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"APPROVE"

7/19/2016

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CreateSpace hard copy proof, Centipede Dragon soft cover book
I last left you caught in my self-made endless digital proofing cycle. When I finally took the bold step of hitting the “I APPROVE” button, suddenly, excitement surged through my bones.

What was next was the most important step I was about to take. I was on the cusp of ordering the very first print version of my book. The manifestation of years of work. A real book. My book. A REAL version of MY book.

Despite my anxiety I still opted for regular shipping, which required a shipping estimate of around a week. My budget was still a priority, and I think this is important to point out, because it’s easy to get carried away with it all and spend well over what could/should be an affordable venture. If I’d just endured months of grueling revisions and endless tweaks, I reasoned that a few more days of waiting wasn’t going to kill me.

When I finally received the first book, I can’t even begin to describe to you what I experienced when I opened the package to reveal my cover, when I was able to turn the very pages I toiled and agonized over, when I read the words and viewed the images on print...all of it bound in a beautiful, real, book.

I greedily went through it, speeding through the pages rapid-fire for the first few times. Even the colors were bang on. I couldn’t believe my eyes, I couldn’t believe that I was holding MY book. I’m still not sure if it has sunk in to this day, that this book is a real thing.

After a well-deserved few rounds of savoring my book, I reluctantly put my editing hat back on and started scrutinizing it. Let’s face it though, while savoring, the flaws started revealing themselves, so that hat never really came off. I carefully noted each and every single problem I couldn’t live with because NOW was the time to fix it. I was aiming to gang up all these changes to make the next hard copy proof the last (though CreateSpace’s pricing is reasonable, and as I said before, the digital proofing process is exceedingly forgiving.) In fact, the quality of the proof print alone convinced me that I could shoot for perfection.

Having gathered all my thoughts, I bravely dove back into the world of revision. Next post, we’ll get into print proof 2.
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Two events. One day.

7/5/2016

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Fall for the Book 2016, Diane Rehm, Centipede Dragon presentations
Good Tuesday-after-the-holiday-weekend all! I hope the 4th wasn’t soggy for everyone as it was for us in DC.

Now, are you wondering why WAMU’s radio host Diane Rehm is on this week’s Centipede Dragon post? No, she’s not featuring my book on her show (sad face). No, she’s not reading my book at a local event (sadder face). But, she has one thing in common with Centipede Dragon, in that both she and I will be participants at Northern Virginia’s FALL FOR THE BOOK festival, you guessed it, this coming Fall!

While Ms Rehm is the MAIN headliner for the festival, I will be presenting Centipede Dragon at two kick-off events on Saturday, September 24: in the morning at the Charles Beatley Central Library in Alexandria, VA; and in the afternoon at the Multicultural Book Fair in Reston, VA. Times TBA closer to the date.

Why am I telling you this three months in advance? So you can put it on your calendars NOW. Please come cheer me on and quell my presentation fears! Don’t worry though, this won’t be the last time you hear about these events from me.

Charles Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22304
http://www.restoncommunitycenter.com/attend-shows-events-exhibits/reston-multicultural-festival
http://fallforthebook.org for more information about the festival.
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    Alice Y. Chen

    is the author of Centipede Dragon A Benevolent Creature, the first of a series of children's picture books for ages 3-7 (and up).

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