Updated the B5 JIS First Edition (120 pages) to have a 20 mm gutter, fixed the typo in the TOC, added a bio blurb to the back cover, added the logo and publisher info to the back cover, and added a blurb on the last page, asking that if the purchaser is happy with the book, I’d love it, if they left a review. Few little tweaks, publisher logo on inside title page and copyright page, and tweaking the transparency percentages on titling frames on the front cover. Pushed it up.

Updated the Second Edition (180 pages) paperback and hardcover. Fixed the TOC typo, added the bio blurb and publisher info to the back cover, and added the “please leave a review” blurb to the last page. Synced the tweaks. Pushed it up.

Created the Third Edition, which is First Edition content (120 pages) with the Second Edition trim size, in hardcover format. Pushed it up.

Synchronized all but the 1E book description. Just waiting on KDP review…

I piddled around and finally got my A+ Content in, the way I can live with it. The image resolution is only 300×300 pixels, so I had to use a bit of trial and error to get images that are actually readable. Added to the “.com”, “.ca”, “.co.uk” and “.com.au” Amazon domains. Tried to add to India, but the ASIN were being rejected. Moving on!

Interesting to note, when I checked to see if my A+ was showing on the Australian Amazon site, the book prices were astronomical. I’m thinking that no one in Australia is going to be buying my book.

I fixed the one typo that I believe crept in when I had a software crash and didn’t remember to go back and redo it. The spreadsheet that I use to track my book’s page structure was correct, just the TOC in the actual book was listing a previous description. Not earth shattering, just annoying.

I can’t believe I have my first sale!

Whoop whoop!

And no, it wasn’t my mother, I called her. 🙂

My first edition uses Japanese B5 trim size (120 pages). Amazon doesn’t offer hard cover in Japanese B5, hence why my second edition is 7″ x 10″ trim size (and 180 pages). I just received a hardcover version of my “Second Edition” and it’s a game changer. I’m going to go back, change my first edition’s trim size from. B5 to 7″ x 10″, leave it at 120 pages and publish it in hard cover. I’ll leave the B5 first edition alone as it’s my very first creation.

I have acquired many new, used, discontinued, clearance and on-sale hydroponics and smart soil growing systems.

Some of these have apps. Some of these have apps for the sole purpose of being able to say, we have an app. Some of the apps aren’t worth the bits they’re written in.

That got me thinking and tinkering. I worked in QC for six years before I retired. Before that I worked in IT for 26 years. During my QC stint I documented everything in logbooks, transferring that information into the contract approved QC forms. With that as context, I started to create a logbook with custom pages for each growing system I owned. Each page has a consistent page layout, the same, but different for each system.

I expanded beyond, to include as many systems as I can find.

I slog away and break my initial document into two. I focus on and finish the first logbook.

I request an ISBN from Library and Archives Canada. Denied. But, I can submit my document for review and they may change their mind.

Now, I’m eager to get on with it, so I publish my document to KDP with an Amazon supplied barcode, while at the same time, requesting five author proofs (I didn’t follow the process), and sending in my document to appeal my ISBN rejection.

Appeal response is back before the author proofs. I’ve been approved for an ISBN. Great. I try to delete my barcode version. Can’t. I’m only allowed to archive it.

The proofs arrive. The gutter is too small. I used B5 JIS trim with a 15 mm gutter. It doesn’t fold flat enough for my liking. I also discover that the margin of error that Amazon deems acceptable is 1/8” or 3 mm. This is very noticeable and disappointing. I discover that the error may be exacerbated by my trim choice. I also discover that B5 JIS isn’t available for hard cover and extended distribution. Great.

I resize my B5 document to Executive 7” by 10”.

It’s only a few millimeters out from B5. I increase the gutter to 3/4”.

I add my freshly minted ISBN. Exciting times. I request five author proofs and wait. They arrive. The gutter is still too small, in my opinion. Some small errors have crept in during the resizing. I fix everything. I re-upload. I’m waiting on a charity, so I can include a donation blurb.

While I’m waiting, I start to flesh out the second logbook. It’s coming in at 180 pages. The first logbook is 120 pages. I had made decisions on the number of pages in the first logbook to keep it at 120 pages. Now, I’m thinking I was wrong. I revist the first logbook, happily expand it to 180 pages. Haven’t heard back from the charity, so I decided I’ll donate without having a blurb in my book. I remove the charity blurb. Push it up to KDP and request one, not five, author proofs.

While I wait. I decided to split the second logbook into two. I’d made decisions to get it to 180, that I wasn’t happy with. Now it’s 180 and the second one will be 180.

That’s three logbooks from an initial idea for a single logbook.

The new 180 page logbook author proof is supposed to arrive Wednesday.

I’m already exploring hard cover and other language versions.

Exciting times.

I went on KDP last night and adjusted the prices down. I almost reduced the hardcover to zero royalty, just because I wanted to encourage people to buy the hardcover version, the format is that impressive. Thank you Amazon KDP.

• Gardyn® Home® and Studio®
• Hope Innovations® Eden Tower® and Eden Ohana®
• IGWorks® iHarvest®
• Juice Plus® Tower Garden Flex® and Home®
• Just Vertical® EVA®, AEVA® and Grow Wall®
• Lettuce Grow® Farmstand® and Farmstand Nook®
• Rise Gardens®
• Ahopegarden®, Dryades®, Growell® and others.