What's going on?

Wow - it's been a busy two weeks since the books starting shipping. I've sent about a hundred and fifty influencer copies into the world (literally - some going to the Caribbean, Australia, Canada, etc.) and I hope to start seeing both reviews and "influence" on blogs, Facebook sites and even major Christian Fiction Review Sites.

The economics side of the book publishing process is very different from the solo-creative part that preceded it by over two years. It really is all about networking. Finding people who have a bazillion friends on Facebook and are willing to spread the word about your book, or finding that Reviewer that reaches thousands of people --- these are the people that can seriously impact book sales.

I'll keep you posted on reviews and such over the next two weeks or so as they start popping up, but hey, what about you? Will you write a review on Amazon for Wayback? Perhaps consider joining the Wayback Fan Site - it costs nothing - while you're at it, suggest it to your friends - again, totally free.

I had my first book signing at my church last Sunday night. I'm blessed in that my Senior Pastor, Scott Wendal, at vfbt.org is a big supporter. They are carrying it in their church bookstore.

Is yours carrying it? If not, drop me a line to find out how to remedy this: sam@sambatterman.com

Blessings,

Sam

It's Here!

After two long years, the day I have dreamt about is here. Wayback is now available to the public. I hope you enjoy it, but perhaps more to the point, I hope it creates a lot of discussion.

Today had a strange sense of finality to it - somewhere between the graduation of high school and college and less intense than the birth of a child. This is the end of the creation process and the beginning of promotion and sales. The book ended up better than I could have hoped.

Here I am opening the first box of influencer copies...

Two dozen "Waybacks" all nestled together!

The gratuitous "author and stack of books shot."

I even had a well-wisher on-line from my editor, Rachel Starr Thomson

Blessings,

Sam

The Timeline for Writing Wayback

Since this blog over time becomes a kind of diary, I wanted to post the timeline of events that led to Wayback being published. I know that during the process I always wondered what was next and how long that particular task would take, so perhaps this will help other writers who are curious.

Oops, blogger doesn't give us much space here - here's an enumeration of the events:

• May 2007 - Manuscript started, originally titled "Chronology"
• May 2008 - Manuscript submitted to Manuscript Submission Network
• July 18, 2008 - VMI Publishers extends contract
• Endorsements - from Aug 2008 to Nov 2009
• Edit - from late November 2008 to Feb 15 2009
• Web Site development - from December, 2008 to Feb 2009
• Typesetting - March 2009
• Printing - April 2009
• Available to the public May 1, 2009!

Blessings,

Sam

Full Color Cover of Wayback

This is it! The book is off to the presses!

Here's the full color cover...

Blessings,

Sam

Wayback is going to Press!

I just got the email from my publisher informing me that the book is preparing to go to press. After a quick pre-production run, thousands of copies will be run off for warehouses, bookstores and websites to move to the public. 

Here's a shot of how many versions preceeded this "real" run - the manuscript changed a lot in two years time and I can truly say that the end result is better than I could have hope for when I started.

Blessings!

Sam

T-Minus...61 Days

The countdown is on...only sixty one days until Wayback hits bookstore shelves. The book is currently going through the typesetting process, which should take 3-4 weeks. I'll post more information as I get it. 

Wayback appears in STL's Spring 2009 Catalog

Check out Page 10.

See the whole catalog:

http://www.stl-publisherservices.com/docs/catalog_summer.pdf