Fern Reiss’s PublishingGame.com:

Achieve Media Attention for Your Business

Do you want to be quoted by the national press on a daily basis? (How much would that be worth to your business?)

In the past six months, I’ve been quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The International Herald Tribune, Entrepreneur, The Associated Press, PBS, Voice of America, Family Circle, Glamour, Redbook, Self, Health, Prevention, Parents, Parenting, Women’s World, First for Women, Newsday, Newsweek, Salon, In Touch Weekly--and even The National Enquirer.

In fact, I’ve been quoted in over 100 prestigious U.S. publications. I call this “Expertizing,” and it’s good for business, regardless of the business you’re in. Anyone can learn to get this kind of media attention, for any book or any business; my Expertizing workshop attendees are achieving this same level of media recognition. Here’s how:

First, syndicate. This column is syndicated; hundreds of thousands of people read it. Syndicating a newspaper column doesn’t pay very well anymore (you’ll probably make only $5 or $10 per column) but it gets your name out. And syndicating online is even easier. My next title, “The Publishing Game: Syndicate a Column in 30 Days” will cover the topic more thoroughly, but you can get started just by doing a google search for “[Keyword] article submit.”

Start a national association. A national association will get you media attention automatically, regardless of your other credentials. The National Pediculosis Association in Needham, Massachusetts, is a great example. (That’s lice, for those of you without small children.)

Create a holiday. Anyone can create a national holiday, and it’s free. Register at Chases.com, and on a slow news day, journalists will come looking for more information on your holiday--the more interesting, funny, or quirky, the better. I just helped an Expertizing client set up a holiday for her very technical company that would otherwise have been paid little press attention--but next year, she’s going to be inundated with press attention when National Geek Day rolls around.

If you’re going to do a flyer for your business, put something useful on the back so people don’t throw it away. The back of my Publishing Game book flyer has a useful hot contact list, with contact information for major magazines, talk show hosts, wholesalers and distributors, book reviewers, and more. (You can get a complimentary copy at http://www.publishinggame.com/) My new Expertizing flyer has information on my Expertizing workshops on one side, but the other side has suggestions of how to write Killer Soundbites that the media will quote. (You can get a free copy of that one at http://www.expertizing.com/) If you include something useful, people will hang onto your flyers forever.

Talk to the press. Press kits mostly get tossed or buried. But today there are services you can subscribe to that will keep you up to date on what journalists are working on, so that you can respond in time to be quoted in their articles. I respond to health journalists with quotes about my Infertility Diet book; I respond to business journalists with information about my Publishing Game and Expertizing products. But I also respond about lifestyle issues--entrepreneurship, marriage, kids, home business. One of the things I do in my all-day Expertizing workshops is train authors and executives to develop the soundbites that will propel them into these articles. Even without training, you can generate plenty of press.

Don’t forget speaking. If you enjoy public speaking, do as much of it as you can. Speaking can pay--even public libraries pay for talks--and even without pay, it’s worth it for the publicity. If you speak at the Learning Annex, for example, thousands of people see your information. When it comes to speaking, this is one of the few times you shouldn’t focus just on your niche. Cast your net more widely, and see if you don’t have something to say to others. For example, this year I’m speaking at Media Relations, at SPAN, and at Book Expo America, all of which are in my target audience. But I’m also speaking to over 200 CEOs at an executive transition firm event--and that’s probably going to generate more business for me, because writers and publishers have heard of me already, but these executives may have not. So look for new audiences and groups that might be interested, as well as your target markets.

And then forget what I’m telling you, about how you have to do this or that sort of PR. Do the publicity you love. What you love doing will be most effective for you, because you’ll enjoy it. So if you like to speak, go out and do that, but if you’d prefer to sit home in your bathrobe and do it all by email, do that instead. Live the dream the way you want to.

Fern Reiss is the CEO of http://www.expertizing.com/ and http://www.publishinggame.com/. More information on Fern’s books (“The Publishing Game: Find an Agent in 30 Days,” (literary agents) “The Publishing Game: Publish a Book in 30 Days,” (self publishing) and “The Publishing Game: Bestseller in 30 Days” (book promotion) and all-day Publishing Game workshops can be found at PublishingGame.com. More information on positioning yourself as an expert and being quoted by the media, along with Fern’s Expertizing Workshops at the Ritz Carlton in Boston (September 19) and Manhattan (October 4) can be found at http://www.expertizing.com/. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fern_Reiss

Great News from Nightengale Publishers

Valerie Connelly, founder of Nightingale Press, hosts a weekly radio show “CALLING ALL AUTHORS.” Her 2006 radio show is among the most listened to shows on Global Talk Radio and reaches thousands of listeners each month.

Hot topics, new books, marketing tips, industry trends, and more. CALLING ALL AUTHORS is a great place to learn, inform and promote your book or business without leaving your home.

CALLING ALL AUTHORS is recorded and aired live on:
Tuesdays at 5pm Eastern Time. The recorded shows are archived for a year or longer. Listen to past shows at: http://www.globaltalkradio.com/shows/callingallauthors.


**************************************************
COMING THIS SPRING:

Valerie Connelly’s new book:

CALLING ALL AUTHORS --- How to Write, Market and Publish A Book With Your Eyes Wide Open

Information and insights from conversations and commentaries from 2006 CALLING ALL AUTHORS programs, organized and filled with advice and guidance from Valerie that helps authors avoid pitfalls, set clear goals and realistic expectations before, during and after they write a book.

Jim Palmer - Divine Nobodies Coming soon!

Coming to Writers in the Sky Podcast on February 2, 2007 is Jim Palmer!

Rising above his bleak childhood, Jim Palmer became a “born-again, inerrancy-defending, seeker-targeted pastor” of an evangelical megachurch with a certainty about what it meant to be a Christian. But when a series of personal and professional setbacks left him heartbroken and wondering just exactly where God was, a string of chance encounters with ordinary folks changed almost everything Jim thought he knew about God.

Jim Palmer is the author of Divine Nobodies—a book about shedding religion to find God. This book of “nobodies” will unlock the door to great spiritual truths on the journey to authentic Christianity. http://www.divinenobodies.com/

This is a "get real" kind of book and interview. It's not your typical Christianity with a list of dos and don'ts. I promise you will enjoy Jim's fresh approach to religion.

You may subscribe to Writers in the Sky RSS feed or listen online at your convenience by going to http://feeds.feedburner.com/audioacrobat/ZOhd.

You may download Writers in the Sky podcast shows from itunes.com.

You must have iTunes software loaded on your computer but you can download the software at no cost here: http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/.

Going Once, Going Twice, Gone!

