Almost There
It has been done. The book is on Amazon Kindle after days of handwringing accompanied by moments of a sobbing rage spent entangled with computer cables under the table with Milo. He understood and licked my hands. If there is a single thing that could kill off writing it would have to be getting published, even when doing it yourself.
Just try and visualise waves of relief washing over this household. The grass is now greener and all washing dries instantly, despite the rain. The toast doesn’t get burnt and all wine tastes sweet.
It is now, supposedly, also for sale at this place; https://authors-unlimited.org/author/gerard-oosterman
The next job will be to list the book with Amazon ‘Print on Demand’ but will take some time to just relish this moment.
Thank you all for your patience and comfort giving. You have all contributed by your support and kindness.
I now wait for it all to go viral. 😉 (and check the sales coming in, Ha ha)
Oosterman Treats Blog 
April 22, 2016 at 1:41 am |
Well, look at you! Congratulations, Gerard. I’m sure it must be a pleasure, and a relief. it couldn’t have been that much of a trial, since I see your second is in process already.
I have to say, I was tickled to see that you and I share something from childhood: that merry-go-round that’s pictured in the preview. That’s a dead ringer for the one on our grade school playground. In fact, I know where there’s one still in use — far out in the country, where The Regulators can’t find it.
I’ll look forward to downloading your little pile of words! 🙂
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April 22, 2016 at 2:05 am |
Oh, yes Linda. Tickled pink I am, I am. We all used to play around on those merry-go-round and used to revel in being catapulted away and off it. Now it’s all banned and kids fiddle with little buttons. Not sure which is the bruiser and riskier past-time?
The issue really is that loading up and downloading anything connected with EBooks or internet is so much more difficult for the more mature. Young grand- kids with lightening speed, try and show me how to do it, but it just doesn’t stick so well anymore.
I must say that Amazon is well organised and at each mistake guided me through the ordeal of endless form filling and dot ticking.
I hope the words will not disappoint.
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April 22, 2016 at 1:50 am |
Well done my friend, a great achievement. Love from Dorothy
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April 22, 2016 at 2:08 am |
It feels great. Thank you Dorothy.
How are the Strata? Here it is almost total war. No machine-gun nests perched on roof-tops as yet. 😉
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April 22, 2016 at 2:07 am |
Congratulations! What an accomplishment. You’ve definitely earned a celebration!
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April 22, 2016 at 2:11 am |
Thank you, Carrie. We will take Milo for a walk and celebrate with calamari and salad at the local tonight.
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April 22, 2016 at 2:33 am |
Woo hoo! What great news. Congratulations!
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April 22, 2016 at 3:51 am |
Thank you, Leggypeggy. Look forward to your next episode. How is or was Santiago de Chile? Give regards to poor John.
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April 23, 2016 at 12:05 am
Santiago was great. Post coming soon.
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April 22, 2016 at 3:05 am |
Congratulations!! 🙂
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April 22, 2016 at 3:55 am |
Terima kasih , Indah. Feel like diving now or even some bungie jumping. Love your travel blog.
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April 22, 2016 at 3:21 am |
Congratulations my friend. Your hours of hard work, blood sweat and tears have paid off. I’m proud to know you
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April 22, 2016 at 3:57 am |
Thank you, Kayti. A great feeling to know you too.
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April 22, 2016 at 6:29 am |
Well done, Gerard. Enjoy. Much deserved. 🙂
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April 22, 2016 at 6:59 am |
Without your editing and great help I would still be thrashing around in the pond of deep despair.
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April 22, 2016 at 6:59 am |
Wow! When you set your mind to something, it gets done, doesn’t it! Are you celebrating tonight? Well done.
Now, when I’m waiting to see the doctor, butcher, baker … I can read your book to fill in the time. The only trouble is we can’t get an autographed e-reader version.
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April 22, 2016 at 11:03 pm |
Thank you, Yvonne. We are all on a ‘journey’ which has become a bit of a cliché. It is true though and no better proof than your Venetian adventures captured so well in words and photographs.
I will steel myself and now try and get the Amazon hard-copy ‘print on demand’ up and running.
