February – Independent Publishing, and Spring begins

I met with the friends who are working towards publishing a book. They’re about ready to upload to make a Kindle version, but didn’t know you don’t upload a chapter at a time, and didn’t know how to put a title on a cover image file. That kind of issue. Luckily, due to being a student among young students in recent years, I know how to give tech instructions simply, even when I’ve never used an iPad or the particular program in front of me. When you have independently published a book once, the next time is easy; but I remember being quite nervous the first time I uploaded my work to Amazon and filled out all the electronic forms. That was over a decade ago, and I wouldn’t want to publish any other way.

There are legal issues too, about library accession rights, tax requirements and ISBN registration, which I’m guiding my friends through ahead of time. One of the ways I helped them establish copyright protection involves taking a Goodreads author page. The Amazon bot now imports a book automatically to Goodreads, and can accidentally place a title with a different author who has a similar name. By claiming the author page, the real author can straighten out any misplaced tomes.

We have a new Bank Holiday for St. Brigid, but the weather was so poor I doubt most people went anywhere. Last year I enjoyed the Lunar New Year festival in the city centre, but again, the weather really didn’t permit setting out this time. The Year of the Wooden Dragon got off to a blustery start. However, I have plenty of fun lined up for March, when the weather should improve.

Two goldfinches came to the bird feeder in my garden. The two collared doves who also showed up, are not able to cling to the wire mesh, so scouted for seeds falling to the ground. I scattered some seeds for them to pick, and they’ve been back a few times. I report the birds I see to the Birdwatch Ireland garden birds count each year.

I have been reading with great delight and most of my reviews are placed on Fresh Fiction. When I get time, I add a different review on Goodreads.

This month I am making an Irish novel free, ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, so download Murder At Irish Mensa and enjoy with your favourite Irish themed food and drink, 15th – 19th March.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00E5JMQP4

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E5JMQP4

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www.clareobeara.ie