Friday, November 27, 2009

Five Writing Tips for All Levels of Writers

By Robert Medak,
Freelance Writer/Editor
http://www.stormywriter.com/

First, is that if the story is not believable to you, it will not be to the reader. It is fine to come up with plot, setting, characters, and such, but if it does not ring true, your audience will call you on it. If you are a new writer, you will most likely be rejected if you try to submit your manuscript.

Make sure you check your spelling, punctuation, and grammar. It cannot be stressed enough, DO NOT rely on spell check and grammar check in word processing programs. If you are weak in this area, find a class and learn how to punctuate and learn your grammar.

Second is dialogue. If your characters are of a certain age and they use language that does not fit their age, your characters are not believable and the reader will put down the story and most likely not pick up anything else you might write. If you are writing for yourself and never want to be published, wrong dialogue is probably okay, NOT! If you are going to write something, make it the best you can every time you put words on paper.

Third is, make sure you use the right word. As Mark Twain said, “The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter--it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” I could not agree more. Spend the money and get a good dictionary and thesaurus. Do not let them sit on the shelf collecting dust; USE THEM!

Ray Bradbury mentioned in a lecture before Southwest Manuscriptors the fourth and possibly the most important tip is “READ!” Read the classics, read everything you can get your hands on; read, read, read. Only by reading published books, can you get some idea of what works and what does not. Especially if you have say, mysteries in mind, read various authors in the genre.

Fifth, if you decide to edit your own work, set it aside for a minimum of a week. When you come back to it, come with a blue pencil. Take that blue pencil and take out the irrelevant junk. Make sure the meaning of what you want to say is clear. Does what you read while editing move the story along? Are your characters believable? Are they fully fleshed out?

There is more, but you get the idea.

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Tuesday, November 24, 2009

25 Book Fairs Authors Should Attend


by Scott Lorenz

Are book fairs an effective way to promote books? As a book publicist and book marketing specialist, I am the first to impress on authors the new and powerful marketing avenues open to all authors on the Internet – from book websites to book trailers to social networks like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. While these are fantastic tools when used properly, authors should never overlook opportunities to meet the reading public face-to-face where they can easily be found – at book fairs, book festivals, trade shows, book conferences and conventions.

Any book event, regardless of size and name recognition, is worth attending by an author who is serious about promoting their book. This requires personal effort and time by the author in person. People don’t want to meet the author’s assistant or friend; no they want to talk to the author.

Book fairs provide an excellent chance to learn more about the publishing industry, about booksellers, publishers, distributors and marketers. The attending author will also learn a great deal about what readers want and how to reach readers. And while acquiring a vast amount of knowledge about the book industry, the author can also take advantage of the chance to expose their book and name to a new audience – leaders in the book industry who are interested in meeting new authors. While you may not walk away with a book deal you’ll make yourself known to the movers and shakers and that has long-lasting benefits. Remember, word of mouth is one of the strongest promotional tools available and authors need to be where the mouths are – the mouths of book publishers, distributors, promoters, agents and readers – at book fairs, conventions and conferences.

Book fairs provide an excellent opportunity to encounter media reps in search of a story. Producers of TV and radio programs, editors of newspapers, magazines, book reviewers and online media outlets attend these events in search of stories that otherwise would be under their radar. Never, never pass up on the opportunity to meet the media. Keep an eye out for small I-phone sized video cameras too as they shoot broadcast quality footage in natural light. If you see somebody using one, invite them over and give them a pitch. They could be shooting for C-SPAN, CNN, a book review blog or the local cable show; you won’t know unless you ask.

The major book conferences and conventions involve travel expenses such as airlines and hotel lodging, and a week’s investment of your time. But book fairs can be found close to home, easily accessed by car and often are only one or two days. A typical regional book fair will have 1,000 or more attendees and 100 or more exhibitors, providing a realistic exposure of 300 visitors a day. Why would an author not want to spend a Saturday and a Sunday within 100 miles of home to meet 600 readers or a reporter, editor or book reviewer?

At a book fair, just as at a book signing event, the author will want to bring promotional literature to pass out. Passing out promotional bookmarks or book covers is a great way to generate future sales for months and months after the book fair ends. The give-away should contain the author’s contact information, the book’s name, the front cover artwork, author’s website address, and where the book can be purchased online.

I also remind my author clients that book fairs often need speakers. By volunteering to speak, the author not only gains great exposure but can also add that appearance to their resume and press releases. But plan ahead; dates for panel participants, speakers and autograph sessions are arranged months in advance.

Book fairs are often attended by best-selling authors who will be willing to spend time with you sharing tips on writing, on how to be successful, and advice on where to find the help you need.

In summary, book fairs are wonderful places to interact with fellow authors, publishers, network with book industry leaders, locate the help you need such as a publicist or book editor, and learn what’s new in the marketplace. For more information about upcoming book events on C-SPAN2 visit http://www.BookTV.org

Here is a list of 25 book fairs and events that are worthy of your attendance (courtesy of Noel Griese, Editor of Southern Review of Books http://www.anvilpub.net/southern_review_of_books.htm)



Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, http://www.westwindcos.com/ 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 promoting all types of books, whether it's their first book or their 15th book. He's handled publicity for books by CEOs, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC Nightly News, The New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Family Circle, Woman's World, & Howard Stern to name a few. Learn more about Westwind http://www.book-marketing-expert.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 734-667-2090

Poetry Corner November 2009

Boy’s Night Out

Spend the whole week waitin’
Just anticipatin’
One night a week that I can bust loose,
Where the rooster is a’crowin’
And testosterone is flowin’
And a guy can give the devil a goose.
It’s a ritual demand
That the girls don’t understand,
They can’t figure out what it’s all about.
It comes on like a fever
And there’s only one reliever
When it comes around to boy’s night out.

Ooohh, I got to get it goin’
Got to have a little fun.
Got a few seed left that still need sewin’
Put the devil on the run,
In a place that’s void of inhibitions
Where I won’t be afraid to shout.
Just keeps the beer flowin’,
Don’t care where I’m goin’,
Cruisin’ by on boy’s night out.

I’ve been workin’ for a dollar
Til it makes me wanna holler
And give the boss a piece of my mind,
But I try to hold it in until Friday night and then
I’m able to relax and unwind. We play a hand or two,
Maybe shoot a round of pool
And complain out loud til there’s no doubt.
Every challenge that we air,
Every problem, every dare,
We solve it all on boy’s night out.

Dennis S Martin
Website: http://www.iwritesome.com/
Blog: http://www.iwritesome.blogspot.com/
Storefront: www.lulu.com/dsmartin



Finding Myself in a Sugar Bowl

My Wedgwood sugar bowl
burgeons with scraps, crumpled,
stuffed with promises. Sad,
limp fragments, unused,
phrases forgotten
or pencil-faded. A recycler
at heart, I think I must use
them, know a lifetime
not enough to make poems
of them all. The future of cold
is infinite. Poetry an uneven
equation, one shredded
idea not another's equivalent.
One only. One hope. One that pops
itself from the pot, makes me
retrieve it,
unfold it

maybe you'll be like your dad
maybe you'll be better than your . . .

