#How to convert pdf to pages free

[dont-diy-zine]

"Don't Repeat This at Home" Zine is a fan project born out of love for Chinese novels and dramas. We brought more than 100 artists and writers together to create our magnum opus and now YOU ARE WELCOME TO JOIN US! The fandom: ➜ "The Scum Villain's [Self-Saving] System" Mo Xiang Tong Xiu ➜ "Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation" Mo Xiang Tong Xiu ➜ "Heaven Official's Blessing" Mo Xiang Tong Xiu ➜ "Thousand Autumns" Meng Xi Shi ➜ "The Husky and His White Cat Shizun" / "Erha" Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou (Meatbun) ➜ "Faraway Wanderers" Priest ("Word of Honour" is canon too)

The key theme: 百感交集 (bǎi gǎn jiāo jí) — all sorts of feelings well up in one's heart — fluff, drama, humour and beyond ❗ 18+. No minors, please Some arts and texts may make you cry, beware, triggers may be found (or not) The book: ➜ ~300 pages ➜ 106 double-page spreads with arts including: • 12 comic strips • 13 illustrated poems ➜ 8 fanfiction stories with • cover arts • internal b/w illustrations

[All 6 fandoms in one book] ❗ All texts are in Russian

➜ Physical copy (hard-back) — 3 200 roubles (it's around 37.4$ or 34.7€) ➜ Digital copy (.pdf) — 700 roubles (it's around 8.2$ or 7.6€)

The merch: ➜ 6 fandoms ➜ 3 sets for EACH fandom: • Aperitif — very small (1 postcard, 1 sticker pack, 1 key fob) — 1 500 roubles (it's around 17.5$ or 16.3€) • Half Portion — small (Aperitif + 1 acrylic stand with the main pairing, 1 plastic bookmark, 2 more postcards, 1 mini card) — 2 600 roubles (it's around 30.4$ or 28.2€) • Portion — large (Half Portion + 1 acrylic stand with secondary characters, 2 acrylic earrings, 1 more sticker pack, 1 bank card sticker, 1 round plastic badge, 1 more postcard) — 4 000 roubles (it's around 46.8$ or 43.4€)

[1 set = 1 fandom] ❗ You can get the merch only as the sets and only WITH the book (physical OR digital copy)

• Full 6 fandoms set — 22 000 roubles (it's around 257,3$ or 238,4€)

The plan: ➜ Right now till September 7, 2024 we collect funds ➜ September — production and manufacturing ➜ October — shipping starts ❗ We send digital copies AFTER shipping the physical ones We ship from Saint-Petersburg, Russia International shipping is available, but you can pre-check it via postcrossing.com/postal-monitor/RU

How to get the book or merch: ➜ go to Google Forms and follow the instructions: forms.gle/CdTis5wdYPmg2U6p8 ❗ We collect funds via Boosty; all prices are in Russian Roubles and include the comission of the platform You can use the currency of your country for the purchase, Boosty automatically converts it Shipping is charged separately

The project is not for profit [just for lulz] All money we make will go to production and manufacturing If we hit a breakeven, the authors are going to receive a free book. Any surplus funds will then be used to make extra merch FOR YOU

English is a foreign language for us, so sorry for inaccurate wording, we tried. We tried hard. We keep trying

More info: vk.com/dont_diy (in Russian)

[sinfulsorrow]

Kimi ni Koisuru Satsujinki-Killer In Love

Review + Document Read

"Suzuki Ryuto is an introverted, timid college student. Every day he puts on a fake smile, trying his best to blend into a group of outgoing students even despite cruel teasing over his virginity. One day he comes to a drinking party where he meets a beautiful girl, Kokoa. Per her request, he pretends to be her boyfriend to ward off the stalker who has been harassing the girl."

Read it yourself!

I've spent the past few days compiling the panels into a Word document for easy access to read. I recommend converting it to a pdf document for better results. However, if on mobile, just copy the link or view the document in a browser and change your browser to the desktop site. I tried my best to make the document look nice for better viewing, but alert me if there's any problems. There are 900 pages/pictures, so please give it time to load.

Lazy review;

Im not good with reviews, but this was such a good read with such a disappointing ending.. I wish we had more insight into the reasons the other yanderes liked our main character, Kokoa. I feel like we got left out of a lot of information, the people behind it all, what happened to Kokoa, what happened to Ryuto? Will they reconnect? I honestly had hopes for a better ending.. i was shocked once it was over. It was well written (in my eyes), yet I couldn't help but feel like it was cut short. The final chapter loses the feelings of the first chapter. It makes me think the manga got canceled, or hopefully, there will be a sequel? I think the yandere representation is very relatable, I found myself relating to almost all characters involved. Despite the disappointment in the final chapter, this was still a very good read, and I totally recommend it. (Considering the document i made is free, and I paid 10$ for the ability to read it, abuse the opportunity. ) Can't get over the ending and all the unanswered questions.. felt left in the dark nearing the final chapter. I didn't like how unlikable the Darling was, most of the yanderss fell flat, nearing the same motives.

Ranking?

⭐️⭐️⭐️

[kyokosasagawa]

I started writing "4 srs" this month and I like how free and accessible writing is, so I'm recommending free software I've experimented with that might help people who want to get into the hobby!

“Specifically Created for Writing Stories”

-------------------------------

Manuskript – Story organizer / word processor. Has an outliner and index card function, along with distraction free mode. Lets you switch between different templates such as a non-fiction mode or a short story.

Bibisco – Novel writing software that includes writing goals, world-building, distraction free mode, and a timeline.

“I Just Want to Write”

---------------------------

LibreOffice – Microsoft 365 alternative, but free! LibreOffice Writer is what I wrote this tumblr post in before I posted it. Also if you copy & paste the text into the Rich Text Editor on AO3, it seems that it actually converts it properly. Nice! No need for scripts.

Note-Taking

-------------------------------

Zim Wiki - note taking application that is very, very lightweight (1.1mb). It functions with a tree structure, so I’d personally recommend it for world-building and character bios. There are built-in plugins that also turn it into a good software for task management (it even has a article on how to use it for GTD) and journalling. See also: CherryTree (2mb), which is a more outdated-looking app, but functions similarly.

Obsidian MD – The Big Boy. markdown note editor that has been adopted by personal knowledge management fans---if it doesn’t do something you want it to do, just look in the community plugins to see if someone has already done it. Some unique non-word processing related usages I’ve found is the ability to create a table of contents dashboard, a image gallery for images, embedding youtube videos and timestamping notes, so forth.

Logseq – A bullet point based markdown note editor that also has PDF annotations, Zotero integration, flashcard creation, and whiteboards. Best used for outlining projects due to the bullet point structure.

Joplin – A modern app comparable to Zim Wiki, it’s basically just a note-taking software that uses folders and tags to sort easier. Looks prettier than Zim Wiki and Cherry Tree

Notion – An online-only website that allows usage of different database types. Free for personal use. Note: I dislike the AI updates that have been making the app lag more. I prefer the others on this list.

Mind Maps

-------------------------------

Freeplane – So much goddamn features, including a ton of add-ons. Looks somewhat ugly, but it works for anyone willing to spend a while learning how to use it.

Mermaid – Text-based diagram creator. Can be used in apps like Joplin, Notion, and Obsidian.

Obsidian’s Canvas – A core plugin for Obsidian, it deserves its own mention in that it allows you to create embedded notes of the mindmap nodes. Thus, if you want to create a 20-page long note and have it minimized to the size of a penny on the mindmap, you could.

Other Things That Might Be Of Interest

Syncthing - A free software that allows you to sync between two or more computers. Have a desktop but also laze around on a laptop in bed, coming up with ideas?? This is your buddy if you don't want to use a online software.

[bending-sickle]

Four Keys Book Arts - From E-Book to Real Book: Part 1 - Typesetting and Imposing a 120+ Year Old Bookbinding Manual

Hi everybody, welcome to the bindery!

Over the years I've received countless requests for help on converting e-books or pdfs into a format suitable for hand binding, so I finally decided to figure it out for myself. In this video I'll show you not only where I found a free digital copy of Douglas Cockerell's essential work: 'Bookbinding and the Care of Books', but also how I converted the .epub file and formatted the book for printing and binding.

Project Gutenberg: https://gutenberg.org/

PDFGear: https://www.pdfgear.com/

Bookbinder JS: https://momijizukamori.github.io/bookbinder-js/

In the next installments I will continue with sewing and casing in this book, so stay tuned!

I will be giving away this book when this series is complete! To find out more, check out my Patreon post about it here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/patreon...

Cheers,

Dennis

From the comments:

For future reference, on project Gutenberg you can also download the HTML version which you should be able to open directly in word or however else to process directly and should give you a lot more control over things like margins and font and page splits and junk

There's a really cool functionality in MS Word in the page setup to help with the signature printing. In the 'Layout' tab of the top banner, expand 'Page Setup'. In 'Margins' change from 'Normal' to 'Book fold.' From there, you can specify the number of sheets in your booklet

Word can definitely do basic imposition, but Bookbinder JS offers far more flexibility in a much more streamlined, purpose-driven format.

