Shipslog

Monday, January 1, 2018

I’m a believer now in the new year’s meal

Historical Picture

Gabby Harnett signs a baseball for Al Capone's son. 1931.

Today's stuff!
Do you observe what my wife calls the New Year’s Day meal? Sherry always has some form of it. Black eye peas, change in your pocket, Collard Greens for greenbacks and lastly, hog jowl, for good luck. At least that is the way her mama and daddy taught it. (I know Lisa does, LOL, she said her house smelled like collards !)
Growing up I do not remember any special meal for the New Year. BUT this year I became a believer that lots of folks believe this traditional meal.
Why? I am sure, you are asking? LOL. Okay here it is. We went shopping for the required stuff New Year’s Eve. I suggested canned black eyed peas, NOT SO! They will be dried. But believe it or not there was every dried bean and pea known to man, BUT NO BLACK EYED PEAS! SOLD COMPLETELY OUT! Ok she said, I will get a can of them. Shelves are empty! No cans of black eyed peas. I looked around and sure enough I did spot a case of canned B.E. peas stored much higher than I could reach. Thomas, a local worker got them down and we left with two cans of Black eyed peas.
Like bread and milk down south when an inch of snow is predicted and the shelves empty, so must it be with the New Year’s meal. So I am a believer. WE had our meal it was delicious with corn bread. I held back a piece of cornbread to go with my milk later.
Life is good. And with the guarantee of a New Year’s meal this will be a great YEAR! 2018, 2018.... Remember that when you date your checks! LOL (do we still write checks?)

Nite Shipslog

PS: APHORISM : A SHORT,CLEVER POINTED SENTENCE

i.e.

Life isn't tied with a bow ...

but it's still a gift.

(THis is the last Aphorism, next sarcasm!)

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Go ahead, write a book!

Historical Photo:
Che Guevara and Fidel Castro, fishing buddies. 1960

Today, Happy New Year!
Honestly anyone familiar with a computer can publish, it is no mystery. I use Createspace.com. Createspace.com is one of the many ‘self-publishers’ available. They have pay programs, but I opt for the free end. Publishing and printing costs me nothing, zilch. You pay a reasonable price for the finished product, but if you never buy a book yourself, it will still be available on Amazon. With the free end, I make the cover (no problem with their cover creator), they print exactly what I send, no editing/proofing. When photos of poor quality are submitted, they will warn me, but I say print anyway.

They will supply a proof to read free online. But I order a printed proof for around $12 inc. shipping. I prefer a book. For the last few books I have professional friends who proof for fun as friends, but we do take them out to dinner when we have a chance. Sometimes they get a little compensation, but nothing compared to the value they give me.
It is honestly not a mystery. I do get frustrated at times, but keep on until I get the book published. The main thing is ‘never give up.’

Seeing ‘My Book Sticky’ in print was akin to my first bicycle at Christmas.

In publishing the first ‘mountain’ faced is the ISBN (International Standard Book Number). That is the number and bar code on the back cover of every book. All books published ‘require’ the unique ISBN. Pricing the ISBN, through ‘BOWKER’ I learned that buying an ISBN, one costs $50 or ten would be $200. Since I was going to be a big writer I bought 10.
Here is the little trick about that number. If you buy the ISBN, YOU are the publisher. At any time you can take your book to any printer or publisher who will accept it, and have it printed.

My thoughts now. If I write a successful book and thousands/millions are sold, Amazon pays pretty good, maybe as well as some big guys.. Since writing over ten books and none have been block busters I will let CS give me an ISBN. They do not own the book, just the right to publish it. So if your book becomes a Harry Potter (type seller) they will be the publisher.

I KNOW I am not a writer of Clancy or Lamoure quality, I just enjoy writing. So on the last two books I have accepted their generosity of giving me an ISBN. For me it is a very good deal and less hassle.

To summarize, there is NO upfront money with Createspace. They will print a manuscript submitted in a pdf format. You pay nothing. You can get as many proofs as you require until you feel comfortable with the results. If you never do a thing after approving your proof, Amazon will carry it for sale. . You must furnish a routing # so your royalties can be deposited as they accumulate. Of course NO ROYALTIES are paid on books you buy at wholesale.

If YOU USE Createspace, you can buy your books at wholesale. But others will pay full price when they order. If you have more questions, feel free to ask them in comments.

That is it for publishing. Bottom line a few people make a living self-publishing, most DO NOT. Also a few people make a living thru major publishers, most DO NOT.

Writers are like musicians. MANY musicians of ‘head-liner’ quality live and die at low-rent gigs or in churches. They are just not heard by ‘THAT PERSON’ who has contacts.

Please forgive the long post……Happy New Year!
Nite Shipslog

Ps: APHORISM : A SHORT,CLEVER POINTED SENTENCE

i.e.

Always be yourself because the people that matter don’t mind ...

and the ones that mind don't matter.

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