Carolyn Howard-Johnson, Award-winning author of the HowToDoItFrugally Series of Books for writers http://www.blogger.com/”http://www.HowToDoItFrugally.com”



Full Moon

One Moon Leaps From A Jar
Filled With Honey
Now Covered In Bees
It Becomes A Center

I Spin Like A Spoke
To See My Self
As Another Moon
Wanders Through
Yesterday

Caught In A Milky Way
Another Moon Drips In Carmel
Licking Its Lips In Silence
As Energy Splits A Hair
With Independence

Filtered Dreams Bake
A Moonlit Shadow
While Oceans
Make Waves
Of Themselves

Conscious Fragments Protrude
From Sun Spots
While Numbers Crack
Meaning On Half Moon’s
Other Half

Full Moon Drifts Alone
With Nothing
But Threads
Of Consciousness
To Smile About

http://www.shortsleeves.net/
http://halmanogue.blogspot.comsurvive/



SURVIVE ALIVE

They ‘jacked her from the fast food drive-through.
Car-jacked the Lexus from the drive-through.
Then the ATM; they needed cash, too.
You know, the ATM; they needed cash, too.

They drove through a parking lot full of kids.
Parking lot full of screaming, shouting kids.
Showed her off; that’s what they did.
Showed off her and the Lexus; that’s what they did.

Quiet little voice inside her head,
Quiet little voice inside her said,
“Make them like you or you’re dead.”
“Better make them like you or you’re dead.”

“Guess that waltz sounds funny to you.”
“Probably the opera would sound funny to you.”
“Just let me out; keep the car and money, too.”
“Please let me out; keep the car and money, too.”

They drove to the lake in the bright moonlight.
Down to the boat ramp, moon was shining bright.
They pushed her out, drove away; she was alive.
They pushed her out, drove away; she had survived.

A screaming, laughing voice inside her head,
Screaming, laughing voice inside her said,
“They must have liked you a little, you’re alive.”
“They must have liked you enough, you survived.”

I know that woman; her name is Julie.
She’s smart and strong, and sweet.
Because she’s smart and strong and sweet – she survived.
She’s smart and strong and sweet, and she’s alive.

Jan Bossing © 2007; Joelton, Tennessee



Ode to Autumn

Trees show off a new wardrobe
of red, yellow and orange leaves.
Pumpkin pies beckon to you
to take one home on Thanksgiving Day.
And a turkey filled with apple & cranberry stuffing
is waiting to be carved.

It's that time of year
To say thanks for all we have
To remember those who have less
To tell someone "I love you"
To live life to the very fullest
To be the very best you can be!
Most of all, on that lovely Autumn day,
remember to pray!

Irene Brodsky, Author of Poetry Unplugged


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Saturday, November 21, 2009

The Publisher as Promoter: Small Book Big Payoffs

BACKGROUND

In a contest between well-laid plans and Fate, put your money on Fate. Here’s my example of the surprises Fate has up her voluminous sleeve. In 1984, I held a day job in Los Angeles and worked nights teaching courses at National University. Unbeknownst to me, the Department of Defense (DOD) called the university one day and asked them to recommend someone to teach business writing to federal employees. The university gave them my name, and not long after, I was asked to submit a proposal. Thus began a corporate training/publishing career—one I’d never intended to pursue but one that instead, has pursued me for the last quarter of a century.

The Los Angeles area, of course, is at the epicenter of aerospace industries and it wasn’t long before my university students were recommending me to their employers, companies such as Lockheed-Martin, Northrop-Grumman, Allied-Signal, and TRW Aerospace. It was time for me to start my one-woman firm--the Center for Professional Development.

Intent on succeeding in the professional big leagues—my background was high school English teacher, after all--I soon realized that if I could convert my course material into small books, I’d have several advantages. And so, CPD Press was born. The process of turning my curricula into books for my students was a relatively easy one; it has paid off handsomely.

I found an excellent printer, Bookmasters, whose fees are very reasonable (approximately $2 per 64-page book for a run of 1000). My very first book, PowerWriting, set me apart from my competitors. Although essentially a work book for use in class situations, it was also a stand-alone purchase: quiz answers in the back of the book made it an excellent resource for any business person interested in improving his or her writing skills—inside or outside a classroom situation.

Assuming the content of the book is impeccable and the design, impressive, it doesn’t really matter if a books says CPD Press or McGraw-Hill. After all, if a client is considering using my services, seeing my Fortune 100 clients listed on the back cover carries more weight, I believe, than seeing the logo from a major publisher. (I also list the table of contents on the back as further evidence of my experiential “gravitas.”)

THE BOOK AS BUSINESS-GETTER

Whenever I respond to a request for a proposal, I include the book with my submission, knowing the recipient will immediately realize the extent of my qualifications to teach this program. Also, the book is the curriculum---I don’t have to prepare anew each time I have a teaching assignment.

Another use: When doing keynotes, I like to engage the audience. I often pose a challenging question, relevant to the topic. The first audience member to share an insightful reply is given the book, my admiration, and the audience’s applause. This small gesture is another way of getting my books “out there.”

And, because the small book is so inexpensive to print, I include it in my marketing materials or use it as a business card when networking. (It’s also easy to include in carry-on luggage.)

THE URGENCY OF TRENDS

I’ve found the small-book format is the most advantageous for the work I do. Not only do printers offer a reduced price because of the number of pages, but mailing costs are minimized. Too, if the book does well, the limited number of pages means a sequel is very easy, very possible.

Finally, the small book allows for rapid response to emerging trends. To illustrate, I wound up doing temp work when I first arrived in California. Working as a secretary was interesting and led to numerous other opportunities. But, as a result of that year, I had enough fodder to offer secretarial seminars.

A professional perfect storm was brewing for me in the mid-80’s—TQM was emerging as a dominant force in the business world. That trend, coupled with my secretarial experience, led to a small book titled The Quality Secretary. It caught the fancy of numerous organizations, including Professional Secretaries International (since renamed IAAP). I was invited to speak to an audience of 6000 at their international convention. Of course, the organization had the books available for back-of-the-room sales. And, because the audience was international, it wasn’t long before I was speaking in Singapore, Brazil, and Canada. In fact, I sold the book’s rights to a training organization in Brazil just a few months after the conference.

THE SMALL BOOK AS RAINMAKER FOR ANY SMALL PRESS

The explosion of technology has created thousands of subject-matter experts (SME) or, at the very least, bloggers with opinions to share. For many e-writers, the continuous stream of wisdom-bites can be assembled into a seminar or program for delivery to a large audience. That seminar information can then easily be converted to self-published books.

Independent publishers will find these SME’s and bloggers a lucrative source of new titles and enhanced revenues from would-be authors.

Small specialized-knowledge books don’t belong to consultants or corporate trainers alone. Any idea-disseminator can use these small books as business-getters. The stigma of self-published content has been eclipsed by the marketability and profitability such books offer the small presses of our industry.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Dr. Marlene Caroselli is the author of 60 business books, many of them self-published, including Principled Persuasion, named a Director’s Choice by Doubleday Book Club.She can be reached at ”mailto:mccpd@frontiernet.net”.
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Friday, November 20, 2009

Join My Blog Tour and Learn to Do Your Own

Author teaches other authors as she tours the Internet from November 20 to December 20.

Nashville, TN—Yvonne Perry is doing more than promote her new book as she travels from blog to blog during her virtual book tour for The Sid Series. She is taking along 2,650 Twitter followers and those who are subscribed to her RSS feed (http://feeds.feedburner.com/OnlinePromotionMadeEasy) for her blog, Online Promotion Made Easy, in order to demonstrate how a virtual book tour works.