[unstablerk800]

Your digital planner looks cool. Is it an app or a program? Where do I get one?

|| Hello Nonnie!

I'm glad you asked! 💙 TECHNOLOGYYY 🤤

I happen to have two Samsung gadgets - a phone, Galaxy S10 Lite, and a tablet, Galaxy S6 Tab. I've had them for years, and I'm madly in love with both. 💙

Both come with an S-pen, Samsung's stylus. And both have this amazing program for absolutely free, Samsung Notes. I've tried countless note-taking apps, but this is the best, trust me. It has EVERYTHING you could possibly need, and one of the best things about it is that INSERTED GIFS ACTUALLY MOVE IN READ MODE! 🥹💙 And you can cut the pictures in a way that it snaps to the character's body, so you can make some custom stickers from your own screenshots! All with Samsung apps - the Samsung Notes and Gallery. 💙💙💙

The notebook template I used in my latest screenshot can be found at happydownloads.net. That site has loads of digital planners, from colourful rainbow ones to simpler, elegant ones (I got it for free somewhere a year ago, can't remember where 🤔). The site recommends you to use the Penly app (which isn't free), while the Samsung Notes does all that Penly can (and more) for free, if you get yourself a Samsung phone or tablet. Not to mention that you can pull off literally THOUSANDS of stickers off the Galaxy Store app for free, which you can use in your planner!

If you have both a phone and a tablet, they'll sync! 💙 So if I do anything on my tablet in Samsung Notes, it's going to appear on my phone in the Samsung Notes app as well! I made this on my tablet, but this is how it appears on my phone, and I can edit and rearrange and do whatever the heck I want (tick boxes in for example), and it'll appear with the changes on my tablet:

One of my favourite features is this: I like to put tons of pics in my journal if I'm not using some spaces to make it more colourful and cheer me up on the weekdays when I'm ultra stressed. If you open Samsung Internet and next to it, Samsung Notes, if you Google anything, you can drag and drop the picture in Notes - you don't have to download the pictures at all! I like to pull up my Pinterest board and pull over whatever I've pinned over my journal pages, then edit it (you can edit the picture like adjusting brightness/colors etc) as I want it to look like. 😊

There are also tons of other useful features, such as convert handwriting to text (all text or just the lasso selected words!), write by hand and it'll appear as text, shapes (if you draw a circle, box, heart, star, etc and hold the pen there, it'll shape it for you to look perfect!), insert pdfs, convert your notes to pdf, and much, much more - the possibilities are really endless! 😊💙

I was thinking about trying to make a few videos of how powerful these apps are and how I use them. Maybe I will if anyone is interested! 😊

[tarotbydelilah444]

FAQ - What To Expect | Read Before Booking

✨ Book through, support, and follow my Ko-fi: [ko-fi.com/tarotbydelilah444]

🌹 Contact Info:

★ Email: tarotbydelilah444@gmail.com

★ Tumblr: @tarotbydelilah444

What kind of readings do you offer?

I offer intuitive and in-depth tarot and astrology readings that are compassionate, honest, and insightful. Each reading is personalized, never generic. Here's a quick guide on my offerings:

Love Readings – Whether it’s a no-contact situation, a crush, your future soulmate, or you’re navigating life as a single, these readings bring clarity straight from the heart.

Spiritual Guidance��–An energetic check-in with your higher self, guides, or the next steps on your path.

Glow-Up, Birthday & 18+ Readings – Whether you're ready to step into your power, celebrate yourself, or tap into your wildest fantasies. 

Yes or No Readings– Perfect for newcomers, who are seeking quick insight for the question(s) on their mind. Great for small decisions or energetic check-ins.

Exclusive Astrology Readings - Personalized, intuitive insights based on your unique birth chart.

What I will not read on?

Health or medical advice readings

Legal readings

Death or Pregnancy readings

Third-party readings

Financial readings

When will I receive my readings ?

Delivery time varies by reading type, generally within 3-5 days. I only offer rush delivery on select readings (like birthday readings). Should I need to cancel or delay your reading for any reason, I will always communicate with you clearly and directly.

All readings will be delivered to you based on your preferred delivery method: Ko-fi DM, email, or private post on Tumblr. Please specify which method you prefer after you book your reading.

What's your reading format?

All of the readings are typed in Google Docs and converted into a downloadable PDF.

Every reading is timeless and crafted with love, care, and clarity. I tune into your energy, interpret the cards intuitively, and provide in-depth insight in a way that's direct, honest, and easy to understand. You'll receive a detailed message that reads like a conversation, made just for you.

What's your refund and cancellation policy?

All readings are nonrefundable. Once a reading is booked, I immediately begin tuning into your energy and preparing your message; my time and energy are valuable.

If you need to reschedule or cancel your reading, please contact me within 24 hours after your purchase.

Do you expect feedback?

Yes, I value energetic exchanges. I put real love, time, energy, and effort into every reading, so I appreciate hearing how it resonated, even if it's a few words. I only prioritize clients who engage with me intentionally and respectfully. Therefore, if there is a repeated lack of acknowledgement or feedback, I will choose not to read for that person again for future bookings. Ghosting = blocked.

With your consent, I will post your review and testimonial to the "Testimonals and Review" section of my Ko-fi page, of course, with some anonymity, or you can post your own review here.

Will my reading be kept private ?

Yes, always and forever. All readings are 100% confidential. I will never share your questions, details, or results publicly unless you've given me clear permission to otherwise. I wholeheartedly respect the privacy of every soul who books a reading with me.

New Here or Unsure What to Book?

If you're unsure which reading is right for you, don't worry, I'm here to help! Feel free to DM me with your current situation or the type of guidance you're seeking, and I’ll gently guide you toward the reading that aligns best with your energy and needs. I've got you, babe!

© 2025 tarotbydelilah444. All readings, content, and original works are the intellectual property of Tarot by Delilah. Do not copy, repost, or reproduce without permission. Energy is sacred—so is the work it inspires.

Disclaimer: Tarot readings are for entertainment and guidance purposes only. They are not intended to replace professional legal, medical, financial, or psychological advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified professional for these areas of concern. Any decisions made based on the reading are the client's sole responsibility.

[brakingpoint]

Thoughts on sheet music v using the iPad? I have mixed feelings.

unfortunately i'm now a complete ipad baby to the point that when i have to use physical sheet music i have caught myself, on multiple occasions, tapping the page to try and turn it 😭 i like how easy - not to mention free if you're smart - it is to both source and share sheet music (airdrop my beloved), although i appreciate some good old pencil marking i really appreciate the added customisation you can get on forscore (i was saying on my main i will actively white out sections of music i'm already confident with to force myself to practice only the sections i'm struggling with), being able to zoom is REALLY helpful when i'm dealing with shitty handwritten scores which is sometimes the case with musical theatre rep, i absolutely hate page turns and it's gotten to the point for organ repertoire specifically where i'll scan pieces i have physical copies of just so i don't have to faff around with solo page turns in performance... the only big downside to me is having to remember to charge it

i will say though i think to use an ipad it HAS to be the 12.9 inch pro, which is obviously a huge initial financial investment for what is essentially a big pdf reader (although i think i've more than made the money back from the amount of sheet music i've pirated that i would otherwise have had to buy outright lol) - when i was at uni i was using an 8th gen standard ipad with a really small screen and i was really fighting for my life. i think my posture's only just recovered from having to lean in and squint 24/7. it's almost to the point where i think if you are reading this & considering converting to an ipad for music but you can only find/afford one with a smaller screen that it's literally not even worth it bc the offset in user experience is so huge, just wait for a 12.9 inch or get a really shit second hand one from cex

[bestemailmarketingautomation]

Landing Page Builder Hacks: 7 Ways to Boost Email Sign-Ups! 📩

Curious about how a landing page builder can supercharge your email list? These 7 proven hacks will skyrocket sign-ups and build customer loyalty. Start turning clicks into subscribers—try these now!

Hey Tumblr fam! 🌟 Growing an email list is lượt like curating the perfect playlist—it’s all about connecting with your audience and giving them something they can’t resist. If you’re a small business owner, a content creator, or just someone trying to build a community, a landing page builder is your secret weapon for turning curious clicks into loyal email subscribers. But how do you make a landing page that actually converts? I’m spilling the tea with seven human-tested, totally doable hacks to boost your email sign-ups using a landing page builder. These tips are practical, Tumblr-vibe-friendly, and optimized for search engines so your content can pop off. Let’s get into it! 🚀

1. Keep It Clean and Vibey 🖌️

A landing page should feel like a cozy coffee shop, not a chaotic flea market. Too many buttons, links, or wild animations? Your visitors will dip out faster than you can say “unsubscribe.” Use your landing page builder to craft a sleek, focused design with one clear call-to-action (CTA). Less is more, friends.

