Author: Allie P.

The Early Flight – Don’t Blame Me, I’m Exhausted Poetry

by Allie P., posted in Life as I know it
The early flight and bad poetry - www.alliepottswrites.com
(Simon and Garfunkel’s Sound of Silence, for whatever reason, was stuck in my head this morning. That song is beautiful poetry. The following is not)
Hello airport lobby, my old friend
I’ve come to wait in you again
Because demands for security screening
Brought me here when I should be sleeping
And now I’m sitting, staring at the backs of empty chairs.
No one cares.
While I wait, for the early flight
I don’t know why I booked this flight
The sun hasn’t shone its light.
While I wish I could return to bed
I look for someplace I might rest my head
But then I cringe at the sound of the intercom
Calling Tom –
Please return, your flight’s departing
And then I glanced at the corridor
A dozen people, maybe more
People shuffling like walking dead
People moving like limbs are lead
People whose current style is a photo they’ll never share
No one dares
Make pre-flight contact
Sigh, I thought, it’s a look I too well know
As the crowd began to grow
I turned my gaze back to my gate
How I wished I’d left on a different date
But my wishes, like those for extra sleep
Were interrupted, by the speaker’s bleep
And the people yawned and swayed
As they continued on their way
And a sign flashed it was time for boarding
Then I saw a line quickly forming
And I knew, that the time for complaining was done…
…at least, this one
So began my day, with an early flight

7 Alternatives to Vellum, or How I Spend My Weekends

by Allie P., posted in General Tips and Tricks, Product, Service, and Software Reviews, Writing and Publishing Tips

5 Alternatives to Vellum - www.alliepottswrites.comVellum. It’s not just for illuminated scrolls. For those of you not in the self-publishing world, or those newer to book formatting, Vellum is also a popular software option that helps magically transform your manuscript from a document processing file into something the non-publishing world might call a book. (This post includes affiliate links)

I know plenty of authors who basically describe it as the bee’s knees when it comes to formatting your book. But what if you are allergic to bees? What do you do then? I say that as a bit of a joke, however, They limit Vellum to Mac users. It’s not cheap to use either, so it isn’t for everyone. Nor is the entire process of book formatting for that matter, but that is an entirely different subject.

So what is an author intent on publishing a new book to do?

I’m glad you asked as I have recently spent far too many hours getting my various books ready for its upcoming publication date by experimenting with Vellum alternatives offering formatted files I could then take to a professional printer.

Microsoft Word

This was my trusted go-to method of getting my books in initial shape for years as it allowed me to tweak font sizes, add decorative flourishes, and basically customize my book’s size and content any way I saw fit. However, Word has an annoying habit of inserting blank pages, “helpfully” adjusting page numbers, and text can be overly stretched with funky spaces between the words if you don’t know some of the advanced tricks.

  • Pros – High degree of control
  • Cons – Takes forever and a day if you don’t know what you’re doing, or haven’t written your entire manuscript with Word formatting in mind (i.e. you didn’t take advantage of Word ‘styles’) and may just drive an author to drink.

Affinity Publisher

A few years ago, I discovered an alternative—Affinity Publisher. The one caveat is, while you can, in theory, use Affinity Publisher to write your novels or text books from scratch, I don’t recommend it. It works much better when you import a Word file, or to a lesser extent a PDF file, with your text and then use the program’s fantastic text and paragraph control features to tweak how words appear on the page. The program costs approximately $54 US, but it is a onetime fee versus an ongoing subscription.

  • Pros – Improved readability compared to Word in terms of text spacing. Much easier to control pesky things like blank pages and funky page numbers.
  • Cons – Occasionally glitches when you try to move pages around after initial import, so save and save often.

Adobe InDesign

InDesign offers a lot of the same customization capability of Word and Affinity, which can help your book stand out from the competition (caution – this isn’t necessarily a good thing). Like Affinity, it also does a better job then Word at handling the space between words on the page. But unlike Affinity, InDesign is no newcomer to the industry. This means there are plenty of tutorials available to help you get started, which is good because it has more features than you even know you need. However, it isn’t cheap.

  • Pros – Highly stable platform with industry leading functionality
  • Cons – it’s an Adobe product, which means a steep learning curve and a high price tag though there is a free trial option.

