The Great WITS World Spins

by Barbara Sharp Milbourn

It’s no secret that giving clients our very best work, honoring their efforts, and seeing them as the fine human beings they are builds relationships that deepen, sweeten, and branch out in time. One day you see a way to connect your clients, one to the other in mutual benefit, and you experience the thrill of the great world spinning perfectly on its axis. I’ve recently enjoyed that day.

In 2008, Yvonne and I were copyediting and proofreading for a number of authors associated with Hal Leonard, a New York publisher. One of my clients was Jeff Rona, a talented musician in Southern California who composes soundtrack music for television and film and other things (see Jeffrona.com).

Out of the blue this year, he contacted me after reading my review on Amazon of WITS’ client Cherie Burbach’s 21 Simple Things You Can Do to Help Someone with Diabetes. His mother had contracted diabetes and there were questions.

Through our e-mail exchange, Jeff shared that he was recently remarried and his wife, a PR executive, was writing a book and might need a little help. I connected directly with her and invited her to share a few pages for evaluation at no charge. She did, and now I will work with her on her completed book proposal before it goes out. (Google Kelly Seal writer and former speed dating host.)

The relationship with the Ronas continued when I asked Jeff to recommend a screenplay writer for one of my non-WITS clients whose poorly ghostwritten book I recently edited and rewrote. (Google Jimmy Eugene On the Journey Back.) Jeff referred an accomplished screenplay writer, complete with bio and list of achievements, which I forwarded to my client’s team. Yesterday I heard things were in forward motion.

As if that were not enough, long-time WITS client, author, adventure travel writer, and nature photographer Linda Ballou (see Lindaballouauthor.com) and I have maintained our author/editor relationship over the years. We began on her historical novel Wainani High Cheifess of Hawaii and met in person after a year or so of working together. We discovered we were soul sisters in our reverence for beauty and the great outdoors. We’ve since completed her Lost Angel Walkabout: One Traveler’s Tales and continue our relationship on day-trip articles she submits regularly to the L.A. Examiner. Recently she dragged from her drawer a novel she wrote years ago for a young adult market. I have read it and we will discuss it when I travel to Southern California in March. On this trip, Linda and the Ronas will meet. Together Jeff, his wife Kelly, Linda, and I will hike Temescal Canyon.

Kelly’s book proposal will fly forth, Linda’s novel will come to fruition, Jimmy Eugene’s (Dr. Jimmy Pollard) book will become of movie, Jeff’s mother will get a handle on her diabetes, and the circle will expand and continue. I extend my special thanks to Yvonne Perry for her early vision of Writers in the Sky.

Barbara Milbourn is a Nashville-based freelance writer and Grammatika-certified editor focused on developmental and copy editing and proofreading. She is a member of Tennessee Writers Alliance, Toastmasters International, Tennessee Native Plants Society, Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Cheekwood, and a local book club. Barbara serves as copy editor, proofreader, or book shepherd to those needing assistance with a preparing a book to be published.

Network with Us March 2011

Limelight Book Review to Launch April 2011


Ink Slinger's Whimsey [ISW,] in association with Writers in the Sky, is always seeking new and innovative ways to assist our clients with their online promotions. The Limelight Book Review is the most recent service directed toward assisting our clients in capitalizing on and utilizing the social media phenomenon created by YouTube.

About the Show

The Limelight Book Review is a weekly, video book review produced by and presented through the Ink Slinger’s Whimsey author promotions blog. Audiences will be introduced to new authors, learn additional and interesting facts about authors they have met before, and enjoy insightful reviews about the latest books on the market.

The focus of the show is to bring positive attention to up and coming or established authors

by . . .

• Sharing author bios and Internet URLs

• Featuring video book reviews with 4 and 5 star ratings

• Placement of video book reviews at http://inkslingerswhimsey.blogspot.com/ , Amazon.com, YouTube, on Videojug.com and other video related social media outlets

• Announcing author promotional and virtual tour campaigns

• Providing authors with video book reviews that can be used for online self promotion through social media

Promotional Offer

Presently, the Limelight Book Review is in the production stages while ISW builds a season of reviews and will launch at http://inkslingerswhimsey.blogspot.com/, in April, 2011.

As part of the promotional build up and preparation for the show's launch, the Limelight Book Review video reviews are being offered free to clients with the purchase of ISW's standard book review and the Writers In The Sky Podcast interview combined services.

Start building your video presence on the Internet by having our video review of your book featured on the Limelight Book Review. Submit your book for a free assessment now as the promotional offer is only good through April 30, 2011.

How Does My Book Become a Featured Review?

Books coming to ISW for written or video review services are assessed for entertainment value or social and cultural significance and literary quality, with grammatical and mechanical consideration. The review services are reserved for books receiving a four to five star rating. There is no charge for the assessment or if a book does not receive a high enough rating to be featured as a written review on the ISW blog or through the Limelight Book Review show.

Authors interested being featured through this promotional opportunity please contact Vonnie Faroqui via Ink Slinger's Whimsey at http://www.ink-slingers-whimsey.com/contact-us.php

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WITS team member Karen Reddick was recently named Executive Director of the Colorado Independent Publishers Association. An organization of over 250 members. Our mission is to help writers and authors self-publish high-quality, industry-standard books. See http://www.cipabooks.com/. Karen is the author of Grammar Done Right! Revised & Expanded 2nd Edition, an easy-to-understand grammar reference for all your grammar, usage, and style questions, and The A-Z Guide: The Best Ways to Work with a Virtual Assistant.

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PURCHASE paperback book, Whose Stuff Is This? Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings,and Energy of Those Around You at http://tinyurl.com/EmpathAmazon. The e-book version is available for Kindle, iPhone, iPad, and other digital reading devices.

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Stephanie Miller is reaching out to Mid-South creative writers to let you know she is taking submission for her environmental art/ deeply ecological horticulture magazine. This is a new magazine, and doesn't pay for submission yet. Check us out here to see if you want to participate in this growing community: http://www.photosynthesismagazine.com/agardenofwords.htm

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“Emotional Balance – Achieving Inner Peace” an uplifting and practical 4-day online event with a panel of 10 world-class speakers on the TRUE nature of energy, emotions, dis-ease, wellness and joy. Here are the time/dates for the telesummit:
Mon Mar 7th, Tues Mar 8th

Wed Mar 9th, Thur Mar 10th

from 2 to 3:30 p.m. EST

Register FREE at: http://emotionalbalance.com/book-launch/telesummit.html

Each of these 90-minute calls will be a truly informative experience with ten of today's leading holistic doctors, healers, authors and speakers on the topics of the connection between energy and emotions and true wellness and dis-ease, including Dr. Eric Pearl, Jason Chan, Doug De Vito, Luis Angel Diaz, Dr Patti Conklin, Dr Ellen Cutler, Steve Taylor and Lissa Coffey. Lynn Serafinn from Spirit Authors will be co-hosting the event.

Even if you can’t make the live broadcast, if you sign up you'll be able to download the audio recording after the event is over.

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Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services is a team of highly-qualified writers and editors with many years of experience in writing for articles, books, ad copy, media releases, PR kits, Web text, biographical sketches, and newsletters. Editing, proofreading, book review, and book evaluation services offered individually and as packages. Find us online at http://www.writersinthesky.com/

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Lost Angel Walkabout-One Traveler’s Tales bagged the Bronze in the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) 2010 competition in the travel Narrative/Guidebook category! This awards competition, now in its 19th year, honors the “best of the best” in travel writing and photography.

“We were extremely pleased with this year’s (500) entries; they were outstanding, both in quality of work and range of coverage, “said Helen Hernandez, CEO of NATJA the second largest travel media association in North America.