Going Once, Going Twice, Gone! HURRY! HURRY!
Sign right up!You don't want to miss the introductory offer of $9.99 per month for Writers on Call--a subscription-based weekly group teleclass for freelance writers.Writers on Call teleclasses take place every Thursday night at 7:00 (Central Time) and last for 55 minutes. Freelance writing coach Suzanne Lieurance facilitates the calls twice a month. Freelance writer and "Networking Queen" Yvonne Perry takes over for the other two Thursday calls each month. All of the teleclasses are recorded, so even if subscribers can't attend the live calls they are given access to a link for the recorded call the next day and never have to miss a single teleclass.Subscriptions to Writers on Call, and the Writers on Call CDs Program, are available HERE!Writers on Call offers writers and writer wannabes the chance to ask questions and receive coaching for:* Promoting a freelance writing business* Writing press releases and articles* Finding lucrative writing opportunities* Operating a successful freelance writing business* Writing books, query letters, and publisher proposalsBut, you must hurry to take advantage of the introductory offer!If you enroll by midnight on January 31, 2007 your monthly price of $9.99 will be locked in for one year. If you miss the cut off, the classes will be $37 per month.A Writers on Call CDs Program is offered for only $67 per month. With this program, subscribers receive access to the teleconferences, class handouts, a perma-link to the audios, and a snail-mailed CD containing the mp3 files of each month's calls.

Suzanne Lieurance, The Working Writer's Coach, is the author of 12 published books and numerous articles for magazines, newsletters, and newspapers. She was an instructor for the Institute of Children's Literature for over 5 years and has been a master teacher at www.universityofmasters.com. She is the author of two free eBooks: Get Your Freelance Writing Career Off the Ground - and - Tricks of the Trade: Learn to Write for Children which are available at her website. Each weekday morning she publishes The Morning Nudge -- a few words to inspire and motivate writers to get a little writing done each day.[Photo]Yvonne Perry is the owner of Write On! Creative Writing Services based in Nashville, Tennessee. She and her team of writers provide ghostwriting for articles, press releases, books, brochures, resumes, and much more. Perry is the host for Writers in the Sky Podcasts, the publisher of a newsletter about writing and publishing, and the author of several books. Her latest book titled Right to Recover: Winning the Political and Religious Wars over Stem Cell Research in America is set to be released in mid 2007 by Nightengale Press. For more information, visit Perry's website.Subscribe to Writers on Call Teleclasses or Writers on Call CD Program and take your writing career to the next level!

Writers in the Sky Podcast Schedule for February 2007

February 1 – Jim Palmer

Rising above his bleak childhood, Jim Palmer became a “born-again, inerrancy-defending, seeker-targeted pastor” of an evangelical megachurch with a certainty about what it meant to be a Christian. But when a series of personal and professional setbacks left him heartbroken and wondering just exactly where God was, a string of chance encounters with ordinary folks changed almost everything Jim thought he knew about God.

Jim Palmer is the author of Divine Nobodies—a book about shedding religion to find God. This book of “nobodies” will unlock the door to great spiritual truths on the journey to authentic Christianity. http://www.divinenobodies.com/


February 9 – Bob Gussin



Robert Gussin had a highly successful career as a medical researcher, including fourteen years as Chief Scientific Officer of Johnson and Johnson. Bob graduated from Duquesne University and received a doctorate from the University of Michigan Medical School. He and his wife (and fellow author, Patricia Gussin) divide their time between Longboat Key, FL, East Hampton, NY and their vineyard in Marlborough, New Zealand.

His book Trash Talk was published by Oceanview Publishing, which he founded in 2004. Oceanview is committed to establishing a tradition of excellence in independent publishing. Dedicated to providing readers worldwide with high quality works of fiction and nonfiction, we at Oceanview are steadfast in our mission to discover and develop both new and established authors and create exemplary works which entertain, enlighten, enthrall, enchant, and enrich. We are committed to the lasting success of our writers, and we endeavor to become a leading force in independent publishing.

February 16 – Dr. Eric Kaplan

Best-selling author and nationally recognized speaker Dr. Eric Scott Kaplan is one of only four people known to have been poisoned by fake Botox injections. Now that he is back from the dead, Dr. Kaplan is ready to tell his story.

The Kaplans were told they were getting FDA-approved Botox shots, but in reality, they were injected with a large dose of raw, unapproved botulinum toxin. At least 200 other doctors, plastic surgeons, naturopaths and dermatologists in the U.S. ordered Botulinum Toxin Type A from the same laboratory that marketed it to Advanced Integrated Medical Center where the Kaplans were poisoned. Why would well-respected doctors use a substance marked “not for human use” on their unsuspecting patient? GREED! The raw toxin could be diluted to create a fake Botox at nearly 50 percent of the normal price of genuine Botox. No one knows how many people received the bogus serum before the public knew about the botch-up. Needless to say, the Kaplans’ story has sparked a lot of controversy and awareness about the risks associated with Botox.

DYING TO BE YOUNG, MY JOURNEY FROM BOTOX TO BOTULISM deals with the pain, suffering, confusion, and mental flashbacks of his ordeal in an inspirational and progressive manner covering his and his wife’s 90-day hospitalization and subsequent rehabilitation.

The Kaplans’ alarmingly heart-wrenching experience received national and international media attention, but the news accounts only reported the sensationalism of the story. What has not been common knowledge until now is the spiritual insight Dr. Kaplan received while in a dream state.


Read more....

February 23 – Pam Lontos

Pam Lontos is the owner of PR/PR, a publicity firm that specializes in authors, speakers, and experts. She has done it all: She was Vice President of Sales for Disney-owned Shamrock Broadcasting, a nationally known speaker, the author of “Don’t Tell Me it’s Impossible until after I’ve already Done it.” Each phase of her professional life added more knowledge about public relations and publicity.

PR/PR represents such people as Brian Tracy, Diane Ladd, Jason Jennings, several medical practitioners, financial planners, best selling authors, and noted speakers. Recent placements have been in USA Today, CNN, Fast Company, Cosmopolitan, the Wall Street Journal, and more.

Find out how Pam can help you promote your book, product or business.

********** ********** ********** *********

You may subscribe to Writers in the Sky RSS feed or listen online at your convenience by going to http://feeds.feedburner.com/audioacrobat/ZOhd.

Download Writers in the Sky podcast shows from itunes.com. You must have iTunes software loaded on your computer but you can download the free software at http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/.

TGIF January 26, 2007 Valerie Connelly

My guest today is writer, author, educator, and radio show host, Valerie Connelly.

Ms. Connelly is the founder and president of Nightengale Press –a traditional publisher with a non-traditional way of helping authors get their book published.

Valerie Connelly hosts a popular weekly internet radio program. Much like Writers in the Sky, Valerie's show CALLING ALL AUTHORS is designed to promote authors and provide book publishing information from dynamic experts in publishing, marketing and writing. This show is available not only to Nightengale Press authors, but any author who wants to reach out to the growing listening audience on the internet.

Listen to Part One of Yvonne Perry's interview with Valerie now.....

NIGHTENGALE PRESS works with authors, editors and illustrators from all over the world to produce publishing-ready manuscripts, design covers and illustrate children's books, protect their work, and develop a marketing plan.

Listen to Part Two now....

You may subscribe to Writers in the Sky RSS feed or listen online at your convenience by going to http://feeds.feedburner.com/audioacrobat/ZOhd.

Download Writers in the Sky podcast shows from itunes.com. You must have iTunes software loaded on your computer but you can download the free software at http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/.

