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 In many of the unpublished novels I read, I'm often 40 pages into a manuscript before I have any idea of a main character's journey.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
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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.

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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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/.

Are You Losing Money by Doing Your Own Work?

by Kathleen Gage The Street Smarts Speaker and Author

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the average small business owner spends up to 40% of his or her time on routine administrative tasks.

Constantly working on non revenue-producing tasks that could be more productively and cost-effectively performed by a highly skilled, knowledgeable assistant is losing your business significant income.

As you grow your business, it will be necessary to consider outside help. Over the last few years, the Virtual Assistant industry has taken the market by storm. What was practically unheard of a few years ago is now a viable and growing industry.

When done correctly, one of the greatest advantages in hiring a Virtual Assistant (VA’s) is you can focus on higher level objectives while your VA takes on a huge part of your workload.

Virtual Assistants range in expertise, specialty and pricing. Most VA’s work on a per hour rate, retainer fee or contract basis. VA’s either own and operate their business or contract under an umbrella agency. This means you are not responsible for employee taxes, benefits or insurance, which can substantially reduce your costs and liability.

A VA’s experience level range from new to the industry to many years of experience. However, most have previous work experience that qualifies them to jump right into the services they offer.

The VA’s goal is to help your company grow. In essence, when you succeed, they succeed. Unlike a temporary agency where you might get a different temporary worker for each job you have, with a VA the same person works with you on an ongoing basis.

Depending on your needs, you can hire a VA for as few or as many hours a week as you need. You can also hire on a per project basis.

Again, this means you are not burdened with hiring a part- or full-time employee. You simply hire as needed.

In many cases, once you contract a VA you will be charged for phone conversations, planning sessions and any project changes you make. Be aware of spending too much time just “shooting the breeze” with your VA as it can cost you money and time.

Before hiring a VA, determine your needs, plan how you will utilize their time and be prepared. Some of your projects will require you to contract vendors who handle specific types of tasks such as editing, copywriting, transcription services and web design. However, a highly skilled VA may be able to do many of the above-mentioned tasks.

If you are on a limited budget, you may be able to negotiate the pay structure to include commissions and bonuses. Some VA’s may be willing to take a lower hourly rate if there is an opportunity for commissions or bonuses. For example, if you have a VA who books speaking engagements for you, you can offset the hourly amount with a generous commission structure. However, before you offer commissions and bonuses, make sure the VA is qualified and skilled to handle the specific jobs you need done. You may also be able to negotiate one fee for any training you do and a higher fee when the VA is fully trained.

Hiring a Virtual Assistant is not something that should be taken lightly. It is a position of trust and confidence. Often the VA has access to your usernames and passwords, confidential information, financial data, databases and other highly sensitive information.

A partial list of what a VA can do:

• Transcription services
• Set up a blog
• Blogging on your behalf
• Post to blogs and forums
• Set up Virtual Book Tours
• Submit and track articles to directories
• Answer support emails
• Set up autoresponders
• Write media releases
• Distribute media releases
• Clean up a mailing list
• Do keyword research
• Proof copy and provide editing services
• Assist with teleconferences and seminars
• Update web pages and build squeeze pages
• Input sequential autoresponder messages
• Organize joint ventures and submit bonus items and programs
• Bookkeeping
• Concierge services
• Sales
• Marketing
• Travel arrangements
• Event planning
• Procedure documentation

You can choose to use a VA agency or contract an independent VA. It all depends on your needs, plans and budget. Take time to interview your VA prior to hiring them. Check their references and track record.

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*****If you are looking for a VA to help with administrative tasks, please consider Katie Perry. She has worked as Yvonne Perry's admin for five and half years, so she'll be well trained and learns fast. Contact Katie at Katie[at]writersinthesky[dot]com or learn more here. ******

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For even more information about marketing your book online, read Book Marketing in the Digital Age, Online Promotion Made Easy.



Purchase Now!

Poetry and Prose Corner July 2012

Eclipse
By: Pamela Rossow

It was not enough to be
drenched in your sun
showers to have your
fingers trail moonlight
through my hair for your
blazing lips to lock noon
heat between us.

I needed more than
galaxies between my
thighs daybreaks in
your smiles starlight
in your eyes I tasted
forever on your tongue
heard always in your
heartbeat outlined we
on your chest.

It was enough to be cast
in shadow to have my
sundial blotted out by your
clouds to see the negligible
pebbles in the hourglass to
know the darkened cemetery
in your mouth was too much.

Pamela Rossow is a writer who defies some of what that term implies: she does not own a cat, she likes to talk, she enjoys some stories that begin with, “On a dark and stormy night…”, and drinks chai. She does, however, find words like “beguile,” “inky” and “fizzle” intriguing. She holds a BA from Florida Atlantic University and has been published in a variety of genres online and in print.


