Poetry and Prose Corner September 2012

Hucksters, Inner City
By Rita Janice Traub

“Strawberries” was the huckster’s call,
morning and afternoon,
from a mild day in misty May
through the green weeks of June.
“Watermelones,” the next one cried,
“melones, red to the rind.”
Into the alley we would race,
strawberries left behind.
One huckster chanted, “Raspberries,”
another, “Sugar corn”
(cadences from a time before
any of us were born).
The huckster I remember best
waited till August heat.
His horse would clop the cobblestones
down where the alleys meet.
No food he hawked, just curios
that he called, “Rags and bones,”
his face cadaverous, his voice
deepest of baritones.
He’d let you climb aboard his cart
to sift through odds and ends.
Somehow he always frightened me
though he and Dad were friends.
Fall’s harbinger he must have been.
Trees balded more each day.
The scissors grinder made his rounds,
but hucksters stayed away.
Say “June,” and I’ll think, ”Strawberries,”
“July,” “Watermelones.”
But just the one word “summertime”
conjures up “Rags and bones.”

 

What Offer Does Your Author Blog Make?

by Joel Friedlander

It seems that authors fall into two categories when it comes to author blogging:
1. Authors who are blogging regularly
2. Authors who think they should be blogging regularly

If you read blogs you come to the conclusion that there are lots of reasons authors are blogging. But sometimes I wonder whether authors have thought about the reason they are blogging—why their blog exists.

Now, admittedly there are lots of kinds of author blogs.
There’s a big divide between fiction authors who blog and nonfiction authors. And within nonfiction, there’s a big difference between the kind of blog you can develop if you write literary criticism or medieval history, or if you write about how to get rid of the weeds in your garden or how to make great vegan dishes.
So every author is different, and our subjects and audiences are infinitely varied.

But having some clarity about what purpose your blog serves can really help you achieve your goals. Even better, being able to sum it up in just a few words—why readers would bother to stop there and read it—is one of the best early exercises for new bloggers.

The Magic of the Tagline
When you decide to start a blog, you have to right away come up with a name for it. Or you can blog under your own name, on the “domain-name-of-your-author-name” plan.

No matter what domain name you end up with, you’ll notice that most blogs have a tagline, a bit like a book’s subtitle.

For instance, here are some taglines from blogs I visit:
• The Creative Penn: Helping you write, publish and market your book
• The Passive Voice: Writers, Writing, Publishing, Disruptive Innovation and the Universe
• Writer Unboxed: about the craft and business of fiction
• Copyblogger: Content Marketing Solutions for WordPress that Work
• Social Media Examiner: Your Guide to the Social Media Jungle
• We Grow Media: Helping Writers & Publishers Make an Impact and Build Their Legacies
In each case, the blogger has tried to sum up the value of the blog to the reader.
Creating the Tagline for Your Blog
Doing this exercise was a lot more difficult for me than I thought it would be. I already had the name of the blog—thebookdesigner.com—so that wasn’t a problem.

But it took several hours and a lot of thought before I arrived at the tagline. But going through that work was also very valuable, and I recommend this exercise to every author who is setting up, or reviving, a blog.

You can see my own end result in the masthead: practical advice to help build better books.
And no matter how far afield the articles here have wandered, this statement hasn’t changed, because my offer has never changed.
If you think about it, how well you fulfill the promise of this statement will have a lot to do with the success of your blog. And if it does succeed, it can become a vehicle capable of supporting your writing and publishing efforts, the ultimate foundation of your author platform.
We blog at the permission of our readers, and the exercise of creating a tagline for your blog is one of the best ways to focus on exactly what your offer is to your readers.

Joel Friedlander is a self-published author and book designer who 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.

Let Your Spirit Lead the Way

Why let your ego with all of its insecurities get in the way of going with the flow? Let your spirit lead the way. It is a matter of letting go of doubt and embracing faith. Let go of fear and let love be your guiding force.

All too often in life, you allow yourself to fall into negative patterns that perpetuate themselves. What you put out, you attract. You can break the cycle. Just remember that grace is always flowing your way. It's up to you to claim it for yourself.

Practice awareness of your thoughts. Observe them without judging them. Allow yourself the freedom to choose the ones you want. Take responsibility for your life.

It all starts with your thoughts. Discard the ones that don't serve your spirit. Embrace those that enhance it. Then you will send forth rockets of desire that will manifest those things you wish to possess. Positive thoughts will bring positive results.

Now, it's time to put into practice the principles you are learning. You are not in this life alone. As you let your spirit and love be your guiding force, you will attract more of the same from others.

Do not attach any conditions. Appreciate what is and do not dwell on what has not yet manifested. It is all a matter of accepting that life and people are inherently good; so are you! Remember, the Source of your being only wants the best for you. It is up to you to believe that.

Consider the following. Will you be empowered by a particular thought or action? Will you feel “good” about it? Is it a loving one or is it based upon a selfish thought or desire? Are you following The Golden Rule which is to do to others what you would have them do unto you? If you can answer yes to the following questions, you will be coming from a place of love.

You have the choice. You can create heaven for yourselves or you can create hell. Why would anyone choose to create the latter choice? Heaven can be yours now.

What I am speaking about is leading a life based upon spirit. It does not necessarily have anything to do with religion. All you need to do is to believe in yourself and that there is a benevolent power in the universe. This power only wants the best for you. Yet it will not manifest if you don't put into practice the principles of which I am speaking.

There are only two forces operating in the universe – love and fear. It's up to you to choose. As it's been said, there is nothing to fear except fear itself. Let the power of love be yours today.

Remain aware and do no wrong. If you make an error, remember it is correctable. It simply means it's time to admit you are wrong and to forgive yourself. Practice the same love for yourself that you would extend to another. Do not be your own worst enemy.

Stay in the moment. Affirm and practice that which is positive. Always let your spirit lead the way. The results will be amazing.

Written by Davis Aujourd'hui http://bestsatireseriesofthedecade.blogspot.com

Book with a View September 2012

   Title: Shifting into Purer Consciousness ~ Integrating Spiritual Transformation with the Human Experience
Author: Yvonne Perry
Publisher: Write On! (May 15, 2012)
ISBN-13: 978-0982572290
Reviewer: Dana Micheli
Yvonne Perry's New Book is Required Reading for Your Spiritual Journey
No matter who you talk to, 2012 will be a pivotal year in human history. For some, it is the end of the world; for others, it MIGHT be the end of the world, depending on who wins the presidential election. Those in the metaphysical community, however, believe that 2012 signifies a much more positive, less political, shift: an unparalleled elevation of human consciousness. For those of us seeking a deeper understanding of the Universe and our place in it, there has never been a better time to begin our transformation.
But learning more about our spiritual path is often not as simple as it sounds. The endless supply of information at our fingertips can be difficult to wade through. That's why Yvonne Perry's latest book, Shifting into Purer Consciousness: Integrating Spiritual Transformation with the Human Experience, is such a Godsend. With her trademark blend of in-depth research, deeply personal stories, and techniques for transformation, Yvonne makes learning about such topics as Miraculous Healing, Soul Retrieval and Spiritual Purification a joyful and stimulating adventure.
Whether you are a veteran of metaphysical studies, just beginning your transformation, or--like me--somewhere in between, reading this book is like having a conversation with a trusted friend and counselor. It was a safe place for me to find answers to my many, many questions, some of which I didn't even know I had until Yvonne anticipated them. For years, psychics and other metaphysical folks have tried to explain to me about the nature of the soul and how things work "On the Other Side"; yet, I could not wrap my mind around some of these concepts until reading this book. Yvonne Perry has once again demonstrated her incredible knack for explaining complex spiritual topics in a language that mere mortals can understand.

