Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Friday, December 27, 2013
2013 Year In Review
Hello! Happy Holidays!
Time flies and it's almost 2014! I did a quick R&R (Review & Reflect) on 2013. There were bumps here and there yet I must say it's an Amazing and Fruitful year!
Enjoy glimpses of The Fiedler's from January to December:
http://screencast.com/t/x2GppJtTkS
Did I mention before that I love learning how to draw cartoons?!! I bought a simple animation licence ($30) and created my first cartoon as follows:
http://screencast.com/t/2GvAP1iDP (Will get better once I study the user guide and practise more .. smile ..)
Wishing you and your family a Healthy & Prosperous 2014!
Time flies and it's almost 2014! I did a quick R&R (Review & Reflect) on 2013. There were bumps here and there yet I must say it's an Amazing and Fruitful year!
Enjoy glimpses of The Fiedler's from January to December:
http://screencast.com/t/x2GppJtTkS
Did I mention before that I love learning how to draw cartoons?!! I bought a simple animation licence ($30) and created my first cartoon as follows:
http://screencast.com/t/2GvAP1iDP (Will get better once I study the user guide and practise more .. smile ..)
Wishing you and your family a Healthy & Prosperous 2014!
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Sunday, November 17, 2013
My Roller Coaster Ride - First Book Signing on 16 November 2013 (Coles, Stoney Creek)
Hello! I did it and I never dreamed of hosting a book signing event and be the one signing it! When I started writing my book in April, the major reason for doing it was to share my experience so that the readers will save both time and money. It took me over five months to complete the whole publishing process even I had a publishing package (no mean to worry about the book interior layout). It turned out to be quite costly and rigid since I preferred a more flexible design and editing option.
Guess what? I started a second publishing round and did everything myself. I did try to purchase a cover/interior design package with freelance designers. Some require 1-2 months advanced bookings and/or my expected interior design was considered to be complicated (meaning double the basic price tag).
I experienced grievances when pasting my materials to an interior design template. Section breaks made strange pagination and created unnecessary blank pages. That was the original reason for recruiting a freelance designer. Since I did not have that option anymore (because it's over my budget), I had no one to count on except myself.
Believe me - it was quite stressful and unexpected! I recovered and did more research on section breaks. Revealed the hidden codes and strived to paste my materials correctly. If not, it would create funny breaks and pages. I took me nights of trials and the last unwanted page was removed successfully after days and nights of hard labor.
Was it fun? It was once I got over the initial shock. I comforted myself that it's good because everything was within my control. I could really move around things the way I wanted. I ended up using my own cartoon for the section breaks.
As I mentioned in my previous post I must find another way to lower my publishing cost or else book signing was out of the question. The first publishing agent left me no margin to accommodate a cut (very often 45%). For those who do a quick tabulation, you will agree with me that self-publishers do not really make a big profit .. very often a few dollars if they get lucky. If the cut is deep and the publishing cost is huge, they may not even make a dollar. That's why I always admire them for the time they spent in sharing their experience in their books. It's more about passion!
Guess what? I started a second publishing round and did everything myself. I did try to purchase a cover/interior design package with freelance designers. Some require 1-2 months advanced bookings and/or my expected interior design was considered to be complicated (meaning double the basic price tag).
I experienced grievances when pasting my materials to an interior design template. Section breaks made strange pagination and created unnecessary blank pages. That was the original reason for recruiting a freelance designer. Since I did not have that option anymore (because it's over my budget), I had no one to count on except myself.
Believe me - it was quite stressful and unexpected! I recovered and did more research on section breaks. Revealed the hidden codes and strived to paste my materials correctly. If not, it would create funny breaks and pages. I took me nights of trials and the last unwanted page was removed successfully after days and nights of hard labor.
Was it fun? It was once I got over the initial shock. I comforted myself that it's good because everything was within my control. I could really move around things the way I wanted. I ended up using my own cartoon for the section breaks.
As I mentioned in my previous post I must find another way to lower my publishing cost or else book signing was out of the question. The first publishing agent left me no margin to accommodate a cut (very often 45%). For those who do a quick tabulation, you will agree with me that self-publishers do not really make a big profit .. very often a few dollars if they get lucky. If the cut is deep and the publishing cost is huge, they may not even make a dollar. That's why I always admire them for the time they spent in sharing their experience in their books. It's more about passion!
.JPG) |
| First Book Signing Event Photo Galery |
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Happy Halloween!!!
Hello! Believe your week has been going well. Mine has been a fruitful one .. smile ..
I went to a book-signing event and got some great tips from the writer Georgie Binks (it's her first book too and she has amazing media and writing experiences). Did lots of research over the week and started revising my Ride book's cover design Friday night. Am quite happy with the following for now:
http://screencast.com/t/UrcCbDCc
Also went through my book and removed bookmarks/hyperlinks from the original word document so that it could be re-edited to match some publishers' upload requirement (such as Createspace and Lightning Source). I am not working on the interior formatting this round. Instead, am using a freelance designer. If everything goes well in the coming week, my Ride book (second edition) will be available in early/mid November.
As of this moment, I have two tentative book-signing activities to be finalized (in downtown Toronto and Burlington). Once I know the publishing/delivery turnaround time, I will confirm their dates plus scheduling more.
For November and December, I plan to map out some social media projects inclusive of realistic time schedule in 2014. I've found myself running out of time (quite often out of breath too) these days/nights. Bearing in mind that health and quality of life should always be the top two priority items, I am trying not to stress myself too much while my To-do list is growing.
We have a few live Internet TV chats (since 3 October) and really enjoy them. Oh, no chatting on the coming Thursday (31 October) because it's Halloween. We will resume on 7 November.
It's getting cold early this year. The temperature has dropped to below 10 degree C last week. I don't mind as long as we have a mild winter.
