The Last Summer - Robert Houghton

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Lucky Star
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Re: The Last Summer - Robert Houghton

Post by Lucky Star »

It looks fabulous Rob. I really like the cover, the girl looks rather wistful which would appear to be in keeping with the title which seems to imply some sense of loss. I will know more when I read it as I will of course buy a copy.

Congratulations. :D
"What a lot of trouble one avoids if one refuses to have anything to do with the common herd. To have no job, to devote ones life to literature, is the most wonderful thing in the world. - Cicero

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Rob Houghton
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Re: The Last Summer - Robert Houghton

Post by Rob Houghton »

Thank you, John! Yes - there is some loss...but hope too!! :-D
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Rob Houghton
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Re: The Last Summer - Robert Houghton

Post by Rob Houghton »

If anyone reads my book and enjoys it (or even if you don't!) perhaps you might consider writing a short review and/or rate it on Amazon - it would be much appreciated! :-D Cheeky I know, but every little helps! :lol:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1973166674/ ... t+Houghton
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Re: The Last Summer - Robert Houghton

Post by Daisy »

I'm enjoying it Rob... just finished Part 1. I like the saga type of story when you can follow the fortunes of a family from one generation to the next.
'Tis loving and giving that makes life worth living.

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Re: The Last Summer - Robert Houghton

Post by pete9012S »

Yes, I'm enjoying it too Rob - I have decided to promote it for you using a subtle approach.

Image
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Re: The Last Summer - Robert Houghton

Post by Courtenay »

:lol: Nice one, Pete. I assume the building under that sign is somewhere nice and prominent (like Piccadilly Circus, or even Times Square) and not an abandoned hotel in a ghost town somewhere... :mrgreen:

Anyway, Rob, I've ordered your book too (the printed version, please) and will look forward to reading it after I've read Julie's! :D
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Rob Houghton
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Re: The Last Summer - Robert Houghton

Post by Rob Houghton »

Thanks, all, and thanks for the promotion, Pete!! :lol:

I must admit I feel a bit ashamed because anyone who ordered the book before yesterday will have received the version which still had a few edits to do. I didn't think of them before the book went live. It doesn't affect the story in any way, but I looked back at it and went in and reedited a few bits, such as adding a title page etc and altering some punctuation. :oops: So I apologise for that.

The book is now in better shape, I personally feel! 8)
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Re: The Last Summer - Robert Houghton

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

I'm a bit confused, Rob. How can you edit a book that's been printed?

8)
Julian gave an exclamation and nudged George.
"See that? It's the black Bentley again. KMF 102!"

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Re: The Last Summer - Robert Houghton

Post by Moonraker »

That threw me too, Julie. I see the p/b is now listed at £7.00.
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Re: The Last Summer - Robert Houghton

Post by Rob Houghton »

I can go into it and edit it whenever I like - although I'm pretty much satisfied with it now. That's the way it works. Its a 'print on demand' service and each book is only printed when someone orders a copy. There's basically an inexhaustible supply, as they only print a copy when someone orders it. Even so, delivery is within two days at most!

I can also control the price. I get very little royalty from a print version. Originally I listed it at 8.00 and got royalties of £1.25 per book. I dropped the price so now get less royalties, but felt £7.00 was a slightly more reasonable price.

The royalties for an ebook are better - 70% .

As the book has cost me absolutely nothing to publish or print, everything I make is profit anyway, so better than nothing! :lol:
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Re: The Last Summer - Robert Houghton

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

Thanks for the explanation, Rob, but sadly I'm a bit confused on what you mean, sorry. Is your book held on your computer and you send to over to Amazon on an attachment, sort of way?

8)
Julian gave an exclamation and nudged George.
"See that? It's the black Bentley again. KMF 102!"

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Re: The Last Summer - Robert Houghton

Post by Rob Houghton »

No - its loaded onto Amazon, formatted into book size, with cover design etc, and blurb on the back, and then Amazon print it off and send it when someone orders it. 8) If I want to edit it, I can reedit my original manuscript on 'word' and then upload it again, so it can be reformatted by Amazon publishing. :-)
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Re: The Last Summer - Robert Houghton

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

Oh, I see, a bit like the author's page. We can go into that and add photos, wording etc.

Do you get to see the book yourself though. Do they send you a copy for you to approve?

8)
Julian gave an exclamation and nudged George.
"See that? It's the black Bentley again. KMF 102!"

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Rob Houghton
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Re: The Last Summer - Robert Houghton

Post by Rob Houghton »

Yes - it is a bit like the author's page. Amazon Publishing is a fairly new idea I think (maybe a couple of years). There's a list of various Amazon services listed at the bottom of each page. 'Self publish with Amazon' is one of the links, which takes you into their publishing area. You have to sign in, also filling in tax forms etc, and they create your publishing page, where you can upload a manuscript, create a cover with your own artwork as I did, or with any other artwork you choose, create the blurb etc, choose the font etc. You can choose the paper quality and font of the main book also etc.

Once you've uploaded your manuscript, Amazon Publishing format it into either ebook or paperback, and then you can view a proof online (which is a bit like the 'look inside' feature except it shows every page, so you can see what it will look like. Then you click 'publish my book' when you're satisfied and it goes 'live' on Amazon. Its very simple really. The only downside is if you want to edit it, you pretty much have to resubmit the manuscript and its not processed for a couple of days, which is why I said earlier that my less edited version had been live before that and was for sale.

All of this costs nothing, and Amazon only take a cut (plus printing costs from the overall price) when someone buys a copy. :D
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Re: The Last Summer - Robert Houghton

Post by Courtenay »

I'm looking forward to receiving mine! :D Sorry to hear you don't get as much commission from the print version, Rob. I would probably have bought the digital version if I had a tablet or e-reader, but I don't, and my laptop, while brilliant for many things, isn't so good for reading e-books on!
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
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