Wellsprings of Happiness
By Dennis S Martin

Bubbling up,
Trickling down,
Springing from somewhere
Deep underground.

Growing in strength,
Merging in flow,
Gravity dictating
Where you will go.

Soothing the sorrow,
Easing the pain,
Cooling the swelter
Like sweet summer rain.

Endlessly moving,
Cannot be still,
Dreams to fruition,
Fortunes to fill.

Hope to deliver,
Laughter to deal.
Wellsprings of happiness,
Help me to heal.

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

Healing is Beautiful

By Dana Micheli
Like most artists, Denise DeMaras is inspired and sustained by the beauty she sees in the world; this is apparent in the vivid colors of her paintings and the moving verses of her poetry. And, like most artists, she is also well aware that the act of creating brings one a sense of peace, clarity, purpose and connection. What sets her apart is how she utilizes this awareness as a self-healing practice. For years she has taught others how to incorporate beauty and creativity into their own healing process; and now her book, Heal from Your Heart, With Breath, Rhyme and Art teaches readers new and traditional self healing practices to effect a holistic mind/body/heart transformation.

This introductory guide illustrates a series of easy to follow practices that have at their core mindful breathing. Breathing exercises are absolutely critical to quiet the mind, balance the body, and center the heart, which are essential to purging painful memories that can manifest as physical ailments or prevent inner peace. These memories can also leave what Denise refers to as “residue” on the heart, leading to dysfunctional relationships, a lack of confidence, balance, and self-esteem.

Heal from Your Heart is also a deeply personal account of Denise’s own journey to self-healing. From an early age, her life was marked by dramatic changes and family upheavals that left her with an often stifling fear and profound pain. However, instead of allowing it to control her life, Denise used it to fuel her search for new innovative ways to clear her mind, heart and body of negative emotions. For the next two decades, she not only studied ancient techniques such as yoga, meditation and chanting, but invented new methods to clear resistance, construct healthy boundaries and effect healing.

One of these methods, Rhyme to Heal®, is a fun, simple, and effective practice that Denise created while recovering from a 2010 car accident. Rhyming clears the mind and reveals and reduces stress, anxiety, fear and pain to allow personal understanding and deep, heart-centered healing. It is also a fun exercise, with none of the pressure that people often feel when they begin traditional practices like meditating. Experience has shown her that everyone is unique, and each has an inner artist to lead the way to healing emotional pain through the creative process. For some this is painting, for others crafts, but anyone can learn to purge their thoughts and feelings through the creative, self healing practice of rhyming.

Heal from Your Heart with Breathe Rhyme and Art will be released in September 2012. To learn more about Denise Demaras’ work as an artist and Self-Healing Coach, visit http://www.facebook.com/denise.demaras or follow her @mindfulmusing

Book with a View July 2012

Title: Beauty Behind the Mask!
Author: Melanie Brown
Publisher: Arthur House Publishing (March 14, 2012)
Reviewer: Dana Micheli

Melanie Brown’s Beauty Behind the Mask! is a fanciful story of sisterhood, sorcery, and the power of love to defeat even the darkest evil.

Life was not easy in the 14th century, especially for women. For Othelia Maria Valance, it is about to get a lot more complicated. As the youngest of Jolene Valance’s three daughters, Othelia has always enjoyed her loving mother’s undivided attention. Her oldest sister Marleen only cares about male suitors, and Alita, the middle sister, was sent away years ago for having a “dark personality”. When Alita suddenly returns, the family is turned upside down. As Alita and Othelia begin spending more and more time together, strange things begin to happen. Othelia realizes that she has mysterious and wonderful healing gifts, and she and Alita begin working together to help the villagers. But then Othelia falls ill with a mysterious illness, and when she regains consciousness, Alita tells their mother has died. Feeling devastated and alone, Othelia as no one but Alita to rely on. Can she trust this seemingly kind sister she has never known? As they embark on a journey through villages ravaged by war and crushing poverty, Alita will learn the true meaning of love, passion and above all, sisterhood.

Beauty Behind the Mask! is a heartbreaking but inspiring tale of mysticism, loss and courage in the face of bigotry. Brown’s descriptions are so vivid that they border on palpable. I could see the bloody, war torn battlefields and feel Othelia’s fear that she and her sister will be accused of witchcraft. It is also a fascinating historical sketch of the beliefs during that time period, particularly those concerning women. I didn’t want it to end, and can only hope we won’t have to wait too long before Melanie Brown’s next book comes out.