Title: Mia and Jake: Finding the One
Author: Sherri Starr
Publisher: SEAHILL PRESS INC (September 1, 2012)
ISBN: 978-1-937720-09-4
Reviewer: Dana Micheli

Online dating; set-ups; blind dates; speed-dating. These are just a few of the ways men and women are spending their time, money, and tears to meet people these days. It reminds me of the movie, “He’s Just Not That Into You,” when Drew Barrymore waxes nostalgic over the ordinary answering machine. Either there was a message when you got home, or there wasn’t. Now, she points out, singles get strung along or rejected via voicemail and text, to say nothing of Facebook, MySpace and various other forms of social media. Indeed, finding “the one” has never been easy, but it seems like modern technology has only increased our chances for humiliation.
Thankfully, we always have our sense of humor to fall back on, and Sherri Star’s new book, Mia and Jake: Finding the One, proves that laugher is still the best medicine for all that ails us. The book takes us on a physical and emotional journey as Mia, a cheerful, smart and highly evolved stick figure navigates singledom and searches for her other half. The witty text is complemented by the hilarious illustrations as Mia twists herself into a yoga pose, moves to a new city (with a bigger dating pool) and gets advice from well-meaning but often misguided friends.
The best part is that at the end of Mia’s story, you can flip the book over and read it again, this time from Jake’s point of view. This both doubles the laughs and debunks the myth that women are tortured by the single life while men coast through it with ease and manly grace.
Mia and Jake is a great gift for others, but an even better gift for yourself. I laughed out loud with each turn of the page, and I know I’ll be returning to it again for a pick me up on my own journey to finding the one.
Sherri Starr doesn’t only talk the talk, she has already walked the walk. The inspiration for the book was drawn from her determination to live her fullest, best possible life, even before she found her “Jake”. I can’t wait until she comes out with the next installment of Mia and Jake.

Title: I Don’t Want to Be Your Guru but I Have Something to Say
Author: Joyce Shafer
ISBN: 978-1-4303-1411-0
Reviewer: Yvonne Perry
Maybe You Should Be My Guru!
When I first started reading I Don’t Want to Be Your Guru but I Have Something to Say I thought it was going to be a novel containing a “ghost-like” mystery story. But then the beautiful and enlightening discussion between the characters in this flashback scene started ringing with truth and such validity that I soon realized this book could just as easily be a non-fiction work in the spirituality genre. I like the way the author was able to pull that off with such cohesiveness!
Joyce Shafer created a story within a story that kept me interested all the way. For example, Old Bill and A.J. are casually discussing religion over a slice of apple pie and a cup of coffee when Bill says, “Ideals should guide your life, not rule ‘em (it). Someone might be really good at being whatever the ‘ism’ is—let’s use Christian for example—but they don’t go the distance…they don’t aim to be Christ-like. It’s easy to quote chapter and verse, but how deeply is it understood? Is it integrated into the life?”
For one who was steeped in fundamentalist religion before embracing a metaphysical view of life, this rang true to me. My new goal in life is to be more Christ-like and that means ascending in consciousness, keeping my thoughts pure, never judging self or others, seeking the will of the Divine Plan, and expecting miracles (doing and receiving them) on a regular basis. Yes, it’s a process with many “oops” along the way, but my beliefs are being integrated into my daily experience. It was refreshing to read Bill’s commentary on this and many other thought-provoking topics.
This is a great short book for anyone who would like a simply put overview of a deep spiritual (rather than religious) dissertation on how our thoughts create reality.

How to Analyze Your Website Traffic

For many of us, traffic and website analytics is a very foreign idea. But understanding traffic and reading website analytics reports doesn't have to be a complicated endeavor. First up, let's break down the terminology:

Page views: Each time someone lands on your site (when they load one of your pages) it generates a page view. Keep in mind that this tallies regardless of who visits or how many times they've been to the site. It sounds like a bad measurement of traffic and to some degree it is. We all love returning visitors but most of us really care about those valuable first time folks.
Visits: This measure shares how many users have spent time on your website, regardless of the number of pages each user views.
Unique visitors: This is an important stat and as the name implies, this metric counts only the unique users who visit the site. If a particular visitor comes to the site every day, it still only counts as one visit.
Pages/visit: This metric shows you how many pages a visitor perused during each session, the higher this number, the better.
Average visit duration: How much time do users spend on the site during each visit? While you want someone to spend a long time on a site, the average time spent is generally 3-5 minutes and sometimes less. Obviously longer is better, but the only site in the world that gets massive visit duration is currently Facebook, with an average of 20 minutes per visit.
Bounce rate: This number indicated people who "bounce" off of the page. So, someone visits and then decides they are either in the wrong place or you've sent them into "surf shock" and they leave. Generally the lower the number the better, but the average bounce rate is around 50-59%.
% new visits: This measure is the percentage of your traffic from first-time users who have never been to the site before. If you're eager to get repeat people to your site (and this will often depend on the nature of your business) you'll want this number lower than your repeating visitor number.
Understanding Google Analytics
These days, most websites use a service called Google Analytics to measure traffic. It's considered by most web designers to be the gold standard of measurement and it's also free which is great.
Getting Google Analytics is easy, you can just register on the site and it will give you a snippet of code that will go on each page of your website. Your web person can do this if it wasn't installed when your site was built. Most hosting companies come with a C-panel backend that measures traffic, even so I highly recommend getting Google Analytics for accuracy and other reasons you'll see in a minute.
Once you set up Google Analytics, give it a few days to gather data, once you do you'll start to see numbers appear on your dashboard. Google Analytics continues to update their system and recently launched a beta version of real-time traffic. Once you're logged in you can find it on the left hand side of the page.
Real Time Traffic
I tend to watch these real-time traffic numbers pretty closely. It's also a great tool if you're on top of a promotion, you can see what kind of traffic you're driving to your website, in real time!
Getting to Know Your Data
When you first start looking through the numbers, you'll want to get a sense of some of the numbers we described above: Page Views, Bounce Rate, etc. If you're worried that your bounce rate is too high, consult your web person to see if there's anything you can do to lower it.
One of the areas I spend a lot of time on is the Traffic from All Sources so I can gauge what's coming from where. Not only will this help me as I'm creating referring traffic from various channels, but it also helps me know what works and what doesn't. You can find this area here: Click on Traffic Sources and then All Traffic.
Measuring Social Media
One of the most exciting additions to Google Analytics has been their tracking of social media. This is a fantastic tool that lets you see how much of your traffic is coming from social media. So, what's a good mix? I think half of your traffic should come from social media, the rest should come organically from Google. Here's a snapshot of what these two graphs look like. Once you do that, you'll see two sets of bars/graphs indicating traffic patterns.
The top bar shows you the social media referrals, with a comparison chart to all traffic, which is super helpful. You don't need to do anything to set this up. Google tracks social traffic automatically.
Measuring AdWords
Google Analytics can also connect to your AdWords campaign, allowing you to measure how your online ad campaign is performing. This will allow you to track how your ads are doing and whether they are bringing you visitors. If you run ads on your site, click Content > AdSense > Overview to see which pages on your site are earning the most revenue (and how much). You'll need to link them together in the AdSense tool first.
How much traffic you get and how well it's converting will depend on your reach and your website, but knowing these numbers is important. Keep in mind that the importance of each category will depend largely on the industry you're in as I mentioned previously. If you want lots of returning visitors, then the percent of new visits number will need to be lower. If you're looking for lots of new traffic then Unique Visitors is what you need to pay attention to.
Getting to know your traffic is not only important, but mandatory if you're going to know how effective your online marketing is. Also, knowing your Google Analytics numbers will also show you if there's a problem on your site, like low conversion which could be because of a broken page or broken link.

