My personal marketer

Once again I escaped the interior of the house to find more information on ancestors.  The info was new and exciting for me.  These are people who walked the same land that I walk on, saw the same sites I see on a daily basis.  Amazing the information that is and isn't out there.
The Company called me today.  It was my personal marketing specialist.  The packages that they want me to have, I can't afford right now.  Sure I would love to be live on the radio, but to pay $1000.00.  I can't do it now.  That is why I am trying to do some things on my own.  I did ask if there was anything else I should be doing.  No, not really.  Everything else cost money.  Guess that will just have to wait it's turn. 

Busy day

I escaped today.  Went to find some ancestors, which I was successful at.  I found a few to add to my papers.  I also showed my book off at the Historical Society.  I feel like I did some marketing.  Get it out there, advertise it to people, and I did.  Upon driving home I stopped at my favorite field to look for Indian artifacts.  I do have a lot of hobbies.  I try to stay on top of them most of the time.  I returned home to tell my husband of my success.  I showed him my wares.  Now all must be put in the computer.  Tomorrow I will hopefully finish that, if I don't get pulled away again.  The weather is suppose to get bad, what better time to sit and play on the computer.  My other plan is to call the second Manager and see if they want to sell my book in their store.  Sounds like a plan...

Having a new experience.

Dropped some books off to Pure Pennsylvannia in Great Bend today.  It's a gift store that has a great selection of hand made gifts and crafted things.  Now it sells my book.  While there, a lady was standing near the counter, when the owner asked her if she wanted to meet a new author.  She said "Yes." So I stuck out my hand and told her who I was and that I was the author of  "Living in My House Isn't Always Easy."  Boy was that an experience, exciting though.  I can get use to this.  I must practice it before I go out there and sign books.  I know I can do it.  I also called one Manager today.  She took the information down and will get back with me.  I will call the other tomorrow.  Didn't get many calls in today.  Needed to run elsewhere.  That's okay.  Tomorrow is another day.  Maybe I can get some new places to sell books. 

Working on my marketing again

I started thinking again about selling my book local.  My daughter came up with a few ideas for sales.  The Manager wasn't available today.  One will be in tomorrow and one on Thursday.  Tomorrow I am delivering some to a craft store that sells my other wares.  She found out about the book and requested a few books to see how they will sell.  My other crafts sell pretty good there, so I have hopes.  I want to see how many places will carry them so I can call in an order.  I can only afford a few of each, hard and soft covers.  Need revenue to buy more.  Every morning when I turn the computer on, I follow the same ritual.  Email is first, then facebook, and then the Company.  Thanks to a moveable computer called a laptop.  My husband thinks we are attached.  The power cord is the umbilicus that hasn't been cut.  He is right, I am always on it.  I have had some feedback on my book, so far all good.  Has anyone I don't know out there bought my book?  Would you like to give me a review?  I would appreciate it.  My family loves it.  I don't think that they would lie and say it's good if it wasn't.  Would they?  

What's it all about?

I haven't quite figured Twitter out yet.  My Tweet name is Mamabooker01.  I will try to put a Tweet on daily also.  It can only be 140 letters and spaces.  Try doing your day in 140 letters!  Can't write much.  Oh yes, the Company said to use this too.  I wonder if they know it's only 140 letters?  I see some really famous people  on it.  I stay off some of them, they don't sound too good if you know what I mean.  Don't need the cops coming in taking my computer.  It's my lifeline.  All my genealogy and my stories for the next book are in there.  Our Ancestors would never believe all the cars, computers and other gadgets we have today.  I still remember taking a bath in a round galvanized tub in the kitchen!  What will our kids remember?  All electronic gadgets?  I guess I'm in one of those moods.  I haven't been to a Historical Society or Cemetery in months.  Maybe I need to do some work on my ancestry today.  It does help.  I often wonder when I am walking on the same land that they walked, what they thought and did.  I do have some stories from the 1800's that say who they were.  What will mine say?  What will your's say?  Can we make it read different?   

