Chelsea M. Cameron's Blog, page 17

(Almost) Completely painless ebook formatting...

Writing a book is easy. Well, not easy, but it's really the most simple part of being an indie author. You sit, you type, you edit. It's not rocket science. But then you get to the fly in the ointment. Formatting...
It strikes fear into the hearts of many an author. But it doesn't have to. It can be done. Granted, you will curse. You might cry. But it can be done. Here is what I did for a basic ebook. No frills. Just quality. Oh, and don't follow the instructions on KDP. They're crap.
First step, you need to have a completely clean word document. Don't put any crazy symbols or wacky chapter headings. Nothing fancy. This is the first book. You do not need to be frilly. It will most likely get messed up, and you won't know how to fix it and you'll unnecessarily frustrate yourself. So don't do it, okay? You will also need your cover. It should be around 450 pixels by 550 pixels, but there is a little wiggle room. I used two images from iStock, and I chose the image size that was closest to that and had no problems. I am not a graphic artist, so if you have any questions, you should probably ask one. Be sure to save the final image you have as a jpeg.
Second step. You will need two pieces of free software to format. The first is Sigil. This is what you will use to do the actual formatting. You will spend a lot of time together. Just so you know. It's a program created by Google just for ebook formatting. I found it straightforward and easy to use. The second is Calibre. This program turns your Sigil file into whatever file you need to upload. You can turn it into an Epub or Mobi file. There's actually a huge list of them, so this program is extremely versatile.
Got it? Okay, now you need to go to this link: Ebook formatting the Easy Way. I stumbled upon this when I was doing NaNoWriMo last November and saved the link. Thank the heavens and angels I did. Cameron Chapman is a saint. Seriously, she saved my life. If she ever reads this, I kind of love you. And not just because your first name is awesome ;) 
FOLLOW ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS. The only step that I had a little trouble with is the part where she has you put all your chapters in separately. You can copy and paste the whole thing, and then do chapter breaks. This makes those pretty lines on the Kindle that separate the chapters and make the new chapter appear on a new page. It looks really nice. Also, you will need to fix anything you italicized, bolded or centered. It's a pain to do, but necessary. Then follow the rest of Cameron's instructions. There you have it. 
Two more things. Make sure you check your file on a device like a Kindle or a Nook. This is non-negotiable. Why go through all the trouble and then let a glitch in formatting make your book unreadable? It's another step, but well worth it. Second, is that I don't use Microsoft Word to write. It's a pain in the ass, quite frankly, and I don't want to pay for a program that doesn't work. So I use Open Office. It's free, and you can download it here. All you have to do to is make sure you save your file as a Word Document. Then you can take it right into Sigil and it should be fine.
It took me around five hours to format the first book. I went in cold, and it took me a while to learn the new programs. I ended up having a glitch and doing it again the next morning. Took me only about an hour and a half. I'm hoping my next time I can get it an hour or under. It's one of those things where the more you do it, the easier it gets. 
Formatting is daunting. Seriously daunting. But it can be done. It's a little bit like watching Martha Stewart make a pie. She adds in all these insane extra steps that you really don't need to do, just because she wants to be fancy. But being fancy shouldn't be the goal with an ebook. Readability should be the goal. And that is attainable. As long as you listen to Cameron. Both of us.

Five random facts about me...

This doesn't have anything to do with anything, but I thought I'd post five totally random facts about me. Maybe it will catch on and become a meme. If it isn't already. Which it probably is. Only it's titled something way cooler than I could have come up with.

1. I am really short. Like, around 5'0. On a really good day, if I'm stretching out, I can do 5'1. But those are days when the humidity and the wind conditions are right.

2. I cannot load a dishwasher to save my life. I've tried over the years, with varying degrees of success. Mostly failure. You see, I have almost no depth perception. I also couldn't tell you what ten feet looks like, because I don't know. So I do most of my dishes by hand. I don't mind it so much as long as I have some good music to rock out to.

3. I was named for the song "Chelsea Morning" by Joni Mitchell. My mom picked out the name when she was in college and always loved it. So that's what I got named. Weirdly enough, Chelsea Clinton is named after the same song. My mom thinks that means she and Hilary and Bill have this mystical connection.

