Small Press Blog

The Ever-Elusive Database, Part 2

So I am not done with the database, but I did get an amazing amount of work done. It should be done by the end of the week and that works for this project. Considering that there are hundreds of listings with quite a bit of information on each, this is a time-consuming project.

One of the things that I discovered was that I need to get some work done to the database. I have a couple of ways that I would like the data to export that it is not now capable of doing. That's the sort of work that I can get done cheaply on eLance.

The Ever-Elusive Database

I am spending this long weekend working on the ever-elusive database. The rest of the book is done. However, the challenge with the database is:

1. Making sure that I have all of the schools that I can find and that are a good fit; and

2. Creating the text that goes with each listing. The listing information (address, telephone number, etc.) is relatively simple, but I do need to have a couple of sentences for the listing as well.

But this weekend I am ploughing ahead. I will let you know Sunday evening how it all went.

New Book, Day 36

I have been having working done on my database. It will allow me to export in ways that I could not do so before. Why is this important?

Take a look at the data you will be using for your book. For me, this is easy because it includes hundreds of school listings. Are all of these schools exactly the same? Of course not and that is why I want to be able to export in a myriad of ways. My thought is that you create a database, so that you can write/create multiple books in as easy a way as is possible.

I now have the ability to export into my preferred format information that could produce eight different books (at least), but means that I do not need to keyboard in that information. This takes a book that could take months and turns it into a one-month project (once the database is done).

It also means that, should I keep up with the database, new editions are so very much easier. I would like to get to the point where I have new editions every year. This will make that goal easier.

New Book, Day 29

I have been out of town for the last several days, so didn't have much of an opportunity to work on the database. I did, however, make some decisions that will fundamentally change what my books and websites will look like. As I have said before, I consider my books and websites as one because I produce content for both and I try not to give precedence to one over the other.

So, that being said, I have decided that the best way to approach my work is to make as strong a connection as is possible. I am not quite ready to put it all out there yet (partly because there is a website owner out there who has decided his business model is to copy my work), but, as soon as some of the pieces are in place, I will announce it here first.

I think one you have seen it, you will realize that it all makes perfect sense. Or so is my hope.

New Book, Day 22

And in a burst of energy this week, I got significant work done on the database. That's always a good thing. Feeling much better about getting the database done on time.

I have begun to think about book titles. Originally, I had thought that this would just be Complete Guide to Online High Schools, 2nd Ed. However, then I began to consider the idea of branding the book as in Best Online High Schools: The Companion Guide to the BestOnlineHighSchools.com website. Well probably not that sub-title because it would be horribly long, but you get the idea.

There is a lot to be said for having the book mesh with the website. Quite a bit of recognition of the connection between the two. Also, it is a simpler title and perhaps works better within a Google search.

So will I make this change? Hard to know. Certainly something to consider. What do you think?

New Book, Day 15

The work continues onward with the second edition of my book. I have been looking at some formatting issues because, in addition to the print version, there will also be a Kindle version (and perhaps others).

I am continuing to build the new database. The work is not going as well as one would hope. Yes, I push onward, but I also end up stopping to fix things that I find on the website. The usual fix? Links that no longer link. It's amazing how quickly some of the information becomes outdated. And, to be sure, much of the information for the book comes straight from the website.

In total, the work is going a little slow, but I have been distracted. That's a problem with me; I get excited by new projects and end up spending less time where the time should really go. I work better with goals.

So, the goal for this project is that I have the database completely done by the end of December. It could be faster, but I have other ongoing projects that help pay the bills.

New Book, Day 1

So the time has come to work on the second edition of my Complete Guide to Online High Schools. The first edition has sold well, but it is horribly out of date. Also and importantly, the field has changed. There are many more schools and what made sense just a couple of years ago, no longer makes sense.

What am I going to do differently this time?

• Focus on selling the book. I certainly missed some opportunities for sales.
• Understand that it does not need to be "Truth." It does need to be true.
• Work on the design aspects, but not overly so.
• Have more extra copies available for sales and as freebies.

What am I going to do the same?

• Still going to use Lightning Source as my printer and supplier. It is a model that has worked well for me.
• Increased use of digital versions. In addition to the PDF version from the first edition, I will certainly have a Kindle version.
• Outsource the design work, but in a frugal manner.
• Focus on Amazon sales.

How do I get started? It's time to update the database. Yes, it would make good sense to always have it updated, but that is just one thing too many for me to accomplish. Thankfully, I have my website from which to draw much of that information.

Daughter #2, who is always looking for a way to make a few bucks, is going to be doing some work for me on that project. She is only 13, but certainly can print out school listings.

I am going to make the attempt to check in with you on a weekly basis and let you know where I am in the process.

Money from Abroad

So in the mail today I received a check from Lightning Source, the printer for my book. To be honest, I was a little surprised because one of the nice things about LSI is that monthly deposit into my bank account. I pay no attention to it; it just magically appears. I can't even remember the last time I received a check from any of my major money folks (Lightning Source, Google Adsense, etc.).

So what was the check for?

It was for sales of my latest book in the UK. While I new folks there could buy it, I really had not seen any sales from there. The check was actually for three months worth of sales, the last month being July. This tells me that there are likely more checks in my future.

While I know, based on my site stats, that I get quite a few visitors from the UK to my online high schools website. Given that I have listed no UK online high schools in the book, this tells me I should take another look and see I can find some for the second edition out in January 2011.

Donate your books

I read this message over at the Self Publishing Yahoogroup and thought I would share it here as well. Feel free to pass it along.

Greetings, All!
I am now on active duty again and have deployed to Iraq for the second time. I am assigned to 1st Marine Logistics Group as the Camp Commandant of Camp Al Taqaddum. "TQ" is just west of Baghdad on the northeast corner of Lake Habbaniya. It is a large sprawling base that is home of several thousandMarines, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen. We have a modest library on the camp and they are in need of more books. The library staff really wants copies of the Commandant's Reading List and other books and DVDs that would be of interest to young men and women 18-30. College prep books would also be welcomed.

Books may be sent to:
Sabine Glascoe
KBR/MWR (B6)
APO AE 09381

Your support is appreciated. Thank you. Semper Fidelis!

John D. Folsom
Colonel, United States Marine Corps, Reserve
Al Taqaddum, Iraq

I am going to send some books. I hope that you will consider doing the same. While not necessarily a fan of this war, I am certainly a fan of our men and women in uniform.

Book #4?

Somehow in my last post I missed Book #4. In addition to Complete Guide to Online High Schools, I missed a second book on a sub-set of those high schools. That will be coming out this year as well.

The exact topic I will keep to myself for now, but suffice to say, I believe it may eventually eclipse the sales of the other online high schools book. It is a book built around one question. Importantly, though, it is the most common question that I get about online high schools.

So, four. Four books. Two this year. Hopefully, two next year.