NATJA also publishes Travel World International Magazine. Learn more about Linda Ballou, featured author and her winning book Lost Angel Walkabout, in her interview to appear in the spring issue. See http://www.natja.org/

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The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is open to anyone who loves expressing innermost thoughts and feelings into the beautiful art of poetry or writing a story that is worth telling everyone! And to all who have the ability to dream, write a poem or short story for a chance to win cash prizes. All works must be original. Vist the website for details: http://www.dreamquestone.com/



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Leadership Development Expert Karlin Sloan Celebrates Book with Virtual Tour

Business Leader Releases 

UNFEAR –Facing Change in an Era of Uncertainty

Chicago, IL March, 2011, — UNFEAR - Facing Change in an Era of Uncertainty (ISBN: 9781452885858,) had its official book launch on January 20, 2011. The book’s release is being followed by a virtual book tour on the Internet,  launched on March 1, 2011, from Karlin Sloan's Success TV blog with a discussion provoking article about future shock and facing change in an era of uncertainty.
March 2, 2011, the UNFEAR Tour moves on its way to the Internet site of ASuccessfulWoman.com with an article about "Three Steps to Being Complaint Free." ASuccessfulWoman.com will be hosting a four day tour blast you won't want to miss.

The UNFEAR Tour comes to Writers In The Sky's blog on March 7, 2011, with a written question and answer interview and again on March 11, 2011, with an introductory video about the book, UNFEAR Facing Change In an Era of Uncertainty.

This book and the UNFEAR virtual tour have come at a time when people across the U.S. live in fear of unemployment, the unpredictable economy, the threat of terrorism, and political unrest in the middle east that has a global scale impact.  Author, CEO, and leadership development expert Karlin Sloan addresses how to combat these worries in UNFEAR: Facing Change in an Era of Uncertainty.

As a consultant and executive coach, Sloan speaks with powerful corporate leaders every day and, over the years, has seen that many of the people she works with are living with stress and ambiguity.  Managing from a fear-based state affects an individual personally, which can lead to consequences that impede a work team and, in turn, the larger organization. The book inspires readers to make decisions out of hope and purpose, rather than out of fear.

"Many of the assertive, intelligent people I come into contact with are letting fear cripple their decision-making skills," says Sloan. "I wanted to write a book that provides them with useful tools to reduce fear-based behaviors, to inspire performance, and to align their team or greater organization around a larger purpose." 

Using examples from business leaders, including P&G, Walmart, Yahoo!, and LG Electronics, Sloan offers clear, effective, and practical strategies that enhance teamwork and leadership effectiveness regardless of economic uncertainty.

 I just finished my first reading of UNFEAR and I'm deeply moved.  Karlin has done an amazing job of weaving and synthesizing important ideas and concepts in ways that support looking at ourselves, our organizations and our world in fresh, creative ways. UNFEAR is an inspiring and practical guide to facing our fears and taking on creating a world that we want to live in. - Marc Lesser, author of LESS: Accomplishing More by Doing Less

Karlin Sloan’s UNFEAR virtual tour will travel the Internet offering question-and-answer written and radio interviews with the author, blog articles, reviews, book excerpts, and more. 

Each tour stop will explore the concept of UNFEAR, and the four practices taught by Karlin Sloan & Company to executive leaders around the world.  The Karlin Sloan virtual tour for UNFEAR is being produced by Ink Slinger's Whimsey and Writers in the Sky. Visit http://bit.ly/unfearvirtualtour  for further information and a tour schedule.

Karlin Sloan is the founder and CEO of Karlin Sloan & Company, a leadership development firm providing development consultation for national and multinational organizations seeking to advance through enhanced training and executive coaching.  Karlin holds a BA from Mills College, an MA in clinical psychology from the Professional School of Psychology in San Francisco, and executive coach certification through the William James Institute Center for Executive Coaching.

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Limelight Book Review to Launch April 2011

Writers In The Sky, in association with our author promotions partner, Ink Slinger's Whimsey [ISW,] is always seeking new and innovative ways to assist our clients. ISW has an exciting project in production to launch April, 2011, Limelight Book Review, a video book review show. Limelight Book Review is ISW's most recent video service directed toward assisting clients with online promotions through capitalizing on and utilizing the social media phenomenon created by YouTube.

Limelight Book Review to Launch April, 2011

About the Show  

Limelight Book Review is a weekly, video book review produced by and presented through the Ink Slinger’s Whimsey author promotions blog.

Audiences will be introduced to new authors, learn additional and interesting facts about authors they have met before, receive announcements about virtual tours and enjoy insightful reviews about the latest books on the market.

The focus of the show is to bring positive attention to up and coming or established authors by . . .

• Sharing author bios and Internet URLs
• Featuring video book reviews with 4 and 5 star ratings
• Placement of video book reviews at http://inkslingerswhimsey.blogspot.com/ , Amazon.com, YouTube, on Videojug.com and other video related social media outlets
• Announcing author promotional and virtual tour campaigns
• Providing authors with video book reviews that can be used for online self promotion through social media.
 

Promotional Offer

Presently, Limelight Book Review is in the production stages while ISW builds a season of reviews and will launch at http://inkslingerswhimsey.blogspot.com/, in April, 2011.

As part of the promotional build up and preparation for the show's launch, the Limelight Book Review video reviews are being offered free to clients with the purchase of ISW's standard book review and the Writers In The Sky Podcast interview combined services.

Start building your video presence on the Internet by having our video review of your book featured on the Limelight Book Review. Submit your book for a free assessment now as the promotional offer is only good through April 30, 2011.  

How Does My Book Become a Featured Review?

Books coming to ISW for written or video review services are assessed for entertainment value or social and cultural significance and literary quality, with grammatical and mechanical consideration. The review services are reserved for books receiving a four to five star rating. There is no charge for the assessment or if a book does not receive a high enough rating to be featured as a written review on the ISW blog or through the Limelight Book Review show.

Authors interested being featured through this promotional opportunity please contact . . . Vonnie Faroqui, Ink Slinger's Whimsey, Author Promotions Site: http://www.ink-slingers-whimsey.com/

About Vonnie

Vonnie is a freelance writer offering author promotions services through www.Ink-Slingers-Whimsey.com, in close association with Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services [WITS]. Vonnie is an author's assistant for WITS and the primary host for our popular Writers In The Sky Podcast. As the WITS Podcast host she reviews books and makes selections for WITS Podcast interviews.  WITS has been directing clients to Vonnie for author promotions assistance with great success.

The Writers in the Sky Newsletter for March 2011 is Now Ready for PDF Download!

Writers in the Sky’s Newsletter is now ready for PDF download. In this issue, you will find these articles to help you as a writer and author.

The Great WITS World Spins
Musings from the Edge of Freelancia
Formatting and Typesetting Are Not The Same Thing
Using PR and Social Media
We Are One in Spirit Podcast Schedule
Authors Must Learn To Sell What They Write
WITS Book Reviews for March 2011
WITS Announcements

Click March 2011 link at http://writersinthesky.com/writing-newsletter.html to get this issue.

We Are One In Spirit Podcast Schedule

Swami Kriyananda will be joining Yvonne Perry on March 3. Swami is a prolific and internationally regarded author, speaker, accomplished composer, playwright, artist, and world-renowned spiritual teacher. Swami refers to himself simply as “a humble disciple” of the great spiritual leader Paramhansa Yogananda. And indeed that humility is the most striking aspect of a man widely recognized as one of the world’s foremost wisdom teachers and authorities on meditation and yoga, and the last disciple of Yogananda still teaching in public life. It was in meeting Yogananda at the age of 22, that Kriyananda, then J. Donald Walters, found his path. Swami Kriyananda, 84, continues to lecture around the world on spiritual matters, in particular the teachings of his Master.

