Friday, August 27, 2010

Approaching a Major Publisher

Lynn Serafinn shares her thoughts on her shift from a “die-hard indie” artist to an author approaching a major publisher.

Some of you who know me and my work might be surprised to find out that it was only a few months ago when I wrote my first full book proposal. It’s true I was a ghost-writer for another author and my work has been published (anonymously) in several books by a prominent New Age publisher. But I never needed to write proposals for those books. And it’s also true I’ve written loads of business and project proposals in my time – especially when I was the head of a college department – so I know what it takes to write a proposal to land a contract. But I had never written an actual book proposal for my own writing until this contest.

Why? Because most of my life, I’ve been something of a “die-hard indie.” It comes from my background as an independent musician/label owner in the 1990s. Since the 80s, our band had tried to get our recordings heard by major labels, but learned quickly that it was virtually impossible to get a big label to listen to an unsolicited demo. So we started our own label, and gradually built up a following by getting our titles into major independent distributors in the US and the UK. We reached a level of success when our release, entitled “The Imagine EP”, hit #1 on several club charts in 1994.

It was then we had a brief encounter with a major record label – one of the top 3 in the world. The A&R (the person who signs artists to the label) had been given our record as a “buzz” title from the owner of an underground record shop in Boston. He called us from New York saying he wanted to come down and meet us in Arizona (where we lived at the time), as he was interested in signing us. Had they done so, it would have meant worldwide distribution, MTV videos, and a tour with some of the biggest names in electronic dance in the world at that time. It was every musician’s dream come true.

Or so we thought.

When we actually met the A&R face-to-face, it became very obvious he had clear intentions of changing our image and sound into something we were not, and did not want to become. Our band was an electronic trance group, but he proposed a long list of “improvements” for us, including bringing in big rock drummers and sexy young female vocalists. Because we were in our late 30s, the A&R more or less said we were “too old” for MTV and we would have to do something to make us “saleable.”

But the truth was, in spite of the A&R thinking we were “too old,” we were actually “too young” as artists to move into the arena of working with a major label. We weren’t used to working with deadlines, accustomed to having the luxury of taking as long as we wanted to complete projects. We were still finding our “voice” and creating our sound; bringing in professional producers who would impose their own “spin” on our embryonic sound threatened to stop our creative growth altogether. And from a marketing standpoint, although we had managed to get a #1 club hit, we were still building our following and didn’t really know our target audience fully, or how to reach them at a global level. If the A&R changed our image as he intended, we were likely to lose the audience we already had, and not appeal to the audience he would be targeting.

We started to realize we simply weren’t ready for this leap. Believe it or not, I used to wake up at night with panic attacks at the thought of it! After all those years of thinking this was what I wanted, I realized something wasn’t right about it. As a result, our connection to the label dissolved after a couple of months, and our label continued on with our own independent enterprises.

My experience in the music industry certainly colored my decision to self-publish when I was getting ready to release my book, The Garden of the Soul, in 2009. I figured big publishers are probably like big record labels in that you needed to know the right time to approach them. And now that I have been self-published for the past year, and have since created successful marketing campaigns for many other authors, both published and self-published, I do think my reasoning was correct.

In my experience, there are seven main factors to consider in your decision to approach a publisher:

1. Discipline. Could you make a commitment to meet writing deadlines if given them? Have you transcended the trap of only being able to write when you are “inspired,” or can you sit down and get into the groove when you need to?

2. Stylistic maturity. Is your writing style “mature” (well past the embryonic stage)? Could others easily talk about your style and your message as compared to other books? Is your style powerful and developed enough that editors would not want to change it significantly?

3. Emotionally prepared. Are you ready to “show up” as a public image? Are you ready to be seen and critiqued? Are you ready to speak transparently on a global level? Are you ready to release your vision, regardless of whether people like it or not?

4. Identity. Do you know who you are as a writer and as a person? Do you have a clear idea of your “public image” (i.e. who you are to your readers, fans and audience)? Can you stand calmly within the wisdom of your own identity when dealing with a publisher?

5. Platform. Do you have a well-established platform (i.e. a large fan base of people who know your name and your writing)? This is undoubtedly one of the major factors publishers will consider when you approach them, and something that will make it much less likely for them to try to “reshape” your image.

6. Marketing. Do you know how to reach your audience? Do you understand principles of marketing? Can you explain how you would market your book to publishers in a way that would make them say, “Hey, this one has some great ideas”?

7. Time commitment. Are you ready and able to commit LOTS of time to promoting your book? Is your life free or flexible with regards to family or other work commitments? Could you travel frequently without disrupting the rest of your life?

Speaking for myself, I couldn’t give a 100 percent “yes” answer to any of these things when I first met the A&R back in 1994. In 2009, when I went to publish The Garden of the Soul, I’d say I had these covered about 75 percent. But, in my opinion, 75 percent wasn’t enough for me to approach a publisher at that time. Before I approached a publisher, I wanted to be able to give my full 100 percent. Then the time would be right . . . at least for me.

When I wrote my proposal this year, I felt it to be truly a transformative process. I realized when I was writing it that I had finally reached my “100% Ready” place. I knew who I was. I felt I could write at the drop of a hat. I had a platform. I understood marketing. And most of all, I had already written my book and I completely believed in it.

Being a self-published writer was absolutely the best thing for me when I had chosen to do so. The experience helped me develop as a person, as a writer and as a businesswoman. But now that I have firmly established my platform and really know who I am as a writer, I feel confident about making the shift to working with a publisher over the coming year. At the same time, I also have the confidence that I am able to flourish as a proud indie author, and enjoy the ride on my own as well.

I hope you found these reflections and pointers to be of value in your own journey as an author. Please do leave a comment below to share your own thoughts and experiences.

Lynn Serafinn is a transformation coach, book promotion coach, radio host, and bestselling author of The Garden of the Soul: lessons from four flowers that unearth the Self. She also works as a campaign manager for mind-body-spirit authors and has produced several #1-selling book campaigns. She is the founder/creator of Spirit Authors, a virtual learning environment and community that offers training, coaching, business building and inspiration for mind-body-spirit authors. She also regularly hosts large scale online virtual events with world class speakers on a range of mind-body-spirit topics. Subscribe to her Spirit Authors blog at http://spiritauthors.com/category/news to receive more useful tips and news about upcoming online events. While you are there, check out the excellent and affordable online courses for authors available.