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April 22, 2016 at 11:14 am |
Congratulations, Gerard!! No, I can not imagine the hand-wringing, stomach wrenching anxiety you’ve been going through – but look here – it’s over!! Best of luck with your publication!
Cheers!! https://pacificparatrooper.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/cheers.gif?w=60
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April 22, 2016 at 11:05 pm |
Thank you for your kind words. This Monday it is Anzac Day.
I am sure you know about this day of remembrance.
https://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/anzac-day/
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April 23, 2016 at 10:01 am
ANZAC Day is on my calendar – I hope I do it and the troops justice.
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April 22, 2016 at 2:34 pm |
Fantastico!! Well done, Gerard! Hip! Hip! Hooooooray! I’m now about to check it out on Amazon. Many Congratulations 🙂
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April 22, 2016 at 11:10 pm |
Thank you, Lottie. How’s the school of art going? It must be gloriously beautiful in your backyard or court-yard. I can picture the geraniums.
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April 23, 2016 at 6:11 am
We are running two months behind with the renovation and building work and having sleepless nights about whether we are going to have enough wonga to pay for it all. On top of that, we’ve now got a TV crew following us around all summer. A programme about Brits moving to France and Spain and setting up a new life and business there. It would appear that our madness is deemed perfect for entertainment purposes. Irishman is not too thrilled about this, I’m feeling more laissez-faire. Shall write about it soon! Geraniums looking lovely and the weather is getting better and better. Thanks, Gerard.
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April 24, 2016 at 9:27 pm
Hope the wonga gets sorted. I know the feeling. Curious like hell to see your Brits experiment in Espanja on the TV. You must let us know. Say hello to Irishman and kiss the geraniums.
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April 22, 2016 at 3:56 pm |
Congratulations! Job well done! 🙂
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April 22, 2016 at 11:11 pm |
Thank you, Jackie.
The Panda in your photo looked so sweet.
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April 22, 2016 at 5:30 pm |
I’ve downloaded my copy Gerard. Many, many congratulations.
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April 22, 2016 at 11:13 pm |
Thank you, Andrew. Hopefully, your magnificient garden is drying out.
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April 22, 2016 at 6:50 pm |
I am now the proud owner of the latest book by one of Australia’s newest authors! I hope Milo is suitably impressed.
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April 22, 2016 at 11:19 pm |
I am getting overwhelmed. Thank you, Kayti. Milo is under the table. It is a very large table and in the past was used for pattern cutting. One can still see the marks the little pattern cutting wheel used to make while following the paper model.
I think Milo knows what’s going on. The boss is very happy! It means he will get an extra strap of kangaroo meat.
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April 22, 2016 at 7:14 pm |
Well done! All that sweat, but now you have it. I tried to buy it first thing this morning, but couldn’t find a way to buy it from the Authors Unlimited. However, I have succeeded at last on Amazon UK… so my copy will download when I next open my iPad – magic!
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April 22, 2016 at 11:24 pm |
Thank you, Hilary.
The Australian Society of Authors informed me the book is still at the conversion house, whatever that means. I should have checked the availability first, before grandiosely announcing it.
Hopefully it can be sold through them as well soon.
The next step will be the ‘print on demand’ version.
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April 22, 2016 at 7:22 pm |
Congratulations on this important achievement.
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April 22, 2016 at 11:25 pm |
Thank you, Stuart. I am walking tall now.
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April 22, 2016 at 9:04 pm |
Congrats, Gerard. I know the feeling. I’ll get out my kindle tonight and do the download thing! –Curt
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April 22, 2016 at 11:27 pm |
Thank you, Curt. I will get on my bike and try and get the book published in hard copy now. It never stops, as you so very well demonstrate in your published books, adventures and travel.
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April 24, 2016 at 2:23 pm
Thanks. And you are right, Gerard, the road goes on and on! Keeps us out of mischief. (Or at least as much mischief as we might get into otherwise.) –Curt
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April 22, 2016 at 11:49 pm |
Congrats on publishing. It must be a great feeling. I will look forward to reading it.