She began by posting an article to her blog and inviting her Twitter followers to come and see what her new book is all about. Each book in her children’s book of holistic (body, mind, spirit) stories teaches skills such as following inner guidance, being true to one’s self, or overcoming fear. Modeled after the lessons Yvonne's grandson, Sidney, is teaching her, these stories are great for the classroom, young readers, or toddlers being nurtured at home. But they are also great for kids who are showing spiritual intellect and psychic gifts. http://thesidseries.com.

Then, she began posting information about what a blog tour is and asking people to participate as host “homes” for her progressive “dinner-type” book tour where she would be providing the meal: an article, interview, video clip, or other free content-rich material for readers to enjoy.

“I began the tour thinking I would only ride the virtual circuit for two weeks,” says Ms. Perry, “but the response I got was so positive that I extended it two more weeks to accommodate all the people who were offering their blogs as stops for my tour.”

There are twenty blogs, three radio show interviews, and two stops on Youtube to see audio/video presentations about stories in The Sid Series. Each of the bloggers participating in Yvonne’s book tour from November 20 to December 20, will post unique material they received from the author. Articles will deal with children and past lives, the death of a pet, spirit channeling, imaginary friends, fairies, crystal kids, grand-parenting, and how the author shifted from her staunch Christian views to a metaphysical path. The tour will also share information about the teenage artist who illustrated parts of The Sid Series, and include discussions about how Yvonne wrote and published her book while maintaining her free-lance writing business.

The tour is also being used to teach authors how to conduct a successful virtual book tour. Perry keeps her blog updated with information to help authors learn how to use the Internet and social marketing to create a credible online presence and reach their reader markets.

“Authors are sometimes clueless as to how to promote their books once they’ve published them. I started my book marketing blog in 2008 when I published my e-book Book Marketing in the Digital Age, Online Promotion Made Easy,” says Perry, the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services based in Nashville, Tennessee. “Rather than doing an in-person tour at bookstores where only your friends and a few other people show up, authors are taking to the virtual road to let others know about their work.”

Perry has found a way to incorporate her love for teaching. She has six blogs on various topics such as writing, publishing, book marketing, death and dying, stem cell research, and spirituality. Many of the blogs showcase the books she has written; therefore, all of them cross-promote one another. Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services offers many types of book promotional services for authors http://writersinthesky.com.

Yvonne invites you to join in the fun, learn about her book, and learn how to do your own online blog tour. If you need assistance to set up your own blog tour, please contact Sarah Moore, the author's assistant for Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services.




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Thursday, November 19, 2009

Book with a View 2 November 2009



Book Title: Twinsational
Author: C. Michael Thompson
ISBN: 978-1-4327-3033-8
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com
Genre and Target Market: children’s fiction
Publication Date: 2009
Book Length in Pages: 116

I have been a voracious reader my entire life, spending hours combing the stacks of books in the kids’ section of the library as soon as I was old enough to get my own card. It was not unusual to find me sitting in my favorite tree with a book in hand on a Saturday afternoon. As a child and young teenager, I loved finding stories in which kids my age were involved in adventures into which I could easily transport myself. I had no need for outlandish plots or exaggerated characters. Just give me a great book about average kids and the crazy situations they manage to create. I am now well into my thirties but, through my work in the writing industry, still enjoy the discovery of a book to which kids can really relate and enjoy reading. I have found such a novel in Twinsational, the new release by author C. Michael Thompson.

Twinsational shares one day in the life of Mark and Michelle (known to most as Shelly) Johnson, eleven-year-old brother and sister twins who have each other’s back no matter the situation. The book has all of the elements that most preteens can expect to encounter on a daily basis—the class bully, good friends, demanding teachers, and first crushes. The day begins with the first of many confrontations that the twins have with their nemesis, Bubba, as they walk to school. Once they arrive on campus and meet up with friends, a series of events causes Mark and his friend David to elude the watchful eye of teachers and the new principal, with sister Michelle and her friend Kianna acting as accomplices. As the story unfolds, readers get a real sense of the loyalty shared between the characters in this book and a lesson in making the decision to do the right thing.

For me, the greatest strength of Thompson’s writing is his ability to capture a genuine sense of the way in which preteens interact. Young people who read Twinsational will not feel as if the author is condescending in his depiction of Mark and Michelle, nor will they find the characters written as adults before their time. Instead, you really feel that you are being placed into a typical middle school and I am certain that readers in this demographic will love reading a fun story about such a realistic group of peers. Mr. Thompson spent several years as a teacher, and even though his students were younger than the ones depicted in Twinsational, his ability to capture the language and priorities of the preteen population is obvious.

We all know that when our children read on a regular basis, they are increasing their chances for success in many areas of life. This is why I am so pleased when a new author comes along who offers a book that will get kids excited about the written word. Twinsational by C. Michael Thompson is a wonderful novel that I know will get kids talking about the experiences had by the brother and sister team. With the last page of the book implying that there are more adventures ahead for Mark and Michelle, I hope there will be great “twinsational” conversations among young readers for a long time to come.



Sparta Rose


Author: Ginger Simpson
ISBN: 1926647394
Publisher: 978-1-926647-39-5 (Print) 978-1-926640-63-1 (download) 2009
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com (print) http://www.eternalpress.ca (download)
Reviewer Byline: Carol Langstroth, Manager Mind Fog Reviews

In Sparta Rose by Ginger Simpson, Roselle "Ellie" Fountain has two problems. One is the foreman, Tyler Bishop, who seems to be working his way into her father's heart. She thinks Ty wants her inheritance which is Fountain Ranch. She hates being a "woman" and wishes she were a man so that she would finally win her father's approval. It doesn't help that she starts getting these strange feelings for Ty.

Her second problem is that the Bryant family wants her father’s ranch that he has worked so hard to build up. Jeb Bryant will use any means to get that ranch for his father, Duke Bryant. Will Ellie be able to win both her father’s respect and figure out how to save the ranch from the Bryants?

I have found this story to be extremely well written and the characters portrayed to be very lively. Ellie’s temper was fun to read about because it got her into a lot of vicarious situations. This reviewer found Ellie’s temper to be similar to her own and likes that she could laugh at it and empathize with her at the same time. This author is reminded of another author, Janet Oke, whom I enjoy as well. Janet would be proud of this writing.

***** 5 Stars
Carol Langstroth, Manager
Mind Fog Reviews
SPICE UP YOUR LIFE WITH GINGER
2009 EPPIE Nominee
http://www.gingersimpson.com
http://mizging.blogspot.com



It’s in the Eyes
Author: Charles Toftoy
ISBN: 978-1-4327-1196-2
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com, 2009
Genre: Thriller; fiction; criminal psychology
Pages: 312

You know that you’ve hit the literary jackpot when you find a novel that combines several of your interests into one great story. For example, someone who enjoys reading about both sports and romance may be intrigued by a book that features the long-distance relationship between a football star and his girlfriend. Or, perhaps you prefer a book with a science-fiction focus that also includes military confrontations. For me, I found a great synthesis of setting and plot in the new release It’s in the Eyes by Dr. Charles Toftoy. This thriller is set in my hometown of Washington, D.C. and features academia, action, and suspense. Knowing this information gave me high expectations before I even read the first page, and I was not disappointed.

