Rectifying an omission

It's with many apologies that I want to acknowledge a contribution to the funding of Blue Creek Blue - my dear friend Alison Dhonau was sadly omitted from the acknowledgements in the book. Thank you so much, Alison, for your belief in me and the project!

I earnestly hope that there are no others I have omitted. 

BLUE CREEK BRIDE IS NOW AVAILABLE TO BUY!

I'm delighted to announce that BCB can now be purchased. Here's the various ways you can do it:

In the UK
Via amazon.co.uk

In Jasper, Alberta, Canada
After 26 December (approximately) Sheila Couture will have books to sell. Ring her on 780-852-4949

In the USA and the rest of Canada
Via www.CreateSpace.com. Click on 'sign up' and then fill in the appropriate info in 'Create a new account.' Click on the down arrow in the box that says, 'Site' and click on 'Store.' In the 'Search Store' window, type Blue Creek Bride, and then proceed from there.

NB (You can purchase from amazon.com but purchasing via CreateSpace costs you the same but gives me double the royalties, so I'd greatly appreciate purchases from CreateSpace. Thank you!)

In NZ
You can purchase via CreateSpace or wait until 2 January (approximately) when the books I've ordered should have arrived. If you want to buy through me, contact me on 027-378-4494.

All comments will be greatly appreciated! Happy reading!

I'VE FINALLY HIT THE 'PUBLISH MY BOOK' BUTTON!

After a couple of unexpected hitches that were beyond my control, I received my second proof in the mail today, proof-read it, found NO errors and finally gave CreateSpace the go ahead to publish Blue Creek Bride.

As soon as it will be available to buy, I'll post the details. This should be very soon.

The publishing journey is almost over and book can begin its life!

BOOK PROOF HAS ARRIVED!

The interior book proof has arrived! My sister, Wendy, and friends, Chris and Grace White, are helping me with the final proof-read, then it's on to the printers. Wahoo!

WAITING FOR BOOK MOCK-UP!

It's been a long time coming due to some slip-ups by CreateSpace but as of last night I submitted my final revised manuscript and images. Should have the book mock-up in a few weeks. I don't know whether I'll laugh or cry, or do both. (Or panic because of mistakes I find - but hopefully not!)

One step away from seeing book in my hands!

After being too frustratingly busy at school to be able to work solidly on Blue Creek Bride, holidays are now here and I've just finished and sent off the interior mock-up changes and the cover mock-up changes - something I couldn't have done without lots of help, esp. from Chris White who gave me invaluable help with alterations to the cover.

Once these changes have been made by CreateSpace, they will ask me to send them my revised manuscript, which is also ready to go.

The next step is being sent a mock-up copy of the entire book for one last edit! Wahoo!

COVER & FIRST HALF OF INTERIOR HAS BEEN STARTED!

I've just sent off the photos, blurb, recommendations and proposed subtitle to CreateSpace for them to start work on the book's cover. I've also sent off the first half of the manuscript with photos attached, having finished accepting and rejecting the changes proposed by the copyeditor. It's a bit nerve-racking - there's only one more chance to spot and correct any mistakes. The progress is very exciting though.

I got the second half of the copyediting back last week - I hope to have that finished in two to three weeks, and once that's sent off there is very little to do - just sit back and wait for the mock-up to be made and sent to me for final check and approval.

Almost time to turn my mind to marketing...!

Second and final copy-editing started!

I've just been speaking to an editor From CreateSpace who is about to arrange the copy-editing of the second and final half of the book. She commented how she enjoyed the first half of the Blue Creek Bride which really encouraged me. Three weeks today should see that back and then I need to press forward and accept or reject the changes. Interior design of the book can then begin!

Second half of copyediting has been sent off!

Things are progressing well!

With the second half of the book having been sent away yesterday for copy-editing, along with my dedication and acknowledgements, there are only two jobs left for me to do. I have to finish accepting or rejecting proposed changes from the first half of the copyediting, and finalise which photos I want with Chris White.

The copyediting has a turnaround time of three weeks and there may well be little to hold up the book from being published by June/July, except for the IRS (America's Internal Revenue Service). As CreateSpace is an American company and royalties will be paid from that country, I have to jump through several hoops in order to get an ITIN (individual tax identification number) and then another piece of documentation relating to the withholding tax agreement that New Zealand has with the States. 

I submitted the paper work to the IRS for an ITIN three weeks ago and I'm waiting to for that to be granted. However, that takes up to two months. Then I have to begin work on the second part of the process. Hopefully it all goes through smoothly and quickly as Blue Creek Bride can't be published without this paperwork being completed.

Well, that's all for now. I'll let you know when more milestones are reached. Thanks for making it all possible!

WE ARE THERE! $2000 TARGET MET AND EXCEEDED!

A huge thank you to everyone who has encouraged and financially supported me in this fund raising project. I am delighted to announce that the target has not only been met but exceeded!! (I have checked with the last two donors and they are happy for the extra funds to go towards putting more photos in the book - thank you so much!)