Ten Commitments for Women

Susanne Blake
Robert D. Reed Publishers (2006)
ISBN 1931741603
Reviewed by Beverly Pechin for Reader Views (11/06)

Listen to live interview with Susanne Blake on: http://www.insidescooplive.com/author-pages/Blake-Susanne-reading-interview.html

This book will open new doors to your life. Simply reading it won't be enough, you have to delve into it with your heart and soul, sort of like how Susanne Blake tells you to live your life... with heart and soul.

This "How To" book is very unique. There is no preaching about how you messed up and how you should change. Instead, Ms. Blake takes the approach of teaching you how to love yourself from deep within. Finding the real you. Finding your "Self". Finding a new life, by making a conscious decision to live your life from deep within.

The author gives a deep, rational and valid explanation of how to literally become the person you were born to be. She shows you how to work at being content with life and with your life's decisions. The end results can only be wonderful, giving you a sense of self-worth, power, success and inner peace. By making the decisions that make you happy, you will make everyone around you happier also. Putting yourself before others, those on your list of priorities that have always come first, will help make you a more complete and content person. Not only will you benefit from the changes that will take place after putting her words into practice, but those around you will benefit from finding the REAL you. Blake not only tells you how to find your own happiness but holds your hand along the way to make sure you achieve it.

Reader Views (www.readerviews.com) is an Austin, Texas, based company that started in 2005. The team consists of seventy volunteer reviewers living throughout the United States and Canada. Each reviewer is unique and they come from all walks of life with a variety experiences and interests.

Irene Watson and her team strive to be a good friend to authors, publishers, and publicists by providing book reviews, live interviews, publicity services as well as editing services. The company’s goal is to provide quality service with professionalism, efficiency, and personal attention.

In the beginning of each year, about 100 million Americans venture down a well-traveled road paved with intentions of hastily envisioned New Year's resolutions. Successful resolutions occur when commitments are made for an actual change, not a one-time attempt to change a habit.

Susanne Blake and Tom Massey offer successful ways to create a balance in ones live with ten simple commitments in their recently published books. Susanne and Tom are interviewed in a special edition to help us make the commitments for the New Year on:

http://www.insidescooplive.com/author-pages/Blake-Massey-reading-interview.html

Ten Commitments for Men

Tom Massey
Robert D. Reed Publishers (2006)
ISBN 193174159X
Reviewed by William E. Cooper for Reader Views (11/06)

Listen to live interview with Tom Massey on: http://www.insidescooplive.com/author-pages/Massey-Tom-reading-interview.html

Tom Massey, who is a long time corporate leadership trainer, has produced a truly excellent book on how to navigate through life with commitments to high standards, integrity, enthusiasm, and good health. His ten points offer a roadmap based on wisdom and experience, his and others. The book is well written and organized, at the same time being an enjoyable read.

The ten commitments Mr. Massey lists and describes are really what it takes to not only lead, but live your life to its fullest with honor and dignity. The criticality of each commitment cannot be overemphasized, and by combining all ten the practitioner lives the behaviors and models them to everyone. It has been demonstrated that people who associate with negative people themselves become negative and cynical. One’s attitude is a choice, solely that of the individual, and the commitments in Mr. Massey’s book are the guide to follow. While they are nothing new, they are what is necessary. Every successful person over the ages has believed in and practiced these commitments.

It has been said that once a person stops learning, they languish in the past, while one who commits to continuous learning and improvement stays current and able to live well and contribute at a higher level. The anecdotes provided in Mr. Massey’s book are relevant and aligned with delivering his message. This is a book that should be read by everyone. It should be part of every home library, public library, and educational institution. These are the principles that made us great, made us what we are. We need to know them, understand them, and live by them.

Musings

By James M. Nordlund

Betwixt words and lines,
Poetry’s music fathoms
The depths of our heart,
The heights of our intellect
And imagination,
Breadth of our spirit,
Well of our soul,
Alluding to the unknown;
Saliently. For, the muse
But whispers, silently;
Moving in mysterious ways.

Painting’s music?
Inexpressible and felt,
Unknowable and experienced;
Of echoing images and silences.
Even the shadow
Speaks of the light!

Will Write for Success

New Challenge for Writers Launches Next Month

Make a name for yourself as a freelance writer in 2007 by accepting the quarterly Lieurance-King Article Challenge, which starts on February 1, 2007.

Each writer who accepts the first-quarter challenge, the New Year's Article Challenge, will attempt to write and submit 30 articles to article directories between February 1 and March 31. Before the challenge begins, participants can register for a f.ree e-course, Tips for Effective Article Marketing from freelance writers (and hosts of the challenge) Suzanne Lieurance (known as The Working Writer's Coach) and Kristen King (whose blog was named one of the Top 10 Blogs for Writers in 2006).

Look for more information about the Lieurance-King Article Challenge at The Working Writer's Coach blog and Inkthinker soon - and rev up your computers for this exciting opportunity to build your platform all year long!

The New Year's Article Challenge...

Looking for Mr. Right

Read this if you are looking for “Mr. Right.” - Book Reviewed by Kelli Glesige

Read this if you are looking for “Mr. Right.”, February 8, 2006 Reviewer: Reader Views “www.readerviews.com” (Austin, Texas) Reviewed by Kelli Glesige for Reader Views (2/06)

Many of us have the impression that meeting people over the internet is very dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. Most of us would never tell someone looking for a date to search for one through an online dating website. However, Cherie Burbach may just change your mind about e-dating if you follow her advice and take the precautions she shares.

If you’ve tried dating through the traditional means and have found no success, maybe you should look at things in a new perspective. Cherie Burbach found herself to be 36 years old and single with a career she found satisfying. Something was missing however, because she really hoped for a husband and family someday. She finally decided to give e-dating a try and ultimately found the man she is currently happily married to. In her book, Cherie also tells us of her experiences, both good and bad, and offers her views on how to make the whole e-dating process safe, fun and successful.

Most of us probably feel that dating in and of itself is not for the faint of heart, so e-dating can be an even scarier proposition. If you are still hoping to meet that special someone, it is important to be a complete person all on your own first. Time spent alone will help you to know what you really want so that when you meet someone, you will have a good idea if they are “Mr. Right”, not just Mr. Right “for now”. You will only be wasting time if you don’t know what you are looking for.

Before reading “At the Coffee Shop,” all my feelings about internet dating were negative. However, after reading the book, if I were in the situation of wanting to find a lasting relationship with someone and I had tried other means of dating without success, I would give internet dating a try.

Internet dating has the distinct advantage in that everyone at the site is looking to meet someone. There is much more control because you choose who you want to see, what time of day or night you want to look for a compatible profile, if you want to e-date just a little or more often, and you can take a break or even stop whenever you want. Cherie stresses that you NEVER give your address or name for safety sake, and if you ever feel uncomfortable online, block someone out and move on, especially if someone can’t take a hint or just “creeps” you out.

“At the Coffee Shop” got its name because Cherie feels a coffee shop is the perfect setting to initially meet someone to see if you might be interested in seeing the person again. A coffee shop is a public place which is a MUST.