Scrivener

Scrivener is a word processing and story organization tool specifically designed for books. You can copy and paste your manuscript from another word processor into the software, or import it depending on the file type, and export the Scrivener version as a print-ready PDF. However, it is probably far easier to write the entire project in the software from the get-go. While Scrivener is designed for print books, it also has a partnership with Vellum if you prefer their templates over Scrivener’s offerings provided you are willing to pay the price for both services.

  • Pros – Super easy to export your complete manuscript into a print-ready pdf
  • Cons – The product works best when you write your manuscript from end to end in the tool rather than try to import it from another processing program, and doesn’t offer the same level of customization in your book’s format as offered by Word or InDesign (once again, this is not necessarily a bad thing as some people can’t handle the awesome power that is font selection).

Reedsy

In addition to editing, Reedsy includes a free book formatting service. All you have to do is upload your manuscript into its online user interface, designate elements of your book like chapter name or section separator, select a book size, and a theme. It also is partnered with Blurb, which is a print on demand service, making it easy to print your book once it has been formatted.

  • Pros – Easy to use with a price that’s hard to beat. It even inserts back matter pages for you like your social media links, description (with images) of your other books, and a note about how people can join your mailing list.
  • Cons – There is no desktop app, which means you have to trust the cloud completely with your manuscript, and the user interface isn’t intuitive. Also, you are limited to three themes and three book sizes. Also, you don’t get your formatted file right away, though I only had to wait for a few minutes before I received the email saying my book was ready.

Atticus

Atticus was created specifically as a direct alternative to Vellum for more budget-conscious authors and non-Mac users. However, while it is cheaper than Vellum, it isn’t free. That said, like Affinity, you only have to pay a one-time fee of $147 to purchase it rather than sign your earnings away with a subscription. It is worth mentioning that it is newly released software just out of its initial testing phase. This means that there are some features still in development, but does come with 17 customizable templates, and free updates for life.

  • Pros – You can use the same software to write your book and for formatting it for print and ebook distribution. It also supports both offline editing and online access with automatic backups of your work to the cloud.
  • Cons – As this software has just been released, it may be glitchy and will likely require a number of updates. It will also take a while for tutorials to catch up, so may require more learning through experience compared to other tools.

Outsource it

Of course, you also have the option to outsource book formatting if, unlike me, you are a sensible person who would like to actually spend time with your family or friends on the weekends (or be working on your next book) rather than seated in front of a computer screen waiting for swirling wheels or flipping hourglasses to say your file is ready.

  • Pros – You keep your weekends
  • Cons – You have to trust that your formatter knows what they are doing and, if you find that edits are required in your final proof, it can start getting costly.

But in the end, no matter which path you choose, holding that end product in your hands for the first time is always worth the hassle. Trust me.

An Update From Waterworld

by Allie P., posted in Life as I know it

After posting the image of Hurricane Florence’s projected path, the storm shifted, veering south where it then pivoted north once more. Fortunately, I can say that the worst damage at my house was the destruction the kids left behind due to being stuck inside with no school for five days. (On the plus side, the poor weather gave me the excuse to stay in and finish work on An Uncertain Confidence which will be going on sale later next month).

However, much of the rest of the state, particularly the south and eastern portions, can’t say the same. Hurricane Florence was downgraded as far as wind speed goes to a shadow of her former self before the eye of the storm made landfall. Unfortunately, once here, she decided to stick around and stay for a while. I don’t entirely blame her. I’ve done the same.

She brought more than three feet of rain in some areas. That’s as deep as some of the local neighborhood swimming pools. Under a normal summer, this might have been welcome as we’re usually under drought conditions, but we’ve seen a lot of rain this summer. What am saying? Three feet of water dumping down on your head over a matter of days is never a good thing.

In any event, the rivers started rising. And rising. And rising, causing a few of our highways to become temporary rivers in their own right.

Thankfully, the rivers have finally crested, meaning the water should soon start to recede, however, there is still another threat to my state. Pig waste. Yup – the downside of living in an area where agribusiness makes up a significant portion of the economy is the sheer amount of animal manure that can escape its containment area which allows fun stuff like E.coli, salmonella, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria to enter into the waterways.

So, its good times here in the Old North State, but I’m confident that life will return to normal at some point. Until then, surf’s up.