Hack: Make your CTA button pop with bold colors (think coral or teal) and punchy text like “Grab My Freebie” or “Join the Crew.” Place it right at the top so it’s the first thing people see. For example, a landing page for a travel blogger could have a headline like, “Get My Ultimate Packing List for Free!” with a vibrant “Sign Up” button. Clean design + good vibes = more sign-ups.

Pro Tip: Play with button colors and text using your builder’s A/B testing tool to see what your audience is feeling.

2. Serve Up a Lead Magnet They’ll Obsess Over 🎁

Nobody’s dropping their email just because you asked nicely—they want something juicy in return. A lead magnet (like a free PDF, a mini-course, or a discount code) is your way to hook them. Make it something your audience can’t scroll past.

Hack: Use your landing page builder to show off your lead magnet with a cute visual. If you’re giving away a “30-Day Self-Care Challenge,” add a mock-up of the challenge planner on the page. Pair it with a headline like, “Kickstart Your Glow-Up with This Free Challenge!” It’s like giving them a sneak peek of the magic they’re signing up for.

Pro Tip: Share your lead magnet on Tumblr with a moodboard or aesthetic post to drive traffic. Use hashtags like Business Tips and Email Marketing to get eyes on your landing page. ✨

3. Write Headlines That Hit Like a Viral Post ✋

Your headline is your one shot to stop someone mid-scroll. It’s gotta speak to their dreams, fears, or straight-up curiosity. Think about what makes your audience tick and lean into it.

Hack: Use your landing page builder’s text editor to whip up headlines that are short, bold, and packed with value. Instead of “Join Our Newsletter,” go for “Unlock the Hacks to 10x Your Productivity!” Add a subheadline for extra flavor, like, “Join 8,000+ creatives getting weekly tips to slay their goals.”

Pro Tip: Weave in your seed keyword, “landing page,” for SEO without sounding like a robot. Try something like, “Create a Landing Page That Converts—Get Our Free Guide!” It’s search-friendly and still feels natural.

4. Flex Social Proof to Build Trust 🤝

Let’s be real—nobody wants to be the first to sign up for anything. Social proof (think testimonials, subscriber counts, or shout-outs) makes your landing page feel like a party everyone’s already at.

Hack: Use your landing page builder to add a section for testimonials or a counter like, “Join 3,000+ dreamers who get our weekly inspo!” If you’re new, share a quote from a friend who loved your freebie or mention a blog that featured you. Even a subtle “Trusted by creatives worldwide” adds cred.

Pro Tip: Post a screenshot of a happy subscriber’s feedback on Tumblr with hashtags like Small Business Love to build trust and drive clicks. 💖

5. Make It Mobile-Friendly for the Scroll Life 📱

Real talk: most of us are scrolling on our phones, so your landing page has to look good on mobile. A clunky mobile experience is a surefire way to lose sign-ups. Most landing page builders have responsive designs, but you gotta double-check.

Hack: Use your builder’s mobile preview to test your page. Make sure the CTA button is big enough for thumbs, text is easy to read, and images load fast. A slow page is the ultimate vibe-killer. Test it on your own phone to be sure it’s giving main character energy.

Pro Tip: Drop your landing page link in Tumblr posts or Stories with a call-to-action like, “Swipe up to join the fun!” Use hashtags like Digital Marketing to reach the mobile crowd. 🌈

6. Add a Pinch of Urgency (But Keep It Chill) ⏰

A little urgency can nudge people to sign up now instead of “maybe later” (aka never). But don’t go full infomercial—keep it authentic and low-pressure.

Hack: Use your landing page builder to add a countdown timer for a limited-time offer, like, “Sign Up by Tonight for a Free 20% Off Coupon!” Or try a scarcity angle with, “Only 25 Spots Left for Our Exclusive Workshop.” It’s subtle but effective.

Pro Tip: Create a Tumblr post hyping the urgency, like, “Last chance to grab our free guide! Link in bio! HurryUp.” It’s a great way to funnel traffic to your page. 🔥

7. Make the Sign-Up Form Super Smooth ✍️

Forms that ask for your life story? Hard pass. The easier your sign-up process, the more people will actually do it.

Hack: Use your landing page builder to create a form that only asks for the basics—name and email, done. If you need more info, make extra fields optional. Add a cute note like, “This takes 10 seconds, promise!” to keep it friendly. If you’re targeting global audiences, toss in a GDPR-compliant consent checkbox for good measure.

Pro Tip: After sign-ups, redirect to a thank-you page with a fun bonus tip or a Tumblr share button. Encourage them to spread the love with hashtags like EntrepreneurLife. 🙌

Wrapping It Up 🌟

There you have it—seven hacks to make your landing page a sign-up magnet: clean designs, drool-worthy lead magnets, killer headlines, trusty social proof, mobile magic, gentle urgency, and silky-smooth forms. The best part? Landing page builders like MailerLite make it so easy to bring these to life, no tech degree required. Start with one or two hacks, experiment, and check your analytics to see what’s working.

Ready to grow your email list like a Tumblr fandom? Open your landing page builder, try these tips, and watch your subscriber count soar. You’ve got this! 💪

[interlockingpatches]

hello hello! after months of promising myself I would get around to learning how to use your patterns, I've done it- thanks so much for all your patterns being excellently formatted and easy to understand, that is no mean feat!

are the pattern collections on your website in US dollars or Canadian dollars? I had so much fun with the free patterns avaliable I want to make as many as possible, but since I'm not American or Canadian I need to covert prices, especially seeing as most of the pattern collections I'm interested in are pay-what-you-can (not a problem, but I really don't want to undervalue your work by paying something I think is fair but only turns out to be a very small sum after currency changes)

thanks for all your hard work in making the patterns as high quality as they are, they are an absolute joy to use and make :]

Thank you for the kind words and very good question! To answer it succinctly: at this time (2024/10/21) prices on the Gumroad store, including prices you name yourself, should be in US dollars by default and then automatically converted to your home currency on checkout. (If that's *not* the case please tell me!)

Thank you also for giving me a chance to talk through my attempt at sliding-scale pricing, which I worry is stressful and off-putting, however well-intentioned it might be!

All pattern collections have a minimum price (in USD). I set that price, and on free patterns it's set to $0. You can't pay me an "unfair" sum (in any currency) because the interface will not let you.

(If any aspect of "pay-what-you-can" stresses out or irritates you, that's the price! Read no more.)

On most collections, that minimum price is half of a "cover price"—US$10 on average, or about $1/motif, depending on the size and complexity of the patterns. I think that's a "fair" price—if anything, I worry about undercutting finished-object pattern writers, who would normally charge much more on a per-motif basis. But "fair" is not the same as "accessible" or "fun."

If full cover is no hardship, terrific! I'll take it! A lot of people have too much money! But if the minimum (or anything in between) better suits your context, budget or level or commitment, you'll get no judgment from me!

A a heads up I *will* be raising the low end of the sliding scale soon (from 50% to 2/3 of cover price, most likely) because the current pricing scheme isn't quite fair to my small handful of subscribers.

Because—heaven help us—there *is* still a subscription option. I've taken it off the main page while I get caught up on releases, but it's still available via that link. US$12/month gets you access to all patterns plus new ones as they are released, at a pace of roughly 2 collections per month. You lose "vault access" when your subscription ends, but you keep any PDFs you've downloaded.

As a final program note, I want to apologize to anyone who made a purchase while I still had tipping enabled! I had just kind of yeah-sure approved that whenever the option became available, not thinking how positively barbaric it would be to ask someone to name a price and then tack 20% onto it that they have to manually remove! Hideous! Poor form! I'm sorry! Since resolved!

[blazing-dynamo]

How does one format epubs? I have a lot of free time and love formatting, I'd love contributing to the effort of fixing all the doctor who epubs!

It’s complicated, but doable.

First, it depends on the style of PDF. There are some that are crisp scans of every page, scanned by the Camels, (btw the camels if you’re still around you’re a real one.) and for those, I open them in Microsoft Word, because word is like 80% good at converting it, where other PDF eaters suck.

From there, I check out some common problems:

1. Footers: just remove them all. They don’t help in ePub land

2. Headings: for consistency, I change all the Headings to Agency FB, because it’s included in windows and matches the vibe of the headings in the book

3. Chapter Breaks: I turn on the “View Whitespace” mode, and delete everywhere that says section break, and then make sure there’s a page break at the end of every chapter, after the title page, foreword, etc. I also add “Chapter X” on the line before the title of the chapter. The EDAs are not consistent in how they handle chapter titles and I crave consistency so I add it.

4. Table of Contents. Word is Too Powerful™️ and recognizes the table of contents and imports it as a smart, clickable ToC, which, again, we don’t need. You can’t really edit it or anything so I just delete it, and type up a new one, leaving off the page numbers because we won’t need them in epic land.

