New Saint Patrick Pages

In the last few days I have worked on adding two brand new pages to this blog on St. Patrick. They are Saint Patrick's Day Food and The Food and Drink Saint Patrick Consumed. They are a work in progress but I believe the completed versions will add further character to my book Patrick Warrior Saint.

As to the book itself I have finally edited the book to chapter 7. I have also decided to revisit my original timetable. Perhaps it would be better to launch the book next year in January? It would then be a new book just in time for Paddy's Day. I am still undecided on this, I have pushed so hard to have the book ready, should I just pause now?

New Page Topic for Saint Patrick

Having completed my Top 5 Myths of Saint Patrick page I will now progress onto a brand new page. Blogger allows up to ten additional pages and I intend to fill all ten by St. Patrick's Day 2011. The question I am trying to answer is the following.
Should I prepare a page on Saint Patrick next? Or a page on Patrick Warrior Saint, the book?
When I started this blog I was unsure as to where it would take me, it will be a journey and I am enjoying the trip. I never thought that I would complete pages on the historical Patrick but I do find his story fascinating and I would like to document his life in a simple to understand form.
As Ireland now slips further into the depression I also feel that I must also show what is great about this land, our culture, our heritage, our never give up spirit.
This blog is becoming more than I ever envisioned and despite the complications I am happy to continue, to do my best for Ireland.

Work Pressures

Due to a heavy workload my book is a little behind schedule. It looks like I won't make my end of month deadline to complete the edit. I am disappointed at this outcome but you know what, I have got to pick myself up and drive forward.
The good news is that I have selected a front cover image for my book and I am getting it for free!! The project to date has not cost me any money as promised.
Don't forget to check out my brand new second page, Top 5 Myths Saint Patrick. A concise, yet fun look at the popular St. Patrick myths.
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First Test of New Book

In a recent update on my book I blogged that I had a problem with elements of chapter seven. Well good news!! Chapter seven is finished. To solve my dilemma I had to bring to the foreground a character that I had not intended to fully flesh out until book two, Ciara daughter of the King.
For the first time I have had friends and family read my book. This was a very nervous time for me as it is for most authors. Would they hate it or love it? 

They love it.

They are surprised by the direction that I have taken the Saint Patrick character, some felt that the church may not be too happy with the final product. In my view this is a fictional book, my book. my character and if the story is controversial, so be it. 
I am delighted that each and every person suggested improvements to the story or structure. I may not take on their ideas but I will certainly give them all due consideration.
Editing the remainder of the book is taking longer than anticipated but I still expect to be finished by the end of August. With Luck!!!

On the tech front I have started a second page on my blog. Top 5 myths of Saint Patrick. When completed I will submit this page to sites dedicated to articles, such as Ezine.  All part of my publicity drive for Patrick Warrior Saint.

Ambush in Cork

Patrick would approve of the fight for freedom. No one should be enslaved.

New Google Tablet

Yesterday on Gizmodo I saw a new piece of technology, the Google Tablet. It looks fantastic, if it is real that is. I couldn't help but wonder how my book on Saint Patrick will look on this new device. In the last week I have ordered my own brand new e-reader, the Kindle. St. Patrick's Day next year will see my book Patrick Warrior Saint available for download on this device and I hope also on the new Google device. But how will this new technology change the face of publishing? How will it impact on the book buying public and what will happen to the large bookstores that dominate our streets?
Well I can only look at this from my point of view as a new author and a book buyer since childhood. In my view there will still be room for paper books and e-readers. New tech does not necessarily wipe out old tech. For decades the demise of the humble cinema has been predicted. First T.V would kill it, then Video, then the Internet and finally DVD. Yet cinema survives and is thriving. Large bookstores will survive but they will need to change radically in order to do so. If I can buy a book for 4.99 on Kindle why should I pay 11.99 in a chain store?

I wouldn't.

The price in the store must fall closer to the 4.99 price point or offer a different product mix.Cut out the middle man dealer, work directly with authors and drop the price. They should provide a space in store for self published authors to sell their work, perhaps local authors that would help draw crowds to the store.

The margin chain currently, all taking a piece of the pie.

Author-Agent-Publisher-Printer-Bookstore.

The future margin chain.

Author-Printer-Bookstore.

With two pieces of the chain eliminated prices in store could drop substantially.

Stores could also have a special edition of the book with an additional chapter or a different ending, all of these options are now viable in the world of publish on demand.
 
When I receive my Kindle I will of course update this blog on its abilities and how it compares to the paper version.

Saint Patrick the Man

A major challenge I had to overcome in writing my story on Saint Patrick was how to portray the man. What kind of person was the man not the legend? Very early on in the process I made a decision that he would not be the caricature thet we see on St. Patricks Day. An old man, with a grey beard, wandering around blessing people. My Patrick was a young man on his return to Ireland, nineteen years old and full of the vigours of life. He was certainly not a saint at this point, instead he was a man filled with respect for Christianity and nature. But he also had a burning desire to right the terrible injustice that had been done to him. Before his very eyes his father had been brutally murdered and his mother sold into slavery. Patrick was then enslaved and left to rot on a near barren mountain, being hunted and nearly killed like an animal as tried to escape. This is a side of St. Patrick that has never been shown before and forms the core of the story in Patrick Warrior Saint.

The Voice Reflects the Music of Saint Patrick

I have set up a new YouTube channel  for Patrick Warrior Saint hope you like it!!

Ireland Today

Publish for Free

I am now appraoching the point that most writers fear the most, getting their work published. As I wrote my book Patrick Warrior Saint I spent quite some time researching the next step. I could send my book to an agent and from there on to a publishing house. Without doubt I believe this is the best way to get your book distributed in bookstores.But this process may take years and in fact the author may never see their book published. I really didn't want to spend years banging my head off a brick wall begging for a break.

So I found an alternative, I have chosen to self- publish. There are many sites that allow an author to publish on demand and after investigating the top rated sites I found that createspace met my needs.  The process is straightforward, at least in theory, more information may be found here https://www.createspace.com/
As I progress I will update on how this goes.

Some Advantages:
                    I choose when my book is published not if.
                    It won't cost me any money.
                    My book will be available on Amazon for sale in my target market.
                    I will set my own price.
                    I will do a version for Kindle or iPad,the future of books.
                    I retain full rights to my work.

Some Disadvantages:
                    It won't be in my local bookstore.
                    It will sell far fewer copies than the traditional route.

So how do these disadvantages impact on my decision? Well, because I retain the rights I can sell it myself into my local book chain, many run programmes to help local authors. As regards sales levels, I am not writing this book to make money, if that happens great. My prime motivation is to have my work published, to get my reimagining of the Saint Patrick story out there.