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Thursday, August 26, 2010

Are You Ready to Build Your Business Like You Mean It?

You have incredible gifts - no doubt about it! I know that it can be frustrating that entrepreneurs like you sometimes struggle to make money, attract clients, create partnerships, set up a winning team & spend time with Spirit. It can be such a challenge and somewhat disheartening at times when what you do has such an impact on the world.

Join Amethyst Wyldfyre and a select group of her friends, colleagues & mentors for the Six Figure Speakers Summit September 15th - 23rd. You can learn from the best of the best and immediately put their secrets and their not-so secret strategies and techniques into ACTION for your business.

Reserve your spot now! Click to learn more.

This Summit Is For You If:

• You are burning with desire to serve

• You are already established in your business

• You know that there is so much more to learn

• You are looking for a proven clear way or map that will help you to navigate the sometimes confusing or overwhelming landscape of classes, workshops, trainings, masterminds and mentorships that are being offered out there

• You are looking to HONE your skills in a particular area

• You are ready to uplevel the kinds of conversations you have with colleagues, clients, business partners, or service professionals who are supporting you and your business

• You have or are willing to INVEST, time, energy, money and attention into your growth and the growth of your business

Happily, this event has been designed to reach YOU - the entrepreneur whose pockets may not be quite as "deep" as perhaps a corporation's are! It's an investment that is easy for you and actually it's so reasonable that it's hard to turn down.

Reserve your spot now! Click to learn more.

"See" you there!

Best Wishes,

Yvonne Perry,
615-415-9861
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Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Poetry Corner August 2010


Wild Ride
by Dennis Martin from Rhythmic Notions

It’s a wild ride
Building like a great volcano way down deep inside.
It’s like wildfire
Burning ‘cross an open field ‘til there’s no place to hide.
And you sweep me away,
Soaring high on your sweet love,
I never want to stop this wild ride.

You keep taking chances,
Living on the edge,
Watch the candle burning from both ends.
And I keep running with you,
Trying to keep up,
Ignoring every message that life sends.

And it’s a wild ride
Building like a great volcano way down deep inside.
It’s like wildfire
Burning ‘cross an open field ‘til there’s no place to hide.
And you sweep me away,
Soaring high on your sweet love,
I never want to stop this wild ride.

Someday you might slow down,
Take a chance to rest,
Learn to smell the roses on the way.
‘Til that day I’ll stick by you,
Trying to keep up
‘Til there’s only one thing left to say.

It’s a wild ride
Building like a great volcano way down deep inside.
It’s like wildfire
Burning ‘cross an open field ‘til there’s no place to hide.
And you sweep me away,
Soaring high on your sweet love,
I never want to stop this wild ride.

Untitled
by Dennis Martin

Chattering, clattering,
Nothing much mattering,
Ceaseless profusion of audio splattering
Eardrum to eardrum
Wistfully scattering all that is new,
Newsworthy or no.
You know the one,
Jittering, twittering,
Much like the hummingbird
Jumping and flittering
Flower to flower,
Sliding and slithering
Gulping each morsel to
Make itself grow.
You stop to listen
All in your dithering.
Cannot believe so much
Aggregate blithering.
Just so much bilge water,
Nothing for keeping,
But nowhere to hide
And no cliff for leaping.

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

Things Shift
by Pamme Boutselis

Things shift.

Once
you had to reach
up avariciously
for me.

Now,
inexplicably,
parts of me
gravitate easily
down to
you.

Pamme Boutselis is a writer from New Hampshire. More of her poetry can be found at:
http://beachtowelpress.blogspot.com/


OLE SIS
By Jan Bossing

They shone like fire; pale yellow eyes,
Side of the road; in bright head lights.
I jerked my head around to see.
What could that big black shadow be?

Ears were like cups, turned upside down.
Long, long tail, whipping all around.
What did I see? I can’t believe.
I can’t trust what my own eyes see.

I quickly glanced up to my rear view.
Truck lights behind me, then I knew.
Black cat, just smaller than a horse.
Beast of the woods; panther, of course.

I started to shake, shook some more.
I pulled into a crossroads store.
Jumped out, ran in. “Guess what?!” I said.
He looked up, smiled, and shook his head.

“Here, have a beer; settle down, miss.
What you saw? Why that was Ole Sis.
Last big cat, the end of the line.
Someone sees her from time to time.”

We sit on the bench, drink our beer.
All of a sudden, we both hear.
The high-pitched scream ends in a cough.
She calls to me; I’ve had enough.

I start to shake, I start to cry.
I want to run; I even try.
He pats my hand, he takes my arm.
“She won’t hurt you, she means to harm.”

He tells me then, “We just see one.
No mate, no cubs; she’s all alone.”
I look at him, I see the tear.
I see sadness, I see no fear.

I’m lucky that I saw the sight.
Edge of the woods; edge of the night.
I can’t believe Ole Sis saw me.
And I saw her – clear as could be.

A rare, rare thing; won’t happen twice.
The last big cat, the end of the line.
Twenty years gone, I see her yet.
The sight, the sound – I won’t forget.

Jan Bossing © Joelton, TN 2010

To Mr. Presley
by Rita Janice Traub

Jesse Garon Presley,
stillborn innocent
older identical twin
of Elvis Aaron, in your
unmarked Mississippi
grave: You’d have looked
alike. But would you have
been alike? Competed?
Harmonized? Known riches,
fame, adoration, lovers
aplenty, as he did? Or taken
a different path? He brooded
about his destiny, this greatest
superstar, unsure, questioning,
thinking of you, perhaps
excessively. Anyway, one hot
August day at Graceland,
he caught up with you.

Rita Janice Traub is a Fulton County, Georgia, free-lance writer and editor who has enjoyed creative writing from early childhood. Writing both poetry and prose has been a lifelong joy. After spending many years in California composing briefs and motions, she and her family relocated to Georgia, where she set up her own business, specializing in marketing research and information technology editing. Rita was nominated for a Rhysling Award by the Science Fiction Poetry Association.