Reprinted from "The Book Marketing Expert newsletter," a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com

Editor's Corner September 2012

I am constantly moved by the many WITS clients who are dedicated to helping others. Yes, of course they want to sell books, but their primarily goal is to spread a message of hope and healing to the world. Why, just last month I had the pleasure of working with two new clients who have completely different approaches, but get their respective messages across just as powerfully. Sherri Starr, author of Mia and Jake: Finding the One (and our guest on the August 31st episode of the WITS Podcast) is on a mission to help singles find their soul mate with humor. Sola Olu’s inspiring memoir, The Summer Called Angel: A Story of Hope on the Journey through Prematurity, aims to support other parents struggling to save their newborns. Indeed, this is one of my favorite things about WITS: the opportunity to collaborate with, and learn from, a very diverse group of writers.

Our clients work so hard for others that it’s always a pleasure to make their lives a little bit easier. Author, blogger, and chocolate aficionado Doreen Pendgracs feels the same way; that’s why she recently shared this juicy tidbit (and godsend), The Espresso Book Printing Machine (I don’t think it makes coffee, but a girl can dream, right?). In any event, check out Doreen’s post, and let her know what you think.
Dana MicheliWriter and editor, Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services
http://writersinthesky.com
Facebook
LinkedIn

WITS Announcements September 2012

As a subscriber to Writers in the Sky Newsletter, you are entitled to share your announcements with our readers. See guidelines at http://writersinthesky.blogspot.com/p/submit-your-material.html and send your material to us before the 24th of each month to make the next month’s issue. Anything posted in WITS Newsletter is also shared with our blog readers at http://writersinthesky.blogspot.com.


Len Edgerly, who blogs and hosts a weekly podcast about the Kindle and eBooks at thekindlechronicles.com, is doing an informal survey comparing the Kindle Fire and E Ink Kindles as platforms for reading. If you have both devices and would be willing to describe briefly what sorts of book or publication reading you do on each, please email the info to Len: PodChronicles @Gmail DOT Com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Read the first chapter for free and then decide if you want to download the 3-hour-long mp3 audio book of More Than Meets the Eye ~ True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife for only $7.00 http://deathdyingafterlife.blogspot.com/p/chapter-1.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Need a Video Trailer for Your Book?

Recently I had the privilege of working with Daniel Harker (Dharkerwv Multimedia Productions) in the creation of a video trailer for my latest book. Not only did Daniel do an excellent job as you will see in the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTYiT3HtP_w, he was great to work with—very conscientious about the message as well as the audio-video component. He was also prompt in responding to my emails.

If you are interested in querying Dharkerwv Multimedia Productions, please contact Daniel at dharkerwv [at[ msn [dot] com. Place "Query for Book Trailer" in the subject line.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Each story in The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children focuses on life skills such as environmental awareness, helping others, being true to one’s self, overcoming fear, and following inner guidance. http://TheSidSeries.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We Are One in Spirit Podcast allows people of all walks of life to discuss their spiritual journey and life-transforming experiences that remind us that we are all ONE IN SPIRIT. Uplifting, enlightening, and insightful topics include healing, empathy, intuition, spiritual/psychic gifts, metaphysics, soul development, afterlife, spirit communication, and more. This interactive teleconference offers listeners a chance to chat directly with Yvonne Perry and her guest experts about spiritual matters of soul development. This interactive podcast has with a question and answer session at the end of each guest presentation. To participate on the phone call/Webinar or listen to the free replays, please subscribe to our blog so we can send you a reminder with the call-in info.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Whose Stuff Is This? Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings, and Energy of Those around You is a guidebook for empathic people who have been unknowingly carrying energetic burdens that belong to someone else. See all purchasing options at http://whosestuffisthis.blogspot.com/p/purchase-book.html.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
State of Appreciation is a free weekly online newsletter that blends practical & spiritual approaches to enhance personal power and self-realization. Offers empowering articles, gifts, and free contemporary and classic empowerment downloads free at http://stateofappreciation.weebly.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While taking a metaphysical class, WITS team member Dana Micheli met an amazing illustrator. If you are looking for someone to create an original piece for your book cover, you may want to connect with Diane Daversa on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Diane-Daversa-Fine-Art/109782219119036
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shifting into Purer Consciousness ~ Integrating Spiritual Transformation with the Human Experience is about how to embrace multidimensional frequencies, lessen physical and emotional symptoms of rapid spiritual ascension, and offers tips to make the ascension process easier and quicker.

If you missed Shifting into Purer Consciousness Ascension Training Telesummit and would like to listen to the replays, the collection of audios is now available for purchase at http://live-spirit.com/shifting-into-purer-consciousness-with-yvonne-perry/.

Writers in the Sky Podcast Schedule September 2012

Writers in the Sky Podcast is a Nashville-based talk show about writing, publishing, and book marketing. An educational tool for people who want to learn more about the craft and business of writing, this show offers interviews with authors and writers, as well as the latest news about books currently on the market. You will also learn about publishing methods and marketing techniques as we interview publishers and publicists. Listen to archived shows via RSS Feed. Download WITS Podcast on iTunes for your iPod or iPad.

September 7: Join Sola Olu as she discusses her first book, The Summer of Angel: A Story of Hope on the Journey Through Prematurity. This heart-wrenching memoir chronicles Sola's battle with preeclampsia and the struggle to save her children after they are born prematurely.

Conveying a Character's Journey on the First Page of a Novel

Notes on Good Grief by Lolly Winston
by Bill Johnson
I teach that a story creates movement and the movement transport an audience. In many of the unpublished novels I read, I'm often 40 pages into a manuscript before I have any idea of a main character's journey. In some cases, I have to read to the end of a novel to understand that journey. This puts me (and readers) in the unfortunate position of needing to keep track of all the details about a character while I wait for some sense of purpose to become apparent. This makes reading a novel work.
Lolly Winston's novel Good Grief has a structure that clearly conveys the stages of grief that a young woman goes through when her husband dies and leaves her a widow. This external framework communicates that the novel has a clearly defined beginning, middle, and end. From its opening lines, the story has a destination.
Each stage of the main character's journey is divided into sections. The chapters in Part One are about denial, Oreos, anger, depression, escrow, and ashes. Each chapter that follows is about the main character's journey in dealing with her grief over her husband's death. The title, Good Grief, speaks to the narrator learning that there can be good grief (which revolves around passing through the stages of grief) and bad grief (getting stuck on the journey).
A review of the opening of Good Grief conveys how a main character's journey is set out.
The opening line:
How can I be a Widow?
The answer to this question comes in the opening paragraphs as the narrator sits in a grief support group. In a few paragraphs, the narrator explains why she's in the group.
My name is Sophie and I've joined the grief group because...well, because I sort of did a crazy thing. I drove my Honda through our garage door.
What's important about these lines is they show the narrator is not only in grief, she's being overwhelmed by grief. What set up the garage accident was an irrational thought that she needed to get into the house quickly to tell her husband something. Except he's deceased. She's in denial.
Continuing in a few paragraphs:
Maybe later I'll tell the group how I dream about Ethan every night. That he's still alive in the Eastern Standard Time zone and if I fly to New York, I can see him for another three hours.
The narrator tries to deal with her grief by going back to work, but she quickly finds herself overwhelmed. In the past, when she felt overwhelmed, she called her husband. The chapter ends with these lines.
The cursor on my computer screen pulses impatiently, and the red voice mail light on my phone flashes. My stomach growls and my head throbs. But I can't call my husband. Because, here's the thing: I am a widow.
She has started to come out of her denial about her husband's death. The first chapter is a clearly defined journey on her journey through grief.
Each chapter continues that journey until the narrator has passed through good grief to being whole again.
Highly recommended for writers who want to learn about structure by reading a well-written novel.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A fourth edition of Bill Johnson's writing workbook, A Story is a Promise & the Spirit of Storytelling, is now available for $2.99 for Kindle Reader at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004V020N0

    

Tune into Our Chat With Author Sherri Starr

Do you ever get tired of searching for "the One"? Constantly updating your online dating profile, or joining that yoga, scuba diving or art class, just so you can meet that special guy or girl? It can be a full-time job and an exercise in frustration. According to author Sherri Starr, much of the agony is also unnecessary (albeit entertaining). Starr's new book, Mia and Jake: Finding the One offers an uplifting and riotous take on some of the things singles do to find their other half.

