Terry Fallis - Best Laid Plans

The dog days of summer seem to drag even slower when you’re navigating the labyrinthine publishing process. Everything seems to take a very long time. Here’s where we are in the process, what remains to be done, and some general timelines:
- Production (laying out the pages of the novel - now in process) - another two weeks

- Proofreading (a final professional proofread) - three weeks

- Author proofing (my last chance to review the final copy) - up to two weeks (but I won’t take that long)

- Making corrections - one week

- Final production - two weeks

When this is complete, the novel will immediately be available through the iUniverse online bookstore but it usually takes another three to ten weeks for the book to be listed in the mainstream online book sites including Amazon, Chapters-Indigo, Barnes & Noble, etc.

Put it all together and we’re looking at another ten weeks(!), or early October(!) before the first copies of TBLP will be available at the iUniverse bookstore, and several weeks more for mainstream online availability. I actually don’t yet know when the novel will be on display at an Indigo store, but you’ll know shortly after I do. All I can say is, we’re still in time for the holiday season!
Stay tuned…

The folks at iUniverse have just informed me that The Best Laid Plans has now earned the Publisher’s Choice designation.  This means a new cover design has been approved.  With the Publisher’s Choice designation, TBLP will now be featured on a prominent display table in at least, one Indigo location (Canada’s equivalent of Barnes and Noble) for two months.  This is great news but it has come with some minor misgivings.  The new cover developed by professional designers and approved by the Publisher’s Choice committee may take some getting used to.  As I’ve said before, I still love the clean and classy look of the cover developed by my friend and colleague Steve Palmer of 76design, but it didn’t pass the test with the Publisher’s Choice committee.  I’m the first to admit that I’m no designer (my colleagues often remind me of this), but I do know what I like.  The new design uses the same elements I submitted in the original cover, but uses them differently.  I’ll post the new design when I have the final version and you can judge for yourselves.  The new cover is growing on me but I still take wistful glances at the original design.

Could I refuse the new design and insist on the one that’s been sitting at the top of this blog for months now?  Technically, yes I could, and I considered this option.  But, the chance to display TBLP on a table at the front of at least one Indigo store is an opportunity that comes to very, very few self published authors.  I was torn, but will be using the new cover design.

I’ll post the new look in the next few days.  Stay tuned.

Well, I’m feeling quite chuffed right now so forgive me if I strain my shoulder patting my own back for just a moment. I was just informed that The Best Laid Plans has been granted the Editor’s Choice designation by an editorial review board at iUniverse. I’m not completely sure what it all means (kind of like the iTunes rankings!) but apparently it’s given to a relatively few books published by iUniverse and is supposed to indicate that the book is well-written, well-structured, and “meets high editorial standards.” According to the letter I received, it’s iUniverse’s way of signalling to booksellers and booklovers that while TBLP is a self-published novel, it is “a first rate book, worthy of anyone’s bookstore attention.” Very gratifying development as we head into the home stretch. Next stop, refining the cover design and copy. I’ll keep you posted.

Travelling Note:

I’ll be out of the country until Monday, May 21st and regrettably will not have internet access where I’m going.

Dan York is a friend and fellow social media aficionado from Burlington, Vermont. He’s a regular contributor to For Immediate Release, one of my “must listen” podcasts, related to my day job in the public relations world. Dan writes the very good Disruptive Conversations blog and hosts the Blue Box: Voip Security Podcast related to his day job. Well, he’s also been a loyal listener to TBLP, for which I’m grateful. He’s provided a stream of encouraging comments over the weeks, culminating in this post that appeared last night. Thanks Dan — very kind.

After dealing with some daunting server challenges, the good folks at Podiobooks are back up to date.  All chapters of The Best Laid Plans so far released, are available at Podiobooks.  Many thanks to Evo and Matt for their efforts.

For those listeners subscribing through Podiobooks, new chapters will be coming by April 14th I’m told. They are changing their servers to be able to provide an even better service and are a little behind posting new chapters. In the interim, you can always download Chapters 11 and 12 directly from this site. Many thanks.

 The Best Laid Plans: A podcast novel - Chapter 11 [35:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week, we start Part 2 with Chapter 11 including: Daniel takes Angus to Parliament Hill, the Library of Parliament, and the House of Commons; Angus is sworn in; Daniel briefs Angus on their Centre Block and constitutency offices; Angus meets the Leader of the Opposition; Daniel and Angus play chess; Angus writes in his diary.

Comments are invited right here on the blog or send me an e-mail to tfallis@gmail.com. Thanks for listening. Next week, Chapter 12.

The great music featured in the podcast is by Jon Schmidt and is called Winter Serenade. It is available from the Podsafe Music Network. My friend Roger Dey provides the voice that opens the podcast. The photo at the top of the blog page was taken by, and is used with permission from, Mr. Ron Boisvert.