New Book - A Visit to the Farm

It seems like it's taking forever but the advance copies of the new book, "A Visit to the Farm," are in the mail but haven't arrived. Oh, well they'll get here when they get here. I have a lot of work to do on the next book. It's only roughed out and needs a lot of work as well as a lot of drawings. Hopefully I'll have it all together in the next couple of months. I'd like to get it out before Christmas. I still say that the hardest thing to do is to take time away from writing to market your work. Marketing is almost a full time job all by itself. Let me know what you think of my work. Helpful suggestions are always welcome--don't send any other kind. I need to write these blogs a little more often. If I was certain that somebody was looking at them I probably would. With constructive criticism and suggestions this blog might even grow into something useful.

New Book - A Visit to the Farm

I uploaded the new book, "A Visit to the Farm, The Adventures of Curtis, Connie, and Cosmic Cat," for printing. I found a couple of errors and am preparing to upload it again. So goes the life of an author. The book is the same size as the previous one, "Astronaut Training," but has almost twice as many illustrations. The hardest part is getting the word out to everybody that the book is there. All I can do is keep trying.

The Continuing Saga of Cosmic Cat

It still goes on. It's all ready but I haven't uploaded it to the printer. There's still some question as to the cover template. It should be straightened out tomorrow. What's another day. Has anybody read, "Astronaut Training," the first book in the "Adventures of Curtis, Connie, and Cosmic Cat?" Hopefully I'll get a report that somebody has before the second book, "A Visit to the Farm," is published. I'm working on the third book. It will be a trip to visit with Dad at the end of the summer just before school starts. They decide to go ahead and move before school starts. It's a very busy time. Getting packed, moved, and settled into a new town. Reading the first two books will better prepare you for the third one. It's not necessary, but it would be best. Each book will be able to stand on its own merits.

A Visit to the Farm Continued

I've redone the cover a little bit. Moved some words around and generally made it more balanced. I also found a drawing in the book that needed to be altered slightly. Writ ting a book is sort of like writing poetry. When is a poem done? When you get tired of working on it. There isn't any book that the author wouldn't change if given the chance. I hope that having a second book out there will help spur the sales of the first book, "Astronaut Training, The Adventures of Curtis, Connie, and Cosmic Cat." I talked the personnel at the U.S.S. Alabama today. She's supposed to send my a listing of her vendors. I'm going to try to get on their listing. Maybe this will get me into more markets. I printed out a short pile of bookmarks today. I've got to add some red to my printer. I'm trying to convince myself that I should start using things like, "Facebook." I'm not sure, I'll have to think about it. I have to get over my reluctance to send the book, "A Visit to the Farm," off to the printer. In case anybody is interested my email address is rct@ronaldcthompson. com and my home page is ronaldcthompson.com

Trip to Barnes & Noble

I went to Barnes & Noble at La Cantera here in San Antonio to discuss my book with them today. They are reluctant to list it in the store. I need to submit it to their Small Press Department. I will attempt to get the information ready tonight so I can post it tomorrow. They ask such things as is it with a wholesaler and is it listed with Bowker Books in Print. All of this information is available to them on their web page as the book is available for sale through Barnes & Noble. It's in the B&N near me at Bandera Point, but it's the only one. I'm going to upload the second book, "A Visit to the Farm," this weekend. Wish me luck on this new adventure of Curtis, Connie, and Cosmic Cat. I've added some ancillary drawings to it. I hope that they add to it and don't distract from it--only time will tell. I've also sent a list of addresses of people to send announcements to for my signing this next month at the Twig Bookstore, here in San Antonio.

Today's Work

What has today brought me? Should I say more of the same? It's brought me a small check for books at the U.S.S. Alabama battleship books store. Every little bit helps. I've finalized my restructuring of the next book, "A Visit to the Farm." I worked on the cover: the front went together pretty quick, I'm having some trouble with the back cover. I talked with a gentleman at the Kennedy Space Center about their selling my book. He's supposed to get back with me. I've also talked with the library in Boerne, they want to do a signing but can't until August. I need to complete my list of names to send post cards to and get it to the Twig Bookstore for the signing on the 2oth of June. I visited three elementary schools yesterday and talked to the librarians. Got some pretty good feedback. I'll have to wait and see what comes out of it.

My home page is ronaldcthompson.com
My publishers web page is r-an-kenterprises.com

A long day

It's been a long day today. I redrew one of the drawings for the book, "A Visit to the Farm, The Adventures of Curtis, Connie, and Cosmic Cat." I'm still not happy with it. I plan on getting the book to the printer by the first of next month. I've got to make a number of telephone calls to the book stores selling the first book, "Astronaut Training." I'm trying to arrange a couple of more signings in the next few weeks. My wife and I are getting so overrun with things that we're putting some of them on ebay. It takes more time than I want to spend to do it. I've also got a few things on Craig's list. Anybody need a Gramophone?