The Prodigal
by Joseph A. Zapalac

Yes, the prodigal son of faith has returned.
The quest to find life’s true meaning burned.

Many were the paths he crossed over the years.
In life’s journey, he encountered many fears.

There were times he strayed from his course.
He faced challenges without complaint or remorse.

This prodigal’s return came with repentance.
Penance from God was his sentence.

When invited to confess, it troubled his soul.
He lacked courage to confess his sinful role.

But much good remains in this kind, gentle man,
Because God watches over his own time and again.

The prodigal returned, looking to heaven above.
Bitterness gone; his heart is filled with God’s Love.

The prodigal sits in church, with an empty stare.
Once an elderly lady sat in that particular chair.

He loved this sweet lady with her beautiful smile.
His faith grew which he hadn’t felt in quite a while.

In her, the prodigal saw God’s Love in her eyes.
She left, never to return; His empty heart cries.

Love washed the pain away in the prodigal’s heart.
He sits by her chair; their spirits never far apart.

Author’s Frustration
by S.R. Lee
Struggling with the art of fiction
I eavesdrop frequently,
but to no avail.
For note taking in a restaurant
is obvious, rude!

But today in a service station
I watch a young man pace
between potato chips and cashier.

Cell phone in hand
he speaks freely
“Hey, Raven, is Brandy there?
“Yeah, yeah”
“Not yet”
Names of a newer generation.

Perhaps they have serious issues.
The young always believe themselves to be real,
but even he goes no further.

I leave with no new short story
not even a novel
in mind.

S.R. Lee was born and bred in Middle Tennessee and lives on family land south of Nashville. Mostly she has been a mother and teacher and wife. She enjoys the privilege of being an aspiring writer.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Did You Say Great Speller? How ‘bout Great Grammarian?

By Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of The Frugal Editor

A few weeks ago I was inspired by June Casagrande's column, “A Word Please.” It appears weekly in the Glendale News-Press, an affiliate of the LA Times. I often clip her columns to read later or to follow up on her inspiration – later, of course.

This particular column I clipped was on spelling. You know, stuff like spelling bees and how brilliant kids can humiliate adults in certain arenas. On how Brits spell differently from Americans. That reminded me of how we Americans nurtured on British literature have so many problems with spelling (I still can't get "grey" right.).

And let’s not even talk about syntax or how we use prepositions differently.

But her column also reminded me of what a great speller I am. Or thought I was. As a child I was pretty darn good at those spelling bees myself. Got straight As in English and on and on. Then, one day I spelled a word wrong – in an art class of all places! My teacher asked me to look at the word. Nothing but "Duhhh . . . "

Then he asked some of my classmates to look at the word. I can't even tell you what the word was. Maybe something like "definitely" because it had something to do with an "i" and "a." None of my classmates had a clue either. So the teacher said, or rather ranted, "See, see? That's why we have dictionaries!"

Suddenly my confidence went down the proverbial drain – in this case, the drain of spelling awareness. He made me nervous. Now, even when I know I'm right, I fear I'm not. Do I remember the spelling the way I did it "before" when I spelled it wrong, or am I remembering the "after" when I had checked to see if I had it right? I can’t remember, so I have to go back to the dictionary again. Or do my Word Spell Checker. Geesh. Such a waste of time and brain power.

One of those before and after words for me is "recommendation." Two "c's" and two "m's" or only one "c" and... Well, you get the idea. There are times that Word's spell checker is a Godsend. I have it on autopilot. It doesn't even tell me when I spell "recommendation" wrong. It just corrects it. Which is probably one of the reasons that I can't remember. Someone or something is doing my work for me.

So when others assume I know everything about editing because I wrote a book on editing or because I am The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor on my blog (www.thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com), I must own up. I have to check. It’s partially the fault of a brain full of trivia (yes, some grammar is trivia!), but it’s also because English has changed.

There’s another reason, too. English isn’t nearly as rule-oriented as people think it is (or would like it to be!). There are style choices. The style designated by the publishers of books is often more stringent that the styles espoused by newspapers, and I’ve written both. Now, just try to keep all that straight.

No, don’t try to keep all that straight! You use something editors call style guides. Chicago is the one I use when I’m writing a book and AP is the one I use when I’m freelancing for newspapers. Sometimes I get to choose whatever I darn well prefer. So, I’m sticking with “e-mail” over “email.” Both are correct. The former makes more sense to me. I just have to face that I’m fighting a losing battle.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson is an award-winning author. Her published books include This Is the Place; The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher (http://budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo); The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success (http://budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor). Her new booklet called Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers: The Ultimate Frugal Booklet for Avoiding Word Trippers and Crafting Gatekeeper-Perfect Copy is available on Amazon (http://budurl.com/WordTrippersPB). It’s a great brush-up for avoiding humiliation over stuff we never knew or forgot. Carolyn is the recipient of the California Legislature's Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment Award. She is a popular speaker and actor. Her website is www.HowToDoItFrugally.com.

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Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Calling for Submissions for September 2010 Ezine

It's time for me to start putting together the next fantastic and information-filled e-zine for September 2010. That means I need you to send me your articles, contest announcements, and brags to be included in the next issue by August 24th. We have more than enough book reviews, but if I have room for them, I'll include them.

Read our guidelines for submitting here. Remember, the better your piece is written, the better attention and credibility it receives--and the less editing I have to do.  Please submit your pieces to katie at writersinthesky dot com.

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Book with a View August 2010


The Protected
Author: Rowena Portch
ISBN: 1432758667
Publisher: Outskirts Press Inc.
Reviewed by Vonnie Faroqui for WITS

Fantasy and romance fiction lovers alike are in for a delightful and surprising read as author Rowena Portch presents The Protected, book one of the Spirian Series. Portch successfully gifts the reader with a heroine and a story that will capture as well as excite the imagination, deeply satisfying the avid reader’s hunger for freshness with a style and plot line all her own.
Skye is a blind massage therapist with special gifts and a bright spirit that has attracted the wrong attention. Skye’s power to heal has been noticed, making her the coveted target of those who would steal her freedom and manipulate her gifts. The fate of her race rests on choices she must make. Poised in the balance point of shifting powers, Skye must choose her loyalties well. One wrong choice will tip the balance between redemption and destruction. If she falters, she dooms not only her race, but all of humanity. Vulnerable in ways that would terrify and immobilize lesser spirits, Skye transcends the circumstances of her blindness to wage a battle for Spirit and for all of us.

