Sell More Books with a Virtual Book Tour

by Dana Lynn Smith, The Savvy Book Marketer

Virtual book tours (also called blog tours) typically involve making guest appearances on book review sites or on blogs, websites, and/or forums that are related to your topic or audience. You can even do teleseminars, podcasts, or live interviews on Blog Talk Radio as part of your tour.

Virtual tours have several advantages over the traditional in-person book tour:

• It's free (unless you hire someone to organize the tour) and there's no time or money spent on travel.
• You can generally reach far more people and reach a more targeted audience.
• A virtual tour provides quality, lasting links to your own author website.

Look for tour hosts that are a good fit for your book and provide unique content to each host. Here are some suggestions for content:

• virtual interviews, where your host asks questions and you respond
• how-to articles in your area of expertise
• excerpts from your book
• articles about how you developed the plot or characters for a novel
• book reviews written by the tour host
• podcasts or teleseminars
• video or blog radio interviews with you
• book promotion videos
• articles about how you published the book or what you're doing to market it

Make the tour more interactive by encouraging readers to make comments or ask questions. Sometimes the host will ask readers for questions in advance.

You can create buzz by giving away a free copy of your book or a related item at some of the tour stops. For example, invite people to make a comment on your guest blog post, then hold a drawing to give away a free copy of your book to someone randomly selected from those who left comments. But the downside of giving away your book during the tour is that some people might wait to see if they win, instead of ordering the book. Instead, you might give away a copy of one of your other books or offer a free e-book to everyone.

Virtual book tours are ideal for launching a new book, but even if your book has been out for a while, a virtual tour can book create buzz and bring in sales.

Tours typically last 5 to 20 consecutive days, with a different tour stop each day or every other day. If you want to do a long tour, you might schedule a 10-day tour and then do a second tour a month or two later. It's never too late to promote your book with a virtual book tour!

About Dana Lynn Smith

Dana Lynn Smith, The Savvy Book Marketer, helps authors and indie publishers learn how to sell more books through her how-to guides, blog, newsletter, and private coaching. Get her free Top Book Marketing Tips e-books at www.BookMarketingNewsletter.com, visit her blog at www.TheSavvyBookMarketer.com, follow @BookMarketer on Twitter, and connect on Face-book at www.face-book.com/SavvyBookMarketer.

 

This Week's Podcast Guest: Mary L. Johnson

This Sunday, millions of people around the world will be glued to their TVs as Hollywood presents its highest honor. Some will watch the Oscars to see who's wearing what on the Red Carpet,  while others will be rooting for their favorite film or actor. I will be watching for both reasons, which is why it was such great fun to interview film aficionado Mary L. Johnson about her book, 6 Degrees of Film: The Future of Film in the Global Village.

6 Degrees of Film is a fascinating discussion of film making through the decades—including the cinematography, writing, directing and acting. It also traces the rise of the big studios and the men--the Mayers, the Goldwyns, and the Selznicks--who built these studios. Each anecdote is an incredible snapshot of critical points in American history, and explores the connection between Hollywood and social / political issues. 

Click here to listen to my interview with Mary L Johnson.
Mary's writing career extends far beyond film; in fact, she is one of the most prolific writers I have ever met. In addition to 6 Degrees of Film, she also maintains several blogs on topics ranging from politics to gluten-free eating. All of them offer powerful insight into issues that matter; for example, Thezenchrist.blogspot.com explores fundamental challenges that Christians find in the parables of Jesus; and Thefloridacracker.wordpress.com chronicles life as a Florida native.

To learn more about Mary's work, visit the 6 Degrees of Film blog. To buy the book, visit
Amazon.

WITS Book Reviews February 2014

Book Title: Fiat
Author: Jeff Schlaman
ISBN 13: 978-1493560936
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Genre: Suspense Novel
Publication Date: December 17, 2013
Book Length in Pages: 308
Reviewer: Dana Micheli

Set in an all too possible world a few years in the future, Jeff Schlaman's Fiat has the feel of a post-apocalyptic horror story; but instead of zombies or thugs brandishing weapons on a bloody field, the perpetrators are in the back rooms of Wall Street and Washington D.C. Their years of fiscal irresponsibility, coupled with a series of devastating super storms, has brought the country to its knees. As a result, America's political enemies have preyed upon it weakness, even placing bids to buy destitute cities.

Schlaman has created a terrifying page-turner that is all the more frightening because, in light of the Great Recession, no longer seems implausible. He captures the narcissism and all encompassing power of the few who hold the strings, usually while the rest of us live in ignorance of what is going on. At the same time, Fiat is a commentary on the runaway materialism that has taken hold of our society; while we may not be the architects of our financial ruin, we are complicit by virtue of our refusal to see the truth. We have come to expect the big houses, gas-guzzlers, and expensive electronics, without any thought to whether we can really afford them.

What made this book so hard for me to put down was the personal stories of people from all walks of life, in different parts of the country. That, along with the political subplots, made this one of the most suspenseful books I've read in quite some time.



Book Title: American Sycamore
Author: Karen Fielding
ISBN 13: 978-1781721179
Publisher: Seren
Genre: Narrative Novel
Publication Date: March 15, 2014
Reviewer: Dana Micheli

It is a rare pleasure to be completely immersed in a book--when a writer is able to engage all five senses so the reader feels like they are truly there. That's what Karen Fielding did when she created the beautiful, tragic world of American Sycamore. It is the story of Alice Sycamore, a young girl coming of age in the rural Pennsylvania of the 1970s, as well as the turmoil of dealing with her mentally ill brother.

Fielding's prose is achingly beautiful, with descriptions of nature so vivid it reminded me of Alice Hoffman. With every page of American Sycamore, I could smell the brackish odor of the Susquehanna River, feel the desolation of walking along it on an icy winter day, and the insects landing on my skin during a hot, sticky summer.

But what I loved most about Fielding's writing is its subtlety. Humor in the face of emotional agony must be used by only the most skilled writers, and even then very carefully, lest it downplays the drama of the story. In Fielding's hands, it gives this drama yet another layer of realism. We see the ignorance of these times through the eyes (and funny, cryptic statements) of Joseph Lightfoot, a Native American who is trivialized by white society but gains wisdom from the ghosts of his ancestors. This also serves as a bit of irony, for Alice's brother, Billy-a manic depressive- also sees things that others cannot. Is Billy completely crazy, or does he also possess a particular brand of supernatural wisdom? While it is most likely the former, it did give me pause. I would be hard-pressed to name many authors--Joyce Carol Oates being one of them--that conveys human emotions and family dysfunctions so simply and so honestly.

Photographic Illustration, Part 1

by Deborah Wilbrink

Stumped for illustrations and book covers? Take your own photographs and use them. You’ll have the copyright, so no problem there. And photographs are the first reality graphics! The impact of a sharp and creative photograph cannot be overestimated.

When I studied photography at the Polytechnic Institute of London in 1975, there were no digital cameras; no personal computers. We shot in joy and trepidation, developed our own prints, and used staging, composition, and pure light for special effects. Everything I know about digital photography I have taught myself, mostly in the past two years. My first color book interior is the result of comparing printed scans at different settings, in my home office, as well as reading feverishly online. I still have much to learn, but these tips will give you a HUGE head start on illustrating your published works.

Start with the best shot possible. Your text isn’t amateurish; your photos should also look

professional. That means framing or composing the best shot, and shooting in the best light. A shot of a tree can show the tree; or, it can be framed so that contrasting words will show against the dark background. That’s for posed or still subjects. If you are shooting action, you can still manipulate the environment for the best shot – try moving yourself and not the subject! Simple software can do wonders, and professional software like Adobe Photoshop can do even more. But starting with a great shot leaves more time for you to write and market.

