Ghost Blogging- A Trick or A Treat?

By JJ Murphy
jj@WriterByNature.com

I was recently asked if I would consider writing blogs for busy entrepreneurs and business owners.

To my understanding a blog is a first-person account of some important issue or aspect of a product or service. So how do you ghostwrite a journal entry? I certainly won’t pretend to be someone else, but is there an ethical way to help someone for whom writing is more painful than a root canal?

I began with the search engines. “Ghost Blogging” brought me to lots of sites where one or more apparitions are the main topic of discussion, especially with Halloween coming up. But there were a number of sites and forums for writers providing information that gave me insight into the real differences between ghost writing a blog and ghost writing a speech. The fact that a blog is ongoing makes a huge difference.

Now, where do I draw my personal boundaries when deciding to provide writing support for blogs?

I can only come up with two options.

The first is to get the entrepreneur or business owner to brainstorm out loud or freewrite on the topics that they are most passionate or excited about. I would have no problem cleaning up the writing, fixing grammar, polishing or shaping a very rough draft, as I would if the client had written a book or screenplay.

The second is to let your readers know you have chosen to hire a professional writer to help you express yourself more clearly than you could on your own. In this scenario, the writer keeps the actual byline, but the content reflects what is going on in the company and the industry. The blog would then take the form of a conversation or informal interview between the writer and the business owner.

Blogs are very public, so the desire to put your best foot forward is understandable. But the ideas and the very tone of the blog has to be yours, not mine. Even with someone to rewrite or polish your rough drafts, you still have to show up for each blog. Most experts advise posting a blog twice a week.

When it comes to blogs, trust and honesty are critical to building healthy business relationships.

Your readers are likely to forgive you for not being a strong writer if they know you are working with a professional to provide them with the best information.

But there are still more issues to resolve. I can write, but I have no background in online marketing. I am not prepared to autoblog, submit to search engines, indexes or blogs, provide keyword or search engine optimization services.

Is a well written blog, posted regularly twice a week enough without the online marketing services? I have to figure that out.

JJ Murphy is a nature writer, blogging hiker, curriculum creator, locavore and tree-hugger currently based in Harriman, NY. Visit http://www.writerbynature.com for more information on JJ's writing services and her favorite places for gear and supplies.

He's a fine poet that Hal Manogue

Poet Hal Manogue may wear short sleeves, but he's a dear friend whom I met online. Hal is a terrific poet who regularly submits poems for WITS (Writers in the Sky) Newsletter. Even though we both live in Nashville, I doubt we would have met had it not been for networking and the Internet.

Today, he posted one of the nicest testimonials about networking and yours truly on his blog http://halmanogue.blogspot.com/2007/10/lets-just-begin.html. Let's go to Hal's blog and leave a few comments to let him know how much we appreciate him being part of our WITS community.

And, let this serve as a reminder for us to be nice to everyone. You never know when they may write about you! :)

Yvonne Perry
www.yvonneperry.net

Check Your Sell-Your-Book Expertise with Carolyn's Quiz!

Every writer should know the answer to these or know how to find out :

1. What is the rule posted by most agents and publishers I can break in order to sell my book faster?

2. How can a style sheet help me edit my book or work better with my editor?

3. Why do I need to know about indexing?

4. How can I corral Word's Spell Checker to help rather than hinder my editing process?

5. Why is editing important to getting a publisher or an agent when my publisher's editor will help me with that anyway?

6. Why should I rarely send out a cover letter rather than a query letter?

7. Why should I avoid using italics for internal dialogue? How do you avoid using them for internal dialogue?

8. What perfectly natural and grammar-perfect thing should I avoid telling an agent?

9. How can I turn adverbs that slow my narrative into metaphors?

10. How can I purge my copy of passive constructions using a computer?

11. How can code words in my document help avoid humiliation?

12. How do I avoid superfluous quotation marks that annoy agents and editors?

If you don't know the answers to most every one of these 12 questions without peeking you are sure to benefit from the newly released book:

The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success available now on Amazon, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0978515870/

It's already rocketed to Amazon's Top Ten List in its category!

It should be sitting on your shelf right next to the award-winning* first in the HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers, The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won't by UCLA Extension Writers' Program Instructor Carolyn Howard-Johnson

*Winner of USA Book News Best Professional Book 2004

*Winner of Book Publicists of Southern California's Irwin Award

Sticky Fingers: A Tess Camillo Mystery by Morgan Hunt

Sticky Fingers: A Tess Camillo Mystery (An Alyson Mystery)
Morgan Hunt

Alyson Books (2007)

ISBN 9781593500030

Reviewed by Cherie Fisher of Reader Views (6/07)

I had a sleepless night thanks to Sticky Fingers. First, the book was so good that I could not put it down until I found out what happened, and once I finished, I could not get the images of snakes out of my mind! Morgan Hunt’s wonderful writing style will engage you from the first page and keep you turning pages until the very end.

The main character, Tess Camillo, is just that, a real character. She is not a detective but a middle aged woman employed in an okay job in San Diego. She shares a house with her ex-lover, Lana, and is currently not in a relationship. The current love of her life is her Welsh terrier, Raj.