Portch has drawn from her own life and history to write Skye’s character and world, sharing—in a way that only a skilled and talented writer can—the very personal experience of blindness. Not only has Portch succeeded to write a blind character in a sighted world, she has done so in such a way as to create a world paradigm, characters, and circumstances that elevate this book from the ranks of a good story to that of a great read. The Protected is full of rich descriptions, breath-catching tension, humor, and desire, with characters that come to life and walk off the page to live in you. With a voice and experience uniquely her own, author Rowena Portch will make you believe the world she writes and you will seek it inside yourself.

A Blueprint for Financial Success
Author: Manuel Showalter
ISBN: 978-1-4327-5503-4
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Link to purchase: http://amzn.to/bBolb7
Reviewed by Vonnie Faroqui for WITS

A Blueprint for Financial Success is not the typical financial success guide book. It is in fact more of a conversation about finances and life. Author Manuel Showalter shares his life and financial experiences along with the knowledge he has acquired along the way quite neatly in this easy-to-read, conversational book. The tone is rather like that of a mentor, the wise uncle, or a beloved coach. Showalter speaks frankly about money matters and fiscal responsibility and recovery to those who have not had the benefit of silver spoons from birth, financial grooming, or parents with portfolios.

Blueprint is straight hitting, weighing in with ten chapters, 63 pages; an easy read for one sitting. Showalter writes about how work ethic, education, addictions, finding jobs, savings, giving, credit, buying a car, home ownership, and thinking outside the box affect one’s financial health. He shares and draws from personal experience; offering the knowledge he has gained in the ring and up against the ropes of life. Showalter is not promoting himself as a Wall Street financial wizard, to teach you stocks and bonds or e-trading; but then not all of us need or are ready for that level of financial guidance. What the author has to say in his book you aren’t going to hear from Mr. Wall Street. “Coach” Showalter is going to spell things out for you in simple, understandable layman’s terms; information and tested advice about the statute of limitations on debt collection and how to work within the system rather than going down for the count because of what you don’t know.

A Blueprint for Financial Success is written for those lacking the benefit of the everyday kind of financial guidance most helpful to the working class. Young America will especially benefit from the practical information and tips in this slim volume. As the subtitle says, “Learn how to play the game.” Blueprint is the “Rocky” of financial success books. I give it two thumbs up.

Frugal and Focused Tweeting for Retailers: Tweaking Your Tweets and Other Tips for Integrating Your Social Media 
Author: Carolyn Howard-Johnson
ISBN-10: 1451546149
Publisher: CreateSpace (April 1, 2010)
Pages 130
Reviewed by Yvonne Perry for WITS

Twitts• pir• a• tion • n. What Frugal and Focused Tweeting Gives You
I always get inspiration and ideas when I read something Carolyn Howard-Johnson has written about book marketing. However, when I got hold of her latest book, Frugal and Focused Tweeting, I wasn’t too sure I would learn something I didn’t already know. After all, there’s only so much you can say about Twitter—like most social networking sites, it takes up valuable time and distracts people from getting other things done.

But, I was pleasantly surprised and realized I was in for an interesting read when I opened the section before the first chapter and found, “Twitter was designed to be a simple communication device. I propose to keep it as simple as possible, or at least as simple as you want it to be.” I’m all about simplifying my life, so I kept reading.

She promised to reveal how to use Twitter as a business tool by tailoring your Tweets to your goals. I’ve been doing that, but it was a great reminder to keep doing what I know works.

“. . . easy schmeazy, free way to garner a few online sales” she says.
“Hmmmm . . .,” Says I. “I’ll keep reading.”

Did you say wallpaper? Excuse me while I open the Internet and see what I can do to improve my Twitter backdrop. Distracted? Oh, yes. But you should see my new wallpaper @writersinthesky! Or you can snag one from MyTweetSpace.com as Carolyn suggests in chapter three.

Moving right along. Next, the author says we should appreciate our customers and let them know we are thinking of them. By, George, she’s right and it’s #FollowFriday. I’ll be right back . . .

Sorry it took so long, I had to update my lists, follow some new people, and try out SocialOomph.com. But, hold on; I’m going back in to create hastags!

As you can see, this book has a lot to offer business owners. It contains a lot of useful information that can help you use Twitter more effectively and make better use of your time—frugally!

Photographs and Memories
Author: Barbara Fifield
ISBN: 978-1-4327-5238-5
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com, 2010
Genre and Target Market: fiction, women
Pages: 197
Reviewed by: Sarah Moore for WITS

I would like to begin this review by asking the readers a few questions. Have you ever experienced a tense relationship with a close member of your family because he/she was making poor decisions in their life or simply due to differences in personality? Have you watched someone you love suffer from an agonizing illness and felt helpless in not being able to ease his/her pain? Do you struggle to find happiness and fulfillment in your romantic relationships? I imagine that many of you were able to answer “yes” at least once. Let’s try one more. Do you strive to find happiness and contentment for yourself and your loved ones despite all of the challenges that life may bring? Hopefully, we all can nod our heads in agreement with that one. With all of the issues mentioned above featured in the new release by Barbara Fifield, Photographs and Memories, this book provides points of connection for all of us.

In what the author admits is a loosely autobiographical account of relationships and events in her life, Photographs and Memories tells the story of a woman named Angela who must move to a completely new part of the country, confront her alcoholic sister, tend to the ever-increasing needs of her elderly sister, accept the mortality of her beloved husband, try to strengthen the relationships within her blended family, and face the future alone. And, she tackles all of these significant life changes over the course of only a couple of years.

Barbara Fifield does a wonderful job of capturing the complicated situation in which many women of the “Baby Boomer” generation are finding themselves. With parents now living quite a few years past retirement age, children are often responsible for arranging the long-term care that will meet the physical and psychological needs of Mom and Dad. At the same time, these same women are trying to maintain relationships with adult children and, as is the reality in today’s society, perhaps fostering second marriages and the new extended family that these unions create. Fifield acknowledges that she has lived through every one of these situations. The fact that she is choosing to share her very real struggles and triumphs through the fictionalized Photographs and Memories makes the novel even more compelling.

