It’s official: In the Fool’s Footsteps is now available on Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle formats.
Now, please excuse me while I get back to doing backflips…
It’s Al-i-i-i-i-i-ve!
May 28, 2012 at 9:51 am (ePublishing, In the Fool's Footsteps)
Tags: epublishing, In the Fool's Footsteps, Karen Hoffman, self-publishing
How Did the E-Author Sign Her E-Books?
May 25, 2012 at 3:44 pm (ePublishing, Writing)
Tags: ebook, epublishing, ereader cover, self-publishing solutions
When I first announced my upcoming book launch, a common question I’ve had has been whether or not hard copies will be available (yes) because people want a signed copy, and how on earth would I be able to sign an ebook? I pondered it and initially came up with nothing.
There are clever digital signature programs out there but I hesitate to rely on technology on the spot while people wait in line. Then I ventured into the scary and intimidating world of Twitter. There I saw something wonderful – a lightbulb moment, if you will. One of my favourite authors, Christopher Moore (@theauthorguy) was touring with his latest novel, Sacre Bleu, and a fan brought a handmade book jacket for an ereader that she asked Mr. Moore to sign. He took a picture and tweeted it.
I don’t know who the fan was, so I can’t give her credit, but I did steal her idea. Here is the result…
This is the template I used. I created a table in Word, sized the cells to the proper dimensions and inserted the picture.
The finished product after cutting, folding and gluing.
I think this lends a lovely tactility to an otherwise virtual experience. It’s a nod to the phenomenology of traditional books.
The 6 Secrets Every Writer Needs to Know
May 23, 2012 at 8:55 am (Uncategorized)
Me, cheerful, despite the doomsday speech.
My May 2011 commencement address was so bad, so completely depressing rather than inspiring, that it’s the only Bloomsburg speech in the past three years that isn’t posted on YouTube.
Officially, Eduardo Ochoa, the assistant secretary for postsecondary education, “discussed how Bloomsburg University has prepared students to be active and engaged participants in the global economy of the twenty-first century.”
So far, my self-publishing journey has been giddy, nerve-wracking and exhiliarating. As the launch of my novel approaches, the highs and lows are stacking up. This blog post could not have landed in my inbox at a better time. An inspirational commencement address by Neil Gaiman that rejuvinated the positive vibes one needs to pursue the dream of a creative life. Thanks for the great post, Hannah.
How the Enchilada Got Her Lid
May 16, 2012 at 12:16 pm (The Enchilada, Weirdness)
Tags: art car, duct tape car, houndstooth
Gather round, children. It’s time for another Enchilada story…
You may recall the anecdote about the squirrel who occupied the Enchilada for a week while my man and I froze our soggy butts off in the wilderness. You may further recall that said squirrel gained access to its vacation home through a small tear in the ragtop. It was a tight fit, but the squirrel remedied the problem by making the hole bigger. Resourceful little asshole.
This is when duct tape entered the Enchilada’s life.
I will never forget the day my man came home with silver duct tape that was 12 inches wide. I can say with only a little exaggeration that I have never seen him happier. Winter was coming and he was over being cold and wet in his car. By this time, she had lost all four hubcaps and was sporting an impressive collection of dings. The most impressive of all came from being pinned in by two police cars on the day she was stolen. I was pregnant and we had been doing groceries–
But that’s another story.
The silver duct tape roof got us through a couple of winters. And then I found something on the internet that I couldn’t put out of my mind. Two over, two under. Easy peasy.
I outlined my idea to my BFF and we were off to the races…
Thirty-two rolls of black and white duct tape. I really wanted black and purple or lime green, but I wasn’t the one who had to drive the car and I really wanted to live another day.
Recipe for stupid shit: two crazy women, one sunny day, 32 rolls of duct tape, a case of beer and eight hours with nothing better to do. Toss and serve.
I repeat: thirty-two (32?!) rolls of duct tape.
Almost houndstooth art car.
About the Author
May 14, 2012 at 3:47 pm (Uncategorized)
Karen Hoffman lives and works in and around the rattle and hum of Toronto. Aside from In the Fool’s Footsteps, she has also written a play called It Just Is that was produced in 2007 at the Junction Arts Festival in Toronto. Karen is also an avid blogger and hatcher of plans. To learn what is currently incubating, follow Karen on Twitter at @foolsfootsteps or subscribe to ProsperoCity.
Drumroll please…
May 10, 2012 at 9:47 am (ePublishing, Projects, Writing)
Tags: above and beyond, book design, ebook, epublishing, In the Fool's Footsteps, matthew marigold
When I decided to self-publish my debut novel, In the Fool’s Footsteps, I challenged myself to spend as little money as possible on the venture. That’s partly because I have limited funds and partly because I love a challenge. I have publishing work experience and thus the skills to design and format the digital and hard copy versions. I also expect that my marketing and event planning work experience will come in handy.
