s story of strength and tenacity is one that will inspire others.
Jo Elizabeth Pinto
Review for – Pathway to Freedom Broken and Healed: Book One – How a Seeing Eye Dog Retrieved My Life
Nov 25th, 2020
I helped with the publishing and interior design; reading the story of Patty’s life and how she lived, how it changed, and how she is moving forward is wonderful to see.
She is stronger than she thinks and, at the telling of this story, stronger than she knew. As a reader, you could see straight away how different Patty was once out of her home and at the Seeing Eye. She grew and learnt many things to help herself with her guide dog—King Campbell. It was wonderful to see how supported she was, though I’m sure many of us will wish she opened up a little bit more about her life at home. This woman certainly has skills, and many of them she shares with us throughout the memoir.
The book is relevant to those who are blind and shows the training journey needed to have a See Eye Dog at your side. This book also deals with mental health and domestic abuse issues. It is an enlightening read and will make you cry and gasp in various places. Patty, thank you for sharing your life with your adorable dog, Campbell and us. He is sorely missed by those who know you.
Claire Plaisted Plaisted Publishing House
Author Bio
Patty Fletcher is a single mother with a beautiful daughter, of whom she is enormously proud. She has a great son-in-law and six beautiful grandchildren. From April 2011 through September 2020, she owned and handled a black Labrador from The Seeing Eye® named King Campbell Lee Fletcher A.K.A. Bubba. Sadly, after a long battle with illness, on September 24, 2020, King Campbell went to the Rainbow Bridge, where all is peace and love. It is her hope to one day return to The Seeing Eye® for a successor guide.
Patty’s Blindness…
Patty was born one and a half months premature. Her blindness was caused by her being given too much oxygen in the incubator. She was partially sighted until 1991, at which time she lost her sight due to an infection after cataract surgery and high eye pressure. She used a cane for 31 years before making the change to a guide dog.
Where she Lives and Works…
Currently, Patty lives and works in Kingsport, Tenn.
She’s the creator and owner of Tell-It-To-The-World Marketing (Author, Blogger, Business Assist), The Writer’s Grapevine Online Magazine, and the creator and host of the Talk to Tell-It-To-The-World Marketing Podcast.
Writing Goals…
Patty writes to bridge the great chasm which separates the disabled from the non-disabled.
Hobbies…
Patty’s hobbies include reading, music, and attending book clubs via Zoom.
Favorite Tunes…
Some of her favorite types of tunes are classic rock, rhythm and blues, and classic country.
Favorite Reads…
Patty enjoys fantasy, science fiction, and books about the supernatural. She loves books by Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Norah Roberts, and many more.
Some favorite books include Norah Roberts’ Hide Away, Stephen King’s Dark Tower series, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series, and J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series.
Spiritual Faith…
Patty describes herself as a spiritual Walker. She says she knows both Mother Goddess and Father God and embraces all they have to offer.
Closing…
I hope you’ve enjoyed my Book Showcase and that if you read my book, you’ll take the time to review it either on Amazon or Goodreads.
I love hearing from readers, so don’t ever hesitate to drop me a line. My email is: patty.volunteer1@gmail.com
*Author’s Note*
Unfortunately, Campbell didn’t survive to see me finish this book. Below are his obituary and biography.
Obituary
Campbell Lee Fletcher, a.k.a. Bubba
®Seeing Eye Dog
November 28, 2008-September 24, 2020.
King Campbell Lee A.K.A. Bubba Retired ®Seeing Eye Dog Died peacefully on September 24, 2020, at approximately 3:30 P.M. at Colonial Heights Animal Hospital, 209 Colonial Heights Rd. in Kingsport, Tennessee, after battling illness for some time. His human Mother Patty Fletcher and good friend Christy McMakin were by his side.
Patty with Campbell at the Vets moments before Campbell went over the Rainbow Bridge.
