Friday, July 22, 2016

Front Matter

   The information that appears at the very front of the book--before the text begins--is called front matter. The amount of front matter included in a book is usually chosen by the author and can consist of as little or as much as he/she thinks is necessary. Front matter can include the title pages (half-title page and title page), copyright page, dedication, epigraph, table of contents, list of illustrations or tables, maps, foreword, preface, acknowledgments, prologue or introduction, list of abbreviations, and publisher's, translator's, and editor's notes.
   "What are all of those things, and are they necessary for my book?"
   As you would expect, the answer to that question is: it depends. Different kinds of books require different information for the reader prior to his/her indulgence. Most well-published books begin with a recto half-title page. This contains only the actual title, not any subtitle, not the author's name, and not the publisher or edition. There is also no folio on this page. The verso following the half-title page is usually blank, though it may contain the series title and volume number of the series. It may also show an illustration, called a frontispiece. (NOTE: For explanations of the terms "recto," "verso," and "folio" go to the blog from 7/15/16 titled "An Introduction to Printing Terminology.") 
   Next comes the title page, recto, which includes the full title of the book, the subtitle (if any), the author's name (or authors' names), editor, translator (if any), and the name and location of the publisher (the publisher's logo may also appear here). The verso of the title page is the copyright page, which may include any number of items but nearly always has, in addition to the copyright symbol and year of copyright, copyright dates of previous editions (if any) and indication of copyright renewal or other changes, followed by the phrase "All rights reserved," the country of printing, the ISBN (International Standard Book Number), ISSN if applicable (International Standard Serial Number), original language title (if previously published in a different language), and any CIP (Cataloging-in-Publication) data. A biographical note on the author may also be included, as well as the Publisher's address, publishing history, impression line (indicates number and year of current printing), acknowledgments, permissions, and other credits (including acknowledgment of grants), and a paper durability statement (though this may alternatively be included in the back matter). All of these things can be explained by your publisher, and many of them may not apply to your book. None of the pages up to this point show folios, though they are considered in the page count. NOTE: The front matter is always indicated by using small case Roman numerals; the text begins on recto page 1 and is the first page using an Arabic numeral.
   The next recto page--the first one that shows a folio--is for the dedication and epigraph. The choice of whether to include these is entirely up to the author. The dedication is by you, the author, and dedicates your book to someone who has been influential in your life (not just your neighbor or your Aunt Polly because you couldn't think of anyone else!) An epigraph is a quotation that is pertinent to, but not integral to the text. The source of the epigraph should appear on a line following the quotation.
   The next verso page is usually blank, and the table of contents starts on the next recto page. It lists the title and beginning folio of each section of the book. It should include all preliminary material that comes after it but exclude anything that precedes it. It also includes an entry that guides readers to lists of illustrations, tables, plates, drawings, and/or maps. It is not necessary to include this if there are very few illustrations or tables, or if they are very closely tied to the text where they appear within the body of text.
   A foreword contains remarks written by someone other than the author. The title and affiliation of the person writing the foreword appears under the person's name and is often in smaller type. A statement by the book's author is called a preface and includes reasons for undertaking the work, methods of research, and sometimes permissions granted for the use of previously published material. The author lists acknowledgments in a separate section following the preface and usually appears on a separate page.
   The last section included in the front matter is the publisher's, translator's, and editor's notes. They are usually treated in the same manner as a preface or foreword. They have become less prominent in today's books, but their purpose is to explain something that cannot logically be included anywhere else within the book. They are often necessary, however, in scholarly editions, as they discuss such subjects as variant texts, explanations of an editor's method, brief remarks about modernized spelling and capitalization, etc.
   There are certain portions of a book that appear before the text begins but are not considered front matter. For instance, a prologue, also referred to as an introduction, is actually part of the text. It is pertinent to the story in that it gives an indication of what is to come and what has led up to the action that is about to take place. Its position should be at the beginning of the text and should be paginated with Arabic numerals as opposed to Roman numerals. In this case, the first chapter will not be page 1, though it will appear recto, as does the first page of each of the chapters.
   Whew! That's a lot to take in, isn't it? Never fear, an editor can help you decipher all of this. That's why it's important to work with someone who knows the publishing industry inside and out. But at the same time, it sure doesn't hurt to become familiar with the terminology and have a bit of an understanding of publishing jargon and what needs to happen before you try to publish.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

From the Nose of Our Kayak:Chapter 8 Discovering Wekiva River Rock Springs Run

Hello and welcome to the JLB Creatives Blog, where you'll find an array of creative features from a hand-picked group of creative geniuses. 

Wednesdays on the JLB Creatives Blog are set aside for our blog book, "From the Nose of Our Kayak." JLB Creatives CEO, Janet Beasley, and her husband, Don, have been kayaking for nearly 10 years. Together they are excited to share with you, their awesome experiences that they have encountered. In this Wednesday feature you'll find kayaking stories, scenic nature photography from their outings, and some helpful tips when it comes to maneuvering your "butt sleds" (aka kayaks) on your journeys.

