NERVES OF STEEL 101

Getting a bit nervous in the last few days. The copy edit is complete and I'm doing a final read through to improve my protagonist's internal struggle.  I need to sort out the final proof edit next. I've decided to give the 'fiver' site a shot. Sent off 1,500 words for proof editing - cost a fiver. Learnt my lesson from last time about checking each piece returned before paying out more.

Been to Waterstones Westwood who are happy to have my book launch on Halloween, providing I can set up a distributor account. Already tried that once but Gardeners, one of their suppliers, rejected my application. Have re-contacted them, hopefully they might re-consider.  My feet are getting  slightly cool as I worry about the finances needed to organise this publication. I guess I will need to pay Gardeners for distributing and then Waterstones, if they agree to sell it, will want to purchase it at a reduced price plus I need to arrange postage of books from the printers to the distributers. Not much change out of £4,000 I guess. 

I need to locate a formatter for the hard copy and e-book.

On top of all this I've discovered recently that Amazon are withholding 30% of every royalty from Underworld sales because I'm not a USA tax-payer! I will need to complete some complicated tax application on-line and identify the treaty which the UK has with the USA before I can let my book go on kindle.

On a brighter note the Inspirations Writers Group was great Saturday. We discussed and practiced inventing new metaphors. We found it isn't that easy to do when you are trying to do it deliberately. Homework is to write a list of 20 items, they can be objects, topics, places, names etc and come up with new metaphors for them. We identified places & names need to have stereotypical gravitas so the reader can identify with them.