Now it begins. Week 1

Having spent three years writing my first novel, 6 months re-writing it and failing to attract the interest of any agents or publishers (I was warned!) I decided to self publish. This is a route many thousands before me have taken and I've been made fully aware of the chances of success - infinitessimal.
However, now I've gone to the bother of producing a completed manuscript, I'm not stopping now.
This blog has been set up to track my movements, successes and failures over the coming months and beyond as I try to get my novel published and to persuade some members of the public to read it.
Fed up with trying to get the industry to consider my manuscript I decided at the beginning of the year to set up a publishing company and publish the novel myself. Raven Publishing Ltd was created and I set about trawling the net to find a suitable company that could help me.
YPS (York Publishing Services - believe it not they are based in York,) came to my attention and since contacting them I have not looked back. I have enjoyed working with them and at last I have a finished sample book in my hands. They allow you complete control over the finished product whilst providing any help or service you may require. I would thoroughly recommend them enqs@yps-publishing.co.uk .
Enough advertising!
The last four years have been easy - now for the hard bit.
I'm currently reading the finished book and making corrections.  This is the final stage after 6 months of reading and re-reading proofs. There always seems to be another list of corrections to make. However this is the final time and once finished it goes into print and there is no going back. Gulp!
I've set a date for the launch - 30th November 2010.
The book will initially be for sale online at http://www.welcometoheaven.co.uk/  and on Amazon but don't go there yet, I am still setting up websites and links.
Ahead of me I have to organise press releases, advance information packs for book stores, radio and TV interviews, book signings and anything else I or YPS can think of to promote the book. Then there is Utube, eBooks etc etc. I'm not quite sure what is ahead of me - a bumpy ride I suspect - but I'm looking forward to the challenge. I don't know where this blog is going - that is part of the fun - if nothing else it will be a full record that will be useful when I publish the sequel.