Michael Ashley's Blog

Fixed Layout EBooks on Apple iPad and iBookstore

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 23:45:00 +0000

Apple introduced a fixed-layout feature for the iPad and iPhone that makes it possible to reproduce beautiful, full-page illustrated childrens books. For months they kept it secret while testing the new layouts. But now they've given us access to the format and we have started the process of making FastPencil compatible with these new full-bleed childrens books.

Today, I'm happy to announce we've updated our system to support the new format on the Apple iPad for iBooks. There are a few extra steps necessary to get our default EPUB file ready for this format, but we can make the changes for you after publishing upon your request.

If you have an illustrated childrens book that you would like to distribute through the iPad and the Apple iBookstore follow these steps and we can get your book uploaded in a snap:

1. Export each page in your book as a JPG image, no larger than 1476x1970pixels. Use JPG compression of 85.

2. Make sure your images are in order from first to last by name. For example, page001.jpg, page002.jpg, page003.jpg and so forth.

3. Zip up your images and send them to us. You can email or we can give you a drop box to upload them, just contact FastPencil first.

4. Go to FastPencil.com and start a new eBook project but don't write in it. We will be using this empty project to upload your childrens book.

5. After we upload your files you can publish your ebook and purchase wide distribution.

6. Once we receive your order we will add our special fixed-layout codes to your ebook and send it to Apple for distribution through the iBookstore.

It's pretty easy, and you can get all this done for about $200 bucks!!! So jump in and try it out.

If you would rather not do-it-yourself, we can put together a package to help you through each step for under a grand. Just send me an email.

The journey from book idea to publication

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 01:13:00 +0000

I've been helping people write books for years and I keep telling them how easy it is. But now that I've done it myself, I have to admit the process gets increasingly more and more difficult with every step. On a scale from 1-100 with 100 being impossibly difficult, this is how I rank every step in the process:

Step One: Coming up with a book idea = 1
This step is so easy it's almost laughable. I talk with authors all the time who are afraid someone is going to steal their book idea. But having gone through the entire process, the idea is the easy part.

Step Two: Outlining the idea = 20
Once you have the idea it's not that much harder to outline it.

Step Three: Writing = 30
Writing is mostly about discipline. If you can force yourself to sit down and hammer on the keys you can get through this phase.

Step Four: Editing = 50
It's a lot easier if you can get people to help out. But it also makes it harder. The more people who give you their opinion, the harder it is to trust yourself. In the end you have trust yourself.

Step Five: Design = 30
It used to be really hard to design a book and a cover. But today it's a snap. The only reason I gave it a 30 is because the book cover design is still pretty tough. If you can entrust this to a professional, do it.

Step Six: Publishing = 99
I used to think that publishing was the easy part, and technically it is. All you have to do is push a button. But making the decision to push the button was really hard. I kept wondering if I was done. I kept thinking maybe I needed more editing, maybe I should change the title or do more writing.

I think this is where most people fall apart. They get stuck trying to make sure everything is perfect and the project loses steam. The dream fades. And once you lose momentum it's really hard to get it back.

That's why I think the hardest thing an author will do is release their book into the world. So my advice to you is this: Pull the trigger. Don't wait for things to be perfect. Just do it. Trust yourself and push the publish button. I did it and it feels great!! Good luck.

Inspired by Matt Cutts

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 07:22:00 +0000

Matt Cutts does this 30 day challenge and I like reading about his experiences and how it affects him. So this month I've decided to give it a try myself. He asked his readers to give him some ideas and there were some good ones on the list. I actually suggested he write a book, and of course I'd want him to use FastPencil.com but it's not for everyone. Tom Foremski just did it and I think it took him about 3 weeks. Wallace Baine did it and it took him two. But they are journalists with years of old articles and blog posts. It would be more difficult if you started with just an idea. But that would be a good challenge.