On March 10, Gene Skaggs will be sharing uplifting spiritual insight in a discussion about messages from the afterlife. Gene has been a student of A Course in Miracles since 1979, and has written four books on the course titled: A Beginner's Glossary to a Course in Miracles, The Relationship Game Changing the Rules, 101 Questions and Answers on the Course, and Biblical Quotes from the Course Reinterpreted. His latest book, Anderson Speaks, tells a story that began August 6, 2009, when at the age of 22, Gene’s son, Anderson, laid his body down. The next day, Anderson gave his father numerous messages from the afterlife.

Janice Mickle will be sharing uplifting spiritual insight in a discussion about shamanic healing, energetic healing work, and spiritual counseling on March 24. Janice provides shamanic healing, energetic healing work, and spiritual counseling to provide clients with an integrated approach to spiritual healing and well-being. Janice founded Antara Foundation, a progressive healing community, in 2002 in Nashville, Tennessee. She offers individual and group instruction in Reiki (Energetic Healing), Medicine for the Earth, shamanic journeying, and other spiritual-guided teachings. She also provides individual healing and spiritual counseling sessions.



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Whose Stuff Is This?

My new book Whose Stuff Is This? Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings,and Energy of Those Around You is now available in three formats:

1. A a paperback book on Amazon.com and CreateSpace.com.
2. As a digital download for Kindle, iPhone, iPad, and other digital reading devices.
3. As a PDF. Click the Buy Now button (below), log in to your PayPal account, and receive instructions for downloading the e-book to your computer.

Here is a video to let you know what the book is about and what others are saying about it. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think of it.

You Can Judge a Book By Its Cover

By Yvonne Perry

The cover of your book is not just an artistic rendering. It is a marketing piece and should give some idea of what the book is about. Special consideration needs to go in to the art and the overall design.

Many publishing companies offer template book covers that you can modify by substituting a stock photo or changing colors, but to me this important marketing piece needs to be personalized in order to be as effective as possible.

I love Hayley John's artwork! This high school student is such a joy to work within the creation of art for the cover of my two latest books. I sent her a couple of articles about empathy and a picture I found online to give her an idea of what the book was going to be about, and she conceptualized the girl on the cover of Whose Stuff Is This?

She also created the collage from the illustrations she did for several of the stories in my children's book, The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children.

I've asked Hayley to answer a few questions for those who are interested in her work.

YVONNE: How did you come up with the idea for the art cover for this book?
HAYLEY: I was given the general idea of a girl showing both happy and sad emotions and an example of what Yvonne wanted. At first I was considering putting the two emotions in different faces but I realized it might not display the right idea so I decided upon giving the girl tears and a smile to show her different emotions.

YVONNE: What programs did you use to create the piece?
HAYLEY: Originally the piece was done with colored pencils in my sketchbook. I then transferred the image to my computer were I used a photo editing program called GIMP to finish my creation.

YVONNE: How long does it take to create something like this?
HAYLEY: I spent about two hours on the original colored pencil part and about four more with the editing program.

YVONNE: Where are you studying art?
HAYLEY: I'm not taking any art classes right now.

YVONNE: Do you plan to continue your art studies after graduation?
HAYLEY: Yes I do. I love art and fully enjoy using my creativity. Everything artistic is my passion! Although I enjoy art too much to let it go, I want it to be more of a side job because of the inconsistency of the pay.

YVONNE: Are you available to other authors who need cover art for their books?
HAYLEY: YES! I would love to take more jobs for anyone interested! You may contact me at http://www.wix.com/hayleys_custom_art/ Thank you.

PR: Virtual Book Tour to Teach Highly-sensitive People How to Avoid Being Detrimentally Affected by Energy Overload

Yvonne Perry’s book, WHOSE STUFF IS THIS? Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings, and Energy of Those Around You, launches with a virtual book tour during the month of March.

NASHVILLE, TN February 20, 2010 — Anywhere there is a crowd of people, there is abundant energy, both positive and negative. Those who assist with victim protection, do police or detective work, have served in war zones, operate as healers, clergy members, or psychics, have careers at hospitals, clinics, or hospice centers deal with an overload of emotional energy. Many of them feel depleted, overwhelmed, nervous, depressed, or angry; they may feel as though someone is watching or following them; they may hear voices, see shadows, or have a difficult time finding mental or emotional peace. Many of these individuals know that something is not quite “normal” since not everyone is adversely affected by going into public and not everyone picks up on the thoughts, feelings, or pain of those around them to such a degree. They may not know they are carrying or attaching to someone else’s energy, but would love to stop the emotional, physical, and mental turmoil they encounter on a regular basis.

For those who experience this type of intuitive or empathic fatigue, Yvonne Perry’s book, WHOSE STUFF IS THIS? Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings, and Energy of Those Around You, provides spiritual exercises and information to help sensitive people distinguish their personal energy from that of another person; clear their energy field; raise their vibration; shield themselves from detrimental energy; and find relief from emotional storms and empathic fatigue.

“Being a well-developed empathic or intuitive person does not mean you have to stop showing compassion. Quite the contrary,” writes Nashville author Yvonne Perry in her new book. “But an empath must begin to care for their own needs before they can learn to use their intuitive ability as a tool for guidance without paying a personal price.”

With a foreword and a chapter contributed by psychotherapist, Dr. Caron B. Goode, ED.D., NCC, DAPA, this book provides a fresh perspective on the psychological aspect of empathy and intuition.

“Some of the characteristics that empaths display can also be diagnosed as ADD, agoraphobia, bipolar disorder, or clinical depression,” says Dr. Goode. “Most doctors and counselors are not aware that empathy fatigue exists, much less how to treat it, but this intuitive overload is a very real problem to energy-sensitive people.” Caron is the author of The Art and Science of Coaching Parents, Raising Intuitive Children, and Kids Who See Ghosts - Guide Them Through Their Fears.

Every sensitive person, regardless of how they come to interact with negative energy, could benefit from your book and learning how to detach and screen out the emotions and pain of others while remaining compassionate and effective as a healer or friend, mother, or coworker.” says Denise Demaras, an artist and holistic spiritual health counselor, who endorsed the book. “So many people don't understand how or even notice the effect that others have on their moods or health. Suddenly they are mean and cranky, sad or sick, every time they are in the company of a certain person.”

From February 28 through March 28, Yvonne plans to be a guest on more than twenty blogs where she will post helpful material. From how and why she wrote and published the book, to informative articles on empathy, intuition, spiritual/psychic gifts, and exercises to help energy-sensitive people clear and protect their auric fields, all visitors will read something new each day as they follow the tour from blog to blog. Audio clips, YouTube videos, written interviews, radio interviews, book excerpts, and media releases are also planned in the lineup. Yvonne will be available at each blog for readers to ask questions. See the tour schedule at http://tinyurl.com/EmpathTour.

About:

Yvonne is a graduate of American Institute of Holistic Theology where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Metaphysics. For forty years she was enmeshed with the dogma of religion that her family and church leaders passed down to her. Before she had a label for her empathetic ability, she called herself a prayer warrior. While praying for others she took on their suffering until it severely challenged her emotional and physical well-being. Embracing a different path and belief system, she now openly uses the gift of empathy to help others heal their lives. See http://WhoseStuffIsThis.com for more information or purchase the book on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/EmpathAmazon.

