Larry Jeram-Croft's Blog, page 13

Progress on the Lynx book

I've received some fascinating input for my book about the Lynx helicopter. I'm currently working on the section about the Falklands War.  One of the things that's become quite clear is that we should have got together soon after the war to exchange stories.  Doing it 33 years later is probably just a little too late!  I'm letting each individual Flight tell their story in their own way and entries run from a page and half to 7500 words but that only gives the whole section a degree of authenticity that would disappear if I tried to normalise everything.  Also I'm getting some really original and never seen before photographs which can only add to the narratives.  A couple below:

 Entitled 'just another say in the South Atlantic' by the photographer it sort of sums up some of then issues of operating a helicopter at sea!!  Apparently they all got rather wet a few seconds later.      A sense of humour was also rather essential - this is HMS Penelope Flight, hence the misleading name on the door!! (oh and its a finger).

Audio nightmare

Bad news.  It was all going too well.  Despite all my audio files for the new book passing the automatic checks for the web site that produces them and meeting some frankly very tough requirements, ACX the company that produces the books have come up with yet another criteria that they fail to meet.  Bit of a shame that its one that they fail to mention at all in their submission requirements!!!!  So I am looking at reverting to plan B and asking the American company that helped with Sea Skimmer to produce them for me.  The only problem is that it might mean I have to re-record the whole damn thing.  I may put the project on hold as I am busy with the book about the Lynx as well as getting into the new Jon Hunt novel.  The whole things smacks of what it was like to produce Kindles several years ago which was a nightmare until Amazon stepped in and streamlined the whole process.  Maybe I should just wait a year or five until they make the system user friendly.  Sorry if anyone was gong to buy the audio book soon - it may be out in a few months depending on several factors - I will put updates here when I know more.

More audio

Ta dah!!!!!   By dint of hard work and effort beyond the call of duty I finally uploaded the audio version of  Caspian Monster two minutes ago.  Some years ago when I started producing Kindle books the process was a pain the *rse because of the conversion software and need for exact formatting.  That's all changed now and one can simply upload a word file and the jobs a goodun.  Audio books  are another thing altogether.  The recording software is fine but completely full of incomprehensible jargon - luckily there is a users forum which was able to give me the steers I needed.  THEN, even though all the files are produced to the required format you have to run them through another piece of software for some unaccountable reason before uploading each chapter separately.  Oh and there has to be a one second gap at the start and 5 seconds at the end of each chapter which I only discovered once they had all been saved so they all had to be edited.  But hey its done now and I've learned how to do it so the next one should be much easier.  If your into audio it should be available on Amazon, Audible and ITunes within a week or so.  Phew where's that bottle of red..................

Oh and I had to redo the artwork as apparently audio books are square!!!!

Convalescing is hard work

Author's update.  Now I have a new hip I have no excuse not to get stuck in to lots more writing - after all there is little else to do until I can actually walk properly.   I now have three projects on the go.  Firstly I am narrating the 'Caspian Monster' the second in the Jon Hunt series.  I intend to produce this one myself as I don't see the need to pay someone else to do it.  Sales of the first audio book would seem to make it a worthwhile project.  Secondly, I  am ten thousand words into the new Jon Hunt novel which will be mainly about the war in the Balkans in the mid nineties plus a few sub plots as usual.  If anyone who reads this has any stories about the period I would love to hear from you.  And finally the book about the Lynx.  I am still gathering source material.  Getting all those who promised to contribute is a bit like herding cats but I haven't had to resort to threats just yet!  -- You know who you are.

Where have all the reviews gone?

Sorry about the bleat but I've found that the number of reviews my books are getting has dropped significantly despite my sales being quite steady and unchanged.  So I am posting this here and on my Facebook page to ask if anyone has done a review but not seen it appear.  I'm not that paranoid but Amazon do seem to have some rather odd rules and seem to reject them out of hand sometimes.  For authors like myself they are our lifeblood and any ammunition to take back to Amazon would be really appreciated.  Please use the comments section below if you wish to communicate.

Theres no such thing as a free lunch but there are free audio books

As part of my marketing I have 25 free vouchers for a copy of my Sea Skimmer Audio book. If anyone is interested in a copy just contact me either by email or through Facebook or give me your email in the comments section of the blog.  I will send you some simple instructions and a voucher code for the book.  My only request would be if you would kindly leave me a review once you've heard it.

Yup its there

Anyone wanting an audio versions of Sea Skimmer - search on 'Sea Skimmer' or 'jeram-croft' in the ITunes store or use this link to go to the  Amazon Audible site here:  Amazon Audible

Hear we go

Not a misspelt title as my first audio book was finished today and should be available on: Audible, Amazon and ITunes in a few days time.

Been busy

Not been blogging for a while as I've been concentrating on finishing my novel 'Sea Skimmer' as an audio book.  I narrated the final chapter yesterday.  The publishing company, Silverton Audio, hope to have it out by next week.  It will be interesting to see what sales are like.  There could be a good change that I'll be sat in front of a microphone for some time to come if they are, as there are only another nine to go!! However, I was told the other day that I need a new hip and that will keep me immobile for quite a while so at least I'll have something to do - as well as writing my book about the Lynx helicopter and the new Jon Hunt novel as well.  Who said retirement was boring??


  Talking of the Lynx - I was hosted by the Lynx Squadron (815) at Yeovilton the other day as they are keen to help me out with the book.  It was like going through a time warp.  I even recognised the Uckers board in the crewroom (Uckers = a navalised version of Ludo) and one of the guys still serving flew with me back in the eighties.  One plan is to launch the book at the same time as the aircraft is de-commissioned in a years time.  As I was one of the people who commissioned 815 back in 1981 it will be a full circle.

You heard it here first

Some time ago I mentioned that an American company had offered to take on 'Sea Skimmer' as an audio book.  I agreed not the least to see what sort of sales it could generate with a view to maybe doing the whole series.  It took much longer than anticipated and was conclusive proof of the adage 'that England and America are two nations separated by a common language'.  Unfortunately there were just too many corrections to make to make it viable - it really needs an English narrator.  So guess who will be doing that then? - still at least I won't get bored any time soon.


  Good old Ebay and my office is pretty well sound proof with the windows shut so that means weeks and weeks of hot weather!!