King Campbell was such a loved dog, and Patty would like to share some of her memories via Photos. These images were taken over the early years, and some of those stories will be in book two. Enjoy.
King Campbell
Campbell Sitting in the sun Campbell wriggling on his back
Campbell with his head on a pillow A dirty looking Campbell
Campbell lying in an armchair Campbell lying on the Carpet
Bio for King Campbell aka Bubba
King Campbell was born in Chester, N.J. November 28, 2008.
He lived with his Dog Mother and Litter Mates until he was approximately eight weeks old, and then he went to live with his Puppy Raisers.
Then, when he was just over a year-old, he was taken away from his Puppy Raiser family by a wise and ancient trainer, so he could go and live in the magickal and ancient land of The Seeing Eye, where his training began.
After only four short months, on April 4, 2011, he was chosen to become the guide of his human Mother Patty L. Fletcher.
He went to live in the land of Kingsport, Tennessee, with her. There they lived a wonderful life together from April 29 of 2011 until September 24, 2020, during which they had many magickal and at times challenging adventures, but through it all, King Campbell did his very best to keep all he loved safe from harm.
King Campbell is survived by his human Mother Patty Lyne Fletcher, human sister Polly Telucia Fletcher Hensley, and her husband and six children, Grandfather Earl Fletcher JR. Aunts Mary Fletcher, and Joan Norris. His Adopted Grandmother Phyllis Staton Campbell, adopted Uncle Dave Light, his now-retired trainer Drew Gibbon and various staff from The Seeing Eye. As well as many friends worldwide, including his editor and publisher Claire Plaisted of Plaisted Publishing House Services, his attending veterinarians DR. Hyatt and DR. Gray, and other beloved staff from Colonial Heights Animal Hospital. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
If you would like to honor him, donations in his name, Campbell Lee Fletcher, may be made at http://www.SeeingEye.org
If you’d like to know how Campbell and his human Mother came to be together, please visit:
Patty Fletcher is not currently available for comment but sends her love and gratitude to all and asks for patience while she rests and recovers from this terrible loss.
The book cover was drawn by hand as an illustration before turning it into digital art where it was coloured and layered to the finished product you can see below.
Our latest client, Jane Risdon has just released her latest book of short stories with Plaisted Publishing House (Author Assist).
It is a wonderful collection of old and new stories, murder, mystery, detective and much more. She has some amazing reviews, our favourite is from Roger A Price author of Nemesis and Vengeance
Undercover – Crime Shorts; is a wonderfully satisfying anthology of seven short stories which transcend above the crime fiction genre providing a ripping yarn irrespective of the reader’s crime fiction preference. Jane Risdon has cleverly stitched together a mix of tales to suit all fans of the genre.
The book cover was made by our contractor, Award-Winning Digital Artist, Mara Reitsma of Covered by the Rose
SYNOPSIS
Under one cover for the first time a collection of crime shorts from Jane Risdon with more twists and turns than Spaghetti Junction – a must for those who enjoy gripping yarns.
Jane Risdon began writing five years ago having had a successful career in the International Music Industry which has taken her all over the world working with everything from Rock, Thrash Metal, and R&B/Pop to Chinese Opera. Her work has taken her to North America, Europe, and Singapore: even to Taiwan. She’s been involved in Television, Radio, and the Movies around the world.
Travelling extensively and living overseas she draws upon her life experiences when writing Crime/Mystery novels, short stories in all genres – including humour, and she has dabbled in flash fiction.
Some of these experiences have found their way into her short stories about the Music Business, and she is presently working on a novel which will bring a lot of her crazier ‘rock ‘n roll’ experiences into one tome.
Her main focus remains crime, however, and she is working on a series of novels called ‘Ms. Birdsong Investigates’ centered around a glamorous ex MI5 Officer forced into early retirement, who is trying to keep a low profile in a rural village in Oxfordshire. Her past experiences come to the fore when she finds herself investigating murder. Soon she finds herself back on old territory with Russian Mafia, Ukrainian People Traffickers, and an old flame to deal with.
