Start a group, Halfway to Venus, on Facebook – 24 members within a few hours and some funny and encouraging messages from friends. Discover that the labels I have aren’t compatible with any templates I’ve got – spend an inordinately long time fiddling – but finally decide to give up and buy some new ones. The postcards should arrive tomorrow which is why I have been doing the labels – I could have written the whole lot by hand many times over – but at least I now know how to do them. What an exciting life! I send the corrected and proof read copy back to Antony the designer by Special Delivery – I find it terrifying having to trust the post.
Archive for January, 2008
I can’t remember what happened and why I failed to do the blog on Tuesday … Anyway I was finishing the fact checking, doing the bibliography and other important but fiddly things. I finally get in touch with Bookforce about the proofs – lets hope they manage to do them soon. On Wednesday afternoon I go and see Fiona McMorrough about the possibility of her doing the publicity. Its expensive but I think will be worth it as I don’t have the contacts and she is well-regarded. Chase up the manuscript I sent to Saga – which had got into the wrong office – anyway its tracked down … I hope my YouTube films are ready soon.
Send off the PDFs to Bookforce for the proofs – but fail to hear back from them. Spend most of the rest of the day checking and rechecking facts and the endnotes. I could never be a proof reader – I’m far too impatient. But I am getting there.
Spend day fact checking and sorting out end notes again. More exercise as up and down between manuscript and Google. Hear that Vertigo Communications don’t want to take on the book for distribution – so everything points in the direction of my doing it with help from the Travel Bookshop. I know getting a distributor is key but I think that if its stocked by both Bertrams and Gardners all bookshops will be able to get it. I hope so anyway. So next week when I’ve finished the fact checking – my main task will be contacting the chain bookshops. Amazon e-mail to say that they are cancelling the last order - they’ve finally understood I want Gardners to supply them - but I sent it 3 days ago. It was only one copy of Inside Notting Hill - so we’ll see what happens.
The proofed copy is delivered with what seems to be an incredible amount of corrections and facts to check. Actually when I start doing it – its not too bad – but it will take the weekend to do. My computer with the invaluable Google is down a flight of stairs from the kitchen table where I spread out the proof pages; as I go endlessly up and down – I think that at least its good exercise. I am told about Bookforce who apparently make up bound proofs (much better than the endless photocopying I’ve been doing) but unfortunately there’s no one in the office until Monday. Richard Foreman comes round and we talk about more ways to publicise the book – he comes up with some good ideas. Again the timing is crucial – I want to create a buzz but not too early.
Finish typing the labels for people who have ordered the book. I manage to e-mail most people who have ordered it to let them know that it is delayed until May. The next big push must be to bookshops – I met someone from Heywood Hill last night and he told me that they are doing their Spring catalogue now. Luckily I had the information on me and so was able to let him know about it. All these deadlines. I’m going to meet the PR next week which is exciting – but it feels as if I am in some kind of limbo not knowing whether to start sending things out myself or to wait. I’ve been having problems with Amazon; for months I have been letting them know that Gardners is meant to be supplying Inside Notting Hill – but I am still getting orders for it from them and I will want Gardners to supply Halfway to Venus to Amazon too. I try e-mailing them again.
Talk to the proof reader about my muddled footnotes – I think we sort something out. The book now won’t be ready to be collected until Friday. I start typing out labels for all those who have ordered the book. When the postcards arrive – I’ll have to send one to everyone who has sent cheques (at least those without e-mail) letting them know that publication now won’t be until May.
Drive to Battersea to deliver the manuscript for a thorough second proof read. It should be ready tomorrow … at some point I’ll have to do the index but not before the corrections are inserted. Send off press releases to the Bookseller and Publishing News and I let Great Ormond Street Hospital know about the book. That’s where I was as a child and I have a lasting affection for it and would like to give them some of the proceeds. Also send off the manuscript to a possible publicist – I’ll keep my fingers crossed about this.
Check that Nielsen Book Data have the details of Halfway to Venus on their database. They do – although the information evidently hasn’t filtered through to the shops yet. Finish the proof reading and I finally get the footnotes sorted. I start to think seriously about publicity – whether in fact I can cope with it on my own – I’m beginning to think not. OK the postcard proofs - they should be here in about 10 days.
Back from a soggy weekend in Gloucestershire. Collect the proofs from my sister – a pro – and start incorporating the errors I have found from my set into her copy of the manuscript. My punctuation is abysmal – I was always teased about my commas (or lack of …)