5. Formatting. This is the bulk of the issue. I use word WildCards, which are similar to RegEx, to find all cases of a lowercase letter or comma followed by a paragraph mark, and replace it with the same character followed by a space. Then I also look for instances of a paragraph mark followed by a lower case letter, and replace it with space plus the letter. Then I replace all Tab characters with a space. Then I look for paragraph marks followed by a space and replace them with just a paragraph mark. This gets like 94% of the bad formatting that the Calibre/kindle/etc auto ePub conversion makes reading insufferable. I try to catch as many of the rest while doing the remaining steps.

6. Formatting cont’d: then, I change the Normal style to be 12pt Garamond. This isn’t important because this is ultimately up to the reader’s chosen font in their eReader, and I don’t embed Garamond, but putting it in Garamond makes it easier for me to notice when something is wrong because I’m used to seeing Garamond while making these.

Then, I use Find/Replace to add a highlight to everything that has the same indent as the Normal style, so I can then see everything weird because it won’t be highlighted. I then scrub through the book and set the problem paragraphs to the Normal style, which then Corrects the indents. I make sure when I do this to watch for italics and make sure that the style didn’t revert them to normal. This happens on short paragraphs with one or two words, and one of which is italicized, as well as paragraphs where the entire thing is italicized.

I also in this step scrub through to find mid-chapter breaks, the favorite storytelling device of the EDAs, and make them uniform. Word will make it into various levels of after-paragraph spacing, but I set the paragraph to normal, and then just leave two empty paragraphs between the sections. This tends to import the best across devices and fonts.

Finally, I make sure that after each chapter and chapter break, the first paragraph isn’t indented, to match the style of the print EDAs.

7. Still formatting, but different. I then do a scrub through and make sure I didn’t screw anything up or forget something. The problem with RegEx is that it will do exactly what you tell it to, even if that’s not what you wanted to happen. So oftentimes my table of contents or copyright page is borked, and I have to go fix it. Once I have it in a decent shape, I

8. Import into Calibre. Just drag and drop the DocX into Calibre and it’ll get added as a book. I then use the metadata editor to download the metadata from the web, so it’ll have good info on it. None of the online sources regocnize this as a series, though, so I add it myself.

9. Convert to ePub: in the Calibre library list I right click the book and convert it to ePub, default settings. DocX->ePub conversion is really simple because they are both just HTML pages under the hood, so it imports perfectly.

10. (Bonus steps) once an ePub, I press T to edit the book, and import Agency FB and Agency FB Bold, and then press the Table of Contents button, to select where the in-reader chapter list points to. And then I use just hyperlinks to make the in-book ToC clickable to take it to the same place.

The uglier, hand-typed PDFs are basically the same, but then I also have to do a bunch of spell check to catch all the typos. And then those don’t have italics at all, so depending on the book, and if I have a copy of it physically, I scan the physical book with my eyeballs to catch italics and add them back to the DocX. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than the baffling choice to just remove them completely.

I know from importing the PDFs a long time ago there’s another person who scanned/typed the books, but I haven’t seen the state of them to know if they’ll need extra TLC.

It’s kind of a whole lot! But also if I get a The Camels PDF I can knock it out in about an hour.

If you wanted to take a crack at it, by all means! Though I really need a proofer, so if you wanted to just start reading and use the form links I have in the folders to report the issues you find, that would be wonderful. Bonus points, you get to read the EDAs lol.

[remusdocx]

your typesets are so gorgeous!!!!

I'm really inspired to try myself !! Do you have any resources that you'd recommend? <3

Thank you so much!! :)

This is mainly going to be a list of accounts to check out and programs I use. Most tutorials I've seen are on TikTok, and TikTok video links sometimes don't work. I'm not sure if you want resources over typesetting and binding or just binding, so I will give you everything since I don't gatekeep. (Everything is under the cut.)

For typesetting, my biggest resource was just looking things up. I'd see something done in a published book or in a fic bind and try to figure out how to do it. Page layout is difficult to figure out since everyone does theirs differently, so I just messed around with it until I liked what it looked like on a PDF or one of the account below had margins I liked.

Here are some accounts that have typesets and/or binding tutorials. I want to say right now that the main fandom having fics binded is Harry Potter, so about all of these are HP fic binders.

ladybobbitt (Instagram)

hana_bob (Instagram)

Beautifully Bound (YouTube)

beccasbookbindery (TikTok)

poppypressbindery (TikTok)

jmbinding (TikTok)

claudiatalksfilm (TikTok)

omgreylo (YouTube)

Accounts with binding tips, such as binding on a budget or just materials needed for binding

whenindoubtusemor (TikTok)

litty_lydi (TikTok)

ddaviiie (TikTok)

I use Adobe Acrobat to convert my Word Docs to PDFs since it's the only program that doesn't erase the fun fonts I use and lets me have photos in the document. Then I use the free program Bookbinder JS. There's apparently a computer program you can buy for $20, but I think what I'm using now works and is free.

Another tip is that watching tutorials for rebinds are incredibly helpful as well. There's multiple ways of binding a book, so you have options and it's good to know them.

I hope this is good enough? Sorry that I'm not linking videos, but so many of those creators have series of how to bind fics and tips on how to make the process easier. For typesets, I am always willing to make one if you're interested (no pressure, though).

[the-mononoke-facade]

I’ve been meaning to ask for a while – you purchased the digital copy of Mononoke Shu from Bookwalker, yes?

How easily can you purchase it with non-Japanese currency? And is the format a downloadable PDF of sorts? I’m trying to find a more affordable/shipping-free alternative to getting my Mononoke merch fix ;u;

Yeah, I got it from Bookwalker for around $5 USD

I had to use google translate to figure out what it was saying while I was going through the checkout (it's only on the Japanese side of website so it's not translated), but other than having to run it through that, it was a pretty standard online shopping experience, just make the account if you don't have one already and then go through the putting in the payment info and then you can grab the book whenever you want from your account. The price is listed in yen but they don't seem to have an issue converting to dollars or euros

Annoyingly, if you do buy it through Bookwalker, they have a proprietary file format they use to where you can only view it on their website or their mobile app, which if your internet is reliable is...okay, but it's not like you can download it and access it and you own it, you're pretty much just buying access to it on Bookwalker. On the other hand (and I'm not saying you *should* do this necessarily but I will put it out there) there's nothing stopping you from going into the browser version of their reader and using the snipping tool on any part of the page you might find interesting...or the whole page...or flipping through and getting every page to ad hoc an offline version for use. You know. Hypothetically. It's not like Crunchyroll where it'll block out the contents of the screen when you're using any kind of screen recording tool. So...there is that. Again, hypothetically, do with that information what you will

Hope this helps :)

(And if you're looking for other shipping-free merch and don't already have them, I know that the manga adaptions for the show are on Bookwalker too, probably with the same deal, but I haven't actually nabbed those just yet. I sure do know that they went out of their way to make the medicine vendor real pretty though)

[cyclist-of-guilt]

The diplomatic journal of Albert Herrera part 8/8

Oh thank god it's over. Tomorrow I'll add the first 7 pages, check everything again and post link to pdf version of whole translation with scan of the book again. And I need to try to find that blog mentioned in afterword maybe it could answer if this is anime or novel verse. Anyway!

In which: Eugine shows up in person, Albert is behaving more and more like Edmond, gets threathend by old man that betrayed him, Edmond gives speech in senate(?), Albert confessess to him when they're saying goodbye AGAIN and Franz's ghost from his great cuck chair in heaven might have given Albert pep talk about waiting for Edmond.

A good awakening…not exactly

A dull face is reflected in the bathroom mirror.

My hair is messy and I have bags under my eyes. Even though I just woke up, that's still too bad. It must be because of lack of sleep and fatigue from the journey.

Still, after splashing some water and opening a window, I felt better. The June wind of Paris is fluttering the curtains. (translator’s note: how much time is this book taking? Albert’s birthday is in August or September because of course our Maiden is a virgo)

As I sipped my strong coffee, I looked down at the city. People in summer clothes were walking happily. Young couples, boys and girls, ladies on the arms of gentlemen……..The atmosphere is quite different from Janina.

I suddenly thought of my mother. 

What is she doing at home in Marseilles right now? 

Once I complete my mission and I am free – I have no idea when that will be — I would like to go and see her. Although she said living alone was nice and easy, it’s inevitable that she gets lonely too.

No, it’s me who’s lonely. I was fine on Janina but as soon as I arrived in Paris I started to miss Marseille. Right now the place I call home isn’t this glamorous royal capital but the port town outside this castle. (translator's note: feeling nostalgic while eating at a sailors bar? Missing Marseilles so bad? Boyo not denying being part of Edmond’s soul allegations)

(p. 85)

It’s almost noon and Mark still hasn't woken up. 

I have nothing to do. I came all the way to Paris but I don’t know what to do today. There was no instruction to report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If things continue like this I’ll try to contact Raoul or Beauchamp.