Reading Round Up – End of Summer Edition – Part Two

by Allie P., posted in Life as I know it

When I started compiling the books that I have enjoyed reading this summer, it quickly became apparent that one post would not do these books justice. Well, it might, but it would be really long. Therefore, I decided to emulate the majority of books I’ve been reading this summer by breaking up my narrative into more than one part. (This post includes affiliate links)

Maybe it the fact that this summer has been relatively cooler and rainier this year than most (with the exception of this past week which was brutally hot), or maybe it is the fact that I am already seeing ads for the return of pumpkin spice lattes. In any case, I found myself on a rather supernatural/paranormal mash-up kick in the final weeks of August.

Ella, the Slayer (Serenity House) (Volume 1)

by A. W. Exley

The flu pandemic of 1918 took millions of souls within a few short weeks. Except it wasn’t flu, and death gave them back.

What happens when you mix a retelling of a fairy-tale classic, historical fiction centered around the Spanish Flu, and throw in Zombies? Ella, the Slayer – that’s what. The term ‘mash-up’ hardly seems adequate to describe all the genres this story blends together.

Though Ella is the legitimate daughter of the lord of the manor, she serves as a chambermaid to her vain and calculating stepmother and step-sisters. If the name wasn’t enough of a giveaway, it quickly becomes apparent that this is a story of Cinderella. Except in this story, leaving a party by midnight is the least of Ella’s problems. There’s also the dead to contend with too.

I found myself stopping at odd points in the book to explain to my friends what new mash-up I’d discovered next as I turned the pages. Normally, I would consider anything that forces me out of a story as a negative, but this was one of those exceptions that prove the rule. I flew through this book.

I will say, however, that the ending was frustrating. When given the chance to tie the story off nicely as a stand-alone novel, the author chose instead to leave it open for a sequel. I don’t normally mind cliff-hangers, as I can appreciate the sales strategy behind them, but in this case, it left me questioning a character’s competence.

Even so, I still would recommend this book to people who enjoy both Jane Austen and the Walking Dead. Compared to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, I found Ella to be the better story.

Dearly, Departed: A Zombie Novel (Gone with the Respiration)

By Lia Habel

Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

If mash-ups were stew, Dearly Departed’s would be Steampunk meat with bits of Zombies potatoes simmering in a YA broth. It would also include a pinch of Post-apocalyptic spice and a hint of Government Conspiracy thrown in for added flavor.

Daughter of a national hero, Nora Dearly has always found holographs of historical battles and news reports of more recent fighting at the border far more interesting than learning how to conform to her high-mannered society’s social complexities. Unfortunately for Nora, the war she’s been so fascinated by is about to come much closer to home.

Nora has barely returned from a year away at school when her home is attacked. Not being the proper New Victorian lady prone to cowering in fear, she races to defend herself, only to learn that the invaders are the undead. But not all Zombies are re-born (as it were) equal. Some still have managed to cling to their former humanity and are, in fact, a special convert unit sent to specifically to escort her back to Base-Z where Nora learns that the existence of Zombies is only one of many secrets.

I found it slightly harder to suspend disbelief with this one, though it was still entertaining enough to keep the pages turning. I enjoyed the small details scattered throughout that made it easy to imagine this future world featuring modern technology alongside parasols and petticoats. I also liked the supporting characters, particularly Nora’s best friend Pamela, who in mind opinion, actually had the more impressive character arc.

Murder Any Witch Way: A Brimstone Bay Mystery (Brimstone Bay Mysteries Book 1)

By N.M. Howell

Being a witch is hard. It’s even harder when you live in a town that doesn’t believe in witches.

Murder Any Witch Way was a different sort of mash-up. It is part Supernatural Fantasy and part Cozy Mystery. Set in the fictional New England town of Brimstone Bay and only a short drive from Boston, Murder Any Witch way features River, a journalist working at the local paper.

River likes her town, but at times finds it dull compared to New York City where she used to live. Therefore, she is overjoyed to cover an upcoming Paranormal Festival thinking it might provide a little more exciting news than the day’s birthdays or anniversaries.

She was hoping to get a feature. Instead, she finds a murder victim.

