Almost There
The book has now been uploaded in a few different versions which I prefer to name ‘editions.’ The nervousness of trying to work out the self-publishing trail on CreateSpace is almost palpable. Even so, one learns from mistakes a lot more than from perfection. So, please, if looking at the different versions, the book with the least formatting and/or spelling mistakes has the cover as shown above. It is now the definitive version of ‘Almost There.’
You might well notice a version (edition) of the book whereby even the name of the author is missing. I did not intentionally choose to be that modest. It might well show up the Author to be really ‘Not there at All.’
The Kindle version has done well and the paper back book is yet to be distributed and shown on all the Amazon outlets. I have ordered a box full (40) of the paperbacks for selling in Australia. The postage from the US does almost double the price of the book. Even so, it is still priced very competitively.
In the meantime, we are hardening ourselves for the onslaught of our grandsons to come over this Friday to ‘share’ the Eurovision music festival on our TV ( with the Philips sound-bar and large woofer.) They are coming by train which both the mother and Helvi are somewhat nervous about. I reckon it will do them good. The protection of children is ridiculous. Surely, train travel is normal and not as dangerous as is made out. Of course, the world-wide beaming of the attack on a train in Germany by a German National is not helpful. Again spouted as an act of terrorism doesn’t do much in bedding down the excessive fears of travel and nourishes fear the world over of stranger danger and terrorism.
We all know that the real terrorism is flourishing within family life. In Australia, two wives/partners a week get murdered by either the husband or partner. Domestic abuse is rife and far greater that those very isolated attacks by a deranged person shouting Allah is Great, before shooting or knifing someone.
I am surprised relationships are not banned or at least looked at by consumer protection bodies such as ‘Choice’, or ICAC. If fridges had failure ratings as much as relationships they would be banned. Domestic violence ‘incidents’ as notified to the police number several hundred EACH DAY.
Next time someone whispers, ‘I love you’, go and run for your life.
Instead, read a good book.
Tags: Almost There, Amazon, Australia, Domestic Violence, Euro-vision, Philips, TV, US
Oosterman Treats Blog 
May 11, 2016 at 5:03 am |
I cab say with certainty that the bio on the back cover should cause one to stop and read more. I laughed and laughed about the your seduction with Bonanza on the TV. I remember reading the part initially when you wrote about it over a year ago or maybe it was two.
Here’s wishing you much success with all versions of the book.
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May 11, 2016 at 10:14 pm |
Yes, it was a long time ago, but I remember it well. Thank you, Ivonne. Glad and appreciative of your laughter. That is what matters most.
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May 11, 2016 at 6:22 am |
I’m really looking forward to ordering a paperback copy of your book. I know that I shall devour it greedily from cover to cover and laugh till my belly and sides ache. You are a fabulous raconteur, a wordsmith with both wit, and wisdom. I love how you question the world and sometimes find the answers to life’s meaning in the most bizarre and yet ordinary things. As soon as my bank balance is healthier, I shall trot over to Amazon and press ‘Buy’. Absolutely delighted for you and wishing you much success.
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May 11, 2016 at 10:18 pm |
Great that you like the words, Lottie. Hopefully the book will arrive soon in the UK’s Amazon version. You must be heading into summer and hopefully your art school project coming to fruition. How is the UK filming of ‘ Brits making a life in Spain’ coming along?’
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May 11, 2016 at 6:48 am |
You’ve achieved a fantastic journey yourself with this publication. Well done. I like the cover.
Ah. DV. The forgotten epidemic. ‘It doesn’t really matter, it’s just a domestic …’ I thought Spain had high rates, not sure we can match Aus. And there was me getting married in Sydney.
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May 11, 2016 at 10:25 pm |
Australian Government today decided to spend another $100.000.000- on improving investigation of ‘terrorism’ hoping to wax the people into voting for them on the second of July.
Of course, women escaping DV find it almost impossible to find safe refuge. The one or two acts of terrorism in Australia have been done by own deranged and mentally unstable nationals.
It’s all so topsy-turvy, this thing of politics.
I am so happy to hear you like the cover. I mean, you are the expert specialist in books. Thank you.
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May 11, 2016 at 11:01 am |
Sounds great. I must commend you on your sense of humor!
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May 11, 2016 at 10:27 pm |
Thank you. I love your historical reportage of past wars and keeping alive ‘lest we forget.’
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May 12, 2016 at 11:10 am
Thank you. Words like that keep me going.