Experiment

I signed up for Twitter.  You'll be proud of me, I did it on my own.  Only thing was I couldn't get it to upload my picture.  I'll try again later.  Some of my friends that I worked with have ordered my book while on Facebook.  The newspaper article has given me some recognition.  I will try this week to get someone from Good Morning America to take my call.  They do say it is better to get a human voice on the phone, rather than just faxing or emailing your information or leaving a voice message they can delete.  So far this seems to be true.  I just want people to read it and I do think they will like it.  It is funny.  Irma Bombeck use to right stories about her family.  They hit home quite a bit.  I strike up conversations with people in the stores about reading and bring up my book.  I guess this is how everyone started.  I want miracles too fast.  The end of the month listings will be coming out soon.  Just a few more days.  Once again when it does, I will be yelling to Bob, "Come look!"  Hopefully it is good news.

Thank you

Stacy told me about Twitter.  I guess I will sign up for a Twitter account.  I will let you all know if I get any followers on Twitter.  I do have a follower on my blog.  Hope what I am blogging helps you and anyone who stumbles on this Blog.  My life revolves around my family, my book, and my genealogy.  If you can't find me at my computer in the house, I am looking up my past.  This is a chapter in my new book that I am working on.  My second book will be like the first - short stories about the unbelievable things that can happen in the normal household, funny stories.  I enjoy seeing these things repeating themselves through my grandchildren.  I sit back and laugh even harder, and my kids know I enjoy watching them handle the same things we did.  Of course as long as they keep it going, I have new stories to write.   So I will take a minute to thank my kids for giving me grandchildren to also write about.  Thank you to anyone who reads this as I love telling stories about the family.  That is why I also make a good Genealogist.

Another sale!

I went on the Company site today.  I have another sale through the Company.  Yes, I yelled to Bob to come and see it.  He may be getting use to the "Come look!"  when I yell.  He doesn't grumble as much now.  He still cheers me along, so does Stacy.  I am happy.  Nothing has been posted for the internet yet.  I visited Borders today.  They are now taking in new books.  I gave them my business card about the book, requesting they get it in the store.  I will call in a few days to find out.  Maybe I can do a "Book signing."  That will be a new experience.  It does sound like fun.  So far the books I sold myself were all signed with one request for Mckenzie to sign one too.  She will love that!  I asked her about illustrating for other people.  I guess she didn't understand because she told me she didn't want to go any where with someone else.  I chuckled and told her that she could draw the article and send it to them, and get paid for it.  That made her feel better.  I keep looking for other ways to promote my book.  The internet does give me some new ideas.  One said to connect my Blog to Twitter.  Huh?  How?  Stacy....

Sales

I continued to go to my new internet site from the Company to see if I had any sales.  I did this at least four times a day, I know it might be more.  I don't see any sales.  After two weeks, I emailed the Company and asked when I will see some sales show up.  Once a book is shipped out, the sales will show up on the site.  Love these new computer words.  The internet sales will show up at the end of the month.  Okay, I can handle that.  Yes, I did continue to sign on it frequently.  Then one day, something actually showed up on the site.  I let out a yell, must stop doing that, I have Bob a wreck.  Bob of course came running.  Look, look, someone bought my book!  It's there!  See!  Later when Stacy came over I brought the site up and showed her too.  They were both happy for me.  Stacy then told me that it was her who ordered the book.  She wanted the first copy that the public could get, and it was.  I signed it for her too.  She had read some stories, but not all.  Let's see if she talks to me after she reads the book.  Now I must wait till the end of the month to see how many have been sold on the internet.     

Learning

Amazing how far I have gotten.  I knew nothing of the writer's world.  I knew my way around on a computer, but have learned how to do some new things, not that I remember all.  I do still need some help.  Thank heaven for my daughter.  She doesn't know it but she does have some patience.  Without her help I would be lost.  She ordered and got the first hard cover of the book from the Company.  Yes, I did sign it for her.  It took a few days to decide what I wanted to write in it, so it sat on my table for a while.  This is really a learning experience and I do hope I can help another writer out there.  You can do this if you want.  It takes a little courage, just put one foot in front of the other.  You can accomplish anything you want.  I was married and had children.  I always wanted to be a nurse.  I waited until my young family was older and went back to school after years upon years of not being there, and became a nurse that was very respected in the field.  Just put your mind to what you want to do. You too can do it.  My husband was a big help too.  He would give me the encouragement that I needed at times.  I wanted to make everyone proud.  I guess I have.

