Still plodding on, getting Aquasapien into print. Every step and every part of every step, seems to take more time and more decision-making. After I sent the finished cover and manuscript to the printers requesting a little something extra be done to make it more noticeable, I'm left with more to think about and do.

​For you budding independent publishers - if you want a cover that wows, it will cost. You can have a plain matt laminate cover, a gloss cover, (which I had last time) UV spot varnish on specific parts of the cover, embossing, or metallic.

​Initially, I decided to investigate books in my genre at the local library and bookstores, to see what each treatment looks like. Metallic seems quite common in fantasy and sci-fi work, so I thought I'd go one more step and have UV spot as well. Then there was the decision, where do I put both these effects on the page? I thought maybe on the DNA strands, then someone said on the title, and someone else said on the face.

​OK - UV spot on the face and I'd liked the idea of metallic on the wording. Good friends suggested not the turquoise I'd been thinking of, as it would be lost on the blue cover, so I changed that to silver.

​Next, contact my printer with the planned additions and receive an updated quote. Unknown to me, they can't work on the cover I sent. They need a separate PDF file for each process used. I thought my formatter might manage this, but in fact turns out I need to go back to my original illustrator designer to have these new PDF files innovated - which incurs further costs, before I can send on to the printer for a second time.

​Meanwhile, Inspirations Writers Group, which I facilitate,  met yesterday and agreed to move the group to the next level.  Having published our first publication, which is available both in hard copy and on e-Reader,
www.amazon.co.uk/Red-Anthology-Inspirations-Writers-Group-ebook/dp/B01N9VO50X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1485714973&sr=1-2&keywords=Inspirations+Writers+Group
we are planning to join the National Association of Writers Groups and formalise our group structure. In addition, I have submitted the Inspirations Writers Group to the Kent Creative Awards for all their hard work in 2016.

Good luck everyone.



​

 Proud to be part of an awesome writing team - Inspirations Writing Group.

IWG launched it's first (and not it's last) anthology of short works.  We chose the colour red because we all write in different genres. We didn't want to produce a publication, like the majority of anthologies, which only covered one genre.

What theme could encompass all of them I thought. A colour! We chose RED ​for our first offering and are already thinking about our second ORANGE.  The aim is to use all the colours of the rainbow. They will look fabulous on your shelves like a rainbow of words. Watch out for the next one.

​Kindle edition out soon.
 
Inspirations Writing group, which meets on the 4th Saturday of every month (except December) at Westgate Library 11am to 1pm.

Its gone. It's left my grubby hands, or should that be worn out keyboard? My next adventure into writing Aquasapien,  is in the hands of the printing company now. I'm pleased to say everyone I've showed the cover too, including my  formatter Geoff, thinks the cover is good. Phew!

​Now I need to understand the minutia of cover printing. Last time, for WOTW, I opted for a plain glossy cover. This time I've become a bit more daring and requested more special effects on it. What did I do? I can have UV spot gloss varnish, embossing and metallic applications. First I researched each of these terms and decided I'd quite like all three, but of course there are costs implications. I'm not sure whether I can mix and match or what.  This is the point you might decide, you're never going to have a book printed so you may jump the next paragraph, unless you've ever considered business cards, leaflets, flyers etc.

​For those of you still interested and reading on, UV spot gloss is only added to matt laminated covers (not shiny) It is added at specific points on the cover to highlight and pick out interesting items. I like the idea, but what do I highlight?
​Embossing I understand. You get embossed wallpaper, birthday cards and business cards all the time. I think the title would look  good embossed, but I also think it would look in metallic silver or better still a sort of water shade. If I decide on all three it increases my costs by a third and I'm still licking my wounds from WOTW.

​I've received comments that John Redshaw's face would look good embossed or the DNA. I still like the idea of a shiny title on the front and spine. Why is it never easy? Why doesn't it just jump out at me and say "Do this, do this, this will work." No! I'm left with my doubts - and there are many - trying to figure out if, whether I like it, my readers will too. I am not my readers although I am a reader too.

I'm hoping my printer Ruth and her team can help on this one.

​I would appreciate comments on this. Check out the cover here or larger version on my novels page.

​Meanwhile, my hands have been drawn to Gristle's Revenge my follow-up second book after WOTW. I've started continuing this book. I already had 52,000 written from my Nanowrimo experience in 2014. Now I need to bring it up to WOTW pages, roughly 87,000 words, 368 pages. I've already completed the next 1,000 words.

​I'm thinking of doing Nanowrimo this November to continue Aquasapien Two - Prodigy, because Gristle's Revenge should be finished by then.

After that I've another five novels half written that I'm dying to continue.

​Does writing ever stop being exciting?

​Finally, thank you to Nigel for reminding me, and you, of the site Grammarly where you can place pieces of writing for it to correct. It's great for small pieces but for larger sections it gets a bit arduous. I look forward to meeting you at our writing group Saturday.
​

In my last blog I mentioned this anthology which now has it's launch date of:

Saturday 21st January
10.30 to 1.30pm at Ramsgate Library

The book has been filled by pieces from members of the Inspirations Writing Group. It's a group I run once a month and I'd felt it was about time some of their efforts and hard work was recognised in print. Everyone who attends puts their best effort in when they attend meetings and I'm proud to know them. All of them can write, as you will see if you come along to our launch. Some, are brilliant writers and it's a shame that due to the sheer numbers of writers submitting to publishers they may never get the chance of a traditional publisher taking them on.

(Any traditional publishers reading this please note that an anthology is a good way of reading many authors in one go and getting an idea which author might fit with your brand - individual author details avialable on request.)

​Where was I? Oh yes the launch. I, that is We, would appreciate local support for this venture - support your local Thanet writers.

Come along, talk to the authors, get your copy signed by your favourites. It is not the last book from Inspirations Writing group  either, we are already taking drafts for our next published anthology - Orange.

​Anyone wanting you be considered merely has to join the group - free of charge.  Westgate library 11am every 4th Saturday.