Create and Inspire. Now your illustrations have a chance for complete originality. Shoot and shoot till you get something that will inspire your reader. It can be literal – a view from your childhood home; or it can be metaphorical – a cubby of ropes signifying neatening up your life! Your original shot can be a design element for your new book’s Face-book page or an illustration for your weekly blog. Lisa Ernst takes her own shots for the blog, http://thelotusbloomsinthemud.com/ and they illustrate her text. Do NOT take a shot of someone else’s artwork, even if you own it, and consider that yours. You will need to get the proper permissions and write the proper credits and copyrights or disclaimers into your publication.

Use higher resolution images. Resolution simply means that your shot resolves into a sharp image at the size you want to see it. That could be anything from a large book cover to a small illustration. How about using a half-inch square as a high contrast graphic design element for chapter headings? Most online publishing sites require at least a 300 dpi, or dots per inch, resolution.

Use the settings for resolution. Some cameras offer a high resolution setting for shooting. Use that. If you are scanning original drawings or hard copy photographs and documents, and you intend to use them in print media, set your resolution to at least 300 dpi. The larger the original image, the better it will reproduce when small. If you scan a 4x6 photo and then want it for an 8.5 x 11”cover, you may have problems, depending on the dpi of the scan. Another measurement you may see is pixels, which measure the size of the original image. There are formulas, sometimes built into software, which will tell you just how sharply your image will print at different sizes. Start with at least 300dpi and you won’t have to worry about this. Not just the camera, but the scanner has resolution settings. Be sure to set them at 300 dpi or higher when scanning personal photos.

Check your image information. A right click on the digital photo will give you menus. [Yes, I’m a PC user! Apple products, specializing in intuitive graphics, may have different ways to do this.] Properties or general details will yield pixel and or dpi scan information. I can testify that getting some shots from church historian XX that proved to be 600 dpi delighted both of us! On the other hand, shots that were emailed at 60 dpi from another writer was the start of hours of backtracking and image manipulation for both of us in order to successfully use those illustrations. The common web image resolution, 60 dpi, may look sharp on your computer screen, but not when printed! Knowing about resolution before your shoot and scans will save you time.

Use all the other features of your scanner. Your scanner is your best friend for capturing existing photographs. Not only resolution, but scanning in batches, cropping while in the scanner, saving into files or by dates, are all possibilities. You can also set to scan documents, photos, black and white, or color; magazine and newspaper articles have settings for getting rid of text that may bleed through. Read your scanner manual and set aside time to experiment. I like to scan old black & white or sepia photographs in color, not black and white, for a warmer finish if the final product will be in color.

If possible remove the photos from under glass or plastic. If you have lots of these and they may get sticky, a Flip- Pal mobile scanner will allow you to leave them in place; a camera will give you fits with glare and reflection, but taking a shot can be done.

Use existing photographs at your own risk! Whenever possible, illustrate with original shots. There are times however, when an existing shot, a historic photo, a portrait, etc. – all be someone else or the terrible-to-track Anonymous seems to be the best and only choice. Be careful with this. You will need legal permission from the copyright holder; buy the rights from a stock image company, or use photographs that are legally in the public domain and note that they are so. I am always looking to learn more about this, and if you know all about it, please get in touch or submit a specific article. Otherwise, you may find these websites a place to start:
http://www.amdlawgroup.com/how-to-use-photos-without-violating-copyright-laws/
http://www.copyrightlaws.com/us/legally-using-images/

You’ll enjoy capturing your illustrations with a camera, a scanner, or working with a photographer whom you know and trust. Enjoy it even more now that you are confident you will get a legal, usable, and communicative photo to publish! Next month Part 2 will address how photos can be used to inspire your writing, and then be integrated for a stronger package.
c. 2014 DW text and photos, all rights reserved

If you liked this, subscribe to the Point of View blog http://www.perfectmemoirs.com/point-of-view-blogpage/ for tips about writing. Deborah Wilbrink is an editor, ghostwriter and formatter for Writers in the Sky. Deborah specializes in personal history with her business Perfect Memoirs. Reach Deborah at 615-417-8424, mailto:deb@perfectmemoirs.com. Be sure to mention Writers in the Sky!
 

Poetry and Prose Corner February 2014

Don’t Be Afraid

The winds of chance fly swift beyond the clouds
To carry seeds of challenges ahead,
Til buried deep in furrows plainly plowed
They languish in uncertainty and dread.
And every whisper falling on their ear
Lends warning of the dangers yet to come.
Foreboding foils of feckless, freakish fears
Are birth to caution, leaving reason numb.
As aimless arrows all around ascend,
Like willow branches bending without harm,
Fair truth becomes a melancholy friend
To battle with the liars of alarm
Epiphany – at last fair ransom paid –
Speaks softly in my ear, “Don’t be afraid.”

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


Footprints

By Brenda McBride

As we travel down the road of life, we face challenges and triumps that
present themelves along the way......
We encounter so many people in our journey, some of which take hold of our
hearts and show us Blessings with much to say......
These special people bring us wisdom, guidance and fellowship to lead us
in the right direction where everlasting joy and peace lie ahead......
THey provide us with scriptures that can open up our lives to see the truth
in what God had instore, taking away our tears and replacing it with blessings instead......

The gifts they bring to us are undless, with wisdom, truth and the love
that can be shared through a spiritual bond that's fruitful and real.....
Gifts from the heart last forever in their connection, out of praise and glory from God that can never be broken, can bring comfort to heal......
We will know when we've met these beautiful people of God, they stand out
in a crowd like a shining diamond that sparkles in the night......
They leave their footprints with us wherever we go, feeling so loved and
knowing everything's alright!

Brenda McBride lives in Temecula, California with her two teenage girls and is a substitute teacher working with Special Education students. Several of her articles and poems have been published in various magazines throughout the last several years. When her father passed away in 2011, her grief became so unbearable that she began writing to release deep emotions. There's not a day that goes by without the thought and beautiful memories shared with her wonderful dad.


And Well They Served

To stand on unfamiliar soil,
Stranger to the local custom,
Sent in blindness void of reason,
Purposed only to defend,

Cautioned not to question orders,
You are but a puzzle piece.
Higher forces guide decisions.
“You will thank us in the end.”

Settling into your mission,
Studying a hated foe,
Never knowing what may happen
When and if the mortars fly.

Stealthily behind your weapon,
Senses climbing to a peak,
Ready to defend your comrades,
Question not the reason why.

Grateful when the fray is over,
Though you’re weary to the bone.
A needful nation sent you there.
A thankful throng welcomes you home.

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

Fifty Things Under $50 Bucks to Promote Your Book

These days it seems like everyone's book marketing budget is a little tighter. If you're feeling the pinch, or if you're just looking for some great free stuff to do on your own, here are some tips that can help keep you on track.

1) Buy your domain name as soon as you have a title for your book. You can get domain names for as little as $12.95. Tip: When buying a domain always try to get a .com and stay away from hyphens, i.e. penny-sansevieri.com - surfers rarely remember to insert hyphens. You should also consider using your keywords in your domain because it’ll help you rank better. Social media is great, but don’t use your Face-book or Twitter pages as your “website” – you should own your domain and have a site. Period. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/penny-c-sansevieri/how-to-build-the-perfect-_b_1932184.html

2) Head on over to Wordpress.com and start your very own blog (you can add it to your website later): http://www.huffingtonpost.com/penny-c-sansevieri/ten-reasons-why-you-shoul_b_839231.html

3) Set up an event at your neighborhood bookstore. Do an event and not a signing, book signings are boring!

4) It’s all about content these days so why not create a calendar for content? Often if you aren't sure what to write, or when, a content calendar will keep you on track. You can plan the calendar around your free time (though you should blog weekly) and around holidays or events that may tie into your book.

5) Then, while you’re at it: brainstorm content ideas and start a content folder you can always refer back to when you aren't feeling “inspired” to write anything.

6) Check out other, similar authors online and see if you can do some networking.

7) Do some radio research and pitch yourself to at least five new stations this week. Here’s a great place to find radio stations! http://www.radio-locator.com/

8) Ready to get some business cards? Head on over to Vistaprint.com. The cards are free if you let them put their logo on the back; if you don't they're still really inexpensive.

