Poetry Corner February 2009

Working the Room

Champagne glasses clink together,
Laughter fills the evening air,
Music set its subtle mood as
Fashion flashes everywhere.
In the middle of it all
You begin to weave your loom,
And I can only stand in awe
To watch you work the room.

There’s a sparkle in your eye
Meant for all the world to know,
Captured from a midnight sky,
Projected in its afterglow.
Lifting up your audience
Far beyond the waning moon,
Magic follows everywhere as you’re
Working the room.

Others try to steal your spotlight,
But they can’t compete.
They just fade into the background,
Left to worship at your feet.

You are every roving star
Filling up the nighttime sky,
Flaunting wings of fantasy;
Never mind the reason why.
Finding favor everywhere to
Chase away the gloom.
There’s a celebration as you’re
Working the room.

~ Dennis S Martin
http://www.iwritesome.com
http://iwritesome.blogspot.com/

SCARS

There’s a little red spot on my left breast.
Where the biopsy needle went in.
There’s a long purple smile beside it,
Where the surgeon pulled back the skin.
And she scraped all the bad ole stuff right out.
I put my pants back on, and I went home with my doubts.
Did I take one hormone too many?
Should I have drunk more red wine?
Did I smoke too many cigarettes?
Which of these risks was mine?
I was number eight out of ten,
On the clinic dry erase board that day.
We all put our pants back on.
We all went home to wait.

And we all have scars no one else can see.
From pain we don’t want to remember.
They make us move in different ways,
Leave places that are tender.

My Ex signed by all the Xs on the paper.
His lawyer shoved the pen at me.
A judge can sign off on all this stuff.
But I know I’ll never be free.
Somewhere we lost the real-deal love.
I went home, all by myself, and asked the stars above.
Should I have given him a baby?
Would he have stayed home a little more?
Why did he have to correct my grammar?
Why did I scream when he walked out the door?
We were the third divorce case,
In his lawyer’s office that day.
We all put our coats back on.
And went our separate ways.

And we all have scars no one else can see.
From pain we don’t want to remember.
They make us move in different ways,
Leave places that are tender.

~ Jan Bossing © Joelton, TN 2007

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You Are Like the Light

You walked along the wrong path
For a very long time,
You stopped when you knew
You had crossed the line.

It took something very wrong
To make something very right,
Before you were in darkness
And now you're in the light.

You learned bad experiences
You almost lived in hell,
You learned possibilities
You were saved by the bell.

The "virus" I call the bell
Because it opened up your soul,
Before the world was over you
But now you're in control.

This time God really barked
He barked, but didn't bite,
It just scared you enough
To make you want to fight.

In your old path of life
You refused your way out,
But now you finally realized
What life is really about.

When you discovered your disease
You thought you were said and done,
Not realizing at all
Your life had just begun.

Now you're on the road
Now you must keep on living,
Testify your experiences
And heal by giving.

Enjoy your living life
Let go of all your fears,
Remember all the laughter
And forget about the tears.

Life can be very long
It can also be short,
Just have proof of innocence
When you reach heavens court.

Oh sister, you're in my heart
And this poem I had to write,
Before you were in darkness
But now you're in the light

I love you! I can't wait to see you again!
I miss you! But until then......

Written By Iris Erielle Foss for sister Maria before she died of AIDS

A Self

A Self
Is Found
In Each Belief
In Each Moment
In Each Experience

A Self
Is Energy
Completely Aglow
Fueled
By The Match
Of Consciousness

Burning At Different Intensities
The Flame
Of Each Self
Becomes A Candle
Within The Framework
Of Spontaneous Selves

The Self
Is A Reflection
Of Becoming
In The Awareness
Of The Wick
The Wax
The Candle
And The Light

From the 2008 Collection of Spirit Songs by Hal Manogue poet and author of Short Sleeves Insights and Short Sleeves A Book For Friends http://halmanogue.blogspot.com/

I Can Do It, Lord

I can be who you want me to be!
I need practice every day for the rest of my life,
But I know now that I can respond to you as you wish.
Please be merciful and kind to me.
Pay special attention to the ways I learn best and
Teach me according to my mind set.
Be as gentle as possible, I ask.

As for me, I bravely set myself to practice the lessons
You give me from day to day.

My testimony is:
The Lord and I are working together.
We have lots on our minds…much work to do
(work in my inner person, testimony to give others,
fruits of the Holy Spirit to bring forth,
many good works to accomplish).

I remain your faithful and loyal servant.
What's my next assignment?

~ Dianne Hansen, Bipolar blog Enjoying Your Health : http://enjoyingyourhealth.com

Sky

Rain falls from the sky
down on to the white desert of satin,
from a dark hazel emotion
as the devil smiles away his sorrow
in seing his angel fly,
saying he was never afraid of anything,
except the part where he became a memory
blurred out of the sky.

See how many times I write sky?
Is because Heaven is inexistent,
and I cannot speak of that which I cannot pray
... and I cannot pray to the sands of satin...
not while the rain falls from the hazel-colored sky.

Nostalgic

If you saw me, desire me
Like the moon desires the sun's sighs,
Like the clouds desire the touch of the rain.
Beautiful as the sunset,
Beautiful as the night sky,
You are far away...

I can't have the luxury of having you
Because I cannot have the luxury of having a soul,
That misses you,
That wants you,
That tells me just how empty is my existence without you.

How little poetic we become,
When we turn all mushy and nostalgic!

Yuvia Chairez. Born, raised, and currently living in the border town of Juarez, Mexico. Writer, Veterinarian, and Teacher, she has been published in several cultural magazines in Mexico (Fronteras, Armario, Tierra Adentro), as well as several poetry anthology books from various authors ("Ciudad de Cierto, Rio", "Voces de la Frontera", "Memorias del Encuentro de Poetras" -- all of them from Doble Helice Editorial). As a writer, she has won the David Alfaro Siqueiros Award given by the Chihuahua Culture Institute with her short story book, "De la Luna y Otros Vicios" (From the Moon and Other Vices). She currently works as an ESL Teacher at the North Regional University (URN). Web page: deviantart.com

The Seven Ps of Freelance Writing

by R.J. Medek

1. Performance – Performance in this case is not missing the deadline, writing your best and giving the customer what they asked for, and are willing to make any edits the client may ask for in a timely manner. If you want your brand to stand out, or be talked about in a positive light, doing what you said you would on time and the best work you can do will be your brand, and allow you to gradually negotiate for more money.

2. Presentation – Presentation is the overall look of the work done for your client. By that, means no typos, spelling errors, grammar errors, not following through with the guidelines set by the client. If you have any doubt as to what the client wants, ask before you start to make sure that you and the client or on the same page of the same book.

3. Professionalism – Professionalism is simple yet hard. Freelance writing is a job, just like working for someone. You must approach your client as your boss, because they are. The client offers you an assignment; you have to treat it as through your boss in a 9-5 job asked you to perform some task. You can do nothing less than your best effort to complete the assignment on time and to the client’s satisfaction.

4. Polish – Polish is not an easy task. Polish means to write and edit your piece of writing for grammar, typos, punctuation, or spelling errors and correct them. You need to do this within the time constraints, and guidelines given to you or negotiated with the client. When you take on a client’s assignment, polishing the piece has to be part of your time assessment when you tell the client how long it will take to complete the assignment.

5. Personal Contact – Personal contact is keeping the client informed how the assignment is coming along, if something came up, you need more time for research on a specific chart, technology, or whatever it is the assignment needs for completion. If say, you or a family member becomes ill and is taken to the hospital, this could cause a delay. Let the client know and ask for time or tell the client you will be unable to complete the assignment because of it. DO NOT leave your client hanging wondering where you and the piece are.

6. Persistence – When first starting out, your writing assignments may be few and far in between. If you give up easily, choose another profession. You have to keep writing and keep applying for jobs. Take this down time to update your resume, work on cover letters, read, write. Practice your chosen profession. Never let a day go by that you don’t write something or try to make a contact looking for writing jobs.

7. Patience – Patience is not the long suit of many. If you expect to make a ton of money from the start of your freelance writing career, you will be greatly disappointed. All of the hype that overnight you can become a great copywriter, or sell all kinds of eBooks, is just that, hype. It takes time to brand and market yourself. Like wines, it will happen when the time is right, and not before. There are places where you can write for free, like the church newsletter, something for the PTA, or your social club. These are good places to hone your skills, improve your writing, while giving you exposure to different types of writing, and people that may you’re your writing. You cannot be in a hurry with either your writing, or your writing career.

R J Medak is a freelance writer with 300 articles written. He has over 40 book reviews written and posted to Amazon and Barnes and Noble. He maintains a blog at http://rjmedak.wordpress.com/about/.

Book with a View February 2009

My Name is Michael

Author: P. J. Thomas

ISBN: 978-1-4327-3306-3

Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com (2009)

Genre and Target Market: fiction; China; human rights

Pages: 56

Reviewed by Sarah Moore for WITS (01/2009)

Sometimes I find it difficult to review a book when its message is so powerful and its potential to have a lasting impact on everyone who reads its pages is of great consequence. Will I do justice to what is being conveyed? How can I effectively capture the feelings I had when reading the book and the way its characters still enter my thoughts? These concerns sat with me as I reflected on the new release My Name is Michael by P.J. Thomas. This short book of fifty-six pages tells the fictional story of a child beggar in China, but the personal research done by the author in learning about this forgotten segment of Chinese society is horrifically real. I am confident that you will, as I did, become gripped by this book and read it in one sitting. Then, you will want to pass the novel onto your friends so that you can have others with which to share a discussion about this unforgettable story.