It’s in the Eyes grabs the readers immediately by placing us at a crime scene that is central to the entire plot and whose victim returns posthumously throughout the book to motivate the self-proclaimed detectives to solve her murder. Readers quickly learn that there is a series of murders of young women who attend universities in the Washington, D.C. area. These crimes have created uneasiness among the population and a sense of urgency in the Arlington Police Department. Lars Neilsen, a college professor with very personal reasons for wanting to catch the predator responsible for these gruesome deaths, assembles his “Alpha Team” of experts to piece together clues and hopefully end the violence.

One of Dr. Toftoy’s greatest strengths in his writing is his ability to select language that creates a sense of tension in the readers. While the murderer remains anonymous for most of the novel, we are let into his mind periodically as the story unfolds. His narcissism and lack of emotion for any of the pain he has caused is quite disturbing. As he ponders the fate of his next victim, you want to find the woman yourself and warn her before it is too late. The author maintains this sense of discomfort by revealing just a little more about the criminal and his motivations with every chapter. With such a well-developed mystery, I often found myself nervous as I turned the page because the next event was either so shocking or revealing. And, I will simply say that I did not see the ending coming at all. It’s in the Eyes is a suspense novel from beginning to end.

For those who have not been to Washington, D.C., Dr. Toftoy does a wonderful job of illustrating everyday life in that world capital. By providing details like the traffic reporter of the local news station, favorite eateries, and the feel of the diverse neighborhoods, you really get a sense of the environment in which the characters live. And, the decision to include what Lars Neilsen and the other members of his Alpha Team prefer to eat at the local Silver Diner or drink at the Capitol City Brewing Company drives home the idea that these are ordinary private citizens with whom all of us can relate. It just so happens that they are choosing to put themselves in extraordinary circumstances.

The author of It’s in the Eyes, Dr. Charles Toftoy, brings a wealth of academic and business experience to his writing. I hope that he finds the opportunity to put this great background into another novel soon. It’s in the Eyes is a complex thriller that combines history, action, strong character development, believable dialogue, and a plot that will keep you guessing. If you enjoy curling up with a compelling mystery, this is most certainly a book for you.



Succeeding in High School—A Handbook for Teens and Parents plus a College Admissions Primer
Author: Joseph Adegboyega-Edun
ISBN: 978-1-4327-1229-7
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com, 2009
Genre and Target Market: reference; education
Pages: 137
Reviewed by Sarah Moore for WITS

I spent nearly a decade of my professional life working on either a high school or college campus. I was a high school teacher of government and history for three years and the rest of my tenure in education was spent as an academic advisor for several large universities. I have seen first-hand the difference that good information and thoughtful advice can mean to a student who is eager to succeed in the classroom. It always was disheartening to encounter students who would not reach their potential due not to lack of intelligence or interest, but because they could not figure out how to operate within the system that is found in any high school. In his new book, Succeeding in High School, author and educator Joseph Adegboyega-Edun helps both high school students and their parents prepare for the four difficult years of high school as well as the educational and career plans that may follow.

Adegboyega-Edun is an experienced counselor and college advisor who uses this new book to combine his obvious wealth of knowledge concerning education with his ability to capture important points in a way that is neither condescending nor simplistic even though the material is geared to a younger audience. Instead, Succeeding in High School is a wonderful primer that covers just about any topic that may be going through the minds of high school students or their parents. I imagine that these concerns will sound familiar to you. Should I pack on as many Advanced Placement courses as possible in order to impress college admissions counselors? When should I plan on taking the SAT? How do best organize a busy schedule that includes studying, sports, and family responsibilities? What do college admission counselors really look at when reviewing my application? Succeeding in High School tackles these questions and so many more.

One of the greatest strengths of Adegboyega-Edun’s writing is his ability to make the material apply to every person who is reading the book. The chapters are written with clear language and divided into subtopics with appropriate headings, making it easy for readers to find the specific advice they may be seeking. Also, as an educator myself, I particularly appreciated how the author chose to end each chapter. In each instance, he includes “Questions for Students,” “Things to Do,” and “For Parents,” which challenge the readers to apply the information to their own situations. Adegboyega-Edun also strengthens the content of his book by introducing each chapter with a quote from an actual high school student. Teenagers who read the book will recognize themselves in these students and hopefully will find greater focus in their reading as a result.

As someone who has worked extensively with students who are in the target demographic for this book, I strongly recommend Succeeding in High School for any young person who is about to enter high school. Being aware of how grades are calculated, the amount of homework to expect, and how each year should be used towards college preparation will be reassuring to students who are entering this new stage of their schooling. Also, parents who are wondering how to work with their kids to get the most out of their education should grab a copy of this book right away. Moms and dads certainly will appreciate the critical information needed to move through the college admissions process and likely will learn a few tips for making the home environment more conducive for learning. Even though I am no longer directly in an academic setting, I still have a passion for education and seeing young people make the most out of opportunities. For this reason, I am excited to find a book such as Succeeding in High School, a handbook that I believe holds information for any high school student who desires to have a great academic experience.

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Book with a View November 2009


Book Title: Let’s Find You
Author: Jeffrey D. Barbieri
ISBN: 978-1-4327-4365-9
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com
Genre and Target Market: fiction; family relationships; coming-of-age
Publication Date: 2009
Book Length in Pages: 207

As someone who works in the writing and publishing industry, I am asked to read books by new authors nearly every day. While I am thrilled when anyone makes the decision to express themselves through the written word, I sometimes am left wondering why a writer felt the product they handed me was ready for public consumption. The message is jumbled and the mechanics are messy. Other times, the writing may be admirable but the author is simply rehashing a literary approach that has already been done. While imitation is supposed to be the sincerest form of flattery, it does not get me excited about a new author’s work. However, there are those instances in which I am presented with a book that captures me from the first page and has me reach the last sentence with an eagerness to share my discovery with others. Such is the case with the new release Let’s Find You by Jeffrey Barbieri.

Let’s Find You offers its readers the first-person account of Benjamin, a boy who shares both trivial and life-changing moments of his life through the pages of the novel. The book is divided into chapters that each read like a short story, but also come together seamlessly to provide an emotional depiction of Benjamin’s life from the time that he is a young boy through the point that he is on the verge of manhood.

While many of the stories that Barbieri shares through the perspective of his character Benjamin are light-hearted and remind us all of incidents from our own childhoods (playing pranks on our siblings, spending hours dreaming about our first love), the undercurrent of Let’s Find You is heart-wrenching. There were instances in this book during which I felt a kick in my gut, and that is a testament to powerful writing. Benjamin must face life with no father, an emotionally absent mother who moves frequently in order to avoid this absent dad, and no one with whom he can share the difficult insecurities of adolescence. Although it sounds a bit clique, the statement holds true in this instance – you will laugh, you will cry.

One unique feature of Let’s Find You is the integration of poetry throughout the novel. It seems that Barbieri uses these pauses to let us into an even deeper level of Benjamin’s emotions. For example, when a tragic moment involving a family member happens right in front of his eyes, Benjamin wonders why there is a ridiculous need in his home to remain strong and show no emotion. Readers then find the following: “The storms that surround me/Block me in,/Seeking some shelter/Dying within.” After that interlude, we move right back into the storyline. Most of Barbieri’s poetic offerings are quite short, and therefore offer the perfectly succinct summation of his character’s thoughts and fears at any particular moment. I loved this component of the novel.

If you are interested in reading a novel that beautifully captures difficult emotions and also offers amusing anecdotes to which any of us with siblings can relate, I highly recommend that you find yourself a copy of Let’s Find You. This book is the first offering by new author Jeffrey Barbieri, and I look forward to the promise of future novels in the series.