The mystery begins when Tess finds a rattler in her bedroom. The police chalk it up to coincidence but the story takes an ominous turn when someone else in the gay community is brutally murdered by a poisonous snake. As Tess becomes friendly with the murdered woman’s partner, Darlene, the danger increases and she becomes a target herself. Instead of being scared off the case, she turns into an amateur detective who will not rest until she solves the mystery. I am usually good at figuring out “who done it” in mystery novels, but this story had so many twists and turns that I was surprised at its hair-raising conclusion.

Tess not only has to face her mortality when she faces snakes, but she also has a major health crisis that could end her life. Her naturally inquisitive nature helps her research her disease and her friends give her the wonderful support she needs to face up to this health crisis. Morgan Hunt’s familiarity with breast cancer shows in the sensitivity, fear, strength and dignity that she gives to Tess throughout her ordeal. The author, Morgan Hunt, has a wonderful sense of humor which comes through again and again through her quirky characters. I also had the feeling that the author and Tess share many similar qualities -- “Criminitlies!” is an expression that Tess uses throughout the book that seems to have no meaning. This is a great book. I highly recommend Sticky Fingers to all open-minded mystery readers. I would also recommend it as a great read to anyone recovering from cancer surgery. I definitely would not recommend it to anyone with a snake phobia!

Stem Cell Author Presents Facts to Public

My book signing for RIGHT TO RECOVER Winning the Political and Religious Wars over Stem Cell Research in America was a terrific success, thanks to my publicist, Chuck Whiting who set up the event and made sure everything was in place and on time. He even called me a few hours before my appearance to make sure I was staying calm and to assure me that the audio/visual equipment I needed for my presentation would be there.

Tom Shinness did a great job with the fabulous music he provided. If you missed hearing this talented performer, you can listen to soundclips or purchase his CDs at http://www.tomshinness.com/. Speaking of music, Chuck also wrote and beautifully performed Right to Recover—a song written especially for the occasion. I hope to have this posted as an mp3 file. We are looking for someone to sponsor some studio time for a professional recording.

Nashville Attorney Mary Parker spoke as a representative for the John Edwards presidential campaign. John and Elizabeth Edwards are strong supporters for blastocystic stem cell research. As Elizabeth would say about blastocystic stem cell research, "It's either trash or research! Make a choice."

Reverend Dan Bloodworth shared his reasons for why he believes his son can be cured with a treatment or technology resulting from stem cell research. His Biblical was well received by the crowd who gathered that rainy evening.

My parents drove from Atlanta to support me in this venture. Mom helped with the refreshments and decorations, and Dad assisted as a greeter to make sure everyone in the store knew they were invited to our party. Taryn Simpson and Barbara Milbourn of Writers in the Sky team came out to show their support. Mindy Schwartz took the event photos shown here.

Thank you to everyone who came to support me on October 23. What a blessing to work with such loving and giving people. If you would like a copy of RIGHT TO RECOVER, please ask your bookstore to order it. Or you may purchase the book online:

www.nightengalepress.com

www.amazon.com

www.barnesnoble.com

Creative Writing - Literature

This article was written by Christina Sponias

Whenever you write anything, it is important to transmit a message to your readers because this is what gives value to your work.

If you write several beautiful words but actually convey nothing, your work will only entertain someone for a while, but it will be forgotten as soon as the reader finishes reading it. Thus, your purpose as an author is to make people think about your words and feel what you are trying to express.

If you don't have a specific message in mind to give to the reader, you need to define it before starting to write, even if you think you work better when you are free of a predefined plot. Define the message and name your document according to your intention. Try to respect your purpose, but if while writing you see that you have developed or presented points that don't really fit in with the title you gave to the document and with your initial plot, change the title and the message that you will give to the reader.

You have to start having a defined purpose in mind; otherwise, you will write several sentences without meaning or try to give them a meaning only in the end. This way, your document will be of poor quality, while it has to be strong and meaningful to attract the readers' attention and to remain in their minds.

If your words are well expressed and wise, your readers will remember them for a long time. This must always be your intention if you want to be considered a really good writer.
Now, let's suppose that you don't know exactly what to write about, but you have only a vague notion. Start writing; write a lot, whatever appears in your mind, even if you don't think it's good. Keep writing as much as you can about a certain subject. Then, stop writing and read everything. Select the best sentences and phrases and start writing a new document with them, defining the general meaning you wish to give to the reader according to the meaning of the selected sentences.

On creative writing you have to focus on conveying a feeling to your readers and when you write serious documents, you only need to convey a logical message.

You can elicit feelings by letting the reader complete your sentences, instead of writing everything you would say. For example, you want to say:

"The girl opened the door and entered in the bedroom, where the window was open and she could see the city's port".

You don't need to say everything in detail if you are writing a work of literature. You can say: "She opened it and entered. The city's port was visible from there".

This way, you let the readers use their imagination to complete the scene and, at the same time, you convey a feeling, because you don't give them a concrete and limited description. They are transported to the place you describe; they enter into the hero's place and pretend they are doing what the hero is doing in your text. This way, they complete the missing words based on their imagination.

There are many techniques you can use in creative writing to give emphasis to your words or to cause several sensations.