Continue Marketing

The next day the Company reached me to discuss marketing. I could do anything I wanted to do with it. I'm no expert, what do I do.  Call all the papers in your area, see if you can get an interview.  I told him I did that and did get an interview.  They wanted the info so I sent them to the newspaper web site.  See I have learned some new things on the computer!  They loved it too and congratulated me.  The next paper was the big city newspaper.  I called and got a reporter and let him know that another paper did an article.  He said he would try to get it.  I still haven't seen it in the paper, maybe soon.  People stop me in the store and also congratulate me.  Then the Company suggested Facebook.  What? I don't know about Facebook.  Guess Stacy will have to do that.  She signed me on and let me fill in the information.  Then gave me a cram course on how to use it.  That was last week, I still mess some things up but won't tell her till she has time to show me again.  So I made the announcement to my "Friends" on Facebook.  I had announcements made up and have sent some of them out to friends and close family.  One of the book stores aren't accepting new books yet.  That is where I thought I could find out about book signing.  Now what?  I am waiting to see if I get any orders....

The Newspaper

I saw the front page and there was our picture holding the book.  I wanted to dance in the street.  I wanted to shout from the rooftop, but I calmly paid for the paper and hopped in my car and drove home.  That's when I started yelling.  Bob came running.  What's wrong now.  Nothing!  Look at the paper.  I made the front page.  I had yet to open it up and see the article.  I wanted to save that for when Bob was with me.  Wow!  It was a large article on page 7.  I couldn't believe it.  This is the start of something new in my life.  The article was done just as I said it.  Yes, I am an Author.  My family is proud of me.  This is great.  I hope the articles in the other newspapers are just as well done.  I sent the reporter a thank you well done article note.  Now what's next?  We shall soon find out.

Marketing

I have the list of places that the Company sent the press release to.  Some of the local papers didn't get it due to busy lines and lines that weren't working.  Since the phone number was available, I called and faxed the sheet myself.  Okay, what do I do now?  I must sit and wait untill someone calls and says they want to interview me.  The wait wasn't long.  Our local newspaper that comes out weekly called.  The reporter set up an interview.  He arrived right on time, only a day sooner.  Glad I was here.  I guess it was good because I didn't have time to fret over what I was going to say.  At least I had a book on the table.  He took a couple pictures of the cover for the paper.  He asked all sorts of questions.  I answered as best as I could.  This was fun.  I wasn't nervous either.  I did expect to be.  He took pictures of my daughter and I with the book and me alone with the book.  He was hoping to put the article in the following Wednesdays' paper, six days away.  If it didn't make that issue, it would be the following week.  How will I wait until Wednesday?  I'll have everyone crazy by then.  I counted off the days by keeping busy writing and following other marketing instructions I got from the Company.  This was fun.  Wednesday rolls around.  I went downtown to get a newspaper.  No way was I waiting for the mail lady to deliver it at 4:00 in the afternoon.  I saw the front page and .....

The New Books

I carefully opened the package.  I don't want to tear anything if it is the books.  It is the books!  They are more than what I expected.  Wow!  I open them to read.  They are exactally as I set them up.  I can't believe my luck.  There is my name.  I am now an author, Mckenzie is an illustrator at the age of seven.  What an accomplishment.  Everyone is proud of me.  I am so happy.  I do a little dance.  Announcements about the book have been sent to close friends.  The book is released to the public, and orders can be taken.  The next thing is marketing.  This was also included in the price of the book.  By now I know, watch your email for the press release.  A press release about me and the book.  When you read it, sign it.  If it is okay, fax it back.  Then they send this press release to newspapers, some I have chosen that are local, the rest are all over the United States.  This is wide spread.  My name will now be all over.  Who will be the first to contact me? 