Or maybe—

I started up the provided information terminal. I took a sip of coffee and checked out information about concerts in Paris in June.

Here! The event I was looking for was going to be held in a small hall in the suburbs:

“Eugenie Danglars

A beautiful, up-and-coming pianist based in New York and Paris, who is gaining increasing acclaim from music connoisseurs.”

— that’s what the artist’s profile said.

Concert

The windows were closed but the sound of rain softly lingered over the hall. It was a converted church, filled with an audience of about 50 people. Everyone is watching the pianist as she concentrates on her performance. I slipped into a seat in the back corner, hiding behind the gentleman in front of me, and surrendered myself to the vibrations of the air she was creating. (translator’s note: you pretentious fuck)  Eugenie seems to have further improved her skills. The tense feeling that was there before is gone now, and she seems to be enjoying playing as her heart desires. Of course if I told her that, I’m sure she would laugh at me. 

After listening to major sonatas and a few minor pieces for about an hour, I quietly got up from my seat. I felt a bit embarrassed to stay until the performance finished. 

But as I was leaving the hall, I stopped. The next song she started with was an original by her, one that she had previously written and said she would give it to me.

I turned around in surprise and saw Eugenie looking at me. She was smiling slightly, but furrowing her brow and playing with a deliberately altered touch, as if to say, "Since you've come all this way, you should come and say hello."

I shook my head and returned to my seat.

It would have been kind of cool if I had just snuck back home.

(translator’s note: keep this behaviour in mind, it’s a surprise tool)

(p. 86)

The constant discomfort

We remained silent over our tea.

Perhaps we didn’t know how to act toward each other.

The time that each of us spent together had widened the distance between us - or rather, it was difficult to gauge the distance that had grown. I was worried about how Eugenie saw me now.

I still haven't gotten over my timid feelings towards her.

“When did you get back?” She said. 

I guess she’s going to start with easy questions. 

“It’s a mission” I answered with deliberate secrecy. “I can’t reveal the schedule” 

She gave a slight smile. 

“As you would expect from a diplomat.”

Then silence.

I looked into the courtyard of the hall. The gravestones and statues that remind me of the time the building was still a church are wet with rain.

“You improved, didn’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s much better than the last time I heard it.”

“Thank you”

Silence again.

There was a discreet knock from the other side of the door and then Eugenie's manager came, announcing apologetically that it was nearly time to leave for the next venue.

But she was drinking her tea in silence.

“Are you sure you don’t have to go?”

“Artists are difficult people” then kept looking at me “Not as much as you, though.”

“I’m not moody.”

I thought I was having fun, but before I knew it, I was withdrawing into my shell.

"One moment you seem excited, the next you retreat into your shell."

I tried to argue but gave up. For some reason she was smiling broadly. It’s been a while since I saw that smile.

“I’m relieved nothing has changed.”

I have no choice but to laugh too.

“I left Paris because I wanted a change.”

“You can still stay in Paris, right?”

“So the schedule is…”

“Night after tomorrow”

She recommended our favourite cafe.

“Even if you say something selfish.”

(p.87)

Eugenie held out a card with her contact details.

“What, you can't even make time for me, Albert? You're an adult now right?”

I saw a sinister face in the crowd

After parting ways with Eugenie, I headed to the hotel. The rain had stopped and only the cobblestones were wet. It felt good to walk those streets. After all, I hadn’t stepped on wet pavement in the last 6 months. (translator’s note: wtf is this timeline help) 

Perhaps I was spacing out. I met her for the first time in a long time, and while she had grown up a lot I still hadn’t changed a bit. I was thinking about such random things….This was unbecoming of a diplomat, especially one who was in charge of an important mission, even if he didn't understand the details.

At that moment, I stopped in my tracks, as I thought I saw a familiar face among the people passing by in the crowd. Who on earth could it be? I knew it well but I couldn’t remember it right anyway. I stopped and looked back. That person also stopped and looked back at me. 

He had a sarcastic smile on his face.

“Mr. Kazantzakis…”

He looked quite different, perhaps in disguise, but I was certain it was my former boss. (translator’s note: oh so you can recognise your former boss in disguise but not “the man that changed my life”????????????”) The person who betrayed us and blew up the embassy —.

He ran straight into the alleyway. As if telling me to follow him. I reflexively followed after him. I knew I shouldn’t do that but I couldn’t stop myself. 

I wanted to meet him and question him - that was the feeling that was urging me on.

I jumped into the alleyway and could see the back of the man who was running down a narrow passage between the buildings. I ran after him. 

Ran, ran and….

I thought I cornered him in a dead end. Of course, it wasn’t him who was cornered, but me…

Reunion

“It has been a while, Albert”

With his back to the rain soaked wall my ex-boss smiled gently. I could hear a bandoneon playing from somewhere. A melancholic verse repeating over and over….

(p. 88)

“How did you sneak into Paris?”

Without realizing it, my tone turned interrogative.

“There are many ways to do that.”

“What on earth are you here for?”

“I’m not going to fight with you;” Mr. Kazantzakis spread his arms wide “you believe that though.”

“Why did you try to attack the Queen of Janina?”

“Political differences” He twisted his mouth slightly “or you could say interests.”

“Did you also blow up the embassy?”

“I should have left Janina then.”

“Maybe your friends did it. I got inside information about the embassy from you…”

I took the gun out of my pocket. It was provided to me by Mr. Kazantzakis himself while I showed up on Janina.

“I want you to come with me.”

“That’s a problem. I still have a job to do.”

Before I knew it, he also had a gun in his hand. 

“One week is enough” He says, taking one step forward. “Would you like to spend some time at my villa in Normandy?”

It was the name of a familiar place, but I didn't have time to reminisce.

“What are you asking me to do?”

“I’m not going to make you do anything.”

Another sarcastic smile. There were deep wrinkles on his cheeks and he looked awfully haggard.

”You’re worthless. Only your absence has value.”

“Don’t mess with me!”

I wanted to jump on him. However a bullet grazed my cheek and stopped me from moving. 

“Don’t make me kill you.”

It was almost like he was pleading.

“One day you’ll see that we were right.”

Before I  knew it, several men surrounded me.

I put my finger on the trigger and looked at Mr. Kazantzakis. Even if it means losing my life I cannot forgive this man…

The temptation of Mr. Kazantzakis

“Haven't you been taught your role?”

Mr. Kazantzakis said in shock.

(p. 89)

I was being tightly bound by the men.

“You don’t know about the inquiry party?”

 The inquiry party? I’ve never heard about such a thing before.

“Good grief, so you’re totally out of the loop. From Janina’s secret to diplomatic issues with the Empire… But that certainly was a wise move.”

Janina’s secret? I felt dizzy with anger and shame. I have not been told anything about what “the enemy” knows. 

“Why don’t you kill me?”  I said in a fit of desperation. “I’ll never do what you say. If you want to keep me quiet just use that gun…”

“Your father was a great man.”

As Mr. Kazantzakis interrupted me, his eyes were gentle, despite the situation. You could say they were full of compassion. I couldn’t fathom what he truly meant. My father… My father’s name is too tarnished to be praised. 

“Stop playing with me!”

“Your father did the right thing, Albert.”

Mr. Kazantzakis kept a straight face.He had a genuine and high opinion of my father, a traitor that tried to burn Paris down.

“He fulfilled his duty as a soldier. “Treason” is just an assessment by citizens and bureaucrats. He was always faithful to the ethics of the military.”

“The ethics of the military?”

“It’s perpetual allegiance to war. False peace leads to corruption of people. Albert, you misunderstand. Your father didn’t cross the Rubicon for personal reasons. He just…”

I couldn’t keep up with my ex-boss’s long winded speech. According to his logic, my father attacked Paris to destroy the peace with the Empire.

“Is that why you tried to stir up trouble with Janina? The plots to assassinate the Queen, blow up the embassy, ​​and spark another conflict with the Empire..."

He silenced me with a gentle wave of his hand.

“War is the state of society. A ceasefire would drastically change the industrial structure and threaten the livelihoods of many people. Surely the son of the great General Fernand de Morcerf would understand. 

“Shut up!”

I bent down and hit the man behind me, and leapt at the traitor in front of me. 

“That’s a pity.”

With that Mr. Kazantzakis pointed the  gun at me and pulled the trigger.

(p. 90)

Two of them bored in the luxurious waiting room

“It’s almost time…”

Mark said glaring at his pocket watch. His legs had been shaking slightly for a while. 

“Calm down. And stop fidgeting.”

“But now we’re going to be dragged before the dignitaries, you know?. Old man Padiu said we’re just reporting what we saw, but when you make it public, it's a bed of nails.”

Mark had been muttering to himself ever since the morning when he was brought to the Elysee Palace in a government car that had come to pick him up from his lodgings.

“They’re going to rip my heart out in front of everyone like an Aztec sacrifice.” or something like that. He was summoned to appear before a hearing attended by high-ranking officials from the Kingdom and the Empire. It’s natural that you would lose your composure. 