Being a journalist is what River does to pay the bills, but what River is, is a witch. Having the ability to see and interact with ghosts as well as perform magic, River has talents at her disposal that the sheriff’s office lacks. When additional bodies are discovered, River knows that it is up to her (and those like her) to solve the mystery before the killer strikes again.

This was definitely a nice book to ease myself into the Halloween spirit, even if October is still weeks again and now I can’t wait for the leaves to start changing and the air to take on the crispness of Fall. It’s somewhat predictable, but then again so are the movies Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic, and I still like those too.

 

Reading Round Up – End of Summer Edition

by Allie P., posted in Life as I know it, Product, Service, and Software Reviews

One of the best parts about going on vacation is it gives me the ability to attack my ever unruly to-read list. Unfortunately, my list is rather like a hydra, as I usually wind up adding three more books to its roster with every completed novel – but I like to pretend I’m making some headway. Therefore, I thought I would share a few books I’ve been reading this summer with you. (This post includes affiliate links)

Victor (Eden East Novels)

by Sacha Black

When Eden East kills someone, she expects them to stay dead. It’s only polite, after all.

This is the second installment in the Eden East novels and takes place shortly after the events of Sacha Black’s bestselling, Keepers.

Eden hasn’t been home since her parent’s funeral, a fact that is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore considering she is the heir to the Elemental throne. Unfortunately, both duty and her grief for her parents will have to wait as an enemy she thought was vanquished, returns from the dead, triggering a prophecy that could spell the end for Truitinor.

The book itself is written for a Young Adult audience, and while it was well-written overall, the story at times was a little too angsty for me. There is a romance element throughout that features very prominently in the story (especially in the first half), which does occasionally take away from the action. However, the dialogue and characters themselves remain just as relatable as they were in the first installment. If anything, I found myself sympathizing more with the supporting characters than I had before.

While I do recommend you start this series with the first book, there is enough background context for a person to follow the story even if you haven’t. Though – seriously why would you when the first book is also a fun quick read?

Dualed

by Elsie Chapman

Two of you exist. Only one will survive.

Set in the not too distant future, mankind has finally found the elusive cure for the common cold. That cure resulted in the nasty side effect of universal and irreversible infertility. Life has continued, but it too comes at a price.

Every child born has an identical clone and both are the result of a blend of genetic material from two sets of parents. West knows her Alt is out there. She also knows that before she reaches the age of twenty, she’ll have to kill her. In a city of limited resources and citizen soldiers, there is only room for the fittest. May the best one win.

Dualed is much like Hunger Games in that it involves teenagers battling to the death in a dystopian future. As a result, violence and death are prominent themes. However, while both are described in explicit terms, I did not find the description of either to be gratuitous. That being said, this is not a book for everyone and those who might be triggered by scenes involving guns or knives should definitely pick up something else to read.

Awesome pun of a title aside, Dualed is a story about survival, self-worth, and family. I also found it to be one of those stories that linger with you well after you reach the end. It left me wondering about the group of people in charge known as the Board.  For example, what possessed them to start the kill-or-be-killed requirement in the first place? Lucky for me, there is a sequel (and so my to-read list remains alive and well) so I may yet find my answers.

Flicker: Ember in Space Book One

by Rebecca Rode

Getting sold to the empire was never part of the plan.

Set in the distant future, Ember is a poor Roma girl struggling to save enough to care for her ailing father by telling fortunes for space-tourists visiting Earth. Her talent, however, goes beyond simple card reading. Ember is able not only to see the future but capable of touching a person’s aura or internal spark with only her mind. While some might view her ability as a gift, others view her as a weapon.

Betrayed by her tribe, Ember is taken off-world to be tested for inclusion into the Empire’s Flicker program. The fact that Ember has no desire to be part of this elite fighting force, or be involved in the Empire’s war is irrelevant. Failure to do as the Empire bids will result in the destruction of everything and everyone Ember has ever loved. However, compliance might well cost Ember her soul.

This book had moments of Enders Game mixed with Divergent. Ember is a flawed but fantastic character who can drink the other guys under the table while still maintaining her sensitive side. There is also romance, though it is not central to the plot, and enjoyable three-dimensional supporting characters with problems of their own.

This is also yet another book that promises the action will continue in the form of a sequel (which has also been added to my to-read list).