Michael is a young boy in modern China who earned his beloved school name from an American teacher who tells the kids about the beauty and liberty in the United States. Tragically, in short time, Michael would be kidnapped and come to know a life which held no semblance of comfort or freedom. He is taken to the home of Mama Chang, who plays host to enslaved child beggars. Michael is quickly taken to The Butcher for procedures that, as graphically described, are revolting and provide physical results that make him a more sympathetic character to passersby. Despite these unimaginable circumstances, Michael never loses his ability to love, befriend, or place the needs of others above his own. My Name is Michael is an amazing testimony to the innocence and truth in children that endures in the face of the harshest abuse and dimmest future.

P.J. Thomas reminds us in the prologue that his book is a work of fiction, but he also acknowledges the reality in which his story is based. I must admit that I had no idea about the sinister practice of stealing children, disfiguring them, and then placing them on the streets to earn spare change. Luckily, though, the story of Michael and other boys like him has found a powerful voice. Thomas spent two years in China learning about its people and, when he took notice of the many children with deformed bodies, he managed to find a few people who were not terrified to share what they knew. The resulting book is a beautifully crafted piece of art. Each chapter heading, such as “A Cry for Help” and “Return to the Butcher” prepares us for another moment in which we will catch our breaths or become enraged. The use of stark words and phrases throughout the text creates a powerful image of emptiness. There is no room for flowery language in the world that Michael knows.

In addition to the power of his words, Thomas lays out the book in a way that captures and maintains a reader’s attention. Starting with the front cover sketch of a young boy who has lost both legs holding a bruised, abandoned baby, Thomas includes the occasional artwork to make his already stark images even more clear. By seeing the visual interpretation of The Butcher or Mama Chang’s face, the reader must face the concept of these unspeakably horrible people actually being human. Each chapter is also formatted to be short and feel almost abrupt. We are let into snapshots of Michael’s life and the reader gets whisked away after a few quick pages, effectively recreating the uncertainty and lack of peace in Michael’s life. Whether or not that was the author’s intention, this style choice definitely heightened the reading experience for me.

My Name is Michael is an important new novel that should be read by government officials, social activists and individuals who have concerns for children in any part of the world. As the character in the book known only as “The American” tells Michael when recording his life to that point, “When people read your story they will become outraged and speak out.” This is not a book that will make you feel good or that simply should be another check mark on your desired reading list. However, it is an expertly-written piece of fiction that is rooted in truths that will be, and should be, difficult to forget. My hope is that My Name is Michael becomes one important way in which information about the atrocity of child beggars is shared and action can be taken.

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The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude

Author: Davis Aujourd’hui

ISBN: 978-1-4327-3047-5

Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com (2009)

Genre: fiction, humor, social commentary

Pages: 155

Reviewer: Sarah Moore for WITS (01/2009)

When I reflect on the fictional nuns who have found their way into our collective consciousness through television and movies over the last fifty years, there seems to be the common thread of a dichotomous personality. These pious women are portrayed as kind-hearted servants of God and their communities, but also mischievous humans who are quite capable of less-than-holy behavior. Maria from The Sound of Music cared about those VonTrapp children, but she was known to be late to afternoon prayers. Sally Field was charming as The Flying Nun, but her unorthodox methods often had the Reverend Mother up in arms. And, of course, Whoopi Goldberg used her habit to hide from the mob during her turn as a nun in Sister Act. Davis Aujourd’hui adds another Sister to the roll call of memorable nuns in his new book The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude. With her alcohol-filled crucifix and Marlboro smoke signals sent straight to heaven as prayers, this sister will undoubtedly captivate your attention and have you turning the pages.

Sister Mary Olga speaks to the readers directly, with each of the chapters reading like the script from a classic radio broadcast. I doubt that many of the nun’s stories would have passed FCC scrutiny, however! She draws us in with opening remarks which immediately command our attention, like “T.L.I.A.M.G, my dears!” (the acronym standing for The Lord is a Mighty God) or “Now!” Then, she proceeds to share important lessons in Advanced Holiness using some of the residents of Bucksnort, Wisconsin, home of the Have a Heart convent, as the fodder for her tales. Readers of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude’s wise and unique perspective will quickly learn that no one is without a fascinating story to his or her name. Although you may never have discovered a body in the process of cremation as you tried to bake a cake or bore offspring who made inappropriate digestive noises while playing Baby Jesus in the annual Christmas pageant, I know that you will be able to relate to the flaws discussed by Sister Mary, albeit exaggerated, that are common to the human condition. Mr. Aujourd’hui’s inspired storytelling and fun use of words make each of these revelations all the more memorable.

Even while creating a hilarious cast of characters and series of events in which they are players, Aujourd’hui presents his readers with a serious commentary on the importance of tolerance and refraining from judgment. Through Sister Mary Olga Fortitude, he introduces us to people who are often considered outcasts in traditionally accepted society, from transgendered nuns and prostitutes to gay cowboys and morbidly obese women. While sharing their stories and secrets, Sister reminds us not to be critical of the unusual personalities we meet as the book unfolds. And, as reinforcement, she repeatedly confesses to her own shortcomings in terms of lust, gossip, and alcohol. The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude is a laugh-out-loud interpretation of the Golden Rule.

To further the point of the dangers to be found in judgment and narrow-mindedness, Aujourd’hui creates a group of women who are known as the Bunheads United Now organization (BUN). These ladies are known for their tight pulled-back hairstyle, which Sister Mary Olga points out is a hindrance to unimpeded brain functions. They are critical of anyone who does not fit the acceptable mold of behavior and they create superficial, seemingly perfect demeanors to hide their most personal doubts and insecurities. The leader of the BUN brigade, appropriately named Priscilla Bunhead, ends up on the receiving end of some vengeful scissors. Readers who have felt judged for their lifestyle or decisions will likely take some satisfaction out of this particularly amusing moment in the book.

The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude is a new release by Davis Aujourd’hui that presents a sharp and irreverent look at humanity. Offered through the lens of an unforgettable nun who knows everybody’s business but refrains from placing judgments (well, most of the time!), this novel is wonderful in its personality development and colorful language. And, as is promised on the book jacket, I am thrilled that more “misadventures” await those who quickly will become loyal readers. I have no doubt that Sister Mary Olga Fortitude has many more secrets to share and life lessons to teach, and I plan to be sitting in the front row.

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Tuey’s Course

Author: James Ross

ISBN: 978-1-4363-8994-5

Publisher: Xlibris 2008

Genre: fiction, human drama, race relations

Pages: 286

Reviewer: Sarah Moore for WITS (01/2009)

I always enjoy the opportunity to review more than one work by the same author. I am able to see the evolution of his writing as well as develop a better sense of what he is trying to accomplish through the sharing of his stories and characters. Tuey’s Course is the third book by author James Ross, with his previous publications, Lifetime Loser and Finish Line on the bookshelves last year and earlier this year, respectively. The Prairie Winds Golf Course serves as the consistent backdrop for all three novels, but each book takes its readers on a completely unique journey. In his first book, Ross unveiled a captivating story of crime and shady business dealings. Next, he shared the coming-of-age of two teenage boys who learn important life lessons from their ailing mentor. Now, in Tuey’s Course, Ross challenges us in his brutally honest portrayal of race, class and political power structures. Those who have enjoyed Ross’ attention to creating rich detail and fascinating characters in his previous works, as well as readers who are discovering Ross for the first time with Tuey’s Course, will not be disappointed in this new release that makes you think and may even make you angry.

Tuey’s Course focuses on WeWildapheet Ulisees O’Tweety (known as Tuey) and his struggles to make an honest living while fighting the corrupt elected officials in his town who seem determined to thwart his efforts at every turn. Tuey diligently attends every council meeting and sometimes uses unusual methods to convey his frustration with the city’s establishment. In sharing the details of Tuey’s life and his standing on the socioeconomic ladder, Ross makes a bigger statement about the impact that race and money has on the voice a person enjoys in our society. And, he shows that the desperation eventually reached by the poor and the overlooked can lead to tragic results. Ross continues his practice of interweaving multiple plot lines by including a referee who throws football games in return for a payout, a gay priest who flies to Vegas for the weekend with his lover at the expense of a crooked banker, and a developer who is willing to commit crimes in order to get the land that he desires. All of these characters, as well as the golf course regulars we have come to know in Ross’ previous books, come into contact with Tuey to create a novel that manages to be both layered and cohesive in its storylines.