Mia and Jake would make the perfect couple, but first they have to meet! In this sea of single, smart and funny stick figures, how will they ever find each other? Starr's answer may surprise you, and it will most definitely delight you.

 

Click here to listen to Sherri discuss the inspiration behind the book, her creative process, and how she met her real life "Jake".

 

Like what you heard? Contact Sherri to order the book and share your own dating stories.
www.miaandjake.com
mialovesmail@gmail.com
Like Mia and Jake on Facebook
Follow Mia on Twitter

Calling for Submissions for September 2012 WITS Ezine!

It's time for us to start putting together the next fantastic and information-filled e-zine for September 2012. That means I need you to send me your articles, poems, contest announcements, and brags to be included in the next issue.

Read our guidelines for submitting. Remember, the better your piece is written, the better attention and credibility it receives.

Poetry and Prose Corner

Welcome, Sunshine

Shadows of the night, be gone.
Your time well-spent in nourishment,
Nurturing the dreams of light,
As dawn brings hope of new beginnings.

Welcome, Sunshine,
Welcome friend,
Smiling down upon my face.
Spread your joy across my brow,
Raise your manna to my lips.

Sadness cannot breach your fortress,
Tragic cause must pass you by as
Every creature great and small
Upward turns to meet your stare.

Faithful watcher,
Silent giver,
Asking nothing in return.
Not in worship, but our kinship,
Bids me pause to offer praise.

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

The Law of Attraction Manifests Abundance

Esther Hicks is a proponent of something called the Law of Attraction. It is the art of allowing well-being to flow, thereby overcoming resistance and attracting abundance. I have seen this manifesting in my life over the past several years while I have been prolifically writing my series of hilarious books. Two of them are published. Now I am beginning to experience abundance as channels of promotion for my books are flowing my way.
The law of attraction follows an emotional path. When one is feeling “good,” abundance naturally flows. Following a lifetime of challenges which have seemed to impede my progress, I am now experiencing a major shift. If I can do it, anybody can. This means you.

As Esther says, it is not a matter of working hard or taking any courses. It is not a matter of luck. The Source of our being only wants the best for each of us. It is only a matter of getting ourselves into a place of alignment with “good” feelings. When we do that, anything we desire is possible and eventually will manifest.

This is the law of the universe. It is simply a matter of replacing doubt with belief. It only follows the teachings of the great spiritual teachers such as Jesus. It is a simply a matter of faith.

These are lessons that I begin to weave in my books which are about a wayward nun. She teaches what she needs to learn as she affirms what is the truth she has discerned within herself. This is something you can also do for yourself.

This is what I ask you to do as Esther, herself, would encourage you to do. Whenever you recognize something you don't like, you will send forth a rocket of desire that will lead you in the direction you wish to head. It is important not to dwell upon your state of discontent. Rather, look with appreciation at all you already do possess. Gratitude is of utmost importance. It is the stepping stone to manifesting that which you desire.

No matter what, the most important thing is to follow your joy. As you do so, you will continue to attract more of the same. Allow yourself to be all you can be. It is a lesson you all will learn if you only apply yourself to the challenge of feeling good. Practice affirmations. You are worthy. You are beloved. You are deserving of all the goodness that your Source naturally wants for you.

The rewards will be amazing and will come quickly. Abundance is already yours. Simply claim it and it will naturally bring you more. As I have said, this is the great law of the universe which is always expanding just as you are.

Written by Davis Aujourd'hui http://bestsatireseriesofthedecade.blogspot.com

This Friday's Podcast Guest: Author Sherri Star

Finding the person with whom you want to spend the rest of your life is very serious business; so why is it so hilarious when Sherri Starr writes about it? Maybe it's the tragically funny tales of what singles will do when they no longer want to be single; maybe it's the fact that the story is told from the viewpoint of smart, funny and highly evolved stick figures. Whatever the reason, this book is a laugh a minute, but also manages to convey a deeper message: that life is ultimately about being happy where you are, and that relaxing into the moment is often the best way to get what we want.

Tune into the podcast this Friday to hear Sherri dish about Mia, Jake, "the creative hour", and of course, finding the one.

To learn more about Sherri's work or to buy the book, visit http://www.miaandjake.com/

Like Mia and Jake at  http://www.facebook.com/#!/miaandjake  or follow them at twitter.com/@miamoments

Send your own dating stories to mialovesmail@gmail.com

 

 

The Secrets to Getting More Book Reviews (even if your book is already out)

We hear it all the time: "the window for reviews is shrinking," and yet we still see reviews appearing everywhere. So how can you capture a share of this market? It's true that often reviews from big-name bloggers go to equally big-name authors. Well, can you blame the blogger? If someone had a choice between reviewing Shades of Grey and one of my recent books, I'm sure Shades would win and I totally get that, but it's hard when you're starting out. You often get reviews when you get reviews, so the old adage of "media draws media" is very true. Then where do you start?

