Joe Prainito's Official Blog

New Book / New Busy Schedule

2010-08-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

It's been a couple months since my last blog update, but what can I say-it's been busy. I won't bore you with too many of the details except to say that God has been good in opening doors, and giving me the opportunity to meet many great people, and minister in ways that I never have.

Just after the book released on June 1st my publisher went to work on marketing the book. They began setting up book-signings and I began setting up speaking engagements while updating my website with a calendar and marketing page. In the month of august I did 6 different book events. 2 signings, 3 Radio interviews, and 1 Speaking engagement at one of my favorite organizations; Teen Challenge.

I've been having a great time, and have met some awesome people just in the last month which leads me to question who I will have the opportunity to meet in the near future. All I know is I will continue to leave it all in the hands of the Lord, and as the Lord opens the doors, I will continue to walk on through.

I encourage you to go to my website www.joeprainito.com and check out the calendar. And what the hey-if you find yourself with nothing to do, then why not come out to a book-signing. My prayers are with you all, and may the Lord continue to bless you as you continue to be a blessing to Him.

Release Date "Climbing the End of Your Rope"

2010-05-31T07:40:00.000-07:00

It's been nearly one year since I signed the contract with Tate Publishing and here I am at the threshold of the release date; June 1st. In the past year I've written and rewritten the book. I've edited and re-edited the book. But today I have a little over 100 books in my hands and the release date breathing down my neck whispering in my ear; "It's time to go to work, it's time to get the message out". Book signings, speaking engagements, new podcasts, radio interviews, and good old fashion word of mouth will keep me busy for the next few years, while at the same time. It's time to begin writing so I can do it all over again:)

Marketing Begins

2010-04-04T07:11:00.000-07:00

When I wrote my first book I had this assumption that there would be a place on the bookstore shelves reserved for my work. Truth be told, I found my book in only a handful of bookstores over the past 2 years, and though this could be discouraging as I come out with my new book. It's actually a liberating feeling to know what to expect. However, my first book was with a self-publisher, and this book is with a mainstream publisher, so at least I have some help of getting this message out.

I spoke with my Marketing rep a couple weeks ago to discuss our plan of action. First we're going to do some niche marketing. That is, my publisher is going to call small businesses, bookstores, some churches, and counseling centers, to set up some speaking engagements and book signings. In the meantime I am begining to learn the art of email marketing, and planning my Book Release Party Event in later June. My books should be in my hands in a couple of weeks. I'm excited, nervous, anxious, and excited (Did I say that twice?).

Next Up...Signings!!!

Final Proof In Hand

2010-02-18T05:56:00.001-08:00

What a long road. I've read this book what seems to be at least 20 times, and today I have to read it again. Only this time, I get to read the actual book. I was sent the final proof a couple of days ago. This is the proof that is in actual book form. They do this so that I can get a good feel for what the book is actually going to look and feel like, and I must say I like it quite a bit. The colors of the front cover is brilliant, the inside looks very professional, and there's even a bar code with the price of the book; which by the way will be on sale for $13.99. Any way I'd better get back to reading this book, they need it back in their hands by next week. More to come, until then, Lord Bless you all

Cover Design

2010-01-25T05:50:00.000-08:00

Whew...What a week!!! It all began on Monday January 18Th. I had just emailed my manuscript to the editor the previous Friday, just making my deadline. Monday afternoon the back cover was written, and sent to me for my approval, which was all fine. But Monday evening was when my week became insane with anxiety and indigestion. I received an email at about 10:00pm from my cover designer. I was excited to see what they came up with and at the same time I remembered back two years earlier when my first books cover was designed. Though "Living and Dying Without Regrets" book cover has been praised by other authors, and readers; it was a cover that I hadn't envisioned. So when I opened up the email that evening all those feelings came back to me.

The first cover was alright. It wasn't what I would have asked for, but I didn't hate it. The second cover was all wrong. A blue tint cover with a mountain climber climbing the face of a cliff. This cover made the book look like an outdoors type of book; it's not. The third cover was different. It was a bright yellow green with bold black text, and a frayed rope. This one was my favorite, however I still didn't pick it. No, I emailed the designer and asked to go another route.

I sent them an image of me hanging on a rope about three months prior. I told them that this was an image I'd like to be on the cover. It was the image I had in my mind during the entire time of writing the book, but for some reason they didn't feel that it looked right. After going back and forth all week, and passing images and covers back and forth we finally came to a conclusion. This was a cover using my image and their colors and fonts. It's not a cover I would have ever thought of, however I really like it. It's the one with me, hanging at the the end of my rope on the bottom right. Many of you may like a one of the other original ones better, but as for my vision for the book, and knowing what's inside the cover, this cover is perfect. Next up, internal layout design.

Final Editing Deadline is Today

2010-01-15T06:15:00.000-08:00

Well the day has come. January 15Th, the day set by my publisher as my deadline to have my manuscript back into their hands, along with my signature of approval. This has been a long couple of weeks. I received the manuscript with the deadline notice on December 31st, which so happened to be the same day that my wife and I became very ill. I read most of the book on my iPhone while lying down. Then after I finished reading it on my iPhone, I read it over again on my computer. It's been a tiring couple of weeks between being sick, taking care of my family, and working long hours. But I must admit. I think that the book has turned out great! And hopefully I made the appropriate changes so there will be no typos, or quirky errors. I'm excited to get this book into the hands of readers, but I have to hold my horses for a moment.

