Update: We’re working it out. A few more turns and we should have a book.
Thank you all who have written with your encouragement.
Lady Nyo
It’s been a while to get this work done, but it looks like it’s finally going to be published by lulu.com.
My dear friend, Bill Penrose, who is an excellent writer and a master at formatting, has taken on this project. He formatted and produced both of my first books, “A Seasoning of Lust” and “The Zar Tales” in 2009 and 2010 with Lulu.com. Without Bill, these books would not see daylight.
Last night I called over a computer whiz friend and neighbor and we made a hash of what Bill had started on Lulu. We screwed it up completely, and I ended up deleting the file from Lulu to start clean this morning. Bill has received a few rather hysterical emails from me this morning as to ‘what did I do wrong, and can you fix it?’
I have to say that Lulu.com isn’t user friendly. We realized that with the first book, and it seems to be getting even worse with them. Of course, they are selling their professional services and making it easy for the public isn’t exactly good for their bottom line.
But in a few days, with Bill’s magic, “White Cranes of Heaven–Fifty Seasonal Poems” will be available from Lulu.com.
There are a number of my paintings to illustrate the poems in this new book, mostly watercolors and mostly landscapes.
There are also a number of people to thank for this book: Nick Nicholson in Canberra, Australia, Marge Chester in North Carolina, Katie Troutman in NC, Bren Goode in Maine and Steve Isaaks in California all took poems and did critiques. Their talent and eyes were invaluable in this production.
I tried to follow the seasons in cycles, but then lost the trail. There were too many poems of a mixed seasonal nature to do this in format, and also there is a section of “Moon Poems and Tanka”.
I hope those who get this book from Lulu.com enjoy the poetry.
Lady Nyo
–
SPRING CAN’T WAIT
Sharp brittle winds
Sailing like clipper glass
Cutting the skin razor thin,
Flaying off winter’s gall.
This spring can‘t wait.
It lies, promising comforting warmth,
Yet delivers the opposite.
–
I hear the laughter in the pines.
They moan and echo an evil chuckle.
–
No matter.
This argument will be over
Once the earth
Pirouettes on point.
–
Jane Kohut-Bartels
Copyrighted, 2011, from “White Cranes of Heaven”, to be published by Lulu.com….soon.
Tags: "A Seasoning of Lust", "The Zar Tales", "White Cranes of Heaven", Bill Penrose, friends, lulu.com, poetry
Lady Nyo's Weblog 
February 24, 2011 at 5:18 pm
Hey, Jane,
Congratulations!!
I’m sure it will be fabulous to see it “in print.” You’ve worked long and hard at it and deserve kudos for getting “White Cranes” flying.
Rose 😉
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February 24, 2011 at 6:08 pm
Hey Rose!
I was just thinking about you this morning!
Ah, God….Lulu.com is quite a issue….they get harder and harder to use, and that has a definite purpose for them: they make more $$$ when it’s so difficult to use their formatting for just folk….
Actually, last night the kid who was helping me pressed this button: “Lulu gives you a free (no…it costs 100 clams) ISBN# and THEY are holding the publishing rights…..before I knew what the hell he was doing….
So….I am wrangling with Lulu right now about this. It would shoot the cost of this book up to 50.00 just for Amazon.com listing, otherwise, it still isn’t cheap. Around 22-25.00. But it has paintings in it!!
Geez….I think the next one I will just pay them and throw it in their lap and then complain. Bill has done an incredible job on all of this, and I can’t thank him enough. I’ve give him my first born but he’s useless right now….off in the Sea of Somalia chasing pirates.
Thanks, Rose…we’ll see where this goes, but I am OVER IT!
Jane
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February 25, 2011 at 12:27 am
I am so looking forward to getting this book! And by the way, thank you for mentioning me. Reading your poetry is very enjoyable,but what I did for you was but a miniscule amount compared to what your poetry does for me! I’m so excited for you!
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February 25, 2011 at 1:16 am
Congratulations, Jane!
Your work deserves to be out in the literary world and I’m tickled for you. One of these days we need to get together and have a book party!
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February 25, 2011 at 4:18 am
Hey Katie!
