Diary of a Mad Editor

Let’s say you wanted to create a list of your personal library. Here’s how you can use Google Book’s "My Library" feature to import books:

Step 1

Go to Google Books, log-in to your Google account, a click on "My Library":

Google Books
My library | Web History | My Account | Sign

Step 2

Click on "Import books":

this user’s library – Google Books
Books in my library? (1)

Import books

Export my library RSS feed

Step 3

Import Books will take you to this screen:

From here you just add the ISBN numbers of the books you want to list in your library. You can add these numbers manually or, for a quicker, easier method, use a barcode scanner such as a Symbol LS2208. For example, I’ll add "0020002203", which is the ISBN for a book I own called The Elements of Screenwriting.

Sure enough, the book is in Google Book’s database and this page is generated in my user’s library:

Step 4

Once you’ve created your entire list, you can export the list as an XML file and you’re good to go.

Note that the process for doing this is similar on Goodreads.

I’ve decided to participate in NaNoWriMo this year. I’ve never really been into that whole “let me write-a-novel-in-30-days-who-cares-if-it-sucks-ass” movement, but I figured I had to change my game to finish this novel I’ve had on the back-burner since 2007. Whether I will actually write 50000 words is debatable. But, I’m going to give it the old college try. So, I guess I’m going to join every Middle-Class, angst-ridden, Orange NJ invisalign-wearing teen girl writing that dark fantasy/Twilight rip-off. I figure the story I’m writing will run closer to 85000 words if and when I finish it, so if I get anywhere in the vacinity of 50000, I’ll be happy even if I don’t finish the book.

I’ve received another thing for another vampire series novel (speaking of which, is St. Martin the publisher for vampire novels, these days?). Similar to the last vamp novel mentioned on this blog, this one is also being promoted heavily online. The second novel in The League series, Born Of Fire by Sherrilyn Kenyon not has a novel excerpt published online, but it’s own feature in its own YouTube video, and is running a contest to promote the book’s release.  Winners of the sweepstakes will  receive a free copy of the book.

I’m wondering if this Youtube video is playing in any major television media markets as it looks like something produced originally to run on television.