###

Contact:
Yvonne Perry
Phone: (615) 415-9861
Yvonne@WhoseStuffIsThis.com

Yvonne Perry's Virtual Book Tour

During the next few weeks, I will be participating in a book tour for my new book, Whose Stuff Is This? Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings, and Energy of Those Around You.

Are you an empath picking up on the detrimental thoughts, emotions, and attitudes of others? This book is for those who carry energetic burdens that belong to someone else. With more than two dozen proven and effective ways to clear your energy field, this guide employs empowering, proactive techniques to manage your energy and recover from empathy fatigue. With a chapter on the psychology of empathy by Dr. Caron Goode, this book presents the personal story of how I found freedom as I developed my intuition and healed my mind, emotions, and body.

This online blog tour is open to the public and you are cordially invited to come along with me as I drop by more than twenty blogs between February 28 and March 28. At each stop, there will be different material to peruse such as video clips, question-and-answer interviews, links to radio interviews, book excerpts, media releases, and content-rich articles about the impact that begin too empathetic can have on energy-sensitive people.
Topics include the following:

• Authors Must Learn to Sell What They Write
• Clearing Your Energy Field
• Detaching Politely Before You Reach Your Limit
• Empathic Babies, Children, and Teens
• How I Published My Book on Empathy Fatigue
• Identifying Your Own Energy
• Setting Boundaries with People
• Stories from an Empath
• Why I Wrote a Book for Empaths
• 5 Steps for Developing Your Intuition
• Characteristics of an Untrained Empath
• Difference Between Empathy and Intuition, The
• Excerpts from the book
• Gift of Intuition Reveals a Sister’s Secret, The
• Influence Ghosts Have Upon Human Emotions, The
• Make the Voices Stop!
• Psychology of Empathy, The
• Question and Answer Interview with the Author
• Temper Tantrums ~ An Opportunity to Teach Your Child How to Process Emotions
• There’s a Ghost in Our House. Can We Keep Him?
• Understanding Empathy
• What Is an Empath?
• When Fear Turns into an Anxiety Problem
• Why I Chose to Self-publish My Book About Empathic Overload

Learn more about this book at http://Whosestuffisthis.com

Here is the tour schedule:
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• Join the pre-tour warm-up on Wednesday, February 23 as Dr. Caron Goode and Yvonne Perry chat with @LynnSerafinn on Garden of the Soul Radio at 6 p.m. UK Time, 1 p.m. Eastern Time.
• Another running start for the tour is on Saturday, February 26 Joyce Shafer will share an article in her State of Appreciation Newsletter: http://stateofappreciation.webs.com// Follow @JoyceShafer.
• Monday, February 28 - The Shift Guru Barbara Joye will host an article by Yvonne titled "5 Steps for Developing your Intuition" http://shiftguru.wordpress.com/. Follow @TheShiftGuru.
• Tuesday, March 1 - Joanne Sprott (@muselady11) will host Yvonne on Beyond Words Radio Show at Believe in the Moment radio http://www.believeinthemoment.com/bitm-radio.html.
• Wednesday, March 2 - Carol Denbow (@author101) will share an article titled “Why Yvonne wrote the book” on her blog, A Book Inside http://abookinside.blogspot.com/.
• Thursday, March 3- @positivepresent Dani will post an article: "Psychology of Empathy" on her blog, Positively Present http://www.positivelypresent.com/.
• Friday, March 4 - Irene Conlan @ieconlan has an article: "Setting Boundaries with People" to share on The Self Improvement Blog.
• Saturday, March 5 - Shelagh Jones @SpiritusShelagh will be hosting an audio interview with Yvonne for her Spiritus blog.
• Sunday, March 6 - Penny Ehrenkranz @pennyehrenkranz Article: "How Yvonne Published the Book" on One Writer's Journey http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/
• Monday, March 7 - Doreen Pendgracs @wizardofwords will be sharing an article from Yvonne titled: "Why I Chose to Self-publish My Book About Empathic Overload." See http://doreenisthewizardofwords.blogspot.com/
• Tuesday, March 8 - Nickolove Lovemore @nickolove Skyline Coaching Blog http://www.skylinecoachingblog.com/ has a video clip, an excerpt from the book, an article “Clearing Your Energy Field,” and a book review.
• Wednesday, March 9 - Callie Carling @moonpoppy shares a video, book review, and article on her blog, Empowered Healer http://www.empoweredhealer.co.uk/
• Thursday, March 10 - Irene Conlan (@ieconlan) hosts Yvonne on The Self Improvement Radio Show.
• Friday, March 11 - Dr. Caron Goode @parent_coach shares an interview with Yvonne & a video on the Academy for Coaching Parents International http://academyforcoachingparents.com/blog/
• Saturday, March 12 - Dr. Caron Goode will be joining Shelagh Jones @SpiritusShelagh for an audio interview about the psychology of empathy. See Spiritus blog.
• Monday, March 14 - Soulmate Coach Crystal @soulmatecoachc shares an article about detaching politely http://www.soulmatecoachcrystal.blogspot.com/
• Tuesday, March 15 - Lisa Jackson @lisajjackson shares her question & answer interview on Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/
• Wednesday, March 16 - Pat Bertram @PatBertram has an article, “ Stories from an Empath,” on Dragon My Feet: http://dragonmyfeet.wordpress.com/
• Thursday, March 17 has two stops: Elizabeth Bennett @PeerAbuse will post an article: “Empathy in Children and Teens” on http://www.peerabuse.blogspot.com/ AND Barbara Techel @joyfulpaws shares a YouTube video on Joyful Paws http://www.joyfulpaws.typepad.com/
• Friday, March 18 - Barbara Joye (@TheShiftGuru) will share her interview with Yvonne on her Creative Cafe Radio Show: www.blogtalkradio.com/shiftguru.
• Monday, March 21 - Reno Lovison Marketing Communications Services presents an article “Authors Must Learn to Sell What They Write” on his Business Card to Business Blog: http://businesscardtobusiness.com/blog. Follow @renoweb
• Tuesday, March 22 - Anne Lyken-Garner @esther96 has a media release on http://www.abloggersbooks.com/
• Wednesday, March 23 - Dr. Caron Goode @parent_coach presents a book excerpt and press release on her blog, Kids Who See Ghosts http://kidswhoseeghosts.com/blog/.
• Thursday, March 24 - Faith Ranoli interviews Yvonne on @positiveradio Heart and Home Radio Show http://healthylife.net/RadioShow/archiveHH.htm
• Friday, March 25 - Vonnie Faroqui @inkslngrswhmz has an article on Ink Slinger's Whimsey blog http://inkslingerswhimsey.blogspot.com/
• Monday, March 28 - Dr. Caron Goode @parent_coach shares a book excerpt on Raising Intuitive Children blog http://raisingintuitivechildren.com/blog/.

Authors: Wondering How Long Your Book Should Be?

by Joel Friedlander

Almost by definition, authors who decide to self-publish a book are new amateurs in the book world. Because of that, they often have expectations and reactions to books that aren’t conditioned by long-term exposure to “how the sausage is made.”

For instance, I just completed a large project that had to go back to editorial after the book had been laid out. Why let yourself in for that kind of added expense, you ask? Because the author considered the book too long. His perception was that people would not buy a book over 400 pages.

Where does this expectation come from? Most likely from the author’s own preferences, don’t you think? If you won’t buy a book over 400 pages because it puts you to sleep to think of reading the whole thing, then you might naturally assume that others feel the same way.

I’ve had the same request—to reduce the size or page count of a book after its been laid out—from people publishing business books. There, the perception is that busy business people will not buy books over 250 pages because, after all, they don’t have time for that. They’re busy, you’ve got to give them the message and get moving.