Your own work is excellent, as is your art!
Thank you, Katie…you have been a rock all these years.
Hugs,
Jane
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February 25, 2011 at 4:20 am
Hey Margie!
You think it was minuscule? Well, you gave me something that I desperately needed then…and now….a reader of certain poems and your good eye (both of them….) and discernment.
Every writer needs this because it can get overwhelming…and besides….two heads are better than one!
Thank you, Margie. People like you are the reason I keep writing…(that and the cookies…)
Hugs,
Jane
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February 25, 2011 at 7:15 pm
Congratulations!
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February 25, 2011 at 8:53 pm
Thank you, Mama Zen!
But! We are backing up right now because Lulu.com is acting like a butthole about the ISBN#. I am going to write an update on the face of the blog because I want people to be aware of how Lulu.com works. Not nicely.
And I just today…(LOL!) got another royalty check from these ‘shoot in the foot’ characters.
Lady Nyo
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March 1, 2011 at 4:53 am
Hello Jane,
Before I start reading your work, let me Congratulate you on your success!
Like any other writer or blogger; I too wish to get published apparently someday- yet figuring out since I am not comfortable self- publishing!
Please accept my warm wishes n hugs on your having reached the stairs of becoming an established author..
Wishing you a nice week ahead
Smiles xoxox
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March 1, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Thank you, Olivia.
It was a hard decision for me, too…this self-publishing, which is harder than it looks. Thankfully I have a good friend, Bill Penrose, who has all the knowledge and expertise to do this and what he doesn’t have, he will work to figure it out!
Lulu (and I guess the rest of them) make it as hard as possible to do this: they want to sell their services, and it can get expensive.
I will continue to self-publish because it is a way to get my works out there: “A Seasoning of Lust” (a lot of erotica) “The Zar Tales” (mysticism and an explanation of Hyperarousal Trance) and now…”White Cranes of Heaven”, 50 Seasonal poems.
But not right now! I am exhausted, physically, mentally and emotionally. I have published 3 books in 3 years right on the button, and it takes so much energy.
I am working on a long novel set in 17th century Japan, “The Kimono” and I just want to sit and read all these books on Japanese culture, mythology, literature and history. I need a break…a long one.
Thank you, Olivia for your well-wishes. And don’t be afraid of self-publishing. The “Big Houses” are backlogged like a sewer with manuscripts submitted they just throw in a slush pile, and years of work are gone.
At least when you self-publish, people get to read your hard work, and sometimes you actually get royalty checks! That’s never the reason to write, but it is nice.
Lady Nyo
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April 8, 2011 at 2:26 am
I was wondering if you could forward a question to Bill Penrose.
I am wondering how he made the color plates for you on Lulu in your White Cranes book. Specifically, whether the whole book is in color, or just the plates themselves.
Congratulations on the new book.
sincerely,
Jon Dattorro
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April 8, 2011 at 9:52 am
Hi Jon,
No, Bill Penrose didn’t make the colored plates for “White Cranes of Heaven”. Those were shot by a professional photographer two years ago. I have been a wildlife and landscape painter for 20 years at least and there were a lot of paintings. I need to do more. They were made into slides which I have never used, but most usefully put on a cd and on my computer. This guy was really good. He shot through the glazing without problems, but he did a lot of adjusting with lighting.
What is in color is the new painting on the front and the 11 others inside. I can’t fault Lulu for the printing, it was wonderful, and the book is beautiful. However, I did find out that Lulu doesn’t have an inhouse printer….which they never mention, and that is why this book is pretty pricey. When I finally go over to Createspace (Amazon) they have assured me their printing is IN house, and the price is about half of what Lulu charges.
God help you if you have to contact Lulu about problems/issues. They have a system that keeps you from asking questions until you finally find a rep who answers, and they it’s just about impossible to get what you want. Createspace immediately contacted me by phone, a couple of times, walked me through the process, etc…and it was night and day considering what Lulu puts you through.
Good luck with any publishing of a book if you are considering such…and thank you for the congradulations. I am really happy with the appearance of the book, just wish it was less expensive, but it is selling, so that’s the good news.
Lady Nyo
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