FLASHLIGHTS AND WHISTLES

The flashlight/whistles are here!

Just took delivery of the flashlights that are also whistles in time for Hallowe'en. The color of the light is appropriately red -- one end is the light, the other end is the whistle. There's a keychain ring on the light end, which makes it easier to blow the whistle end.

Of course, the book, "It's Scary, Going Back Home," is still a long way from publication, but what the heck, it's hard to get all the necessary steps done in any logical order. It will be worth the wait.

I'll be seeing some of you at the Great Manhattan Mystery Conclave. If you see me first, be sure to ask me for one of the "It's Scary, Going Back Home" flashlights/whistles.

ISBN, CIP and PCN ?

Alphabet soup, it is.

Every book has to have an ISBN, a CIP and a PCN. Look for yourself on the verso page of any recent book. (The verso page is also called the copyright page, and it's the reverse of the title page.)

ISBN is an International Standard Book Number. The CIP block is the "Cataloging in Publication information. And the PCN is a Preassigned Control number issued by the Library of Congress.

There is no "one-stop" shopping opportunity here -- each piece of information comes from a different source.

Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention the EAN barcode.

All the Quotes I Need

It's been a slow process, but I've gotten permissions now for all the quotes I need.

In fact, I've received a belatedly reply from the Watertown (South Dakota) Public Opinion. I say belated because it arrived several weeks after my request, and after I had obtained the number I needed (one for every chapter). The Watertown quote would have been perfect as it refers to computer thieves stealing identities over the internet.

I'm waiting now for a final report from one of my editors, and then the manuscript will be in the hands of a book designer (although that part has really already been done).

It's Scary, having to wait so long to actually get a book into print.

Designing Covers

I'm so excited -- the front and back covers for It's Scary, Going Back Home, are taking shape. We spent a lot of time this afternoon looking at options, considering type faces, colors, design elements, all the pieces that go into producing a spectacular front cover.

Next week I hope to be talking to a book designer, you know, the person who can convert ordinary Word files into a language the book manufacturing machines can understand.

Here Are Some Examples

I'm hoping to get permission from several newspapers to use real quotes about identity theft, real news, not just some law enforcement official urging people to protect themselves against identity theft.

No mention of specific names, so none of us will be sued over unwelcome publicity. Quotes like these:

SAN DIEGO – Like so many victims of identity theft – a crime that netted an estimated $52 billion last year from businesses and 10 million Americans – they wonder if their nightmares will ever end. – The San Diego Union Tribune

CHATTANOOGA -- This week Crime Stoppers and Chattanooga Police are asking for help in identifying a suspect who has committed identity theft and passed several bogus checks in the Chattanooga and Cleveland area. -- Chattanooga Morning Pointe

BROWNSVILLE -- According to recent figures, Brownsville Police have handled close to 900 cases of identity theft or credit card abuse since January. Brownsville Herald

DALLAS-FORT WORTH -- Just when dropping gas prices were beginning to give drivers some relief, North Texans face a new threat at the pump: identity thieves. The Dallas Morning News

Talked to Book Printers Today

and saw some lovely examples of books printed in Leavenworth. More good news, they are willing to work with my manuscript which is currently in Microsoft Word. Which will leave me free to concentrate on the problem of where I left the information about the ISBN number that I will need.

NEED NEWSPAPER QUOTES

"It's Scary, Going Back Home" is the story of Nedra Cosgrove, who has grave misgivings about buying back a home-based telephone answering business originally started by her mother. The current owner wants to retire, but the revenue has been shrinking. Can Nedra revive the business with new energy? Is it worth giving up her life in Albuquerque to return to the place where she grew up?

All I need to finish the manuscript are permissions to use quotes from several newspapers.

IDENTITY THEFT? Not here, not me.

"Sometimes it's no accident when someone else ends up with your name and your social security number. Identity theft increased 22 percent in 2008 to victimize almost 10 million U.S. adults."
NewsJournal, Mansfield, OH

Nedra Cosgrove had only two credit cards -- who would want to steal her identity?