In fact, 9 of the top 10 best selling business books on Amazon are between 192 and 240 pages, considered the “sweet spot” for business books. Long enough to be taken seriously, short enough to appear to be a quick read, regardless of how many actual words are in the manuscript.

The Other Side of the Dilemma

Even more common is the author who is dismayed when she finds out the manuscript she’s labored over will set up very nicely to create a 160-page book.

What’s the matter with a 160-page book, you ask? Here are some of the things authors have said to me over the years:

 It’s not thick enough.

 The spine is very thin.

 It has no “heft” and doesn’t feel like a book.

 It won’t be taken seriously.

 It won’t be seen as being worth the price.

Of course, all the authors who said these things were really telling me about their own expectations about books. Since they have no experience publishing, marketing or selling books, these opinions are almost completely based on “gut feelings,” “instincts” or “what my friends said.”

Another Take on the Whole Matter

While there may be niches in which book length is a critical factor in the success of a book, they must be rare.

The length of the book and the way it’s presented, the entire “package” that makes up the book including the title, the cover graphics, the backstory used to sell the book, all should come from the work itself. The length of the book is not that important. What you want is a really good book that’s exactly as long as it needs to be.

One of the books that changed my life was Healing Back Pain by John Sarno, MD. In it, Dr. Sarno lays out his case for the cause of most of the back pain his patients experience. It’s a brilliant, focused, diagnostic piece of writing.

I mean diagnostic because, as Dr. Sarno says, there’s only one way to determine whether you can be helped by his method: if you believe his diagnosis. His book brilliantly creates the condition for this diagnosis in reading the book. In fact, the book is most effective as a tool if it’s given to people who are in pain when they are reading it.

But that’s beside the point. What I’m getting at is this: the whole exposition in the book takes 84 pages. Now, you can’t publish an 84-page paperback if you’re a major publisher, so it appears to an outsider that the editor on the project in concert with the author “fleshed out” the rest of the book with random essays on the mind-body problem in medicine and other material.

But it’s completely unnecessary, and the book would have been as good—better, in my mind—if it had been left with the simple, straightforward 84 pages that are the heart of the book.

On the other hand, a book can “go long” as far as it wants, as long as it keeps providing useful information, or keeps us interested. Long novels can be glorious, involving, don’t-want-it-to-end experiences. And nonfiction that’s compelling, interesting, informative can captivate for hundreds of pages. This requires some skill at writing, understanding your audience and having a good editor.

So why put our prejudices in charge of book production? Although we want to be guided by what others are doing in our genre, these guidelines are a lot looser than you might think. A quality book sets its own rules.

Let that book live its life. It deserves it.

Joel Friedlander is a self-published author, a book designer and blogs about book design, self-publishing and the indie publishing life at TheBookDesigner.com. He's also the proprietor of Marin Bookworks, where he helps publishers and authors who decide to publish get to market on time and on budget with books that are both properly constructed and beautiful to read.

The Nashville Writers Meetup Group Blog Writers

Yvonne Perry will be a panelist for the Nashville Writers Meetup group to discuss the topic and field questions about "How to Use a Blog to Promote Your Book and Your Platform."

Saturday, February 26, 2011
3:00 PM
Where: Way Solutions at CoLab - 230 4th Avenue North Suite 105, (Nashville TN) in CoLab space. This is between Church and Union, directly across the street from the Arcade. Parking is typically available on the street, but parking meters and garages do cost some money.

Learn from Scott McIntosh, Yvonne Perry, Lori Wescott, and Michael Turner how blogging can be used to promote your book and your platform.

Scott McIntosh is the President of MusikPitch and also runs the NashvilleTech meet-up and teaching group, http://www.nashvilletech.info . Scott speaks frequently about social media trends and is the author of GOOGLE JUICE, a book helping anyone get better online results - available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or at http://www.GoogleJuice.co . For a full bio, connect with Scott on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmcintosh .

Yvonne Perry is a freelance writer, avid blogger, podcast host, public speaker, and the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services http://writersinthesky.com/index.html . She is the author of THE SID SERIES--A COLLECTION OF HOLISTIC STORIES FOR CHILDREN http://thesidseries.com/ and MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE: TRUE STORIES ABOUT DEATH, DYING, AND AFTERLIFE http://deathdyingafterlife.blogspot.com/. Yvonne recently released, WHOSE STUFF IS THIS?: FINDING FREEDOM FROM THE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, AND ENERGY OF THOSE AROUND YOU http://whosestuffisthis.blogspot.com, a book to help people who unknowingly carry the energetic burdens of others. Connect with Yvonne on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonneperry .

Lori Wescott is a humorist for the MURFREESBORO NEWS PRESS and author of the humor blog, LORIPALOOZA: WHERE FUNNY ROCKS! Her work has also appeared in CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL: FAMILY MATTERS. Follow her blog at http://www.Loripalooza.com , and connect with her on Twitter @LoriWescott

Michael Turner is the organizer of the Nashville Writers Meetup and the Nashville Grammar and Writing Meetup. His blog, ScholarshipMan, provides scholarship information to those who wish to go to college debt-free and advertises his book, THE S.E.C.R.E.T. METHOD TO WINNING THE SCHOLARSHIP GAME: 55 SECRETS FOR FINANCING YOUR COLLEGE EDUCATION AT LITTLE OR NO COST. See his blog, http://scholarshipman.blogspot.com/ and his book, http://bit.ly/8fiq6K .

We want to thank Jennifer Way for the donation of her space for our meeting. Jennifer Way is the founder of Way Solutions, a hiring strategy company. They provide resources, tools and education to job seekers and companies to create the best hiring experience from both perspectives. Their services result in a higher quality workforce that costs less for the company and more career development opportunities for the individual. More information about Way Solutions: http://www.waysolutions.com/

Hire an Editor to Make Your Message Even Stronger

By Sarah Moore

I am the type of person, admittedly annoying to some, who edits herself in any instance of communication. I proofread my text messages, amend comments I leave on Facebook pages, and sometimes even correct my own mental brainstorming. In my defense, though, I am never one to correct the grammatical errors I read from others. That is, unless they ask me to take up my actual or virtual red pen and transfer my obsession to their work.

I believe that every piece of writing shares the artistry of musical compositions. Its lyrics should have a rhythm and progression that seamlessly present a story to the readers. Every time I edit work for a client, whether it is a short blog post or a 350-page manuscript, I read each paragraph silently and also out loud. I engage all of my senses into producing the best possible work for the author who has trusted me to make his or her personal expression the strongest it can be.

Maybe you have spent weeks or even months reading and re-reading your book manuscript, admission essay for graduate school, article for a professional publication, or Website material. It may be time for a set of fresh eyes to catch the small mistakes and maybe help make your phrasing or dialogue more effective and professional.

You could just need a copy edit, through which I correct errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics and make notes where there may be a better word choice or a cleaner transition. Or, perhaps a developmental edit can benefit you. In this instance, I will offer a deeper analysis concerning the content of your material and even rewrite sections where necessary.

If you feel that your work could use the eyes of a professional editor, please contact me and let’s discuss how I may be able to help you.

Sarah Moore is the author’s assistant for Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services. She has nearly a decade of experience in higher education administration, having worked at University of Maryland, Boston University, and Middle Tennessee State University. In addition to her administrative responsibilities, she taught research and writing courses at these institutions. Sarah also taught high school government and history for several years, and always included a strong emphasis on writing in her students’ assignments. Sarah was raised just outside of Washington, D.C., but has called Nashville home for nearly eight years and enjoys life there with her two young children. http://www.writersinthesky.com

Poetry Corner February 2011

Perhaps to Dream

by Dennis S. Martin


Do I want?
Will I go?
Could it be?
Might I know?
In my sleep,
In my mind
Thoughts abandon
Fleeting time.
Rounding corners
To arrive in
Places where
Sweet hope survives.

