oh shiny world

[devi]

Many coolnesses! The first one, as seen on Neil Gaiman's journal, is hiddenpassageway.com. If I had one it would have to lead to a Madwoman's Chamber, like the one in the Wizards, Warriors and You books. Though some of you might think that in a house with me living in it this would not be difficult.

Yesterday I got an unexpected parcel from addedentry and j4. Surprise parcels are the best. It had two books on writing for children, including one by Joan Aiken! And a card with the cover of one of the Malory Towers books! You guys rock.

(The Joan Aiken book had a list inside the front cover of books she's written, some for children and some for adults. The adult books all have dull, wet names like "The Young Lady from Paris" and "The Smile of the Stranger". The children's books have thrilling titles like "The Stolen Lake" and "Midnight is a Place". Wonder what that tells us about her? Or maybe about me?)

I really appreciate all the comments on the cover I put up. And I have found a printer in the UK thanks to spurious_fellow's introduction skills. This is great news, meaning no stupid international shipping charges for me or anyone else who wants to buy the book over here, but none for people in America either because they have a branch there too!

Is it wrong of me to think that "Antony Rowe" will look way better than "Lulu" on the back of a book? It sounds so much more... publishery. I hope this is not just because of some unconscious prejudice on my part because Lulu is a girl's name. Albeit a particularly fluffy, silly-sounding name.

Doing it in the UK means I have to do various bureaucratic bits myself, though. I have to get a company in Oxford to make me a barcode. On a little piece of plastic, apparently. And it looks like I might have to buy ten ISBNs. You can't get them singly. I have a few other hare-brained book schemes in the back of my head, but not a whole ten of them. Is anyone else out there considering self-publishing something? If so, you can buy an ISBN from me for £9.40 and then I will officially be your publisher! This amuses me greatly.

Exclamation marks! They are the new understatement!

Comments

[bluedevi.livejournal.com]

Good point. It would to me too, so it can't be the femininity, just the... Luluness.

Hey, does Neal like Bill Hicks?

good question

[cleanskies.livejournal.com]

I really don't know. I think that's something you'd have to ask him ... (grinds teeth) they outta be letting him OUT already

Re: good question

[bluedevi.livejournal.com]

I think I'll risk it and put some BH rants on a CD for him in any case. Comedy might make a change from books and music... but yes, I agree entirely.

Re: good question

[triskellian]

I suspect Bill Hicks might have been among the stuff smiorgan took him the other day, but I can check.

In other me-being-useful shocks: you don't need to get your barcode on a bit of plastic - some places will actually agree to - whisper it - email them to you! I can find out how much I paid for my last work one, and let you have the details if it's a sensible amount.

Re: good question

[bluedevi.livejournal.com]

That would be great (on both counts, but especially the barcode). I mean, I'd have to scan the piece of plastic in once I'd got it.

The people I talked to quoted me about fifteen quid, for comparison purposes.

Re: good question

[triskellian]

Axicon, £17.63, same day service by email.

Re: good question

[bluedevi.livejournal.com]

Hey, they're the same people I talked to yesterday and I didn't pick up on the fact that they'd do it by email. Fabulous. Cheers!

Re: good question

[triskellian]

Also: smiorgan did take Neal some Bill Hicks.