The important point is that you must give your readers a message that will remain in their minds and elicit feelings that will invade their hearts for some moments when they read your work.

During my studies, I came across Carl Jung’s method of deciphering dreams, which helped me and urged me to continue his research into the unknown regions of our psychical sphere. I set my poetry aside and began to compile my findings. I sought to prove that Jung had discovered the proper method of interpretation of dreams. This exercise actually taught me many things, and I continued to pursue Jung’s research into the analysis of dreams. Learn more at http://www.booksirecommend.com . Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christina_Sponias

The Desire to Not Write

By Wendy Keller

A new client made an off-handed comment today. She wondered why almost every writer gets strong urges not to write. "Suddenly, the plants need watering, the dog needs petting, the laundry needs folding at that very moment." She laughed sheepishly. "I find in the moments that fall into my lap and announce they could be used for writing, I am suddenly possessed by an irresistible urge to clean closets, skim the Internet for some obscure fact, or finally finish reading that book I started last month. It's worse than craving chocolate, and just as narcotic!"

Writers have it tough. The very thing we most want to do, we don't do. My ex-husband, who was a journalist at the time, dragged home a snippet of a quote: "No one likes writing, but everyone likes having written." I am not sure to whom attribution belongs, but I'd wager it's a professional writer. I am disinclined to write unless there's a deadline looming. Perhaps this is why so few authors actually get published. Finishing a proposal or the first draft of a fiction work is usually a self-imposed deadline.

I used to think it was the fear of criticism or rejection that kept most writers from writing. But now having been a writer all my life, and working with thousands of them as an agent, I think that is just the tip of the, well, the tip of the pool cue, to avoid a cliché. My dad, an old pool shark legendary only in his own mind, remembers people who were nervous about taking the shot who endlessly chalked their cue stick. It's the same with us, isn't it? We fuss and distract and whine that we don't have time or the right circumstances to write. As for me, if I'm not alone in a cabin in Big Bear with a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies (or in a pinch, oatmeal raisin), in front of the fieldstone fireplace with snow falling outside, in my favorite faux leopard skin slippers, how could I possibly be expected to turn out prose of any value? Quite simply, I cannot write unless conditions are perfect. That's what I tell myself. That's what my writers tell me.

The question in my mind is always "Why don't writers just force themselves to do it?" I gave a seminar some years ago, when I was naïve. I taught a class to eight professional speakers. I charged exorbitant rates to force them through a proposal creation process in just three days. They were limp when we finished. I sent them home edited and complete, with only one sample chapter to finish. Six of them had had sample chapters coming into the event - we'd edited them on site. All they had to do was incorporate those edits! Five years later, I have yet to get a completed proposal from any of them. What's worse is that I happen to know that no other agent or publisher has seen their work either in all this time!

Upon deep introspection and a cup of peppermint tea, I have determined once and for all that the reason writers don't write is because we simply know that language cannot begin to convey accurately the words in our hearts, minds and spirits. Like the Inuit who allegedly have hundreds of words to describe snow, or the ancient Greeks who had six words for love, we are immediately restrained by our limited language skills. The first words we type will instantly disappoint us, because they cannot perfectly convey straight into the heart and mind of another the precise message we wish to send.

And this is utter failure. And complete success. It is failure in all the obvious ways, but the way it is success is valuable to consider. For in our failure to direct our message perfectly, we leave it flayed open, exposed to any reader's interpretation. Each reader sees in the work precisely what he or she needs to take from it. They get what they wanted to get, nothing more or less. The critic who dices a book gets another paycheck next month for being pithy and curt. The reader who skims only the first few chapters and carries away a wholly different message from that intended needs that skewed message to verify his or her own opinion, pro or con. If fifty people read our work, there will be fifty interpretations of the same work.

We should have learned this in college English classes, for therein is the beauty of the craft and the release from the "Writer's Procrastination" malaise. Each person sees something different in the book, even the author upon rereading it later. We are perfectly met by words, because the words mean something different to each of us. Themselves, they are merely symbols for meanings, and meanings are wholly subjective. In California, the yellow stoplight means "hurry up!" In Chicago, it means, "slow down!" The words we see come to us in their own stark beauty, they adhere to our own vision of what we want and need from the text we are consuming.

When you next set fingertips to keyboard, or quill to parchment, remember that your efforts to convey a distinct message are only and sublimely your efforts. A whole world of possible interpretations exists behind each phrase you turn, each word picture you sketch. Resolve to allow all who choose to indulge in your writing take what they prefer, like a bountiful banquet table. Then you are liberated to write what is true and has meaning for you, what is real, in the best language you are capable of using. With clarity, logic and precision, you are freed to let the words flow onto the page. Those who take them up will see your work only from their own myopia. Your job is complete when the words have been spent and they lie there, self-satisfied and heaving on the page.

(c) 2007, Keller Media, Inc. Want to use this article in your publication? Reprints welcome so long as the article and by-line are reprinted intact and all links made live. Wendy Keller is Senior Agent at Keller Media, Inc. She's been selling books for other writers since 1989 and meanwhile has had 29 of her own books published under 8 pseudonyms. To get her and her staff on your side visit http://www.kellermedia.com

TGIF October 26, 2007 Jordana Ryan

TGI Friday! I have uploaded a new show to my podcast this week!

