Thoughts From Marsha

Apologies for not having written a blog post for over a year now. Bad girl, right?

Many of you know I have been writing a book for several years now. I thought I was finished and have been to a publishing house seminar in our area. I learned a few more things about what I needed to do regarding publishing. So I have been working diligently on it. To add "writing a book and editing it, redoing it, putting in photos, changing it, etc." to my already busy life of being a wife, mother, grandmother, friend ... and a professional artist ... what was I thinking?

So I had a telephone discussion with a consultant at the publisher near me that I hope works out. It was a good conversation and I learned even more things I should have already known. Like ... I type all documents with the program "WordPerfect" and for a good reason. I did work for a law firm ... a couple of them and eventually managed the second one. WordPerfect is the standard ... or was ... at the time because we could see the code. Much easier to correct things. Well the standard is Microsoft Word. Yes, I have published to "PDF" form each of my sections for ease of transferring them via Dropbox and other programs. They are a smaller file. 

Also, I knew I was going to have to do some things like reduce the number of photos in the book, have them at a 300 dpi image at the least... meaning I have to change every one of the 462 image I have in the book. My computer has revolted! I am having problems. I will have to let them know I need a break and will not get the files to them as quickly as I thought. That is my fault for not knowing. I had put 72 dpi images into my 303 page book to keep the file smaller. Oh my!!!

I almost wish I had not started writing a book. I know ... I should not even go there. Will it ever get published? Again, OH MY!!!

I have started changing those images and am now receiving a weird error message on some of the images. I found out it is probably a problem with the WordPerfect program and I need to fix that. I trying to contact an "I T" person... if you know what that means. I need a computer technician that works with individuals. I have had a couple of good ones in the past, but life changes and they are not available now. So, the book is a little on hold until we clear up the error message.

Okay ... I will try to be more consistent and create a blog post maybe twice monthly, but if the art world is busy, it may only be once monthly. You can always see what is going on by looking at my Facebook page. I know some of you may not use Facebook... I enjoy it, and just overlook all the advertising, and the weird stuff that comes up. It is a great way to keep in touch with family, and friends... and to show what I am doing in the art world.

Have a wonderful month... and I will try as well. Really I don't have a hard time with it... I have fun.