Tags
Book Review by Guyanese American Author Stella Bagot, Book Review of The Twisted Circle: A Novel by Rosaliene Bacchus, Formatting eBook for publication, Former Catholic Nun, Global Book Distribution Network, Self-publishing process
The second proof copy of my novel The Twisted Circle arrived on July 26th. I rejoiced that I had succeeded in aligning all the elements on the back cover and in centering the book title on the spine. After I confirmed the fourth and final revised version, Lulu has approved my book for global distribution. I jump up in exhilaration.
I must now endure an eight-week waiting process while retailers—Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Ingram—access if my book production files meet their standards. Lulu alerted that the ISBN barcode on the back cover is a big issue for global distributors. My barcode differs from those printed on books by major book publishers. Apprehension has moved in.
The process for creating an eBook demands a different formatting process. I rejoiced on learning that there is no need for those pesky headers and footers used in printed books. Instead, I must contend with creating headings: Heading 1 for the title and Heading 2 for each chapter. Little did I know that there are so many rules for formatting headings! When done correctly, the Table of Contents is automatically created when the MS DOCX file is uploaded to the EPUB file format. Like the ISBN barcode, the Table of Contents is crucial for acceptance in the global book distribution network. With guidance received from a member of Lulu’s customer support team, I’ll be spending this week grinding my teeth as I work with the MS Word program for generating chapter headings.
All is not bleak. The printed version of The Twisted Circle is available for sale on Lulu.com at Rosaliene’s Shop. You can order your copy now. If all goes well, the book’s official release date will be in late September when the printed book would also be available in the global book distribution network.
There’s more good news. I’ve received my first book review from Guyanese American author Stella Bagot, a retired English professor who lives in Maryland. Bagot’s review is of special significance for me as she is also a former Catholic nun. She writes:
[T]he author successfully conveys the austerity, religious and sisterly practices, and the complexity of living in a religious community with a variety of personalities. She also captures the tensions that arise in a small (rural) community rife with gossip and overshadowed by a culture of fear of authoritarianism.
Her characters, both the religious and the laity, are realistically drawn and are consistent. Her main characters are rounded, exhibiting both positive and negative traits, with even the antagonist being sympathetically portrayed at times. One cannot but be struck by the realism of the novel…. The rich and smooth dialogue also deserves mention…
Bacchus succeeds in evoking an emotional response in the reader…. All in all, The Twisted Circle is an engaging read…
You can read her complete review at my author website at The Twisted Circle: A Novel by Rosaliene Bacchus.
winteroseca said:
That’s an exemplary review! Good luck on your book being distributed too 🙂
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks very much! I need all the good luck I can get 🙂
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drgeraldstein said:
Glad to hear you are jumping all the hurdles. I expected no less! Continued success, Rosaliene.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks for the boost, Dr. Stein 🙂
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Yeah, Another Blogger said:
Congrats, Rosaliene. Only a small percentage of people have written one book, let alone two.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Neil, who can blame them when you consider the hurdles an unknown writer must face to put a book into the world?!
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henhouselady said:
Congrats on the great book review. Good luck on jumping all of those hurdles.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks for dropping by, Molly 🙂 So glad that you like Bagot’s book review. I’m taking each hurdle one at a time.
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Narayan Kaudinya said:
Rosa, congrats to you. While reading i almost tried to not feel like digging a hole with such not just speed breakers but spirit breakers. Hard work, i just feel what will i do when the time will come!!! I just want to write 😦
Congrats to you dear Rosa, that is why yo are strong
Nara x
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
I appreciate your kind words, Narayan 🙂 Your commitment and passion for writing will carry you through each “spirit breaker.” Don’t be discouraged by the process.
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Narayan Kaudinya said:
🙏 I will wish that Rosa. Thank you.
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jfwknifton said:
Good luck with your new book!
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks very much, John 🙂
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derrickjknight said:
What a splendid review. I wish you well with the barcode.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks on both counts, Derrick 🙂
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Widdershins said:
Having just completed a similar process, although I did my ebooks first to get all that headbanging formatting out of the way sooner, so I feel your pain. 🙂 … good luck, to us both. 🙂
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Widdershins, the print book has its own headbanging formatting requirements. Good luck to us both, indeed!!!