It's all down to me now to finish working on the second and last half of the book to make it the best it can be and then send it off for copy-editing. After that comes the work on the layout and cover.

To get to this point is humbling and very exciting but in some ways it still doesn't seem real. It may not until I hold the first draft of the book in my hands and make a final check before approving it for printing. 

The blogspot will now be used to keep you updated on the publishing process so please keep checking on it from time to time.

A HEARTFELT THANKS ONCE AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT - Leanne.

 

So very close! $1895.00!!!!

Wow! Another $135 has been added and there's a new total of $1895.00! Don't miss your chance of being a part of this exciting project.

Progress Report, 17 April

Hi supporters! I thought I should let you know that I've received my copy-editing back. Apart from an explosion of red commas waiting to be inserted, there aren't too many glaring errors, and the editor has made many useful suggestions. Basically I'm very pleased. My arms and wrists have been complaining a bit so I'm having to limit myself to five pages a day which has been frustrating but with lots of TLC (targeted exercise, cold packs and anti-inflammatory cream) it's getting better.

With the wonderfully steady way you have been supporting me, I'm trusting that the target amount of NZ$2000 will soon be reached, and so will send off the second half of Blue Creek Bride for copy-editing next week. After that, only the book design will remain!

Chris White, a friend of mine and Phil's, is continuing to work on the photos, ensuring they make a quality transition from colour to black and white - sadly it costs too much to have colour within the book, the only colour photos will be on the front and back cover.

Thanks for your support - I can't express how grateful I am!

 

7/8 of the way there!

Had to do a little maths to figure out what fraction the new donations brought us to - don't ask me to give it to you in decimals though! Thank you everyone who is part of this amazing journey.

Wow! So close!

I'm rapidly running out of ways to say thank you! I wonder if other languages have more words to choose from. Anyway, I continue to be very grateful for your contributions, whatever size they come in! I'd love to acknowledge the two recent Canadian contributors so please send me an email - you'll know who you are! :)

The 3/4 mark has just been reached!

Thank you so much to those last couple of people who brought the total to just over the 3/4 mark. Only $490 or 49 donations of $10 each to go! Thank you everyone who is helping make my long held dream a reality. It's amazing!

I get my first copy-editing back on or before 10 April so that will be revealing - will I have to start a Bloopers page on the blogsite? While waiting for that I'm making my own final edit of the second half, and then will work on which photos to include in the book - sadly all black and white apart from the front & back covers but after the book is published I'm thinking of including more photos on the blogsite for readers - let me know if anyone would be interested.

Almost 3/4 of the way there!

Mistakes are being sorted and it's only 3 weeks til I get my first copy-editing results! A personalised fleuron has been made with the creative talents of Demelza Neame - thank you, Demelza. (Check your dictionary for fleuron and put it in the memory banks for scrabble!) I also have the promise of photographic help from Chris White - thanks, Chris.

The publishing process has started and the mistakes with it!

Due to the generosity shown so far, I've decided to start the publishing process, gulp! I've sent off half the book to start being copy-edited. I wonder how many typos they find?

I've already messed up, having uploaded my document into the wrong place and have made work for people to sort it out... still, there's a first time for everything and hopefully they are used to dealing with plonkers like me.

However, it's underway and that's VERY exciting. Thank you so much for being a part of the process and enabling it to get so far so soon! Will keep you posted!

Well over half way - very exciting!!

After a brief lull, the total has now jumped to $1145.00 - thanks so much everyone! Publishing is getting so much closer...

Over 1/3 of the way! Thank you everyone!

Almost 1/3 of the way!!!

After a friend's advice (thanks, Gerry!) I have decided to self-publish with Amazon's CreateSpace and, amongst their many benefits, they are $1000 less expensive, so we are almost 1/3 of the way to $2040! Wahoo, thank you everyone!

Comment from Jamie Pearson

Cool! Your site is looking great! I can't wait to read the book, I read the preview chapter and loved it. I'm so pleased for you that the site is all up and running and I hope that the contributions flow in because it seems like you have put in a lot of effort and you really deserve the reward of publishing your book. And what a surprise I got when I saw my name on the acknowledgments page!! That is so nice, and you are very welcome!

Keeping the dream alive!

Thanks to those people who are keeping the dream alive with their donations! Much appreciated. I'm madly typing up what should be my penultimate edit before handing my manuscript to Shirley Brown for her editing efforts. After a friend's suggestion I am also checking out self-publishing with CreateSpace (Amazon). Does anyone have any experience dealing with them? XX

The ball is rolling...

Thanks so much to those of you who have got the ball rolling - I hope that it's not only me feeling excited!

About the book

In my book, "Blue Creek Bride," I tell what it's like to be a rookie in the Rockies, travelling on horseback with Phil, my husband of only six months, into the back country of Jasper National Park.