Mark looked at me resentfully.

“Albert, you're very calm.”

“I’ve been through the brink of death many times.” I said calmly. 

It’s half a bluff, but isn’t entirely a lie. If Max hadn’t shown up just in time last night, I would have been shot by Mr. Kazantzakis. Thinking back, I was probably under the watch of the intelligence department from the very beginning. Otherwise, there would be no way that a helping hand could be extended in a timely manner. 

Just as it looked like the bullet was about to pierce my chest, Max shot Mr. Kazantzakis down with a military-grade paralyzing gun.

“Reckless as always.”

Max laughed at that but I wish he could have helped sooner. 

Even so —

I can’t forget the look on Mr. Kazantzakis’ face as he was taken away. He was desperately trying to plead with Max. “If you’re a soldier, be on my side. Let’s rise up together with General Morcerf’s son.”

Prolonged war created people who cannot live without it. 

Probably my father too…

There was a knock.

“Witnesses, come here.”

The bailiff turned up to call Mark and I. We looked at each other and nodded.

“There’s no point in being nervous. Let’s go.”

Mark is right. There’s no point in being scared.

But there’s one thing that bothers me. Those are the parting words spoken by Mr. Kazantzakis, as he was being taken away.

He certainly said that:

“The imperial fleet surrounds the Janina system. No matter what you do, the war will begin again.”

(p.91)

I met the Leader in an unexpected place

“Albert Herrera, Mark Strogardzki. You have been summoned as witnesses to this inquiry…”

Lucien, who seemed to be acting as chairman, spoke in a stern tone.

We were seated in the witness stand, which was like the bottom of a mortar, in the middle of a huge hall. A spherical space that emits pear-like glow. It is a building exclusively used for secret meetings, completely protected from eavesdropping and attacks. Of course it's the first time for both Mark and I to come to a place like this. Despite trying to relax, I couldn't help but feel nervous. There were two other men sitting in the witness stand besides us. He may have been a diplomat or a soldier, or both; unlike us, he was sitting there calmly and without saying a word. I felt like I saw him before but I just can’t remember who it is. 

Directly in front of him was the chairman’s seat where Lucien sat. It was surrounded by a circular area of ​​seats for the members of parliament, which get higher as you go to the back. Normally, there would be a large number of senators gathered here, but today it was empty, with only a few familiar faces. Only the president, the chairman of the Senate, and a few people who appear to be interior affairs ministry bureaucrats are seated there. In front of them, an equal number of Imperial government officials, dressed in formal attire, sat.

“A certain person’s argument is about to begin. I’d like you to listen carefully to his story and then I’d like to ask some questions.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a tall man appeared on the podium that had been prepared mid air.

It was the Leader. He gave a dramatic bow to everyone looking down at him, then began to speak.

“The empire and the Kingdom have been fighting pointlessly for a long time over Janina. Today, I’m delighted to be able to put an end to that conflict…”

I looked at him in shock. 

Will this put an end to the fight over Janina?

What on earth is he trying to say?

Between the Empire and the Kingdom…

“Janina is a planet that holds special meaning to both the Empire and the Kingdom…”

The ringmaster began to speak in the same tone he used when performing at the circus.

“What makes Janina a special planet are the “Star Ruins” ... Needless to say, they are ancient structures built by an unknown species that visited the planet before our civilization…..”

I thought about the scene I saw at the ruins. These underground halls certainly led to another planet or maybe even to another world. An advanced technology that we had not yet achieved.

“The Empire and the Kingdom have tried to obtain and utilize that “power”. I'm sure you all will not deny that this is the cause of the long-lasting conflict between the Empire and the Kingdom."

(p. 92)

This was the first time I heard such a story. However, Lucien and the others nodded in agreement with the Leader’s words.

“Technology which is far more advanced than ours and foreign to us. Obtaining it was a top priority for both governments. This is because it was believed that losing this match would mean losing all dominance to the other side."

I finally understood. The Kingdom and the Empire had a clear purpose in competing for Janina.

“However, in the end, neither the Empire nor the Kingdom ever got hold of the "key" to the ruins. It continued to sleep without ever being returned to anyone. Until I came across it by chance on an abandoned planet on the edge of the galaxy…There were many interesting experiences along the way, but I'll save those stories for another time…”

The Leader looked at the group with a faint smile.

“I thought about how to use the power of the ruins. It might be a good idea to use it to rule the world…”

The officials were whispering to each other.

“But getting caught in a power struggle can be a real hassle. So I approached the newly crowned Queen of Janina for advice. We thought it would be a good idea to "seal" the ruins and separate the technology from our history forever. Fortunately, the wise Queen Haidee understood what I was saying. And..”

The Leader looked around at the group with a thoughtful look.

Lucien nodded with an emotional look on face.

“I have succeeded in “sealing” the ruins.” The Leader looked at us in the witness stand and said: “In the presence of diplomats from both governments…”

I was so surprised I stood up involuntarily. 

The long train ride, the camel ride through the desert and the night in the ruins…Was it all planned with that purpose?

The door behind us opened and what appeared to be medical staff carried in a coffin-like device.

“Finally, time to be sacrificed.”

Mark looked at me with a resigned look.

“We will now begin questioning the witnesses…”

Lucien said solemnly.

I felt as if I was put into a coffin alive

Mark and I were sitting on a sofa in the lobby drinking chocolate coffee with lots of sugar. We were exhausted. Standing on the witness stand…Well, I was just tied up and answered questions, but Mark was slumped over on the sofa. 

“The sweetness of sugar really hits home…”

He said still adding sugar cubes. Those are not normal nerves.

I told them exactly what I saw the Leader and Haidee do, and Mark assured them that I was indeed at the Star Ruins that night. That’s all there was to do. Totally easy –unless your brain is being accessed directly.

“But I guess this means I'm off the hook.…”

“If I had to do this over and over again, I’d definitely lose my mind.”

“In the end, the Leader and the Queen drove the civilization of the "Star Ruins" out of our reach, right?”

I nodded at Mark’s words.

“So for now the crisis is over. Apparently the Empire is withdrawing the fleet it sent to Janina.”

Is that really true? Will Janina be safe and Haide be able to focus on recovery with peace of mind?

As has been the case throughout history, the collapse will surely begin in the most unexpected places.

However, my thoughts were interrupted by the sight of the Leader walking towards a carriage parked just outside the lobby.

He flipped his cap and quickly walked away. It was as if he wanted to leave Paris as soon as possible. 

“Sorry, but please go back to the hotel first.”

Leaving Mark sitting there saying something, I followed the Leader. For some reason, I felt if I missed this opportunity I would never see him again.

(translator’s note: the secret tool paid off, so Albert tries to sneak out without a word because of his timid feelings, but now Edmond is doing the same for what reason?”

The departing carriage

“Are you planning to leave without revealing your identity?”

When I confronted him, the Leader shook his head from side to side in a troubled manner.

“As you can see I’m just a circus owner. I don’t have a true identity.”

Night was falling on the Champs-Elysees.

I didn’t give up.

“I can't help but feel like this isn't the first time I've been with you in this city.”

“Mr. Albert. I can only imagine what kind of response you're expecting. But..”

He gazed out at the twilight cityscape for a while.

“Even if that person survived I don’t think you should ever meet again.”

“Why? That person and I are bound together by fate. I want to see him again. Meet…”

“What are you planning to do if you did?”

I was speechless. What would I do if I met him again?

“Don’t stick to closed books. Shouldn’t your life be written in a separate book?”

“But at least Haidee…I believe Haidee, Bertuccio and Baptistin have the right to see him.”

(p.94)

“I believe that they too are already facing a different destiny…No, I may have been too presumptuous. Please forgive me for my rudeness.”

He turned his face towards me and put his foot on the carriage step.

“Farewell. I’m glad I met you.”

The carriage started moving.

“Where are you going from here?”

“I’ll be back on Janina soon.”

“Will we see each other again?”

“If that were to happen, I would be happy too.” He pointed his finger to my breast pocket. “Look at the memento I gave you. There, my destiny is written.”

The carriage picked up the peace and sped off, leaving me behind. I stood there, staring at the tail lights of the carriage as it receded into the distance.

Gone —.

Even when I return to Janina I probably won’t be able to meet him. There was something about his expression that conveyed a sense of tranquility that foresaw a separation.

Does Haidee know? The Leader’s true identity.

“Albert…”

I felt a gentle hand touch my shoulder.

“Eugenie…”

Marseille beach

The sound of crashing waves fills the air.

The sea breeze feels pleasant on my body after a swim.

“Why don’t you come over here? I’ll give you some cold cider.”

Eugenie said. 

But lying on the hot sand and feeling the wind blow on me feels so good I didn’t feel like moving.

A parasol, a basket full of food and a cooler full of drinks on a sheet laid out on sand. Everyone’s faces are lined up around it.

