Self-Publishing Toulla Laid Down Her Gun©, 2nd Entry

March 12/2022: While this is not my first self-publishing adventure, it has been a number of years since the first publication, which was distributed by way of Amazon KDP. That was the non-fiction eBook “In Through A Coloured Lens” with drawings by Matthieu Santerre.

With Toulla, I intend to publish in print. Thus, the first step: Lay out a plan of action.

To do that, I have begun researching guidelines online for self-publishing.

So far, I’ve found this site: “How to Publish a Book: 14 Steps for Self-Publishers”, written by Scott Allan –https://selfpublishing.com/how-to-publish-a-book/ –which is quite comprehensive. That site recommended other readings and I began looking at this one: “Home / Blog / Self-Publishing in 2022: A Beginner’s Guide to Self-Publishing Success”, written by Angelica Hartgers — https://selfpublishing.com/self-publishing/

And, I found an action plan visual:

Most definitely, the following visual is where I see Toulla in due course. That’s Delivery!

Toulla Laid Down Her Gun – In the hands of countless readers

More in this self-publishing adventure to come. Stay tuned…

Toulla Laid Down Her Gun© is becoming a book!

Hello Readers everywhere, exciting news to share — and please share it widely — after much effort to connect with a literary agent, I’ve decided to go ahead with my second self-publication. Join me on this journey in self-publishing as I document the steps along the way.

Toulla Laid Down Her Gun© –Publication date to be announced

THE PLOT: Toulla Ederede’s life on the family farm changes suddenly after her mother threatens her with death. The threat comes when Toulla is unable to bring ‘More’ for her mother’s morning habit. That’s because the night before Toulla’s father had dismantled the distilling apparatus. To escape, Toulla walks away from the farm into the lake with no name that her father had warned her against.

Out beyond the lake, is the world of The Valleys where time is hard to pin down. But to get to The Valleys, Toulla wanders into The Lost where she encounters Anu ohia, the beast thing of many forms. She eventually escapes Anu ohia and spends time working in Bar None, run by a kind family. The son has a plan to rid The Valleys of the Anu ohia and draws in many to support his plan, including Toulla. But, something goes terribly wrong and Toulla must complete the vision that the young man, Onye Nzoputa dos Santos has.

Toulla has a family curse that comes alive in her awareness at age 13. It both harms her and protects her. And, it causes her much inner conflict. In this quest story actions have sometimes-ambiguous outcomes. I envision this novella as a combined text/graphic presentation.

A BIT ABOUT ME:

I write a regular byline column and the editorial for Share newspaper (‘Canada’s largest ethnic newspaper’) published out of Toronto (www.sharenews.com – please see page 6 at the site). I’ve been with the paper variously as newsroom manager, associate editor and now columnist.

Eight years ago, I self-published an eBook, titled In Through A Coloured Lens, a compilation drawn from 10 years of columns I’ve written. Thank you to all who got that publication!

I have a YouTube channel — In Through A Coloured Lens STORYTELLER – where I post short, illustrated fiction. I’ve also posted a promo for Toulla Laid Down Her Gun©. Please check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMlrk11B6Us&t=73s