As was the case in Finish Line, Ross employs racial stereotypes when writing the dialect and creating the background stories of his characters. Tuey speaks with the vernacular of an African-American in a way that may have been more common during the period in which Ross’ distant relative, Mark Twain, was sharing his candid views on American society. The ethnic neighborhoods described by Ross are blatant in their names, as the Asian residents live in Little Chang Hai and the Arabs live in an area called the Sand Dunes. The popular rapper has a ridiculous name, the Asian investor is short and shifty, and the always-drunk pilot and a couple of his cohorts at the golf course have no hesitation in using derogatory slurs. Every ethnic label is exposed and exaggerated in Tuey’s Course. Upon my initial reading, I will admit that the language made me uncomfortable. I was concerned that, by taking this writing style to extremes, Ross was simply perpetuating unfair racial views that still exist in our country. Upon further reflection and after reading the conclusion of the book; however, I realize that Ross’ intention was to evoke emotion from his reading audience. Tuey’s Course is not a light read meant for casual summertime reading at the beach. You will be forced to examine your own reaction to the character portrayals and think about where our society places different groups of people.

James Ross succeeds in creating yet another thoughtful and detailed book in Tuey’s Course. He provides an important and unique voice to the works of fiction that are making statements as to who we are as people. I believe that readers likely will have varying reactions to the characters in Tuey’s Course, which will make for great conversation. And, it appears that Ross is not done with his writing endeavors. A serial killer who makes random appearances through news reports in both Finish Line and Tuey’s Course is still a mystery. Is this a teaser from Ross, or just a secondary plot to throw us off-track? Time will tell. For now, I recommend that you grab a copy of Tuey’s Course and prepare to react!

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Saffron Dreams

Shaila Abdullah

Modern History Press (2009)

ISBN 9781932690736

Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (01/09)

Arissa Illahi, a Pakistani woman living in New York, has it all - a loving husband, the freedom to pursue the work she enjoys, good friends, understanding family and a child on the way. Then one fateful morning her life shatters – the World Trade Center in NYC collapses in a terrorist attack, and takes with it Faizan, Arissa’s husband. Arissa’s world will never be the same. Not only has she lost her soulmate, her beloved husband and the father of the unborn child, but she suddenly finds herself in a world where she is perceived as an enemy just for being a Muslim.

There are books that are beautiful simply because they are so positive and pleasant. And there are those that manage to be beautiful in spite of the pain and the suffering and the heartbreak contained within. Shaila Abdullah’s Saffron Dreams is both. Her writing is mesmerizing. On one hand it feels like a classically cut diamond – precise, sparkling, blindingly beautiful, but also incredibly sharp. On the other hand her writing reminds me of a dish I’ve often had traveling in India – a thali. Yes, I am very well aware of the fact that the author is Pakistani and not Indian, but many of the foods she mentioned in the book reminded me a lot of India, and that is probably why I thought of thali. Thali is usually a round metal tray with many compartments, each containing a different item, such as rice, dhal, different vegetables and curries, chutney, yoghurt and something sweet to finish. Each of those items complements or contrasts the others to perfection, and together they are some of the best food I’ve ever tasted. This is the way I feel about Saffron Dreams. It was comforting, it was funny, it was spicy; and then heartbreaking, full of despair, filled with hope, amazingly fresh and vibrant and satisfying. Following Arissa’s story makes the reader realize how little most of us know and understand the world of Muslims, and how incredibly wrong so many of our perceptions are.

If you are looking for a tender love story, you’ll find it here. If you are curious about how people live, love and laugh in another culture, you are in for a treat. If you want to read about overcoming challenges, your wish will be granted. If it is simply beauty that you are searching for, you’ll find it in abundance in Saffron Dreams by Shaila Abdullah. This is a book I would highly recommend to anybody who loves beautifully written and intelligent contemporary prose, especially to the readers who are curious and open minded, and to those who enjoy stories with strong female characters.

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Taking the Sea: Perilous Waters, Sunken Ships, and the True Story of the Legendary Wrecker Captains

Dennis M. Powers

AMACOM

ISBN 9780814413531

Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (12/08)

Taking the Sea is the fourth in Dennis M. Powers’ celebrated maritime narratives. Research on his book Sentinel of the Seas triggered Powers’ curiosity about the ships used during the building of the St. George Reef Lighthouse, and about the colorful Captain Thomas P. H. Whitelaw and other master wreckers. The book describes an era when shipping was the dominant form of transportation throughout the world. Powers writes about the courage, achievement, risks and the challenges these men faced.

Powers delved into the records of maritime museums, libraries, newspapers, and magazine articles to bring together the facts for the stories for this project. He supplemented this information with interviews and genealogical records.

The account begins in 1863 when, as a sixteen-year-old seaman, Tom Whitelaw, arrived in San Francisco. The book covers his career of over sixty years. Powers documents detailed descriptions of Whitelaw’s most memorable salvaging projects, including: The Rosecrans, the Respigerdo, the Umatilla, the Dumbarton, and the Blaimore.

Tom’s grandson Ken shared intimate insights into the family life of his grandparents and of his personal career with Whitelaw & Company.

Articles in the Literary Digest, American Magazine, Popular Mechanics, and Sunset Magazine all have featured various aspects of Whitelaw’s story. His divers made 17,000 dives while Whitelaw’s salvage operations saved over 289 ships.

In addition to Thomas P. H. Whitelaw, Powers includes stories of other colorful divers and wreckers, like Dynamite Johnny, Martin Lund, T. A. Scott, William E. Chapman, and Israel J. Merritt. He tells of wrecking and salvaging phenomenon’s from the Bering Sea and the coast of Alaska, up and down the western coastline of Canada and United Sates and on the East Coast from Canada to the waters of the Florida Keys, and the islands of the Bahamas. I especially enjoyed the story of a ghost ship, the City of Columbus.

Detailed background on Maritime Law and its evolution include specific judgments, appeals, and settlements between, Ship Owners, Insurance Companies, and the Wreckers.

An amazing collection of photographs dramatically reinforce Powers’ narrative. The scope of his selected bibliography gives evidence of the background reading and specific research that has gone into the preparation of this book and which so deftly qualify Powers to compile this chronicle.

Powers’ writing is imaginative, informative, and motivational. He is a gifted story teller. His descriptions are strong and powerful. He paints word pictures of wave explosions, ferocious storm conditions, and the devastating loss of lives. I could almost feel the tension of the octopus gripping my leg, squeezing my arm, and throttling my throat in an underwater wrestling match.

Taking the Sea by Dennis M. Powers will be enjoyed by anyone understanding the call of the deep, lured by maritime adventure, and tales of an almost forgotten era in history when Spanish galleons, steam schooners, and tall-masted sailing ships gave fortitude to commerce and industry.

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How to Make Colleges Want You Insider Secrets for tipping the Admission odds in your Favor

Author: Mike Moyer

ISBN: 978-14022-1367-0

Pages: 152 $12.95 Soft Cover

Published by Sourcebooks, Inc. (2008) Non-Fiction

Whether you are a freshman or a senior in high school, this book is an eye-opener for you! Mike Moyer tells you the way to dramatically increase your chances of getting into the college of your choice. In How to Make Colleges Want You, he provides fresh approaches to getting your college application out of the maybe or no stacks, to the yes we want you stack. The book also contains references to Mike’s Web site: http://www.collegepeas.com/ where additional information and additions to the chapters are contained.

Mike tells you what he did to get accepted to the college of his choice by describing his unusual activity of raising homing pigeons while in high school. He took a homing pigeon to his first interview with the admissions counselor and sent a message to himself from the counselor! This NTA (non-teenage activity) got him recognized as special.

Getting into a competitive college requires a lot more than grades or regular school activities; it is a question of planning. Moyer makes suggestions to accomplish the goal of getting into a prestigious college with his inside secrets. A few are, attending a community college for a year or two to obtain better grades, transfer in to fill one of the vacancies left by someone who has moved on, and start in mid-year instead of competing with the freshman entry class.

Consider there are 43,000 high schools and an equal number of valedictorians who apply to highly competitive colleges. Their applications are your competition for admission to these colleges and even with good grades, you still are not in their strata. The techniques in this book are designed to raise your chances for admission by 10 to 20 per cent. When you apply Mike’s ideas during your high school years, the odds are even better.

Mike Moyer is unique, as he not only provides this fairly inexpensive blue print for success, he lectures at high schools giving students a great heads-up on obtaining admission to choice schools. He has a highly informative lecture on CD which is available at his Web site: http://www.collegepeas.com/. As a bonus, Mike offers a 25% discount to readers of this column who want to learn more. Enter the code “CLARK” for the discount.

Friday, February 13, 2009

It's Friday the 13th and WITS has a Gift for you!

It's Friday, the 13th and Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services has published a special issue of poetry as a token of our appreciation for those who subscribe to our newsletter.

We have compiled over an e-book filled with poems written and submitted by our readers and made a very nice e-book that we think you will enjoy. Feel free to share it with others!

You may download the chapbook as a PDF from our Web site at http://writersinthesky.com/WITSchapbook09.pdf

Graphic design (cover and interior layout) was provided by Jessica Dockter. Please let her know how much you appreciate her generosity by visiting her Web site to view the lovely samples http://leedesign.org

Just Do It- Getting Your Freelance Career Started

by Kelly Kilpatrick

Many people dream of a career in freelance writing for various reasons and motivations. While there are countless writers who are capable of being successful freelance writers, certain things ultimately end up preventing them from achieving success. Starting off a career as a freelance writer can be a challenging endeavor, but it is not impossible. Here are a few tips for people who are interested in freelancing that will help get things moving forward.

Write About Everything. As a freelancer, you will rarely be able to actually pick your topics, except during the initial bidding process. In order to make sure that you are marketable, you must be versatile. This means that you need to be able to write about as many topics as possible at a moment’s notice. Start working on building up your repertoire while honing your skills on topics and subject matter that lies outside your comfort zone.

