Well, I don’t know the moral, or where this song should end

[rolanni]

Scattered day, much thinking, small writing. I suspect that I will write one more chapter, so that I’ve achieved a Certain Point, then print out and read what’s here.

I did go to the gym today and meet with the trainer. I now have a workout routine! I did half of said workout routine today, as part of the training. My stomach muscles? Are really pissed off at me. I’m committing to three days a week — Monday, Wednesday, and Friday — an hour each day, even if I have to wimp out on the strength-building machines at first, and finish out the hour on the treadmill or the bike.

Go, me.

The other thing of note that I did today was order a new alarm clock. This was unexpectedly time consuming. Who knew buying a clock would be so hard? All I wanted was a dual alarm atomic clock with a thermometer. After much shopping and reading of reviews and specs, I compromised with a SmartSet Dual Alarm Clock Radio with Jumbo 1.3-Inch LED Display and Time Projector (Silver). You may ask, and reasonably, Why did you buy a clock that projects the time? And I would be forced to say, It came with.

Maybe there’ll be a way to turn it off.

In other news, I am exploring ways to offer print books to people who want them. To that end, I will be doing a tour of Lulu and seeing how much of a strain it will be to upload Barnburner as my Test Case.

Anybody who’s used Lulu have any advice/insight/warnings?

Progress on the Book Presently known as George
52,213 of 100,000 OR 52% complete

“Enough! We dream as one! Now, let us go and gather what is needed.”

Originally published at Sharon Lee, Writer. You can comment here or there.

Comments

[magentametrix.livejournal.com]

I know that Dusk Peterson, one of my (also) favorite authors, has just had a major dustup with Lulu, however, I don't know how relevant Dusk's issues will be for you. Dusk is here on LJ. http://duskpeterson.livejournal.com/

I await hearing about your Lulu experiences

[dragonet2.livejournal.com]

I would like to do a chapbook-style book of the short stores that I have had out in the past.

[enleve.livejournal.com]

When a blogger I read, Venkatesh Rao, published a book, he used Lightning Source (http://www1.lightningsource.com/benefits_small.aspx), which lets you get the book into Amazon. He says (http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2011/03/31/tempo-stealth-edition/) "if you want to do it the right way, and enjoy all the advantages of being a publisher rather than an author, Lightning Source, a division of the biggest book distributor, Ingram, is the only path."

POD publishers

[(Anonymous)]

Hi Sharon,

The "writer's group" I belong to published an anthology earlier this year. I got stuck to do the research, and discovered Lulu has more bad reviews than any of the other main ones. If I were to go that way, I'd look first at AuthorHouse. We finally decided to self-publish with a very cooperative local printer. Since we needed only about 90 books this was cheaper, though we did all the work, of course. I think I sent the link once before but if not it's
http://home.kcbx.net/~jbarnes/WordWvrs/WebFinal.pdf Ugly, ain't it.

Cheers, Jack

[roseaponi.livejournal.com]

Lightning Source is the printer that most of the POD companies use... I plan to go with Booklocker.com, myself. I hear a lot of quality issues with Lulu.

Speaking as an indie bookseller

[(Anonymous)]

I have ordered - as a bookseller - from Lulu. They're OK. Not great discounts and the quality is pretty typical for POD. CreateSpace is about the same, for my $.

I know a LOT of authors/publishers are going with Lightning Source.
As someone who deals with Baker & Taylor but not Ingram (unless you count my website), it takes a long while to get copies. I do get them eventually. I think B&T and Ingram have some kind of rumble going on.

There are a couple-three POD publishers out there I will no longer deal with simply because they don't supply well and they don't take returns. I'd rather buy the books off the authors in those cases. Then I know the authors Get Paid.

I have no idea how admirable the terms are for authors for any of these guys...good luck
Lauretta@ConstellationBooks
PS Someone who had Not Read (!) Plan B just went home with Korval's Game - I envy him the joy of finding out what happens after Carpe Diem. :)

[(Anonymous)]

Jim Macdonald did a post on e-publishing over at Making Light last month. Not sure if I can post URLs here? http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/013176.html

Talks about lots of other things that I'm sure you already know, as you've mentioned smashwords etc. But he does talk a little about Lulu, and there's probably useful stuff in the comment thread as well.

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

A bottle cap taped over the projection opening is a good way to shut it down. :)

[jane-barfly.livejournal.com]

A bandana over the projector also works well, but in our youngest's case, the clock came with a switch to turn off the projector. The bandana came in handy when the clock worked, but the switch didn't.
Laura

Sharp dual alarm atomic clock with indoor/outdoor temp at Office Max

[redpimpernel.livejournal.com]

I'm not seeing it in the Office Max catalog right now, but I can always find the latest version of the Sharp dual alarm atomic clock with indoor/outdoor temp for around $12-$15 at Office Max. They are on a shelf on the back wall of the store. (No matter which Office Max you go to.)
My current version looks like this:


Newer version like this: