J.L. Langland's Blog, page 4
January 1, 2017
Kindle PW Light Fonts
Hi,
So the original release of The Apostles of Doom had a formatting issue on Kindle Paper Whites where the font was so light it was hard to read. It was OK on tablets and phones.
This is something very weird in the translation to Kindle. After trying several things, I uploaded a pure HTML version which fixed the light fonts...and broke the Table of Contents! Ack!
The ToC was there at the beginning and worked, but you can't bring it up on the menu bar to jump around.
I have contacted Kindle Support for help and am continuing to work on releasing a better version.
My apologies, but this formatting problem was not at all obvious in the previewers they provide me. Amazon doesn't allow me to download a "real" copy to my devices before anyone else. So in fact, people in earlier time zones get the book before I even see it.
So the original release of The Apostles of Doom had a formatting issue on Kindle Paper Whites where the font was so light it was hard to read. It was OK on tablets and phones.
This is something very weird in the translation to Kindle. After trying several things, I uploaded a pure HTML version which fixed the light fonts...and broke the Table of Contents! Ack!
The ToC was there at the beginning and worked, but you can't bring it up on the menu bar to jump around.
I have contacted Kindle Support for help and am continuing to work on releasing a better version.
My apologies, but this formatting problem was not at all obvious in the previewers they provide me. Amazon doesn't allow me to download a "real" copy to my devices before anyone else. So in fact, people in earlier time zones get the book before I even see it.
December 31, 2016
New version at 12:03 CST
Hi,
I have just published a new version of the Apostles of Doom that should fix the "light colored"/"hard to read" font issue.
It's a problem with how the kindle formatter is translating epubs, in the original case and handling booksmarks in later cases where I tried to fix it.
I believe it is fixed now...but who knows if I've introduced other errors.
Let me know!
See Something! Say Something!
JLL
I have just published a new version of the Apostles of Doom that should fix the "light colored"/"hard to read" font issue.
It's a problem with how the kindle formatter is translating epubs, in the original case and handling booksmarks in later cases where I tried to fix it.
I believe it is fixed now...but who knows if I've introduced other errors.
Let me know!
See Something! Say Something!
JLL
Font Color Issues
Hi,
I've had reports of some weird font/color issues with the main chapters on some devices.
On some the text is very light, on others it's like black blobs or something.
Not sure what was up. The Kindle formatter was being a big pain and had weird ToC issues with my word document so used an epub upload.
That looked good in simulators, but really doesn't work well on actual devices.
Trying other formats to clear up these issues ASAP.
If you have issues, let me know, and what devices you are using.
Once the corrected version is posted, you can go into Manage my books on Amazon and delete the ebook from your device and then redownload it to get newest version.
JLL
I've had reports of some weird font/color issues with the main chapters on some devices.
On some the text is very light, on others it's like black blobs or something.
Not sure what was up. The Kindle formatter was being a big pain and had weird ToC issues with my word document so used an epub upload.
That looked good in simulators, but really doesn't work well on actual devices.
Trying other formats to clear up these issues ASAP.
If you have issues, let me know, and what devices you are using.
Once the corrected version is posted, you can go into Manage my books on Amazon and delete the ebook from your device and then redownload it to get newest version.
JLL
Tonight? It's Raining Demons
Tonight NYE 2017 is the night!
Tonight, for the first time in history, it's going to start raining demons!
The Apostles of Doom arrives tonight at midnight in your timezone.
Demon showers are already raining on Australia and New Zealand!
Remember, all books are on Kindle Unlimited.
I am doing a Kindle Countdown for Volume I: Into The Abyss on Monday in the US and UK.
If you buy the Dead Tree version from Amazon, you get the Kindle e-book for free.
If you have KU or own the e-books, then you can go to my CreateSpace store and get a discount on Dead Trees!
Simply visit Astlan.World and use the listed discount codes for each book.
The codes bring each book down to $14.99. Unfortunately, CS doesn't do free shipping, but if you have the e-book, you've already read the story.
Tonight, for the first time in history, it's going to start raining demons!