Book Title: I’m Still Standing
Author: Julia Booker
ISBN: 978-1-4327-4263-8
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com
Genre and Target Market: memoir, abuse
Publication Date: 2009
Book Length in Pages: 125

Books certainly have the ability to transport you into the lives of their characters, which may be a thrilling adventure, a terrifying experience, or something in between. A period piece can whisk the reader away to the royal courts in Europe or the frontiers of the Wild West. As you turn the pages of a science-fiction novel, you may be able to close your eyes and envision yourself exploring a new galaxy. And then, sometimes, there are those books that just hit you in the gut with raw emotion … plain and simple. You are handed the heartbreak and pain that a supposedly fictional person is living and the feelings could not be more real. Such is the case with the first release by author Julia Booker, entitled I’m Still Standing. The gripping story shared within its pages will affect you long after the final words are read.

I’m Still Standing tells the story, primarily, of a mother and daughter who find themselves caught in lives of constant abuse. Jenny Baker gives birth to her daughter, Erin, when she is just a young teenager and soon begins to numb the regrets of her life through drugs and alcohol. The men who Jenny brings into her home are abusive in all possible respects to both her and her daughter, as the reader is brought into scenes of beatings, rapes, and emotional cruelty. As Erin develops into a young woman, she is dismayed to find herself in danger of following the same path in life that her mother has chosen.

Julia Booker’s writing is so powerful because each word seems to come at the reader from a place of genuine and enduring pain. The author mentions on the back cover of I’m Still Standing that her book depicts a true story, which makes each episode of abuse and neglect even more compelling. There is no attempt to sugarcoat the harsh reality that exists in the lives of both Jenny and Erin. The scenes of violence are graphic, the language used between those who should be in loving relationships is explicit and hurtful, and all of the shattered pieces of Erin’s life are not brought back together with a shiny bow by the end of the book. Yet, through it all, the reader is also given a sense that there is reason to have hope. After all, as the title points out, Erin remains standing and growing stronger through her ordeals.

If you are looking for a light read to enjoy while on vacation, I’m Still Standing is probably not the right book for you. If, however, you are ready to make an emotional investment in women who are repeatedly told they are not worth the time, you should check out this initial release by new author Julia Booker. I’m Still Standing is a gut-wrenching literary experience that sends an important message to all of its readers, but especially women, about the damage of staying in an abusive situation. Hopefully, as the author encourages in her introductory letter to her readers, the words of I’m Still Standing will result in at least one reader deciding to leave an abusive situation. I cannot imagine a more important impact for a book to have.


In and Out of Madness
N. L. Snowden
Sneakaboard Press (2009)
ISBN 9780977476770
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views

“In and Out of Madness” is one of the most disturbing, yet also one of the most powerful books I’ve read in a long time. Carrying an intriguing subtitle of “A fictionalized account of a true experience,” it left me wondering what is it that propels some people into madness while others seem to benefit from the harsh experiences life deals them and simply careen into growing stronger and more resilient.

The book’s protagonist, Lee Thames, is somebody who seems to attract violence, be it physical or emotional, throughout her life. Having grown up with an abusive grandmother and no less abusive mother, she briefly seems to find solace in the arms of her first husband. That happiness does not last and his actions - as well as his inactions - push Lee into a series of affairs, which, although endorsed by her husband, certainly contribute to the demise of her first marriage. Her second marriage becomes her true undoing. Cursed with an honest desire to please her husband, and almost unbearably willing to trust him, Lee gets entangled in an intricate web woven by her husband Joe, a slick talker who lies, cheats and exploits her in every possible way. The one bright spot of her existence, which luckily remains consistent, is her daughter Jolly.

The book begins with Lee escaping from a mental facility after an unsuccessful suicide attempt. She decides to take revenge on her husband, Joe. Planning a perfect murder, Lee revisits the events that lead to this powerful decision, thus familiarizing the reader with the way her mind works.

N. L. Snowden’s writing is sharp, precise and powerful. The story grabs you quickly and most certainly does not let go. I found it strangely fascinating, somewhat akin to picking on a dried scab on one’s knee when we were children. Yes, it hurts, but... Reading “In and Out of Madness” was much like that. Parts of me wanted to put it down, feeling like I was intruding on somebody’s most private thoughts. My always inquisitive mind was dead set on finding what happens next. And I was not disappointed. This is definitely a book that I would recommend to anybody who loves solid, tight writing and to anybody who’s curious about the ways people’s minds work, especially in case of multiple personalities disorder coupled with a bi-polar condition. Enlightening, powerful and strangely uplifting, this is one of those books that will haunt you for a long time.



101 Tips for Recovering from Eating Disorders: A Pocket Book of Wisdom
Amy Barth
Loving Healing Press (2009)
ISBN 9781615990016
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views

“101 Tips for Recovering from Eating Disorders” is only a twenty-two page book. Yet within those pages is a great deal of tips that also include inspirational thoughts to help someone with an eating disorder on their road to recovery. In the first part of the book, the author tells the story about how she dealt with the pain of having an eating disorder. I think that most, if not all, readers will find themselves totally relating with her in this section and they will know that they are not alone.

In addition to other common experiences, the author and I both shared having a female role model that supported our disease. While they might not realize it themselves, it was pretty apparent to both the author and me that this was the case. I could definitely pick this up in her writings. For me, when I went through a hideous divorce, the role model in my life commented, “Well, it was too bad that it happened, but at least she lost the weight.”

If others out there are reading this, and remembering similar experiences, please note that they will find themselves relating even more to the 101 tips covered in these pages. Before you even get into the tips, read the section about the ten lessons that the author learned along the way. They are so true. As you read through the 101 tips, there are spaces that you can journal your thoughts about the tips that apply to you. I highly suggest that you do this so that you can really reflect on the tips and think about applying them to your life. The colorful illustrations that are on each page will help keep you in a positive frame of mind.

I highly recommend “101 Tips for Recovering from Eating Disorders” by Amy Barth for people who are contemplating recovery, in recovery, or think that that they have recovered from eating disorders. You will discover healthy ways to cope with your eating disorder as you learn to heal.

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Saturday, November 14, 2009

Learn to Do Your Own Virtual Book Tour by Following Yvonne Perry on Hers

Author teaches other authors as she tours the Internet from November 20 to December 20.

Nashville, TN—Yvonne Perry is doing more than promote her new book as she travels from blog to blog during her virtual book tour for The Sid Series. She is taking along 2,650 Twitter followers and those who are subscribed to her RSS feed (http://feeds.feedburner.com/OnlinePromotionMadeEasy) for her blog, Online Promotion Made Easy, in order to demonstrate how a virtual book tour works.

She began by posting an article to her blog and inviting her Twitter followers to come and see what her new book is all about. Each book in her children’s book of holistic (body, mind, spirit) stories teaches skills such as following inner guidance, being true to one’s self, or overcoming fear. Modeled after the lessons Yvonne's grandson, Sidney, these are great for the classroom, young readers, or toddlers being nurtured at home. But they are also great for kids who are showing spiritual intellect and psychic gifts. http://thesidseries.com/

Then, she began posting information about what a blog tour is and asking people to participate as host “homes” for her progressive “dinner-type” book tour where she would be providing the meal: an article, interview, video clip, or other free content-rich material for readers to enjoy.