9) Put together your marketing plan. Seriously, do this. If you don't know where you're going, any destination will do. If you don’t feel like doing an entire “plan” then pick ten things you want to do this month to promote your book.

10) Plan a contest or giveaway. Contests are a great way to promote your book. Make sure to mention the contest on Face-book!

11) Time to get yourself onto Wattpad. Never heard of Wattpad? It’s a place where you can run your content, chapters, short stories, whatever you want, and it’s a fantastic way to build fans and get feedback on your work!

12) Send thank-you notes to people who have been helpful to you.

13) Send your book out to at least ten book reviewers this week.

14) Do a quick Internet search for local writers’ conferences or book festivals you can attend: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/penny-c-sansevieri/eight-tips-to-make-your-n_b_850665.html

15) Create an email signature for every email you send; email signatures are a great way to promote your book and message.

16) Ready to pitch bloggers? Excellent, then start by doing a search for the right ones on Google. You can also head over here and plug in your search term to find the top blogs in your market: http://www.invesp.com/blog-rank/

17) Enhance your Amazon Author Central Page by linking to your blog, Twitter feed or adding a video if you have one: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/penny-c-sansevieri/sell-more-on-amazoncom-un_b_3670424.html

18) Plan your free e-book promotion. If you’re on KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) drop your price to zero for one day or three days. You’ll want to schedule this a week or so out, then head on over to sites where you can list your freebie. There are tons of them but here are two to get you started: http://www.igniteyourbook.com and http://www.pixelofink.com/

19) Write your bio and have someone who can be objective critique it; you’ll need it when you start pitching yourself to the media.

20) Schedule your first book event!

21) Start your own email newsletter; it’s a great way to keep readers, friends and family updated and informed on your success.

22) Start a Twitter account and begin tweeting. If you don't think Twitter is significant, think again; it's been a major part of our marketing strategy for over 2 years now (before anyone even knew what Twitter was).

23) Develop a set of questions or discussion topics that book clubs or online book clubs can use for your book, and post them on your website for handy downloads.

24) Start a Face-book Fan page. Fan Pages are much better than a personal profile for marketing because they're searchable in Google.

25) See if you can get your friends to host a “book party” in their home. You come in and discuss your book and voila, a captive audience!

26) Find some catalogs you think your book would be perfect for and then submit your packet to them for consideration. If you're unsure of what catalogs might work for you, head on over to http://www.catalogs.com/ and peruse their list.

27) Go around to your local retailers and see if they’ll carry your book; even if it’s on consignment, it might be worth it! Don’t just offer this at bookstores either, see if your local dry cleaner, gift shops, and restaurants will take it. Often local establishments are very supportive of their local authors!

28) Visual is so important these days, how about getting an account on Vine or Instagram and doing short videos and pictures about your book or topic? Visuals are a great way to sell a book!

29) Write a review for someone else’s book that’s similar to yours. Not sure how this relates to your promotion? Well it’s called networking and it’s just a great idea to always do outreach.

30) Get yourself on Library Thing or Goodreads and start gathering friends and building your profile there: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/penny-c-sansevieri/how-to-become-a-goodreads_b_3719161.html

31) Make sure your blog is connected to Amazon via their Amazon connect program (yes, it's free). (You can do this through your Author Central Page)

32) Ask friends and family to email five people they know and tell them about your book.

33) Leave your business card, bookmark, or book flyer wherever you go.

34) Subscribe to Talkwalker.com or Mention.net and make sure that you are getting alerts under your name as well as your book title(s), brand, and keywords.

35) Pitch yourself to your local television stations.

36) Pitch yourself to your local print media.

37) Work on the Q&A for your press kit. You’ll need it when you start booking media interviews!

38) Schedule a book giveaway on Library Thing or Goodreads. It’s a fantastic way to drive new interest for your book! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/penny-c-sansevieri/the-power-of-the-goodread_b_3736965.html

39) Is the topic of your book in the news? Check your local paper, and write a letter to the editor to share your expertise (and promote your book!).

40) Stop by your local library and see if you can set up an event. They love local authors.

41) Do you want to get your book into your local library system? Try dropping off a copy to your main library; if they stock it chances are the other branches will too.

42) Go to Chase’s Calendar of Events (www.Chases.com) and find out how to create your own holiday!

43) Going on vacation? Use your away-from-home time to schedule a book event or two.

44) If your book is appropriate, go to local schools to see if you can do a reading.

45) Got a book that could be sold in bulk? Start with your local companies first and see if they’re interested in buying some promotional copies to give away at company events.

46) Don’t forget to add reviews to your website. Remember that what someone else has to say is one thousand times more effective than anything you could say!

47) Trying to meet the press? Search for Press Clubs in your area, they meet once a month and are a great place to meet the media.

48) Want a celebrity endorsement? Find celebs in your market with an interest in your topic and then go for it. Remember all they can say is no. Check out the Actors Guild for a list of celeb representatives.

49) Ready to get some magazine exposure? Why not pitch some regional and national magazines with your topic or submit a freelance article for reprint consideration?

50) Work on your next book or work on writing mini-books. Sometimes the best way to sell your first book is by promoting your second, but also many authors are writing and promoting mini-books to keep readers engaged while they wait for their next book to come out. How long do mini-books need to be? 50-75 pages. That’s it!

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

Editor's Corner February 2014

Hello everyone, and welcome to the February 2014 edition of the Writers in the Sky newsletter!

February is a very special, very exciting month, full of ancient wisdom and rich symbolism. It is also a month of transition— leaving the old behind and embracing the new. February’s flowers are primrose and violets, which signify resilience, inspiration, and the promise of Spring; the trees, Rowan and Ash, signify awareness and ascension. This is a time to let go of past disappointments, take what we’ve learned, and move to the next level of creativity.

So, what does this mean for writers? I believe it means stretching our literary muscles further than we ever have before; it’s time to take risks and put our work out there, even if it is uncomfortable or we feel as though we’re not ready. For some, this might mean taking a writing class where they present their stories for critique; for others, it may mean sending that first book out to bloggers for review.

I’m also encouraging all the fiction writers out there to enter the Seventh Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest. Contests are great vehicles to get your work seen by the experts; they also circumvent the lengthy agent-hunting process by awarding the winners a publishing deal and a generous advance.

Remember, though, that ultimately it’s not important how you choose to spread your wings, just that you do it.

Happy February, and happy writing!


Dana Micheli
Writer and editor, Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services
http://writersinthesky.com
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Writers in the Sky is a team of ghostwriters, editors, and book marketing specialists committed to the craft and business of writing. We work with our clients on all levels of the publishing process from editing and manuscript assessments to book formatting and marketing. So whether you are a first-time author or a veteran of the craft, let Writers in the Sky help you get your book out into the world. We also provide assistance with résumés, business documents, and academic essays. For more information, visit www.writersinthesky.com.

Coaching Podcast Schedule February 2014

We Are One in Spirit Podcast allows for people from all walks of life to discuss their spiritual journey and life—transforming experiences that remind us that we are all one in spirit. Uplifting, enlightening, and insightful topics include healing, empathy, intuition, spiritual/psychic gifts, metaphysics, soul development, afterlife, spirit communication, and more. The metaphysical shows are archived at feed://nashvillewriter.audioacrobat.com. You will also find us on iTunes. Please subscribe to the We Are One in Spirit mailing list to receive the call log-in information: http://weare1inspirit.com/blog/

This month’s interactive calls include group coaching for empaths on February 13th and for walk-ins on February 27th. Both webinar conference calls are at 2 p.m., central time.