“Hurry up Albert. We have Eugenie’s special sandwiches.” Raoul is pleased, with his mouth full with an anchovy sandwich. ”After all, if one were to choose a wife, it'd have to be a woman who's good at cooking.”

“That why you keep getting dumped.” 

“Eugenie is still tough.”

“It's not that I'm the tough one, it's that Raoul is the easy one.”

(p.95)

“What’s that?”

“You’re loose-headed.”

“Ouch, Eugenie…”

As I lay there listening to this conversation in the distance, I felt like I was about to fall into a comfortable sleep.

“So, when is the due date?”

“...When was it, Valentine….”

“What, my husband doesn’t know the due date?”

“Come on, give him a beak, Maximilian was on a mission to Janina. At my request.”

“Is this an order from the famous Minister Debray? If he becomes your trusted adviser, Max’s life will be smooth sailing.”

“The world of politics is full of ups and downs. I don’t know when I’ll lose my footing.”

“Then I’ll write your memoirs in my newspaper. In your case, it seems like you're more interested in other inside stories than the political ones. Did he break up with his dancer girlfriend? There were various rumors…”

“Hey, hey, stop talking vulgarly in front of the ladies.”

“Eh, sorry, sorry.”

“By the way, why is Albert sleeping? It has been a while since we all last met.”

“He’s just a kid. When he comes to sea, he swims until he’s exhausted.”

“Well, I’ll go for another swim…”

The voices of Lucien, Beauchamp, Raoul, Max Valentine, Eugenie, mother and Morrel’s children could be heard. A familiar yet nostalgic voice fills the air. When was that? The last time we all spent time like this. Not on the sand, but on the grass. The glorious calm before the storm. 

On the grass, not on the sand—.Mysterious words ran through my head. It’s sad but there’s also a sweet feeling to it. No – I think again— He must be there even on the sand.

–Just before I fell asleep, I was sure I heard Franz's voice.

Another trip to Janina

I left the cabin and lay down on a chaise lounge on the deck. Mark had already started snoring in the top bunk, so I had run off early. 

The passenger ship to Janina was full. The boy who carried my luggage told me that the number of travelers had increased dramatically since Haidee ascended to the throne.

The Earth is shining blue right in front of my eyes. I habitually searched for the splendor of Paris on the surface of the earth. Eugenie and my mother, who came to see me off at the spaceport, should have arrived at the Opera House by now, right? While seeing me off, they (p. 96) were excited to go see an opera for the first time in a long while.

I took out a small box from my jacket’s inside pocket. This is an artifact from the Star Ruins that I received from the Leader at the Rospoli Hotel.

The smooth silver surface is decorated with relief. Among the countless star shapes scattered around, people with strange faces and wearing what appear to be togas are flying happily. Probably the people who built those ruins. It is unclear whether they are the same race that built the underground facilities in the ruins.

“There, my destiny is written.”

Said the Leader. 

That person is probably walking through these doors alone– that’s what I thought. I'm sure he plans to leave our world behind and go to some faraway world, following the same path as the people in this relief.

But if I stay on Janina, I’m sure we will meet again someday.

I decided to be optimistic.

I have my job. 

Janina still has a lot of problems ahead of it and will likely continue to face many more in the future. Mark and I may not be very reliable, but we'll do what we can. Thinking about that, I looked at the Earth. When will I return next—.

Soon the departure bell rang.

(p. 97)

(p. 98)

Afterword

It was my first time blogging.

To be honest I never wrote a journal.

It’s not like I was at loss, in fact I quite enjoyed writing.

Pretending to be someone else…No, writing a journal while pretending to be a different character is quite a strange experience. If you keep doing this, a different personality will gradually develop within you. If you were to examine brain activity while you are writing, you would probably find that different parts of your brain are more active than usual. It must have been, I imagine, that a similar phenomenon was occurring in the minds of those who sent me emails. If I had responded to the emails more promptly, things might have turned out even more amazingly. I’m a little disappointed about that. But, well, even if the blog ends, the personalities of Albert and his friends that were born will not disappear. I feel like they will continue to live and grow independently from now on. At very least the “Albert brain” is still alive and well inside me. It will be interesting to see what actions he takes from now on. I wouldn’t like it if my personality was taken over. 

Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude to Director Maeda Mahiro, the creator of Gankutsuou, to Yagira Hanako, who took on the unfortunate role of pushing me to keep updating the journal, and to all the readers who have been with me over the past year…

Kamyama Shuichi

Translator’s note: thank you for reading and if you got so far please give me some heads up so I won’t feel like I wasted my time. 

[designpresentationsblog]

Streamline Your Workflow with PDF to DWG Conversion

In the world of design, architecture, and engineering, efficiency is everything. While PDFs are great for sharing finalized designs, they’re far from ideal when you need to make edits or adjustments. That’s where PDF to DWG conversion steps in, offering a solution that transforms static PDF designs into editable CAD files, such as those used in AutoCAD.

If you’ve been searching for ways to convert PDF to DWG, this guide breaks down why it’s important, how it works, and how to get started using the best tools and services.

Why Convert PDF to DWG?

Here’s the truth: PDFs are great for viewing, but terrible for editing. DWG files, on the other hand, are built for CAD software and allow detailed, editable designs. Converting PDF to DWG offers multiple benefits:

Edit Without Redrawing: Skip the hassle of recreating designs from scratch and start making changes instantly.

Save Time and Effort: Complex layouts can be converted in minutes, freeing up valuable time.

Enhance Collaboration: Editable DWG files make teamwork smoother, ensuring everyone’s input is reflected in the design.

Keep It Accurate: Your design dimensions and intricate details are preserved during the conversion.

How to Convert PDF to DWG

Getting started is easier than you think. Follow these simple steps:

Choose a Reliable Tool or ServiceLook for trusted platforms like Design Presentation, which specialize in accurate and efficient PDF to DWG conversion.

Upload Your PDFShare your design file and include important details such as page count, complexity, or any custom requirements.

Process the ConversionYour design will be converted into an editable DWG format, retaining all essential elements like vector lines and text.

Review Your FileOpen the DWG file in CAD software to ensure the conversion meets your standards and make any final tweaks.

Explore Tools Like PDF to DWG Converter Software

When precision matters, using reliable tools or services is a must. A trusted PDF to DWG converter ensures your designs are transformed without compromising quality. Design Presentation offers professional PDF to DWG converter software, tailored for complex projects, large layouts, and custom requirements.

Visit Design Presentation’s Website

Need help converting your files? Head over to Design Presentation. They offer a straightforward process to meet your needs, whether it’s a single-page document or a multi-layered design.

Here’s how you can get started:

Fill out their Request Form on the website.

Provide details about your project, including file complexity and any specific requirements.

Receive a customized quote.

Their team of experts handles the rest, ensuring accurate results with quick delivery.

Why Choose Design Presentation?

When it comes to PDF to DWG conversion, Design Presentation stands out for its expertise and reliability. Here’s what they bring to the table:

Professional Precision: Skilled professionals ensure every detail is accurately converted.

Tailored Solutions: Services are customized to match your project’s unique needs.

Fast Turnaround: Timely delivery to keep your workflow on track.

High-Quality Results: No detail is lost during the conversion.

Conclusion

Don’t let file format limitations slow you down. By converting PDF to DWG, you unlock the power to edit, adjust, and perfect your designs. Whether you’re an architect, engineer, or designer, this step is critical for efficiency and precision.

Visit Design Presentation today and fill out the Request Form to get started. Let the experts handle the technical details so you can focus on your creativity.

[brocoffeeengineer]

Top Google Ads Mistakes That Are Burning Your Budget in 2025

Running Google Ads isn’t as simple as setting a budget and hitting “publish.” While the platform is designed to be user-friendly, especially for beginners, it’s also incredibly easy to make costly mistakes—some of which can silently drain your entire budget without producing meaningful results. Whether you're a solo marketer, a growing business, or part of an agency team, identifying and fixing these mistakes is essential if you want to see a return on your investment.

In this blog, we’ll unpack the most common Google Ads mistakes seen in 2025, why they still happen despite smarter algorithms, and how to avoid them by aligning strategy with purpose.

1. Using Broad Match Keywords Without Proper Filters

Broad match keywords sound appealing—they capture a wide range of search queries. But without the right controls, they can lead to irrelevant traffic. For example, bidding on the keyword “marketing software” might show your ad to someone searching “free email tools for students,” which isn't likely to convert if you’re selling enterprise solutions.

Even though Google has refined its AI to improve relevance, in 2025 advertisers still report wasted ad spend due to loosely matched queries. The solution? Layer broad match with strong negative keywords, monitor search term reports weekly, and consider phrase or exact match for higher intent.

2. Ignoring the Power of Negative Keywords

One of the most overlooked settings in Google Ads is negative keywords—terms you don’t want your ad to show for. Many advertisers burn through budgets simply because they forget to exclude low-quality traffic.