In addition to being a regular blogger with a considerable following, she has an author page on Facebook with many dedicated followers there as well. You can find her at @Jane Risdon on Facebook and @Jane_Risdon on Twitter.
She continues to work on Ms. Birdsong Investigates as well as several other novels including The White Haired Man set in Bollywood and based on true events.
Jane is a keen photographer and enjoys the countryside and visiting old buildings and historical locations and often uses photos as visual notes for her writing. She loves history and archaeology and is loves anything to do with science and astronomy.
With a background (early on in her career) in the Diplomatic Service in Whitehall, London, followed by a long career in International music, Jane has a wealth of experience and a huge pool from which to craft her stories.
Just Publishing Advice is a great website written by Derek Haines. Generally I reblog the good stuff…like this. This time I have to share instead. Enjoy the read and You’ll find the rest on their website with many more interesting articles.
You can’t sell books. You can only bring your books to the attention of book buyers.
The most difficult task for all authors is maintaining consistent book sales.
There is a catch 22 that applies to most new books. It is that you need book sales to get book reviews, but you need book reviews to get sales.
Then you need to get enough regular unit sales to keep a good sales rank, so you can sell more copies. It is a fact that the top-ranking books in a genre, sell far better than lower ranked books. And by a huge factor.
Can you answer some of these questions?
What can I do to give my books the best chance of sales success? What are my niche genres? What are my best performing keywords? How can I make my book more visible? How can I get potential book buyers to notice my book? Who are the best book retailers for my book? Is my book price too high or too low?
Are you having trouble answering these questions? Here are a few tips to help you improve your book sales potential.
Does your book get an A grade pass on these three fundamentals?
These three elements are key to selling books online.
Your book cover
You know you need a great book cover and probably have one. But have you considered that the colour or font might be a problem?
Look at the top ranking books in certain genres. You will see that there is often a commonality about colours. For instance, science fiction books are generally dark, and very often blue.
For romance, pastel colours are predominant. For mystery and thriller, heavy and dark, with black shades are common.
What about your title font? Romance titles use a lot of fancy script fonts, whereas mystery and suspense use bold san serif fonts. But paranormal and fantasy often use fine serif fonts.
Compare your cover with the 50 top-selling titles in your genre. See if you can make your cover better suited to what readers expect.
Your manuscript
Yes, you checked it one hundred times. But check it again now. Is it totally error and typo free?
If it has been some time since you published, it is a very good time to revisit your book and make sure it is perfect.
Your book description is second only to your cover in attracting reader interest. Make sure it contains hooks that will instantly gain interest or intrigue.
It should scream, please enter! Also, why not write three versions and then you can test which one works best?
Like a book cover, compare your book description with bestselling books. Can you get a few clues from them to improve yours?
Do you know your niche genres?
When you published, did you quickly choose your two broad categories? Romance and Fantasy? If you did, your book is lost amongst thousands of other similar types of books.
You need to drill down through the categories to find two niche categories for your book. It will have a much better chance of being found by buyer search. It will reduce competition and help you to rank better and sell better.
Again, check top-selling books in your genre and look at their categories. Here are two examples of a good niche.
Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Teen & Young Adult > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Sword & Sorcery
Did you do any keyword research? Do you have a list of your book’s keywords? Have you checked if they are performing well?
Your seven search keywords on Amazon, and sometimes more on other retailers are vital for getting book sales. It is because these keywords are how people will find your book when using retailer search.
Your keywords can also be used on your blog or website to help get organic traffic from Google.
So they are very, very important!
One mistake new authors often make is that they select seven individual words, thinking that a keyword must be singular. This is not true.
A keyword can and should be a short phrase. Think about your book and make a list of seven keyword phrases related to your book’s story that you can use. Then test them by using them in Google search.
Good keywords often use only verbs, adjectives and nouns, so avoid prepositions and conjunctions. Short questions can sometimes work too. But you don’t need to add a question mark.