“I began the tour thinking I would only ride the virtual circuit for two weeks,” says Ms. Perry, “but the response I got was so positive that I extended it two more weeks to accommodate all the people who were offering their blogs as stops for my tour.”

There are nineteen blogs, three radio show interviews, and a stop on Youtube to see an audio/video presentation about The Sid Series. Each of the bloggers participating in Yvonne’s book tour from November 20 to December 20, will post unique material they received from the author. Articles will deal with children and past lives, the death of a pet, spirit channeling, imaginary friends, fairies, crystal kids, grand-parenting, and how the author shifted from her staunch Christian views to a metaphysical path. The tour will also share information about the teenage artist who illustrated parts of The Sid Series, and include discussions about how Yvonne wrote and published her book while maintaining her free-lance writing business.

The tour is also being used to teach authors how to conduct a successful virtual book tour. Perry keeps her blog updated with information to help authors learn how to use the Internet and social marketing to create a credible online presence and reach their reader markets.

“Authors are sometimes clueless as to how to promote their books once they’ve published them. I started my book marketing blog in 2008 when I published my e-book Book Marketing in the Digital Age, Online Promotion Made Easy,” says Perry, the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services based in Nashville, Tennessee. “Rather than doing an in-person tour at bookstores where only your friends and a few other people show up, authors are taking to the virtual road to let others know about their work.”

Perry has found a way to incorporate her love for teaching. She has six blogs on various topics such as writing, publishing, book marketing, death and dying, stem cell research, and spirituality. Many of the blogs showcase the books she has written; therefore, all of them cross-promote one another. Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services offers many types of book promotional services for authors http://writersinthesky.com/.

Yvonne invites you to join in the fun, learn about her book, and learn how to do your own online blog tour. For more information, please visit http://www.onlinepromotionmadeeasy.com/

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Friday, November 13, 2009

What Kind of Traveler Are You?

In fall 2007, I had an essay published in the women’s travel anthology A WOMAN'S WORLD AGAIN titled “The Kind of Traveler I am.” For me, the question, “What kind of traveler are you?” cannot be separated from “What kind of writer are you?”

A traveler does not have to leave her yard to explore some kind of landscape. Many writers excavate their past and their memory of it for all the material they’ll ever need. I grew up in the professional suburbs of Fairfax Virginia, went to a public high school where 80% of us went on to college, and was profoundly miserable—for no reason except that I found the suburbs stifling. Yet my family was solid, without drama, and my stories of suburban angst don’t interest me right now as subject matter because I’ve read many novels and short stories where it’s been done well and been done to death. For the moment I don't feel I have anything new or especially illuminating to say about that world.

Each summer though we’d spend a week or two in the station wagon towing our pup tent camper up and down the east coast, exploring a new State, even making it one summer into Canada. I was thirty before I went to another country again, but shortly after that I moved to South Korea and lived there for twelve years, devoting three or four months a year to travel. It was living abroad and seeing how much of the world—a world much poorer than the States—lived that has influenced what I’m interested in writing about for now at least.

I made the transition in subject matter in a linked short story collection I wrote that chronicles that Virginia suburban angst for the first half, before taking my character to Asia. My novel THE LIFE PLAN (Casperian Book, 2009) mostly takes place in Thailand. The novel I’ve just finished editing takes place in DC and Williamsburg, but even that deals with travel—the main character must leave her DC city life and become a nanny in the suburbs. My next novels, though, will return to the theme I’m most interested in (they’ll take place in South Africa and South Korea)—the American (female) abroad.

So, those of you who are finding your voice, your subject matter—what kind of traveler are you? Are you a traveler of your soul, of memory? Are you an explorer of your backyard, your neighborhood, your town? Or do you hop in a car and drive, see where you’ll end up? Do you strap on a backpack, get on a plane, land in a country where you can’t read the language? All are valid and important ways of traveling. All may influence or reflect the heart of your writing, the world you want to explore.

Sybil Baker's novel, The Life Plan was published by Casperian Books in March 2009. Her short stories and essays have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies including "upstreet" and "The Writer’s Chronicle." Her linked short story collection THAT GIRL is forthcoming from C&R Press in late 2010. After living in South Korea for twelve years, she returned to the States in 2007. She is an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Her blog is at http://sybilbaker.blogspot.com.

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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Calling for Submissions for December 2009 E-zine

It's time for me to start putting together the next fantastic and information-filled e-zine for December 2009. That means I need you to send me your articles, contest announcements, and brags to be included in the next issue. We have more than enough book reviews, but if I have room for them, I'll include them.

Read our guidelines for submittal here. Remember, the better your piece is written, the better attention and credibility it receives--and the less editing I have to do.


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Monday, November 9, 2009

Launching A Holistic Children's Book

I am about to launch my new children's book The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children and I'm inviting you to come along with me to enjoy some fun audios and videos as well as some educational reading.

Every blogger on my virtual book tour will have unique material to post. From how and why I wrote and published the book, to informative articles on spirituality, business, grandparenting, and children, all visitors get to read something new each day as they follow me from blog to blog. Audio clips, YouTube video, book previews, media releases, and radio interviews will be interspersed into the lineup.

Articles include:
  • Children Have Much to Teach Us About Past Lives
  • Dealing with the Death of a Pet
  • Does Your Child Have An Imaginary Friend?
  • Combining Authorship and Free-Lance Writing Business
  • Having My Book Published by Lightning Source
  • How I Self-published The Sid Series
  • How to Skype an Author
  • Out of the Mouths of Babies! Channeling 101
  • Part 1 - Shifting from Misfit to Miss Fit
  • Part 2 - Shifting from Saint to Sinner
  • Part 3 - Shifting from Grand Mal to Grandma
  • Reading of a Book for Kids (and Adults) Who Love Fairies
  • Reading of a Book for Kids Dealing with Pet Death
  • The Crystal Kid Behind the Inspiration for The Sid Series
  • The Teenage Artist Who Illustrated The Sid Series
  • The Writing of a Children’s Book
  • Why I Wrote The Sid Series
  • Young Age Grand-parenting

For a complete list of my tour stops and who will be presenting which article please see http://ow.ly/yp83.

Each story in this children’s holistic (body, mind, spirit) book teaches skills such as following inner guidance, being true to one’s self, or overcoming fear. Modeled after the lessons my grandson, Sidney, these are great for the classroom, young readers, or toddlers being nurtured at home. But they are also great for kids who are showing spiritual intellect and psychic gifts.

For more information about The Sid Series book, see http://TheSidSeries.com.

Yvonne Perry


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Friday, November 6, 2009

Blast Off! The Surefire Success Plan To Launch Your Dreams Into Reality Blog Tour

Allison Maslan is having a blog tour for her book, Blast Off! The Surefire Success Plan To Launch Your Dreams Into Reality, and will be sharing information on a variety of topics you may be interested in:

· Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you
· Career Transformation
· Tapping into your passion
· Removing barriers to realize your dreams
· Why people settle in life, career and relationships, and what to do about it
· Running your business from the soul level
· An excerpt from Allison’s book
· Book review
· How she published with Morgan James
· How she wrote the book
· Written question and answer interview

Allison’s message is for anyone wanting to create positive change in their lives at any age. Blast Off! weaves together motivational stories, strategies and specific action plans to help people to tap into their life purpose and manifest it in ALL areas of their lives, from business, to health, to finding the love of your life.

