@bernicecbc You're welcome 🙂

@bernicecbc Have you looked at LibreOffice? It works on all three main desktop platforms, is compatible with a lot of existing office suite formats, and is totally free 🙂

I have this plot based on a dream about hallways stretching for miles which connect abandoned rooms and also community bubbles.

In my head this was to have the feel of Larry Niven's "Destiny's Road". I've tried several attempts to write it but each one goes its own way 😛

The first attempt turned into a variation of A. Bertram Chandler's brilliant "Giant Killer" with the hallways being on a spaceship. But it didn't have the right feel in the end and I gave up on that path after writing a few chapters.

The second attempt feels a bit like "Silo" (Hugh Howey's "Wool") but goes off on its own direction (or so I feel).

I like this version better and am about halfway through, but it still misses the original feel I wanted.

Should I try a third iteration? Or keep going?

#Writing #Authors #FediBooks

Listing stuff online for sale attracts so many scammers.

First, you have the people who want you to courier the item to them. Scam!

Then, there's the ones who want to just pre-pay you and pick it up and do so via bank transfer. Spoiler, that email link doesn't go to your bank login...

Sometimes I have to wonder how most people survive all this madness. Stay safe out there, folks!

#Scams

I'm trying to get "Raisins of Wrath" ready for publication but need to do the cover.

My wife usually does the cover but she's too ill to do anything at the moment. So I thought of giving it a shot myself. I have the rough drawing in place, but not sure how it'll turn out.

#Writing #Art #FediBooks #IndieAuthor
A rough sketch for a book cover…

@elysegrasso You don't have a lot of control over the process. They let you choose from a list of voices and if I recall correctly, that's about it. You are totally hands-off after that.

They used the EPUB version of my book and I was not provided the option to proof it after the conversion to audio book was complete. It just went up for sale and I was informed that the audiobook is now up for sale.

So yeah, not a lot of control or QA at all. Unless of course, Apple does the QA at their end, but I doubt it.

The voices are better than the usual very computer sounding ones you get with text-to-speech readers, but not as good as an actual voice.

I did do another version of the book with somebody on a profit sharing basis via acx.com and that was very good and at no cost to me, but then the resulting book is limited to Audible. The process was longer but if you find the right person willing to work with you, the end result is much better.

All a matter of what compromises you are willing to accept I guess?

@elysegrasso Draft2Digitial has a new free audiobook publishing promotion using digital voices via Apple Books. I published two of my books as audio books via that.

They say that it will take a couple of months for a book to be published, but in my case I think it took about a month. No sales that I know of, but the book is available on Apple Books as an audio book.

@crcollins Thank you 🙂 Can't really claim inspiration since it was there for the taking ....

I've also started work on a new novel based on a dream I had about a world of hallways and those living underground. "Outside" is just a myth to them.

Got about six chapters written but a ways to go before that one will be ready.

#AmWriting #Writing

Trying to get "Raisins of Wrath", my novella about a cult (and a conspiracy) surrounding sentient raisins out.

Just need to get the cover done, the book laid out, and a few other things done first while juggling health issues in the family.

#AmWriting #Writing #Bookstodon #FediBooks

Last day of the #Smashwords #ebookweek25 sale!

It ends 11.59pm Saturday 8 March Pacific Time (which is 3.59pm Sunday in Perth, Australia, and that’s the last timezone help I can give anyone 😂)

It’s a great chance to stock up on DRM-free ebooks — browse those two hashtags to check out the huge range of Mastodon indie authors with their books on sale.

https://www.smashwords.com/shelves/promos/

#books @bookstodon #ebook #IndieAuthors #IndieBooks #DRMFree

Read an Ebook Week promo ends today! Find my entire collection at a promotional price at @Smashwords till end of the day. Find my books and many more at https://www.smashwords.com/ebookweek

If you like humorous scifi with a bit of social commentary, check out my books 🙂

#ebookweek25 #Smashwords
A promotional image for Smashwo…

@angusm Thanks, Angus. That's good advice. Will try what you suggested. And if you don't ask, you don't get anyway, right? 🙂

@angusm Thank you for the info. I do love good cover artwork 🙂

Never had the money to pay for a good cover artist (the first one I asked about 20 years ago wanted 2K 😛) but would definitely keep Martin in mind should I get to the point where I can afford to pay for cover art.

Today is the 7th anniversary of the launch of my debut book, a space opera novella called "The Warrior Within”, published by Tor.com.

It wasn’t a huge seller, but I'm still fond of it. And I'm currently working on taking the story that it tells further …

#ScienceFiction #SFF #SciFi #books

https://angus.pw/writing/warrior-within/

@angusm The cover looks beautiful and invites you to read the book 🙂

Very nice UC Davis student I know lost their job and needs help until they can find sustaining work.

Please boost.

Please donate if you can.

https://chuffed.org/project/120254-funding-for-necessities-after-job-loss

V: https://venmo.com/u/a-l-24
CA: https://cash.app/$allyl24 #MutualAid

Smashwords are celebrating Read an eBook Week - and so am I! All my titles are half price, so do drop by for all the goodies from me and other authors.

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/juliebozza

#ebookweek25 #smashwords #sale

It's Smashwords' Read An Ebook Week, and many of my titles are heavily discounted. You can find them here. https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Lilith_Saintcrow

I am now unemployed. I'm scared, but I'm so fluffing relieved to be out of that company.

If you are or know anyone in Sydney looking for an experienced IT generalist with experience in helpdesk, data recovery, networking, etc.? Please do hit me up <3