Satisfied?

I am notified again.  Check your email for more papers to print and sign.  I am still not sure if this was a good move after forking out the money.  I do know that up until now, they have done a great job.  It was really fast too.  Would I be satisfied?  Would I have a real book or junk?  Papers are all now signed and faxed.  The rest is up to them.  They say a real book and paperback will show up on my doorstep in 3 to 4 weeks.  I can't wait, I'm all excited.  I am driving everyone nuts when they get the mail.  It's only been a week, cool it.  I constantly reread the copy that they sent over the email.  Yes, I still like it.  Two weeks have gone by.  Please, any day now.  I went for the mail myself.  Here is a package for me.  I have the puppy with me so I can't try to open it till I get in the house.  It's a nice neat package.  Could it be the books?  I let out a scream!  "Yahoo!!"  Guess I scared Bob.  I didn't know he was sleeping at 3:30 in the afternoon, he did have an early day.  It was the books, they...........

Corrections all done

It seems that I just sent the cover corrections and they were back.  Wow, I can now see what the cover looks like.  Yes, it is yellow, almost with a tinge of green.  The lettering is light blue outlined in white and red outlined in black.  Mckenzie's people have colored clothing now.  Wow!  What a job they did.  I printed the corrected cover up to show off.  After all is done I must go back and throw out all the duplicates I have.  At least I recycle my ink cartridges!  Lately there have been lots of them.  Printing in one format then changing and making all the corrections from the beginning of the stories, took a lot of ink.  I always keep new ones handy.  I must show them off and remind myself that I really did this. 

The Cover

Now I expect that this company doesn't work on the weekend.  Boy did they fool me.  I never checked my email till late Saturday night.  There was the email about the cover.  I yelled for everyone to come see.  A nasty habit I just learned.  My poor husband, I think I have scared a few years off his life, but he does come quick when I yell.  I printed it up to show them even though they saw it on the computer.  It needed one correction.  I filled out the form and faxed it back and sent a copy to the correction department.  They must have a huge building for all these departments.  They said they will email the corrected cover in a few days.  By this time I know that their few days could be only hours.  My head was spinning.  This is becoming a reality, I soon will be able to say, "I am an Author." 

Watching email

All too soon I got my email, no it wasn't days - more like a few hours and it was there.  This is all happening amazingly fast.  What happened to months?  I'm not prepared for this fast!  More papers to sign come with it.  They must be signed and returned by fax.  I can handle that.  The corrections were done.  It looked great.  Next is the cover.  The consultant called me to discuss what I wanted.  Yellow cover is a must and it has to have Mckenzie's illustration.  Now where is your autobiography and summary of the book?  They are already there.  Your picture?  It is also there.  The picture was fun.  When I heard I needed a picture I had my husband take some around the house.  My daughter saw them and laughed.  Get them done by a professional.  I made an appointment the next day, taking my husband with me.  Maybe I can get a pix of the two of us together.  Last one we had done together was over 25 years ago with the kids.  It took some doing but he did get a pix with me.  All the pictures came out beautiful!  I was even able to send them as an attachment, mine alone.  I'm getting good.   Once again the words are watch your email. 

Printing

It didn't take long for the company to get the disc.  They called me the next day.  Disc has gone to printing.  They will soon contact you about the cover.  "Do you have any plans for the cover?"  My idea is it has to be yellow, you can see it better on the shelfs, and the illustration has to be the one my Grand daughter drew for me.  She was with us at a resturant one day and bored.  I asked her to draw me her family and the picture she came up with was perfect.  She's only 7.  Okay no problem there.  This is really coming true.  For a while I was skeptical, is this a real company or just someone who is going to take my money and send me a newspaper back?  Keep an eye on your email.  We will send you the whole format for corrections.  Expect a 2 week wait.  I am not a patient person.  I want things now.  Two days later, there it is on my email.  Wow.  I now need to go over every page and write on a paper the needed corrections.  This will take time.  I got it done, scanned it and sent it back to them as an attachment - another computer word.  They would make the corrections and send it back again to read and make sure there are no other corrections needed.  Give them a few days to do this.  Watch your email.    