Examples:
Italian love story Where was she killed Hot tropical island adventure Dark days long nights
Online book retailer visibility and discoverability
Can tick off all the tips so far in this article? If you can, you will be a long way towards getting your book seen more often. You will start to attract online book buyers and readers who have an interest in your genre.
Getting your book looking right and in the right place is the very best you can do.
Book buyers make the decision. But make sure you give them the best means to find your book and every reason to consider buying your book.
Outside the bookstore
You can help your book a lot by listing it in narrow niche categories and using solid keyword phrases. It helps your book discovery in online bookstores such as Amazon, iBooks, B&N and Kobo.
To promote your book more broadly, you will need to leverage the Internet. Your two best avenues are your website or blog and using social media as best you can.
One overlooked avenue to gain a lot of potential readers is Google. To give you an idea of how powerful Google Search is, I can give you the example of one book that was listed on our book promotion site in 2016.
During an SEO upgrade of our site, we began adding sub-titles where possible in an H3 tag and in the SEO title.
This book had gained some traffic during the time it was listed. But after these two simple SEO improvements, it began ranking quickly on Google.
What did we change? The title and author could not change, of course. But by adding the sub-title, “Japanese Love Story” as a keyword, it soared.
As I mentioned before about keywords, it obeyed the rule of only adjectives and nouns.
Apply strong keyword phrases and add them to your title. Also, add them to H2 or H3 tags, as well as your SEO title and description. For your blog posts and web pages, it is the best way to get your book discovered organically.
For social media, the best lure by far to gain clicks to your book is your cover. Images are the most powerful means of attracting attention on social media.
Find other powerful images you can use for your blog posts. It will add variety when you share on Facebook or Twitter. Make sure that they are connected to your book’s theme. This will stop you from blasting your cover all the time.
For Google Search, keywords and text rule. For social media, images rule. That’s the rule.
Welcome to the world of LULU Uploading. As promised here is the second installment about UPLOADING…This time it’s for eBOOKS.
WE start with picking what we wish to publish, of course this time it is the ebook we wish to do. So follow the images and I’ll explain what is what as you scroll through them.
You picked the ebook now it is time to think about if you wish to do this for FREE or need to ask for help. This of course depends on how proficient you are at formatting and if you can format the way LULU need you to.
One think I have noticed with ebook distribution sites, they all have their own styles of formatting. Some are easier than others. Once in the know…it becomes easy.
This blog is about how to publish your book for FREE and we would hit ‘MAKE YOUR EBOOK’ Tab to continue.
Meanwhile. If you need any assistance and a guiding hand you can ask for some professional support from LULU – who will handle the heavy lifting for you.
The choice is made and you are starting a NEW PROJECT. It’s time for the TITLE and AUTHOR NAME. It also asks what you wish to do with your project. Most people want to sell their books and this is the recommended route to take. After your choices are made click save and continue.
Next you get to choose your ISBN for your book. You can pick the FREE LULU ISBN which can only be used on books you distribute via LULU.
If you are uploading to another site, it is likely they will offer their own FREE ISBN. If you have already purchased a set of ISBN then use them. There is a link on the below image on how to purchase your own numbers.
If you don’t wish to use an ISBN then you WON’T be able to distribute through LULU retail channels.
Below is shows the FREE ISBNfor my book which they will email to me. Since you haven’t yet uploaded your manuscript, now is the time to add the ISBN to your copyright page and save it again.
DO NOT UPLOAD YOUR MANUSCRIPT UNTIL YOU HAVE SET UP YOUR CHAPTER HEADINGS IN ACCORDANCE WITH LULU RULES. YOU CAN ALSO DELETE YOUR CONTENTS PAGE HYPERLINKS…LULU WILL MAKE THIS FOR YOU.
Choose you manuscript and upload. You will see the BAR below turn and orange-yellow.