Jordana Ryan will be joining Barbara Milbourn today on Writers in the Sky Podcast!

Jordana Ryan is a 31-year-old single mom in St. Louis, Missouri. Jordana received her bachelors degree in psychology from The University of Tennessee Chattanooga in 1998. Since that day, Jordana has spent much of her time working with the adult mentally ill population and Juvenile and Adult criminals. Jordana has been writing most of her life but until a year ago her writings remained for her eyes only. Since publishing her first novel No Matter What, She has developed a passion for the writing and publishing industry. She is currently working on several projects that she hopes her readers will enjoy!

Below is a blurb about her book No Matter What.

Haunted by her involvement in her parents death at the age of ten, Cassandra has never been confident in the love that others felt for her—not her adoptive parents, her friends and certainly not the man she loved with all her heart. So, after giving herself to her high school sweetheart on prom night, she flees from the overpowering fears and all those who supported her.

And then after four years of sleeping with one strange man after another—whose names she couldn't remember or never knew—she decided enough was enough. It was time to return to face those she'd left behind, particularly Brenden Carter.

Brenden should hate Cass for running away from their love and with his daughter, but somehow even after years of telling himself he hated her--and doing a lot of womanizing himself--Cass' smile still managed to get next to him.Will he be able to forgive her for leaving him when he needed her most?

Click here to listen to the interview...

Check http://jordanaryan.tripod.com/ for more information about Jordana.

Her book is available at http://www.amirapress.com/, http://www.fictionwise.com/, http://www.amazon.com/ and by using the ISBN you can order at any local book store.

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

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

Poetry Corner October 2007!

By Timothy J. Stewart

The old man met the little girl
In a simple sort of way.
He just slipped into her life
When no one was there to play.

She was on her first legs,
He was standing on his last.
There was going to be a special bond,
And it had to happen fast.

He had as many stories
As there were stars up in the sky
Some would make her laugh,
Some would make him cry.

Every day he came to visit,
She looked on him with awe
His stories helped her young mind
See everything he saw

Then one day he didn’t come,
She knew the reason why
He went to see the angels
And so, she didn’t cry

He always told her stories
Of Heaven’s Love right from the start
And now, though he was gone away
He would live forever in her heart.

Timothy J. Stewart is the author of a novel being published by Nightengale Press Positive Force—a book that offers teenagers a positive alternative to gang involvement. www.reachforyoredreams.com.

This Memory

His muscular arms, and hands caress me,
We embrace, and I feel secure
This memory.....I cry in silence,
I can no longer feel the security once there,
I cry in silence,
No more caressing, my heart intimately,
No more flesh to flesh,
Sigh.....Just this memory.....

Feon Davis (http://www.inthearmsofgod.com/) is an inspiring writer and resident of Morehead City, North Carolina. She loves writing compassionate poems, rather Christian, inspirational. She started writing when she was nine years old. Miss Davis has published poems online for all to read along with a series of books, and gift items available for purchase at her site.


Simple Awareness

Beneath My Surface
Lies A World Of Dreams
That Rest In Complete Freedom
Digging Within Me I Feel My Other Selves Filled With
The Energy Of Love I’m Covered In The Warmth Of Unity
Knowing There Is More To Me Than Force Filled Traditions
And Distorted Beliefs
Rejoicing In Discovery My Focused Self Jumps Into My Illusion
With New Vision
Answering Old Question With New Thoughts
Kissing My Collective Consciousness
With Lips Of Remembering
I Grow In The Simple Awareness
Of Synchronicity

Hal Manogue, Poet And Author. From the 2008 Collection of Short Sleeves A Book For Friendshttp://www.shortsleeves.net/ http://halmanogue.blogspot.com/

Rising Star

Had time not been cruel
I’d hitch my rig to your rising star
As you follow your dream.
How high you might soar
In the milky blue skyway
To taste the adrenaline
Of each starlight beam.

This is your time to
Brighten the heavens,
To dance among millions and
Try to outshine
Every shimmering sun
Spreading light to her planets
While sipping the nectar
Of sparkling wine.

Nothing can tether
Your high-flying spirit.
Grace is your partner
In this silent run.
I’ll stand in your shadow,
Bask in your glory.
My time has passed.
Yours has only begun.

Blessings Abound

My humble life has been so blessed
In myriad of ways,
I offer up a thankful prayer
For every breath I take.
So many acts of thoughtfulness
And debts I must repay
To friend or foe or family
Or just for kindness sake.

I lift my gaze up to the clouds
And somewhere far beyond,
To all of those who’ve gone before,
Who entered Heaven’s gate,
Who searched for something to believe
But ended all too soon,
And took with them a comfort
That had always been their fate.

Blessings are not hard to find,
They’re scattered all around.
One only needs to look inside
To see where they abound.

Dennis Martin began writing plays and submitting them to the local playwright’s festival when he turned 40 years old. He has written 13 plays –several of which have been presented as staged readings in the Baltimore Playwright’s Festival. Dennis has written over 800 poems and self-published a book of poems titled “Love and Passions” available at www.iuniverse.com and major online bookstores as well as 6 other poetry collections and 3 novels available at www.lulu.com/dsmartin. Read more about Dennis at http://www.iwritesome.com or blog with him at http://iwritesome.blogspot.com.