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April 23, 2016 at 11:45 pm |
Thank you, Irene.
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April 22, 2016 at 11:55 pm |
I am in awe. Good for you!
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April 23, 2016 at 8:20 am |
Thank you.
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April 23, 2016 at 7:20 am |
Though I had already sent a note to you. If not, I want to congratulate you on a job well done. Soon it will be on the best seller list. Can hardly wait to read it. Cheers and love, Doby
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April 23, 2016 at 8:23 am |
Thank you, Dobie.
I don’t know about best-sellers, but so far it has sold world wide; ON ITS FIRST DAY.
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April 23, 2016 at 7:57 am |
Wow ! What an amazing achievement !
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April 23, 2016 at 8:19 am |
I can hardly believe it. Thank you.
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April 23, 2016 at 8:39 am |
Congrats and hope it goes viral! 🙂 I’d love to read it, will check it out on Amazon. I’ll also share this post on Twitter, if you’d like? 😉
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April 23, 2016 at 9:33 pm |
Yes, please. The sharing on Twitter would be great. Thank you. Kiitos!
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April 23, 2016 at 9:49 pm
Did that and followed you on Twitter 🙂
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April 23, 2016 at 2:06 pm |
Well done! I’ve just downloaded it from Amazon UK and will read and review on due course. So pleased for you.
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April 23, 2016 at 9:34 pm |
That is great, Julia. A review would be wonderful. Thank you.
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April 25, 2016 at 5:11 am |
I’m so glad for you. That is great news.
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April 27, 2016 at 7:23 pm |
Oh wow, so excited for you Gerard and well done to you after all your hard work and the many tribulations with which you have entertained us on this wonderful trip down your memory lane. All best wishes to you!
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April 29, 2016 at 2:14 am |
Thank you, Patti. Soon the paper-back will appear as well. (Drunk with power) 😉
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April 27, 2016 at 11:26 pm |
Excellent news, Gerard, and congratulations on such an achievement. I know that it has been a bit of a trial, but I am also amazed how quickly it all happened. You have done so well to navigate the publishing channels and no doubt will inspire many others to contemplate writing their own memoirs.
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April 29, 2016 at 2:16 am |
It will be a lot easier next time around. Thank you Forestwoodfolkart.
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April 28, 2016 at 4:10 am |
Congratulations! I’ve been through that process 4 x 2 times (4 books, each Kindle and paperback), and the first time’s the learning curve! I’m looking forward to the fifth time later on this year with both excitement and dread! But it’s a great feeling once the baby’s launched, isn’t it!!
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April 29, 2016 at 2:19 am |
Four times! You will be an expert. I finally got the paper-back copy almost ready. What a business setting margins and going through gutters of a book. The photos running into the scripts. I just about needed an ambulance.
You are going for your fifth one! Congratulations.
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April 29, 2016 at 2:35 am
Thank you! But I think I’d prefer a holiday to an ambulance! 😉
I took copious notes my first time through – enough to fill a booklet!! Now, I just work through those checklists each time, and it takes the nerve-frazzle down to a minimum. Also, my husband has set up an excel file that helps to calculate things like the spine width for the cover art and spine text centring, which helps tremendously!
My greatest concern in the coming publication is the cover art; for the other books (see my Gravatar link to my Amazon page to see what I’m talking about!) I knew from the beginning what they would look like; but this one is a bit more abstract, even though it’s the third book in the trilogy (18th C. historical fiction). I have a basic idea, but have to bring it together to visually blend with the other two books…
I just have to take a deep breath and remind myself, “One step at a time, one foot in front of the other!” That will get me there in the end.
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April 29, 2016 at 11:35 am |
Congratulations! I am so happy for you.
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April 29, 2016 at 8:29 pm |
Thank you, Elizabeth.
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May 3, 2016 at 10:11 am |
Hi Gerard, well done. I am now reading the Kinde edition.
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May 3, 2016 at 11:07 am |
Thank you, Rod. I hope the book is readable. The paper copy will be out soon. It had to be changed and edited somewhat again.
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