Once it has uploaded it will show the document as below. If you have to make amendments later make sure you delete this file first on theX
Remember back to when you organised the HEADINGS in your manuscript. Well this is what LULU do. They show you the list for your contents table which you can adjust by changing the headings. When you do the HEADINGS you can use HEADING 1 – 3 ONLY You will also need to change the style to what you wish to see, making sure you embed the fonts as well.
Most Authors will also have their own BOOK COVERS by this stage in the process. If you do then you will need to upload the cover during this next stage. Having your own BOOK COVER means you can use any Theme, they are technically irrelevant though you still need to choose one. As you can see I stayed with the gold one with my name in the bottom right corner.
Click onto Backgrounds & Pictures. You can see where you can change the colour and edit the image. If you have a BOOK COVER already made you will need to EDIT the IMAGE. If you need to build your own you can ask for professional help from a LULUCover Designer.
Once again LULU have a criteria for the BOOK COVER. This is where you will USE A DIFFERENT FILE – as shown below. Or you can accept this image and proceed to building your own cover.
Since you have clicked‘Use a different file’this new box will appear asking you to either upload your cover from your computer or browse the LULU GALLERY. When you upload your own file make sure the sizing is correct or….
Before the ‘OR’ The file will upload the same way as the manuscript did…One the bar has finished loading you will be asked to ACCEPT or TRY AGAIN due to sizing requirements.
As show here…The first time I uploaded my BOOK COVER the requirements weren’t met, meaning they rejected my file asking me to alter it and upload it again.
Once the BOOK COVER file meets their criteria you will see the image – like shown below. Now you can ACCEPT the file and move on to the next stage.
Now you can see your cover you will need to click on TEXT. If you have a ready-made cover you will need to take out the TITLE and AUTHOR information as shown below.
If you have built your cover here then you can now edit your TITLE & AUTHOR name, give them the font, size and colour you wish them to have.
Once you have done, click SAVE and CONTINUE to go to the next stage.
You’ve nearly finished now.Unlike Kindle, Createspace & Draft to Digitalwhere you describe your project at the beginning. With LULU you do this towards the end
Fill in the blanks. On my children’s book this is what I choose to go with. You can change this at any stage.
My children’s story is all about adventures in the Insect world in a Country Garden. It is suitable for ages 3 upwards though parents, grandparents, siblings etc would need to read to the younger children.
Fill in the description which you would usually find on the back of a PRINT Book. This will show on your AUTHOR PAGE and in the LULU Shop. I choose the Standard Copyright License though there are quite a few you can look through and choose from.
YES YOU MADE IT…IT’S TIME TO REVIEW, DOWNLOAD THE INTERIOR, CHECK THE FORMATTING, SEE IF IT ALL WORKS CORRECTLY. IF NOT THEN YOU HAVE SOME WORK TO DO, OTHERWISE IT IS TIME TO PRICE YOUR BOOK
DISTRIBUTION TIME – PLEASE REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE UPLOADED YOUR EBOOK ELSEWHERE THEN UN-TICK IT HERE. ALSO REMEMBER YOU CAN GET YOUR BOOKS DISTRIBUTED VIA INGRAM SPARK WITH LULU
Make sure your LULU website is in the country where you live. Then pick the price and how much royalty you wish to make. Tick the boxes you need and hit REVIEW PROJECT.
Next is the eBook Distribution Terms and Condition. Read them and ACCEPT if you wish to publish.
The next slide shows your REVENUE excl taxes. Once you are satisfied you have what you wish go to the last TAB – SAVE and FINISH.
CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE PUBLISHED
This is all from me for now. I hope it helps. I will be making a post on how the HEADINGS work next week. Meanwhile enjoy the read and please SHARE.
We all know that KDP Print is likely to be taking over from Createspace when they finally close their doors (after all we’ve seen go on in the last 12 mth) I thought it would be good to do a presentation for those who wish to use KDP Print.