Genesis of Man, the answer to life, the universe and everything in between

Welcome to Writers in the Sky Blog, June Austin. It is a pleasure to have her share with us today.

YVONNE: Let’s begin with the questions most writers like to know about one another. How did you get started writing? By that, I mean what inspired you to author a book?
JUNE: I did set out to write a book at all, believe it or not. It started at the end of 1999 when my mother died, and I decided to take a year out from work to figure out where I was heading. One of the first things I did was enroll for a crystal therapy course. Halfway through the course, the students were asked to write a thesis on a crystal related subject to be presented to the rest of the group. I chose to do mine on crystal skulls, since I was and still am the guardian of many of these fascinating objects.

The more I began to write, the more links I began to find with other areas of interest, until I realised it was becoming a book. Most of the skull material has since been taken out, as the book headed in other directions, but that was the original inspiration. I never did end up practicing as a crystal therapist, and I believe now that the only reason I did that course was so that I would write the book.

YVONNE: What is the title of your book? Give us the basic story line so we’ll know what it’s about.
JUNE: The book is called Genesis of Man, and subtitled the answer to life, the universe and everything in between. I chose the subtitle for 2 reasons – firstly because the book does include such a vast array of different subjects, on life, the universe and everything in between, but also as a play on the themes of light and dark; the everything in between can also then be seen as a metaphor for the neutral space between the light and dark that brings the ultimate balance. It is best described though as a book of spiritual history. By this I mean the history of our planet, written from a spiritual or esoteric perspective.

The information is divided into four different sections, each of which comprises a number of different chapters. Part one covers the period from 35 million to 1 million years ago, roughly the time of Lemuria. It mentions among other things, the Nephilim, the origins of Mesopotamian civilization, Ascended Masters, the concept of reincarnation, and the game of polarity integration. This is the age old battle between the light and dark forces and how we can use these to help us grow and evolve.

Part two is about the lost continent of Lemuria and her various colonies, including Atlantis, Egypt and Mexico (this was the origins of the Mesoamerican Empires). I talk about the rise and fall of both Lemuria and Atlantis, the reasons why this happened, what the results were and how it continues to affect us today. I also have a whole chapter on the ice age, did it really happen, and what caused it, as this is closely tied to the loss of these two continents.

Part three is about various arms of the Great White Brotherhood - the earthly branch of Ascended Masters. These various branches included the Knights Templar, Cathars and Essenes as well as the so called heretic Pharaoh Akhenaten's mystery school.

This brings me neatly to part four - my own personal favourite, where I talk about the origins of Christianity and its Gnostic roots, and the similarities between Gnosticism and modern spirituality, which are essentially the same thing. I also talk in depth about the life and times of Jesus - was Mary really a virgin, where did the birth take place, the meaning behind the 3 wise men and their gifts, the Disciples and their role, was he married to Mary Magdalene, did they have children, did he die on the cross or in India?

This book then contains an awful lot of information, collated from various sources and placed into chronological sequence in a kind of time frame. The aim was to bring about a fusion of religious, spiritual and scientific thought, in order to demonstrate that the three can and indeed do, compliment each other.

YVONNE: Is this the first book you have written?
JUNE: Yes, it is the first I have written, but hopefully not the last. I have plans to start writing a second book about my experiences of self publishing, but at the moment this is lonely in the early planning stages.

YVONNE: How long did it take to write this book?
JUNE: It took a total of around five years from start to finish. For the first two years I wrote more or less full time, until I developed a bad case of writers block, and returned to work. My partner also became seriously ill with an acute case of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), and so for over a year I did not have much time to write at all, since he was unable to work. I left my job at the end of August 2005, when it became obvious that if I didn’t the book would not get finished. I did a complete rewrite in less than 5 months and finally completed it just before Christmas 2005.

In May 2007, in response to feedback from both readers and reviewers, I launched a second updated edition with brand new cover and added text. This is where POD really came into its own, since it is so easy and inexpensive to do this, with the minimum of fuss and bother.

YVONNE: How did you publish your book?
JUNE: Initially, I tried the usual routes of agents and publishers, but to no avail. Many of them liked my work, but it was ‘not quite right for their lists’. I then decided to self publish. After exploring my options, and debating on short print run versus print on demand, I chose a small print on demand publisher in Bedfordshire (southern England) called Authors OnLine Ltd.

YVONNE: Did you work with an agent? If so, how did you find the agent?
JUNE: No, I do not have an agent, but should one come knocking on my door, I would be more than willing to talk ….

YVONNE: Where is your book(s) available? Do you have a Web site or blog where we can learn more about you or your book?
JUNE: The book is available in both Europe and North America via the usual wholesalers and distributors (Bertrams and Gardners in the UK, Ingrams and Baker and Taylor in the US) and available to order from any good store via the ISBN, which is 978-07552-02362. The book is also available from amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.com or direct from the publisher at www.authorsonline.co.uk I also sell signed copies via my own website at www.juneaustin.co.uk

YVONNE: As far as marketing, do you do more online publicity or print/radio/TV promotion?
JUNE: I try to do a mixture of all three. One of the difficulties though of POD is that it cannot accommodate the practice of sending out advance review copies, which is usually done 6-8 months ahead of publication. This means that with POD books it takes this long in order to generate much publicity at all, other than online.

