Skip to main content

The apple doesn't fall far from....

My collection of short stories, titled Ezra and Other Stories, is almost ready to be put on Kindle thanks to my grandson, Daniel.

He wanted to learn how to turn a manuscript into an e book and here was his chance. I told him if he did it for me I would pay him for his endeavors. Perhaps not quite as much as I paid the company that I used for my first book, Vada Faith, but I'd make it worth his time. Thus we entered into a non contract called money changing hands between a grandma and a grandson. Understood but un uttered was the fact that if he failed I would not hold him to it and would pay him anyway for his time. It's a grandma thing. His smile could warm any heart, particularly mine, this first born grandchild!

So I edited and read and edited and read and kissed the stories good bye and turned them over into his twenty year old hands.

With the stories went half of the payment which we had earlier agreed upon. He needed the money a bit ahead of time because he was traveling on tour with a band to document their concerts and earning college credit. I was proud to help in his endeavor.

Last week when Daniel sent me the e book to proof, I panicked. I coudn't open it on my Kindle. Woe is me --- I'd forgotten to tell him one important thing. For those of you who do not know there are two kinds of e books. Mobi which is the one Kindle uses, and epub which is the one Nook (Barnes and Noble) uses as well as all the other readers out there.  I knew this but neglected to tell Daniel. The fact had gotten buried inside my head which is filled mostly with useless tidbits of information.

At that point, I quickly scanned the internet - I had heard panic in his voice when we spoke - and found a website with instructions for turning an epub book into a mobi. I called Dan with the site and he did the transfer in a matter of seconds, sent it back to me and I opened it with ease.

It looked great. I noted a few mistakes, most of them mine, so now he is busy putting on the corrections between his classes and his long commute to school.

He's going to get credit in my book for creating my e book and he's hoping to get a bit of business to help with his college expenses.

I can't wait to get the e book back and get it on Kindle. I'm so proud of Daniel. He took on this job not knowing exactly what I was asking of him. Now I know he's as smart as HE thinks he is. Did I say that? Well I know he's smart. My mother used to say the apple does not fall far from the tree!

Dan is studying film and documentaries and I figured this publishing business wasn't too far off from what he's doing anyway.  So we helped each other.

Now, if you know anyone who is looking to turn a manuscript into an e book, I know just the man.
Dan is the man.

That's what I've been doing the last week or so.

Quick report on Vada Faith. I gave away over 8,700 copies between Sat. and Sun. which were both free days. Sales have started to pick up a bit thanks to all the advertising Kindle does for its free books and those free days. Thanks Amazon!!!
 What are you into? Not much? Oh come on. Tell me what you are doing!
Love hearing from you. Blessings!



Comments

  1. Wow! Good for you. (And your grandson.) I bought your book a while back, but I'm ashamed to say, I still haven't read it. I have quite a few books on there that are still unread, but I WILL read them. Eventually. Honest.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'll keep that in mind if I ever venture into self-publishing!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Barbara, it sure is good to have a family member who knows how to do stuff like that. My youngest son, who still lives at home, knows his computers. It is so good to be able to get his help when I need it. I wish I was good at writing short stories, maybe you could put some tips on your blog for us want-a-be short story writers.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ah, Spring and all her glory.

I'm enjoying the spring weather that has finally arrived in Ohio bringing blooming pear trees, red buds and tulip trees. How about you? Do you love spring as much as I do? I spent a day on the patio, putting out the table, chairs, umbrella. I painted a white wicker plant table and have decided it's too good for the patio. I plan to use it in the bathroom instead. Just when I thought winter would last forever, spring arrived with temperatures in the 70's. I noted buds covering my rose bush and a robin building a nest in the crevice of my chimney. I wanted to let them stay but they managed to leave so much debris at my front door that I had no choice but to shoo them away. Hopefully they've moved on to one of the many trees and bushes in my community, a more cozy place for raising babies. When I was a kid growing up in Putnam County, WV, I was outside at the first glimpse of the sun coming through my bedroom window. I ran through our yard, down through the orcha

The Dreaded School Pictures

This year when my children brought home their school pictures, I cringed.  These kids can leave home looking cherubic, but the minute they pose for that school photographer they are transposed into unrecognizable beings.  My middle daughter brought home pictures bearing her name and room number that couldn't have been my offspring. Nor a distant relative. I had worked for hours on this child. Her hair was parted in the middle and drawn into a cute little ponytail over each ear. Even though she is at an awkward age, she looked adorable when she went out that door. Her missing front teeth only added to her charm.  The kid in the picture has her mouth open wide displaying ugly dark gaps. Her one visible ponytail is lopsided, her part is uneven, and her bangs look like they were cut with pinking shears. I know this isn't my child because I always give my children a good haircut before they have their pictures taken. The only thing vaguely familiar is the sweater t

MY HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE...

Wednesday, March 16, 2011 High School - Poca High School, Putnam County, WV What year was it? Fall 1960 - Spring 1963 What were your favorite bands, or singers? Sam Cook, Chubby Checker, Conway Twitty (It's only make believe), Johnny Rodriquez. Meatloaf. ELvis. What was your favorite outfit? Straight skirts, blouses, cardigans or jackets, little heels. Other Outfits? Jeans and a white Dr. Ben Casey shirt. What was up with your hair? Everything. I put peroxide on it. Lemon juice, thinking it needed to be lighter. I cut it, styled it, put it in a pony tail or a french twist. Hair was the most important thing in my life in high school. And hair spray, the stiffer the better. Who were your best friends? Patti Jones, Karen Mattox, and Susie Bailey all thru elem school. Then added on Donna Dailey, Sharon "Mouse" Hackett and Janice Wick and many others. Also Bonnie Kerwood who was older than me and lived near me so we hung out listening to records after schoo