The Apostles of Doom arrives tonight at midnight in your timezone.
Demon showers are already raining on Australia and New Zealand!
Remember, all books are on Kindle Unlimited.
I am doing a Kindle Countdown for Volume I: Into The Abyss on Monday in the US and UK.
If you buy the Dead Tree version from Amazon, you get the Kindle e-book for free.
If you have KU or own the e-books, then you can go to my CreateSpace store and get a discount on Dead Trees!
Simply visit Astlan.World and use the listed discount codes for each book.
The codes bring each book down to $14.99. Unfortunately, CS doesn't do free shipping, but if you have the e-book, you've already read the story.
December 24, 2016
Notes on Paperback pricing
Hi,
A few notes on the pricing of the paperbacks.
The cost of a paperback is based on the number of pages for indie/on-demand books.
That creates a base cost, which includes profit for CreateSpace. Then I have to figure in the profit made by the distributors and resellers in the process.
There is a tool for all of this at CreateSpace. I set the list price to be the minimum amount needed to not lose money on a book in a particular channel. For instance, with what is called extended distribution, meaning retail brick and mortar bookstores (particularly in Europe) it is set at the minimum price that makes me some money. In this case I make about 50 cents per book, depending on currency rates. I'm not allowed to lose money on selling books (by the system)
You may note that the Heavenly Host recently went up. This is because I reedited to fix formatting problems, where, in particular, chapters did not always start on an odd page, as they should.
This added more (blank) pages to the book, and thus the cost. I therefore had to reprice the book to cover the minimum allowed price in extended distribution. E.g. still make $0.50/book.
You will also see that the paperback price for Apostles of Doom is higher yet. This is because 1) proper formatting and 2) it is a longer book than the other two. Therefore it has to have a higher list price to be available in all channels.
So, that is why all three are no longer costing the same amount. They are set at a list price that makes them available in every market when all the middle-men in the process get their cut.
JLL
A few notes on the pricing of the paperbacks.
The cost of a paperback is based on the number of pages for indie/on-demand books.
That creates a base cost, which includes profit for CreateSpace. Then I have to figure in the profit made by the distributors and resellers in the process.
There is a tool for all of this at CreateSpace. I set the list price to be the minimum amount needed to not lose money on a book in a particular channel. For instance, with what is called extended distribution, meaning retail brick and mortar bookstores (particularly in Europe) it is set at the minimum price that makes me some money. In this case I make about 50 cents per book, depending on currency rates. I'm not allowed to lose money on selling books (by the system)
You may note that the Heavenly Host recently went up. This is because I reedited to fix formatting problems, where, in particular, chapters did not always start on an odd page, as they should.
This added more (blank) pages to the book, and thus the cost. I therefore had to reprice the book to cover the minimum allowed price in extended distribution. E.g. still make $0.50/book.
You will also see that the paperback price for Apostles of Doom is higher yet. This is because 1) proper formatting and 2) it is a longer book than the other two. Therefore it has to have a higher list price to be available in all channels.
So, that is why all three are no longer costing the same amount. They are set at a list price that makes them available in every market when all the middle-men in the process get their cut.
JLL
December 20, 2016
See something, Say something
Hi,
One of the advantages of being an Indie book is that I can update/correct things relatively quickly.
In the case of the Dead Tree books, I can only update things for future readers, but for Kindle I can correct things for everyone.
Since the 2nd Edition of Volume I. I've had an editor, volumes 2 and 3 have beta demons to check stuff.
Even so, we (meaning I) make mistakes. I have recently corrected a small spelling/typo in Vol 2 and lots of formatting issues for the Dead Tree version.
If you see something: typo/spelling/formatting/other issue in a book--SAY SOMETHING!
I will then work to fix it for future readers.
This is a huge help to me and all future readers, and I'd really appreciate it.
You can log these errors in the forums at Astlan.World
T-A-G (The Author Guy)
One of the advantages of being an Indie book is that I can update/correct things relatively quickly.
