Paper(back) Trail
The perilous path to print
Unsecret Identity: Eric Icarus - Book One is now available in print as a paperback edition, but it was a rocky road getting there. The ebook Kindle edition was released close to a year ago, and at the time of the initial digital launch, I knew that a print version would follow. What I was not aware of, though, was just how long it would take to make the paperback.
Ideally, I would have preferred to have released the hardcover and ebook editions simultaneously, with a paperback version shortly after. Also in this perfect world, I would already have the audiobook version ready to go. Here in reality, however, it’s a DIY operation that takes time - with production rates that rival geologic ages in speed (or the lack thereof). From writing, editing, designing the cover, and finally to illustrating the interior art, finishing the book has been a gradual and often times frustrating process. Ultimately, though, releasing the print edition, to go along with the Kindle version, has been greatly rewarding.
Hardcover and audiobook editions are in the pipeline, but as I’ve said, it will simply take time. On top of this one full-length novel, I am writing other stories while committing to other personal, day-to-day engagements. For those who are interested in this first book, I thank you and want you to know how exciting it is to see people enjoy the story.
As stated above, the paperback journey was rough. In addition to simply spending hours and hours formatting the new edition and all the curveball lessons that entailed, there was getting more familiar with Amazon itself. Specifically, the Kindle Direct Publishing online book manager. Indie authors know KDP well, and even though it has Kindle in the name, this web-based program covers all available formats. Prior to uploading my manuscript to KDP, I, of course, used Microsoft Word (and Google Docs here and there) to actually write the content, the book itself. Once the text was edited, it was time to fire up the Adobe suite of design programs including Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. As a graphic designer, I already possessed a working knowledge of using these programs, but formatting a full-length manuscript required a few rounds of further self-education.
Creating more drawings for the interior art delayed completion but eventually everything got done. I posted with excitement about the paperback release date and even took additional precautions the night before the big day to ensure there would be no hiccups. Then KDP dropped a huge LOB on me: Learning Opportunity Bomb. The launch date came but the printed book did not. When you submit something via KDP, the review process time can vary, but for me it is typically around a day. So, when I resubmitted the PDF of my manuscript, I would wake up to an email informing me of whether or not my latest version made the cut.
This took about a week. What was intended to be released on a Monday didn’t go live until that Friday. The recurring error message involved images/text not being completely within the “live” area of the margins. This means that the central portion of the page, within guidelines, is what the content should be in. Only two pages repeatedly earned me these error strikes, and it baffled me as to why. The printed proof copy I ordered came out nearly perfect.
I had images that purposely extended beyond the live area, as well as the trim, which is considered to be the edges of the physical sheet of paper. My artwork even went beyond the bleed, the safety cutoff borders. While imagery that takes up the width of a page is common, Amazon seemingly wants content to be within the appropriate lines. This was fine by me, and I even liked how it made things more consistent throughout the book, but as a designer, it left me confused and embarrassed. The humiliation did not last long as I was happy to simply understand the problem.
With the issue resolved, the paperback was launched and I received my own copy and it is perfection. After a dismal week of awaiting the crucial judgment from KDP, the book gets a new life in the printed world. And I can breathe a little easier.
In a city of heroes with super-suits, fourteen-year-old Eric’s powers are the real deal—he can fly, or rather, he must. He literally can’t stop. As if high school wasn’t hard enough.
Order your paperback copy or read the digital version on your Kindle ereader device, the Kindle web browser, or in the Kindle app on your phone or tablet.
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Unsecret Identity: Eric Icarus - Book One is available now from Amazon.
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