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Title: Sabotage
Author: Apostle Kevin A. Johnson
Publisher: AuthorHouse (March 26, 2012)
Reviewer: Dana Micheli

In his ministry, Apostle Kevin A. Johnson preaches that the greatest danger to humanity is a defeated mind. When we don’t believe in ourselves and what God can do in our lives, we make all sorts of decisions that can lead us down the wrong road. But what we may not know is that we are not completely responsible for this; there are forces, both seen and unseen, that can destroy us. Now, in his new book, Sabotage, he teaches us how to recognize these dangers, both in ourselves and those around us.

Sabotage is an inspirational guide to eradicating our “spiritual terrorists” and living a healthy, Christ-centered life. Like Dust Collector, Johnson’s previous book, Sabotage provides moral support for people facing their biggest challenges and darkest hours. Although the answers to these problems may seem complicated, the reality is simple: once you accept Christ and become born again, your work, relationships, and finances will begin to take miraculous turns beyond your wildest dreams.

Apostle Kevin A. Johnson is a minister, counselor, and writer based in Nashville, Tennessee. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Theology and a minor in Pastoral Studies from the American Baptist Theological Seminary, where he graduated magna cum laude and was twice-named Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. He also received special recognition for outstanding service by former Tennessee Governor Don Sundquist.

In addition to his ministry, Apostle Johnson and his wife Terrah operate Just Breathe Ministries, LLC. They have five children.

Editor's Corner July 2012

As many of you know, Yvonne Perry is busy promoting her incredible new book, Shifting into Purer Consciousness ~ How to Embrace and Integrate Multidimensional Frequencies, so I am happy to welcome you to summer, WITS-style, with our July newsletter.

Summer is a time for friends, fun, family, and as always, balance. All through the dreary winter months, we wait for that first sign of green, that first smell of honeysuckle. When it finally arrives, it brings with it pool parties, days at the beach, and family reunions. But as wonderful as all of that is, it can also prove to be a distraction from that book we are writing. Sure, when it’s thirty degrees and snowy, it’s easy to sit at the computer for hours on end; but when it’s eighty degrees and sunny? Not so much.

As Yvonne wrote in her recent blog post, our lives are often influenced by environmental forces beyond our control. This would be true even if it wasn’t a year of global transformation. So if you find yourself torn between writing your book and going on that picnic, don’t be too hard on yourself. Everything has its time and place, and sometimes what feels like “procrastinating” or “slacking off” is really a much-needed mental and physical release that will allow you to redouble your writing efforts later on. It can also help you beat back that awful writer’s block.

This summer is already off to a great start for me. As usual, I am working with many wonderful clients around the country (and a few abroad), and it is both a pleasure and an honor to assist them with their writing and marketing projects. With so much to do, I’m going to have take my own advice and make time to enjoy nature and, of course, my family.




Dana Micheli
Writer and editor, Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services
http://writersinthesky.com
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Join the Human Race

Do you feel alone and isolated? Do you feel as if you are the only person in the world? If you do, the answer is to join the human race.

You are each unique; but, underneath it all, you are the same. You are part of the whole of all creation. Yet to feel that way, you need to join hands and embrace your common humanity.

It is said that no man is an island. You do not need to do it alone. When you join with your brothers and sisters, you will feel a part of something greater than yourself.

Some people choose to say that is God. Some people simply experience it as being part of a family or group. Whatever is the case for you, allow yourself to share in the group experience.

Try to see your common identity with people that you might judge to be different than yourself. You will be amazed at the common bond you will feel. When you stop focusing on differences, you will align yourself with something that is greater than yourself. It will be a liberating experience.

To remain isolated and separate from the whole, your ego will lead the way. This will only lead to conflict. You will not remain at peace.

Do you want to find freedom? Do you want happiness? If that is the case, step aside from your ego. Identify and relate to others instead of comparing yourself against them. That only leads to judgment and a false sense of reassurance.

If someone has harmed you, do as Jesus said and turn the other cheek. That's not to say, let them walk all over you. Just walk away from the conflict and offer up love and forgiveness.

To take on a resentment, will only keep you locked in a prison of your own making. It will become a poisonous brew that will only hurt yourself. You deserve freedom. You deserve joy.

Allow yourself to align with that greater spirit that unites us all. That is the pathway to peace, freedom, and joy. That is the way to join humanity and become part of the human race.

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

Author Blogging 101: Keyword Basics

by Joel Friedlander
Ed: Keywords are one of the Building Blocks of SEO for your author blog.

Okay, so you decided to publish your own book (congratulations!) and, following all the advice for indie authors out there, you’ve decided you need a website or an author blog.

Everyone says so, and it makes sense. A blog will give you a chance to explore the ideas in your book, bounce new plans off readers, build a community of interest, and make it much more likely your books will reach a receptive audience.

It all sounds good, doesn’t it?

But as many writers know, there’s one flaw in this picture:

How the heck do you get online readers to actually pay attention to what you’re writing?

