First a Christmas story update. I'm in
the middle of chapter five of the as yet unnamed Shepherd Story. Eight chapters
will have to be finished by the end of August. I will go into the studio the first
week of September and hopefully have the second audio book in the Christmas
series ready by November 1. At the same time, I'm giving the manuscript
of last year's audio book, "A Christmas Story You've Never Heard," to a woman who will take it through
the entire process of getting it edited, checked, arranged, and printed. It will be published
by a publishing company I'm forming as of now -
Con Safo. That should be ready the first of November as well.
I THINK I've found an investor to fund the
printing of 2000 copies of last year's Christmas story. The price gets real low at 2000 copies. If
you can't print at least that many, you run into the classic self-publication
problem. The book ends up being too expensive. Mine will sell for ten bucks.
So this Christmas I'll have last year's audio
book, this year's audio book, and last year's audio book in print form. Coming
Christmas of 2007 - my favorite story in the series - "Three and a Half Wise Men."
It's a lot of work, but I'm on schedule...for
now.
Why Con Safo? Well, there aren't any
traditional publishers who will give me credit for bringing any readers to the
table. Traditional publication isn't setup to handle new authors who nonetheless
have a fair number of readers. So if I let someone else publish this, they will
get the publication rights, almost all of the money, and I will have to put up
with their incredibly long and drawn-out editing/publishing process. Why? Why
should I do that? If I do it myself I have complete control, can do the entire
process in a couple of months, and I make as much or even a little more money
even if I sell less copies.
So for now, it's Con Safo publishing for me. If
someday a publisher wants these stories, we'll talk then.
And now for something completely different,
AV Monday:
We so classy in Texas
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Here's something you don't see
often - a cicada having just emerged from its exoskeleton. Cicadas
are very common in Texas. Their distinct, buzzing call is something
we hear all summer. But it is rare to see one in this state. I have
found many abandoned exoskeletons, but I had never seen a newly emerged
cicada until this week. This was on the rock pillar of my front
porch.
Notice the cicada's
colors are soft and light. You can tell that his wings just
unfolded. His skin and wings will harden quickly, and the colors
will turn olive green and dark green - almost black.
Click any photo
for an enlargement. |
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And finally, click the
picture below to watch a video clip taken while walking from the
parking lot to the front door of our church. I'm sorry for the poor
audio quality. I was talking too fast. |
rlp