Years ago, when I was first in the industry, it was pretty simple. You could find a reviewer, send him or her a copy and that was that. Now, it's a lot different. Bloggers get hundreds of books mailed to them by publishers on a monthly basis, while book review departments in newspapers have either shrunk or been removed entirely. It's a whole new world. The good news is that there are still great opportunities to get reviewed, but you need to understand the new rules of exposure.
Blogger reviews: Blogger reviews are still great (even though bloggers are busier than ever) but in order to get your fair share, I recommend networking with the bloggers. How do you do that? By following their blogs and posting authentic and helpful comments on their posts - or by retweeting a review of a book that you particularly loved. Get to know the bloggers you'll be pitching to. They will also appreciate that you took the time to read their blog, instead of just pitching them. It's true with any kind of networking. You tend to go to the front of the line when you know someone, right? So get to know the bloggers.
If you have a series of bloggers you are following who are influential but don't necessarily review books, you could ask them if they might let you guest blog or perhaps run an excerpt of your book on their website or you might coordinate a book giveaway with them. As a blogger myself, I love it when someone writes me for an interview and has actually read our blog. How do I know they've done this? Often they'll weave that into their pitch. For example, "Dear Penny, I saw that you wrote about mobile marketing in January and interviewed Gillian Muessig in May, I think my topic would be a nice addition to your blog because -" See? Now that's much better than: "Dear Penny, I have an idea for your blog I think you might like." There's a chance I will love it, but a far greater chance I won't because the person pitching just spotted our website and thought: "They might like this." It takes a bit more work to do it the other way, but your returns will be greater and you're also building relationships as you go, making the tradeoff worth it.
Review other books: In order to get reviews, you might need to become a reviewer. I know this might sound crazy. Who has time to review books? Well, that's how we got here in the first place, remember? Reviewing other people's books (who write about similar topics to you) is not only a great thing to do for your industry but a great way to network. I review every book that's appropriate to my market (on Amazon). People love peer reviews, trust me. Imagine if the person you're reviewing reviewed you? See how that works? Make sure to send them the review when you're done. It's a boatload of great Karma that could help you get some reviews, too.
Media connections: With newspapers eliminating review departments, how on earth can you get some traction for your book? How about articles and write ups? And even when newspapers do reviews, it can still be a hard road to get them. Especially if your book is self-published, POD or eBook. With 1,500 books published each day, it's tough to weave through the maze of authors out there trying to get attention for their book, too. Here's what I recommend. Get to know the media in your market. Pick a series of newspapers in your immediate area or state. You can find a pretty good listing here: www.newslink.org. You can also select other areas, depending on your book, the reach of your topic or your business. Often smaller regions of the US will still have active review departments so be sure to check all appropriate papers for both reporters who write about your topic, and review department criteria (where they want you to send the book, etc.). By getting to know the reporters who write about your topic, you can network with them early (pre-release) by commenting on articles they've written, or offering them ideas or statistics for future pieces. Remember the networking piece for bloggers? That works here, too and it's a great way to gain attention for your book and get a mention or review in a local or national paper.
Media Leads: I wrote an article on media leads, how to get them and how to respond to them. You can see it here (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/penny-c-sansevieri/maximizing-media-leads_b_748574.html) and suffice it to say that the sooner you start with this (yes, long before the book is out), the better. It's another great way to network with a reporter.
Amazon Reviews: We've all heard of the big, top ten Amazon reviewers, but like any big-name reviewers they get inundated, too. Amazon is a great portal to expand upon and you should do whatever you can to populate your page with reviews because rarely do readers buy books "naked" (this refers to the book page, not the state of dress). I highly encourage you to review the Amazon list of top reviewers (folks who do post reviews on Amazon) and then pitch the ones that are right for your market. The lure of the top reviewers is that they possess a certain clout, but because of that, the other folks who are solid, faithful reviewers tend to get overlooked. Consider your options with Amazon, and definitely do your research and find some reviewers: http://www.amazon.com/review/top-reviewers.
Social sites: Websites like Library Thing and Goodreads offer another great opportunity. First, these communities have millions of very active members and are a great place to garner reader reviews. Both sites have a great Reader Giveaway program that we love and use often; in exchange for handing over a free copy members (winners) are encouraged to post a review of the book. Very win-win if you're looking to get the word out there about your book.
While the world has changed a lot in regards to reviews, there are still a lot of opportunities out there for getting to the right people and getting those people to talk about your book. Not only that, but building a strong community of media and blogger contacts will help you not just for your current book, but for future titles as well.
Reprinted from "The Book Marketing Expert newsletter," a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com

Tune in for a Converation with Award-Winning Novelist Michael Loyd Gray

It’s 1966. The Beatles have taken over the airways, Star Trek is in its first season on NBC, and 389,000 American troops are stationed in Vietnam.  This is the setting of Michael Loyd Gray's latest novel, King Biscuit.

A war is going on Argus, Illinois as well, between sixteen-year-old Billy Ray Fleener and his father.  While his father dreams of Billy Ray joining the family business,  Billy Ray dreams of moving to California, becoming a surfer, and getting into Margie Heinrich’s pants—not necessarily in that order. Instead, he gets a summer job laying pipe and the dubious distinction of town hero after saving Purdy Boy, the mayor’s wife’s dachshund.

When his beloved uncle and role model Mitch is killed in combat, Billy Ray feels like he must leave Argus or be stuck there forever. With little more than the clothes on his back, he hops a bus for Helena, Arkansas to visit Mitch’s grave.  Along the way he meets up with a cast of characters as varied and polarized as America itself, from a marine captain home on leave to a band of hippies bound for Graceland. Each teaches him something about love, loyalty, and the true meaning of freedom, but what Billy Ray really learns is that everyone has the power to define who they are. He may have left Argus a boy, but he returns a man. 

Click here to listen to the interview

Like what you heard? Order King Biscuit here.

Michael Loyd Gray is an award-winning author, journalist and college professor. Born in Arkansas, he has lived and worked all over the country, including Illinois, New York and Arizona, Texas, and Michigan. He has a MFA from Western Michigan University and a Journalism degree from the University of Illinois. His novels have earned several awards, including the 2008 Sol Books Prose Series Award, the 2005 Alligator Juniper Fiction Prize and the 2005 The Writers Place Award for Fiction. Not Famous Anymore was awarded a grant by the Elizabeth George Foundation.  King Biscuit was originally written under the title December’s Children and was a finalist for the 2006 Sol Books Prose Series Prize. To learn more about Michael Loyd Gray's work, visit http://www.michaelloydgray.com/

Book with a View August 2012

  Title: Created to Live a Balanced Life: 8 Steps to Holistic Transformation
Author: Reverend Dieuner Joseph
Publisher: CreateSpace (June 20, 2012)
ISBN-13: 978-1470085483
Reviewer: Dana Micheli
It’s a constant challenge to achieve balance in our fast-paced society. Our days fly by in a blur of obligations, a depressing 24-hour news cycle, and an increasing demand for immediate gratification. When we are pulled in so many different directions, it is hard to give our all to anything, and every aspect of our life suffers. We are out of balance. In his new book, Created to Live a Balanced Life: 8 Steps to Holistic Transformation, Reverend Dieuner Joseph shows us how to restore balance and recalibrate our lives for health, love and success.
There is no shortage of self-help books out there, or books on connecting with God. What makes Created to Live a Balanced Life stand out among them is its unique approach to healing. With the same skill and compassion he shares through his newsletter and radio show, Reverend Joseph brilliantly weaves theology with no-nonsense guidance on how to change each area of our lives, day by day and step by step. Whether you are struggling with a troubled marriage, a health concern, or a problem with your boss, this book has the answer. Reverend Joseph’s advice is simple, but not a free ride. Each method in the book involves soul-searching and hard work, and while he doesn’t promise instant gratification, he certainly promises positive change for those who stick with it. In short, Created to Live a Balanced Life is an answer to our prayers.
Reverend Dieuner Joseph is the CEO of the Holistic Transformation Center, as well as the founder of Imani Temple Baptist Church and Disciple Maker Ministry. He is the author of “Restoring Honor to an Honorable Vocation” and the writer and editor of the blog, “A Pastor’s Reflection”. He also produces an online weekly devotional called “The Wednesday Word” and hosts Reverend Dieuner’s Community Call, an interactive radio show on Talkshoe.com. Reverend Joseph holds a Bachelor’s degree from Manhattan College, as well as Master’s Degrees in Divinity and Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary. He has also studied at the University of Strasbourg in France.
Title: The Sum of Random Chance
Author: Lee Chambers
Publisher: MISFP (July 12, 2012)
ISBN-13: 978-0986494352
Reviewer: Dana Micheli

After reading a great book, I often wonder whether the author will be able to pull it off again. I admit to feeling this way after reading Lee Chamber’s Pineville Heist. With his new novel, The Sum of Random Chance, Chambers proves he has not only the talent, but the longevity, to succeed in a business where one is only as good his latest idea.
Cole Wilkes is an inexperienced but ambitious young reporter trying to prove his worth, but the stars seemed aligned against him at every turn--not to mention a materialistic girlfriend and a backstabbing colleague. Cole finds himself relegated to covering the most mundane stories in a mundane town, and despite his efforts, is unable to make anyone happy, least of all himself. Then, one day, fate lands him at the right place at the right time: he is in the local Super Mart when it is held up by two men armed with a baseball bat and a hunting knife. While everyone else cowers in fear, Cole notices a petite blond woman with a peculiar smile on her face. He watches in disbelief as she stops the thieves in their tracks, all without laying a hand on them. It is as if she has some sort of mystical gift. With a reporter’s eye and opportunist’s heart, Cole knows he has found his story, and her name is Sara Mackay. Determined to learn about—and exploit-- her secret powers, Cole begins following her around town. But instead of a sorcerer, he finds a woman with rare gifts and an even rarer empathy for those around her.
The Sum of Random Chance is a deeply personal story of two people whose “accidental” meeting changes their lives forever. It is also, however, a social commentary on our modern society. We have become a people of instant gratification, whether it’s a Google search or an instant promotion. Nowhere do we see this more in the twenty-something generation, and Cole Wilkes personifies his generation’s self-centeredness, as well as its capacity for evolution and growth. At the beginning of the book you may think Chamber a cynic; by the end you realize he is quite the opposite. Either way, he is an excellent storyteller.  

