Update on Henrietta Hamsters Big Adventure Audio and A to Z : A is For Ant Series

Well, Henrietta Hamster's Big Adventure : The Audio :)  is coming along.  We thought it was done, it sounded done, perfect..and after it was compressed from RAW format to MP3, the great bongo sound after "itchy twitchy nose" was at least 4 seconds off. Darnit!

Plus I injured my hand today, I think a pinched nerve but it feels dreadful, so I am going to bite the ODesk bullet and ask someone for a price for formatting all 3 of the A to Z Animal Series.  I have done a lot of the work, but just too hard to do pick, pick, picking along with my left hand.  (Thank goodness for Dragon Naturally Speak or I wouldn't be posting this update even!)

I had worked on a cover myself, but honestly? Life is tooooo short when somebody who is actually good at photoshop is happy to do it for a good price! 
 So I am writing up a letter to send to a recommended guy on Odesk, and hopefully that will pan out! I guess we will see tomorrow :)

Henrietta Hamster's Big Adventure: The Audio Book!

Henrietta Hamster's Big Adventure

So, after the big push to publish Henrietta Hamster's Big Adventure, I have to admit, I was drained!  Self publishing is really hard work, especially with a children's book.  Text? A snap. Pictures? A snap. Text and pictures?  A formatting nightmare that I am gearing up for with the next series (A to Z) with much fear and trepidation.

While I get ready to "gird my loins" (and what ever does that REALLY mean?) and go forth, I am continuing with the Animal Tales Series. 

Henrietta Hamster's Big Adventure: The Audio!

I went to my favorite go to site, fiverr.com and found a voice actor that I thought would be good.  I always "pre-message" any fiverr people for a couple of reasons. Mainly, to make sure that they are around, know what I want (and I am very specific)  how I want it etc. 

Now, I actually hate to share good fiverr gigs, as they have a tenancy to get busy and raise their prices - and this guy I like. First, I listen to a LOT of audio books. I know what I like to listen to, and that is a British reader. (think Jim Dale reading Harry Potter) 

Rory read Henrietta Hamsters Big Adventures  with a nice slightly Irish accent, with good cadence and expression.  The voice seems a little fast, but I am taking it to China Lab Studio today and Dylan Powell and I are going to work on it, possibly slow down the tape, add music, book cues etc. I did allow him to use his name as narrator on the book, so I will post the link to his web site when everything falls into place.

My original idea was to give it as a free give away at the back of the book, (so that I can grow my list of people who have enjoyed Henrietta Hamsters Big Adventures) but I was told that Amazon may not allow this, so I have to confirm.  I may just try and upload as an audio, but again, have to look into that too. Depending upon the size and length, I guess will help determine what I will do, as a 6 minute audio is not really worth much lol

A is for Ant: New Kindle eBook Coming Out

A IS FOR ANT ILLUSTRATION

What I am up to:
I am busy putting together another children's series: A2Z Animals.  In this series I have tried to include many educational layers, so the book can be enjoyed at different reading levels.  The illustrations help young and preschool children (2-4) develop the skill of recognizing 3D objects (animals in this case) and the poem, jokes, tongue twisters and interesting facts will make this book interesting to the 5-8 year range.
Right now I hiding a small graphic of an ANT in all of the books pictures. I did it already, and realized that it did not show well on the smaller Kindle's, although OK on the Kindle Fire. So I will be redoing that in the next day or two. In the book A is for Ant, I have included an: Illustration (with hidden Ant) Jokes, and Interesting Facts.

Y IS FOR YELLOW WARBLER ILLUSTRATION

Henrietta Hamster's Big Adventure is PUBLISHED

Well, it took a little longer to publish Henrietta Hamster's Big Adventure than I thought it would!  After nearly a month of re-writing, re-vamping and re-freaking out I finally uploaded yesterday!

 I have to say, I still like the cover that I designed - a la Betrix Potter style - and the watercolour illustrations look nice in the Kindle Previewer on my computer (and iphone). I have to admit, I just was tired of seeing all the children's books being put out there with "el cheepo fiver" illustrations. (Fiver.com is a site where you can get practically anything done for five bucks. That runs the gamut from a bearded guy in a spandex suit singing Happy Birthday, to full blown researchers looking to make a couple of extra bucks)

I also was blown away with the great review one of my customers wrote -  she noticed everything that I hoped people would want and need in a children's book - an interesting story, a bit of taking care of a hamster, and of course, nice illustrations.  Being an artist, I really like a good visual, so that was important!

Henrietta in the Tunnel

EDIT: OH MY! I just looked, I am #21 in the paid section of Kindle!!   WOW!  No idea what that really means, but I am sure I will find out :)
Here is the link to the Amazon Page, hope you enjoy the book! Henrietta Hamster's Big Adventure