Whether or not you are a member of Fifield’s generation and facing these unique circumstances, I believe that you will be able to relate to the messages this book sends about family, love, and the will to be a survivor. Despite all of the painful hardships that Angela endures over the course of the book, we leave her on the last page as a woman filled with hope and as someone who is looking forward to the future. Having dealt with some difficult and painful circumstances in my own life over the past year, Photographs and Memories offered me an important reminder that we all have a choice about how we face tomorrow and who we choose to be by our side when we do so.

I have now had the opportunity to read three books by Barbara Fifield and in all instances I have been struck by her honesty and her strength. Even though all three of her titles have been quite different from one another in genre, Fifield’s dedication to showing the complexities that come with being a woman has been evident in every instance. In Photographs and Memories, readers will share the journey of one wife, mother, and daughter who is determined to create the best and most meaningful life possible, even in the face of frequent and devastating loss. It’s hard to imagine a more realistic portrayal of strength than that!


Babes in Bucksnort
Author: Davis Aujourd’hui
ISBN: 978-1-4327-4500-4
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com, 2010
Genre and Target Market: fiction; humor; social commentary
Pages: 202
Reviewer: Sarah Moore for WITS

Now that I have been involved in the book publishing and marketing industry for several years, I am enjoying the opportunity to review subsequent works from authors whose first offering I also had the chance to read when it was released. What a pleasure it is to watch the evolution of a writer’s vision and message. This is particularly true when the author is in the midst of creating a series of books with a common theme or that is focused on a particular set of personalities. In these instances, I get to spend more time with characters I have come to love and I get a more complete sense of what the author is intending to show the readers. Such is the case with the release of the second book in the Sister Mary Olga Fortitude series by Davis Aujourd’hui, Babes in Bucksnort.

Like the book that preceded it, The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude, Babes in Bucksnort follows the antics of the diverse residents who live in Bucksnort, Wisconsin, as told by the hard-drinking, chain-smoking nun whose name graces the entire series. However, while the first book was intended to introduce the readers to the large cast of characters and establish Sister Mary’s belief in tolerance and unconditional love, Babes in Bucksnort now takes a more focused approach to the storyline and confronts the growing prejudice against homosexuality in the town.

Becoming increasingly concerned about the infiltration of gays and lesbians in Bucksnort, Priscilla Bunhead forms a group of like-minded citizens who are determined to chase the people who they believe to be perverts out of town. Their efforts are reinforced when Reverend Billy-Bob Blunthead brings his Born Again or Burn Forever Disciples for Jesus to Bucksnort for a large rally that is meant to galvanize the supposedly moral people to save their community. As readers will discover, Billy-Bob, Priscilla, and other dispensers of harsh judgment will face a stronger and more unified opposition than they ever expected.

In this book, Aujourd’hui continues to do an excellent job of sharing social commentary through his memorable characters. Reverend Billy-Bob immediately conjures up images of television preachers who use their claim of Christianity to make a fortune from condemning others. Lilliliver Lipstick, another new character to the series and sidekick to Priscilla Bunhead, reminds me of the weak child who stands behind the playground bully and quietly watches while her fellow students are belittled and beaten. And, of course, Sister Mary Olga is still the necessary voice of kindness and reason in the middle of a wild atmosphere. I imagine in more than one instance, readers will recognize a character in Babes in Bucksnort as an exaggerated representation of someone they know in their own lives.

As I read both published installments in the Sister Mary Olga Fortitude series, I realized that I was enjoying the content for two distinct reasons. First, Aujourd’hui creates men, women, and children with unforgettable (and descriptive!) names and even more outrageous behavior. I appreciated the sharp humor that the author employed to this end and found great entertainment value in turning each page and discovering what these characters would do next. But, I also enjoyed the important messages of love and acceptance that Aujourd’hui emphasizes, particularly through the teachings of Sister Mary herself. Once in a while, we all need mirrors placed in front of us to help us examine and rethink how we treat one another, and Davis Aujourd’hui accomplishes this through his writing. Babes in Bucksnort is a book that will make you both think and laugh, which defines a great read for me. Now, I just need to wait for book number three so that I can discover who Sister Mary will bring to task next!

Passion’s Evidence
Author: Barbara Fifield
ISBN Number: 978-1-4327-5357-3
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com, 2010
Genre and Target Market: poetry
Pages: 77
Reviewer: Sarah Moore for WITS

When asked to review a writer’s published collection of poetry, I always have a brief moment of hesitation. To me, poetry is such an intensely personal genre in which one person’s expressive and soul-wrenching output may be viewed as a jumbled mess to a reader who comes to the material with a different perspective or background. But then I remind myself that what I am expected to offer when I provide my opinion on a poet’s work is my specific reaction. I am entitled to review the poetry of another writer because I am entitled to my own emotional response. And, in the case of Passion’s Evidenceby Barbara Fifield, I was left with an ache over words that conjured up my own thoughts on loss, love, and beauty.

This was not my first opportunity to read the work of Ms. Fifield, as I previously reviewed her novel Lucifer Rising. While I enjoyed her writing style in my initial exposure to her efforts, my appreciation for her talents was multiplied by Passion’s Evidence. Fifield shares poetry that she has composed over the past twenty-five years, dividing the pieces into several powerful themes, and every page contains language that carries a message that is not content to lie flat and typed on a page. At the risk of sounding too cliché, this book really does come alive.

Perhaps the most difficult section to read was the one dedicated to her late husband, Roger. She writes to him while she sits by his side in the hospital, “I mourn for you,/my beloved/my husband/my angel/my soul mate,” and as she prepares to bury his ashes by the ocean, “Your ashes lie at my bed’s foot/I feel too crippled to disturb them.” I could feel the grief emanating from every word that she selected to share her loss, but also understood the love and intimate connection that this man and woman shared.

As the mother of a young girl, I was affected by the poems Fifield wrote to her own daughter as she developed into adulthood. She shared the same fears, worries, and pride that every mother expresses for their children as they start to make their way in the world. As she writes in “To Mona at 36,” “Mona—you dash from job to job and career to/ career—/looking for something to bring you joy.” These phrases will resonate with many parents who only can watch as their kids search for direction and a calling in life that is rooted in passion.