Allison is an author, speaker, homeopathic physician, and serial entrepreneur. She has successfully started nine of her own businesses and now helps others infuse their passions into an inspiring career and personal life. Her holistic approach to success comes as a culmination of many years of her own personal experience in helping people reach their full potential. But most of all, she has personally applied all the principles in her book to reach her own personal success. She even found her own soul mate, Mike, using the simple principles in the Blast Off! book.

I am really enjoying working with Allison. I hope you will drop by her Web site http://www.myblastoff.com/booklaunch/ and register your interest to be reminded of the tour and her January book launch.
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Thursday, November 5, 2009

Editor's Corner November 2009

Welcome to the November issue of Writers in the Sky E-Zine. I hope you will enjoy the articles, announcements, poetry, podcasts, and book reviews we have for you this month. I appreciate the contributions our readers make to this e-zine each month.

Our fourth grandson to arrive this year has been born in Summerville, South Carolina. My step-grandson, Payton Christian, is here! He weighed in at 7.6 pounds and 19 inches long. We are blessed in so many ways; it's easy to be thankful. I wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

It's official and just in time for holiday gift giving! My body-mind-spirit children's book, The Sid Series, is finally available. If you are a parent, grandparent, or teacher with a child who talks of imaginary friends, reincarnation, or past lives, you will find guidance and inspiration in this beautiful full-color book. Each of the twelve short stories focuses on life skills such as environmental awareness, diversity, helping others, being true to one’s self, overcoming fear, following inner guidance. These sweet stories teach unique lessons about love, self-worth, caring for the body, dealing with change, experiencing the death of a pet, and using spiritual gifts. The main character in The Sid Series is my first-born grandson, Sidney, who was a guest on Writers in the Sky Podcast in October.

This e-zine is edited and proofread by Sarah Moore/Barbara Milbourn. I thank Sarah and Barbara for their hard work an commitment to our team.

If someone forwarded this e-zine to you or if you stumbled upon this Web page, you may get your own subscription for free!


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Network with Us November 2009



Blood. Guts. Pride. Wrath.

The ancient clash of armies outside the walls of Troy is a cornerstone of Western
literature. In The Rage of Achilles, Terence Hawkins brilliantly reimagines that
titanic encounter. His stunningly original telling captures the brutality of the battlefield,
the glory and the gore, in language that never relents.

Raw and compelling, The Rage of Achilles tells the story of Achilles, a monstrous hero, by turns vain and selfish, cruel and noble; of Paris, weak and consumed by lust for his stolen bride; of Agamemnon, driven nearly to insanity by the voices of the gods; and of Trojans and Achaeans, warriors and peasants, caught up in the conflict, their families torn apart by a decade-long war. The Rage of Achilles is an exhilarating story that has captured the imaginations of readers for thousands of years restored to immediacy.

The Rage of Achilles is that rare thing—a genuinely fresh take on a classic text. Terence Hawkins’ modern retelling of The Iliad has the paradoxical, invigorating effect of making Homer’s epic feel oddly familiar, and of highlighting its deep strangeness at the same time.” – Tom Perrotta, author of Little Children

“In this masterful account by Terence Hawkins, the Trojan War is infused with all the immediacy of a current event.” – Richard Selzer, author of The Doctor Stories

The Rage of Achilles goes on sale nationwide November 2009.

For further information or to arrange an interview with the author, please visit
http://www.blogger.com/“http://www.terencehawkins.net” or e-mail http://www.blogger.com/“mailto:publicity@casperianbooks.com”.



The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is open to anyone who loves arranging words into the beautiful art of poetry or writing a story that's worth telling everyone! And to all who have the ability to dream: Write poem 30 lines or fewer on any subject or a short story, 5 pages maximum on any theme for a chance to win up to $500 in cash prizes. All works must be original. Visit http://www.blogger.com/”http://www.dreamquestone.com” for details!



Art, Drawing, Designing and Writing have been a passion for Christine Ballano, born and raised in New York City. Dating back to her childhood in school she remembers always doodling and getting in trouble in school. She was always drawing, when she was a supposed to be studying. Many a time she was cracked on the knuckles for not paying attention to the teacher. (smile)

Her desire to publish a book came late in life, when she reached 69 in 2008. Her friends including herself managed to always misplace notes they had made, computer log-ins and passwords or telephone numbers they have scribbled on little bits of paper. Along came the idea to create a book that they could store all this information. Not only had that but encompassed information that would take too much time to retrieve such as medical advice, airlines, government agencies etc. Of course her cover design had to be attractive and easy to find among all the mess on their desks.

Her dream is to complete her fashion designs and remake of vintage jewelry and revise her ‘Personal Internet DeskBook Organizer ‘ before she reaches 75. http://www.blogger.com/”http://outskirtspress.com/webpage.php?ISBN=9781432734220”

For a Sampling of the Bareaj line of Jewelry http://sparkysemporium.com/



Ebooks for Radio Guests

Searching for radio programs that match your specialty is time-consuming and often does not provide all the relevant information to make an informed decision about which host to contact about an interview.

“Talk Radio Advocate” Francine Silverman has taken the hassle out of your search by offering e-books in conjunction with her book, Talk Radio Wants You: An Intimate Guide to 700 Shows and How to Get Invited. (McFarland & Co. 2009).

“The shows in the ebooks were discovered after Talk Radio Wants You went into production,” explains Fran. “The shows in both the book and ebook are both on the Internet and/or on the air and contain everything a potential guest needs before contacting a host, including the most important information: the show theme and guest criteria.

Thus far, only those ebooks in the Business and New Age categories are ready to be launched. More will become available as soon as at least 20 completed questionnaires in health, sports, food, travel, technology, military, paranormal, politics and other categories are received.

The New Age ebook features 23 shows and is $15; the business ebook has 36 shows and is $20. Purchasers will receive five free updates.

The ebooks are available from Francine Silverman at http://www.blogger.com/”mailto:franalive@optonline.net”. Payment may be made through PayPal to http://www.blogger.com/”mailto:franalive@optonline.net”., or by check payable to Francine Silverman, and mailed to P.O. Box 1333, Riverdale, New York 10471. Upon receipt of payment, your ebook will be emailed to you in an attachment.

Please visit my Web site for more information: http://www.talkradioadvocate.com/



We posted an article, "15 Podcasts That Will Make You Smarter" (http://www.collegecrunch.org/entertainment/15-podcasts-that-will-make-you-smarter/ ), and I thought that you or your readers might find it interesting. Nancy White



Pierette Simpson shares her experience on WGN TV:

Hello everyone,

My interview on The WGN Midday News was October 12 in Chicago. WGN stands for “world’s greatest newspaper” since the station is owned by the Chicago Tribune. It’s the only superstation left in America. Weeks and days of anticipation culminated in five minutes. But I was very thankful for those precious moments to share about my book and my new audio book.

The interview only played mostly in Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Missouri. So if you were outside of those states you can watch it on the WGN Web site: http://www.blogger.com/”http://www.wgntv.com/news/middaynews/” .

I’ll be blogging about the experience. You can check out my blog at http://www.blogger.com/”http://www.pierettesimpson.com/blog” for details about the interview. While you’re on my Web site, check out the special offer for purchasing my new audio CD book: Alive in the Andrea Doria. It’s a special two-for-one deal that you find worthwhile.