It is convenient and comfortable for both people, there is no pressure to carry things further with the uncertainty of whether or not to buy dinner, and it is easy to get up and leave if things aren’t going well or stay and talk if you hit it off with this person. Limiting the initial meeting to one hour beforehand is a suggestion to help make the meeting more successful.

Although Ms. Burbach feels that internet dating is the easiest and most reliable way to meet people you will click with, she also states that any relationship involving interaction will take work to make it successful. You will meet nice guys, but just like in real life, you will also meet some goofs. “Internet dating is not for lonely freaks that can’t find a date-it’s for anyone that has yet to find the right person.” If you are still looking to meet “Mr. Right,” I would suggest reading this book!

Cherie Burbach is the author of two books of poetry, The Difference Now, and A New Dish, as well as At the Coffee Shop, a humorous look at the world of Internet dating. Cherie works as a consultant for PersonalsTrainer in which she helps online daters write great profiles that catch attention. Watch for her new novel, FOR THOSE WHO KNEW ZACH, coming soon. For more information, please visit her website at www.thedifferencenow.com.

Get National Media Attention Through Strategic Publicity

“I see your name everywhere.” That’s the phrase everyone want to hear. Learn how to promote your product or service by using the many avenues of publicity.

Whether you are writing a book, running a business, consulting, or speaking, the one thing you need most is name recognition. One of the most direct ways to improve recognition is by getting the media to tell the world about you. Publicity sells more books, increases fees, and makes more profits for your business. Using the awesome power of the media to reach into every nook and cranny of America is what drives people to you.

Pam Lontos will be Yvonne Perry's podcast guest in February. The show will be devoted to what an individual can do as an author, publisher, or whatever, to kick their publicity into high gear.

Learn:

· How to get interviewed by national magazines, radio and television.

· How to publish articles in trade & industry magazines.

· How to write a compelling press release.

· How to give a great interview.

· How to create “top-of-mind awareness.”

· How to develop a unique “hook” to interest the media.

· What mistakes people make when trying to get publicity and how to avoid them.

· How to get the media to want to interview you

· How to get journalists to quote you as an expert.


About Pam Lontos:

· President of PR/PR, a public relations firm in Orlando, FL specializing in authors, speakers, and experts.

· Past VP of Disney’s Shamrock Broadcasting in charge of all radio and TV.

· Author of Don’t Tell Me It’s Impossible Until After I’ve Already Done It, published by William Morrow and Co.

· Recently placed authors in Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Cosmopolitan, Entrepreneur, and on CNN.

· Has been a featured speaker on programs with Zig Ziglar, Wayne Dyer, Tom Peters, etc.

Client Books Have Included:

· Chicken Soup for the Caregiver’s Soul

· The American Bar Association’s first novel, The Shadow of Justice

· Less is More by Jason Jennings (Business Best Seller)

· Taming the Paper Tiger by Barbara Hemphill

· All of Brian Tracy books (e.g. Victory!, Goals, TurboStrategy, Time Power, Million Dollar Habits, Create Your Own Future, Change Your Thinking – Change Your Life, Getting Rich Your Own Way)

Publishers Pam has worked with:

· Wiley

· AMACOM

· Entrepreneur Press

· BK

· Harper Collins

· Portfolio

· Kiplinger Books

· Prentiss-Hall


Contact Information:

Pam Lontos

President, PR/PR

775 S. Kirkman Road, Ste. 104

Orlando, FL 32811

(800) 786-1764

pam@prpr.net

www.prpr.net

Valerie Connelly of Nightengale Press Coming soon!

My guest on January 26, 2007 will be publisher, writer, author, educator, and radio show host, Valerie Connelly.


Ms. Connelly is the founder and president of Nightengale Press –a traditional publisher with a non-traditional way of helping authors get their book published.

NIGHTENGALE PRESS works with authors, editors and illustrators from all over the world to produce publishing-ready manuscripts, design covers and illustrate children's books, protect their work, and develop a marketing plan.

Valerie Connelly hosts a popular weekly internet radio program. Much like Writers in the Sky, Valerie's show CALLING ALL AUTHORS is designed to promote authors and provide book publishing information from dynamic experts in publishing, marketing and writing. This show is available not only to Nightengale Press authors, but any author who wants to reach out to the growing listening audience on the internet.


You may subscribe to Writers in the Sky RSS feed or listen online at your convenience by going to http://feeds.feedburner.com/audioacrobat/ZOhd.

By following this link: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=192160101 you may download Writers in the Sky podcast shows from itunes.com. You must have iTunes software loaded on your computer but you can download the free software at http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/.

Writing-World.com’s Guide to…

Paying Markets for Fiction and Poetry – More Than 675 Publications That Pay for Your Work, by Moira Allen (book review)

Writing-World.com’s Guide to Paying Markets for Fiction and Poetry by Moira Allen, is more than just a book of data for writer’s submissions. The author includes only paying markets of periodicals (E-zines, magazines and a few newspapers). The author created a highly valuable section ntitled “About this Guide”, that explains what each section of details listed under the publications means. She even goes as far as describing the various rights that are often required by periodicals. I learned within the first 17 pages that I had been addressing envelopes incorrectly for international shipping by placing the country in mostly small caps beside the state or province. And what a surprise that was for me - I had no idea there was a protocol for shipping out-of-country! This important chapter also discusses common issues and problems with email and online submissions. Moira’s discussion on literary magazines was also very informative and interesting.

Listing markets for short stories, poetry, fiction, fantasy, horror, Christian, adult and many other genres from romance to mystery – this book is sure to help authors market their books and freelance writers sell their articles. Author Moira Allen, goes a step farther and sub-groups markets into smaller categories, such as Children/Christian and Flash Fiction, to make the selection easier for writers.

Reference books like these tend to be dry and boring to read, but Moira’s book is written personably – which is difficult to do when listing data. Each listing has numerous helpful tips and information including what kind of material the publication accepts submission for, what the publication’s pay rate starts at, what rights are requested and contact information (including emails and website URLs).

This book has definitely found a spot on my writer’s reference shelf in my office!

Publisher: Writing-World.com

Available at: http://www.writing-world.com/bookstore/index.shtml

~ Book Reviewer: Lillian Brummet - Co-author of the book Trash Talk, a guide for anyone concerned about his or her impact on the environment – Author of Towards Understanding, a collection of poetry. (http://www.sunshinecable.com/~drumit)

Writers on Call Introductory Offer

Here's a great idea from Suzanne Lieurance, my co-facilitator for Writers on Call--weekly teleclasses about how to operate a freelance writing business and how to write a book.

When I worked in advertising years ago, "try before you buy" was a slogan we used often in advertising copy. And for good reason. People usually want to know what they're getting BEFORE they plunk down their hard-earned cash.

Well, writer Yvonne Perry and I realize that many people might want to "try before they buy" our Writers on Call program of monthly teleclasses. Plus, they may want to know more about both of us before signing up for the program, too.

Here's the link to an interview I did with Yvonne last fall for my class called Freelance Writing: How to Jumpstart Your Career. In this interview, Yvonne gives wonderful tips for starting your own freelance writing business. Plus, you'll "get to know" Yvonne and me a little better in this sampling of our teleclasses.