WITS Announcements February 2014

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

Read the first chapter for free and then decide if you want to download the 3-hour-long MP3 audio book of More Than Meets the Eye ~ True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife for only $7.00. http://tinyurl.com/bd7qhy8
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The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is open to anyone who loves expressing innermost thoughts and feelings into the beautiful art of poetry or writing a story that is worth telling everyone. Write a poem or a short story for a chance to win cash prizes! All works must be original. Visit our website for details on how to enter: http://www.dreamquestone.com
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A book is being written by Yvonne Perry with the contributions of those who have been using light language or have recently discovered that they have this ability. Please subscribe to We Are One in Spirit blog to get announcements as the project advances toward publishing.

It is our linear thinking that keeps us locked in a shallow understanding of who we are as spirit beings. While familiar things may help us feel safe, they can limit us from communicating on a deep soul level with our Creator. It is when we bypass human reasoning, if only for a brief moment, that we tap into realm where we join with something so pure and wonderful that it defies logical explanation. It is these moments that allow us to know that our experiences in those dimensions are more real than our daily lives, which greatly ignore the divine aspect of who we are. Light is the language of the soul. It allows us to communicate directly with Source without the interference of the mind while activating codes to assist with healing on all levels. Discover the sacred and artistic tool for restoration and ascension.

For centuries, we have used brain-to-brain connection with one another through our logic and intellect. In recent decades we have moved from a database of information previously accepted as truth to a place of “knowing from the heart” in a more loving and accepting way. At the end of 2013, many people activated what is known as light language, which is a form of telepathy that can help us connect soul to soul. This is a step toward the oneness and wholeness we wish to create on Earth.

Visit http://weare1inspirit.com/light-language/ for more information.
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Each story in The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children focuses on life skills such as environmental awareness, helping others, being true to one’s self, overcoming fear, and following inner guidance. http://TheSidSeries.com
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Anjuelle Floyd’s latest novel, "When the Drum Major Died," is set to debut on February 1st, 2014!

Synopsis of When the Drum Major Died

December 28th, 1967.

America has taken a respite from the heated protests and firebombing that engulfed the nation the previous summer.

Martin Luther King, Jr. has begun laying out plans for his Poor People’s Campaign.

Florina Gavin Austin, two days married, has moved across state to Poinsettia, North Carolina where she will begin a new life as Mrs. Redmond Austin.

On approach to the house where she and her husband will live, Florina spies a woman sitting on the steps and smoking a cigarette.

“You must be Redmond’s new wife,” the woman says. “All of Poinsettia’s been talking about you.” Failing to introduce herself, the woman stands, flicks cigarette buts behind the shrubbery, and proceeds into what will become Florina’s new home.

The woman’s uncanny knowledge of the space that Florina will inhabit with her new husband leaves Florina feeling more than ill at ease.

Following the benediction at Sunday services, Florina witnesses the woman she will come to know as Agnes, caress Redmond’s cheek. The look in Redmond’s eyes betrays longing.

Agnes’ words to Redmond in a letter confirm Florina’s fears, “I will always love you.”

They also force Florina to confront her own secrets–her first marriage, one that neither her parents nor Redmond know of.

Florina and Agnes are neighbors. Their houses stand next to each other. Their husbands, Negro doctors in Poinsettia, hold prominent positions in the social and political life of their community. As their wives, Florina and Agnes occupy positions of similar regard.

When Agnes flees to Memphis and joins the Sanitation Workers Protests, all are aghast, none more than Florina. Yet she holds empathy for Agnes, respects Agnes’ strength in standing up for what she and all Negroes across America believe and desire: Civil Rights for their people in America.

As they move towards the fateful day, April 4th, 1968, when a great statesman of America, perhaps the greatest ever, will be killed, Florina learns that marriage exposes the vulnerabilities of all who pledge their trough and body. It casts an even greater shadows upon the ones who vow love unto death, and do not deliver what they have promised.

When the Drum Major Died shows what happens when we resist change in favor of worn out tradition, but also what can and does occur when we open our hearts and embrace the words, “ … be first in love … be first in generosity … He who is greatest among you shall be your servant. …

Visit Anjuelle’s website to learn more http://ow.ly/t2cKJ

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Whose Stuff Is This? Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings, and Energy of Those around You is a guide-book for empathic people who have been unknowingly carrying energetic burdens that belong to someone else. See all purchasing options at http://whosestuffisthis.blogspot.com/p/purchase-book.html.
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WITS congratulates Emmy Gatrell on the release of her novel, Meanmna: Book One of the Daearen Realms.

Seventeen-year-old Sarette has always thought of her life as average, even a bit boring. She does well in school, has a loving mother and a loyal best friend, Matthew. Of course, she has her problems as well—cold Michigan winters, a long-lost father she knows nothing about, and the lack of a boyfriend. She also has the vague sensation that she is being watched by some unseen entity, but figures that means she’s average and crazy. But, as she is about to find out, nothing is further from the truth. For her “observer” is the gorgeous and gallant knight, Elwin, and she is not just any teenager, but Princess Sarette -- the half-human, half-fey heiress to the kingdom of the Spirit Fey.

Elwin has come ensure Sarette’s safe journey the fey realm, where she is expected to become queen and restore balance between that world and this one. It also means she must also find a “worthy” mate, ASAP, and make him her king. The problem is, she is already in love with Elwin, and he with her.

As Sarette struggles to say goodbye to her mother and head to a strange new world, the powers of darkness are amassing against her. She and Elwin will have to use all their strength, passion, and of course, magical powers, so Sarette can claim her rightful destiny and save her people from extinction.
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State of Appreciation is a free weekly online newsletter that blends practical and spiritual approaches to enhance personal power and self-realization. This publication offers empowering articles, gifts, and free contemporary and classic empowerment downloads at http://stateofappreciation.weebly.com.
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Second Wind Publishing is accepting short stories, essays and poetry for its upcoming anthology, Wind Through an Open Door. All submissions should deal with the question: what happens to us when we pass from this life? Remembrances of lost loved ones, personal experiences, profound recognitions of the afterlife (or its absence)—regardless of religious persuasion—are all welcome. There is no cost to submit an entry. There is a maximum of 7000 words for essays or short stories. All entries must be submitted no later than March 10, 2014. Those whose work is included in the anthology will receive two contributor copies. Additional copies will be available for purchase, with contributors receiving a 60% discount. Submissions and questions should be sent to mike@secondwindpublishing.com.
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If you are looking for someone to create an original piece for your book cover, you might want to connect with Diane Daversa on Face-book: http://www.face-book.com/#!/pages/Diane-Daversa-Fine-Art/109782219119036.
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Hal Manogue’s new novel, Bed Bosh & Beyond- A True Enough Story, is now in print!

Foreword from Bed Bosh & Beyond

Hal Manogue is a multi-faceted writer. Poetry, prose, pithy sayings...he has covered a lot of territory with his bright mind and keen observations of life. I've been privileged to observe his unfoldment as a poet and author of several fine books. His intelligence is obvious.

In his last book, The Butterfly Ball, he brought up some tough issues that made the reader confront their own dark corners. He showed us that we might not be able to control what happens to us, but we have the free will to choose how we take it. That book won an award as a result of its raw honesty and reminder of what we can do with our lives regardless of circumstances.

In Manogue's latest book, Bed, Bosh, and Beyond, he takes us a step further in the process of how we live our lives. Here, we confront the ultimate challenge - death - and we are introduced to Rob, a man who has lived life on his own terms, died, and is brought through a life review whereby he sees segments of his life interspersed with commentary from his afterlife guide played by none other than his hero, George Carlin. Through reflection and insight into behavioral patterns and attitudes expressed throughout his life, Rob comes to a full awareness of the unity of all life regardless of its multiplicity in expression. As readers, we are given an opportunity to reflect upon our own lives and how our attitudes shape us and confine us. Bed, Bosh, and Beyond is in actuality a primer for living...and as we share in his story, we can reshape our own.

This is a book that is about much more than the storyline would suggest. As we read it, we can work out our own redemption right here, right now. We don't need to die in order to learn how to live.

To learn more about Bed, Bosh, and Beyond visit www.bedboshbeyond.com.

