I’ve been working on the new issue of the Gypsy Journal and it’s coming together nicely. This is our first all digital edition, and I’ve spent a lot of time reformatting the layout to make it easier to read on laptop computers, tablets, and smart phones.
The printed edition of the paper was 11 1/2 inches wide by 12 inches high, with five columns across the page, and the digital edition was in the same format. That required scrolling across the page to read it on some screens, and if somebody wanted to print it out to read they had to reduce the page size, which was not always easy on one’s eyes.
The new format is a standard 8 1/2 by 11 inch page with four columns. This will make it easier to read on a screen, and if somebody wants to print it out they don’t have to reduce it, it will be the same size. This should help those who switched from the printed to the digital issue who like to have something on paper to read.
The old edition was 36 pages, but I am upping the page count to make up for the smaller page format. I’m not sure exactly where it will come out yet, but probably somewhere around 40 to 44 pages.
I was hoping to get it finished this weekend so that Miss Terry could start proofing it Monday, but as it turns out the electric is going to be off for several hours here today while they upgrade power lines in the area. So I don’t know how that’s going to affect the schedule. It may set me back a day or so in finishing, but we will still have it out to our subscribers by the end of this coming week, Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.
We’re looking forward to getting it done because we are eager to see what our subscribers think of it. And once it’s done and sent out we can get back to playing. I’m more than halfway through my latest Big Lake book, Miss Terry’s been looking at her loom with longing eyes, and we would like to break out our Sea Eagle kayaks and get them wet.
Be sure to enter our latest Free Drawing. This week’s prize is an audiobook of Shades of Moloch: Star Borne: 2, an excellent science fiction tale by my friend Sharon Delarose. To enter, all you have to do is click on this Free Drawing link or the tab at the top of this page and enter your name in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are not allowed. The winner will be drawn Sunday evening.
Thought For The Day – Inside me lives a skinny person trying to get out. But I can usually shut him up with cookies.
Nick Russell
World-Famous, New York Times Best Selling Author, and All-Around Nice Guy!
Super! I’m looking forward to the new format geared towards digital. As you noted, the old format was difficult and frustrating to read on a laptop. 🙂
Speaking of your Big Lake books….when will the two most current ones be available in paperback? I always buy them for the library and have been watching Amazon, but so far they are only in the Kindle format. I’m getting patrons hooked on them and a couple at least are ready for those two.
If we find a word mistake in one of your books do you want to know about it?
Linda,
I had hoped to have them ready by now but ran into delays. They are on my To Do list and I’ll try to bump them up toward the top once the new issue is done
Susie, yes anytime you spot a mistake, please let me know. It seems like no matter how may proofreaders we have something still managed to slip through now and then.