4. I have never traveled outside of the United States. Not because I didn't want to, but it just never happened. I don't have a passport, even though I know I should. Those things are expensive. But someday I will make my way across the pond to England. I also want to go to Scotland and see the lands of my ancestors, the Camerons and the McMillans. I would also love to see Tuscany, Paris, Prague, Prince Edward Island, Japan and India. Oh, and I've always wanted to go to California to see what the other side of America is like.

5. I rock at Wii bowling. Also Just Dance. But that's because I did jazz for ten years, and was a cheerleader for 7. When people meet me now, they find it hard to believe that I ever cheered. One of my friends in college said that I was, "dark and twisty and bright and bubbly all at the same time." This is an accurate description of me. I can fangirl about zombies and then make a face like this two seconds later. Yes, I have made this face. Many times. I am not ashamed of this. Cheer is still a huge part of my life and I can't wait to make enough money so I can afford to be a coach.








So there you have it. Probably more than you ever cared or needed to know about me. This is my answer to the vlog. Because I also hate the sound of my own voice. But I've already blogged about that.

Some of the best books written about writing...

I'm one of those kinds of people that, when I am passionate about something, I get a little obsessed. Example? When I was 12, the movie Titanic came out. Oh boy. I went nuts. I memorized facts about the ship. I nearly killed our laser printer collecting pictures I'd found online. I knew random facts about the movie, the cast, all of it. I stopped counting when I had watched the entire movie, both VHS tapes (cuz that's how we rolled in 1997) 50 times. No, that is not a typo. I could probably still quote the movie word for word. More than ten years later.

So that should give you a window into my obsession. I've since abandoned the Titanic obsession and moved on. I know, right? How could I? Well, it happened.

Writing is my Titanic now. I think about it all the time. I love talking shop, whether people are listening or not. This is why I tweet so much. So I thought I'd share a few of my favorite books about writing. Because you can't set down to write without learning how.

ON WRITING by Stephen King. I read this when I was in college, and have re-read it two or three times since. The crazy thing is that I've never read any of Steve's stuff (I can call him Steve because we went to the same University, worked at the same college newspaper and he and my mother graduated the same year), but this is just a good book about writing. Not everything in it can be taken for gospel, but nothing ever should be. He has so many good tips for starting to write and staying motivated.








BIRD BY BIRD by Anne Lamott. While some take this book as gospel, I don't so much. She makes writing sound like such drudgery. And she also seems like the kind of person who slaves away for years on one book. I feel a lot of the writing guides advocate this slow writing. I'm not a slow writer. I don't have a problem with writing a first draft in two weeks and then revising it for a few months. I can't do a book a year. I have too many ideas in my head that need to get out that I'd go stark raving mad. But still, it's another good book about what it takes to be a writer. How to start and how to stay writing.












THE FOREST FOR THE TREES by Betsy Lerner. This book changed my life. I found it at my local library one summer when I was struggling with my writing. In one chapter, she talks about how even when you're not sitting down and banging words out on a keyboard, you're writing. You make up stories in your head or you re-imagine scenarios or you write letters. This means you are a writer. You are writing, you just don't know it. Ding, ding, ding! I had my Aha moment. I was a writer. I could no sooner change it than I could make myself taller. I was a writer, so I might as well be writing. The floodgates opened and soon I had so many book ideas I couldn't keep up. Some of them are still waiting their turn to be written. This book gave me the permission I needed to be a writer. Not that I really needed it. I was a writer all along.


These are just three of the goodies. I'll probably post more later as I think of them. Also, I need to do that formatting post. That sounds like a barrel of fun, doesn't it? But if I can help one other person not tear their hair out formatting an ebook, then I'll be happy.

Some things about some things...

So Nocturnal is still in its first week. Oh look there's the cover.
And the synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Ava-Claire Sullivan isn't one for doing the expected. Especially when she finds out her mother's cancer is terminal. After a crying session in the local cemetery where she's attacked by one strange guy and saved by another, she doesn't call the cops and let them take care of it. Because those guys definitely weren't your average hooligans. And the one who sort of saved her? Well, he's odd. He doesn't seem to breathe or smile or have anything better to do than wait in the cemetery for Ava to come back. Which she does. Call it morbid curiosity. There's just something about Peter. He also provides a much-needed escape from her mother's diagnosis and her tenuous relationship with her father. Even her best friends Jamie and Texas don't know what it's like to face death. But Peter does. He already has. But what price will Ava have to pay to keep her sanctuary? Her soul, perhaps?