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May 11, 2016 at 11:22 am |
Sounds like it is time to head for Amazon! 🙂 –Curt
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May 11, 2016 at 10:29 pm |
Yes, Curt. Talk about rowing up the Amazon without a paddle! I finally got there. A journey like no other.
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May 12, 2016 at 11:13 am
With piranhas nipping at your butt the whole way. I get the feeling! 🙂
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May 11, 2016 at 1:00 pm |
i really like the cover, and the “bio” on the back. It does read well, and I suspect will inspire a few purchases by people “just looking” in the bookstores.
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May 11, 2016 at 10:34 pm |
thank you, Linda. I do hope the books will sell. I intend going to bookstores asking them to sell the paper-back version which I import from the Amazon-US. Amazon- Australia as yet doesn’t do the print- on- demand, in Australia.
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May 11, 2016 at 6:39 pm |
As Linda says, it does read well, and I have hyped it a bit with friends here. What an education you are having!
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May 11, 2016 at 10:41 pm |
Thank you for your kindness and support ,dear Kayti. The formatting and centring text with photos is not for the faint-hearted. I had help from a very good American friend whom I have known since 1982. He still lives in Sydney’s Balmain where we used to live and knew our children well. Right from the first moment of computers coming about, he would study them and the technology behind it, forever reading the technical magazines. Of course, he is a scientist, marine biologist, and that helps.
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May 11, 2016 at 7:17 pm |
It’s looking very good indeed Gerard! Enjoy Eurovision with the grandchildren!!!
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May 11, 2016 at 10:46 pm |
Thank you, Patti. Things must be glorious in NYC right now. Last night there was a TV program about a few Aussies making a go of running Australian style cafés in Manhattan and Brooklyn, serving fresh food and good coffee. Apparently it is a great success.
Tomorrow the kids will come and we have taken the stretcher-beds out of hibernation. We shall see. Australia has high hopes of winning.
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May 11, 2016 at 11:00 pm
Australia is in the Eurovision Song Contest, how did this happen? Spring has been late to NYC but getting there. As for the Australian coffee here . . . I have tried it and. . . . far too bitter for my taste 😦 and I like my coffee black and strong.
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May 12, 2016 at 3:59 am |
Sadly, a lot of things Aussie is going bitter now. Especially for the refugees in indefinite detention. We buy Italian coffee, lovely.
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May 12, 2016 at 12:17 am |
I had the help of my late son -in-law when I put mine together. As the kids would say “It’s a real bitch”!
Nice to have your long time friend there to help you.
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May 12, 2016 at 4:04 am |
One has to have special gene for working on things connected to computers. There are just too many options. It is so complicated. I think finally the gene will be embedded in new born babies probably born with twitching fingers, square eyes and nappies (diapers) filled with lots of deletions, including apostrophes.
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May 12, 2016 at 7:08 am |
Congratulations on getting your finished editions out !
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May 12, 2016 at 10:31 pm |
Thank you, I like your poetry.
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May 12, 2016 at 1:04 pm |
I sympathise about getting an edition error-free. Glad the kindle has done well. You have broken most records in the speed with which you have got all this done, so best of luck with the print sales, I like the image on the cover.
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May 12, 2016 at 10:40 pm |
Yes Hilary. It has been somewhat hectic. I just hope the print book will soon appear on the Amazon outlets. It is quite a business to follow all the prompts but one gets lots of help along the way.
I now have to try and do the ‘marketing’, something that might have to involve getting the books on shelves inside bookshops. We shall see!
I could just drop a few copies on the shelf of ‘best sellers’ and quickly walk out, watch around the corner to see if anyone will look and buy it.
I believe your latest book is coming out soon as well.
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May 15, 2016 at 7:13 am |
Never get sick of your links to some very interesting and controversial issues like this one;
http://windowintopalestine.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/palestine-overwhelmed-by-illegal.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+blogspot/LkRU+(Window+Into+Palestine)&m=1
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May 15, 2016 at 11:17 pm |
I agree with you that we should relax more about travelling by train and come down hard on domestic violence. The level it is being experienced in this country is appalling.
It is wonderful news on the progress of your book sales and the different formats it is now appearing. I was wondering whether, now that you are a published author, that means that you are indeed now ‘there’ – where you wanted to be.
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May 16, 2016 at 1:13 pm |
It looks wonderful, Gerard! Congratulations!
The stranger danger myth is so prevalent and yet when my children walked to school they were in more danger of being run over by frantic mums in four-wheel-drives than being approached by a random stranger.
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