I hope you'll enjoy the interview and then subscribe to Writers on Call today. Yvonne began an exciting 8-part teleclass for Writers on Call January 18th about "How to Write a Book." During this session she talked about "What to do BEFORE You Start Writing Your Book."

Here's the link:

Listen to Part One Now

Listen to Part Two Now

Listen to Part Three Now

The price of these classes will not stay at this low introductory cost forever. Get in on the ground floor while the price is only $9.99 per month.

Poems by James Nordlund

Five Easy Pieces

By James M. Nordlund

To thine own self be who, and

While you’re being what you are,

Stray not from this, your unfolding

Path and heart- where, how and

Why; forever unanswered.

Musings

By James M. Nordlund

Betwixt words and lines,

Poetry’s music fathoms

The depths of our heart,

The heights of our intellect

And imagination,

Breadth of our spirit,

Well of our soul,

Alluding to the unknown;

Saliently. For, the muse

But whispers, silently;

Moving in mysterious ways.

Painting’s music?

Inexpressible and felt,

Unknowable and experienced;

Of echoing images and silences.

Even the shadow

Speaks of the light!

James M. Nordlund is a mental health counseling supervisor by profession, into poetic revelation and workshop as individual and group therapeutic milieu. He is involved with A.A.P., I.A.W.A., A.P.R., Teacher’s and Writer’s Collaborative, I.W.W.G., Univ. of the Sts., Lummox, Nomad’s Choir, Poet’s House, St. Mark’s Poetry Project, Beans About It, P.E.N. Friend, NAFPT.

James is featured on his multi-art show, “Matutinally Watered Poetree” on Manh, cable, and other T.V. and radio shows. He has been a co-editor, assistant editor, written columns amd published over 400 works and is currently a regional editor for Poet To Poet, out of N.Y.C.. Submission, twigs of poetree. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/firstpoetry/

TGIF, January 19 Kathleen Jacoby

TGIF, January 19 and Yvonne Perry has uploaded a new show to Writers in the Sky Podcast!

Kathleen Jacoby's eclectic interests began as a child when she was exposed to science by her chemist father and to spiritualism by a great-grandfather. She remembers feeling “guided” from a very early age by what she calls her “inner teacher” and many of her life decisions have been framed by this presence which has always helped her to navigate life.

Kathleen is the author of three spiritual books: Vision of the Grail
www.grailvision.com Where You Live Is What You Learn (a guidebook to understanding how the number of your residence affects your life) and A Call To Prayer—an inner guide to help you live a prayerful life.


Click here to listen to Part 1...


Having been both self-published and picked up by a small publisher as a result of the self-published work, Kathleen has some great recommendations for writers interested in self-publishing, and some examples of what to watch out for.


Kathleen is the editor of a quarterly newsletter called Seasons of The Soul and is currently Senior Editor for Children of the New Earth Magazine and a columnist for several online magazines and a newspaper distributed in Southern California and Arizona. Her columns range from monthly numerology projections to reviews, children’s stories, and other articles based on timely topics.



Click here to listen to Part 2... and learn how you may submit articles to Children of the New Earth Magazine.

Grant Writing Seminar in Nashville, TN

I’m writing to invite you to a special one-day seminar on grant writing. The seminar is scheduled for Friday, January 26th, 2007 from 9:30 to 3:30 at the Nashville location of Bethel College.

Regardless of whether you have ever thought about writing a grant or starting a nonprofit organization, you might want to seriously consider attending this event. Sherita Herring, the instructor, knows the nonprofit world inside and out. She has been helping people set up nonprofit organizations and get them funded for 12 years. She has also helped many for profit organizations gain funding as well. Her success rate is 100% - not many people can say that about their services.

The reason I believe you should seriously consider attending is that you might be able to find grant funds to support a project of yours – such as a movie, music, book, or for-profit business. Sherita is a master at helping people think about their services and their audiences in a way that opens opportunities for grant funding. If you write grants, this is a great opportunity to provide even better service to your clients – by helping them find legitimate creative ways to gain funding.

The best part is the price of this seminar – the entire day is $150. Personally, I’ve never attended a one-day seminar for less than $300. The price includes all the training materials.

If you’re interested, go to http://www.kifoundation.org/index_files/Page628.htm for more information and to register. If you want to learn more about Kreative Images and Sherita Herring, go to www.kifoundation.org.

PLEASE – if you know of someone who has been talking about a project, but they are having difficulty getting it off the ground due to lack of funding, share this information with them! This is truly a great opportunity – you would be doing them a great favor by sharing the information.

Regards,

Angela Grett

Update on Sheridan Claude

Sheridan Claude is staying busy these days with more and more paying customers requiring her editing abilities. She says, “I worked for almost a year free of charge, just getting my name out there, and gaining some experience and backing. Now it's starting to pay off. I'll also be working on as many as three films in 2007, for two different independent studios. Two are live action: a Vietnam war feature film, and a drama short. The third is the animated Pencils, which you know about. In addition, I'm writing another book when I get the chance.”

Sheridan was my guest on Writers in the Sky last November. You may listen to her interview here.

Crocus

by Janet Grace Riehl

I offer her the first crocus.
Purple in a red-orange vase.
“That was Mom’s,” she said.
Yes. Francoma.
Cousin Cynthia showed me how to spot it.
Highly collectible.
An amphora crested with spring.

She draws closer to inspect it.
Tips it up to drink the water.
She starts to nibble the leaves and blossoms.
Flowers, Mom. To look at.

But, what if essence of crocus
surging through her bloodstream
is exactly what she needs?

Accent Your Writing Using Diacritical Marks

by Yvonne Perry

Our modern English language is a hodgepodge of many languages. We borrow words from another language we say crêpe, à la carte, résumé, or señor but when writing these words, we stare at a blank screen wondering how to create these characters needed to cause our employment history to be pronounced résumé rather than resume.

I remember learning to read and write while in grammar school. One way the teacher helped us pronounce words was to separate the syllables and use accent marks to show where the emphasis or strongest beat should be. Take a look at the dictionary. You probably have one on your desk. In the pronunciation guide you will see some strange characters called diacritical marks above or below a letter to modify the way a word is pronounced. I remember writing a long dash over the letter “a” to make it a long vowel (ā) and putting a small cup over the “a” to make it a short vowel (ă). Now I know that the long mark is called a macron and the short mark is called a breve. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diacritic to learn more about diacritical marks.

Writing the dash is one thing; typing it is another matter entirely. There are shortcuts you can use to create diacritical marks. When you engage CAPSLOCK, and hold down the ALT key, and type in a number on the numeric keypad you can create almost any character. For example to get this symbol: é press the CAPSLOCK, press alt and type in 0233 on your numeric keypad. Mac users would select the “option” and “e” to create this same character. For a list of other shortcuts for both Microsoft and Mac, see http://tinyurl.com/y9twgh.