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Shifting into Purer Consciousness ~ Integrating Spiritual Transformation with the Human Experience is about how to embrace multidimensional frequencies, lessen physical and emotional symptoms of rapid spiritual ascension, and offers tips to make the ascension process easier and quicker. http://shiftingintopurerconsciousness.com.
 

What Authors Can Learn from the Promotion of Anchorman II, Starring Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy

By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications

Anchorman II: The Legend Continues is the highly anticipated, long overdue sequel to 2004's Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. The first film quickly became a cult classic with its quippy one-liners and hilarious cast. The sequel premiered December 18. Leading up to the movie's release, the Anchorman team took promoting the film to another level.

Ron Burgundy was EVERYWHERE. In the year and a half following the announcement of the sequel, there was a museum exhibit, a book, a Ben and Jerry's ice cream, a new brand of Scotch, TV commercials for the Dodge Durango, an iPhone app, TV cameos, viral videos, a website chock-full of GIFs, and a college was even renamed after Mr. Burgundy.

So, in the marketing and promotional spirit of Ron Burgundy, here are some tips authors can use in the promotion of their own books.

1. Don't hesitate to do a small town, small market local news show as it might have national implications. Ron Burgundy made a guest appearance on a local news program in Bismark, North Dakota. The clip was so funny it was shown on news casts on every network all over the USA. How does this work for authors? I’ve seen my author interviews on local news picked up on by the national affiliates of FOX, CBS, NBC, and ABC-TV, shown across their syndicated network. In fact, many stories are put up ‘on the satellite’ so other affiliates can grab them and run the story. Sometimes those stories are localized by adding a local twist. Furthermore, the national news desks have people in the newsroom whose job it is to push and promote those stories to their affiliates. Contact your local news outlet for an interview, and don’t hesitate to travel to a small market for an interview. Here’s the infamous North Dakota TV clip in its entirety. http://youtu.be/2b5IhzGuMPg

2. Write your own testimonial. In his book Let Me Off at the Top, Ron Burgundy put his own blurb right on the cover: “I Wrote a Hell of a Book!” Most authors agree their book is “One Hell of a Book” but it’s rather self-serving and you won’t be able to get away with it. But who can say that for you? Find that person and get that testimonial. I’ll often ask an author if you could get anybody to blurb your book who would it be? Make a list of the top ten. Then if it’s in the realm of possibilities go out and get it. Check out the Let Me Off at the Top book trailer here: http://youtu.be/to2UYdirkpg

3. Be willing to travel all over the country. Ron Burgundy went from North Dakota to Connecticut to Los Angeles to New York. Obviously travel costs money, but so does obscurity. If nobody knows about your book what was the point in writing it? Your book is a ‘start-up’; spend time and money to promote it. Get your name and your work out there and as far out there as possible. Don't settle for “hometown press” with the headline “local man/woman publishes book” story. Take your work and promote yourself across the country. Look to special events like book festivals across the nation that you can tie to your book. Check out my list of book festivals and plan to attend a few.

4. Target internationally. “Comedy is very subject to local and cultural sensibilities,” Andrew Runyon, Paramount’s vice president of interactive marketing points out. “It requires a little bit more customization.” In order to be equally relevant and funny in America, as well as abroad, Will Ferrell created some videos for markets in the U.K., Ireland, and Australia. How can an author do this? Delve deep into the messages, themes, and characters of your book. Think about different cultures and how they might perceive your work. Make your book appeal to different nationalities. Show them why your book is as relevant in America as it is in Italy or England. YouTube goes worldwide, so does your Pinterest page and so do most press releases. I get phone calls and inquiries from all over the world requesting my authors conduct interviews. If you are not trying to get attention worldwide, it won’t happen by itself. Check out this clip from Australian TV. http://youtu.be/K0olH1FmP1Q

5. Ron Burgundy clips are shown on local newscasts. Context is key. "Part of the reason these clips work so well is that it's placing Ron Burgundy in a modern context, something that adds a fish-out-of-water element to his already goofy charm," says Drew Taylor of indiewire.com. Ron Burgundy found his niche in broadcast journalism. Think about where your book fits in best. A restaurant chef protagonist might sell well in Sur La Table or Williams Sonoma. A murder mystery book might gain press at a murder mystery themed weekend getaway. A lifestyle book may be picked up in a hotel bookstore that's renowned for team-building activities or company retreats.

6. Stir up a little competition with your readers. AdWeek.com's Christopher Heine explains, "Working with Zemoga, Paramount is employing a social media-styled casting call. The talent show-like initiative, 'Join Ron’s News Crew,' asks people from around the world to audition for the positions of anchor (#TeamRon), meteorologist (#TeamBrick), sportscaster (#TeamChamp), and live reporter (#TeamBrian)." The people auditioning will post their videos online and hashtag which team they're on. Start your own social media competition. Encourage fans to submit videos, GIFs, artwork, or stories to win a competition of your choosing. Your fans could create the cover art or choose an alternate ending. They could win a day in the life of your lead character or be chosen to have a private lunch with you, the author.

7. Think big, but also think small. The Anchorman II promotional team was especially proud of their collaboration with Tumblr. Nine animated GIFs were pieced together in order to create a socially embeddable poster for the film. Cliff Marks, president of National CineMedia, feels it is possible for GIF mashups to be the future of movie posters in this digital age. “These small, chewable formats are a cool way to present your content,” he says. “And the studios are starting to make that content a focus.”

The Bottom Line: Think like Ron Burgundy and consider some non-traditional marketing methods to get your book on the radar. If you ever want to become a top-selling author, get some swagger, step over the line, and steal a line from Ron Burgundy, “I don’t know how to put this, but I am kind of a big deal.”

About Book Publicist Scott Lorenz

Book publicist Scott Lorenz is president of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their fifteenth. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA officers, Navy SEALs, homemakers, fitness gurus, doctors, lawyers, and adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, and Howard Stern to name a few. Learn more about Westwind Communications’s book marketing approach at http://www.book-marketing-expert.com, or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 734-667-2090. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist

 

Poetry and Prose Corner January 2014

Charade


Who is that hiding behind the mask
Of civility?
Claiming to understand
As the flames of misfortune
Come searching, seeking.

You shall not touch my shining
White armour.
My inoculation against your wrath
Yields me immune to your foul breath of fire
Though you aspire to drive me insane.

Speak not of frailty
Nor meekness of purpose.
Waltz proud and loud
Marching out, unafraid,
Brandishing sword and shield,
Searching for dragons,
Tearing down walls
To unmask the charade.


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


Beyond the Veil


By Brenda McBride

Beyond the veil, a whole new existence awaits you. A dimension that
has endless possibilities with no limitations. You are a part of all
that is good. Within this new dimension, you'll be able to connect to those you've loved and have lost, due to physical death. You'll realize that your family and friends who are in spirit never really left you. All those special people who you thought were gone, are
very much a part of you, and you are a part of them. The deep love
and appreciation you feel for your loved ones is felt by mere thought. Your connection is endless to all of God’s gifts that you
cherished. Animals are greatly appreciated for their unique wisdom and for their devotion to those they love. They are a part of you,
just as you are a part of them. There is no real separation when love
is felt and given from the heart. The beauty inside us will radiate with joy and pure emotion. We realize that God’s blessings never cease to exist. We feel more
alive now than ever before, with no more death or disease to face. Beyond the veil, the music has perfect harmony with each and every tune. We are a part of
this harmonious music, just as it is a part of us. The warmth of the sunshine
that warmed our soul is now a part of us. Just as the coolness of the raindrops
as they fall to refresh our senses. We are more alive now than ever before. Was
life a dream? Since time does not exist, we have endless moments to experience
all that is and all that will be. God’s buffet of blessings surround us as we
marvel in the here and now. Love fills the air with joy and happiness for all
his people. Our spirits soar to the upmost highest level in creation. Our soul
sings out with praise and gratitude. We are finally home! Our true home awaits
us all.

