Proofing

It feels like it’s been such a long time in the making (I first started thinking about the Sockalong in January this year!) but the print and Kindle versions of the Sockalong tutorials are almost ready!

We’ve had a more than a few gloomy days over the summer so it hasn’t felt like a chore to have to stay in and read and re-read the text to make sure that it says exactly what I want it to.

The book is simply an off-line version of the blog tutorials because not everybody can or wants to be online to read the tutorials (all of which will be staying on the blog and will always be free).  All of the tutorials in the book have been put together for each type of needle, rather than split across the three stages of making the sock as they are in the blog posts.  There are all of the photos and all of the instructions, together with the patterns for the 4ply and 6ply socks, just as there is on the blog so it’s all the same, just in a more portable format.  Oh, and an index, because you can’t click on a “search” button with a book!

Once I was happy with the text, I was able to upload it to Createspace, which is Amazon’s print-on-demand service.  This means that my book will be available for anybody in any country to buy, and if you order a print book it will be printed especially for you and shipped straight to your door. How exciting is that?!

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how super-exciting it was to get my proof copy in my hands! I hopped up and down, shouted (a bit) with delight and showed everybody in the house.  And then my Dad when he came over, then big daughter’s friends who happened to call round.  And some Mums at school so that I could get their thoughts on it as people who hadn’t been looking at it endlessly for months!

You can create book covers through the Createspace website, but one of big daughter’s friends wants to become a graphic designer and designed this cover for me instead – I love it!

Whilst I was waiting for the proof copy to arrive, I’d started work on the Kindle version using a brilliant piece of software called Kindle Writer (well worth investigating if you’re ever going to write a Kindle book) and was surprised to find that working on that was the best form of proofing I’d done so far!  As you can see from the picture above, what I thought was text without mistakes needed one or two revisions!

What I have found really fascinating about the Kindle version is that it needs to be created as if it were a web page, so it’s full of HTML as well as text and pictures.  Luckily, the software creator has been on hand at the end of an email whenever I’ve got stuck and it’s not been too much trouble at all!

The Kindle version will be available to download straight away without having to wait for it to be shipped anywhere, and Kindle Prime users can borrow the book for free.

So where is it all up to now?  Well, the final checks are being made and the books should be available this week.  I’ll be posting again in a couple of days – and telling you all about my giveaway too!

Until then …  🙂

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12 Responses

  1. Anonymous says:

    Ooh exciting! I'll be on the look out for a copy on the Kindle. Jean

  2. clairerobinson73 says:

    Well done Christine! You are amazing. Thank you for your hard work and for sharing your creative skills.

  3. Mrs Tiggywinkle says:

    Christine, this is SO exciting! Get you! x

  4. Penny says:

    AmazingM I am full of admiration! X

  5. Unknown says:

    WOW that's a lot of work and I'm sure a big learning curve … well done YOU … I can't wait to read your next post letting everyone know your book is ready ☺

  6. Run Home To Crochet says:

    Oh my goodness I know a real life author. What hard work and big congratulations to you on writing your own book 🙂 xx

  7. Amy at love made my home says:

    Congratulations!!!!!! I am so very happy and excited for you! I hope that it will be a great success!! xx

  8. Teri g says:

    Awesome, I am attempting my first taat toe up on circus, this book could help. I am making them for my mom whose feet are always cold and who is my biggest supporter.

  9. pragti says:

    Congratulations and best wishes !! 🙂

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