I was making sure that all of my storefront links to the Portrait were valid, when I noticed that my novel had reached 150 downloads on Smashwords. Well it is 151 because I was rather late in noticing the milestone.
My decision to target Smashwords seems to have been a good one. Here are some reasons why:
Smashwords has enabled me to target other sites such as Kobo, iBooks, Scribd and Barnes and Nobel without creating individual accounts.
Smashwords has a user community of its own and have left more comments than any other.
Smashwords has not buried my book under tons of new material. I still get views, even if the downloads have waned. I have to be realistic, pushing people to view and download a book can be a full-time job all by itself!
Last 30 Days of Statistics for the Portrait Page ViewsLast 30 Days of Statistics for the Portrait Downloads
While this is an achievement (albeit a minor one), I did not feel it was worth the effort or calorie intake to make a full-sized frosted cake. I will save that type of indulgence for later!
I have completed my fourth review of Hadrian’s Legacy. This story focuses on the construction of the Grand’s defensive wall, the Georgian involvement and the reasons behind it being commissioned. John is also introduced to the existence of the Grand in this hard-hitting revelation.
There were 31 modifications made to this 8 page chapter leading to a jaw-dropping 71% reduction in changes when compared to revision three.
Both Google Docs and Wattpad display the revised edition. Note that the Google Docs version permits comments and revisions, so please feel free to make use of this capability.
I have completed my fourth review of Penny Dreadful. This chapter introduces John Cabot to the valley, town and some of the local lore. The story focuses on The Diary of Frederick Samuels and takes place 30 years prior to the The Grand.
There were 46 modifications made to this 11 page chapter leading to an eye-popping 68% reduction in changes when compared to revision three.
Both Google Docs and Wattpad display the revised edition. Note that the Google Docs version permits comments and revisions, so please feel free to make use of this capability.
I have completed my fourth review of The Man and the Sea. This chapter introduces John Cabot, one of The Grand’s lead characters and deals with his love for the sea.
There 17 modifications made to this 2 page chapter leading to a 43% reduction in changes when compared to revision three.
Both Google Docs and Wattpad display the revised edition. Note that the Google Docs version permits comments and revisions, feel free to make use of this capability.
Finding a good name has been the bane of authors and expectant parents alike. For centuries we have struggled to come up with names that fits our characters and sets them apart from our other creations.
Would Jane Doe work as a name for this young lady?
It is my belief that stories set in the future names have no limits. How cold anyone fathom naming trends fifty years from now? How about a thousand? A good example of this phenomenon can be drawn from history. During the 1920s these were the most popular names for girls in the United States.
Mary
Dorothy
Helen
Betty
Margaret
Ruth
Virginia
Doris
Mildred
Frances
Fifty years later these were the most popular names in the United States.
Jennifer
Amy
Melissa
Michelle
Kimberly
Lisa
Angela
Heather
Stephanie
Nicole
Who could have foreseen such a shift in names over a half-a-century? Mind you there is a reason why names from the 1970s are more mainstream now. Those names belong to people in their 30s to 40s which are now mothers, teachers and even celebrities.
Still we look for inspiration when it comes to finding names. We desire some sort of guide which will shine the way. Fortunately, when it comes to historical names we have the benefit of foresight.
Most countries have records spanning centuries, these also provide an invaluable source of names. The trick is to avoid using names from the decade in which the story is based. Instead, we have to rely on names from an earlier period.
For example, a forty-year old character set during the Roaring Twenties would have been born in the 1880s. Knowing this, the name Dorothy may not be accurate for someone born in that era.
For North America, a good source of names is the Social Security Administration‘s website and records. To find names, select the decade you wish (starting from 1880) and look at the top 100 names for the period. Next, simply scroll through the names and find one that strikes your fancy.
As for family names there are a myriad of sites which carry that information as well. I found a site which contains the 1000 most common family names in the United States. Again, use such sites to narrow down your selection and make it historically accurate.
That is how I came up with names like:
Ida Bell
Elmer Bell
Eleanor Green
Molly Webster
Thelma Walker
Mavis Johnson
Eugene White
Cecil Clark
Lewis Hall
Some of these names are clearly dated but are oddly familiar. Hence these are the names that may be associated with a grandparent or even a great-grandparent. They feel old and dated, hence they feel authentic for someone who lived during the Roaring Twenties.
To find names which are modern, the same resources can be applied. Just dial in the appropriate decade to work from and you are done.