Brenda McBride lives in Temecula, California, with her two teenage girls and is a substitute teacher working with Special Education students. Several of her articles and poems have been published in various magazines throughout the last several years. When her father passed away in 2011, her grief became so unbearable that she began writing to release deep emotions. There's not a day that goes by without the thought and beautiful memories shared with her wonderful dad. 

Let Tom Swift Inform Your Writing

By Carolyn Howard-Johnson

Ever heard of Tom Swifties?

Maybe you're too young to be familiar with the classic Tom Swift adventures for boys. Or maybe you're a girl who never read a Tom Swift book nor cares to.

Tom Swifties are one-line jokes lampooning the style of Victor Appleton, the author of the original Tom Swift books. People started making jokes about his overuse of adverbs and the unnecessary taglines he wrote into his dialogue. Like the Polish jokes, they were so much fun that a whole series of them became available for the pun-loving. The author of these classics, of course, laughed all the way to the bank. But that's a lesson for one of my marketing seminars, not this article on writing.

Tom Swifties are something from America's literary past. This is now. I haven't dared to go to the new books in the series but I assume that this outdated writing has been eliminated from them.

You'll want to minimize tags and adverbs in your writing, too!

An example from one of the Swift books will suffice to let you know what to watch for. (Thank you to Roy Peter Clark for the example.)

"'Look!' suddenly exclaimed Ned. 'There's the agent now!...I'm going to speak to him!' impulsively declared Ned.'"

Even authors who swear that adverbs are always very, very good things to use and are reluctant to give up their clever taglines can see how, well . . . .awful this is. In fact, I have to reassure people the quotation is real! Some of the writing that comes to the desks of agents and editors looks almost as bad. Here's how you can make sure yours doesn't:

1. Use taglines only when one is necessary for the reader to know who is speaking.

2. Almost always choose "he said" or "she said" over anything too cute, exuberant or wordy like "declared" and "exclaimed."

3. Cut the "ly" words ruthlessly, not only in dialogue tags but everywhere. You will find specific techniques for strengthening your writing in the process of eliminating adverbs in The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success. This book will also give you some computer tricks for making these edits easy.

You don't have to know the reasons or the techniques for making the "ly" and tagline edits easy, of course. You can follow Nike's advice and "Just do it!" But learning all you can about turning adverbs to your advantage is never a bad thing.

For more help with editing and all things related (like grammar, spelling, formatting) go to www.TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com or refer to your copy of The Frugal Editor: Do-it-yourself editing secrets for authors: From your query letter to final manuscript to the marketing of your new bestseller, now in its second edition as an e-book. It is available at http://budurl.com/FrugalEditorKindle.

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson, award-winning author of The Frugal Book Promoter: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher (www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo) and The Frugal Editor: Do-it-yourself editing secrets for authors: From your query letter to final manuscript to the marketing of your new bestseller (www.budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor). Both books are winners of USA Book News "Best Professional Book" award the first in the HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers holds Book Publicists of Southern California's coveted Irwin Award. The Frugal Editor is also the winner of Reader Views Literary Awards and Next Generation Indie Book Award for Marketing. Carolyn is also the author of "The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need To Know To Sell Your Book in 20 Minutes or Less," the first in a series of inexpensive booklets for authors. www.HowToDoItFrugally.com.

WITS Book Reviews January 2014

Book Title: Dead Burn
Author: Jennifer Chase
ISBN: 978-0982953693
ASIN: B00CICE3YM
Publisher: JEC
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense
Publication Date: April 2013
Book Length in Pages: 357
Reviewer: Dana Micheli

It’s not every day that a writer creates a character powerful enough to drive a novel; when that character is also powerful enough to drive a series, it’s an incredibly rare treat. Jennifer Chase is one of those authors, and Emily Stone, the star of four of her detective novels, is most certainly one of those characters.

Blond and beautiful, Stone has the looks of a swimsuit model, the heart of a vigilante, and a mind sharp enough to outwit the craftiest criminals in California. In her view, the only thing worse than those who prey on women and children is a justice system that lets let them get away with it, and that’s precisely what happens in the case of Timothy Devlin.

Devlin believes himself to be untouchable, and when he is acquitted of a brutal rape, it seems he is right. But Devlin is about to find out that there are things a lot worse than a jail cell. Immediately following the trial, a serial killer starts picking off everyone associated with the case, beginning with Devlin’s crafty and completely unethical attorney. The killer considers himself righteous, purging the world of sinners. He traps his victims, then sets them afire, leaving them burnt to a crisp and investigators baffled.

Emily wants nothing more than to catch the arsonist before he strikes again, but she soon finds herself in another equally desperate situation. GATE, a government anti-terrorist unit, wants her to work for them, and to ensure her compliance they have abducted her partner, Rick. Emily will have to use every weapon in her arsenal, and walk both sides of the law, in order to come out of this one alive.

Whether you are a fan of gory slasher stories or the thinking person’s whodunit, Dead Burn will keep you on the edge of your seat. It is not only an excellent continuation of Stone’s story, but a wonderful stand-alone mystery as well. I promise you this: if you haven’t already read the first three books, you will after reading Dead Burn!

 

Discovery—Courting Catalogs and Bulk Sales

Have you ever dreamed of selling your book to a catalog or large corporation? A sale like that would register several thousand copies of non-returnable product on the book sale meter. The trick is knowing who to pitch and when. 

Before you embark on this type of a project, it's important to understand the possibilities: these include incentives, gift basket inserts, sales to catalog companies, and corporate buys. All of these can be fantastic ways to gain some extra momentum for your book. The first step with this is to identify your market. Where does your book fit into this market and where could they use it? For example, a number of years ago I stumbled onto an event company that was planning a lot of corporate retreats to golf courses. The company would organize gift baskets for the executive sleeping rooms so when they arrived they had a lovely “welcome to the retreat” basket. This sparked an idea. At the time we were working on a golf book that would have been a perfect gift for them. When I offered it to them they got in touch with the author and purchased several thousand copies of this book. The key here is to start being aware of incentive items you might see and understand how they are used. Many are offered as consumer gifts or incentives while others are used as training tools or morale boosters for employees.

You may have to do some research because if you’re going after a corporate target, you want to find one that aligns with your book in some way. Thirteen years ago when I was first in business it was pretty easy to place books with companies and even airlines. I once coordinated a purchase for Southwest Airlines that took less than a week to close. Things have changed. Companies are more selective about what they buy, some no longer buy, and others have limited any incentive buys to once a year.

Some examples of bulk sales might be:

• Books offered at yearly company sales meetings
• Books offered to consumers at a discount (consumers are usually asked to send in product UPC's to qualify for these specials)
• Books offered to new customers at financial institutions
• Books offered to new home buyers
• Catalog sales

Corporate Buys

Once you analyze your book and the appropriate market, you’re going to want to put together a sales pitch. The pitch needs to be sharp and educational. Most of the folks you are going to be pitching may have never dealt with bulk buys before. They won’t know the benefits of offering a book; they won’t see the immediate tie-in with their audience, or the benefit of buying your books in bulk, so you’ll have to spend some time telling them why.

The why, however, should be pretty easy. First, books have a higher perceived value. If you've ever been given a swag bag, you know that much of it gets forgotten or discarded, but people are less inclined to toss a book. There is more value to the person receiving it.

Second, you may want to share with your potential buyer some of the success you've had with the book such as reviews, blurbs, etc. All of these things are positive. Perhaps even other sales you've made (unless it’s a competing company!). Also, if you are doing a short print run, remind them that the books can be customized with their company logo and perhaps even a letter from the president of their organization.

If you're going after a particular market and are trying to locate companies within that industry, try doing a search in Google. Your search should look like this: "your industry and companies."

Next, don't overlook companies in your own backyard. Think about industries, companies and organizations in your area that might work well for your book and begin going after them. Many times, local companies will welcome the opportunity to support hometown authors.

