It's There.

Yup, it's true. After much too-ing and fro-ing, much soul searching, editing, revising, formatting, Touch of Evil is finally available as an ebook thru Smashwords. Imagine that moment, just imagine it. I've lived with some of these tales for over ten years. They've seen changes in character, direction, setting, you name it. But thanks to the faith and support of others, my friends and fellow Nitewriters, I've fought that inner demon that keeps telling me it's not right, it's not good enough. I've defeated that negative side.

That last moment, as i sat there waiting for the manuscript to pass through Smashword's 'meatgrinder' twice as formatting problems made me go thru for a second and third time then just waiting. 10%. 25%. Real slow at 50%. 80%. 99%. Then a long wait. Faith starts to evaporate about then, because time just dilates. The Eagles said 'The hours go by like minutes' in the song "Wasted time' but that time there, sitting, waiting for Mr 100% to tick over seemed like a second short of forever

Then it ticked over. Submitted, confirmed, accepted. By my own hand, with the help of someone I've never met, my ebook is now for sale on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Kobo, and a half dozen other sites.

I suppose if this were the Academy Awards, I'd be thanking God and a few important people. I'd like to thank my friends the Nitewriters, in particular Toni, Rosalie and Robyn for their writerly input, but all the others for their support. Writing can be the most singular pursuit a person can take on. Only you can write your book, but the right people can help you by suggesting, reading, encouraging. No writer is truly alone if one has friends and peers like I do.

So, I offer you my work. A large part of my life and sanity has gone into it. It's three dollars. If you read it and like it, please let me know. If you don;t like it, break it to me gently, coz i bruise easily. but still let me know.

With thanks to all.

Baz

A bit more of a reveal.

From the genius that is Anton.

Imagine the picture of the loverly Lozzie as Imogen overlayed, nice font with a title. This cover is going to ROCK people.

Trials and Tribs, eh?

It never really ends, does it. Kind of like building a house. You have it all set in your mind, then that one little thing is just not quite right. So you change it. As my friends Toni, Lorelea and Amanda are oft to quote (maybe it's a girl thing)

"MEH."

But on we go coz we have to. Took my loverly model - the aforementioned Lorelea - to the photographers for cover photos. But for very very minor details, her face is that of Imogen, the person who leads you though the TV show version of Touch of Evil. 80 odd photos later and it's just not quite right. Bugger, says I, but we will do with what we got.

So finally pick through the photos and we have a few that can be doctored to suit. Jobs right. So I log onto Lorelea's profile to tell her and she has just uploaded a new iphone photo, taken after the photo shoot before she took off the makeup.

It's nearly bloody perfect, the eyes are right, the angle is right, the colour is right. Need to tweak the smile oh so little but it is THE Picture!!!

So I pinches it.

And takes it to the genius known quietly as Anton, husband of my dear friend Robyn, who has Photoshop wrapped neatly around his little finger. In a matter of minutes he has a rough cut of my cover sitting on his screen. I couldn't even get a rough cut of a rough cut in FOUR WEEKS!!!!

So now, the tiredness, the almost boredom I have slipped into with this project has been

cast aside. There is a new feeling of completion in the wind. With a cover, the book has a sense of finality about it. It is becoming more real every day. Looking now at formatting for the ebook version - both epub and Kindle version. I think Touch of Evil is really going to swing there, but I still want a real book in my hands, professionally done and looking good. As most if not all of us do. it's the gold ring, the top prize in what we do.

But for this particular moment, I try something. If this works, then below should appear the rough cut of the cover. Let's see.

Ain't teknologee wunnerful?

Stay tuned for more.

Welcome to Barry Simiana...

Barry writes amazing speculative fiction. Won a place in 'Next Stop Hollywood' with his short story Gone to Mum's. A great Australian story. Barry captures the Australian culture and landscape while weaving a captivating story that rings with authenticity and genuine emotion. IMO the most powerful writing example in the anthology!
Love the story Baz!
Now waiting for his next release.. A Touch of Evil.
When not looking after his young family Barry is the fearless leader of Coffs Harbour's Nitewriters, a group of dedicated writers looking to get published.
Welcome to Aussie Authors at Work Barry... hope you are feeling better.