There are so many characters available you might have a hard time remembering all the shortcuts. The best way to make a symbol appear in your Word document is to use the character map, which requires you to cut and paste individual symbols from a preset list. This is done by going to Windows “Start” menu on the lower left side of your screen and selecting “all programs”, then “accessories”, then “system tools” and finally “character map.” This opens a grid of characters for you to choose from by scrolling down or right. The font on the dropdown list should match that of the document you are creating, but you can get a different set of characters when you choose Times New Roman versus Wing Dings as your font. If the character you want is not in the grid, change the font. When you’ve found the character you want to place in your document, double click on it and the image will be placed on the clipboard to be copied. You can put several symbols on the clipboard. When you are ready to paste the symbol, highlight it in the “characters to copy” list and click the “copy” button. Then, find the place in your document (or any Windows application) and insert the character by choosing “paste” on your edit menu and the character should appear.

And now that we’ve had our lesson on using symbols and characters, I’ll trust you will use them to make your writing come alive.

Yvonne Perry is a freelance writer and the owner of Write On! Creative Writing Services based in Nashville, Tennessee. She and her team of ghostwriters service clients all over the globe by offering quality writing on a variety of topics at an affordable price. If you need a brochure, web text, business document, resume, bio, article or book, visit http://www.yvonneperry.net While there sure to subscribe to the RSS podcast feed and the free monthly newsletter about writing, networking, publishing and marketing. Read more on Yvonne’s blog at http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com

Need a Writing Coach but don't have much money?

Now Anyone Who is Serious About Developing a Writing Career Can Afford Coaching

When full-time writers and writing coaches, Suzanne Lieurance and Yvonne Perry noticed that coaching programs seemed out-of-reach for many beginning writers they started Writers on Call, weekly group coaching telesessions for only $9.99 per month.

Kansas City, Missouri (PRWEB) January 16, 2007 -- Many people dream of starting a career as either a part-time or full-time writer, but few beginning writers can afford a writing coach. When full-time freelance writers and writing coaches Suzanne Lieurance and Yvonne Perry realized this, they decided to start Writers on Call, a subscription based weekly group teleclass to offer writers and writer wannabes the chance to ask questions and receive coaching for:

* Promoting a freelance writing business
* Writing press releases and articles
* Finding lucrative writing opportunities
* Operating a successful freelance writing business
* Writing books, query letters, and publisher proposals

At only $9.99 per month, now anyone serious about starting a writing career can afford nearly four hours of group coaching and interactive learning per month. Writers on Call teleclasses take place every Thursday night at 7:00 (Central Time) and last for 55 minutes. Lieurance facilitates the calls twice a month and Perry takes over for the other two Thursday calls each month. All of the teleclasses are recorded, so even if subscribers can't attend the live calls they are given access to a link for the recorded call the next day and never have to miss a single teleclass.

A Writers on Call CDs Program is also offered for only $35.99 per month. With this program, subscribers receive access to the teleconferences, a perma-link to the audios, and CDs with mp3 files of all the calls are mailed to them each month.

Suzanne Lieurance, The Working Writer's Coach, is the author of 12 published books and numerous articles for magazines, newsletters, and newspapers. She was an instructor for the Institute of Children's Literature for over 5 years and has been a master teacher at www.universityofmasters.com. She is the author of two free eBooks: Get Your Freelance Writing Career Off the Ground - and - Tricks of the Trade: Learn to Write for Children which are available at her website. Each weekday morning she publishes The Morning Nudge -- a few words to inspire and motivate writers to get a little writing done each day.

Yvonne Perry is the owner of Write On! Creative Writing Services based in Nashville, Tennessee. She and her team of writers provide ghostwriting for articles, press releases, books, brochures, resumes, and much more. Perry is the host for Writers in the Sky Podcasts, the publisher of a newsletter about writing and publishing, and the author of several books. Her latest book titled Right to Recover: Winning the Political and Religious Wars over Stem Cell Research in America is set to be released in mid 2007 by Nightengale Press. For more information, visit Perry's website.

Subscriptions to Writers on Call, and the Writers on Call CDs Program, are available online HERE.

This press release was posted on PRWeb Tuesday, January 16, 2007 http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/1/prweb496751.htm

Word of Month

Having an extensive vocabulary is important to writers. In each issue of Writers in the Sky, I will introduce and define a word that we use don’t often use. This word this month is:

Abecedarian (ay-bee-see-DAYR-ee-uhn)

Definition:

One who is learning the alphabet; one who teaches the alphabet. Also used to refer to someone who is a beginner in some field; rudimentary and as relating to the alphabet such as being alphabetically arranged.

Example sentence:
My kindergarten-aged grandchild is an abecedarian.

A Writing Life

A Writing Life is a Monthly Feature written by JJ Murphy for WITS Newsletter.

Several of my clients write in passive voice. My job is to find the most powerful words to express their message. Consider the following sentences:

The protective covering should be removed before use.
Remove the protective covering before use.

See the difference?

Here are a few tips for helping you figure out whether to use active voice or passive voice in your message:

1. Does the subject perform the action? Compare these sentences:

The new law was approved by the town board.
The town board approved the new law.

Subject: town board
Action: approved.

This is a good reason to use the active voice.

2. Does someone else perform the action instead of the subject? Consider these sentences:

Her dog was hit by a car.
The car hit her dog.

The car is an inanimate object, so dog is really the subject. The action, hit, happened to the dog.

This is a good reason to use the passive voice.

3. What if you can’t tell? Consider these sentences:

The door is locked.
This test could be difficult.

Notice that these verbs are forms of to be, which some scholars call linking verbs. There is no action, strictly speaking; these verbs indicate a condition which is neither active nor passive.

4. What is the emphasis of your message? Consider these sentences:

One gram of salt was added to the first mixture.
The researcher added one gram of salt to the first mixture.

If your emphasis is on the mixture, then the first sentence (passive voice) is appropriate. If your emphasis is on the researcher, then use the active voice in the second sentence.

5. What do you want the reader to know? Consider these sentences:

Mistakes were made and money was lost.
The treasurer did not send the deposit in time, so we had to rent a more expensive suite.

If your goal is to explain without blaming, then using the passive voice in the first sentence is effective. The second sentence, which uses active voice, is both more direct and more specific.

Passive voice typically does not identify the actor or the action, but you run the risk of making sloppy or misleading statements.

If you think about how you want readers to respond, you will be able to decide when to use active voice and when to use passive voice.

JJ Murphy is a freelance writer who helps companies, small businesses and individuals to express their awareness and dedication to developing sustainable technology and to preserve our natural resources. She writes articles for natural magazines, hiking publications, simple living publications in print and online. She also creates curricula to help public schools home schooling groups, private schools, wilderness camps, adult learning groups, and continuing education programs stretch and expand their students’ knowledge. Visit her website http://www.WriterByNature.com for articles, wild food recipes and for more information, including JJ’s favorite places for gear and supplies.

The Basics Everyone Should Know about POD

by The bookhitch Staff

Printing books on demand, or POD, is a rising trend within the publishing industry as it is a quick, and easy method to get your work printed. There are many websites, books, and companies gearing their work towards helping authors print, edit and market their books all offering unique services. But, there are still many individuals out there caught like a deer in the headlights waiting to be hit with their “big deal”. So, here is some basic information to consider when entering the POD market.