Not me though, I already have 45 book projects in the works. I'm going take one of the other ideas on his list. I'm going to draw a picture everyday, take a photo of it and post it on my blog.

KION FastPencil Interview

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:52:00 +0000

I had a chance to speak with the nice folks at KION about FastPencil and how writers are flocking to self-publishing during the economic downturn. Now that authors can choose print-on-demand and ebook distribution on the Kindle and iPad, publishing is actually cost-effective with almost no risk. Today you can sign up with FastPencil.com, import your manuscript or start a new book, click a few buttons and be a published author. Here's the snippet from the news: http://www.kionrightnow.com/global/story.asp?s=12591814

Memoirs of a Texan: War by Tim Murray

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:14:00 +0000

Memoirs of a Texan: War

by Tim Murray

Preview this book at FastPencil.com

Tim Murray has some words in him! Memoirs of a Texan is over 500 pages of real, civil war, historical fiction. I have to admit, I'm not a Civil War buff, but Murray does a wonderful job of wrapping an interesting story around historical events and people. You can preview the first 50 pages or so at FastPencil, then buy the book. It's worth it!

Seth Godin interview and the AuthoREvolution

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 01:36:00 +0000

Seth Godin is an Authorist even if he doesn't know it. This interview is a great glimpse into the future of eBooks, Kindle, iPad and the AuthoREvolution. Enjoy, http://ping.fm/q9Rqa

2010 Authorist Review - Call for Submissions

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:16:00 +0000

AuthREvolution is publishing the 2010 Authorist Review: Poetry and Short Stories by REvolutionary Authors. We are accepting submissions until March 30, 2010. The top 100 poems and short stories will be published and receive a free copy of the Authorist Review. Submit your poetry or short story now.

This is not a free poetry contest. The Authorist Review will judge every submission and choose the top 100 for publication.

By submitting poetry and short stories you agree that you own the copyright to your material and give permission to the Authorist Review to publish and distribute, if selected, in the 2010 Authorist Review.

New Examiner Title

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:22:00 +0000

Just found out my new title as Silicon Valley Publishing Examiner... I'm moving up in the world! http://ping.fm/Ajv5G

The end of bookstores

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:08:00 +0000

It will be a sad day when bookstores disappear completely, but it may not be far away. Read about my take on it and when it's going to happen at the Examiner, http://ping.fm/hFqga

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:55:00 +0000

Hosting the first FastPencil-Santa-Cruz Meetup tonight, http://ping.fm/AMlGO

Why is iPad an AuthoREvolution?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:53:00 +0000

What's happening in the publishing industry is not just natural evolution - it really is a revolution. The pendulum is swinging back toward the author and the iPad is just one more milestone along the way. Here are four reasons why the iPad is an AuthoREvolution:

1. It's not just a book on a computer screen. The whole concept of "Book" is finally changing and the idea that a book is a bunch of chapters packaged between two covers is fading. The iPad is a true multi-media device. That means the author can use all available means to convey content. It's not just a better book, it's changing the nature of books and giving the author more tools to connect. We will soon see eBooks with meta data, annotations, multimedia, links and social connections.

2. It's not just another distribution channel. The iPad brings iTunes simplicity to book purchases. With the integrated iBookstore authors will be able to reach out to an audience already downloading and reading eBooks on their iPhone. What people aren't talking about is how the iBookstore will allow anyone with an iTunes account to purchase books and view them on their iPhones and iPod Touch, too!

3. Publishers are arguing over prices, while authors are figuring out how to get their own books on the iBookstore without them! FastPencil.com is the only publisher that has committed to helping authors write, publish and distribute their books anywhere! If you are an author and you want to publish a book on the iPad, through the iBookstore, you'll be able to click a few buttons at FastPencil.com and you're in. No agent, no publisher, no permission slip required.