Write Frequently. If you want to pound those keys full-time, you are going to be a busy person indeed. Expect to spend some quality time with your favorite coffee cup come three in the morning. Writing frequently will keep you in practice and on your toes so that you will be well-trained for the day when you have more assignments that you know what to do with.

Compile a Portfolio. A good portfolio highlights you abilities and your range, emphasizing style and professionalism above all things. Whatever you do, take time when selecting pieces to include in your portfolio that will speak to your potential employers about your abilities. Do not include everything you have written; rather, select the pieces which have earned you acclaim or that you are particularly proud of.

Submit Your Work Often. Getting the ball rolling regarding a freelance writing career involves perseverance above all else. Rather than waiting for someone to pluck you out of the crowd, you need to go out there and get it. This means that while you are waiting to get into the field, you need to submit a lot of articles and pieces often. The internet is a great place to start building a name for yourself, so start there as soon as you can.

This article was contributed by Kelly Kilpatrick, who writes on the subject of online schools. She invites your feedback at kellykilpatrick24 at gmail dot com

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Calling for Submissions for March 2009 Newsletter!!

It's time to submit your book reviews, articles, poems, and announcements about anything related to writing, editing, publishing, and book promotion.

If you wish to contribute anything to Writers in the Sky Newsletter for March 2009, please review the guidelines on our Web site: http://writersinthesky.com/writing-newsletter.html.

Hurry, the deadline is February 24, 2009!!

To help us improve our newsletter, please select your favorite WITS feature at http://www.socialtoo.com/survey/view/620

I also want to let you know that my new eBook Book Marketing in the Digital Age Online Promotion Made Easy is available at http://app.expressemailmarketing.com/get.link?linkid=1028702&subscriberid=24007944&campaignid=294815&linkurl=http://www.onlinepromotionmadeeasy.com/. You will find many free tips for book marketing on the site as well.

Yvonne Perry
Owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Author's Corner February 2009

Welcome to the month of lovers—literary lovers that is! Readers and writers will find this month’s issue filled with ideas, places to contribute, and inspiring information.

Instead of thinking of Friday the thirteenth as an ominous day, think of it as a day to do something different—like read poetry! WITS is creating a special poetry issue to publish on Friday, February 13. If you would like to send a poem with your name, short bio, and a link to your blog or Web site, please get it to me before February 6 using WITS contact page.

The conversation I had with editor Carolyn Howard-Johnson was fabulous! We recorded our candid chat about editing books, querying publishers, and some of the common mistakes writers make and how to correct them. We also answered questions our readers sent us. If you missed your chance to eavesdrop on us, you can listen to this conversation with editors now. If reading is more your style than listening, you may read a partial transcript of the highlights of our conversation.

The WITS mentoring program is going strong. So far, we have learned how to write a media release, write a strong resource box, explored article marketing, and some handy dandy Microsoft Word features and keyboard shortcuts such as this one:

Pressing Ctrl+F together will open a box that allows you to type in the word or exact phrase you are looking for. Click OK and Word will start from the point in your document where your cursor is located and find the next word or phrase that is exactly as you typed in the search. To replace that word or word phrase, click the “replace” tab at the top of the search box and type in the word or phrase you want to substitute. Word will replace one at a time so you may review each change or you may opt to have Word replace all of the occurrences at the same time.

If you missed the deadline to sign up for our newbie class, you may want to speak with me about one-on-one mentoring sessions. You get the same lessons and assignments as the Tuesday group, but more individualized focus on a day other. Learn more at http://writersinthesky.com/mentoring.html.

As you know, we have three grandbabies on the way. So far, we have learned that Katie and Sareya are having boys. Amanda is scheduled to have her sonogram this month. We’ll soon know if the boy to girl ratio is 2:1 or 3:0. Thankfully, things are progressing well for all three of our daughters and the wee-ones in the wombs.

Friday, February 6, 2009

The Writing Life: English is a Fickle Language

English is a Fickle Language When One Word Has Opposite Meanings!

I’m at a disadvantage in the 21st Century, because I still have a 20th Century vocabulary. I need help finding the right key words for my own Web site. And when I’m researching online it could take me days to find the word or words that yield the Web sites with the information I actually want.

So, this column is devoted to words that are spelled the same way, even have identical pronunciation, but can mean very different things.

One of my favorites is fast. I find three meanings for this word. If I travel by car I’m moving fast, as opposed to walking. If I tie my tent stakes so they will not move at all, they are held fast. When I choose refrain from eating for a set period of time, that is a fast.

More of my favorite ambiguous words:

• Clip –what you do to a coupon, or what you do with a paperclip
• Note –what’s written on paper, or the specific tone a musical instrument makes
• Sanction - which can mean either to permit or to penalize
• Seed – to plant them for food, or to remove them from food
• Seeded – added to the bread’s crust, or removed from fruit or vegetables
• Shade –tint or hue of a color, or refuge from the sun under a tree or large object
• Trunk – what grandma packed for a voyage, or a tree’s stem

Context is crucial to the meaning of these words. If you teach English as a second language, you have my deepest respect.

I’m not the only writer who has pondered this paradoxical ambiguity in words. My clumsy keyword search did lead me to this Web site: http://www--personal.umich.edu/~cellis/antagonym.html. The writer claims to have created the word ANTAGONYMS to describe this group of words. That works for me. The author is kind enough to create a longer list than my few examples, including slang circa 1999.

JJ Murphy is a freelance nature writer, photographer, blogging hiker, forager, locavore, and tree-hugger with more than 50 years of eco-centric living experience. Visit http://www.writerbynature.com/ if you need relevant content that captures your personal style and tone.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Writers in the Sky Podcast Schedule February 2009

February 6

Sarah Moore, author’s assistant for Writers in the Sky, will be interviewing Irene Brodsky about her new book Poetry Unplugged. Ms. Brodsky is a recent, sixty-two-year-old graduate of Brooklyn College and Poetry Unplugged is her first book of poetry. In this collection, she shares freestyle poetry that reflects on childhood experiences, everyday observations, and her life in Brooklyn. As Ms. Brodsky shares on the back of cover of the book, “Just step inside to find something for everyone!” Listeners will learn about the inspiration behind Brodsky’s poetry, her method for writing, and reasons that she chose to return to school and pursue writing at this stage in her life. For more information about Poetry Unplugged and Ms. Brodsky, please visit http://www.outskirtspress.com/

February 13

As we enter into this Valentine’s weekend, Dodi Elhalogy will be our podcast guest to discuss her book The Secrets of Dodi’s Home Cooking. Perhaps listeners will be inspired to cook a nice meal for that special someone! Mrs. Elhalogy was raised on an estate in a small Egyptian village. Since her father was mayor of the province, many important social events were held in their home. By helping her mothers and sisters prepare for these functions, Mrs. Elhalogy mastered the art of Middle Eastern cooking and is now showcasing her family’s traditional recipes. During the interview with Sarah Moore, Mrs. Elhalogy will share more about how her family background prepared her for this book, the health benefits of the recipes she included, and how the book is formatted to include cultural and culinary details. For more information about Dodi Elhalogy and The Secrets of Dodi’s Home Cooking, please visit http://www.outskirtspress.com/

February 20

This week’s podcast interview takes a serious turn as Sarah Moore discusses the new book My Name is Michael with author Thomas Pompeo. Mr. Pompeo spent two years in China absorbing the culture and learning as much as possible from its people. Along the way, he discovered a horrible trend of children being forced to beg in the streets. He decided to create the fictional story of My Name is Michael to shed light on a very real problem. Mr. Pompeo’s interview with Writers in the Sky will focus on how he gathered the material for this novel and the risks he took in doing so. Listeners also will have the opportunities to learn more about the characters developed by this first-time author and the process he used to share this story in the most effective manner possible. Those who wish to learn more about My Name is Michael or its author can visit http://www.outskirtspress.com/

February 27

To end our month of podcasts, Writers in the Sky offers an interview with a new author whose first offering is both a hilarious page-turner and a smart social commentary. Davis Aujourd'hui will be discussing The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude with Sarah Moore. This novel, the first in a series, centers around a hard-drinking, chain smoking nun who shares the latest gossip on the colorful personalities in her town while doing her best to refrain from judgment on their behavior. As readers quickly learn, even those who portray an air of perfection have some ridiculous flaws. Through Sister Mary, we all learn about acceptance of others who live on the fringes of traditional society. Mr. Aujourd’hui will discuss the messages he tries to impart through Sister Mary and how they stem from lessons learned in his own life. Listeners also will learn what they can expect from the future books in the series. Please go to http://www.outskirtspress.com/ to learn more about The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude and Davis Aujourd’hui.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Writers in the Sky E-zine February 2009

It's the first Tuesday of the month and the entire WITS E-zine has been published and emailed to those on our permission-based subscription list.

If you are reading this post right here on our blog, you may notice that there's no February e-zine here to read. That's because we took a vote and everyone agreed that anticipation and patience, as outlined in option 3, is a great virtue. Therefore, we will post the individual features/columns/sections of the e-zine in intervals over the course of the month. If you have subscribed to the RSS feed of our e-zine blog (which is a very good idea), you will get a notice whenever we post something on the blog.