I have completed my fourth review of One Small Step. This chapter sets the mood for the Grand. The story revolves around the staff doing damage control after a maid ends up in the forbidden wing of the hotel.
There 52 modifications made to this 6 page chapter leading to an impressive 56% reduction in changes when compared to revision three.
Both Google Docs and Wattpad display the revised edition. Note that the Google Docs version permits comments and revisions, so please feel free to make use of this capability.
Every major North-American city has an Italian district and Montréal is no different. This recipe has been in my family for generations and serves as a base for other dishes.
For example, I used this sauce with fries and cheese curds to make an Italian poutine. It also makes an excellent base for a Lasagna.
Even Things That Go Bump in the Night Need a Place to Unwind
One of the core changes between my review process for the Grand compared with the Portrait was record keeping. The Portrait‘s development had taken place over a decade, using various mediums and statistics were honestly an afterthought.
As of this post, my third review of the Grand is complete. This review marked a 48% drop in overall corrections when compared to the previous revision. Siamese Dreams had the most substantial drop at 56%. Journey Through the River of Belief stood at the opposite end of the spectrum with a 42% reduction in changes.
Overall there were 2,385 corrections done over the whole of the Grand giving us an average of 139 changes per chapter. It shows a trend where each review results in less overall changes. However, some of these changes included the addition of sentences and paragraphs.
Here is a summary of the above:
Overall a 48% drop in modifications when compared to revision two;
2,385 modifications for the entire work;
139 modifications per chapter;
Siamese Dreams had the fewest changes at leading to a 56% decrease;
I also learned that there is no easy metric from which to work from. The Grand uses changes per work page (A4), changes per Kindle page and changes per eBook percentage. None of these match up in any way, if two chapters have similar scores in changes per work page, they will not match up for the other metrics. I found it odd, but it provides me with an idea on my progress.
Perhaps in my next novel, I will keep track of changes compared to the total word count. Again it will not be the perfect metric to follow, but it will provide some insight!
I found the camera on Etsy and the order arrived within the week! The item was described as ideal for photo shoots and I agree. It would certainly have made a lovely addition a shoot I did for the Portrait.
Kodak Brownie Hawkeye as shipped viewed from the front. Note the stains near the lens assemblies.
Kodak Brownie Hawkeye after cleaning as viewed from the front. Note how the stains are gone except for those within the upper lens assembly.
Kodak Brownie Hawkeye as shipped as viewed from the side. Note the traces of dirt on the Bakelite, especially by the knob. The locking mechanism also seems to be corroded.
Kodak Brownie Hawkeye as shipped as viewed from the side. Note how the grime on the knob and Bakelite are mostly gone. The locking mechanism now shines, but there are still a few specks of corrosion visible.
Pictured above, the camera arrived with a bit of dust and grime covering certain aspects of the body. Since I suspected that the camera was made of Bakelite, a popular thermosetting plastic used for making phones, cameras, and even grenades, I scoured the internet looking for a way to clean it.
Most sites pointed out that metal polish would do the trick. Additionally, comments in their threads mentioned how their cameras cleaned up nicely. So I pulled out some Brasso and started applying the polish.
Sites recommend that you apply a liberal dose of Brasso then wipe it off with a clean cloth. Instead I used some disposable paper towels and started with the rear casing.
Sure enough, after the first iteration the material was noticeably cleaner. All I had to do was apply more Brasso where required and rub away the polish and accumulated grime. This process is similar to shoe shining.
Overall the process worked great! The camera looks a lot cleaner and the grime has disappeared. However the name plate in the front did not agree with the Brasso and the red Kodak logo faded slightly. Knowing this, I would have used a clear lacquer to protect the name plate, since it is difficult to avoid putting any polish near that area.
There is also dust within the lens assemblies. Since this is internal to the camera, the only way to clean those lenses would be to disassemble the camera. I will have to give it some serious thought before making the attempt!
I have completed my third review of Ghoul Hunters. In this modern day chapter, a group of paranormal researchers discover the truth about the Grand.
There were 161 modifications made to this 15 page chapter leading to a 51% reduction in changes when compared with revision two. Overall, this revision concentrated on improving the chapter’s readability. Several modifications were related to formatting and maintaining consistency.
Both Google Docs and Wattpad have the revised edition. Note that the Google Docs version permits comments and revisions, feel free to make use of this capability.
One of the core changes between my review process for 