We've still got a long road ahead of cover design, and layout design. Then the book has to be sent to production while a release date is generated. Oh yea, and the audio book has to be recorded as well. Wow! The more I think about it, the more I realize that allot has to be done. Still I must admit, as anxious as I could get, I'm enjoying every moment. And the only thing to do while waiting for this book to be complete, is to continue writing. Until next time, have a blessed life, and live it strong for the Lord.

First Phase of Editing Complete

2009-12-19T23:00:00.000-08:00

Okay I have to be honest, when I first received my manuscript from my publisher I was excited to see what he thought. Did he think it was as good as I thought? Well, the answer is yes, however that didn't mean that I didn't have to make any corrections. Crossed out sentences, Red, Yellow, and Green markings, and notes from the editor all indicated one thing; I had some work to do. I took note that this is one of the most grueling phases in publishing. It's easy to write the book for the mos part, but having someone run a fine comb through it can be nerve racking.

The changes I had to make really challenged my writing ability. You see conceptual editing means that they're looking to be sure that each paragraph, each story, and each character remains consistent throughout the book. They found things that I would have never thought of. I woke up each morning at 5am and began reading and changing the things that the editor recommended. I was tired, and grumpy,...maybe a little overwhelmed. Coffee was my only friend. But soon enough I finished. My changes were made. I re-read the book one more time and sent it off just in time to make my 2 week deadline. Was it fun? Not really. I've read the book so many times I already know whats coming in each chapter. But still this is a necessary process in making this book an easy read, and a book that will have the kind of impact I pray that it will have.

The publishers have it now, and are reviewing my edits. December 31st they are to send it back to me with any more changes they recommend, and then what can I say but..."Here we go again."

utill next time...God bless your Christmas.

Conceptual Editing and Endorsements

2009-11-20T12:45:00.001-08:00

Well it's November 20th and the publishing game continues. I've had the opportunity to Publicly speak about, sell, and give away my first book "Living and Dying Without Regret" which has made me all the more anxious to finish the publishing process for my second book "Climbing the End of Your Rope"

I was notified by my publisher on November 1st that the book was in the Conceptual Editing phase of the publishing process. This means that their going to make sure that the books story lines flow as I intended when I first began writing the book. The Publisher is going to send it to me in about 10 days, at which point I will have two weeks to review it and get it back into the hands of my publisher. Though this has been a fairly slow process in the past month, I did have the opportunity to obtain a couple endorsements for the book; both being from Christian Music artists that I looked up to when growing up. 1) Stephen Crumbacher from the band "Crumbacher"2) Mike Stand from "The Altar Boys".

Both of these men agreed to take a look at the manuscript, and after reading it, each of them emailed me an endorsement. What a great feeling to have two people that I'd always looked up to read my manuscript and place their name on it. And though in their eyes I probably appeared like another one of their adoring fans, they both treated me like I was just another man involved in the same thing that their involved with; glorifying God using gifts and talents.

All in all it's been a great month, and I look forward to reviewing my manuscript on December 1st. Until then, Have a blessed day, and a wonderful Thanksgiving.

New Book is now in Production

2009-10-03T14:34:00.000-07:00

It's a beautiful day in Riverside California. The trees in my backyard are swaying, the mountains are clearly seen without the Southern California haze obstructing its view, and my new book "Climbing the End of Your Rope" is in the hands of Tate Publishing, my new publisher.

I began writing "Climbing the End of Your Rope" just after my last book "Living and Dying Without Regret" was released. I thought to myself, Many people write a book in their life time, but I don't want to have just written a book, I want to be a writer. With that mindset I quickly went to work, writing, rewriting, and throwing much of what I'd written away. But soon enough, I was finished with my manuscript and thought I'd take a chance of sending it to a main stream publisher; hoping that it would land a contract. After a long three months of waiting and wondering, I unexpectedly received an email on my phone from Tate Publishing which began with a word that quickly brightened my day "Congratulations". The email said that they liked my manuscript and were going to overnight a contract to me. I was excited and overwhelmed all at the same time, but when I got home from work that following day, and opened the package, all anxiety fled; I was at peace. The contract looked great, and my name and the title of my book on the cover of the contract looked even better.

After reading and re-reading the contract for a few weeks, I finally signed the dotted line, and sent it back to them. As of today my book has been in production for a full four days beginning with the copy-editing process. This is the process where my editor will look at my grammar and punctuation; making sure that it looks and reads as it should. This is a very exciting time in production, as they take what was once a few thousand words on a Word Document, and turn it into a book. I was emailed a timeline last week, indicating what was going to happen in the next ten to twelve months of production. From what I can see this is going to be a long process, filled with allot of deadlines, allot of reading, allot of approvals, allot of marketing, and of course allot of waiting. My plan is to enjoy every minute of it, and blog every step in the process. So stick around for the next few months, and I'll do my best keep you in the loop as much as possible.

(For more information visit my website at http://www.joeprainito.com/ and sign my mailing list. Every once in a while I use my Mailing List to raffle free books and other products; you wont want to miss out. Also, if you like podcast's, subscribe via iTunes to the "Joe Prainito Audio Devotional" or you can listen to them direct on the Media page of my website.)