Once you've put your list together, you’ll want to create a pitch packet. While most of the pitching we do now is via email, when it comes to bulk sales to companies we’ll generally do a pitch packet that includes a book, endorsements, blurbs, and a cost breakdown of the book. Keep in mind that you’ll likely have to offer a significant discount to get them to buy. For example, you could offer 45 percent all the way up to 80 percent if the buy is big enough. When you start to get into big numbers like 5,000–10,000, etc., I recommend doing an offset print run to drop the cost of the book. Short print runs are always more expensive.

Corporate buys can take a bit of time, so start early. Most companies decide on gift or incentive items months in advance of the event. You’ll need to follow up and that’s really important. Most of the companies will not just call you when they get your packet. You’ll need to call and follow up. And, if you’re lucky to get a call or a meeting, be ready to lead with the benefits.

Catalogs & Stores

This is another area where your book can shine, but be cautious; unlike in the corporate arena, there’s a lot of competition here. First and foremost, you’ll want to identify the right catalog(s) to pitch. You can find a listing here:http://www.catalogs.com/.

Once you locate the catalog, you’ll need to search the site for submission information. If it’s not there (and it may not be), you’ll have to call them. Be warned: you may get the runaround. This isn’t intentional. Most of the phone reps you’ll come in contact with are there to handle customer issues and know very little about sales. You’ll have to be persistent and, if necessary, ask for a manager.

The same is true for stores like Bed Bath & Beyond, Home Goods Store, Home Depot, Macy’s, etc. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to find the submission information on their website but, in most cases, you’ll need to call. You will get bounced around a bit, but if you persist (just like the catalogs) you’ll eventually succeed.

As with corporate pitching, you’ll need a package (though, in some cases, you’ll submit your information online) but unlike with corporate pitching, you won’t have to convince them to buy. They know you’re submitting to make a sale, but I do recommend that you send them pricing for various purchase points. Use 0–1,000, 1,001–5,000, and so on. You may not have this pricing handy but a quick call to a printer should be able to get you estimates on printing your book in these quantities.

Gift Shops & Specialty Stores

This is another area that’s often overlooked. We were working with a cancer book recently that we sold into a few hospital gift shops with big or well-known cancer wards. Gift shops, whether in a hospital, amusement park, museum, or some other tourist location, can be a great way to push copies of your book into the exact perfect market. I was in Vegas recently and saw a self-published book on Vegas mob history in several of their gift shops. Perfect fit, right? I asked the shop owner how they found these books, they said, “Often the authors pitch us; if it’s a good fit, we’ll make a buy.” I find this is true for most stores. Consider any store that might be appropriate to your market, regardless of the size. We’ve sold books to church bookstores that continue to order copies year after year. I have one title I placed in a church store seven years ago, and they continue to reorder it. Imagine those sales numbers!

Be open and creative with your pursuit of bulk sales! There are a lot of possibilities out there to sell lots of copies of your book and the more niche you can get, the better.

How long does this process take? As I mentioned above, I’ve seen bulk sales turn around in a week, while others take a year or more to complete. Oh, and the most important part... how many books can you plan to sell? Anywhere from one thousand to several thousand depending on the deal and the company.

With the right book and the right targets, sales like these are not only a great way to gain exposure for your book but also, in the end, they make great "cents."

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

 

Editor's Corner January 2014

Welcome to 2014 and the January edition of the Writers in Sky newsletter!

Pardon the cliché, but this really is a time to review the past year, taking stock of both the triumphs and the challenges. As you do, you may find yourself wishing you could erase the frustrations, particularly if your writing or marketing efforts have not gone according to plan.

You are not alone, of course, whether your passion is writing or anything else. And, like everyone else, if you examine those disappointments closely, you will see the great value in them. Perhaps a rejection from an agent (or two, or three, or one hundred!) forced you to make improvements to your book; perhaps a less-than-thunderous response to your marketing campaign inspired you reinvent your online presence.

As difficult as it may be to revisit 2013, to avoid doing so is to miss an opportunity for continued growth, as well as to celebrate all the things that went right (I'm sure there were heaps of those as well). The important thing is to embrace the relative "good" and "bad" and allow them to fuel your dreams in the future.

Happy New Year and, as always, happy writing!

Dana Micheli
Writer and editor, Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services
http://writersinthesky.com
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Writers in the Sky is a team of ghostwriters, editors, and book marketing specialists committed to the craft and business of writing. We work with our clients on all levels of the publishing process from editing and manuscript assessments to book formatting and marketing. So, whether you are a first-time author or a veteran of the craft, let Writers in the Sky help you get your book out into the world. We also provide assistance with résumés, business documents, and academic essays. For more information, visit www.writersinthesky.com. 

Writing a Family Genealogy

By Yvonne M. Perry

During my visit to Sedona, Arizona, in 2012, I had a spiritual reading by an indigenous grandmother who told me I had Cherokee blood in my veins. I remembered my parents having mentioned that fact about our ancestry; so, when I next saw them I asked for details. They identified Sarah Elizabeth Ward (whom our family called “Big Granny”) as the Cherokee on my mom’s side. So, off I went on a search to find her in historical records. Since so many Native Americans intermarried with European settlers and hid their pedigree in order to survive the harsh treatment forced upon them, it is difficult to confirm ethnicity in U.S. census records and other government documents. What can’t be hidden is the truth that comes from the stories shared and passed down in families.

Mom told me that her cousin Jenny had done several years of research and personally knew Big Granny. Growing up in the ’40s and ’50s, Jenny remembered many of the stories that her older sister, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and other relatives had told her —Jenny would be the one to fill in the missing details. Jenny and I knew one another through our brief encounters at family gatherings when I was young, but I moved out of state as an adult and no longer attended the reunions. When I contacted Jenny, we knew we were an answer to one another’s prayers. I wanted to know about my ancestors and she had been praying for someone to help her publish the material she had compiled.

If you’ve ever tried to do research for a family genealogy or writing a book you know that either one is a daunting task in itself. Now try doing both tasks and you’ll understand why this is almost impossible without collaboration from family members. Not only did Jenny and I spend countless hours poring through family trees and contacting people on Ancestry.com, we spent equal time writing and editing the stories we gathered from family members who Jenny interviewed. She also visited courthouses, graveyards, and cousins who had family photos and memorabilia we had no idea existed.

In addition to sharing our family pedigree, Jenny and I wrote about what we have seen, heard, and experienced with angels and ancestors. We sensed their presence and help with the research on this project. I would awaken during the night with a hunch I had to follow the next day. While looking for clues on one lead, some other information we needed would magically pop up. And, not only were the ancestors helpful, some liked to play pranks. For example, Jenny went to her car at 6:30 one winter morning and found all the windows on her car rolled down. They were not down when she came in the day before. One would need a key to the door lock and the ignition in order to raise or lower the windows. The first thing she thought was, “Who did this?” Then she said, “Good morning, whoever you are.” She went to work with a wet butt from the damp seat.

That’s not the only time we encountered the spirits of our ancestors. I was lead to connect and provide healing energy to the ancestors who came to me in spirit. When one person in a family heals, it positively affects those in the DNA timeline forward and backward, regardless of whether or not they are in a human body. While visiting the Little Union Cemetery one day with her sister, Sarah, Jenny was nearly back to the church when she spotted the tombstone of a family friend. Jenny snapped a photo and started to step away from the grave when something invisible grabbed ahold of her right foot and would not let go. She fell face down, rolling around and trying to get up. At first, she thought she was tangled in the leaves or caught in a vine, but when they raked back the leaves, there was nothing but smooth-cut grass underneath. Another night that same month, Jenny was sitting at her computer, thrilled at what she was finding when suddenly the radio in her bedroom blasted on. She accused her husband of messing with it, but found him asleep in his chair. The alarm that she had set to go off at five o’clock every morning was still set. She took that as a sign that our ancestors were helping us with this research.

I think you will find this book of memoirs interesting even if you have never heard of the Bates family. To learn more about this research project, see http://charltonbatesancestry.blogspot.com

Oh, Come, Angel Band ~ The Living Genealogy of the Charlton Bates Family authored by Yvonne Perry and Jenny Bates Meadows-Sauls is now available!