From the pleasure in eating fresh strawberries straight from the vine, to her belief in the connection that be found only in true love, to the healing powers of quiet moments at the beach, Fifield has seemingly transferred her soul onto the pages of Passion’s Evidence and given herself as an emotional offering to her readers. She shares her highs and her lows, as well as the moments during which she cannot discern exactly how she should be feeling. For those who appreciate the power that a poem has to capture a moment in time, Passion’s Evidence is a recommended addition to your collection.


Da Vinci and the 40 Answers : A Playbook for Creativity and Fresh Ideas
Mark L. Fox
Wizard Academy Press (2008)
ISBN 9781932226638
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (07/10)

My first exposure to Da Vinci and the 40 Answers through a 2-day workshop under the same name facilitated by the author, Mark L. Fox. The premise is based on the principles of TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) created by a Russian engineer/scientist Genrikh Altshuller. Altshuller's findings showed that, after studying hundreds of thousands of patents, “there are only about 1,500 basic problems.” Fox further states “Every answer to every problem is found within the 40 principles of TRIZ . . .”

For the purpose of this review, I will cover two “lenses” (principles) of TRIZ and the relationship to a business. One is “Peel the Onion.” This particular lens made me stop in my tracks when I read Fox’s sub-title of “Everything You Know is Wrong.” Further reading explained that if we rely on conventional wisdom as the key source for making decisions failure is imminent. If we aren’t willing to look at other options we stifle our own creativity. Challenging ourselves is of utmost importance if our goal is growth in our business and our personal lives.

Another lens is “Brainstorming.” To me, this is one of the most important aspects of managing a business. However, as Fox explains in Da Vinci and the 40 Answers , on many occasions the brainstorming sessions don’t produce effective results. According to Fox the ineffectiveness is a result of not setting rules for the brainstorming session. One rule is “Generate as many ideas as possible. Go for quantity, not quality.” I've been in many sessions when the brainstorming stops when everyone agrees on one idea but this always isn’t the best result. On a personal note, when in Fox’s class, I was chosen to have my goal for the business brainstormed. I acquired twenty-seven new ideas that can be implemented and this was as a result of the rule “Encourage Wild and Exaggerated Ideas, No Matter How Crazy, Ridiculous, or Far-fetched the Idea Might Be.”

Fox comes from an engineering background with accomplishments such as Chief Engineer on the Space Shuttle program and Chairman of the “orbital debris” committee. With that comes his creative side from which he draws extensively in his book and business consulting. “Da Vinci and the 40 Answers ” is concise, written in lay language, and provides a diverse list of lenses that can be used in any business or personal advancement. The examples and ideas can transform or update a business to become the forerunner in the industry. And, I can personally attest to that.

The True Nature of Tarot: Your Path to Personal Empowerment
Diane Wing, MA
Marvelous Spirit Press (2010)
ISBN 9781615990214
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (07/10)

The True Nature of Tarot is the revised and expanded version of the 2003 Mi The Nature of Tarot. Diane Wing, the author has an extensive background in psychology and metaphysics. She has been reading tarot cards for over twenty-five years. There is a common belief that tarot cards are to be used for reading a person’s future. Wing dispels this idea and recommends that they be used as a tool for enlightenment. She states, “A tarot deck provides a pictorial journey of the self to foster connections with the Universal Energy and Higher Self.” This allows the person being read for to gain insight into what they are experiencing. It can also help them to direct their psychic abilities.

She has a very interesting discussion on how the use of tarot cards has been associated with evil. Personally, I was raised with this idea, however, my experience with tarot card readers who had integrity taught me otherwise. The intent of the card reader determines whether or not the use of the cards is good or bad. If the reader wants to try to control or manipulate the person being read for, then their intent is bad. This idea also applies to other areas of our lives where we place our trust in someone to give us guidance. Wing offers ideas on to how to tell if a card reader is legitimate. She makes it very clear that if the reader predicts something bad will happen, that they can fix for a price, they do not have the right intent. As spiritual beings, if we do learn something that we are not comfortable with, we can use that knowledge to make choices to change this.

Having had some incredible experience with Tarot card readings, I have been very interested in how the process works. The True Nature of Tarot, lays everything out for both the card reader and the person being read for. From beginning to end, Wing offers advice in how to prepare for the reading, do the reading, and gain insight into interpreting the cards. She also does an extensive review of the meaning of each card. From my experience, The True Nature of Tarot provides the most extensive, yet easy to understand review of the tarot card reading experience. I also feel that the author’s explanation of how the cards should be used will help the reader gain understanding into how they can empower their lives by using the cards. Whether you are a novice or an experienced card reader, The True Nature of Tarot is a must read for people who have an interest in tarot cards.

Friday, August 13, 2010

How to Write a Legal Disclaimer For Your Book

By Alicia Nicole Dunams

With a society that is often prone to rush to litigation, the use of legal disclaimers in books have grown in popularity and are often strongly recommended. These disclaimers are suitable when your book offers health, fitness, diet, or financial advice. They also serve to protect the author and the publisher against liability when their book's topic might invade someone's privacy or result in a claim of defamation. In addition, when you provide instructional information or advice, it's a good idea to protect yourself and your product from being held liable for the results achieved from their use or implementation.

That said, how do you, as an author, craft a legal disclaimer that will protect you and your book? It really isn't that difficult. The easiest way to find the technical language that should be included in a legal disclaimer is to review disclaimers contained in books similar to yours and revise or mirror them. For instance, if your book offers financial advice, review the legal disclaimers in bestselling books that offer financial advice. It's recommended that you select books published by a traditional publishing house, which has a legal staff who pens their disclaimers.

Here are a few samples of legal disclaimers used in books to get you started:

The information provided in this book is designed to provide helpful information on the subjects discussed. This book is not meant to be used, nor should it be used, to diagnose or treat any medical condition. For diagnosis or treatment of any medical problem, consult your own physician. The publisher and author are not responsible for any specific health or allergy needs that may require medical supervision and are not liable for any damages or negative consequences from any treatment, action, application or preparation, to any person reading or following the information in this book. References are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute endorsement of any websites or other sources. Readers should be aware that the websites listed in this book may change.