To celebrate the audio CD book release, I’m making a special offer on my Web site http://www.blogger.com/”http://www.pierettesimpson.com”. With the purchase of my audio book, you will receive a FREE UNABRIDGED eBook of my award-winning best-selling book, Alive in the Andrea Doria. Borders members can receive 40% off on my print book, Alive on the Andrea Doria. All of these special offers add up to a lot of savings, especially for the upcoming holidays.



An Author and Her Dog Ask a Favor and Give a Gift to You

Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog and Barbara Techel are asking for your help. It really is quite easy to do… and for helping them, you get a gift! Here’s a message from them:

We are now offering Virtual Visits with Frankie, the Walk ‘N Roll Dog! We are now able to do our Frankie presentations that we currently offer to our local schools in person (and rolling dog!) via the free software of Skype and a webcam, but these are done… well, virtually!! Here is a video clip explaining:

Video explaining a Virtual Visit

Would you be willing to let elementary teachers or librarians know about this? Just email us that you have sent someone the link to our virtual visit page and we will send you a link to download Frankie’s Activity E-book. It is that simple! When you share this with any teachers or librarians let them know that the first one to contact us will receive their Virtual Visit for FREE!

Thank you so much for your help and for helping us spread Frankie’s message of hope and inspiration!

Joyfully,

Barbara & Frankie

http://www.blogger.com/”http://www.joyfulpaws.com”

http://www.frankiethewalknrolldog.blogspot.com/



Literary Publicist Stephanie Barko (TX) http://www.blogger.com/”http://www.authorsassistant.com/Barko.htm” reports that her client, Bob Fussell (NY), received the 2009 Will Rogers Medallion Award for Western Nonfiction. Bob edited and published his grandfather's memoir, Unbridled Cowboy (Truman State University Press, 2008).
http://www.blogger.com/”http://tsup.truman.edu/item.asp?itemId=392”

The book was cited by the Award Committee as being "a valuable contribution to the history of Texas".



Forge recently released volume II of Mike Cox' definitive history of the Texas Rangers.
Time of the Rangers http://www.blogger.com/”http://us.macmillan.com/timeoftherangers” is wrapping up a virtual tour this month. Catch up with the tour and its giveaways at http://www.blogger.com/”http://www.lonestarbooks.blogspot.com”.



Caridad Pineiro is excited to announce the release of her first single title paranormal romantic suspense Sins of the Flesh on October 27 from Grand Central Publishing. Sins of the Flesh has been lauded as “(A) chilling scientific thriller” and “a sexy adventure with a luscious hero and an amazing heroine.” Caridad is the NY Times Bestselling author of over twenty novels and Sins of the Flesh promises to be another hit! For more information on Caridad and an assortment of writing resources, please visit http://www.caridad.com/



Just in time for the holidays, author Susan M. Heim is pleased to announce the publication of two new Chicken Soup for the Soul books! Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Women and Chicken Soup for the Soul: All in the Family are now available. Both books contain 101 stories that warm the heart and tickle the funny bone. Visit http://www.blogger.com/”http://www.chickensoup.com”for details and ordering information.


Self-Publishing Workshop

Saturday, November 7, 2009, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Hermitage Community Center, Nashville, TN

If you have a strong passion to write a book, then this workshop is for you.

Learn about the traditional and self-publishing industries
See your book published in 90 days
Identify simple steps for approaching bookstores, libraries, and chain stores
Create an effective marketing plan that sells books
Understand why the editorial process is so critical to a successful book

Program Details

When? Saturday, November 7th , 9 am–1 pm
Where? Hermitage Community Center
3720 James Kay Lane
Hermitage, TN 37076
Cost? $75.00 (includes training manual, resource directory, handouts, & lunch)

Program presenters include:

Renee Bobb, Self-Publishing Consultant with RBI Enterprise. Renee is the author of “The Self-Publishing Process: The Beginner’s Guide to Book Publishing Success”. She is the host of The Renee Radio Show and TV Talk Show “The Authors Review”

Send registration info via email: http://www.blogger.com/”mailto:Bobbrenee@yahoo.com”

Ph: 615-753-5647
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Dear Friends,

Finally, I have a new post on my blog. I know it has been awhile. Thank you for all your encouraging words and nudges. The numbness has finally worn off. After hearing the shocking news that my husband's 20-year position along with over 400 of his co-workers jobs are being outsourced in March, and then to have one of my long-time young friends try to commit suicide last week, I realized I must focus on the positive in my life. Enjoy... http://www.blogger.com/”http://storiesbyjb.com/”

Love, JoAnne

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Wednesday, November 4, 2009

November Issue of Writers in the Sky E-zine is Now Available!

The November issue of Writers in the Sky E-zine is now available at
http://writersinthesky.com/ezine/news-nov09.html. Enjoy articles about writing, publishing, and book marketing, find networking opportunities, read poetry and book reviews, and find out who will be the guests on our podcast.

Archived issues for the past four years may be read at http://writersinthesky.com/writing-newsletter.html.

If you would like to contribute an article, announcement, poem, or other material to our free monthly e-zine, please see the submission guidelines at http://writersinthesky.com/writing-newsletter.html#guidelines

Yvonne Perry,
Owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services
http://writersinthesky.com
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Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Podcast Schedule for November 2009!


November 6
Charles Toftoy will be joining the podcast to discuss his new book It’s in the Eyes. This novel, set in Washington, D.C., focuses on the murders of four university co-eds whose killer uses the rituals practiced by a gang in India several centuries ago. Lars Nielsen, a college professor, brings together his Alpha Team of private citizens to solve the crime. Mr. Toftoy will be discussing how he developed his characters, why he incorporated the idea of ritualistic killing, and whether or not readers can expect more books involving the Alpha Team.

November 12
Abe Rosa joins the podcast to share his new release entitled The Drummer. Mr. Rosa wrote this book as an extension of his Christian faith, hoping to share with readers an example of strength in courage in convictions. The book focuses on a young woman who is the greatest drummer in the world and who now faces the greatest challenge. Her mother has been captured by the government. Abe Rosa will tell the audience why he chose a drummer as his voice in the book, what he hopes readers will take away from reading his work, and how he is marketing this new release.

November 13
Our younger listeners and their parents will want to tune in when Joseph Adegboyega-Edun talks about his new book Succeeding in High School. This new release takes readers through each step of the high school experience and offers practical advice for getting the most out of the academic opportunities. Mr. Adegboyega-Edun also provides a helpful guide to the college admissions process as the second half of this handbook. He is an experienced advisor at both the high school and college level who speaks as someone who knows what works.

November 20
Author Mike Thompson shares another offering for our younger readers with his new book Twinsational. This work of children’s fiction shares one day in the life of eleven-year-old twins Mark and Michelle Johnson. Young people will relate to the concepts of class bullies, demanding teachers, and first crushes. Through every moment, the close relationship between the siblings is evident and heartwarming. Mr. Thompson will share how he developed the idea of Twinsational, what he believes children can learn from his book, and if he has future plans for Mark and Michelle.

November 27
Julia Booker joins the podcast to discuss her book I’m Still Standing. This novel tells the story of a mother and daughter who are caught in a cycle of constant abuse, including beatings, rape, and emotional cruelty. The mother uses drugs and alcohol to numb the pain, while the daughter fears that her life is headed for the same fate. The book is based on a true story, which makes the abuse even more gripping. Ms. Booker and WITS author’s assistant Sarah Moore will discuss the difficulty in writing such a painful and personal book, how the characters were developed from real individuals, and what lessons she hopes readers, particularly women, will take away from her work.

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