Friday's Podcast Guest: Novelist Michael Loyd Gray

Anyone who listens to our podcast knows that I'm a huge fan of Michael Loyd Gray's work. A few months ago he joined me to discuss Not Famous Anymore, the story of a Hollywood movie star who escapes to the rural Midwestern town of his boyhood.  It was such as pleasure, not only to hear Michael's thoughts on the book, but on his creative process in developing plot and character.

That's why I'm so pleased to announce that Michael will be back this Friday to discuss his latest novel, King Biscuit. King Biscuit is the poignant story of Billy Ray Fleener, a sixteen-year-old boy growing up in the Vietnam Era. Torn between his overbearing, ultra-conservative father and the ghost of his "cool" uncle, Billy Ray sneaks out of town, determined to see the world and, hopefully, find his place in it. 

Join us on Friday as Michael talks about the book, as well as what inspired him to write about this defining moment in American history.

How Book Shepherds Can Help Authors

By Scott Lorenz Westwind Communications

I recommend authors look into hiring a book shepherd for a current or upcoming writing and publishing project. A book shepherd is someone whose expertise in books and publishing will help you throughout the entire book process. From cover art, editing, dealing with Amazon to locating a printer, a book shepherd will assist you from start to finish.

I am a proponent of using a book shepherd because there are so many things to know about the book publishing process, and it all changes so swiftly that it’s extremely difficult to keep up with it all. It takes a person with experience to guide you along the way and that’s what a book shepherd does. Hiring a guide is a concept that’s been working for humankind for thousands of years. If you were going to a foreign land and wanted to see and do as much as you could, wouldn’t you rather hire a flesh and blood guide to show you, rather than a guide book? Consider yourself fortunate if you can afford a book shepherd, as it is well worth the money.
Dan Poynter recently compiled a comprehensive list of book shepherds. At the top of his list is Shel Horowitz, who explains his role this way: “Basically, I walk unpublished writers through the process of becoming well-published authors. I start by helping them determine if they should publish traditionally, self-publish, or subsidy publish--and then help them complete all the steps for their choice, then work with them on the marketing as the book nears completion.”
Tanya Hall is a unique book shepherd in that she works for a national publisher/distributor. “So instead of working in a vacuum,” Tanya says, “without any up-to-the-minute feedback on trends, pitches, etc like most book shepherds operate, I have the luxury of a sales force and team of experts behind me to guide the direction I give to my clients. Most of our clients ‘in development’ go through an editorial project development phase, followed by any number of services ranging from design to printing to (if accepted for publication/distribution by our review committee) distribution and marketing.” For more information, visit her website http://www.greenleafbookgroup.com.
Bobbie Christmas explains that her book shepherding style is rooted in an editing background. “After twenty years of editing magazines, newspapers, and corporate communications, I opened Zebra Communications in 1992 and specialized in editing books. As self-publishing grew and became an excellent way for consultants and other entrepreneurs to promote themselves and their businesses, I heard horror stories about otherwise intelligent people who made terrible decisions that cost them money and time and in the end often embarrassed them, rather than helping them get their books out to the public. I realized my clients needed more than editorial services, so I added book shepherding to my offerings.” Bobbie’s website is www.zebraeditor.com.
Mike Ball, award winning syndicated columnist and author of three books, offers unique assistance to new authors from his position on the front lines of the publishing wars. “Hey, it can be complicated, time consuming and downright confusing,” says Ball. “I just helped out an elderly author who got completely flummoxed by the forms Amazon threw at him. I understand it can be a daunting task for anyone. That’s why I am happy to assist for a reasonable hourly fee.” Find Mike at http://writeittight.com or call him at 313-405-7664.
Simon Warwick-Smith of www.warwickassociates.net says, “We are a one-stop shop, from cover and interior design to physical printing, and eBooks, to sales, marketing and publicity. Been in business for 20 years with a long list of satisfied clients”

Rita Mills says, “I don’t much care for the term ‘book shepherd’, as I feel what I do is more like herding cats than docile sheep. People come to me with either an idea or a manuscript and I project manage the process and assign a freelancer for an ala carte service as needed. Some just come to me with a manuscript that needs editing so they can take it to a traditional publisher, and some want me to take on the whole project from manuscript to marketing. I work with 30+ freelancers (some of whom I have worked with over 20 years) who do all kinds of editing, design, PR, marketing, indexing, ghostwriting, grant writing, etc. I know my people’s skill set and can assign the individual with the specific genre/skills needed. For instance, someone who might be good at editing a nonfiction title might not be good with a fiction title or a children’s book. I also specialize in children’s picture books and I have portfolios on upwards of 300 illustrators. I have packaged roughly 450 titles since my years as the managing editor of an academic press at the University of Houston. I left there in 1997 to start my company, The Book Connection. My projects have ranged from back-of-the-room sales to high-end coffee table books. I am also a print broker, and print worldwide depending upon the need and goals involved in a project” For further information on Rita and her services, please visit her website http://www.bookconnectiononline.com.

