Theodore’s Comments (group member since Apr 01, 2017)

Theodore’s comments from the Navigating Indieworld Discussing All Things Indie group.

As long as we're complaining today, I ran an ENT Book Of The Day promotion for my second book of short stories a month ago. At that time, I dropped the price of the Kindle edition to 99 cents. At the same time, I did the same for Book 1.

Book 2 outsold Book 1 by a wide margin, but together, 300 books were sold.

To this date, not ONE review has been posted on Amazon.com on either book. I mean, come on...each story can be read in about 5-7 minutes, tops. And Amazon does go out and ask you what you thought of your purchase...I know, because I get those e-mails all the time (and I do go back and rate the books I've purchased).

What do you have to do to get reviews these days???

Sorta reminds me of the boy whose mother used to tie a bone around his neck just to get the dog to play with him. (;>)

Erica wrote: "I have had trouble with reds too. My bright red tricyle is sometimes a dull brownish red tricyle. I feel it is more of a vibrancy issue. CMYK seems to be closer to a true representation of the fini..."

Interestingly, two of my children's books have light blue and yellow covers...close to cyan and, well, yellow (for sure!). They turn out beautifully every time, regardless of where in the CS network they are printed. Now I know why! The key, I guess, is this: if you're going to use a block color for a book cover, stick with cyan, magenta, or yellow! LOL

Erica wrote: "I have been having trouble with this for a while. As far as I understand, it is the nature of POD and variance allowance. I used CMYK on the background of my last book and it has been a little more..."

And that is the problem! If we could produce our images and book covers in CMYK, it would eliminate 95% or more of the issues we are having, for sure. The other 5% results from out-of-calibration printers, which for the most part would not be a show-stopper.

I guess we could have a commercial house produce our covers, but then, the costs would far outweigh the benefits for the most part. The lesson, perhaps, is to stay away from the blue end of the spectrum, where the problem is the greatest. Again, look here to see what happens:

https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.c...

Carole wrote: "I guess it's where they print the books. I have had a variety of colors come through. The same with Ingram."

We use RGB when we create our covers. They use a subtractive process when they print. The vibrance is lost in the conversion. Look at the color chart in the URL I provided above. The bright blue turns dark and dull...and that's exactly what's happening to my book. Even worse, they can NOT maintain consistency from plant-to-plant, much less job-to-job. Very poor quality control

Ted

Theodore wrote: "Is anyone else out there experiencing problems with the colors on the covers of books printed by CreateSpace? The last several printings I have ordered of one of my children's storybooks, which hap..."

And the answer is:

https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.c...

It apparently has to do with the printing process and to what they convert the RGB color covers. Greens and blues are the worst, and the book in question uses a blue cover. So far, CS has yet to produce consistent orders among its plants in DE, PA, and SC. Every order's covers are a different color. I'm not sure there is a "cure" for the problem except to change the cover.

Is anyone else out there experiencing problems with the colors on the covers of books printed by CreateSpace? The last several printings I have ordered of one of my children's storybooks, which happens to have a bright blue cover, have been very disappointing. Not only have the colors been off (dark blue, purplish, etc.), but the color is inconsistent from one order to the next...and from one print shop to another (DE, SC, PA). I currently am communicating with them regarding the problem, which has only occurred with this one book/color.

I'm at a total loss to understand why this is occurring. If all the covers came back off-color, then it might provide a clue, given they're developed from the same template. But there is no consistency from one order to another, and that's what is so frustrating.

Anyone having similar problems? Or has anyone had them in the past?

Christine wrote: "Voted!"

Bless you, my daughter! (;>)

R.L. wrote: "Lol Theo I used to work in the finance department there. I know you're pain on a whole other level."

LOL I'll bet you do. Apparently, they installed a new e-mail platform last November (or upgraded their then-current platform), and have been patching it ever since. For more than ten years the old system was working perfectly, and then, they had to "fix" it. Scheesch. It breaks at least once every week or two. Can't anyone play this ballgame? Two tomato cans and a string work better at times.