4. The iPad is going to put more money in everyone's pocket... except the bookstores. Unfortunately, my local bookshop may disappear in the next couple years if not sooner. Just like the iPod ended the reign of the record shops, the iPad should signal the end of the bookshop. And the 100% retail markup for books, too. Digital delivery means almost zero overhead and all profit. And Apple has taken the same stance as FastPencil, providing the lions share to the author or publisher. In the case of a traditional publisher, they chop that up and give even less to the author, but that's changing as authors choose to go direct. More money is going back to the author.

And that's the real AuthoREvolution - control and reward for ideas. The more we see companies like Apple, Amazon, FastPencil and Lulu work to help authors connect with their audience, the further we are toward a complete revolution in the publishing industry. It's not just the next generation of books, it's the next generation of an entire industry!

Setting up your new author workspace

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:02:00 +0000

Technology is great if it really makes your life easier. That's what the AuthoREvolution is all about: discovering and using technology that makes your job easier... and more fun!

After I created my book project on FastPencil for AuthoREvolution, I immediately started setting up my community and networks. That included the following:

1. @AuthoREvolution twitter account
2. Facebook page for AuthoREvolution
3. Wordpress blog for AuthoREvolution

Then I made sure my personal accounts were in order:

1. Mashley.com blogger account
2. Tumblr blog
3. LinkedIN
4. Misc other communities I participate in

NOW, if I had to manage every single account I would go crazy - so I setup a ping.fm account. Ping.fm will allow you to post to all of your accounts from one place. It's the slickest interface and time-savings tool you will use. Plus, they make it dead-simple to post different content to different containers. So you can post a blog to your blogging accounts, and status updates to your social containers. Awesome technology.

So, your first mission is to setup your accounts, blogs, pages, etc. and then tie them together using ping.fm and get used to posting from just one place.

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:33:00 +0000

Just setup my Ping.fm account for @AuthoREvolution

Mobile Book Authoring Transforms Your Publishing Workflow

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:44:00 +0000

When the muse comes calling, you have to start writing. Today that means more than just a pencil and paper. If you are a writer it means mobile book authoring, editing and publishing. Here are four new technologies that will forever transform your workflow as an author:

SaaS Applications
SaaS stands for Software as a Service. It means the software you use to write your book (your word processor, for example), isn’t actually installed on your computer. It’s a service you subscribe to over the Internet. One popular book authoring SaaS option today is FastPencil.com, which is a writing and collaboration service powering thousands of authors. SaaS word processors transform the way you write your book because they can do much more than just store content and perform spell checks. A good SaaS writing tool will connect you in a meaningful way with the people helping you write, publish and market your book. It may be a co-author, an editor, or just some friends who read and comment on your book. The key is, it’s connected. Software as a Service helps you write better, faster, cheaper, and in a more collaborative way than ever before.

Mobile Applications
The cell phone is no longer just for chatting. It’s a full-powered computer that allows you to be more productive when inspiration strikes, not just when you schedule it. The iPhone has transformed the way we use mobile devices, and now Google has entered the market with their Android mobile operating system. That means you will soon be able to access many of your writing tools on your cell phone. For example, the iPhone has over 100,000 apps that let you do everything from manage your daily life to play online games. FastPencil.com just released a mobile book authoring app that gives you instant access to your book projects and your collaborations. So when you’re sitting in the subway or taking a walk in the park and inspiration strikes, you can open your book project and take notes or just start writing directly into your chapters. Mobile apps give you more freedom and faster access to your content, no matter where you are when the muse calls you.

Mobile Hardware
Not only are mobile apps changing the way you write and collaborate, but new mobile technology and netbooks will make it even easier to read, write and work together in a more meaningful way. The Kindle made eBooks a household name, and it’s very likely anything you write today will have an eBook distribution channel when it’s published. But Kindle isn’t just for reading. You can bookmark and share with your friends so the reading experience isn’t so secluded. And with Apple getting ready to release their version of a tablet, you will be able to use mobile apps like FastPencil to do serious reading, writing and collaboration.

