Born at the tail end of 1963, I am old enough to remember those plain, black, heavy, rotary-dial telephones. By the time I was a young adult, the first cell phones were in use, along with personal computer whose monitors weighed a ton. These inventions changed life as we know it (unless you happen to be a technophobe, in which case, you won't be reading this anyway). Cell phones, personal computers, and the Internet have opened up the world to us ~ have made it so open in fact that I can link this post to Shay's Favorite Things Friday blog, hosted by a funny, talented, wonderful lady from Australia who isn't even on the same day of the week as I am. When I post this on Friday, it will already be Saturday there.
I so enjoy the people I have met through the Internet ~ people I've never seen in the flesh, but regard as friends.
Now, technology has made it possible to self-publish one's own books with ease and little to no expense. No longer are the big publishing houses the gatekeepers of bookdom. Yes, these institutions no doubt do insure that books are held to good grammatical standards and comprehendable content. However, they are in the business of making money, and to that end, they tend to publish the same fare over and over because they know certain types, styles, and plot-lines sell. They do not take risks on anything too original, or content that does not fit into an easily marketable niche.
So today, I hold in my hands the very first hard copy of the book my dad and I wrote together ~ a paranormal, contemporary fantasy, Beyond the Mortal Coil, rejected by one of those big publishing houses for being "too original." (I kid you not!) My dad was the imagination and wordsmith, and my role was to help brainstorm, research, type, and edit.
Life is good!
*A special thanks to my cousin-in-law, Eric, for doing the proofreading, and blogging about the book himself.
I so enjoy the people I have met through the Internet ~ people I've never seen in the flesh, but regard as friends.
Now, technology has made it possible to self-publish one's own books with ease and little to no expense. No longer are the big publishing houses the gatekeepers of bookdom. Yes, these institutions no doubt do insure that books are held to good grammatical standards and comprehendable content. However, they are in the business of making money, and to that end, they tend to publish the same fare over and over because they know certain types, styles, and plot-lines sell. They do not take risks on anything too original, or content that does not fit into an easily marketable niche.
So today, I hold in my hands the very first hard copy of the book my dad and I wrote together ~ a paranormal, contemporary fantasy, Beyond the Mortal Coil, rejected by one of those big publishing houses for being "too original." (I kid you not!) My dad was the imagination and wordsmith, and my role was to help brainstorm, research, type, and edit.
Life is good!
*A special thanks to my cousin-in-law, Eric, for doing the proofreading, and blogging about the book himself.
Yes, technology has really changed how we conduct our lives. It's so great that you were finally able to get Beyond the Mortal Coil published. It was a shame for such an original novel to just languish.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how tech has moved on so quickly and what we take for granted nowaway. Even remote controls! I'm so glad you have been able to get the book published, well done.
ReplyDeleteTechnology has changed our lives in ways we never could have even imagined 30 or 40 years ago . (I too recall the first mobile phones that were the size of a brick !)
ReplyDeleteBeing able to self publish your father's book must have been such a thrill for you. Now- where can I get myself a copy?
Yes, it's so nice to hold the book in my hand. :-)
DeleteBoth the hard copy and the Kindle Digital version are available from Amazon. :-) ( http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-the-Mortal-Coil-ebook/dp/B006V3RH4W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326495218&sr=8-1 ) Oh, and I understand that if a person doesn't have an actual Kindle, there is a program that can be downloaded so that you can read the Kindle version on your computer.
Or you can order the hard copy direct from the print on demand publisher, (CreateSpace eStore: https://www.createspace.com/3769438 ) but I don't know which would be cheaper as far as shipping.
I do know with Amazon, the book is eligible for free super saver shipping if you order over $25 (at least here in the States).
Oooh, Michelle, you had me at paranormal - LOL! I'll be getting this for my Kindle! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteI have ideas. I was thinking we should make a forum. The only people on the forum are the characters in the book. We tell their stories through their interactions and their "continuing" experiences.
ReplyDeleteGreat! I just read the review on your cousinil's blog, and it sounds like a cool read. I'm so happy for you, Michelle! My SIL has a kindle, wonder if I could borrow it....
ReplyDelete:-}pokey
I agree technology is amazing and it's funny how I can't possibly be without my cell phone or iPad now. I too remember when my hubby had a cell phone that was the size of a brick and attached to something the size of a large briefcase!
ReplyDeleteI'm so pleased you have been able to self publish, that;s great!
Writing a book is lots of work, even with self publishing. Warm congratulations on finishing. Love new technology too although I don't have all that I would like, even just being on facebook to me is a wonderful way to connect!
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ReplyDeleteI agree with you on every point that you made! I can't wait to get my hands on your book...
ReplyDeleteI remember those days - how excited I was to be able to keep an eye on my company's mainframe, by taking a laptop computer home and hooking it into my phone, lol!!! Congratulations on your book!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulation on the book I hope it is a big success. Love technology and the way things have changed over the years. When I first started working we had a typewriter with a floppy disk in it that had all the letters on. There was one computer in the office and that was only used to create quotes (I worked for insurance agents) Then gradually more computers, then I went to work for the parent company and I was doing desktop publishing and then mainframe typing then it went on to full on word processing. Now if you don't have a computer on your desk (or in your handbag) you can't work. Its changed and it is made the world so much smaller. Great FTF.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the book - what an achievement!
ReplyDeleteYes, ma'am....this modern thing called the internet has made it A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL....:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the sweet wishes for my son on his birthday. He was born in '64 and daughter in '69 so they are about your age.
Good luck on your book....
xo bj
I'm so glad I found your blog. Seems we have a lot in common, though I am older than you. But I'm am so thankful to be living in this modern age. I'm having so much fun meeting people all around the world. About your book, don't give up. Writing a book has been my dream. There was a woman on 60 minutes who wrote a paranormal and got over 100 rejections, published it herself, and made a boat load of money. You will too! Good luck on your book!
ReplyDeleteNow thats what I call good timing....I'm late in reading FTF and i am looking for a new book tonight on Kindle, couldn't find anything but now I have.
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle :-)