Purchase on CreateSpace
Purchase on Amazon.com

The genealogy of the Bates family of Georgia is traced back to Charlton Bates and Nancy Kelly (O'Kelly) Bates, first recorded as living in South Carolina in 1812. The descendants mentioned in this book are David Ward and Nancy Martin, Thomas F. Bates; Sarah Elizabeth Ward, Savannah Bates and Alexander Newton Smith; and Lemuel Harris Bates and Lillian Margaret Smith. There are more than 200 photos and some interesting history of Cherokee County, Georgia, as remembered by the Bates family who lived in the area.

Request the paperback book at retail stores or your local library using the info below:

Title: Oh, Come, Angel Band ~ The Living Genealogy of the Charlton Bates Family
Authors: Jenny Bates Meadows-Sauls and Yvonne Perry
ISBN-13: 978-1492269700
ISBN-10: 1492269700
Pub date: December 13, 2013
 

Build Your Author Platform by Guest Posting

By Dana Lynn Smith

Contributing articles to blogs other than your own is called “guest posting”—in fact, the article that you’re reading right now is a guest post.

Guest posting is a great opportunity to build your author platform and gain exposure to potential book buyers that you might not reach in any other way. As an added benefit, guest posts usually generate links from the sites you post on back to your own website, which helps improve the search engine optimization of your site.

Guest posts are win-wins for everyone. Readers get useful or entertaining articles, bloggers get additional content for their sites, and guest posters build their reputation, get links to their websites, and have the opportunity to sell books.

Author guest posts can take the form of how-to articles, essays, interviews, or case studies, and you can even create audio or video posts. Fiction authors can discuss the writing process or topics related to their novel.

One terrific way to do guest posts is to organize a virtual book tour where you will visit a series of blogs, radio shows, and other venues during a certain time frame. See the article, Promote Your Book with a Virtual Book Tour, to learn more about virtual tours.

To get started with guest posting, look for blogs that are a good match for your book's target audience, then reach out to the blog owners to propose a guest post. It’s best to develop some rapport with the blog owners first by making thoughtful comments on their blog and/or interacting on social networks.

Check with each blogger to see what their requirements are for the length of the post, the topic, and whether they accept previously published content. Some bloggers list their guest post guidelines on their site, so look for that before making contact.

Be sure to include a good “about the author” paragraph at the end of your article, containing a two- or three-sentence bio, a call to action, and a link back to your website. The call to action should include an incentive for people to visit your site, such as a free report or sample chapters. You may want to include a link to your book's page on Amazon as well.

Include your author photo and a book cover when submitting your article, along with a note saying something like “my photo and book cover are attached if you’d like to use them.” Many bloggers will post one or both graphics with your article.

Guest posting can be a highly effective platform building and promotional technique, and I encourage authors to include this strategy in their book marketing plans.

About Dana Lynn Smith

Dana Lynn Smith, The Savvy Book Marketer, helps authors and indie publishers learn how to sell more books through her blog, newsletter, and how-to guides covering topics such as organizing virtual book tours, getting reviews, increasing sales on Amazon, developing a book marketing plan, and more. Get her free Top Book Marketing Tips guide at www.TheSavvyBookMarketer.com.

 

Volunteers Needed to Read Film Scripts from Nashville Film Festival Competition

Michael Wood from the Nashville Film Festival is seeking volunteers to read film scripts that were received for the sceenwriting competition associated with the festival. If you would like to volunteer your time to read scripts, please contact him at michael@nashvillefilmfestival.org. Volunteers have an opportunity to earn passes to the film festival. A Gold Laminate (160 reads total) will grant you access to Festival films for free, as well as VIP Tent Access throughout the Festival. A Silver Laminate (100 reads total) will grant your $5 tickets to films (a $7 discount) and VIP Tent Access throughout the Festival. A voucher (every 24 reads) for a film grants you a $5 ticket to a film. There will be an Orientation Session on January 23rd, and possibly another one on January 30th, for new readers to attend.

WITS Announcements January 2014

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

LAST CALL FOR ENTRIES!

The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is open to anyone who loves expressing innermost thoughts and feelings into the beautiful art of poetry or writing a story that is worth telling everyone. Write a poem or a short story for a chance to win cash prizes! All works must be original. Postmark deadline: January 16, 2014. Visit our website for details: http://www.dreamquestone.com
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Read the first chapter for free and then decide if you want to download the 3-hour-long MP3 audiobook of More Than Meets the Eye ~ True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife for only $7.00. http://tinyurl.com/bd7qhy8
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Write Your Own Classic! New Class Forming…


Whenever I speak to a group, someone is sure to ask, “When are you going to give a class about
writing?” Many people enjoy writing more when they can have feedback with a group. A writers group is wonderful for that—friends who meet or “Meetup” to share their writing and get some feedback and tips. I’ve designed a class with more structure which facilitates, literally, “Old School” learning. It’s described below, and will be on my website, on the page Classes and Coaching, after this little blurb passes on. If you don’t need it, wonderful! Please let others know who may benefit. Someone out there has a New Year’s Resolution to take a writing class!

If you came here looking for something else, please browse either the website or my old postings by scrolling down. I hope you’ll subscribe on the right if you haven’t already. Thanks for visiting!

Write Your Own Classic

Meets 1.5 hours, once a week, 6 weeks, begins mid-Jan.
Woodmont Blvd. and Hillsboro Pike, Nashville
$25 due at each class, or $125 in advance for all six.

This is a structured creative writing class aimed at working on your memoir or novel. Aristotle’s classic structure can be applied to either. Step by step you’ll practice developing setting, character, plot, moral, and theme. These are the elements that make a book worth reading.

Finding one’s voice, choosing a style, and organizing your structure are also topics.

Each class will feature a brief lecture with examples—partnered and group activities, independent writing and voluntary sharing. It is anchored with a PowerPoint / slide presentation, and you will have handouts to take home and use. There are no grades. Our goals are learning, fun, and improvement. Writers at all levels will be successful and are welcome.

If you are interested, please answer the questions below with a yes or no and email your answers to me at deb@perfectmemoirs.com with any additional details or feedback.

1. Can you attend on Saturday mornings, 10-11:30?
2. Can you attend Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday nights, 7-8:30?
3. Can you start mid-January? If not, when?
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Each story in The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children focuses on life skills such as environmental awareness, helping others, being true to oneself, overcoming fear, and following inner guidance. http://TheSidSeries.com
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Whose Stuff Is This? Finding Freedom from the Thoughts, Feelings, and Energy of Those around You is a guidebook for empathic people who have been unknowingly carrying energetic burdens that belong to someone else. See all purchasing options at http://whosestuffisthis.blogspot.com/p/purchase-book.html.
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State of Appreciation is a free weekly online newsletter that blends practical and spiritual approaches to enhance personal power and self-realization. This publication offers empowering articles, gifts, and free contemporary and classic empowerment downloads at http://stateofappreciation.weebly.com.
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If you are looking for someone to create an original piece for your book cover, you might want to connect with Diane Daversa on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Diane-Daversa-Fine-Art/109782219119036.
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Shifting into Purer Consciousness ~ Integrating Spiritual Transformation with the Human Experience is about how to embrace multidimensional frequencies, lessen physical and emotional symptoms of rapid spiritual ascension, and offers tips to make the ascension process easier and quicker. http://shiftingintopurerconsciousness.com.
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Yvonne Perry and her cousin, Jenny Bates, have been working for more than a year on a book about their family's history. This genealogy will include 200 photos and many stories from descendants of a line dating back to the early 1800s. If you are of the lineage of South Carolina-born Charlton Bates (b.1812) and Nancy O'Kelly (b. 1813) who migrated to Cherokee County of North Georgia, you may be interested in learning more. The blog for the book is http://charltonbatesancestry.blogspot.com if you would like to see what we have done with this project.