The ePub version of Lye Street is available on Smashwords, but I'd like people to please read this blog post before they think about downloading the novella.
I've had all sorts of problems with the Smashwords automatic conversion software. My first attempt to upload resulted in a Table of Contents that did not function. I reworked the source document and tried again. This time the ToC worked, but there were a few odd formatting problems (extra blank lines and so on). So I tried a third time. Now all seems correct except for one bizarre extra entry in the ToC - a second non-functioning link to Chapter One. This does not exist in the original doc, so I can't delete it. Frankly, I'm at a loss.
The problem is that every time I make a change, I have to reupload, and the file is put in a queue to be processed. This takes 2-3 days each time.
My problem might be that I don't use Microsoft Word. I use Open Office, which I find to be much more stable. This choice isn't even a question of cost, since I could buy MS Word and write it off as a tax deduction. I just happen to thoroughly dislike that word processor. But the Smashwords software is designed to work with MS Word documents, and the Open Office equivalent might be subtly different.
This time around, I have decided to leave LYE STREET up on Smashwords until I rectify this one tiny problem. The novella seems to me to be perfectly fine otherwise. So, if you don't mind one spurious link in the Table of Contents, then it is available for download. In the meantime, I will download a trial version of word and see if I can remove this extra link.
UPDATE - There are no hidden bookmarks in the word doc, nor anything that accounts for the replication of this Chapter One link. I can only assume it is an error in my ePub reader software.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Free Electricity from your Phone Line
While researching the last book, I became interested in electronics and built a few simple projects in my spare time. This one in particular might be of use to folks out there, and is worth mentioning.
One of our relations lives off the grid and I've been helping him install a solar PV panel system. It occurred to me that while he had no grid electricity, he does have a phone line. Phone lines carry their own power. It's not much, about 1 watt, but that's better than nothing. I measured 48volts at about 20 milliamps. It's AC, so you need to rectify it. The following simple circuit works well enough.
You'll need to buy a phone extension cable. I got mine for £1. Then strip the wires. Black and Yellow carry the power, so connect those to your bridge rectifier, and you're set. 48V is good for 12 LEDS, which use about 3.8V each. The larger the resistor, the less light you'll get from your LEDs. But if your resistor is too small, the phone won't work. So you'll need to strike a balance. A 1k resistor worked for me. The phone sounds odd, but it still works.
My picture here really doesn't do the light justice. It's easily bright enough to read by, and dimly lights up the whole room at night.
But this isn't a very efficient circuit. LEDs don't need a constant supply. You can use a transistor to quickly pulse the DC current and get more light output for less amps. I think the next step would be to build a little transformer to step the 48v AC down to say 5 or 6 volts and then split the current between a series of mini Tesla coil circuits and use those to power CFLs wirelessly. I'll see how that goes, but in the meantime, I have a cool wee light - for free.
As far as I know, there's no law against using the power from your phone line.
One of our relations lives off the grid and I've been helping him install a solar PV panel system. It occurred to me that while he had no grid electricity, he does have a phone line. Phone lines carry their own power. It's not much, about 1 watt, but that's better than nothing. I measured 48volts at about 20 milliamps. It's AC, so you need to rectify it. The following simple circuit works well enough.
You'll need to buy a phone extension cable. I got mine for £1. Then strip the wires. Black and Yellow carry the power, so connect those to your bridge rectifier, and you're set. 48V is good for 12 LEDS, which use about 3.8V each. The larger the resistor, the less light you'll get from your LEDs. But if your resistor is too small, the phone won't work. So you'll need to strike a balance. A 1k resistor worked for me. The phone sounds odd, but it still works.
My picture here really doesn't do the light justice. It's easily bright enough to read by, and dimly lights up the whole room at night.
But this isn't a very efficient circuit. LEDs don't need a constant supply. You can use a transistor to quickly pulse the DC current and get more light output for less amps. I think the next step would be to build a little transformer to step the 48v AC down to say 5 or 6 volts and then split the current between a series of mini Tesla coil circuits and use those to power CFLs wirelessly. I'll see how that goes, but in the meantime, I have a cool wee light - for free.
As far as I know, there's no law against using the power from your phone line.
Lye Street Epub Version
I've followed all the advice (thanks guys) and used Calibre to produce an ePub Version of LYE STREET. I've also uploaded the novella to Smashwords, which itself creates an ePub version, among other formats. This will take a couple of days to come through, and it seems easiest just to sell it through them. I have to trust that their "Meatgrinder" software produces properly formatted versions, but I've followed their formatting procedure to the letter, so it should be fine.
I have tried to link this eBook to my others on Amazon, but it hasn't worked at all. So right now, Amazon customers can't find the novella from my page on their website.
Ok, now to send out those review copies.
I have tried to link this eBook to my others on Amazon, but it hasn't worked at all. So right now, Amazon customers can't find the novella from my page on their website.
Ok, now to send out those review copies.
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