However, if you just can't wait for the sections to go live (who could blame you?), you can read the entire February 2009 e-zine now!

Friday, January 30, 2009

Take Your Higher Self into the New Year

Have you made your New Year's resolutions yet?

Lose weight, become debt free/financially secure and get organized are always on the top of most personal lists. Professional resolutions often include getting promoted, starting a business, increasing revenue and perhaps writing a book. The reason those goals look familiar is that they are often the same ones we've made last year and the year before that and so on.

To turbo-charge your resolutions, tap into your best, brightest "Higher Self." Take a moment to review this list of eight enlightened practices based on universal principles. Set an intention to explore a few this month. You'll find your work and life will be easier, more rewarding and more fun when you access your own inner wisdom and take your Higher Self into the New Year.

1. Learn to Meditate. Spend some time each day in quiet contemplation to increase your creativity, clarity and peace.

2. Visualize. Activate the power of visualization by creating a Treasure Map or Vision Board filled with what you want to manifest. (If you have one already, make sure to review and prune it often.)

3. Affirm Success. Counter the negative tapes that run through your mind with affirmations, positive statements in the present to remind you of what you desire and deserve.

4. Be on Purpose. Write a Life Purpose Statement based on your top motivations, key values and natural gifts. Refer to it often as you make decisions.

5. Clean out the Clutter. Take an inventory of the physical, emotional and technical clutter that distracts and confuses you and drains your energy. One-by-one, eliminate that clutter from your life. The universe will fill the space with what serves your highest good.

6. Raise Your Vibrations. Energy attracts like energy. Make a conscious effort to love and nurture yourself by doing things that reduce stress and bring you joy. When you're feeling good about yourself, you will vibrate at a high level which will attract other high-vibration people and circumstances to support you.

7. Be Grateful. Write in a gratitude journal to focus on what's going well in your life and work because what you focus on expands.

8. Stay Present. Reserve some time each day to resist multi-tasking and practice mindfulness. You'll be more productive and fulfilled.

For more on these and other enlightened practices, see "Divine Wisdom at Work" and Working with Wisdom® programs.

Molloy is a professional speaker, business consultant and author of Divine Wisdom at Work: 10 Universal Principles for Enlightened Entrepreneurs and the upcoming book, Take Your Higher Self to Work: 7 Best Practices for Success. Visit www.divinewisdomatwork.com. Sign up to receive a monthly e-newsletter for more information and inspiration.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Poetry Corner January 2009

Please note that we will be doing a special poetry issue in February! Send your poem and bio (URL to your blog or Web site) to Yvonne no later than February 6 to make the February 13 pub date.

Rodeo Hearts

Wild and free
Like a mustang running ‘cross the open plains,
You and me
Diving headlong screaming through a ring of flame.
And we never stop to wonder if
It all might fall apart.
We just ride that raging bull with our rodeo hearts.
Eye to eye
Is what we see when we are in the here and now.
No goodbye.
Wouldn’t want to face the future anyhow.
And we’ll ride this bronco to a place
Where reason soon departs,
Living out our dreams right now with our rodeo hearts.
Reaching out and reaching onto every crazy dream,
Making no excuses on the way.
Filling up our senses til they’re bursting at the seams,
We brave the night until the break of day.
Until then
There is no denying what we have to do.
It would be a sin
If we stopped right now and didn’t see it through.
So we take our winnings and we say a prayer
As the wisdom soon departs.
We’ll just keep on riding high on our rodeo hearts.

Dennis S Martin
http://www.iwritesome.com/
http://iwritesome.blogspot.com/



Crazy

Twisting Through The Aggressive Rubble
A Crazy Thought Becomes
A Belief In Magical Motion

Fumbling Around Space
A Crazy Tool Bag
Becomes History

Crazy Car Magnets
Attract Energy
In A Congress
Filled With Matter Less Debris

Blank Shelves Carry
A Crazy Carcass To Market
As Wall Street Asks For A Spoon

Insurance Dips Into Empty Pockets
Of Ethics
As Crazy Bankers Step On Their
Own Tails Crying, “Balance Now Due!”

A Collection Of Socialist
Find Peace
Crazy On The Steps
Of Kat Man Due

Crazy Ice Melts In Daylight
As A War Jumps
Over The Moon
Landing In A Sinking Garden
Of Sense Less Ness

Life Becomes A Torrent
Of Craziness
As Love Hangs Its Shingle
In Change

Confused I Find Crazy
Where It Is Born

As I Cry For Joy
You Kiss My Mind
And I See
The Beauty Of Craziness
In You

Friday, January 23, 2009

How to Effectively Set Goals and Reach Them

How many times have you set a goal for yourself and not followed through with it? There are some simple steps to take to prevent this from happening again.

Most people know that setting goals is important when they want to achieve something. Unfortunately, not many people know how to effectively do this. How many people can you think of who set a New Year's resolution with an attitude of giving it 110 percent, only to give up on their resolution less than two months later? Some people do not even make it that long. Why is that?

When setting a goal, make sure that you are realistic. You can pick a goal that is challenging, but do not pick one that is impossible. If you pick a goal that is impossible or nearly impossible, you are more likely to just give up on the goal.

Next, determine how long you have to reach the goal. Do you want to reach it within a month, six months, or a year or more? Give yourself enough time to reach the goal, but not so much time that you don't have to "work at it."

Once you have determined whether your goal is short or long-term, take the time to plan how you are going to reach your goal. List the steps that you can take to obtain the goal. Be as specific as you can. This is a very important step. If you do not plan out how you are going to achieve your goal, then you are setting yourself up for failure!

Another important factor in setting a goal is to list any problems that may come up that will prevent you from reaching it. This list should include ANYTHING that you think can stand in your way of reaching your goal. Include small things like your car breaking down, to illness, and big things, such as a death in the family. Remember, anything is possible. If you expect something may happen, then it won't crush your chances of reaching your goal if it does.

Now you need to ask yourself what you would do to overcome each of the obstacles. By doing this you are "planning ahead," and you will be in a better position to deal with any of these obstacles, should they arise.

Okay, by this point you have decided what your goal is. You have outlined the steps that you need to take to get there and you have figured out ways of dealing with any obstacles that come your way. Now all you have to do is start taking the steps one by one to complete your goal.

Planning all these things out prepares you mentally to achieve your goal. You will not be as likely to give up or just "forget" your goal. Read over your goal often. Add any new obstacles and solutions you come up with over time.

Seeing your goal in written format will motivate you to work harder to reach your goal. Planning your goal out in this way is the biggest part of accomplishing your goal. Congratulations, you are well on your way to achieving your goals!

Net Insiders takes you to a new level. The Internet's best marketing blog is here: http://www.netinsiders.com/

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Poetry Special Issue for February

Please note that Writers in the Sky will be doing a special poetry issue in February! Send your poem and bio (URL to your blog or Web site) to Yvonne no later than February 6 to make the February 13 pub date.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Book with a View January 2009

Tuey’s Course
Author: James Ross
Publisher: Xlibris (2008)
ISBN: 978-1-4363-8994-5
Pages: 285
Reviewer: Barbara Milbourn for WITS

From the first book in the Prairie Winds series, Lifetime Loser, author James Ross shows his penchant for exposing the bad guys—those unscrupulous and unsavory among us in the fields of real estate, law, accounting, and governance who play dirty politics and prey upon the well-intended but not-overly-astute average Joe. In Tuey’s Course, Ross ratchets up the heat and widens the gap between the haves and have-nots, shining a glaring light on a wider-than-you’d imagine ring of greed, power, and hypocrisy in white America.

Twenty new characters combine with several we already know in an intertwined series of quick-moving and interesting plots and schemes, some of which come to bear heavily on the shoulders of protagonist WeWildapheet Ulysees O’Tweety (Tuey).

Tuey is an excavator married to his high school sweetheart (LaVournique) for nearly twenty years and living, as he would say, among his own kind on the edge of town. His gapped-toothed constant smile, poor black man’s dialect, and innocence have us sympathetic as he struggles under a mountain of injustice bestowed on him by a host of animal look-alikes at city hall.

The government’s incessant message that his business isn’t welcome in their town presses down on him and strains his marriage, but when Tuey tries to make things right he becomes further alienated by the city and victimized by bank president Harold Syms. Syms is portrayed as a sly fox who has numerous people in his pocket and skillfully beguiles them to join him in using other people’s money to increase his and their personal wealth. One of Syms’ deals is with a local farmer/landowner who decides to sell the family’s land adjacent to the golf course for development. Syms stands to exact a hefty profit for himself, of course. In exchange for a necessary easement through Prairie Winds Golf Course, J Dub and Curt, who have met Tuey and understand his plight, insist that Tuey be awarded the job of running a long sewer line for the project. This brings Tuey into the fold of the colorful Prairie Winds family.

Much of the time we’re back in the company of the regulars—in and out of casinos, the clubhouse, and the golf course—and enjoying their antics. Is it my imagination, or is Ross hinting that there might be a somewhat rotten apple in the barrel?

