Well, titles actually turned out to be not so hard in the end. Tash and I made use of Google Drive and a Google Spreadsheet and it only took a few hours over a couple of days to hash out titles we agreed on and thought fitted the anthologies. AND THERE WAS NO BLOODSHED! :D I'd be interested to know what folks think of the titles.
So, at last, 8 anthologies - DONE! :D
On top of figuring out the titles, it
only took four days of formatting and reformatting in MS Word with the Smashwords Style Guide at my fingertips at all times AND THEN formatting into html as well. MS Word has a nasty habit of sticking in hidden bookmarks when you're not looking and then has a great bug which means you have to unclick the 'hidden bookmarks' box and then reclick it to be able to see them so you can delete them! It completely messes up the Meatgrinder for Smashwords if you leave them it, so I checked and rechecked all the links and bookmarks in the documents to make sure Word hadn't managed to include some more about half a dozen times (not that I'm paranoid or anything).
Ironically, the html for Mobi Pocket Creator to create the prc for the Kindle upload was much simpler. It's precise html, rather than relying on .doc+Meatgrinder to get it right; I could control everything in the document. I may try out the new epub upload facility in Smashwords next time I do a book, because I can generate the epub from the html version, but it will be with a smaller book. There were just too many anthologies for me to try it out this time.
I'm super excited about these anthologies, they're a real cross-section of the genres Tasha and I like to write, plus some challenging genres for us (neither of us had written much horror before). We've also put into words our thoughts around the origins of the stories via author's notes at the beginning of each story, which we've never done before and they'll hopefully provide some insight into our mental processes.
Seekrit Message: We don't officially launch the books until Monday, in order to give Amazon loading a chance to happen, but just between you and me, we now have available on Smashwords all 8 variations of the stories created for The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games :).
I think Tash has done a great job with the front covers. We wanted them all to recognisable as one collection, but also be able to have different symbolism on the covers, so we went with words creating the different pictures. Personally, my favourite is the howling wolf and moon for Supernature, the paranormal anthology.
We've also tried to put the stories together in variable collections that will appeal to different folks. It was time consuming, but we thought some folks wouldn't want erotica and ya, or they might not be interested in horror. Hence the 8 anthologies.
Some may want all the stories, so we have:
Myriad Imaginings: All The Stories From The Giveaway Games
2 writers, 31 days of writing madness, the result: 28 fabulously diverse stories for your reading pleasure, including horror, fantasy and science fiction, paranormal adventure, young adult and erotica. Each story was only available for one day, but now all 28 stories have been gathered here into 1 volume where you can meet: a spy who becomes a vampire; a young professor with a mental gift beyond his intellect; a zombie cat and many more enthralling characters.
Others may want to pick by author, so we made two anthologies, one of Tasha's stories and one of mine.
Half of Everything: Stories by Natasha Duncan-Drake From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games
Many genres, 14 exciting stories in this anthology of shorts and novellettes by Natasha Duncan-Drake. Whether you're looking for horror, Sci-Fi or something else, you'll find what you're looking for in this collection.
The Other Half of Everything: Stories by Sophie Duncan From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games
Many genres, 14 exciting stories in this anthology of shorts and novellettes by Sophie Duncan. Whether you're looking for horror, Sci-Fi or something else, you'll find what you're looking for in this collection.
Then we thought some folks might just go for one genre, so we split the stories down into the 5 genres we aimed the stories at during the games: horror, sci-fi and fantasy, paranoraml, erotic romance, or young adult.
Book Of Darkness: The Horror Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games
Ghosts, zombies and haunted dolls are just a few of the disturbing creatures you will meet in this volume of short stories and novelettes.
Beyond Our Horizon: The Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games
A thief discovering an affinity with dragons and a university professor being forced to confront his past are just two of the short stories and novelettes in this volume.
Supernature: Paranormal Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games
Discover the touch of the supernatural in this volume of short stories and novelettes.
Romantics: Erotic Romance Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games
From a police officer working undercover to a commadore on a back end of nowhere space station, these protagonists all have sexy times ahead, with a heavy side of romance in this volume of short stories and novelettes.
Bright Young Things: Young Adult Speculative Fiction Stories From The Wittegen Press Giveaway Games
Meet a university rock band with a lupine secret and an alien with cat ears and a tail, among other young protagonists in this volume of short stories and novelettes.
Thus, all these will be available on Amazon by Monday and then hopefully Apple, B&N, Kobo, WHSmith et al in the next month, since it'll take a lot longer to reach them via Smashwords premium catalogue.
Now I'm going to go fall in a heap and wait for the automated publishing processes to finish! O.o
Title: The Chronicles of Charlie Waterman