I have been very lucky though in that the book has received some excellent reviews (which were brilliantly timed to coincide with the launch of the updated edition in May 2007). One in particular, in The Self Publishing Magazine, compared it as the opposite to Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion. They went on to say that the book would be ideal as companion to students of philosophy and social sciences.

My publisher in fact had such faith in my work that in August 2007, they asked Gardners, the largest wholesaler here in the UK, to accept the book as a stocked title. This means that book stores throughout the UK are now able to order it on sale or return, which has helped to open many doors. Since this announcement was made, I have been busy ringing book stores up and down the UK, and I am pleased to say, it is now stocked in nearly 60 book shops, where it is beginning to sell quite nicely.

YVONNE: Have you hired a publicist to help promote this book? Have you worked with a publicist on any of your books?
JUNE: I do not have a publicist as such, but one of Richard’s (owner and editor of Authors OnLine Ltd) other authors, who was particularly successful with his book, does have many useful contacts, and offers help to some authors, myself included, on an informal basis.

YVONNE: Any other comments or things you would like for us to know?
JUNE: Self publishing is definitely not the faint hearted, or the shy and retiring. You also have to have your wits about to read between the lines and see through the hype that some of the less scrupulous operators will try and tempt you with. There is also the vanity stigma to contend with, not to mention problems with the supply chain. Things though are slowly changing, more quickly I feel in the UK than the US, where POD is becoming more mainstream and even the larger publishers are now embracing this technology to bring slow selling classics back into print.

As well as my website, I also keep two blogs. My personal one, Podding Along Nicely details my experiences, trials and tribulations with self publishing. My other one, Conversations with POD aims to help other POD authors publicize their works through a series of interviews (a bit like this one) or Conversations with POD. Authors are asked to answer a series of questions and send me a jpeg of their book cover (no larger than 100 MB) together with basic information – book and authors names, publisher details, price (in £ sterling), genre and price, together with ISBN. All books are eligible to be included, as long as they are issued via print on demand and available to buy in the UK.

Author Interview with Marta Hiatt Remembrances of Times Past

Writers in the Sky Blog welcomes author Marta Hiatt. It is a pleasure to have her share her book REMEMBRANCES OF TIMES PAST, a Nostalgic Collection of Stories and Photographs Recalling the Way Life Was in the Early Part of the 20th Century.

YVONNE: Marta, please give us a basic overview of your book.
MARTA: This book is a sentimental journey back to a time of stay-at-home moms, vinyl long-playing records, telegrams, radio days, strict rules of etiquette and manual typewriters. These are the personal memories of the enormous changes that occurred in the last century, vividly brought to life by 250 vintage photos.

YVONNE: What inspired you to write this book?
MARTA: My sister and I were doing the dishes and we started talking about when we were kids in the early '40s and there wasn't any detergent. We had to take the bar of brown soap and put it into a wire frame the size of the bar that held it together while we spent about 10 minute swishing it in the water to make enough suds for the dishpan. We also talked about how we helped mom do the laundry every Saturday morning. Of course there were no electric dryers so we had to help pull the laundry through the wringers on the machine which you turned by hand in order to get the water out. What a tedious, time-consuming job that was!

After our talk I thought people might be interested in how we lived in the early 20th century. So I wrote this book which is a sentimental journey down memory lane for the older generation and, perhaps, some surprising insights into the way life was, for those who are younger.

YVONNE: How long did it take to write it?
MARTA: I actually spent 7 years putting it together because I accumulated so many stories from a variety of people and places, and I had to assemble and scan all the photos that went with them, so it was quite an extensive project.

YVONNE: What were some of the more interesting ways you researched your book?
MARTA: I started with my own family, and then asked everyone I knew about their experiences when growing up, and sometimes I even questioned strangers when it was the right circumstance. I got some of the stories just from talking to people I met in the grocery store. Once I was sitting beside an elderly woman on a plane flight to Toronto and she told me about her teacher riding a horse to school when she was a child and lived on a farm in California’s central valley. I also got a lot of stories from the magazine “Reminisce” which is entirely written by the subscribers. I wrote the contributors and asked if I could use their stories and photos in my book and they were all happy to do so. People seem to like to reminisce about the past.

YVONNE: What do you think was the most significant invention of the 20th century?
MARTA: The most significant inventions were probably in transportation: cars that opened up the country and then planes which opened up the world. And then in the latter half of the century we had computers and the Internet, which enabled instantaneous communication with the entire world. TV would be in there too, bringing us news of the world every morning and evening, instead of going to the local movie theater on Saturdays to see what happened a week before, as I did when I was a child. Of course the invention of computers depended on what was invented before them: transistors and microprocessors, which vastly shrunk electronic equipment.

And of course there was enormous progress in the health field, such as penicillin, the discovery of DNA and vaccines which wiped out polio, the scourge of the ‘40s and ‘50s.