Tuey’s Course happens to overlap with Finish Line at the time Curt is battling cancer. A knock-out, athletic govie-gal who can play the game catches Curt’s eye and brightens his world at the same time that weather set-backs, equipment breakdowns, mounting friction at city hall and at home have Tuey crying for help and relief. He turns to religion in a church in his neighborhood where congregants pray for him and believe there are mighty lessons to be learned from the animal kingdom. He turns to the regulars at Prairie Winds, including Puddles who leads him to a cave. Here is where Ross flexes his fictional muscle. The reader is uncertain whether they are in a dream or real time, but the plot sorts itself out and the book comes to a surprising and quite climatic ending.

Ross’s writing shows an increasing level of skill that includes the simultaneous climax toward the end of the book, a lot of satire, and fantasy—something new for him. Knowing Ross, he’s dropped a few crumbs along the trail that we might expect to surface in some future tale. I’d bet there will be more about the human tooth from Lifetime Loser, certainly some further romantic development with Curt, and I wonder if something might be lurking about the GPS killer.

A word about the new characters: some are caricature-like and compared directly to animals for reasons which become obvious, and others are so rife with stereotype that at times you think the author is kidding until you realize he expects you to say “typical.” He is certain that we all have noticed these characters around us, we’ve all formed opinions, and in most cases, we’ve mostly turned a blind eye and gone on with our own business as usual.

I’ve read and enjoyed all three of Ross’s books so far. This past weekend I was far from home driving through the St. Louis area when I caught myself looking to the right and left for signs of Prairie Winds and lime green skull caps.


Authors Access: 30 Success Secrets for Authors and Publishers
Edited by Irene Watson, Tyler R. Tichelaar, Victor R. Volkman
Modern History Press (2009)
ISBN 9781932690989
Reviewed by Vicki Landes for Reader Views (11/08)

Not too long ago, the only way to obtain the coveted title of ‘author’ was to sign with a traditional publishing company…and that was only for the extremely lucky ones. The hopeful author spent a great deal of time writing query letters, contacting agents and editors, nervously waiting for replies, and knowing there are many more ‘no thanks’ in this business than ‘welcome to the team.’ With the advent of self-publishing, the industry has literally exploded with hundreds of thousands of books on every imaginable subject. But when everyone from your grandma to your neighbor’s cat has the ability to publish a book, what can you do to ensure yours stands out above the rest? Editors Irene Watson, Tyler R. Tichelaar, and Victor R. Volkman believe they have the answers.

“Authors Access: 30 Success Secrets for Authors and Publishers” is a compilation of podcast interviews of award-winning authors, editors, publishers, publicists, business owners, consultants, freelance writers, and book reviewers. Within 200+ pages, they guide the prospective writer through many of the obstacles faced and common mistakes made in DIY publishing while making certain the finished product is as marketable as those published by established publishing companies. Further, and as many new authors come to realize, there is just as much work after your book has been published. “Authors Access” continues to provide sound information on promotion, obtaining book reviews, hiring a publicist, and making the most of today’s technological advances.

With an already innumerable amount of publishing how-to books on the market today, what makes “Authors Access” so special? Consider this: most of these types of books are written by one, sometimes two or even a small group of experts in a specific field of the greater publishing world. This person, whether a published author, editor, or agent has extensive experience doing whatever it is that they do best. However, their how-to books are limited to their road to victory. Want a second opinion on how to be a publishing success? Read another book…and another and another. With “Author Access,” you have the advice, the techniques, and the proven track record of many professionals from all aspects of the business…and in one concise book. Additionally, there is a natural flow to the book; organized and edited in such a way that there is seamless cohesion despite the number of different ‘expert voices’ sounding out.

Authors Access: 30 Success Secrets for Authors and Publishers is a must-read for any first time writer or self-published author looking to improve their skills. As a self-published author myself, I’ve got lists of ‘mistakes made’ and ‘lessons learned’ from my experience. As I read Authors Access I kept finding myself saying, “Oh, great idea!” or “I wish I’d thought of that before.” My lists are now being supplemented with “here’s what to do next time.” There’s a wealth of information in these pages; enough to keep you motivated and on the right track without bogging you down in ‘information overload.

Although self-publishing has allowed many writers to fulfill their dreams, it has also inundated the industry with books considered substandard and unmarketable to traditional publishers. Many wide-eyed, naïve authors have taken advantage of the opportunity to self-publish and their efforts have turned into an expensive disappointment. Within “Authors Access: 30 Success Secrets for Authors and Publishers,” you’ve got experts and their invaluable knowledge at your disposal. Editors Irene Watson, Tyler R. Tichelaar, and Victor R. Volkman do have the answers!

The Last Cowboy
Daniel Uebbing
Robert D. Reed (2008)
ISBN 9781934759134
Reviewed by Danelle Drake for Reader Views (10/08)

With eager anticipation I opened the book and was consumed from beginning to end. “Hey, baby, this is America. It’s a free country.” Even for those who would never admit it, everyone (both men and women) loves a cowboy. Bringing up visions of the sweat-covered hottie out on the tractor or the Wrangler-clad bull rider on television, the cowboy is the all-American fantasy.
Henry Dunn, “The Last Cowboy,” reads like a crazy man. He puts the best of them to shame. Beginning with a duel where both participants, he and the sheriff, were both barely able to stand, much less shoot, Henry starts a killing spree which really never ends. Rarely showing any heart, Henry is a cold, cold, uncaring man. He is consumed by the fact he wants to return to his girlfriend in Kansas. None-the-less he relieves his stress by bedding prostitutes whenever available. One encounter left him with more than he bargained for; killed the mother and now caring for the child. The Kid, barely a toddler, learns the ropes quickly and almost instantly becomes the cowboy’s partner in crime.

Both serious and down-right hysterical at the same time, this book is worth the read. From dance class to tae kwon do, I carried the book around for days while my daughters attended classes. When asked what I was reading, I would giggle and say, “I am reading ‘The Last Cowboy’ a book about a drunken cowboy that could have been written by a drunken cowboy.”

Friday, January 16, 2009

Who Should You Be Marketing Your Book To?

Your book marketing plan should include strategies for reaching several different target audiences:

• Readers -- people who buy the book to read. This is the most obvious category and it includes your primary audience (the "ideal customer" that the book was specifically written for) as well as secondary audiences who have an interest in your topic.

• Purchasers -- people who buy the book for someone else. For example, people buy books as gifts, parents purchase books for children, and women buy men's health books. Who would be likely to purchase your book for someone else, and how can you reach those folks?

• Influencers -- people who communicate with your target customers and can let them know about your book. In online book marketing, the influencers may be the most important category of all. Think about how much you can multiply your marketing efforts when other people spread the word to their own readers and customers.

Traditional and online media are important influencers. You can reach them through traditional publicity efforts as well as online press releases and article distribution.

Other authors, coaches, and bloggers who cater to your target customers can mention you, your website, and/or your book in several ways, including blog posts, links, Twittering, ezine articles, and media sharing tools like Digg. Here are some tips on working with influencers:

• Search the internet to compile a list of the top websites, blogs, ezines, magazines, newsletters, online forums, books, ebooks, clubs, and association that cater to your target market or cover your topic.

• Study each site to get a good understanding of what they do and how it relates to your book, and look for possible promotional opportunities

• Write a thoughtful, customized email or letter complimenting the prospect about their site, publication, or organization, and suggesting some specific ways that you might work together to your mutual benefit.

• Read the top blogs and online forums on your list and look for opportunities to make useful comments about posts. When responding to posts, use a short promotional signature (name, author of xxx, URL).

How can you expand your marketing reach by promoting to all of your target audiences?

Dana Lynn Smith, the Book Marketing Maven, specializes in writing book marketing plans for nonfiction books. For more book marketing tips, visit her blog at www.BookMarketingMaven.com and subscribe to The Savvy Book Marketer ezine.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Your link to Conversation with Editors

Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Yvonne Perry have recorded a one-time class called "Conversation with Editors." In it, we covered some of the common mistakes writers make and how to correct them. We also provide helpful tips for impressing a publisher with your query letter.

Listen to the recording...

Carolyn is an editor and author of The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward To Avoid Humiliation And Ensure Success (How to Do It Frugally). Yvonne is a full-time freelance ghostwriter and editor, and the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Author's Corner January 2009

Happy New Year, everyone! We have some exciting things in store for you in 2009.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson and I will be facilitating a one-time pre-recorded audio class to air on Tuesday, January 13, 2009. It will be called "Conversation with Editors" and we will cover some of the common mistakes writers make and how to correct them. We will also give some helpful tips for impressing a publisher with your query letter. Ask your editing and querying questions in the comments feature at this WITS blog post now to be sure your question is answered during the class. You may contact me to get the link to the recorded class. Carolyn is an editor and author of The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward To Avoid Humiliation And Ensure Success (How to Do It Frugally).

I have three grandbabies on the way! Baby blessings to my three girls: step-daughter-in-law, Katie; my daughter, Sareya; and my daughter-in-law, Amanda, who are all expecting in 2009! Katie’s boy (her third child) is due in April, Sareya and Scott’s baby (their first child) is due in June, and Amanda and Zeb’s baby (their second child) is due in July.

WITS is considering making our newsletter a full-blown online e-zine. I realize this would take even more time and money to produce, so to offset the cost, we may offer ad space. Please take our survey to let us know if you would/would not be willing to pay for ad space if we were to create an online magazine. We would still have our regular features: The Writing Life, informative articles, Network with Us, Book with a View, and Poetry Corner, but we might expand it to include more feature columns. Let us know what your favorite features are by taking a survey to help us improve what we are doing.