Here is a disclaimer from a motivational book written in the Chicken Soup style, containing different chapters from different authors.

This book is designed to provide information and motivation to our readers. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged to render any type of psychological, legal, or any other kind of professional advice. The content of each article is the sole expression and opinion of its author, and not necessarily that of the publisher. No warranties or guarantees are expressed or implied by the publisher's choice to include any of the content in this volume. Neither the publisher nor the individual author(s) shall be liable for any physical, psychological, emotional, financial, or commercial damages, including, but not limited to, special, incidental, consequential or other damages. Our views and rights are the same: You are responsible for your own choices, actions, and results.

Here's the legal disclaimer from a book which outlines a program for business administrators:

This book is presented solely for educational and entertainment purposes. The author and publisher are not offering it as legal, accounting, or other professional services advice. While best efforts have been used in preparing this book, the author and publisher make no representations or warranties of any kind and assume no liabilities of any kind with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness of use for a particular purpose. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be held liable or responsible to any person or entity with respect to any loss or incidental or consequential damages caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by the information or programs contained herein. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. Every company is different and the advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should seek the services of a competent professional before beginning any improvement program. The story and its characters and entities are fictional. Any likeness to actual persons, either living or dead, is strictly coincidental.

As you can see, a legal disclaimer doesn't have to be a lengthy contract. It's a small amount of work, though, that can offer a large amount of defense and protection.

Alicia Dunams coaches her clients on how to expedite the book-writing process and "Make Your Book Your Business." Her clients include best-selling authors who have appeared on national media outlets such as 20/20 and CNN, and have been written up in The New York Times. These "authorpreneurs" are adding hundreds of thousands of dollars to their bottom line - all by leveraging their published books. Visit http://www.aliciadunams.com or http://www.17daybookchallenge.com for more information. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alicia_Nicole_Dunams

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Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Editor's Corner August 2010

Welcome to another hot issue of Writers in the Sky E-zine. Hot? Yes, Nashville—the home base of WITS and this e-zine—has experienced the hottest summer temperatures on record for June and July. I enjoyed two nice retreats to Nashville Shores water park with my grandson to cool off!

WITS is pleased to announce that we now have a monthly opening in Jan Darpan Magazine dedicated to informational articles and pieces about authors, businesses, books, and services that are of interest to the Jan Darpan community of subscribers. Jan Darpan is a free monthly magazine that publishes information and articles of interest to the South Asian and local community both online and in-print versions. It is available in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi , North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and other neighboring states. It is also being mailed out free across the United States to subscribers. Articles will be written by WITS for interested clients and will be placed in the magazine as space is available on a monthly basis. If you are interested in this unique marketing opportunity, please contact Vonnie Faroqui (WITS author's assistant) for price and information.

Dr. Caron Goode and I are enjoying our collaboration to help adults understand kids who see ghosts. We are finding that not only are more and more children gifted with spiritual sight, many are retaining this ability in their teen years and adulthood. Caron and I have a Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/KidsWhoSeeGhosts where you may share your ghost stories and find community with other parents.

My new podcast, We Are One in Spirit, has been well received with over 1,200 hits per month. We've had a variety of guests speaking on topics such as life after death, the shifting of collective consciousness, personal transformation, oneness, feng shui, and moving past religion to find spiritual attunement.

Two of my grandsons celebrated their first birthday this summer. Liam and Jonas both had a smashing good time as you will see in this photo of them eating cake at their birthday parties. Both boys are taking their first steps toward walking. I am looking forward to spending a week in August with my step-daughter, her fiancé and their son who will be a year old in October.

This issue of WITS E-zine was proofread by our WITS team member and editor Dianna Calareso. I appreciate your contributions to make this a community e-zine.

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Saturday, August 7, 2010

Writers in the Sky Podcast Schedule August 2010!

Join us for an exciting month of author interviews as a new show is posted each Friday. Learn about the latest books being published and how. Hear what authors are doing to market their books on Writers in the Sky Podcast.
August 6

Author Rowena Portch introduces The Protected, the first novel in her Spirian Series. Portch successfully gifts the reader with a heroine and a story that will capture as well as excite the imagination and joins WITS podcast host Vonnie Faroqui to talk about her plans for the series. When author Rowena Portch lost her vision to retinitis pigmentosa, she retired from her successful career as an editor at Microsoft to focus on her healing and writing work. Portch had already been writing professionally for over 30 years, across different genres and for various publications. She will be bringing years of experience and insight into the publishing world to WITS Podcast listeners.

August 13

Author Dawn Menge returns for a third visit to the Writers in the Sky Podcast to discuss the newest book in her series for children featuring the character of Queen Vernita. In this installment, Queen Vernita Visits Sir Heathybean the Astronomer, readers will learn many wonderful details about the planets and other celestial bodies; and, as always when spending time with Queen Vernita, the repetition of months and days of the week is continued as a learning tool. During the interview with WITS team member Sarah Moore, Dawn Menge will be discussing how she is working to expand the interest in Queen Vernita with the release of each new book, the new characters readers can expect to meet in Queen Vernita Visits Sir Heathybean the Astronomer, and perhaps invite a special guest from the pages of the book to join part of the conversation.

August 20

Vonnie Faroqui will interview event planner and business woman Andrea Michaels about her foray into writing, Reflections of a Successful Wallflower, a memoir of her experiences. Michaels is an award-winning and highly-regarded leader in the special events industry, a true pioneer, and will be sharing the memories of a lifetime as she reflects on the many lessons learned along the path to success and her decision to write about them. .

August 27

The podcast series for August ends on the 27th with The Drawing Lesson and an interview with returning guest author Mary Martin. Ms. Martin will share the inspiration behind her latest series A Trilogy of Remembrance, which focuses on the art world, art politics, and creative madness as well as malicious intrigue. Discover the secrets of a fabulous author as she discusses how she changed her writing style from The Osgoode Trilogy, three novels of legal suspense, to create her latest literary art offering. Martin’s Drawing Lesson is already receiving highly-regarded critical acclaim in Canada and is sure to please American readers.