Let’s say you run a premium course on personal branding. If you don’t exclude words like “free,” “PDF,” or “cheap,” you’ll be paying for clicks from users looking for resources you don’t even offer. This leads to high bounce rates and low conversions, sending the wrong signals to Google’s bidding engine.

A best practice is to build a dynamic negative keyword list and update it bi-weekly based on actual search queries.

3. Setting It and Forgetting It

Google Ads isn’t a crockpot—you can’t just set it and walk away. Many advertisers launch campaigns and revisit them only after a month, only to realize they’ve wasted most of their budget. In 2025, successful ad managers check performance daily, tweak bids weekly, and optimize creatives bi-weekly based on KPIs.

Smart Bidding may help with automated adjustments, but it still relies on clear objectives and fresh data. If your campaign isn’t learning or adapting fast enough, it’s likely underperforming without your knowledge.

4. Poor Landing Page Experience

An ad click means nothing if the landing page doesn’t convert. Many campaigns fail not because of the ad itself, but due to weak or confusing landing pages. Slow loading times, unclear calls-to-action, or mismatched messaging can all disrupt the user journey.

As of April 2025, Google has updated its ad scoring algorithm to give more weight to landing page experience and relevance. Pages that fail Core Web Vitals standards now see higher CPCs and lower ad rankings, even if the ad content is solid.

The fix?

Ensure mobile responsiveness

Improve page speed (aim for <2 seconds)

Align ad copy with the headline and CTA on your landing page

Track behavior using heatmaps and form analytics

5. Not Using Conversion Tracking Properly

You can’t optimize what you don’t measure. Yet many businesses still run ads without proper conversion tracking in place. Without it, you’re flying blind—you might be getting clicks, but you won’t know if they’re turning into leads or sales.

In 2025, Google has further emphasized Enhanced Conversions and server-side tagging to bridge tracking gaps caused by privacy changes and cookie restrictions. Failing to adopt these technologies means Google won’t have the data needed to optimize bidding and targeting.

Set up Google Tag Manager correctly, enable Enhanced Conversions, and import offline conversions where applicable (like phone calls or in-store purchases).

6. Ignoring Audience Signals

Search intent is powerful, but combining it with audience signals takes your campaigns to the next level. Many advertisers focus solely on keywords and ignore audience layering options like in-market segments, remarketing lists, and affinity groups.

For instance, targeting users already familiar with your brand—such as website visitors or past customers—can result in significantly lower cost-per-acquisition (CPA). Google Ads in 2025 allows for even deeper integration with CRM data, so advertisers can create lookalike audiences or exclude existing customers from prospecting campaigns.

Use audience observations initially, then apply them as targeting filters once performance data validates their value.

7. Misaligned Campaign Goals

Another budget-wasting trap is choosing the wrong campaign objective. If your real goal is leads, but your campaign is set to optimize for traffic, you’ll end up paying for clicks without conversions.

With the increased complexity of Google Ads features like Performance Max, it’s easy to misconfigure goals. Double-check whether you’re optimizing for form fills, purchases, calls, or app installs—whatever directly aligns with your business outcomes.

8. Overreliance on Automation Without Strategy

While Smart Campaigns and Performance Max can deliver good results, overreliance on automation without strategy often leads to underperformance. These campaigns work best when fed with high-quality data, creative assets, and clear objectives.

Marketers who treat automation as a shortcut instead of a tool often ignore performance signals or fail to segment properly. In some cases, advertisers report ad budgets being spent across irrelevant placements—like YouTube channels or apps—that don’t align with their target audience.

Monitor auto-generated placements and asset reports, exclude underperforming ones, and don’t hesitate to take manual control where needed.

The Rise of Skilled Campaign Managers

In fast-growing markets across India, the demand for professionals who can truly manage Google Ads with nuance is rising. More businesses are investing in expert-led ad strategies to avoid these mistakes. For example, cities bustling with startups and agencies are creating stronger training pipelines. Many learners are turning to intensive programs like Digital Marketing Course Mumbai, where campaign optimization, bid strategy, and performance diagnostics are covered in-depth using real-time ad accounts.

Conclusion

Google Ads remains one of the most powerful tools in digital marketing—but only if used wisely. Overspending on irrelevant clicks, neglecting tracking, or letting automation run unchecked can cost you more than just money—it can cost you trust, data accuracy, and growth potential. By understanding these common mistakes and staying proactive with your campaign strategies, you can avoid the pitfalls that trip up even experienced advertisers.

If you're serious about mastering these tactics, joining a digital marketing offline course in Mumbai can help you get the hands-on experience needed to confidently manage campaigns and drive real business results in 2025 and beyond.

[modernmarketingmethods]

How a Digital Marketing Consulting Agency Builds Lead Magnets That Convert

In the digital world, attracting traffic is only half the battle. The real challenge lies in converting that traffic into qualified leads. That’s where lead magnets come into play. A well-crafted lead magnet captures attention, delivers value, and moves prospects into your sales funnel.

For businesses that struggle with lead generation or are unsure where to begin, working with digital marketing consulting firms can be a game changer. A professional digital marketing consulting agency understands not only what kind of lead magnets work best for your target audience but also how to build, promote, and optimize them for maximum conversions.

What Is a Lead Magnet?

A lead magnet is a free resource offered in exchange for a user’s contact information, usually an email address. It is designed to provide immediate value while encouraging prospects to begin a relationship with your brand.

Examples of high-performing lead magnets include:

Ebooks or whitepapers

Industry reports or templates

Webinars or free workshops

Discount codes or coupons

Quizzes or calculators

Free trials or demos

Email courses

A digital marketing consulting agency identifies the format and message that resonates most with your audience to ensure high conversion rates.

Why Lead Magnets Matter More Than Ever

With increased competition in nearly every industry, businesses can no longer rely on passive contact forms or hope that visitors will return. Lead magnets help establish trust, demonstrate value, and initiate long-term engagement.

Effective lead magnets do the following:

Attract qualified traffic

Segment leads based on interest or behavior

Build your email list for future remarketing

Nurture cold audiences into warm prospects

Support long-term content and automation strategies

Digital marketing consulting firms help businesses use lead magnets strategically as part of a larger customer acquisition system.

How Digital Marketing Consulting Agencies Build Lead Magnets That Work

1. Market Research and Audience Analysis

An effective digital marketing consulting agency starts with understanding your audience. This includes their pain points, interests, buying behavior, and objections. Research and data guide every decision, from content format to call-to-action.

Agencies often use tools like Google Analytics, SEMrush, Facebook Audience Insights, and survey tools to identify what your audience values most.

2. Creating High-Value Offers

A good lead magnet solves a specific problem or answers a critical question. Digital marketing consulting firms help you avoid generic or low-impact content and instead develop assets that deliver tangible value.

For example:

A SaaS company may offer a free automation checklist

A fitness brand might create a meal planner PDF

A B2B service could host an industry-specific webinar

The key is relevance and usefulness. Agencies focus on positioning the lead magnet as something people want rather than something you hope they download.

3. Designing for Impact

Visual design plays a huge role in conversion. A digital marketing consulting agency ensures the design is clean, branded, and mobile-friendly. Every asset is built with user experience in mind, including:

Clear headlines

Eye-catching graphics

Simple opt-in forms

Fast load times

Agencies also optimize landing pages where the lead magnet is hosted to reduce friction and increase opt-in rates.

4. Promotion Across Multiple Channels

Even the best lead magnet won’t succeed if no one sees it. Digital marketing consulting firms develop a promotion plan across multiple platforms including:

Paid ads (Google, Meta, LinkedIn)

Social media posts and stories

Blog content with embedded CTAs

Exit-intent popups and banners

Email campaigns to existing subscribers

This multi-channel approach ensures that your lead magnet is seen by the right people at the right time.

5. A/B Testing and Optimization

A digital marketing consulting agency doesn't just launch a lead magnet and hope it works. It continuously tracks performance and runs A/B tests on everything from titles and button text to visuals and layout.

Analytics platforms help monitor:

Conversion rates

Bounce rates

Time on page

CTA performance

These insights allow agencies to improve results over time and ensure consistent lead generation.

6. Integration With CRM and Automation Systems

To make the most of your leads, agencies integrate the lead magnet funnel with tools like HubSpot, ActiveCampaign, Mailchimp, or Salesforce. This ensures leads are automatically added to workflows, tagged correctly, and nurtured through email sequences.

The result is a system that works 24/7 to turn new contacts into paying customers.

Final Thoughts

Lead magnets are a critical component of any digital marketing strategy. They offer value upfront, build trust, and open the door for deeper customer engagement. However, not all lead magnets convert equally.

That’s why working with experienced digital marketing consulting firms can make all the difference. A professional digital marketing consulting agency brings the tools, insights, and strategies needed to craft high-impact offers that generate leads and fuel business growth.

If your current lead generation efforts are falling flat, it’s time to invest in a smarter strategy that works.