Domino Effect

Ever notice how sitting down at the computer to do what you expect will be a relatively easy task so easily dominoes into a huge, time-devouring project? That's the kind of day I'm having.

I decided that, of the many projects on my list, today I would work toward getting electronic versions of my stories for sale on my website. I've already made PDF files and cover images for the ones I'm starting with. While I spent some time looking at the ZenCart system in the fall, I decided it's a bit more complicated than I need right now--a page on my site, some PayPal buttons, and download pages are really all I need for now. Should be do-able, right?

I started setting up the page, uploaded my graphics files to Photobucket, and started in on the first ebook. Hmmm, I thought, I should make it available in more formats. Easy enough. I have both Mobipocket Creator and Microsoft Reader on my computer. That would give me three formats, which looks pretty reasonable.

Well, seems that the Microsoft Reader add-in for MS Word (to convert .doc files to Reader files) no longer works with Word 2007. Kind of a big oversight there, for the folks at MS Reader. Some time eaten up trying to determine whether I still have Word 2003 installed on one of the computers in the house. Oh yes, I do. However, for some reason, the add-in doesn't recognize it. Sigh. Okay, time wasted, forget offering the files in MS Reader format. Grrr.

Mobipocket Creator--great, easy graphical interface. Wait a second, only opens MS Word files. Okay, load up a story and transfer it into Word, save it. Make the e-book, easy as pie. Wait, the formatting is no good. Back to Word, change the layout. Make ebook again. Better, but not great. Ah, this should look better. Well, it would, but Mobipocket doesn't translate it the same onto the page. Off to the Mobipocket page...huh, there's a different edition that will import .pdf files--which I already have. Download, install.

I'm about to try that. That's where I am, after about four hours. Sigh. Cross your fingers for me. Right now, it looks like I could be at this all night.