Linda F. Radke of Five Star Publications explains, “At Five Star Publications we have specialized in producing and marketing books since 1985. Our talented staff of editors, writers, illustrators, graphic designers, and publicity specialists is available to help with every aspect of publishing and promoting your book. Utilizing a network of experts in every aspect of publishing and publicity, Five Star Publications works closely with you every step of the way. Call us as soon as you start writing your book or at any point during the process of producing and promoting your book. We provide all the services, guidance, and ongoing support you need to successfully master every aspect of the publishing process. Once you contact us, we'll be pleased to provide a proposal tailored to your specific project. Since every project is different in scope and needs, your timeframes and costs will be handled on an individual basis.”
The Bottom Line: If you can afford to spend a few hundred to a few thousand dollars on a book shepherd, I highly suggest you do, and help save your sanity! There are so many exciting changes in the book publishing business, it’s practically impossible to keep up with them all. The book shepherd will help you through the entire process or just a piece of the process where you need it.
Check out this audio interview about book shepherds I did with Clark Covington at this link:
http://bookmarketing.net/news/2012/07/18/book-publicist-scott-lorenz-talks-book-shepherds/
Be sure to check out Dan Poynter’s list of book shepherds below and get in touch with the book shepherd of your choice.
Zip Code/Country, Name, Email, Website
01035 Shel Horowitz shel@PrincipledProfit.com; www.frugalmarketing.com
06001 Brian Jud brianjud@bookmarketing.com; www.bookmarketingworks.com
07930 Barbara Kimmel barbara@nextdecade.com; www.nextdecade.com
20191 Sam Horn Sam@SamHorn.com; www.SamHorn.com
22314 Mike Vezo mvezo@mac.com; www.HelpUPublish.com
30188 Bobbie Christmas bobbie@zebraeditor.com; www.zebraeditor.com
45701 Janice Phelps authors@janicephelps.com; www.janicephelps.com
68137 Lisa Pelto lisa@conciergemarketing.com; www.conciergemarketing.com
77041 Rita Mills rita.mills@comcast.net; www.bookconnectiononline.com
78704 Tanya Hall tanya@greenleafbookgroup.com; www.greenleafbookgroup.com
80015 Judith Briles, PhD judith@briles.com; www.TheBookShepherd.com
85226 Linda Radke info@FiveStarPublications.com; www.FiveStarPublications.com
87505 Ellen Kleiner blessingwy@aol.com; www.blessingway.com
89509 Jacqueline Simonds jcsimonds@beaglebay.com; www.beaglebay.com
90212 Ellen Reid bookshep@mac.com; www.bookshep.com
90245 Jan King jan@janbking.com; www.janbking.com
91304 Alan Gadney info@onebookpro.com; www.onebookpro.com
92111 Lindee Rochelle Lindee@LRochelle.com www.penchantforpenning.com
92653 Sharon Goldinger pplspeak@att.net; www.detailsplease.com/peoplespeak
93103 Gail Kearns Gail@topressandbeyond.com; www.topressandbeyond.com
94304 John Eggen John@MissionMarketingMentors.com and www.missionmarketingmentors.com
94801 Peter Beren peterberen@aol.com; www.peterberen.com
95437 Cynthia Frank cynthia@cypresshouse.com; www.cypresshouse.com
95476 Simon Warwick-Smith Bunyip@vom.com; www.warwickassociates.net
Canada Barbara Florio Graham BFG@SimonTeakettle.com; www.SimonTeakettle.com
Canada Serena Williamson Andrew Ph.D info@bookcoachpress.com and www.bookcoachpress.com
Malaysia Shum F.P. shumfp@pd.jaring.my and www.infopreneur-books-publishing.com
New Zealand/Australia Maria Carlton maria@marukibooks.com and www.marukibooks.com
Singapore Patrick Ang patrick.anglh@yahoo.com.sg and www.bookmanna.com
South Africa Val Waldeck vwaldeck@telkomsa.net and www.pilgrimpublications.biz
UK Mindy Gibbins-Klein mindy@bookmidwife.com; www.bookmidwife.com
About Book Publicist Scott Lorenz
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors to promote all types of books, whether it's their first book or their 15th. He's handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman's World, & Howard Stern, to name a few.

Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at http://www.book-marketing-expert.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 734-667-2090. Follow Lorenz on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/aBookPublicist

Join Us for a Conversation with Reverend Dieuner Joseph

Reverend Dieuner Joseph is well-aware of the importance of living a balanced life. He has spoken about it in his sermons and on his radio show; he has written about it in his weekly devotional and on his blog. But best of all, he lives it every day, and now he is sharing his guidance in his new book, Created to Live a Balanced Life: 8 Holistic Steps to Transformation.

Created to Live a Balance Life teaches us how to heal our spiritual wounds and become the best version of ourselves. It focuses on discipline, self-esteem, and faith as the necessary ingredients for success, and offers real-world advice on everything from diet and exercise to our relationships with our spouses and children. But the most important relationship, however, is the one each of us has with God, and Reverend Joseph helps us cultivate that as well.  

Reverend Dieuner Joseph is the CEO of the Holistic Transformation Center, as well as the founder of Imani Temple Baptist Church and Disciple Maker Ministry. He is the author of “Restoring Honor to an Honorable Vocation” and the writer and editor of the blog, “A Pastor’s Reflection”. He also produces an online weekly devotional called “The Wednesday Word” and hosts Reverend Dieuner’s Community Call, an interactive radio show on Talkshoe.com. Reverend Joseph holds a Bachelor’s degree from Manhattan College, as well as Master’s Degrees in Divinity and Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary. He has also studied at the University of Strasbourg in France.

Click here to listen to the interview

Like what you heard? Visit Reverend Joseph's website to buy the book and learn more about his speaking tour.

Need a Video Trailer for Your Book?

Recently I had the privilege of working with Daniel Harker in the creation of a video trailer for my latest book, Shifting into Purer Consciousness ~ Integrating Spiritual Transformation with the Human Experience. Not only did Daniel do an excellent job as you will see in the video below, he was great to work with—very conscientious about the message as well as the audio-video component. He was also prompt in responding to my emails. I would like to share this resource with other authors, so I’ll let Daniel describe his work to you.

Dear Author,

If you are in need of a video book trailer to help market your book / books, you should consider contracting Dharkerwv Multimedia Productions. My services are skilled, creative, and, when compared to the fees of similar companies, quite affordable. 


My production services offer the added feature of being able to digitally manipulate images, if needed or desired, to make them more individualized for my clients. I can also create portions that are “morphs” that transition from one image to another—a very effective addition.


A new service is to make a presentation version of your trailer, with transition slides at the beginning and end, to make a continuously playing loop for you to burn to DVD and use on your laptop at book signings, etc.


Fees, of course, are based on the length of the presentation required, as well as the necessary time involved. I can assure you, though, that you will not find a better match for your needs at a better price. I understand the expenses that authors incur for promoting their work, and I strive to create high-quality book trailers at a low price.


 If you are interested in querying Dharkerwv Multimedia Productions, please contact me at dharkerwv@msn.com. Place "Query for Book Trailer" in the subject line. When you query regarding my services, I will send you a brief questionnaire to complete that will give me an idea about your book, the kind of trailer you want, your concept or vision for your trailer, and help me to assess an estimation of the fee.


 Daniel Harker
Dharkerwv Multimedia Productions
dharkerwv@msn.com (please put “Query for Book Trailer” in the subject line)

Live from Las Vegas...It's the Aspects of Writing Radio Show

Earlier today I had the pleasure of being a guest on the Aspects of Writing Radio Show, hosted by James Kelly. Today's show focused on importance of securing the right public relations specialist to market your book. The other guests were veteran PR gurus Travis Shortt and Shelley Bruner. Travis Shortt is a former radio personality and co-founder of Aspyr Communications, and Shelley is a former Fox 5 news anchor and currently the Director of Advertising and Public Relations at David Saxe Productions. With their years of experience, they have forgotten more than most of us will ever learn about wooing the media. They provided a wealth of inside tips on what authors need to do, not only to sell their current book, but to brand themselves, and it was indeed a pleasure to speak with them.

This is my second time on the show, and it was even more enjoyable than the first. James Kelly is a wonderful host. With his "round table" platform and conversational interviewing style, he allows for a true exchange of ideas. A number of WITS clients, including comedian Melanie Vare and mystic Dr. Steve Brannon, have been guests, as well as award-winning novelist Michael Loyd Gray. You can listen today's show, as well as archived episodes, by clicking on the link above. Aspects of Writing airs live, every other Tuesday, at 2pm PDT.

In addition, to hosting several radio shows, James Kelly is also the author of two novels. The second, Alien Transcripts: Creating God, is now available for download on Amazon.

