Banging My Head Against My Keyboard

by Susan Reynolds Crane

Please welcome our Susan Reynolds Crane (Quinn Cooper) with her article that so many of us will share and "feel" her frustration while we read. I also want to congratulate her on her continued perseverance in publishing her children's book! Way to go!

Banging My Head Against My Keyboard!

Hello Everyone,

It’s great to be here and talking about my latest ventures and the trials and tribulations!

Thank you so much to Elaine Marie Carnegie-Padgett for inviting me back and I also need to say a big thank you and how grateful I am to be a part of Elaine’s anthology series, among the very best writers in today’s world.

My name is Susan Crane, although many of you know me as Quinn Cooper, author of adult, gay novels.

My latest venture is writing children’s stories. Writing the actual stories and creating simple art work to go with them, is a full time job in itself, but in no way prepares one for the torture of self- publishing. Have any of you ever tried to gift wrap a live puppy? Or possibly have been poked in the eye with a sharp stick?

Both of those examples are less painful than self- publishing children’s books.

 Several years ago, I began with some simple sketches and a short story. I finished the story which is called Carolyn Carrot’s Amazing Day! A Peas and Carrots story. The story is cute and teaches patience and perseverance.

I have had the story for at least five years, but since I feel I am not an illustrator, have kept it on the back burner. I have tried hiring artists but was not financially feasible for me.

Recently, I started watching YouTube videos and learned I am able to use Canva.com for my illustrations. Canva has an entire booklet on their legal do’s and don’ts.

I was going along well and had the book finished and ready for publication. This is where my headaches began. I wanted a large book in hardcover. I began researching KDP (Amazon), IngramSparks, Draft2Digital, and even Lulu. Most of them wouldn’t even consider publishing a hardcover book without seventy -five pages. This was the case with KDP and Draft2Digital. I settled on IngramSpark and started watching all the YouTube videos I could find, I’m talking 20 to 30 videos. No, not total, but rather per day.

I have spend countless hours learning so much, but when it came to the proof in the pudding, I failed, over and over again.

I watched this one author who came right out and said that IngramSpark was not for the beginner. She suggested creating the first copy through KDP to get the feet wet and go from there.

I thought she may have something considering I have at least fifty versions of my book out there and I’m so confused on which one to use now, this seemed like sound advice.

It is and it isn’t.

Yes I know, sounds like being a little bit pregnant, but it sort of is like that. I was able to download my book and check it for mistakes with very little trouble, HOWEVER, uploading the cover is still giving me fits. I am finishing up this piece as a way of taking a break from my “day job”.

I am going to continue banging my head against my keyboard until I am able to receive a thumbs up from KDP on my cover. Once I master this, I will attempt, no, not attempt, but succeed in creating a hardcover version of my book through Ingram Spark.

I would love to send out short updates to keep you all informed as to where I am in the process.

Once I figure this out for myself, I will write out the exact, simple directions on how to self-publish on KDP and IngramSpark.

BIO: Susan Reynolds Crane is a 64- year-old widow. She is about to celebrate her 65th birthday. She lives in a third floor walkup in Fall River, Massachusetts with her adult son and 2-year-old rescue cat, Zodi.

 Click the cover to the left to browse or buy poetry by Quinn Cooper!