Listening to Writers in the Sky Podcast on a computer is easy. Just click this link: http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com and go to my blog. On the right sidebar there is a list of archived shows. Click on the interview you would like to hear and it will open a post that has a link to open the audio file. For information about being a guest on Writers in the Sky Podcast, see http://writersinthesky.com/writing-podcast.html.
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Friday, August 6, 2010

Leverage Relationships to Sell More Books

by Dana Lynn Smith

Relationships with other people and organizations that cater to your target market can be incredibly valuable in promoting your book. Here are some other ways develop and leverage relationships with influencers who can help spread the word about you and your book:

1. Identify the places that your prospects turn for information about your topic or type of book:

Networking on social sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn is a great way to meet influencers, but it's not the only way. Also search the Internet and compile a list of the top websites, blogs, ezines, magazines, newsletters, online forums, books, e-books, clubs and association that cater to your target market or cover your topic or genre. For example, if your book is about fly fishing, search on terms such as “fly fishing blogs” and “fly fishing magazines.” Placing the search term in quotes may yield better results.

You can determine the popularity of a website, relative to other sites on your list, by looking at its Alexa rank. Click the Alexa Toolbar link on the Alexa site to download the toolbar.

Blog directories such as Technorati, My Blog Log, and Google Blog Search are great for locating blogs on a specific topic. To find forums and discussion groups, search Yahoo Groups and Google Groups.

Search Amazon.com and Google for books and e-books on related topics that appeal to your target markets, but don't compete directly with your book. Then locate the author's website.

2. Research each site, organization, and publication

Study each site to get a good understanding of what they do and how it relates to your book. Look for possible promotional opportunities (do they review products, sell affiliate products, accept content from others, allow comments, etc.) and gather contact information.

3. Contact the owner or manager of each resource and seek to develop a mutually beneficial relationship

Prioritize your list, and identify the prospects that seem to be the most important and have the most potential. Do NOT write a generic "would you like to trade links" email. Instead, craft a thoughtful, customized message sincerely complimenting the prospect and suggesting some specific ways that you might work together to your mutual benefit. Some possibilities include contributing content to each other’s sites, doing joint teleseminars, selling through affiliate programs, cross-linking, and promoting in e-zines.

4. Follow up and follow through

If you get no response from your initial email, try again in a week or two or try sending an old-fashioned letter, making a phone call, or contacting the person through a social networking site.

When you get a favorable response from a prospect, follow through promptly to deliver whatever you've agreed to. Keep in touch with your new partners on a regular basis to build relationships, and look for additional ways you might work together.

5. Join the conversation

Read the top blogs on your list and look for opportunities to comment on posts using your promotional signature (name and book title). See this article for more tips on how to benefit from commenting on blogs.

On social networks, comment on relevant posts and become active in groups. For online forums, read the group rules and lurk for a while to get a feel for the group and the level of expertise. Then look for opportunities to respond to posts in a helpful way, using your promotional signature. Be subtle about promoting your book, follow the group's rules, and don't spam.

Dana Lynn Smith is a book marketing coach and author of The Savvy Book Marketer's Guide to Successful Social Marketing. and several other book promotion guides. For book promotion tips, visit The Savvy Book Marketer blog. Get a copy of the Top Book Marketing Tips e-book when you register for her free book marketing newsletter. For more book marketing tips, follow Dana on Twitter or visit TheSavvyBookMarketer.com.

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Monday, August 2, 2010

Writers’ Podcasts for August Range from the Paranormal Fiction to the Sublime World of Art

Writers in the Sky Guests Discuss Series Writing and Life lessons.

Nashville, TN, July, 2010— During the month of August, Writers in the Sky will be offering interviews with three authors who are individually writing fiction series, and an business pioneer turned author, who has written a memoir on success in the special event industry.

The month begins with an escape into a paranormal/sci-fi series that will stir creative juices and set the tone for a month of focusing on series authors. Week two takes listeners into the world of children’s series writing; with the following week offering a memoir written by the queen of the special event industry. August comes to completion with a returning and critically-acclaimed author, who will be unveiling book one in a fiction series delving into the world of art and the artistic muse.

On August 6, author Rowena Portch introduces The Protected, the first novel in her Spirian Series. Portch successfully gifts the reader with a heroine and a story that will capture as well as excite the imagination and joins WITS podcast host Vonnie Faroqui to talk about her plans for the series. When author Rowena Portch lost her vision to retinitis pigmentosa, she retired from her successful career as an editor at Microsoft to focus on her healing and writing work. Portch had already been writing professionally for over 30 years, across different genres and for various publications. She will be bringing years of experience and insight into the publishing world to WITS Podcast listeners.

On August 13, author Dawn Menge returns for a third visit to the Writers in the Sky Podcast to discuss the newest book in her series for children featuring the character of Queen Vernita. In this installment, Queen Vernita Visits Sir Heathybean the Astronomer, readers will learn many wonderful details about the planets and other celestial bodies; and, as always when spending time with Queen Vernita, the repetition of months and days of the week is continued as a learning tool. During the interview with WITS team member Sarah Moore, Dawn Menge will be discussing how she is working to expand the interest in Queen Vernita with the release of each new book, the new characters readers can expect to meet in Queen Vernita Visits Sir Heathybean the Astronomer, and perhaps invite a special guest from the pages of the book to join part of the conversation.

On August 20, Faroqui will interview event planner and business woman Andrea Michaels about her foray into writing, Reflections of a Successful Wallflower, a memoir of her experiences. Michaels is an award-winning and highly-regarded leader in the special events industry, a true pioneer, and will be sharing the memories of a lifetime as she reflects on the many lessons learned along the path to success and her decision to write about them.

The podcast series for August ends on the 27th with The Drawing Lesson and an interview with returning guest author Mary Martin. Ms. Martin will share the inspiration behind her latest series A Trilogy of Remembrance, which focuses on the art world, art politics, and creative madness as well as malicious intrigue. Discover the secrets of a fabulous author as she discusses how she changed her writing style from The Osgoode Trilogy, three novels of legal suspense, to create her latest literary art offering. Martin’s Drawing Lesson is already receiving highly-regarded critical acclaim in Canada and is sure to please American readers.

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

Listening to Writers in the Sky Podcast on a computer is easy. Go to http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com. On the right sidebar there is a list of archived shows. Click on the interview you would like to hear and it will open a post that has a link to the audio file.