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Belladonna said:
Good job Rosaliene!!!! This is fantastic
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks very much, Belladonna!
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Bon Repos Gites said:
That’s a great review to savour while you “play” with the chapter headings!! Good luck!! 🙂
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks a bunch, Colin!
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Bon Repos Gites said:
You are most welcome!! 🙂
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Crystal Byers said:
Congrats on your second proof of your second novel and the nice review!
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks, Crystal!
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Shayleene MacReynolds said:
So thrilling! Happy for you friend ❤
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks so much, Shaylene ❤
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da-AL said:
many congrats & good luck, dear! pls remember, my offer for you to get a guest on my blog is always open — surely my followers would love to hear about your book. whenever you’re so inclined, here again is the link to general guidelines: https://wp.me/p6OZAy-1eQ
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
I haven’t forgotten your kind offer, da-AL, and would love to have your followers hear about my book 🙂 However, I would prefer to get pass the finishing line with my eBook version before sharing my self-publishing experience. Thanks for the link to the general guidelines.
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da-AL said:
no worries – just don’t want you to forget – always wishing you & your writing only the best!
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
I appreciate that, da-AL, and I wish you the same ❤
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Rebecca Cuningham said:
Congratulations on your second novel. I look forward to reading it! Hope your barcode blues get resolved happily.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks a lot, Rebecca! I appreciate your support 🙂
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Rebecca Cuningham said:
My pleasure, Rosaliene. I admire your writing and your publishing two books!
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks so much, Rebecca!!!
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Lakshmi Bhat said:
I am glad you got a good review. All the best.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks very much, Lakshmi 🙂
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Bette A. Stevens said:
Congratulations and best wishes, Rosaliene!
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks very much, Bette!
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cigarman501 said:
Love those reviews.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks very much, Don. I hope that there will be more reviews to come when it’s officially released to the world 🙂
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JoAnna said:
Congratulations on the excellent review! For my Amazon published books, I don’t recall going through the process of review by Barnes & Noble, and Ingram. I’m wondering if that’s something Lulu arranges for you. I do remember the headers being complicated. You are doing a great job! The back cover is intriguing and I look forward to reading your book soon!
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Thanks, JoAnna. I appreciate your support. Glad you like the back cover. It was quite a challenge to align all the elements. Did you opt for global distribution when you set up your project on Lulu?
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JoAnna said:
I haven’t used Lulu. It seems to be working well for you.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
My misunderstanding. I thought you had.
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JoAnna said:
I used Amazon/KDP
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
They have an extensive global network.
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DutchIl said:
Thank you for sharing!!.. congratulations on your path to realize your dreams and excellent review (hard to believe there could be any other kind.. 🙂 ).. the path may not be easy but “No road is too long for him who advances slowly and does not hurry, and no attainment is beyond his reach who equips himself with patience to achieve it.” ( Jean de La Bruyere )…. 🙂
Until we meet again..
May flowers always line your path
and sunshine light your way,
May songbirds serenade your
every step along the way,
May a rainbow run beside you
in a sky that’s always blue,
And may happiness fill your heart
each day your whole life through.
(Irish Saying)
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
I appreciate your kind praise, Dutch 🙂 As a writer, I never assume that my work will be loved by all readers. Jean de La Bruyere was sure right when he talked about having patience on the journey to achieving one’s dreams and goals.
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Henry Lewis said:
Rosaliene…You’ve come so far and publication is so close. I know you can handle these last minute changes/challenges. As for aligning the elements for the back cover, the quality appears to me to be that of a professional graphic designer.
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Very reassuring, Henry 🙂 I gave it my all. Today (August 16), I’ll be confirming the preview (proof) of my eBook EPUB file and hope that it’s up to the high technical standards required by global distributors.
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R.H. (Rusty) Foerger said:
I have just ordered you book; look forward to reading it!
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Rosaliene Bacchus said:
Wow, Rusty, what great news! Thanks so much for your support 🙂
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King kong said:
Thanks for sharing…
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