Recently, I proofread a series of e-books called Just the FAQs authored by technical expert, MaAnna Stephenson. I cannot say enough of good things about them! Just the FAQs gives authors, writers, or anyone who has little experience with online technology, the essentials for setting up a blog, adding RSS Feed, creating a Web site, and book promotion through article marketing. See how valuable and easy these non-geeky e-books are when you visit http://www.justthefaqs.net/ . Oh, and there are free online marketing resources and downloads on the JTF blog http://justthefaqsblog.blogspot.com/ . Check that out, too.

My 92-year-old grandmother (we call her Nanny) is still unable to walk after falling and breaking her hip and arm in November, but we have a contraption, which reminds me of an engine hoist or an amusement park ride, to get her in and out of bed. She does several hours of “chair time” each day. Her arm is healing well, but the osteoporosis in her hip is too advanced for the bone to mend well enough to regain weight bearing condition. My mom is a saint and should win the galactic lottery if good works and patience had anything to do with. She cares for Nanny around the clock in her home.

There are only a few seats left in my mentoring program for freelance writers that begins January 14. I look forward to facilitating a weekly 1-hour tele-seminar on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 Central Time. In these writing classes, students will build a real-world portfolio while learning the craft and business of freelance writing. Weekly assignments will be given to the group and graded individually. This is a great way to get encouragement and help in specific areas of need. Learn more about WITS mentoring program at http://writersinthesky.com/mentoring.html. These classes are filling up fast, so contact us to be placed on the January 2009 newbie class roster. An entry essay will be required before admission is confirmed.

Be sure to see the WITS resources page for some great recommendations on books to improve writing, technical expertise, newsletters and web sites, internet radio shows and podcasts, book publishers and literary agents, book marketing sites, book printers, and online promotion books and e-books.

Here’s to your writing success and the best WITS year ever!

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Accepting Submissions for WITS February Newsletter 2009

It's time to submit your book reviews, articles, poems, and announcements about anything related to writing, editing, publishing, and book promotion.

If you wish to contribute anything to Writers in the Sky Newsletter for February 2009, please review the guidelines on our Web site: http://writersinthesky.com/writing-newsletter.html.

Hurry, the deadline is January 24, 2008.

To help us improve our newsletter, please select your favorite WITS feature at http://www.socialtoo.com/survey/view/620

I also want to let you know that my new eBook Book Marketing in the Digital Age Online Promotion Made Easy is available at http://app.expressemailmarketing.com/get.link?linkid=1028702&subscriberid=24007944&campaignid=294815&linkurl=http://www.onlinepromotionmadeeasy.com/. You will find many free tips for book marketing on the site as well.

Yvonne Perry
Owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services

Friday, January 9, 2009

The Writing Life: January 2009

Proofreading as a Form of Right Livelihood

I recently completed an assignment proofreading galley copies for a novel en route to the printer. Reading the work of an emerging author is like opening a Christmas present. It’s all fresh, new and exciting. The challenge for me was to keep my proofreading senses sharp.

Here are some techniques I use to ensure effective proofreading:

1. Read the work out loud. When you can hear the rhythm and cadence of a piece, the grammar, punctuation and formatting almost reveal themselves. I’ll also note places where I stop mid-sentence or have to read a sentence more than once. This is often a clue that the words could be confusing to other readers.

2. Work in short blocks of time. I know just how long I can read before I lose my concentration or get swept up in the author’s style. I make it a point to stop 5-10 minutes sooner than my “point of diminishing returns.” I will do some physical task, but I will not read anything else. My entire body needs to take a break in order for me to stay fresh and alert during my proofreading.

3. Keep a dictionary handy. Whether I’m working online or on the page, I make sure to check the spelling and/or meaning of words, if I have even a shadow of a doubt. I also double check the tricky words like “affect/effect” and whether words like “merthiolate” should be proper case with an initial capital letter.

4. Pay attention to details. When proofreading fiction, I’ll check for continuity in action, character, and whether a term is consistently used. I’ll notice if “Magnolia Station,” is sometimes written as “Magnolia station” or if a character speaking in a 20th Century setting is using 21st Century terminology.

5. Read the piece backwards. I proofread highly technical or foreign language words as if they were a series of numbers. By checking these terms one letter at a time, I ensure consistency throughout the work.

6. Read the piece aloud more than once. I not only read on different days, I will read each chapter or section of the work more than once. Whether it’s a very rough first draft or a polished piece ready for publication, I’m likely to see things I missed the first time through.

7. Submit with confidence. By pacing myself and making sure the work is read carefully, I’m able to proofread to the client’s satisfaction. Getting paid to read–especially when I’m among the first to read–makes proofreading a satisfying way to apply my writing skills.

Writer and naturalist JJ Murphy, http://www.WriterByNature.com, offers creative nature curriculum, wild food recipes, fiction, poetry, articles and writing services for individuals, entrepreneurs, small businesses and ecologically aware companies.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Podcast Schedule January 2009

January 16

Sarah Moore, author’s assistant for Writers in the Sky, will be talking with author Charles Tillinghast about his new book How Capitol Got the Beatles. Tillinghast worked for fifteen years as the head of the Law Department of Capitol Records, including the time during which The Beatles were signed with the label. He shares inside information about how the contract with The Beatles almost did not come to pass, who really discovered the Fab Four, and how strains in personal relationships caused problems with the band’s contract negotiations. Tillinghast puts aside his training in legal writing to create a book that is easily understood by the casual reader and has prepared a must-read for any Beatles fan. Listeners will enjoy some fascinating stories about John, Paul, George and Ringo as well as valuable information concerning the record industry in general. Purchase on Amazon.com

January 23

Writers in the Sky’s very own Yvonne Perry will conduct a special interview with author and publicist Pam Lontos. Ms. Lontos is president of PR/PR, a public relations firm that gets experts, authors, and speakers into the media. She previously held the position of vice-president with Disney-owned Shamrock Broadcasting. She recently earned the great honor of being named “Publicist of the Year” by BPSC. Ms. Lontos will be discussing her new book I See Your Name Everywhere: Leverage the Power of the Media to Grow Your Fame, Wealth, and Success. Detailing information that is certain to be important to all aspiring authors, Ms. Lontos’ book includes how to get your name into media, prepare for an interview, and create a winning press release. She also shares the most common publicity mistakes. This is a must-listen interview with a professional who excels in her field. For more information about Pam Lontos, please visit her business website at http://www.prpr.net/. Purchase this book on Amazon.com.

January 30

MaAnna Stephenson rounds out our fantastic podcast guests for the month of January. Ms. Stephenson will be interviewed by Yvonne Perry to share some information concerning her Just the FAQs eBook series. Blogs, written both for professional and personal purposes, are becoming increasingly sophisticated and instrumental in how we gather information. Do you need to learn how to create and customize your own blog? How do you submit articles to the right directories that are certain to drive traffic to your website or blog? How do you best get your blog content to potential and current readers? Billed as the “Online Marketing Resources for Non-Geeks,” the four offerings include new eBooks on blogs, RSS feeds, Web sites, and articles. Ms. Stephenson will share with our audience how her clear and colorful texts can help any aspiring blogger. For more information about MaAnna Stephenson and her eBook series, please visit http://www.justthefaqs.net/.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Writers in the Sky E-zine January 2009

It's the first Tuesday of the month and the entire WITS E-zine has been published and emailed to those on our permission-based subscription list.

If you are reading this post right here on our blog, you may notice that there's no January e-zine here to read. That's because we took a vote and everyone agreed that anticipation and patience, as outlined in option 3, is a great virtue. Therefore, we will post the individual features/columns/sections of the e-zine in intervals over the course of the month. If you have subscribed to the RSS feed of our e-zine blog (which is a very good idea), you will get a notice whenever we post something on the blog.

However, if you just can't wait for the sections to go live (who could blame you?), you can read the entire January 2009 e-zine now!

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Network with Us January 2009

NETWORK WITH US is a free service offered to readers of Writers in the Sky Newsletter.

Add your announcement or brag about your writing accomplishment. Tell us about your book or business. Share information and ideas or send articles or advertorial for the next issue by contacting us on our Web site. Here are some announcements from our readers this month:

A new e-book series, Just the FAQs, gives beginners, who have little experience with online technology, the essentials for setting up a blog, adding RSS Feed, creating a Web site, and book promotion through article marketing.

As an author, you are probably trying to promote your books online, but you may not know how to create a Web site or blog, much less customize, optimize, and syndicate it. You don’t want to spend hours learning the technical side of online promotion, but neither do you want to pay thousands of dollars to have an expert to do it for you. That’s where the simple Just the FAQs series of e-books come in handy. They contain no geek speak, and no prior technical experience is required to understand them.

The FAQ series contains four e-books Just the FAQs – Blogs, Just the FAQs - RSS Feeds, Just the FAQs -Web sites, and Just the FAQs – Articles and a Quick Step Guide designed for beginners who have little experience with online technology. The quick Step Guide is an overview of the first four e-books and will give basic information about blogging, RSS feeds, Web sites, and article marketing. The individual e-books go into more depth about its particular topic. See http://www.justthefaqs.net/ for more information. There are free online marketing resources and downloads on the JTF blog http://justthefaqsblog.blogspot.com/.