Traffic, Traffic, Where’s the Traffic?

Too many blogs wither and die because the blogger who began with such enthusiasm never found an answer to this question. A blog without readers is futile and depressing. You can only publish into this void for so long before you decide there must be better ways to use your time.

So this becomes an existential problem for your blog: without readers, it’s likely to cease to exist. This means that finding readers for your writing is the number-one, most-important job you do as a blogger.

Nobody told you that, did they?

But wait, there’s good news too. There are powerful forces at work, and they stand ready to help you keep that blog—and your dreams of gathering a community—alive. These forces command hordes—hundreds of millions of people—and these people are asking questions, looking for things, and trying to solve problems, whatever they are.

You, the content creator and blogger, have answers to specific questions. If you could connect your answers to the questions those millions of people are asking, your blog—and your books—could prosper.

So what are these mysterious forces? Search engines.

How can we enlist them to help in the life-or-death-of-the-blog struggle?

Starting at the Beginning

Let’s go back to where it all starts.

People have questions and problems. Since the internet has penetrated every area of day to day life, many of us are in front of a web browser nearly every minute of the day. This is only becoming truer as we now carry an internet connection around in our pockets and purses.

It’s only logical that people have become accustomed to looking for solutions and answers online, and the way we do that is through search.

Search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo! are in the business of providing the best answers to questions they can find. Your job is to figure out how to connect your content to those searches, and that’s exactly where keywords come in.

When someone sits down and types a query into a search bar, they are creating keywords.

How? Keywords are simply the words or phrases people commonly use to search for answers in your genre or category.

If you could find out what those words and phrases are, it stands to reason that you could use that information to make your content more attractive to the search engines that are looking for answers to those questions.

Keyword Tools

The whole study of keywords is actually pretty deep. Lots of people are researching keywords all the time and, as you might suspect, there are lots of tools to help internet marketers, bloggers, and other people who want to attract traffic online find and use keywords.

That’s a big study, so here I’m going to give you two super simple and easy ways to get started discovering the keywords that have the most power in your own niche or category.

The first of these isn’t even a real “tool” at all, but it works like one. I’m talking about using the search bar itself as a source of instant information.

How does that work? Have you ever noticed that when you start typing a question into most search engines’ search bars, you are presented with potential matches? It’s called predictive matching, where the software is guessing what you’re looking for to save you time.

But guess what? All those matches you’re looking at are actually other people’s searches, specifically the most popular ones that match what you are entering.

For example, suppose I’m looking for a pizza dough recipe. I start entering letters and by the time I get to “p-i-z-z-a- d-o-” I’m looking at these choices:

pizza dough recipe
pizza dough
pizza dough recipe with yeast
pizza dough without yeast
pizza dough recipe no yeast, etc.

Right away, this tells you something about what other people are looking for. Suppose you are publishing about yeast-free baking, a real niche topic. This gives you a head start on finding the words and phrases that are the most popular with the people you are trying to reach.

The second tool is the Google Adwords External Keyword Tool, which is supplied to advertisers for their own research, but you can use it for free, too.

This is where it gets really interesting. If you search for the phrases that came up in your predictive search testing, you’ll find some amazing results. For instance, our pizza baking author would find that there are a lot more searches for some of these phrases than others:

make pizza without yeast = 3,600 monthly searches
pizza dough recipe no yeast = 8,100 monthly searches
pizza dough without yeast = 14,800 monthly searches

There is no way to figure this out without doing the research, but I think you can see right away that this author is going to try to work with the third keyword phrase, which has four times as many searches. Wouldn’t you?

Even More Keywords

The Adwords tool will also give you lots and lots of related keyword phrases, too. For instance, this search also turned up phrases like:

easy pizza dough without yeast (1,000)
make pizza crust without yeast (320)
dough without yeast (18,000)
and lots more, too.

Another way to use these keywords is to do your own searches on them and see who comes up on the first page of search results. Checking into these sites and seeing how they are “ranking” for that specific keyword phrase will tell you a lot about how you can do something similar.

There’s no replacement for this type of research, and if you plan to keep publishing in this category or niche, it makes sense to gradually become familiar with the most common keywords in your area. There will likely be dozens of them.

Not Just Blogs

Keep in mind that you can use this same research for any writing you’re doing online that you hope will come to the attention of search engines prowling for good content to present to searchers.

For instance, if you upload videos to a hosting site like YouTube.com or Vimeo.com, you’ll want your keywords in the description field. The same goes for podcasts and for captions on photos or illustrations.

If you pay attention to these keywords and include them in a natural way in the copy you write, you’ll find that search engines will gradually associate you with those searches. That means they’ll start to send searchers to your blog posts and web pages.

And that’s exactly what we set out to do.

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.