Softly sliding
Into slumber
Where no fearful
Giants lumber.
Lying by her
Gentle stream
In solitude…
Perhaps to dream.

Website: http://www.iwritesome.com/
Lulu Storefront: http://www.lulu.com/dsmartin
Plays: http://sites.google.com/site/playsbydennissmartin/


From Snap to Clink


By John D Wilkinson

The distance from snap to clink is not very far
You could walk there from here
Snap woke me up about 11 o’clock
To wrench my cell phone away and chuck it to the weeds
Clink showed up later to tell me how it is…
Thank the gods my kids are still sleeping
Snap told her story while I sat on my hands
And the bruises from the kicks still pained me
Clink walked me out to his used paddy wagon
Then cuffed me in front of my neighbor’s house
Snap went to sleep on the California King
With a leather, sleigh-bed frame

Clink drove me down on a two-minute ride
To my one room windowless apartment
The distance from snap to clink is not very far
You could walk there from here


With the Ancients


by John D. Wilkinson


Moonrise at the ‘Weep
is a beautiful sight

The light rolls down the mountainside
and fills up the night

I pull out my stones
to bask in the glow

Praying for guidance
from those in the know

Up with the dawn
I circle the cliffs

With the still morning’s calm
and sweet Juniper whiffs

A red squirrel has scaled
the Old castle wall

To listen for hawks
or maybe a squall

But only mother crow
has come to alight

Drying her feathers
preparing for flight

A young male shows off
his dips and his dives

His circular spans
tracing multiple lives

I see them now together
way up on the breeze

Alone but forever
criss-crossing with ease

Yearning to touch them
to climb up the wind
I run to the Hopi
and find my new end…



Hot Sauce

By John Wilkinson


A nation of habituation
Enlightened by diode
Mother’s and Father’s with children and dogs
Helmets and leashes, electric and otherwise
Everyone has ruptured the bank
Nobody cares
Plowmen run for the fields and miners delve deeper
I see few windmills and solar cells

Shoppers to market with nu-clear plastic
Not hardly
Shuffling forward in clown shoes
Stalking about in heeled boots

Spring promptly fools Winter
Winter cheats Spring Her mountaintops
Oblivious robins taunt the gelid wind
Rugged ruffled breasts and white ringed tails
Catharsis reigns with a cob-webbed scepter
The heartless bow
Old ways thrash about in their shrinking pools
Teeth gnashing at the rapidly drying air
The selfishness of business and parenthood
Addiction and arrogance
Compassion and understanding
Square off on the threshing floors
It is what it is

The balloon-heads of state
All filled with jelly
Expound and rant about the lifting of the veils
It is all too clear the rift is insurmountable

Only stiff wind can erode this false edifice
These ridiculous Doric spindles of marble and gilt
Bullet-proof limos creep along patriotic streets

Hold on folks, hold on

In the ‘cradle’ infants wail
About what
Ten thousand years could not tell the story
Flower sap and sticky hearts

And the blaring boxes go on
Here, there and everywhere
Catching us up
Sweeping out the corners

Old friends reconnect and listen intently
Pretense begins to fade
Means and ends lose their luster
Against the rays of the Sun
Birds chirp and soar
Trees spin their loving branches to the limitless sky
No one asks why
Breath flows in deep and exhales come long and low

The moose are in the local marsh
Up to their kneecaps in the muck
Children point with great excitement
Some fear, some gape in awe

To the salt mines we ramble
Thanking gods and stars
For our enslavement
At least this
Her lithe arm
Draped across my belly
Her essence in my nostrils
Upon my tongue
Like Azorean mist I’ve never tasted
Flavors I long to know
Have always known

Just this

John D Wilkinson II has been living in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado for thirty-three years and has called Steamboat Springs home for nearly nine of those. His third book, ‘Breakfast Ketchup with Hot Sauce Too.’ has been well-received locally, nationally and overseas. His work is best described as Bukowski meets Silverstein meets Whitman, in a greasy diner with bad service, for a morning palette cleanse. Copies of the book are available at both Epilogue Book Co. (970) 879-2665 and 'OTBP; (970) 879-6830.

Frozen
by Dennis S Martin



Could I but capture this blissful moment
Frozen in time, I would.
Were you to bait my soul to surrender,
It would be well understood.

Seeking caresses of your midnight flower
Leaves me in ecstasy’s wake
Taunting my senses to new heights of freedom,
Challenging to elevate.

I was but callow, shallow, emotionless
Prior to the being of you.
Fighting off daylight, shrinking to midnight,
Living in deep shades of blue.

You are my gulf stream, killing off icebergs,
Leading me to pristine shore.
All that my frozen heart needed to thaw.
Filled…
Never wanting for more.


Website: http://www.iwritesome.com/
Lulu Storefront: http://www.lulu.com/dsmartin
Plays: http://sites.google.com/site/playsbydennissmartin/

6 Things I Love—and Hate—About Self-Publishing

by Joel Friedlander

Did you ever feel like you lived on both sides of a border, an issue, a trend?

1. I love self-publishing because of the absolute finality of the process. At the end, you are left with a book in your hand, one that will probably outlast you and most of the people you know. There aren’t many occupations where you get to leave such a tangible mark, where you can hold the results of your hard work and your investment of time, money and attention.

But . . . when I cruise writer’s websites I’m reminded of just how much I dislike the prejudice that persists in many parts of the publishing world against authors who decide to publisher their own books. Despite the explosive growth of self-publishing, the invasion of a tradition-bound industry by the indie spirit, many writers continue to heap scorn on self-published authors. Even more infuriating is the obvious ignorance about self-publishing that these writers exhibit in their comments.

2. I love the creative expression that self-publishing provides to the entrepreneurial author. It’s an old truism that the power of the press belongs to the person who owns the press. Modern self-publishing has taken this idea to an extreme. Now, you only have to own a computer with an internet connection to “own the printing press.” A writer who wants to share her work with others, or to profit by selling directly to interested readers, has a significant amount of influence that was unavailable before.

But . . . many writers have used this power to publish unreadable, unresearched, and uninteresting books that nobody will read, let alone buy. For many of these books, this didn’t have to happen. Like everyone else, authors can be lazy, prejudiced, inept, or close-minded, and self-publishing brings more of these books into existence.

3. I love how when you self-publish you get to decide what your book is called, what it will cost, what it will look like, when it will be published, and how you will sell it. Do you want a book with a completely black cover, 5″ x 8″ and with 700 pages? Hey, why not? There’s nobody to tell you not to do it, and the expense involved can be held to such a low level that there’s no reason not to experiment with what you think might be of interest to your readers. I love that the freedom to make these decisions is in the hands of authors.

But . . . it amazes me that fear and elitism continue to rule many writers’ ideas about publication. I can’t tell you how often, reading a writer’s blog or a discussion of publishing, that I’ve come across this sentiment: “Well, if I keep getting rejected, it means I’m not ready for publication. Agents and editors are the best judges of what should and shouldn’t be published and, if I never get an acceptance, I’ll just accept that my work was never good enough, and that’s okay with me.” And every time, it leaves me heartbroken.