Printing Know-How

POD, is exactly what it sounds like, printing. Many writers who approach companies, whether they are online or brick and mortar, do not fully grasp the concept that their work is being printed…not edited. Save yourself some time and money:

Get Quotes: Only ask for a quote when you have a final, edited, copy of your file in print ready format. Meaning, have your PDF files of both your body text and cover in hand (so to speak) when asking for quotes.

It is advisable to request a quote via e-mail, so that you have it on record, and dated.

Know your page count.

Know what size you would like your book.

Price breaks are given for larger quantities (usually 50, 100, 500), so ask for numerous per book prices.

Specify if you have any pages in your text that need to be printed in color.

DO NOT submit word documents to a printer for one simple reason: they can be changed. Submit your text and cover in PDF format, as it is hard to change words. And, remember to embed your fonts into the files when you are creating them, format each page to the correct final trim size and then add some bleed.

If you are submitting pictures in either your text or cover file (or both), then make sure they are high resolution. Meaning that they should be at least 300 dpi (dots per inch) so that they are of clear picture quality, the higher the resolution, the clearer the picture will be.

When printers show you an unbound proof of your text and cover (advisable), go through it! Don’t just assume that the files were perfect, check for re-flow problems, and that your chosen fonts are still present.

Always ask for information on any extra programs the company may offer.

Don’t get angry with a Customer Service Representative (CSR), and don’t be afraid to ask questions! If you have to make a lot of corrections to your files after they are submitted, your estimated printing date may be jeopardized so always be prepared and submit your work to be printed at least a month before any events.

Marketing Know-How

Marketing is one of those words that is a mystery to many, and is often (unfortunately) directly associated with advertising. So, let’s go back to marketing 101 and work our way forward. The basics can be condensed to Product, Price, Promotion and Place, the 4 P’s of marketing, or the marketing mix. These are simple concepts that everyone should be familiar with in order sell a book, especially as the product and price aspects are self-explanatory. Place, or distribution, involves outlining where your book is going to be available, which directly ties into promotion, as your promotional efforts should be directing readers where they can buy your books. Promotion involves advertising, direct marketing, online marketing, sales promotion, public relations and personal selling. This is why many individuals who choose to market their own book say that writing it was the easy part!

Here are a few simple ways to market your book:

Market your book before you bring it to market. Your first print run should be advanced reader copies. You will need to send them to editors, bookstores, and interest groups. There are a few companies starting to offer this as a part of their print on demand package, for instance Bootstrap Publishing and there are other companies who offer to review your book, for example Reader Views. Doing a smaller print run allows you to see the quality of your chosen printer’s work.

Send out press releases and write articles…often. There are numerous free press release and article distribution sites for you to use, so use them. You can also submit articles to newsletters, and newspapers for inclusion.

Create your own website to promote your book, and yourself. Set-up a shopping cart feature so that readers can buy books directly from you. Also, it is advisable to list your book with distributors as it will increase awareness of your book, but direct readers to your site first to buy your book so that you get the money (versus sites that will take a percentage of your sales).

Utilize free services offered by websites, such as bookhitch.com, and list your book on as many websites as possible and list your website on as many websites as possible!

Blog, and use discussion forums to spread the word about your book, and to get some great advice.

Join reading and writing groups.

Print promotional business cards, and hand them out, or leave them everywhere. Along the same lines, create a signature blurb at the end of every e-mail message promoting your book.

Subscribe to newsletters, and read articles such as this one to get some great, free advice!

The POD business has made the book selling and printing business highly competitive as there are growing numbers of authors. It is up to you to distinguish your book, yourself and each marketing strategy from others as you plan your venture. Just remember the basics and go from there.

A Little FYI to get you started

Industry Jargon you should know:

ARC-Advanced Reader Copy

Re-Flow- When your text is changed and flows over to pages where it was not previously, words may be missing and fonts may also be changed (sometimes occurs when print ready files are made, or changes need to be made to them).

Newbie- Refers to a new author within the industry.

#- Refers to the weight of the paper you are having your text and cover printed on. This could be 50 Pound, 60 Pound and so on. The higher the “pound” amount, the thicker the paper will be.

The Book Hitch

Recent Podasts for Writers

Here are some excellent interviews on a wide variety of topics to help freelance writers. Click on the blue link to listen.

Interview with Peter Bowerman regarding his book The Well-Fed Self-Publisher, How to Turn One Book into a Full-Time Living

Writers on Call - Weekly subscription-based teleclasses hosted by full-time freelance writers Yvonne Perry and Suzanne Lieurance. Learn how to write a book or manage a successful freelance writing business.

Interview with graphic designer, Jessica Dockter of L.E.E. Designs. Find out how a graphic designer can help writers "brand" their business for success.

Book publicist Maryglenn McCombs shares with Yvonne why authors need a publicist even if they publish through a large conventional publisher and gives tips on some things you can do to promote your book.

Learn how Toastmasters can help you become a better speaker in Yvonne's interview with Zach Everson.

You've finished your manuscript and have no idea how to find a publisher. Call Gini Graham Scott to pitch your book to hundreds of agents and publishers through a low-cost service she offers. Listen to Yvonne's interview as Gini explains.

TGIF Jan. 12 Janet Grace Riehl

TGIF January 12 and Yvonne Perry has uploaded her interview with Janet Grace Riehl

Janet Riehl is an award-winning author, speaker, and creativity coach. Her poems, stories, and essays are widely published in national literary magazines. Janet’s work appears in three anthologies. She is 2006 finalist for Poet Laureate of Lake County, California. Her memoir of six generations told in story poems is Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary.

Click here to listen to Part 1...

In our interview on Writers in the Sky Podcast, Janet and I discuss how she got started as a writer and how she published her book of poetry through a print-on-demand POD.

Visit Janet's website here...


Crocus
by Janet Grace Riehl

I offer her the first crocus.
Purple in a red-orange vase.
“That was Mom’s,” she said.
Yes. Francoma.
Cousin Cynthia showed me how to spot it.
Highly collectible.
An amphora crested with spring.

She draws closer to inspect it.
Tips it up to drink the water.
She starts to nibble the leaves and blossoms.
Flowers, Mom. To look at.

But, what if essence of crocus
surging through her bloodstream
is exactly what she needs?

Learn how Janet started writing poetry after the tragic death of her beloved sister, and how she published her book through iuniverse.com. In Part 2, you will enjoy hearing Janet read a selection of her poetry.
Click here to listen to Part 2...

Want to know more about Self=Publishing?

Struggled with landing a publisher for your masterpiece?
Wondered if self-publishing is for you?
Like the idea of keeping control of the rights, the timetable, the process AND most of the profits?

Who wouldn't?

Self-publishing is a hot subject these days, which is why I recently interviewed Peter Bowerman, author of the award winning "Well-Fed Writer" series AND his brand new release, "The Well-Fed Self-Publisher: How to Turn One Book into a Full-Time Living."

Listen to our interview here.

In our interview, Peter discussed how his two WFW titles have yielded 50,000 copies in print and full-time living for five-plus years. Now, he's put all the how-to details of that accomplishment in his Well-Fed Self-Publisher product line. You're going to want these tools.