R.L. wrote: "Voted, and it looks like you're winning!"

Well, with your help, we are (;>)

Thanks!

Carole wrote: "Ich kenne"

I can't stoop laughing.

Just got my e-mail back. Nothing but problems with Comcast since last November, when they changed their e-mail software. Now, I call them every time and demand a refund, even if it's just an hour's outage. I also ask to be called for my "opinion" of their service. Sooner or later they will get the message.

Carole wrote: "voted and shared."

Thanks, Carole!

Amy wrote: "Theodore wrote: "Amy wrote: "Voted"

Thanks, Amy! Much appreciated! You should give it a try, though they may not take your genre (;>) Try something a little different, perhaps."

Wouldn't worry, I..."

You should give it a try. Lots of fun. The challenge is keeping it to 250 words.

Eldon wrote: "You got my vote and you're in the lead by a wide margin :)"

Thanks, Eldon.

A friend just wrote to me and said he had voted for Alyssa Devine (my pen name). I wrote an e-mail back using Alyssa's e-mail account, thanking him and saying what a jerk Ted was because he was bragging to her about the votes he was getting. (;>) It blew his mind! If you have friends, it's what you do to them.

Amy wrote: "Voted"

Thanks, Amy! Much appreciated! You should give it a try, though they may not take your genre (;>) Try something a little different, perhaps.

Hey, Guys and Gals!

I just entered a Flash Fiction competition (both under my own name and under my pen name, Alyssa Devine) with two, 250-word pieces of fiction. The ‘prompt’ was a picture of a bridge.

This is an important contest because not only does winning it depend on votes from the public (YOU!), but also, because a group of professional literary critics also weigh in with their opinions.

Winners will have their work included in an annual anthology to be published early next year.

I would sincerely appreciate your vote. Just go to the URL below, click on my name or Alyssa Devine’s name (that’s my pen name), and hit the VOTE button…and we’re done. No need to sign in to the site. Just vote!!!!!

http://www.indiesunlimited.com/2017/0...

If you want to read the entries, you will find them here:

http://www.indiesunlimited.com/2017/0...

Voting ends at 8 PM, EST, Thursday, May 25, 2017.

Thanks for helping!!!

Ted (aka Alyssa)

PS These stories are pure fiction. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. T

Carole wrote: "为什么不
Wèishéme bù"

You are BAD!!!!!!!

Theodore wrote: "The French edition of my illustrated children’s storybook on bullying and making the right decisions, Pepe Builds a Nest, is now available. Titled Pepe Construit un Nid, the book, in paperback, jus..."

OMG, you are something else! Thanks so much.

A woman in the gym, who purchased the set in English, came up to me this morning and insisted that I create an edition in Italian for her family. I told her I needed an editor, and she offered up her 21-year-old niece, who is fluent in the language. So, I guess we might see that edition soon as well. What's next? Mandarin?

The French edition of my illustrated children’s storybook on bullying and making the right decisions, Pepe Builds a Nest, is now available. Titled Pepe Construit un Nid, the book, in paperback, just went “live” on Amazon. It can be found here.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1546453237



It joins the English and Spanish editions of this delightful book for children K-3 about Pepe, a penguin, who confronts a bully, Otto, who is stealing the stones Pepe is using to build his first next. (The English edition also is available as an eBook for Kindle.)

Becky wrote: "What a great interview! Definitely will re-blog, share, et al!

Could I ask--which level of Author Showcase you picked? This looks so fabulous and really does showcase you as well as your books!"

Thanks.

I used the $105 option in both cases (that is, the one under my name and the one for Alyssa Devine). Bianca was very responsive and accommodating...she is a dream to work with.

Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger) wrote: "Wonderful interview, Theodore! Hugs"

Thanks, Sam.