How did we learn to hand so much power over our creative life to someone else? This kind of respectful timidity has condemned many writers to a life of frustration. I want to grab them by the shoulders, give them a big shake, and tell them “Wake up! It’s not the 19th century any more. Publish your book and let the dictators be damned. If you sell a bunch of copies, they will line up at your door. You are the creative one, you are the content creator, the idea generator. Don’t give up your autonomy so quickly!”
4. I love when there’s a close collaboration between an author and the publishing professionals they bring in to help get their book to market. Skilled editors, designers, printers and marketers in the service of a clear concept and a sound marketing strategy can produce truly unusual and valuable books that might never have seen the light of day from a traditional publisher. I love being involved in these projects, where the author has determined to put out a book that competes with the best books coming from big publishers.
But . . . it’s still true that self-publishers can’t match the distribution power of a traditional publishing house, and the entire book distribution system is geared toward only the books of big publishers and well-established niche publishers with a line of books. I hate the way the distribution system works—and I’m not alone on this—to make the bookstores of America into a vast consignment operation, where your book, if it doesn’t sell in a few weeks, is likely to get returned to your warehouse (or your garage) with barely time for the ink to dry.

The “blockbuster” mentality can only work for big companies with deep pockets who are willing to make big bets. The careful, community-nurturing, personal type of publishing that works for self-publishers has virtually no home in the book distribution system, and that’s a shame.

5. I love the digital printing revolution and the print-on-demand distribution model that have produced such big benefits for self-publishers. This technology has allowed thousands of people to publish a book with almost no financial risk, and without the depressing sight of their garage filled with unsold books in aging cardboard cartons.
Print on demand has done more for self-publishing than any other innovation to date, and I love the ability to quickly and economically issue a book. We can respond quickly to events in our niche, or simply experiment with content focus, size, cover graphics and other parts of the product cycle because the risk and financial exposure of printing books has been almost eliminated.
But . . . when authors go looking for a way to get their book into print, all too often they are seduced by misleading or downright fraudulent advertising by the industry that’s sprung up to sell services to these authors. So-called “self-publishing companies” sell inflated “packages” of services, of unknown quality to unsuspecting authors who are confused about the process of publishing or unwilling to take the time to educate themselves about the difference between a book printer and a subsidy publisher.

Although there are reputable and enthusiastic subsidy houses if you look for them, the biggest operators seem to capture all the advertising space and media attention, leading even more authors into the clutches of what may well become an expensive, restrictive and frustrating publishing situation that can be hard to disengage from.

6. I love the ability to take ideas you’ve been thinking about for many years and translate them into a medium that can be read and appreciated by any interested person. I love the power it gives to thinkers and writers to spread their concepts and solutions to problems. Without having to survive the rigors of querying agents, or the year or two of waiting until your book comes out, you can take an edited and prepared manuscript to print in a matter of weeks.

But . . . many of the authors who’ve decided to “let someone else do it” and ended up at one of the less palatable subsidy publishers often have reason to regret their decision in the first place. Having dealt with authors who got substandard editing, lackluster book design and book prices that doomed their book as unsaleable, these authors sometimes come to the conclusion that they never should have started at all, and that’s a shame.
Even the self-publishers who want to migrate to a better supplier have a hard time escaping the subsidy publisher when they find out they cannot get their cover artwork, even if they paid for it, or request a PDF of the book interior to use elsewhere, and find their subsidy publisher will only supply them with a “watermarked” version that will need substantial work before it can be used for book production. That’s just mean, and I hate it when it happens to unsuspecting authors whose only crime was to skip a bit of homework, or who got taken in by hyped-up marketing.

What About You?

Having been a self-published author, a publisher of other authors’ books and a book producer designing and helping authors bring their books to market, I’ve seen the best outcomes, and some of the worst. There’s a lot to love about self-publishing, and a lot to hate.

What would you add to my list?


Joel Friedlander is a self-published author, a book designer and blogs about book design, self-publishing and the indie publishing life at TheBookDesigner.com. He's also the proprietor of Marin Bookworks, where he helps publishers and authors who decide to publish get to market on time and on budget with books that are both properly constructed and beautiful to read.

Nashville Author Shares Methods to Help Highly-sensitive People Shield Themselves from Detrimental Energy

Humans are connected in many ways: the air we breathe, our basic needs and physiology, and energetically/spiritually. No one feels the power of this connection more than the energy-sensitive people, known as empaths, who unknowingly pick up on the detrimental thoughts, feelings, and even the illnesses of others and their environment. Many carry this negativity as if it were their own. In fact, some empaths are so burdened with the energy of others, they are no longer aware of what their own energy feels like. Mysterious illnesses, anxiety attacks, hearing voices, seeing shadows, feeling negative, fearful, anger, or having an impending sense of dread,— you name it, they feel it. And most empathic people have no idea where this stuff is coming from.

“Around your physical body, there is a magnetic shield of energy known as your aura. Its purpose is to provide protection and gather energy and information as you interface with your environment. In grade school, we were taught to keep our hands to ourselves. The same is true with the energy field surrounding our body,” writes Nashville author Yvonne Perry in her new book, WHOSE STUFF IS THIS? Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings, and Energy of Those Around You.“Ideally, your energy field should be kept two to three feet from your body, but many untrained empaths unknowingly allow their aura to extend and blend with the energy fields of others who have lax boundaries around their auras. When empathic people tap into the thoughts or emotional impulses of another person, the intuitive gift of empathy (much stronger than heart-felt compassion) reaches in and absorbs energy in an effort to heal or ‘fix’ whatever is out of sync. In doing so, the empath can become contaminated with unhealthy energy. Unfortunately, most of them do not know how to clear the psychic clutter in their auric field.”

Yvonne is joined by psychotherapist Dr. Caron B. Goode, ED.D., NCC, DAPA to provide a fresh perspective on the psychological aspect of empathy and intuition. “Some of the characteristics that empaths display can also be diagnosed as ADD, agoraphobia, bipolar disorder, or clinical depression,” says Caron. “Most doctors and counselors are not aware that empathy fatigue exists, much less how to treat it, but this intuitive overload is a very real problem to energy-sensitive people.” Caron is the author of  Raising Intuitive Children and Kids Who See Ghosts - Guide Them Through Their Fears.

“Yvonne Perry's book thoroughly explains the process of being an empath in today's world. She provides cognitive, emotional, physical, energetic, and spiritual explanations for the origin of deep empathy, while sharing her own amazing story and the stories of others,” says transformational coach Gini Grey. “This book offers an array of powerful techniques to help empathic people create healthy boundaries, stay balanced, and release other people's energy and emotions from their personal space. This book is a must read for anyone and everyone who is sensitive to the thoughts, moods and problems of those around them.” Gini is the author of FROM CHAOS TO CALM: How to Shift Unhealthy Stress Patterns and Create Your Own Balance in Life.

Yvonne is a graduate of American Institute of Holistic Theology where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Metaphysics. For years she was enmeshed with the dogma of religion that her family and church leaders passed down to her. Before she had a label to put on her empathetic ability, she called herself an intercessor. While praying for others she empathically took on their suffering until it severely challenged her emotional and physical health. Embracing a totally different path and belief system, she now openly uses the gift of empathy to help others heal their lives. See http://WhoseStuffIsThis.com

PURCHASE paperback book, Whose Stuff Is This? Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings,and Energy of Those Around You at http://tinyurl.com/EmpathAmazon. The e-book version is now available for Kindle, iPhone, iPad, and other digital reading devices.