YVONNE: What was the worst invention?
MARTA: It’s hard to choose just one but I think a lot of people would agree that phone trees were one of the worst, where you can’t talk to a person anymore and go through the hassle of “Press 1 for this, and 2 for that,” and so on, caught like a rat in a maze, and sometimes end up disconnected and have to start all over again. Telemarketers are also a big annoyance, which also came with the invention of the telephone. I’d also classify fast food outlets one of the worst inventions, which has led to an obesity epidemic.

YVONNE: What are some of the problems we have today that we didn’t have in the early 20th century?
MARTA: Traffic is one of the biggest problems: long commutes and people sitting in their cars for 2 to 3 hours every day breathing carbon monoxide, and then finding there’s no place to park when they arrive. We also suffer from two types of pollution: the decrease in our air quality and the constant noise we’re exposed to. Sirens and jet planes booming overhead all increase our stress level.

YVONNE: Do you think life is life better now or then?
MARTA: It’s hard to evaluate that because life is difficult now in a different way. Each age has its own problems. We don’t have the hard labor that people in the early part of the century faced, and the famines and lack of physical comforts, such as outdoor plumbing, which was a real annoyance in the winter. But even though we have lots of conveniences now, I think our world is becoming increasing more stressful and putting tremendous pressure on people. People worry about job loss, and the cost of living, and paying for their children’s college – stressors that weren’t there in early 20th century.

YVONNE: Let’s talk about how you published your book with Northern Star Press. Is this your own company, a POD or did you query until you got a conventional publisher to accept your manuscript? Did you work with an agent? If so, how did you find the agent?
MARTA: Northern Star Press is a small, independent press which was formed by people I knew primarily to promote my books. It’s a joint venture. I’ve written three books so far; this one and “Mind Magic, Techniques for Transforming Your Life” and a book of inspirational quotations

YVONNE: As far as marketing, do you do more online publicity or print/radio/TV promotion?
MARTA: We do both. The publisher and I have been doing all the marketing and publicity, and so far I’ve been invited to speak on 4 radio stations and have had many good reviews both online and in the newspaper.

YVONNE: Have you hired a publicist to help promote this book? Have you worked with a publicist on any of your books?
MARTA: My Mind Magic book was published by Llewellyn Inc., and they’ve been doing all the publicity, which has worked very well because I’ve sold over 12,000 copies of it and it’s been translated into 5 different languages. The promotion for Remembrances has been primarily up to me.

YVONNE: Where is your book(s) available? Do you have a Web site or blog where we can learn more about you or your book?
MARTA: You can read excerpts from “Remembrances of Times Past,” on the website: http://wwwnorthernstarpress.com, and you can purchase my book there. It’s also available in bookstores, Amazon, and other online booksellers.

YVONNE: Thank you for giving us the opportunity to get to know you and learn about your book. I wish you well in all your writing, publishing and book marketing ventures.
MARTA: Thanks so much Yvonne, it was a pleasure. And by the way, I’m enjoying your book about life after death: “More Than Meets The Eye.”

Blog Chain for last week in October

I’m putting together another blog chain for the week of October 29 thru November 4. If you would like to participate, simply email me (writer at YvonnePerry dot com) your blog URL and the email address where you would like to be notified when the list is complete.

To learn more about a blog chain and how it serves as a great marketing tool, see http://ezinearticles.com/?Blog-Chain---A-Great-Networking-Tool&id=674566. Let me hear from you by this weekend.

Yvonne Perry
Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services

Willow Smoke by Amanda Burns

Title: Willow Smoke

Author: Amanda Burns
Genre: Contemporary romance--very romantic romance
Publisher: Awe-struck E-books, Inc.
http://www.awe-struck.net/
Description: "When the chips are down, there's nobody there."

Willowy blond apprentice horse trainer Daisy Matthews has survived the Chicago streets with this mantra. She's not looking for love--she just wants to lose her virginity before she turns twenty-one. Wealthy forty-ish canoe builder Nicholas Underwood is thrust into Daisy's life when he receives a thoroughbred in payment for a bad debt, so she forges a deal: she'll teach him about horseracing if he'll teach her about sex. When great sex morphs into true love, Daisy panics. Feeling trapped between Nick who wants to marry her and a brother-in-law who wants her to fleece Nick, she escapes to the familiar Chicago streets.

We have a new and great romance author: Amanda Burns. Please consider posting information about this e-book for us on your site, passing it along to friends who like "romantic-romance", and stopping by our site to see more about this and other great romance reads. This book is available to reviewers. If you would like to review it, please let me know if you prefer a PDF or html file. Thanks for supporting and reading e-books!

Release date: Friday, September 14, 2007
ISBN: 978-1-58749-623-3
Formats available: html, PDF, Mobipocket, Palmpilot, MSReader, and pocketpc
Retail price: 4.99--on special for two weeks after release at 4.29!

Online Networking Divas Meet in Person at Southern Festival of Books

Authors Yvonne Perry and Carolyn Howard-Johnson meet for the first time at the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville.

NASHVILLE, TN — It was a match made in Cyber heaven for two female business entrepreneurs when they connected via the Internet this spring. Soon after they met online, authors Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Yvonne Perry began assisting one another with business endeavors. On Saturday, Oct. 13, the two women met for the first time in person at the Southern Festival of Books: A Celebration of the Written Word at Legislative Plaza in Nashville.