Editor's Corner August 2012

Welcome to the August 2012 WITS Newsletter!
By all accounts, it’s been a fairly brutal summer. Even I, a fan of humidity (and long regarded by others as peculiar) have been running my air-conditioner (long regarded by me as a necessary evil) nearly ‘round the clock. Most days, I’m outdoors only long enough to walk to Duncan Donuts for an iced coffee, which has given me extra time to bring you these interesting tidbits.
The first is the Aspects of Writing radio show, hosted by writing guru and all around nice guy, James Kelly. I recently had the pleasure of being James’ guest to discuss book marketing, and I highly recommend his show for writers and book lovers alike. Not only is it a great source of valuable information, it also provides a nurturing environment for those new to the writing business.
The second is an event that will help you beat the heat and enjoy a good laugh at the same time. On Sunday, August 12, Nashville-area residents should head on over to Bongo Java to catch That Time of the Month, a hilarious show of female storytelling. The show’s creator, writer and performer Melanie Vare, is currently compiling a collection of these outrageous stories for a book of the same name. I caught a sneak peak at the manuscript and laughed the whole way through.
Happy August, everyone, and may your writing projects be as hot as asphalt in the summer.

Dana Micheli
Writer and editor, Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services
http://writersinthesky.com
Facebook
LinkedIn

Maxine Thompson on Writers in the Sky Podcast

Hello, everyone! I know it’s been a while since I’ve hosted Writers in the Sky Podcast, but today is a special day because my friend Maxine Thompson has launched another wonderful novel. You may remember her first book, L.A. Blues, and the well-written scenes and well-developed characters she created for us to enjoy in that read. Now, we have the privilege of reading L.A. Blues II, in which many of those beloved characters return to take us on another adventure. Here is a synopsis of the sequel.

Running her private detective agency, staying off the sauce, and coming to the rescue of her trouble-prone family members keeps former LAPD cop Zipporah “Z” Saldano very busy. And now, just as she’s on the verge of tracking down the notorious serial killer known as the Grim Sleeper—and just as things are getting hot and heavy with hard-bodied detective Romero Gonzalez—word comes that Z’s brother, Mayhem, has been kidnapped. The name should be a dead giveaway; but Z is shocked when the Feds inform her of Mayhem’s long rap sheet, and his new role as a snitch, which seriously threatens to shorten his lifespan. Shuttling between LA and Brazil, Z desperately tries to free her brother…but what she learns will shake her to the core.

I hope you will enjoy this interview with Maxine as she shares how she got started as a writer, what inspired her to write this book, and the message/legacy she hopes readers will gain; and, if you haven’t met Zipporah Saldano and her circle of friends and family, you will get a personal introduction to them.

Dr. Maxine Thompson is a novelist, poet, columnist, short story writer, book reviewer, book blogger, an editor, a ghostwriter, an Internet Radio Show Host for past 10 years, and a Literary Agent. She is the author of novels, The Ebony Tree, Hostage of Lies, and LA Blues and LA Blues II, Short story Collection, A Place Called Home (Kindle Bestseller) , (Non fiction) The Hush Hush Secrets of Writing Fiction That Sell, The Hush Hush Secrets of Making Money as a writer, a contributor to bestselling anthologies Secret Lovers, All in The Family, and Never Knew Love Like This Before, (Also a Kindle Bestseller), Proverbs for the People, Saturday Morning (Contributor, and Edited Anthology for Saturday Morning Literary Workshop.) She was included in Heather Covington's book, Literary Divas; The Top 100+ Most Admired African-American Women in Literature. (www.amberbooks.com. Released April 2006).

You can contact Maxine Thompson on the web at: http://www.maxinethompson.com or http://www.maxinethompsonbooks.com. She is @MaxineEThompson on Twitter and Maxine-Thompson on Facebook. Both books in my series are available on line, and on Black Expressions.

Yvonne Perry,
Owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services and the author of SHIFTING INTO PURER CONSCIOUSNESS ~ Integrating Spiritual Transformation with the Human Experience and WHOSE STUFF IS THIS? ~Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings, and Energy of Those Around You.

WITS Announcements

As a subscriber to Writers in the Sky Newsletter, you are entitled to share your announcements with our readers. See guidelines at http://writersinthesky.blogspot.com/p/submit-your-material.html and send your material to us before the 24th of each month to make the next month’s issue. Anything posted in WITS Newsletter is also shared with our blog readers at http://writersinthesky.blogspot.com.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Len Edgerly, who blogs and hosts a weekly podcast about the Kindle and eBooks at thekindlechronicles.com, is doing an informal survey comparing the Kindle Fire and E Ink Kindles as platforms for reading. If you have both devices and would be willing to describe briefly what sorts of book or publication reading you do on each, please email the info to Len: PodChronicles @Gmail DOT Com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Read the first chapter for free and then decide if you want to download the 3-hour-long mp3 audio book of More Than Meets the Eye ~ True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife for only $7.00 http://deathdyingafterlife.blogspot.com/p/chapter-1.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Each story in The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children focuses on life skills such as environmental awareness, helping others, being true to one’s self, overcoming fear, and following inner guidance. http://TheSidSeries.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Whose Stuff Is This? Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings, and Energy of Those around You is a guidebook for empathic people who have been unknowingly carrying energetic burdens that belong to someone else. See all purchasing options at http://whosestuffisthis.blogspot.com/p/purchase-book.html.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
State of Appreciation is a free weekly online newsletter that blends practical & spiritual approaches to enhance personal power and self-realization. Offers empowering articles, gifts, and free contemporary and classic empowerment downloads free at http://stateofappreciation.weebly.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While taking a metaphysical class, WITS team member Dana Micheli met an amazing illustrator. If you are looking for someone to create an original piece for your book cover, you may want to connect with Diane Daversa on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Diane-Daversa-Fine-Art/109782219119036
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shifting into Purer Consciousness ~ Integrating Spiritual Transformation with the Human Experience is about how to embrace multidimensional frequencies, lessen physical and emotional symptoms of rapid spiritual ascension, and offers tips to make the ascension process easier and quicker.

WITS & WAO Podcast Schedules August 2012

Writers in the Sky Podcast is a Nashville-based talk show about writing, publishing, and book marketing. An educational tool for people who want to learn more about the craft and business of writing, this show offers interviews with authors and writers, as well as the latest news about books currently on the market. You will also learn about publishing methods and marketing techniques as we interview publishers and publicists. Listen to archived shows via RSS Feed. Download WITS Podcast on iTunes for your iPod or iPad.

August 17: Reverend Dieuner Joseph will speak with Dana Micheli about his new book, Created to Live a Balanced Life: 8 Steps to Holistic Transformation. Reverend Joseph will discuss his inspiration for writing the book and how he uses his trademark combination of empathy, scripture, and a dash of common sense to help heal a wounded soul.

August 31: Award-winning author Michael Loyd Gray returns to discuss King Biscuit, the story of a young man's coming of age during the turbulent 1960s. Like his previous novel, Not Famous Anymore, King Biscuit takes us on a physical and spiritual journey across the nation and into the hearts of men. It is also yet another example of Gray's undeniable talent and his dedication to crafting the quintessential American novel.

We Are One in Spirit Podcast

We Are One in Spirit Podcast allows people of all walks of life to discuss their spiritual journey and life-transforming experiences that remind us that we are all ONE IN SPIRIT. Uplifting, enlightening, and insightful topics include healing, empathy, intuition, spiritual/psychic gifts, metaphysics, soul development, afterlife, spirit communication, and more. This interactive teleconference offers listeners a chance to chat directly with Yvonne Perry about spiritual matters of soul development. See http://weareoneinspirit.blogspot.com/p/wao-podcast.html for details

If you missed Shifting into Purer Consciousness Ascension Training Telesummit and would like to listen to the replays, the collection of audios is now available for purchase at http://live-spirit.com/shifting-into-purer-consciousness-with-yvonne-perry/.