And here's where you can buy it on Amazon. And here's where you can get it from Barnes and Noble.

Okay, self-promo done. I'll try not to do too much because it's annoying and it doesn't sell books. So there. It's done.

Sales have exceeded my expectations. When it's been out for a full week, I might post my figures. Or I might not. We'll see.

How about I promote someone else? Yeah, that sounds good. I'm reading Angellfall by Susan Ee and it's freaking awesome. It's one of those books you wish was longer because you read it so fast, and you try to slow down, but you can't because you. Have. To. Know. What. HAPPENS. This is one of those books. Basically the world has ended and it's been invaded by evil angels. Penryn is just trying to survive and take care of her mother and wheelchair-bound sister. But then her sister is kidnapped by the angels and her only chance to get her back is... an angel. One who's lost his wings. Oh sigh. This book doesn't skimp on the gory details, but I like that. The apocalypse isn't a pretty thing. But the cover is. Isn't it? I'd heard great things about this book, and yes, they are all true. So you should read it. Posthaste.




That's another thing. I have decided to use more old-timey words like posthaste. I've already posted twice about my love for the word swell. I would like to bring these words back. Because they're fancy and they sound neat. Yup, I just said neat. I'm on a ebook sales high. I'm not responsible for my actions. Also, I have lots of candy. And my momma bought me Hershey's kisses for Valentine's day. The bag is sitting right next to me. Calling me. Seducing me...

Wait, what? Where was I? I'm watching American Idol right now and it's group week. The group I just heard was awful. Just awful. This is really what separates the real singers from those who sing. And yes, there is a difference. Like people who write and writers. See what I did there? I swung that back around to make it about writing. Yeah, you caught that.

Okay, I'm done. I should really not blog when I'm like this. And I'm out.

In which I hit the publish button and freak out a little...

It's done. I hit the publish button over at Amazon, and also at Barnes and Noble. It's real. The book I started working on last May(ish) is now A Thing. The book that I waited years to write because it has creatures that drink blood and I thought the market was flooded. The book that made me laugh and sigh and fall in love with a boy named Peter who isn't human. The book that helped me work through my feelings about mortality and what it means. I have no words for what this feels like. It's a consummation of years of work and struggling and worrying and wanting and hoping and praying and dreaming. I'll probably cry when I sell my first copy. Yeah, I know I will.
I'm planning on doing a post next week on how I did it. Especially formatting. That was like being dropped in France without a word of French. I found a few good resources, and without them I wouldn't have been able to do it. But I checked the file and everything looked good, so I must have done something right. I'll post what I did because I believe in sharing what you know. For now I'm going to bask in the high that I'm on. Also, I'm going to the Maine State Cheerleading Competition in an hour, so I'm going to be all hopped up from that. And then I'm going out to see a live band tonight with friends. So this day freaking rocks.


This is my life right now. Lots of leaping.

Nocturnal has a cover!

I just finished the cover, like, five seconds ago and I was so excited, I had to share it! I created it all on my own, using two stock images, GIMP and a lot of trial and error and perhaps some cursing. I'm working on formatting the book now, so it should (key word being SHOULD) be up on Amazon soon! Like in the next few days!!! I'M SO FREAKING STOKED!!!!



It's mine! ALL MINE!!!!!

In which I talk about the Superbowl...

I know what you're thinking. Cuz I can, like, totes read minds. Just like this girl.



You're thinking that I don't seem like the kind of person to talk about football. And you'd be right. I am not going to talk about football, because I know nothing about it. Honestly, I couldn't tell you what a fourth down is if my life depended on it. But I do like other things about the Superbowl. The snacks, for one. I will be making Velveeta dip with chips, cheesy breadsticks and sweet potato fries. My mouth is watering just thinking about it right now. I also love the commercials. Like this one:



Oh yes, please. What was I talking about? Right, the Superbowl.

I also like the flailing of hands. Like this:



There are a lot of things I like about the Superbowl. But it's not the football. Of course, I'll be rooting for the New England Patriots. Maine is Pats country and to say anything different would be like insulting LL Bean or Carharts. You just don't go there. So even if I don't know what the hell is going on, or who any of the players besides Tom Brady, Eli Manning or that guy who broke his foot, I'll be watching. And failing my hands every time the Pats score.