In the early days, I heard a lot of complaints. Their book cover wrap kept rejecting book covers which Createspace always accepted. There were no Author priced copies, the author was paying the same as any other customer… etc.
Needless to say they have slowly improved as the last 12 mths progressed. People are happier with their service. I have just put up my first book to see what all the fuss is about and so I can give this presentation to you all.
How it Works
PAPERBACK DETAILS
As you can see from the above image you need to select what you wish to do. For this presentation is it the Paperback. Click on this and you will go to the next image shown.
Following the details, you need to pick the language, put in your book title and any subtitles it may have along with any series information. As you scroll down you’ll see more area’s to fill in. What is the edition? Who is the Author? Are there any contributors?
Now for the description or synopsis. These are difficult to write and need to be in about 500 words. It needs to give a brief glance into your story. Who are the main characters? What is the story about?
Next you choice your copyright and Keywords. I will talk about the keywords below the image. They can be really tricky.
KEYWORDS You need to use short phrases, make a list on a piece of paper about your story, narrow down the words, think of different words you can use or what readers may search for to find your book. The smaller the category the bigger your chances of being in the top 100.
Categories – I really dislike these. They aren’t brilliant. In my opinion they’re too vague. You still need to pick two which you think are closest to your story. If it has adult content then make sure you put in YES.
CONTENT DETAILS
On the second page of KDP Print you get to choose a FREE ISBN or use one you already own. There’s also a publication date…However I’ve never used this either here or on Createspace.
The next part is the same as LULU – though as you can see it is at a later stage in the process. Below are the details where you can pick what you wish the interior of your book to look like. The ones you see highlighted are the ones generally used by most paperback distributors. The costs will vary to what you pick in size and page count.
After you have chosen the interior details, you can upload your formatted manuscript. Make sure your manuscript matches the above details – margins, paper size etc. You will want it to look professional and like any other book you may find in your local bookstore or library.
The second part of the above image is all about your cover. Many Authors have covers made for them, 95% of the time they will be wrap book covers which fit the page count. This means they are front, back and spine. They will be delivered to you from your graphic artist as a PDF and you or your publisher will upload it.
If you don’t have a print ready PDF Cover then you will need to launch the Cover Creator. Of course I forgot to get images of this process. However it is rather simple. You get to choose a book cover template and upload the e-book cover to it. Next you will need to type in or copy and paste the synopsis on the back cover and add any logos, profile image, bio…etc. Next you will review the cover.
The above image shows the book cover and interior so you can check it is what you wanted. As you can see I have missed a few things on mine. Page numbers at the bottom. copyright page and author name/book title in the header. I did this to show everyone that mistakes can be made. I will be updating this book Later. If they pick out any errors you will need to fix them.
PRICING YOUR BOOK
Since the site is American you will need to pick a price for the book which is higher than the Min. The List Price shows the book needs to be above $3.58 So depending on how much royalty you wish to make on your book is how you price is. As you can see i priced at $3.99 – It is a novella in length. After the American pricing you can then sell it on the other 6 market places. Once again you can price it what you want or base it on the American price. You can use which marketplaces you wish.
In the next image you can see the Japanese Price List. I’ve never sold on there, though I know a few who have. Make sure you read the terms and conditions, especially if you are a first time author. Once done you can purchase your proof copy. Some authors like to get the paperback in hand prior to pressing PUBLISH…which you can see on the bottom right of the image.
Of course once you hit PUBLISH you get the Congratulations notice along with being asked if you have yoru story as an ebook.
Once you go back to your BOOKSHELF you will find your book will be under REVIEW, just like in Createspace. Now is the time to wait for your email to see what you’ve missed or if you’re in the clear and it can go LIVE
Don’t forget to get your entries in before the 31st May 2017. The package is worth over $700 USD.
The winner will recieve:
Editing, Book Cover, Formatting, Book Trailer and some Marketing. Plaisted Publishing House will also do and Interview which will be shared on social media and their monthly magazine.