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Conversation with Editors Yvonne Perry and Carolyn Howard-Johnson. Ask your questions and sign up for the call at http://writersinthesky.com/contact.php

Join Yvonne Perry and Carolyn Howard-Johnson on January 13 for "Conversation with Editors." Yvonne has a full service editing business and Carolyn is an editor and author of The Frugal Editor. Ask your questions in the comments feature below this post, and then sign up for the call here.

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The Lieurance-King New Year's 2009 Article Challenge starts January 5 and will last till February 28. The challenge will be to write a total of 45 new articles within that time period and submit them to online article directories. People may sign up for the challenge at http://www.lkarticlechallenge.com/ make sure you also sign up for the free e-course, “21 Tips: A 21-Day Course in Effective Article Marketing” while you are there.

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WITS Mentoring Program for Freelance Writers begins Wednesday, January 14 at 8 p.m. Central Time.

During these six weekly tele-sessions, Yvonne Perry will provide coaching to help writers build a real-world portfolio while learning the craft and business of freelance writing. Weekly assignments will be given to the group and graded individually. Participants will be given encouragement and help in specific areas of need.

Materials need, fees, and pre-requisites are listed WITS Web site.

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Be sure to check out WITS resources page for some great recommendations on books to improve writing, technical expertise, newsletters and web sites, internet radio shows and podcasts, book publishers and literary agents, book marketing sites, book printers, and online promotion books and e-books.

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Travel writer, Linda Ballou, shares the secret side of paradise in her novel Wai-nani, High Chiefess of Hawaii-Her Epic Journey.

Wai-nani, Linda’s ultimate destination piece, is a portal into a world we can’t get to any other way. She will also impart tips on how to make travel writing work for you.

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THERE’S MORE TO OPRYLAND THAN GREAT MUSIC

Registration is underway for the 2009 National Writers’ Empowerment Conference and Book Expo to be held on Saturday, February 21, 2009, from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, in Nashville , TN. The event will be held at the Holiday Inn Select Opryland/Airport, 2200 Elm Hill Pike, Nashville , TN 37214 .

Hundreds of novice and seasoned writers from all across the country will converge on the Holiday Inn Select, Opryland/Airport in Nashville , TN to attend the Fifth Semi-Annual National Writers’ Empowerment Conference and Book Expo. Founded by prolific writer and self-publishing guru Renee Bobb (http://www.reneebobb.com/), the conference is billed as an event where aspiring authors can not only learn about the book publishing industry, but promote and market their works as well.

This year’s theme is: “Moving Beyond the Dream to Reality.” The one major aspect that has been noticed from past conferences is that participants are not only motivated to write, market, and publish their books, but they are putting the information into action. Everyone has a story to tell but very few know the in’s and out’s of how to first write the book, then how to get their books on the market. With the help of technology and the knowledge of publishing professionals, anyone can master the art of writing and publishing a book.

The National Writers’ Empowerment Conference is uniquely designed to train the aspiring author on how to make the transition from writer to published author. This event provides the information, resources, and training that writers and authors need to write, publish, and market their books. Conference participants will have an opportunity to hone their writing skill in sessions led by established authors, editors, and publishers. Workshop Topics include:

There is a great line up of speakers and panelists ready to help you become a polished writer and author. Visit http://nationalwritersempowermentconference.eventbrite.com/ to receive more information about the speakers and workshop leaders.

Participants will spend the entire day not only attending workshops, but meeting and networking with local authors, independent bookstore owners, suppliers, editors, printers, and much, much more. (Private consultations are also being offered for a small fee for those who want more one-on-one time with the experts.)

Early bird registration (on or before January 15, 2009) is $75.00, full registration (after January 15, 2009) is $95.00. Special pricing for Active Duty Military and/or Veterans is $75.00 and College Student or Teen Registration is $75.00. The registration fee will cover breakfast, lunch, all workshops and workshop materials, as well as entrance to the book expo.

For more information about the National Writers’ Empowerment Conference and Book Expo please call Renee Bobb at 615-753-5647 or e-mail bobbrenee@yahoo.com. Visit the web site at http://nationalwritersempowermentconference.eventbrite.com/

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Author of Defying Gravity: A Celebration of Late-Blooming Women, Prill Boyle shares:

Like many of the people I write about, I'm a classic late bloomer. I dropped out of college (a story in itself), married young, and ended up at Harvard--as a secretary, not a student. Twelve years later, tired of doing clerical work, I enrolled at Georgetown University and earned a B.A. and M.A. in English. After graduating at age 38, I became an English teacher. Then, in January of 2000, I read a NY Times article about a 65-year-old woman who had waited 39 years to join the Peace Corps and was leaving for a 2-year assignment in Ukraine. Inspired by this woman's persistence and courage, I decided to take my own leap of faith. At age 48, I left my teaching job to write DEFYING GRAVITY. Since its publication, I've given over 80 talks and keynotes in 20 states, including a speech at the United Nations. In 2007 I traveled to Botswana to speak to school and government groups in cooperation with the Peace Corps. Now 54, I continue to research and write about late blooming.

In addition to the above and to my blogging (http://defyinggravitynow.blogspot.com/), I write a monthly column for the Nat'l Assoc. of Baby Boomer Women. Website: http://www.prillboyle.com/.

Here is an endorsement for Prill Boyle’s book DEFYING GRAVITY:

"Boyle lets each woman tell her story in her voice, and those voices ring with humor and courage...You'll come away from this book with a new determination to write that story, get that degree, apply for that promotion, take that trip, or start that hobby." - Ann Byle, Grand Rapids Press

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WritingRaw.com is a FREE literary sharing website (like YouTube but for the literary world) where writers can upload, view and share their writing. The only restriction is that the material cannot be illegal in any sense of the word (such as child porn, plagiarism, etc.). Other then that, feel free to post in any of the following categories:

FICTION
POETRY
NONFICTION
REMEMBRANCE
ASSORTED writings

Our goal at Writing Raw is simple - to serve the literary community with the opportunity to have their work online and out in the world. Who knows who may see it! In this world of disappearing literary magazines, Writing Raw is providing the blank pages for writers to fill.

To view someone’s writing, just click on the link and a .pdf version of the piece will open in your browser. Read it, comment on it, vote for it to be a showcased piece! Most important - ENJOY IT.

There is no catch here – all writings will be posted. Let’s create a world where no one rejects a writer or the work of their future masterpiece.

The Editors of Writing Raw. A Poker Sisters Publication http://writingraw.com/

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2009 Be My Valentine's Story Contest
Want to get a chance to get your story published for FREE? Romance and love stories are the theme of the 2009 Valentine's Story Contest. http://www.publishyourself.com/ Submission Deadline: 2/14/2009. View Stories

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Please check out my video interview on "Today's Author With David Ewen" on YouTube where we discuss the genesis of my novel "Painting The Invisible Man."

Thank you,
Rita Schiano, author "Painting the Invisible Man" and "Sweet Bitter Love"
http://www.reededwards.com/
http://www.ritaschiano.com/

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The Muse Online Writers Conference is now taking registrations for its upcoming FREE conference. Deadline is August 1st, 2009. For more information, see http://www.themuseonlinewritersconference.com/.

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Writers in the Sky Podcast is a weekly talk show about writing, publishing, and book marketing. Interviews with authors, publishers, and book industry experts. The latest news about books, publishing methods, and marketing techniques.

This blog and podcast is owned by. Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services.

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Books by Yvonne Perry

Walk-ins Among Us ~ Open Your Personal Portal to Cosmic Awareness

If you have had a strange spiritual experience, you will find comfort and information to help make sense of it in this eye-opening book, written by a walk-in to help others understand the soul exchange process and how to integrate higher vibrations that clear energy imprints that are not aligned with love, light, and joy. Learn how to stay centered and actively involved in your personal ascension process as you discover your mission, purpose, and role on Earth.

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.

Shifting into Purer Consciousness ~ Integrating Spiritual Transformation with the Human Experience

How to embrace multidimensional frequencies, lessen physical and emotional symptoms of rapid spiritual ascension, and tips to make the ascension process easier and quicker.

More Than Meets the Eye, True Stories about Death, Dying, and Afterlife.

This book provides the comfort and answers you are looking for to help you process the stages of death and the natural dying process. Topics include insight on hospice and palliative care, signs to look for when death is near, euthanasia and end-of-life decisions, how to deal with the imminent death of a loved one and what to do to help someone peacefully transition to the afterlife. There's even a surprisingly fresh and unexpected look at suicide and the phenomena known as soul exchange or walk-ins.

The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children

This collection of body-mind-spirit stories highlights unique lessons about love, acceptance, self-worth, caring for the body, diversity, facing fears, dealing with change, the death of a pet, using spiritual gifts, and understanding mystical gifts most children exhibit.

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About the E-zine Editor

Yvonne Perry has been publishing WITS Newsletter since 2005. She is a freelance writer and editor, award-winning Amazon.com bestselling author, and the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services based in Nashville, Tennessee.

She is a graduate of American Institute of Holistic Theology where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Metaphysics. Yvonne is available as a keynote speaker on a variety of topics related to spirituality and the writing industry.

Be sure to check out Writers in the Sky Podcast for more information about writing, publishing, and book marketing.

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