Some E-Book Formatting Items You Don't Care About!

Formatting an e-book for publication, especially for premium distribution (e.g. Apple, B&N) requires a special, vanilla-type use of Microsoft Word, something I never really paid any attention to. I took a lot of time attending to this for the first book. It was new to me. You can't use tabs. You can't use odd or super large fonts. You can't hit the space bar to place your paragraph beginning. You can't hit the carriage return more than four times in a row. You can't number pages. Blah, blah.
But it's all good. It's because of the e-book readers. That's what they require. So, I thought I was all prepared when I started this book. I would just use the same format as my last book. Just delete the text and start with the new book. Yeah, right. I submitted it to Amazon on or about November 2 and the book's been up for a couple weeks now. However, I'm still having trouble with Smashwords. I discovered one little biddy tab and re-submitted. Error. I just went through the formatting again and discovered two paragraphs in Body text style hidden among the rest of Normal text style formatting. Yuck. So, I've fixed that and now resubmitted. It may be another two weeks before the book gets approved for premium distribution. Oh well.

The Apple E-Book Store Rates 'Flatline Virus' 4 Stars out of 5 (17 Reviews)

Here's a review....

'Future Words' to Look For in 'Homo Optimus'

These are some words you'll see in the book that are designed to describe something in the future, say 124 years from now. Some are words that currently exist, just not in everyone's everyday vocabulary.

the Hype-a slang word for (all the data on) the network of networks, formerly called the internet. It's short for Hyperfinite, meaning a very, very large number, approaching an infinite number, like the amount of data on it.

Aqualiens - extraterrestrial beings that live in water.

Data skins - the augmented reality related to a specific person, place or thing.

Astrobiologist - A scientist who makes use of physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology, molecular biology, ecology, planetary science, geography, and geology to investigate the possibility of life on other worlds.

Benthic - relating to the collection of organisms that live at the bottom of the sea

Cryophilic - relating to organisms that thrive in the cold

Augmented Reality - a term for a live direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input. Thus, the technology is supposed to enhance the current perception of reality. Ever watch a football game where the scrimmage line is in blue and the first down line is in orange...and there's an arrow on the field denoting that it's first down and 10? That's augmented reality today.

the Legacy - kind of like a super-Facebook where everyone captures (video, audio, images, text, etc.) almost everything of significance in their lives on the web from birth to death.

Cephalopods - a member of the family of mollusks, e.g. squid, octopus.

'The Origin of Homo Optimus: Humans, Aliens and Superbrains' now published!

It's now on Amazon and Smashwords, the distributor/retailer for $2.99 in e-book format. Soon to be available in the Apple iStore (using the app or thru iTunes store), Barnes & Noble, Sony, etc.

So Bill, why did you write this one?

Let's go back to the first one. Why did I do that?
1. I had an idea for a zombie book and wanted to see if I could see it through.
2. Well, I did see it through. Then I thought, maybe I can get it published.
3. Then I discovered I could publish it on my own in electronic format.
4. Not only that, but I found I could publish for almost nothing and people actually bought it.
5. The process of developing an idea, researching it, writing a story with characters and a plot, then seeing it through to publication was exhilarating and a great creative outlet during the golf off-season, while my paintings were drying.
6. So, I wrote a second one and here we are.

The Origin of Homo Optimus: Humans, Aliens and Superbrains sent to Publication

I have submitted the e-book to Smashwords and Amazon for publication. I am awaiting approval. I knew the formatting and book cover image were accepted. It should now be 2-3 days before it shows up on the electronic bookshelves...

In addition to listing it on its own website, Smashwords distributes to the book to Apple (my largest seller), Sony, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Diesel, etc.

I submitted the book directly to Amazon (Kindle Publishing).

You can see the book's trailer on You Tube (click on the spot to the right under interesting links).

New Book - likely to be called 'The Origin of Homo Optimus'

Here's an update. The following are completed: 1) re-formatting for e-book submission; 2) first and second edits; 3) draft of book cover (see at right); 4) book title (I believe I'm sticking with the one at right; 5) first draft of a short description of the story line which I'll need for e-book submission.

Right now the book stands at 53,000 words in length.

What's left?
1) Maybe one more edit; 2) finalizing a few techy words in the book, e.g. my word for the web or internet. It's important because I use it a number of times; and 3) finalizing the book cover, title, and short description. Oh, almost forgot...I need to produce a book trailer (about a 40-45 second spot video like a movie trailer which attaches to this blog and Smashwords, etc...gives the potential reader some idea about the book in more than just words).

Untitled New Book

The first draft of my new, yet untitled book is complete. I've also completed the formatting for e-book publishing as well as the first edit. I am currently working on getting the last four or five candidates for the book title down to a single one, garnering images and ideas for the book cover and getting ready to go through the editing process again (always a number of edits).

The story line includes the development of a human-friendly superintelligence, the apocalyptic earth-crossing course of a dark comet, and the strange happenings of the pre-colonization expedition to Jupiter's moon, Europa. The minor plots intertwine. The book will be about 52,000 words.

Updated Retailer Reviews of 'Flatline Virus'

Apple iStore - 15 reviews - 4 stars out of 5 (42% of sales)...now my largest seller
Barnes & Noble - 3 reviews - 3.5 stars out of 5 (18% of sales)
Amazon - 2 reviews - 2.5 reviews out of 5 (35% of sales)
Other (Sony, Kobo, Smashwords) - 0 reviews (5% of sales)

If You Want to Buy 'Flatline Virus' - It's an E-Book

My book is not in paper print...it's available as an e-book (meaning in electronic print). You can buy it online at the Apple Bookstore (see iTunes), Amazon, Barnes and Noble (those are the major ones) and also Sony and Smashwords (my distributor).


The links to some of those are to the right under my picture where it says 'Links to New and Exciting Places'. Enjoy!

Latest Reviews from Major E-Book Sellers

Amazon - 2 Reviews - 3 Stars out of 5
Apple - 14 Reviews - 4 Stars out of 5
Barnes & Noble - 3 Reviews - 3.5 Stars out of 5

Approaching 1000 Page Views

940 so far. Thank you, viewers. (You can check the number yourself at the bottom left of this blog)

Latest Reviews for 'Flatline Virus'

Amazon - 2 Reviews - 3 Stars out of 5
Apple - 12 Reviews - 4 Stars out of 5
Barnes & Noble - 3 Reviews - 3.5 Stars out of 5

Based on the latest statistics, Amazon represents 40%, Apple 36%, Barnes and Noble 20%, and Sony 4% of my book sales.

Apple Store (iTunes) Ratings

Latest Ratings show 10 reviews with 4 out of 5 stars for Flatline Virus.

My second book is under way with 21,700 words so far. The working title is 'Not Afraid. The Dilemma of AI Plus'.

Just Finished My Kindle Publishing Author Page

Check it out. The link is over the right of the page with some others.

Latest Review Status for 'Flatline Virus: When Zombies Evolved'

Apple Bookstore
10 reviews - 4 out of 5 stars

Barnes & Noble
2 reviews - 2.5 out of 5 stars

Amazon
2 reviews - 3 out of 5 stars