In the case of the Dead Tree books, I can only update things for future readers, but for Kindle I can correct things for everyone.
Since the 2nd Edition of Volume I. I've had an editor, volumes 2 and 3 have beta demons to check stuff.
Even so, we (meaning I) make mistakes. I have recently corrected a small spelling/typo in Vol 2 and lots of formatting issues for the Dead Tree version.
If you see something: typo/spelling/formatting/other issue in a book--SAY SOMETHING!
I will then work to fix it for future readers.
This is a huge help to me and all future readers, and I'd really appreciate it.
You can log these errors in the forums at Astlan.World
T-A-G (The Author Guy)
December 15, 2016
Amazon Author Forum
For some reason Amazon has stopped showing Amazon Author Forums on the author pages.
Here is the link to my discussion forums.
Here is the link to my discussion forums.
December 6, 2016
The Apostles of Doom Pre-Order Available
Amazon now has the kindle edition of The Apostles of Doom available for pre-order.
Both the kindle edition and trade paperback will be available January 1st, 2017.
As with the previous two books, purchasing the paperback will get you a free copy of the kindle version.
Also, as before, AoD will be free to read on Kindle Unlimited.
Happy reading!
Both the kindle edition and trade paperback will be available January 1st, 2017.
As with the previous two books, purchasing the paperback will get you a free copy of the kindle version.
Also, as before, AoD will be free to read on Kindle Unlimited.
Happy reading!
December 4, 2016
Started Book IV Yesterday
I officially started writing Volume IV of Demons of Astlan, yesterday.
Title will not be known for a bit, Volume III Beta Demons are voting on it.
Vol III has been at editor for about 4 weeks, I've submitted some changes but have a few more from Beta to merge in after the edited copy is back. Hoping to have the edited copy in the coming week.
After I get it back, I merge in final changes and then format for Create Space and for Kindle, then I am ready to publish. Assuming no delays at the editor this means Apostles of Doom will drop on Jan 1, 2017.
If I can make the Pre-Order deadlines I will begin pre-orders within the coming weeks.
The current game plan calls for Book IV to be released in about 15 months after Book III (that's how it went this time). However, that's simply a plan, could be sooner or later.
However, in the meantime, an auxiliary--shorter--book, Chronicles of Astlan: Into The Wilds is planned to be released in late summer 2017 .
Into The Wilds will not require people to have read DoA. However, the story started in ITW will cross over into Book IV, and stuff that happens in Book III will cross over into ITW.
Title will not be known for a bit, Volume III Beta Demons are voting on it.
Vol III has been at editor for about 4 weeks, I've submitted some changes but have a few more from Beta to merge in after the edited copy is back. Hoping to have the edited copy in the coming week.
After I get it back, I merge in final changes and then format for Create Space and for Kindle, then I am ready to publish. Assuming no delays at the editor this means Apostles of Doom will drop on Jan 1, 2017.
If I can make the Pre-Order deadlines I will begin pre-orders within the coming weeks.
The current game plan calls for Book IV to be released in about 15 months after Book III (that's how it went this time). However, that's simply a plan, could be sooner or later.
However, in the meantime, an auxiliary--shorter--book, Chronicles of Astlan: Into The Wilds is planned to be released in late summer 2017 .
Into The Wilds will not require people to have read DoA. However, the story started in ITW will cross over into Book IV, and stuff that happens in Book III will cross over into ITW.
August 7, 2016
End of Summer Kindle Countdown
August 25 through August 31
Volume I and II of Demons of Astlan will both be on kindle countdown at the same time!
DoA: Into the Abyss
DoA: The Heavenly Host
Starting at 8 am PST both books will be 99 Cents and then work their way back up to full price by September 1st.
Tell your friends about this great opportunity to get both books for a great price!
Volume I and II of Demons of Astlan will both be on kindle countdown at the same time!
DoA: Into the Abyss
DoA: The Heavenly Host
Starting at 8 am PST both books will be 99 Cents and then work their way back up to full price by September 1st.
Tell your friends about this great opportunity to get both books for a great price!