Instant Publishing
As better SaaS applications, mobile apps and devices emerge, your job as a writer will get easier, but it will also get faster. You will be able to go from idea to published book in a matter of clicks, not years. The more you take advantage of this new technology and make it part of your workflow, the better positioned you will be to succeed in the new publishing reality.

Mobile devices and apps will change the way books are written, edited and published. No longer will you have to nurture your idea, shop it around for a publisher, battle with complicated word processing software and search endlessly for old notebooks or disparate files lost on an old computer. You will be connected to your content and your collaborators through your SaaS, you’ll have immediate access to your notes and chapters through your mobile apps, and you’ll publish with just a few clicks, no permission slip required. The muse doesn’t like to wait for you to get home and find a notebook. Be ready when she calls!

45 more publications through FastPencil

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:32:00 +0000

FastPencil in the Santa Cruz Sentinel

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:28:00 +0000

It was really cool to see an article about FastPencil in the Santa Cruz Sentinel this morning. Especially because I used to work at the Sentinel many years ago and I know how many changes that paper has been through.

There were guys upstairs like Bill and John who had scars on their forearms from the hot lead they had to pour to make newspaper plates. When I joined the Sentinel we were still printing out stories on paper and waxing them onto boards to be photographed. We worked in Picas. I helped make the transition to direct-to-film where we would compose the pages on computer and print them to film. That's when Pixels became important. Just before I left we were implementing a content management system that allowed editors to enter stories directly onto the page... and the internet was taking off.

Today the Sentinel is basically a virtual paper. There is an office in Scotts Valley but the giant metal press, the million-dollar monster that used to occupy half a city block is no longer in Santa Cruz. In it's last hurrah, I heard it fell off the truck at the top of Hwy 17 and closed down traffic for hours!

So this morning I got to be featured in an article about FastPencil and how we are going to revolutionize publishing... the technology is finally ready, the people are ready, the customers are ready. Where will the Sentinel be in 5 years? Maybe using FastPencil?

Inkjet Cartridges are Highway Robbery

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:35:00 +0000

How to Win Big at NaNoWriMo

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:12:00 +0000

It Takes a Village to Write A Novel
You may have heard it said that it takes a village to raise a child. That's also true of novel writing. While the image of the lonely writer hammering away at her typewriter in a dark room for days on end springs to mind, today a writer has to employ every available trick to slip away from the chaos of life and get the words out.

One wildly successful program has helped thousands of writers get published. It's called National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. Every November writers are challenged to create a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. If you complete a novel, you "win" the contest. It's a challenge where your only competitor is yourself. Unfortunately most participants fail the challenge because they attempt to take on this Herculean task alone.

Today, you can invite your friends to take the NaNoWriMo challenge with you. Take advantage of Facebook and Twitter to post your progress. Do your writing online in a collaborative tool so friends can read, comment and encourage you to finish. It takes a village to write a book, and your village is online.

Don't Give in to Procrastination
Procrastination will kill your novel faster than a New York publisher. The good thing about joining a group of crazy authors in the 30-day challenge is heightened awareness, especially of procrastination. When you commit to writing 50,000 words in 30 days, and you have a group of friends watching, it's much harder to put off the hard work of creating that novel. You quickly learn that one missed day means twice the effort the following day.

When you learn to write every day, resistance starts to diminish and you find procrastination fades, too. If you have a great idea, writing 3,000 words a day is the best way to keep it alive.

Think of Your Novel as A Sculpture
NaNoWriMo offers you a chance to focus purely on writing, the wonderful process of allowing ideas to flow into your book. Don't worry about perfection. Don't even worry about greatness. Just focus on your story, and getting the words out. Sculptors start with a big chunk of material and gradually chip it down. You can do the same thing. After you finish NaNoWriMo, you can clean it up, tighten it, and polish it.

Editing takes time and diligent effort, but it truly makes the difference between a good idea and a great book. It's not easy to strip down the words you have painfully called forth, but to quote Robert Louis Stevenson, "There is but one art, to omit."