So if this is a topic that interests you, you'll want to be sure and become a follower of the JLB Creatives Blog, and stop in on Wednesdays each week for the latest chapter in Don & Janet Beasley's adventure blog book, "From the Nose of Our Kayak." 


Previous chapters can be found in our blog archives. We began the series on June 1, 2016.

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From the Nose of Our Kayak
Don & Janet Beasley
Chapter 8 Discovering Wekiva River Rock Springs Run

As hard as it was to leave our brand new kayak and actual kayak-wheel-thingy in Michigan until next summer, we decided to do so in case we would want to fly instead of drive. So it was back home to our new-old mean-greenie kayak...thank goodness it was home waiting for us.

After we got home, the locals found out we loved kayaking Silver River so much, they suggested we give Rock Springs Run a try. When they said it was only about 8 miles from our house there was no reason not to try it. Silver River is about 75 miles away (but worth it every time nonetheless). Rentals are available at both King's Landing and Wekiva Landing, but we use our own kayak. 

To launch onto the Rock Springs Run from King's Landing (or Wekiva Island) there is a fee. Launching from King's Landing (and if you're only going down river) you'll have to coordinate your time with the launch site's pick up time(s), or use two vehicles - one at the ending point to transport the kayak back to your starting point and pick up your other vehicle. If you're renting a kayak from King's Landing and going all the way down to Wekiva Island (approximately 8.5 miles) all you have to do is be at the pick up point at the designated time so you don't get stranded.

Our first trip down Rock Springs Run to the Wekiva River took place November 2, 2010. 

We began at King's Landing (near the top left of the first Google map below). On this inaugural run we connected to the Wekiva River and turned left, away from the actual springs (intersection of Rock Springs Run and Wekiva River is at the bottom right of second Google map below) to reach our pick-up point of Wekiva Island - and we made it in plenty of time to not miss the shuttle ride back up to King's Landing.

The meaning of Wekiva (sometimes spelled Wekiwa) is "spring of water." The Wekiva River is located in central Florida. It is 16 miles long beginning in Apopka, Florida and joins with the St. Johns River in DeBary, Florida. The Wekiva is is longest river in the state, so there is plenty of nature scenery to take in on this beautiful waterway.



























We immediately fell in love with Rock Springs Run's "intimacy." Paddling this winding gem of nature puts you within only a few feet of flora and terrain at times. 

Compared to Silver River, Rock Springs Run is very narrow, winding, and shallow with many obstacles (sometimes calling for intermediate to advanced maneuvering skills). We highly suggest that you have been kayaking for a while before you venture on the full run from King's Landing to the Wekiva River, or go with someone who is familiar with the river and can help you.

We were more so concerned about navigating this trip, we didn't take a lot of time to photograph the scenic delight, but we were able to snap a few captivating shots on this first trip.

Little Egret: known by its black, slender bill
Feeds on a variety of small creatures found both in the water and on the shore



Little Blue Heron: known by it bluish-grey color
Feeds on fish, frogs, crustaceans, small rodents, and insects
Green Heron: known by its brown-green colors
Feeds on fish - sometimes using small sticks or insects as "bait" to lure the fish closer


Eastern Phoebe (also called a flycatcher): known by its song "phoebe"
Feeds on insects, and will favor fruits and berries in cooler weather

Osprey (sometimes referred to as fish eagle, sea hawk, river hawk, and fish hawk: known for its
rich dark brown wings and tail, and grey-ish head.
Feeds on fish: Its talons make it a marvelous fishing raptor


Needless to say, we wanted to return to the Rock Springs Run with two vehicles so we could take our time and not feel hurried to get to "the finish line." The nature and scenery are simply stunning, all of which you will see as you journey and discover with us From the Nose of Our Kayak. 

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Kayak Tip of the Week: When approaching an overhang, judge wisely. Never try to go under an obstacle, such as a downed limb, if there is a suitable "escape" route to the left or right. Sometimes, portaging is your only solution whether in the shallow water, or moving to the dry land and carrying your kayak around the obstacle.

Monday, July 18, 2016

Say Hello to YA Scifi Author Jessica Arman

Jessica Arman
Jessica Arman will always hold a special place in the hearts of the JLB Creatives Publishing team and the Journey to Publication Writing Program curriculum...she holds the title of the first author to have a novella published through the Journey to Publication Writing Program!

Jessica is a multi-time returning author to the Pickford Community Library Young Writers Workshop group. Protective Measures is her first novella. Jessica served as a part in the development of the Journey to Publication Writing Program / Curriculum, a comprehensive writing program created, authored, and published by JLB Creatives Publishing. For more information on the program please visit www.JourneyToPublication.com

Imagine being stuck in school forever. Living there, working there, and eating every meal there. That’s what Taryn and every other kid from her town has to do. What they don’t know is that this so-called slave school is run by Taryn’s father. This secret will lead to heartbreak and despair. Freedom will be had, but not without a heavy cost. 

You can download Jessica's novella for FREE from the JLB Creatives Ebook Shoppe / Journey to Publication Authors



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JLB Creatives Blog Hosts
JLB Creatives Editor Dar Bagby (L) and JLB Creatives CEO Janet Beasley (R)