Our Next Step

They are now requesting the whole manuscript, just the way I want it published.  I read lots of books, but who ever really pays attention to all the parts of a book.  It's been years since I was in school and learned where everything goes.  But I will try.  I must pick which stories go with what chapter.  The Contents goes in the front, separate chapters, put drawing in, this is fun.  Of course I get help from the family.  The dining room table is covered with paper.  It takes an hour but the book is now set up ready for mailing.  They call and tell me to send it on a disc, manuscripts have a way of getting lost.  Family help.  Stacy gets my instructions, I need a disc in rtf., whatever that is.  She actually knows all about it.  This is her assignment.  She said she would show me how.  After five minutes she just kept doing it herself.  She was afraid of what I would do.  She made two copies, one for the book company and one for me.  We double checked it and got it ready for mailing.  They said I could email it if I wanted.  Sure, if I knew how.  The next morning it goes to the post office and is now out of my hands and on the way to theirs.

What's Next?

Now, I am not really computer literate.  They are sending forms over on the email for me to read and sign and return.  Watch for them.  Okay, I can do that.  They send them as attachments!  Some are easily opened and some have gone to Never-never land.  Yep, they are in the computer but I don't know where.  Stacy finds them for me.  Good thing.  These are contracts.  Wow!  I am signing a contract.  At least they don't have to be read by a lawyer like most contracts.  My "Consultant" at the book company was very good.  He explained anything I didn't understand.  Come on, I work in the medical field, I know nothing about books except what I have read in books.  Do you know what a genere is?  It is the type of book you write - fiction, comedy, that was a new one for me.  My book is short stories that are funny.  So it's 'Inspirational and educational."  Okay, sounds good to me.   All I know everyone who listens to my stories love them.  My house was never boring.  Always something going on.  After reading all the papers and filling out the papers, which took days, I signed my name to the contract.  Wow.  It is going to come true.  I really will have a published book.  Now what do they want me to do next?  

Did I get a contract?

This has to be one of the longest hours I have ever had.  My husband and daughter were sitting there watching me pace with phone in hand.  Do I answer it on the first ring?  Will I look too anxious if it is a no go on the book.  I think I answered it on the first ring.  I was excited.  Yes, it is the publishing company.  Deep breath!  It's a "Yes!"  I will be published.  Now what?  First you get to decide on a package, with their help of course.  Awaiting another call to see if the company will help.  That is also a yes!  So we each paid half.  WOW!  I am still in disbelief.  My family is thrilled and happy for me.  My head is reeling.  Little did I know it would be reeling for weeks.  Decisions, Decisions.  What next? 

Now it's time to find a company to publish my manuscript.  It wasn"t quite finished, just a few things to add to it.  Yes, they want an Index, a page and word count.  Thank heaven for kids who know how to work computers.  I would still be counting words.  Maybe I could have gotten the neighbors to help.  I contacted one company.  They didn't call back for days.  The second company I called was all gun ho.  They wanted 10 stories for review.  How do I choose 10, since they are all good.  Then I have to send them by email.  Isn't regular mail easier?  Okay so I need help again.  Wow, that was cool.  I never thought I would get good at sending attachments.  I'm a pro now.  The consultant called back after he read the stories.  He raved about them and called a meeting to see if it was possible to publish.  Now I must wait at least one hour for the answer from the big boss.   

Living in My House Isn't Always Easy

Good morning all.  I am a new author.  I self-published my book.  It really is quite an accomplishment for me.  I have been writing the stories for over 30 years.  My family has always told me I should have them published.  A few years ago I started to put them in the computer and printed out every one.  Unexperienced in the writing field I knew I needed help.  To the bookstore I go.  Wow, look at all the books on publishing.  Yes, I walked out with one book that I put in the closet to read at a later date.  Years later I watched the movie "Julia and Julia" and it gave me a new inspiration.  I finished putting the book on paper.  My husband was shocked I finally got it done.  Next I need a publisher.