Although I have an eye for and some training in page layout, I am smart enough to recognize my own limits. That’s why the cover art is the one area I decided to make a financial investment. I commissioned Matthew Marigold to photograph and design my cover. I just got the first mock-up yesterday and I couldn’t be happier with the results.
In the Fool’s Footsteps will be available for purchase on Amazon on June 1, 2012.
Contact 2012 – Norman Felix Gallery
May 4, 2012 at 9:52 am (ePublishing)
Tags: andrew pistagnesi, contact 2012, matthew marigold, norman felix gallery, photography, roger guetta
Last night, I went to the opening of one of this year’s Contact exhibits that included my wonderfully talented cover artist, Matthew Marigold. Matthew was exhibiting with a number of other artists, some of whom I had the chance to meet, at the Norman Felix Gallery at Queen and Bathurst. It was a superb evening.
Rather than gab on and on about it, I’ll just show you the pictures – please note that my photography does *not* do justice to the beauty of the pieces.
Hobnobbing at the Norman Felix Gallery’s Contact 2012 exhibit.
The work of Matthew Marigold
Again, my amateur photography does not do the work justice. If you’re thinking it looks 3D, you’re right. Matthew’s work includes gorgeous photographs of flower arrangements with actual dried flowers superimposed and held in place with resin.
Myself and the artist on the red carpet. Tons of fun.
One of the other exhibiting photographers, Roger Guetta. His work is gorgeous *and* he’s a great guy.
Roger looking cool.
Andrew Pistagnesi, another talented and fun-loving photographer, with his work, “The Old” and “The New”.
Book Launch Party – June 1, 2012
May 1, 2012 at 10:27 am (ePublishing, Writing)
Tags: ebook, epublishing, law of attraction
There is no going back now. Today’s ‘to-do’ was to announce my book launch party and it got done. (Excuse me a minute, while I hyperventilate a little…)
I set up the Facebook page and sent emails to (almost) everyone in my contacts list. I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve just stepped off a cliff, but considering the book title and themes, it’s totally appropriate. I’m also feeling energized as I make my way through the self-publishing process. The hard copy is almost formatted, the ebook is ready for a final proof and my cover should be ready next week.
And then there’s planning a huge party and rehearsing the reading…
Somebody pinch me.
Author Headshots DIY
April 20, 2012 at 9:49 am (ePublishing, Projects)
Tags: artist self-portrait, author headshot, epublishing, In the Fool's Footsteps, Karen Hoffman, self-publishing
With my book launch fast approaching (6 weeks! gulp), I’ve been busy, busy, busy. I’ll spare you from my to-do list, and just tell you about a recent fun project.
Every writer needs a headshot. A recent one. I had a friend take a couple of shots, but it was sunny and windy that day, resulting in squinty eyes and very bad hair. Then I thought, wouldn’t it be fun to have an assortment of outfits and facial expressions? The problem is that my friends are as busy as I am and it’s a lot to ask someone to give up a whole afternoon for my ego. My goal is to spend as little as possible on this endeavour, so a professional photographer wasn’t an option.
So, I got all dolled up one day when I had the house to myself, and grabbed an armful of scarves, hats and sunglasses. I cleaned off the patio (BIG job) and set up the video camera. The idea was to model for the camera and take screen shots. I cannot tell you how foolish I felt, but it was also kind of fun.
When I thought I had enough material, I put everything away, washed off my makeup and put all the crap back onto the patio to hide any evidence that I had spent an afternoon behaving like a teenaged girl. (It was very cloak and dagger.) I got the videos off the camera and onto my laptop only to find that my head was completely cut off in the first video. The second one had some great poses, but I had taken the video in low resolution so that when I tried to enlarge the shots, I ended up with a blurry, pixelated mess.
What a time-sucking experience, except that it was kind of fun and I learned something, so not a total waste.
A few days later, I tried again. This time I used the digital camera, natural light, a tripod and mirror. I’m pretty pleased with the results – not bad for free, at any rate.
Another project
April 15, 2012 at 9:32 am (Design, Knitting, Projects)
Tags: machine knitting
I love, love, love the spring. My creative sap starts to flow. Whenever possible, I sit in my garden plotting my next book. It’s hard not to be distracted by the birds flapping in the birdbath or the squirrels spilling my clothespins, but I can usually manage. (Not today, though, since it’s pouring rain.)
A few weeks ago, in another creative burst, I made this skirt on my knitting machine. It’s my own design and oh, so warm and cozy.