In which my plot gets hijacked...

For you writers out there, have you ever been going along, writing on your merry way, throwing daisies and skipping through a sunlit meadow and singing and then a giant bear tries to bite your leg off? And you're like, well, I don't know where that bear came from. Well, you're probably wondering how the hell to get the bear to release your leg from its jaws first off. And then worry about what the bear is doing there. You didn't outline a bear in this story. There was no bear in the meticulous outline that you spent a month working on. But oh well, C'est la vie. Bears happen.

Well, I had a bear show up yesterday. My MC's love interest shows up at her house, after a rather harrowing day, to join family dinner. Sweet and cute and adorable, right? Oh no, she answers the door and then this happens:


 "Perfect timing," I say when I open it. I smile at him, and thenhe says the worst words in the English language other than, "weneed to talk." "We have a problem."
Wait, what? What is this problem? I didn't know we had a problem. Who is writing this damn thing?! 
*flails* 
For you non-writers, it's a bit like reading a story and thinking you know exactly what direction it's going in and then being completely blindsided. Only times a million. Because I'm supposed to be the one in charge. I think a lot of non-writers think that I make up the story. Granted, this is partly true. But most of the time I feel like this other force takes over me. I hear these people saying things and I'm just an observer. I have no control over what they say or when they say it or what they do. They are people I'm following around. Like paparazzi. Only I get to go inside their heads and know almost everything about them. Sometimes they like to hide things from me. Things that become important later that I wish they would have told me. I know it sounds crazy, but as E. L. Doctorow said, "writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia." 
I know what the "problem" is now. I just have no idea where this thing is going. Time to do some character wrangling. Which probably looks like this:


Time for some plot wrasslin'!

A list of Swell things, appended...

So the other day I wrote my List of Swell Things, and I was thinking that I'd missed a few. I tried to stick with things that were time-period appropriate. But there are lots of modern swell things. Like Tony Bennett. And Downton Abbey. So here's a few more things I think are swell:


Marilyn Monroebooks with ribbon bookmarksLady GagaclarinetsbubblescheesecakeThe Artist (even though I haven't seen it)Hugh Grant moviesJulia Roberts moviesRichard Gere moviesJust about any romantic comedy made from 1992 - the presentpistachioshot tubsthe Oscarsrecordswhite gold jewelrycoconut candlesValentinorimless glassesankletstulipscandlelightround-toed pumpsswanschampagne (especially pink)
Wow, all of those things sound like they would make the best date ever. Hmmm....

Books so nice, I bought them twice...

I'm one of those people who has an iPod, but I still buy CDs. I have a huge collection, mostly things that I wanted to have a physical copy of, in case of iPod or Apple disaster. Like Muse and Taylor Swift and Josh Groban. Also all of the Twilight soundtracks.

I also practice this in terms of books. I have tons of kindle books, but I have hard copies as well. They just don't look as pretty on the kindle as they do on my bookshelf. Or, in my case, piled in a stack-that-might-fall-over-any-minute on my desk. Which is how most of my books are currently displayed.

I've been trying to save money, so I went on a book buying hiatus for about two months. That's not to say I didn't buy books, because I stocked up on kindle books. So really, I failed at my promise. But who can say no to books?


This guy can't.........
Oh, sorry I was busy wiping drool off my face. Annnndddd we're back. Books. Yes, right. 
So this week I did it. I broke my non-paper-book-buying. I caved and bought three books. Significance by Shelly Crane, which was one of my best indies of 2011 and look at the cover. Isn't it gorgie?

I also purchased Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout (omg, I might need to take a cold shower after reading it again. DAEEEEMMMOONNNNN), and Jenny Pox by J.L Bryan. I've talked about my Jenny Pox love before. Here and here. I'm stoked to get the book with the pretty, pretty cover done by Claudia at Phatpuppyart. She is THE go to person for indie covers. Her work is beautiful, and I can't wait to have these three sparkly books in my hands!!!! I want to punch Amazon so they'll ship them already. Serves me right for picking free shipping. Gah, I can't wait to hold them in my hands. *waits to pet the preciousessssss*