Editor's Corner February 2011

Woo Hoo! Within hours of having the e-book version of my book, Whose Stuff Is This? Finding Freedom From the Thoughts, Feelings, and Energy of Those Around You, published in Amazon's Kindle Store (http://tinyurl.com/EmpathKindle), I started having sales! I'm so excited about helping people get free of the energetic burdens they've been carrying. With more than two dozen proven and effective ways to clear your energy field, this guide employs empowering, proactive techniques to manage your own energy. With a chapter on the psychology of empathy by Dr. Caron Goode, this book presents the personal story of how I learned to psychically protect myself. The paperback book is available on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/EmpathAmazon just in time for my virtual tour (see tour schedule: http://tinyurl.com/EmpathTour). Read endorsements here: http://whosestuffisthis.blogspot.com/p/praise-reviews.html

Last fall, the beloved librarian at my grandson's elementary school learned that she had melanoma. I know, that's skin cancer, but for some strange reason, she got melanoma tumors in her lungs and brain. Just before Christmas, her surgeon was able to remove both brain tumors with no complications. Sue is receiving radiation treatment. Some friends set up a Caring Bridge page for her (www.caringbridge.org/visit/suehasse2010)

I know you are asking, "What does this have to do with reading and writing?" She's a librarian! WITS loves librarians! In support of everything that Mrs. Hasse has done for children and helping them learn to love reading, the Kingston Springs community is holding a Beat Cancer Read-a-thon. We hope to raise money by reading 2,500 books between January 17-February 17, 2011. Sponsors can donate money for each book read or by a flat donation. I'm giving $5 per book that my grandson, Sidney, reads. He says he can read five chapter books in one month—pretty ambitious for a 10-year-old boy, but he does come from a family of writers and readers .J I just learned that he is already on his fourth book! If you would like to sponsor Sidney and help his librarian beat cancer, you can send Mary Kelley a check made out to CaringBridge to this address: 1520 CC Rd, Kingston Springs, TN 37082. Email Mary for more info mjkelley@comcast.net. Even if you can't sponsor financially, you can still help Sue by sending her positive energy for healing. Thank you so much.

Minette Riordan has started a membership site called WEB-Women Engaged in Business and is asking for articles on women, business, web-based marketing, etc. There's no payment for being featured on new site, but it might give you a chance for exposure and add to your writing portfolio. Contact Minette@northtexaskids.com for more information.

Yvonne Perry, Owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services
http://writersinthesky.com/
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Writers’ Podcasts for February Focus on Autobiography Writing.

Learn what you need to know from Writers in the Sky guests.

Nashville, TN, February, 2011— during the month of February Writers in the Sky audiences will enjoy interviews with two autobiography writers. February’s guests open their hearts and their lives to share the wisdom of their experiences in life, in writing, and publishing.

Anjuelle Floyd will be joining Yvonne Perry on Writers in the Sky Podcast February 4, 2011. Anjuelle Floyd is the author of Keeper of Secrets, Translations of an Incident, a collection of interconnected short stories, and a novel, The House, published in October 2010. Anjuelle will be discussing her latest book, The House.  While the book focuses on the lives of an African-American family, it brings a common message to every reader regardless of background—we all have emotional stuff to deal with, and until we deal with it, healing cannot occur. How we deal with our baggage sometimes defies logic. Read more about Anjuelle on her Web site: http://www.anjuellefloyd.com/

On February 18, 2011, Vonnie Faroqui will interview author J.C. Knudson about his book, Living the Difference. Knudson is using his autobiographical book as a vehicle to educate society on homosexuality. He is a firm believer that an educated society is a more accepting and understanding society and out of that understanding will eventually follow equality for all. Living the Difference is an enlightening story revealed for people of all ages straight or gay. With all the news coverage recently on gay rights, teen suicides, and the upcoming elections, this book is worth reading, no matter which side of the issues you find yourself.

On February 25, 2011, Writers in the Sky Podcast guest, author Carol Piner will share her autobiography, Evidence of Insanity. This hilarious new book is a jaw dropping, full-speed-ahead romp through the life of a girl in the south. Carol "dances shamelessly" through a maelstrom of events that would . . . bring a man down, but she bounces back and keeps on going. This is an amazingly candid story that will have you laughing and crying at the same time. Carol Piner is a storyteller in the grand-old-southern tradition. Join host Vonnie Faroqui for a visit with the author and discover what it means to be a “tale spinner,” southern style.

About Writers in the Sky: Writers in the Sky blog, podcast, and newsletter is a three-fold production filled with information about writing, publishing, and book publicity created by Yvonne Perry as part of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services.

Listen to Writers in the Sky Podcast at http://writersinthesky.blogspot.com/p/wits-podcast.html

The Law of Attraction for Skeptics

By Joel Friedlander

I took up mountain biking in middle age. I didn’t have the feeling of invulnerability that the young guys I rode with had. I studied books and videos to learn biking techniques and skills I would need to ride the trails around my northern California home.

There was one piece of advice that puzzled me. Writers pointed out that “your bike tends to go where you’re looking,” so it’s wise to look where you want to go, not where you don’t want to go.

Sounds good. Of course you want to do that. Turns out it’s a lot harder than it sounds.

I’d find myself perched way back on my saddle, tearing down a twisty trail, staying to one side of a foot-deep rut that runs down the middle of the trail. At the bottom of the downhill there’s a large bounder, or maybe a log. As I’m riding, my eyes are locked on the obstacle, the thing I want to avoid. I feel like I have to keep watching it or the disaster it represents will grab me.

Of course, since I’m concentrating on the log, my bike starts drifting toward it. Sometimes I end up learning this lesson sitting on my butt, dazed and dusty and wondering if I’ve bent a rim when I hit the log.

One day it connected. Ah, I thought to myself, the idea is to look right next to the log, where I want my tires to go. Could I do that? Next ride out, I made sure to try. I wrenched my gaze away from a pyramid of stone in the middle of a trail I was riding, and looked instead at the dirt right next to the stones. Sure enough, my bike just slipped past, smooth and serene.

Was my problem solved just like that? Not quite. The tendency to focus on the obstacle, rather than the route around the obstacle, came back to bite me lots of times before I learned this lesson.

The Law of Attraction for Skeptics

You can see this same principle at work in day to day life. It’s a kind of physical analogy to the supposed Law of Attraction, where you attempt to use your imaginative powers to bring the things you want into your life.

But how capable are we of concentrating on the outcome we want, instead of being overwhelmed by the obstacles we see in front of us?

Maybe you’ve got a deadline that seems impossible. Maybe your best client hasn’t returned your calls in two days. It doesn’t matter, you focus on the obstacles, the things that look like that could stop you cold.

We’re so convinced we have to “work” on the problem, or “study” it, when it’s just our fear that keeps us glued to what might turn into a disaster.

Instead, I think many successful people keep their eye on how to navigate around, over or through those obstacles. They focus on solutions, not problems. I can’t say whether they “attract” success, or cause it by their actions. But is there really that much difference between the two, if you end up in the same place at the end?

Take a tip from an old mountain biker: When you see an obstacle pop up on the trail in front of you, start looking for the path around it. You’re much more likely to find a positive outcome on the other side of the trail.

Joel Friedlander is a self-published author, a book designer and blogs about book design, self-publishing and the indie publishing life at TheBookDesigner.com. He's also the proprietor of Marin Bookworks, where he helps publishers and authors who decide to publish get to market on time and on budget with books that are both properly constructed and beautiful to read.

Too Much Empathy Can Hurt

My new book about being an empath is ready for Kindle Reader on Amazon. The printed copy will be available in February. Here is a video to let you know what the book is about.



E-book version now available on Amazon.com for Kindle, iPhone, iPad, and other digital reading devices. $9.99

Printed book available February 15.

Please subscribe to my empath blog to get a message when the printed version of this book is ready.