Realize Your Dream of Becoming A Published Author
These days it's easier than ever to publish a book. So why not give yourself the goal of not just writing a novel, but also publishing it? Print on demand technology gives you the ability to inexpensively print a single copy of your book. You can even distribute it as an eBook for far less than you'd expect.

By combining social writing tools, inexpensive publishing, and hard work, you can not only win NaNoWriMo, but also get published. All in 30 days.

Join me on FastPencil as I trudge through my novel this year: FastPencil.com/users/mashley

FastPencil on Abc News

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 05:44:00 +0000

The Abc News van dropped by our office today to find out what FastPencil is all about. Check out the video news story, it even has a web conference with Rick Rieser, the author of Percy.

FastPencil in the News

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:16:00 +0000

We have been surfing this wave of publishing industry disruption for a year now and it's starting to get exciting. This morning the San Jose Mercury News had us on the front page. The Santa Cruz Sentinel picked up the story on their site, too.

But the most exciting thing is how the media is starting to understand what we are all about. This article was very close, but they said we focus on the paper book, not e-books. FastPencil actually makes it possible for an author to get their book in ANY format, paper or electronic, without having to jump through hoops. One click and we can make your book available as paperback, hardcover, Kindle, e-book, iPhone, and more.

That's the amazing thing about FastPencil, write once and publish anywhere! Our motto is "Your book, no boundaries" and FastPencil is the only place where you can make that dream come true with just a few clicks.

Come to FastPencil to connect, write, publish and sell your book. It's your dream, don't let anything get in your way.

FastPencil and iPhone Users

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:39:00 +0000

If you are a FastPencil user and have an iPhone, we would love to get your feedback on a project we are working on. I was going to give you a sneak peak, but I've been told I have to keep it under wraps for now. Just believe me, it's awesome! Let me know if you want to be part of a special test group.

Dick DeBartolo Reviews FastPencil on the Daily GizWiz

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 06:04:00 +0000

Dick DeBartolo gets it. Dick is a former writer for Mad Magazine and famous for his gadgets. Now Dick is writing a book on FastPencil and he's loving it. Check out his GizWiz podcast review on twit.tv, it's entertaining and informative, but most of all he describes the features and benefits in a way that makes sense. FastPencil is simple, fun and anyone can write a book.

Hot off the press!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:42:00 +0000

FastPencil helps first time author, Rick Rieser, fulfill his dream.

We just got a copy of Percy the Perfectly Imperfect Chicken and it looks hot! This is an example of how FastPencil can help an author go from idea, through collaboration and into distribution.

I was so excited I snapped a quick photo with my iPhone to share with you:

If you have a book inside and want to get it out, take a look at FastPencil and see if it's right for you.

FastPencil gets a new design

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:26:00 +0000

It's been a fast and furious 6 weeks but the result that we launched on Tuesday is more than worth the effort. FastPencil got a new home page design, new Marketplace features to help authors and service providers connect, and we unveiled our ColorBook Creator. That means authors can write and publish cookbooks, comic books, graphic novels and photo books with just a few clicks. Plus we updated our Novel writing tool and added a new output template we call Elegance. Elegance was designed by our professional book designer to make your novel look and read like a million-bucks! Check out all the new changes and send me feedback on the design.

Conference or Ping-Pong Table

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Ashley) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:44:00 +0000

FastPencil is a startup so I thought I should share the experience with my friends. This is the view from my desk looking out at our 12 foot conference table. We practically live at that table and on the whiteboards tacked to every wall. I love this environment. The only thing I miss is my old green couch... When you work on a team sometimes you have to sacrifice for the greater good and the old green couch was too battered to survive the vote. But I got to keep the conference table, and though it's bigger than a ping-pong table, I love that it will fit 10 people easily. Now I'm pushing for a net so we can actually play ping-pong on it! FastPencil rocks!