Check them out here!

Award-winning Author Janet Riehl on Writers in the Sky

Janet Riehl is an award-winning author, speaker, and creativity coach. Her poems, stories, and essays are widely published in national literary magazines. Janet’s work appears in three anthologies. She is 2006 finalist for Poet Laureate of Lake County, California. Her memoir of six generations told in story poems is Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary.

Click here to listen to Janet as she reads "Scribbles"...

Janet will be Yvonne Perry's guest on January 12, 2007 on Writers in the Sky Podcast. Learn how Janet started writing poetry after the tragic death of her beloved sister, and how she published her book through iuniverse.com.

Visit Janet's website here...

Spiritual Author Kathleen Jacoby coming to Writers in the Sky

Author Kathleen Jacoby, has been involved in spiritual, scientific, and metaphysical pursuits for the past 31 years. Kathleen lectured extensively in the San Francisco Bay area during the 70s and 80s. She has appeared on both radio and television.

Kathleen is currently Senior Editor for Children of the New Earth Magazine, and a columnist for several online magazines and a newspaper distributed in Southern California and Arizona. Her columns range from monthly numerology projections to reviews, children’s stories, and other articles based on timely topics.

On January 19th, Kathleen will be Yvonne Perry's guest on Writers in the Sky Podcast--a weekly show about writing, publishing and book publicity. In our interview Kathleen will share how she got started as a writer and editor, and give the guidelines whereby writers may submit articles to Children of the New Earth Magazine.

In addition to Vision of the Grail, Kathleen is the editor of a quarterly newsletter: Seasons of The Soul, and has authored a booklet titled, Where You Live Is What You Learn: How The Number of Your Residence Affects Your Life. In the early 1990s she wrote a series of guided works. A Call To Prayer, written at the time of the Gulf War, became a framework for group gatherings and personal growth.

Kathleen is currently Senior Editor for a quarterly newsletter: Seasons of The Soul, and has authored a booklet titled, Where You Live Is What You Learn: How The Number of Your Residence Affects Your Life.

You may read Kathleen's columns at the following websites and periodicals:

www.planetlightworker.com
www.themessenger.info
www.spiritspace.net
www.grailvision.com
http://kathleenjacoby.blogs.com/seasonsofthesoul/ http://kathleenjacoby.blogs.com/calltoprayer/

The difference between POD and Offset Printing

CALLING ALL AUTHORS with host, Valerie Connelly, Publisher at Nightengale Press airs live on Tuesdays, 8PM (EDT), 7PM (CDT), 6PM (MDT) and 5PM (PDT). Go to www.globaltalkradio.com to listen to the show:

On the Tuesday January 9th show I’ll be talking with Gunter Hansen, Central Plains Book Manufacturing about both digital POD printing and Offset Printing, what they are, the pro's and con's of each, and more!

Tune in to CALLING ALL AUTHORS by taking two simple steps:

1. Go to www.globaltalkradio.com

2. Click on the LISTEN LIVE Block

Listeners: to call in to ask a question or make a comment call use these numbers:

Listener Calls: 800-773-0355
(Outside the USA: 1-310-328-9300)

**********************************************************************************************

• To contact Valerie Connelly: email her at publisher@nightengalepress.biz
• To learn more about Nightengale Press:Go to www.nightengalepress.com
• To give your comments and opinions: Go to www.valerieconnelly.com Valerie's NEW BLOG SITE
• To ACCESS CALLING ALL AUTHORS ARCHIVES:Go to www.globaltalkradio.com/shows/callingallauthors

The Book Just Loved Me

by Janet Grace Riehl

For my birthday that came a few months after my sister died in a car crash, I carried out a relaxed retreat at King’s House in Illinois. During these two days, I stayed in a little suite usually reserved for bishops and the Pope. I rested, read, walked, relaxed, wrote, prayed for guidance-and ate good food in a tiny dining room all to myself.

I came to a strong sense that the world is charged with meaning, and that is a poem. Not could be, but is. The only trick is to tease out the meaning. This insight and sense of purpose gave me a vision of helpful work I could do. When I returned to my father and mother’s home, I began to assemble poems for a book about our family history and bereavement. As I worked on the book I felt unparalleled freedom in my writing.

Still in Illinois-staying in an upstairs bedroom in my parents’ house-the book began in earnest. I propped myself up in bed and scribbled in my journal-what became, in the end, my published poet’s diary. I’d start a regular journal entry and discover a poem within it. Then, as more thoughts and words tumbled on the page, I discovered more poems cuddling together in innocent profusion. I cocked one ear towards my inner voices and the other for sounds of my parents stirring. When I heard them on the move, I dropped my knitting and rushed downstairs.

During the day as I cared for my mother and listened to my father talk, I jotted notes and assignments to myself. As I wrote I didn’t seek suggestions or comments from others. I wrote from and for an intimate place within myself. I shared some initial drafts with trusted writing friends via email and received encouraging listen-backs telling me to keep going.

Sightlines has been a blessing from start to finish. It began blessed in retreat. It showered blessings on me and my family-especially my father. My strongest aim is to retain everything I do with Sightlines as a source of happiness for all who come in contact with this book.

Blessing #1: The Book Project kept me somewhat sane, though bedeviled, for the 13 months of its writing and production.

Blessing #2: The Book Project was something of my own-something I owned and had creative control over-during a period in which there was nothing else in my life I could control.

Blessings # 3 & 4: The Book Project was portable and allowed me to keep my creative flow going, despite all disruptions and unpredictable circumstances.

Blessing #5: The Book Project attracted friends. Whenever I needed something-really needed it-a good-hearted friend was there to give it.

Blessing # 6: The book filled my heart with gratitude and gladness.

Blessing #7: The book was all about love: what I’d loved and lost; what I loved and recovered. Now that the book is out, the love just seems to expand and my heart just fills to bursting with Wild Book Happiness.

Blessing #8: The book blessed my father and myself with a stronger, closer, more mature and completed relationship.

Blessing #9: The book blessed us because I was able to include my father in the book and in my presentations as he tells jokes and plays music.

Blessing #10: The book blessed us because my father was nuts in love with the book.

Blessing #11: The book blessed us while Mother lay dying last May because visits to see us and visits to see friends were focused around delivering copies of the book, discussing it, and reading from it. Pop had favorites he asked me to read.

Blessing #12: The book blessed me when I came home to California after Mother died. The book blessed me, and gave me a direction with no room to mope.

Blessing #13: The book showered me with more positive reader response than I could have dreamed.

Blessing #14: The book loves me each time I write a new author reading around themes in the book. These readings and talks give me a chance to hear back from my wisdom self.

Not only do I love my book, but my book loves me back. It’s the most fully requited love relationship I’ve ever had in my life. The book just loves me!

Janet Riehl will be Yvonne Perry’s guest on Writers in the Sky podcast January 12. Be sure to listen online at http://feeds.feedburner.com/WritersInTheSky. To contact Janet you may phone her at (217) 370-6876 or email her at naledi@pacific.net. Her website is http://www.sightlinesbook.com/.