For now stay cozy and healthy. Will be back!
Beth
I went to a book-signing event and got some great tips from the writer Georgie Binks (it's her first book too and she has amazing media and writing experiences). Did lots of research over the week and started revising my Ride book's cover design Friday night. Am quite happy with the following for now:
http://screencast.com/t/UrcCbDCc
Also went through my book and removed bookmarks/hyperlinks from the original word document so that it could be re-edited to match some publishers' upload requirement (such as Createspace and Lightning Source). I am not working on the interior formatting this round. Instead, am using a freelance designer. If everything goes well in the coming week, my Ride book (second edition) will be available in early/mid November.
As of this moment, I have two tentative book-signing activities to be finalized (in downtown Toronto and Burlington). Once I know the publishing/delivery turnaround time, I will confirm their dates plus scheduling more.
For November and December, I plan to map out some social media projects inclusive of realistic time schedule in 2014. I've found myself running out of time (quite often out of breath too) these days/nights. Bearing in mind that health and quality of life should always be the top two priority items, I am trying not to stress myself too much while my To-do list is growing.
We have a few live Internet TV chats (since 3 October) and really enjoy them. Oh, no chatting on the coming Thursday (31 October) because it's Halloween. We will resume on 7 November.
It's getting cold early this year. The temperature has dropped to below 10 degree C last week. I don't mind as long as we have a mild winter.
For now stay cozy and healthy. Will be back!
Beth
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Monday, October 7, 2013
Happiness to continue .. smile ..
Our first live Internet TV session went well last Thursday night. The Fiedler's enjoyed a crispy 15-minute chat on Happiness. We covered the 7 habits of happy people and shared some survey responses.
We will continue with Happiness in the coming Thursday night. PIN formula will be shared. If you cannot join us, you will always find the recording link on the Ask Beth QQQ. If you have issues that you would like us to address, please feel free to complete a contact form or email us.
Chat with you this Thursday. Thank you!
Ask Beth QQQ
10 October 2013 (Thursday)
8:30-8:45 pm EST
Topic: Happiness (PIN formula will be shared)
We will continue with Happiness in the coming Thursday night. PIN formula will be shared. If you cannot join us, you will always find the recording link on the Ask Beth QQQ. If you have issues that you would like us to address, please feel free to complete a contact form or email us.
Chat with you this Thursday. Thank you!
Ask Beth QQQ
10 October 2013 (Thursday)
8:30-8:45 pm EST
Topic: Happiness (PIN formula will be shared)
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Weekly Inspiring Quotes
I tried to create simple inspiring quotes and release one every Tuesday night. Started last week and missed sharing the first quote here.
Here they come two in a row .. smile .. Enjoy!
Here they come two in a row .. smile .. Enjoy!
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| 17 September 2013 |
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| 24 September 2013 |
Friday, September 20, 2013
Ask Beth QQQ - successfully created a mobile App for the weekly Live Internet TV program .. haha ..
 |
| Enjoy a glimpse of my mobile App .. smile .. You are welcome to download and install the App on any Android phone, or via a mobile browser on any web-enabled smartphone. |
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Workplace Bullying
Hello! School bullying is a very hot topic in North America. How about workplace bullying? Need to tap into your personal experience on this sensitive topic.
Thank you for your participation!
https://apps.facebook.com/my-polls/zgdes
Thank you for your participation!
https://apps.facebook.com/my-polls/zgdes
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Is Video Marketing Challenging to make?
Hello! Businesses (especially entrepreneurs and small-scale ones) may find it intimidating and overwhelming to use Video Marketing to promote their products and services. The truth is: It's not easier than you thought! I spent a couple of hours doing research. Nailed down to 1-3 and signed up for a free account (basic ones but functional). Most come with complimentary templates and they're great to suit my needs.
Here it comes a crispy and "cute" one:
http://youtu.be/D5crgAjeuKk
It's not me who said it's "cute" .. feedback from a few friends .. smile .. Enjoy!
Did I mention I have completed a Social Media Marketing certificate program? Its shortest roadmap is a 13-week one. I finished all modules within 8 days. Oh well, it's very demanding you can imagine. I have been practicing what I learned and there're amazing tools out there!
Here it comes a crispy and "cute" one:
http://youtu.be/D5crgAjeuKk
It's not me who said it's "cute" .. feedback from a few friends .. smile .. Enjoy!
Did I mention I have completed a Social Media Marketing certificate program? Its shortest roadmap is a 13-week one. I finished all modules within 8 days. Oh well, it's very demanding you can imagine. I have been practicing what I learned and there're amazing tools out there!
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
A Quick Poll on Happiness - Thanks for your participation!
Hello! We plan to focus on Happiness for the first two weekly live Internet TV program sessions. Your participation in answering the two questions raised in the following survey would be greatly appreciated:
https://apps.facebook.com/126231547426086/ircfm
Thank you!
https://apps.facebook.com/126231547426086/ircfm
Thank you!
V-Book In Demand - Free Download
Hello! I've been a vegetarian for over two decades. There're myths about leading a vegetarian lifestyle. I've shared some tips (based on my personal experience and research) on this simple-to-read ebook. Enjoy!
Ask Beth QQQ - Weekly Live Internet TV Program to be launched in October 2013
Date: 3 October (Thursday)
Time: 8:30-8:45 pm EST
Topic: Happiness
Channel: Ask Beth QQQ
Format:
A short and crispy chat between The Fiedler's.
Looking forward to chat with you!
Stay Healthy & Happy Always!
Time: 8:30-8:45 pm EST
Topic: Happiness
Channel: Ask Beth QQQ
Format:
A short and crispy chat between The Fiedler's.
Looking forward to chat with you!
Stay Healthy & Happy Always!
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