At the Southern Festival of Books Carolyn Howard-Johnson presented "Realize Your Dream: From Query Letter to Bestseller—Frugally!" After speaking to fellow writers, editors, and authors about her recently released to me The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success, Ms. Howard-Johnson signed her books as those eager to meet her in person chatted as they waited in line. Readers of Carolyn’s books obviously “get” the message of her books. Many were helping one another connect with local writing groups by sharing business cards, flyers and information about writing, editing and book marketing.

“My publisher, Valerie Connelly, asked Carolyn to appear as a guest on her radio show Calling All Authors,” says Perry. “After hearing the archived interview, I immediately signed up for Carolyn’s newsletter, Sharing with Writers. Carolyn and I hit it off easily and have been helping one another ever since.”

Perry is the author of RIGHT TO RECOVER Winning the Political and Religious Wars over Stem Cell Research in America released by Nightengale Press earlier this month.

In her book The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't and The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success (http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com/), Carolyn teaches writers how to save money by helping one another with book promotion. And, she diligently practices what she preaches. Shortly after making online acquaintance with Yvonne, the two authors began cross-promoting one another. Each published announcements in the other’s newsletter and participated in a blog chain as a frugal marketing tool to create a stronger online presence. In July, Yvonne interviewed Carolyn for her weekly podcast on the craft and business of writing and publishing. Carolyn gave tips on writing, editing and book promotion and shared her career path as a writer with listeners. Writers in the Sky Podcast is available at no cost through her blog (http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com).

Howard-Johnson says, "Word-of-mouth is, of course, the best kind of promotion. Yvonne and Valerie are two writerpreneurs who understand how that works. It isn't about getting. It's about giving and then watching how success comes back to you. Sort of a zen thing."

Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s first novel, This is the Place, has won eight awards. Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, a book of short creative nonfiction, has won two awards.

For more information about writing, editing, publishing and book promotion, visit Yvonne (www.yvonneperry.net) and Carolyn (http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/) on their respective Web sites.

Legacy Series: Adams Point by Elena Dorothy Bowman

Review of Adams Point, the third book in the Legacy Series

Title: Legacy Series: Adams Point
Category: Paranormal
Reviewer: Chrissy Dionne
Author: Elena Dorothy Bowman
Publisher: Write Words, Inc.
Release Date: 2007
ISBN Number: Print-1594314527 --EBook 1594315043
Author Homepage: http://elenadb.home.comcast.net/Author
Email: elenadb@comcast.netFormat:
EBOOK/PRINTRating: 4.5 blue ribbons

When we last visited Adams Point in the previous book, Gatekeeper’s Realm, readers were left with many questions regarding the spirits that inhabit the made-over Inn which had once been known as Pierce House. Guests have disappeared and there's a sinister wraith hovering over the building. Some of the guests have opted to return to Caleb’s Cove where they believe they’ll be safe from the danger lurking at Adams Point, but are they really?

Ethan, Abigail and the guests who chose to remain at Adams Point have no clue what to expect from the wraith or what to do to appease it. With two couples already missing, Tony’s mysteriously disappeared, and unbeknownst to anyone at Adams Point, Jill, one of the guests whom Ethan had dropped off in town, has also disappeared. The apparition obviously intends to do whatever it has to in order to ensure its demands are met and until then Ethan, Abigail, Tony and the guests are all at its mercy. Abigail harbors hope that Jacob, one of the original ghosts - and a friend, will escape the wraith’s clutches long enough to clue them in on what needs to be done to release them all from the nightmare in which they’ve found themselves. In the meantime, the men devise plans to find and rescue the missing people while protecting the women. One of their plans is for the women to leave Adams Point and stay at Caleb’s Cove where they’ll be safe. Only it soon becomes painfully obvious that the wraith’s plans don’t include allowing any of them any measure of safety. The only way to satisfy it is to return to the Inn and attempt to appease it somehow. Where have the missing people gone and why? Will Jacob be able to break the wraith’s hold and return to Abigail to let her know what’s going on and what needs to be done to correct the situation?

After reading Gatekeeper’s Realm, I was fascinated with the characters and the vivid imagery that enthralled me throughout the storyline. I’m thrilled to say that Elena Dorothy Bowman's continuation of the story in Adams Point contains all the same traits that have made the Legacy series a thrilling read. I loved the men’s alpha attitude and determination to protect the women and had to laugh at the women’s not-without-us attitude. While the sinister apparition kept me guessing at what stunt it would pull next, I was really hopeful to meet Jacob and learn just how he could help satisfy the wraith. I do have to confess while I was quite sure there would be a happy ending for the couples, I wasn’t anticipating the emotions I experienced at the end of the story - sorry I can’t say more because it’d give too much away. I would recommend reading all three of the books in the Legacy series – House on the Bluff, Gatekeeper’s Realm, and Adams Point in order to fully experience the wonders carefully hidden and guarded in this fascinating house/Inn.

Snippet Guests are disappearing, unwelcome ghosts are making their presence known and the resident ghosts are nowhere to be found. Welcome to Adams Point, the final book in Elena Dorothy Bowman’s Legacy series. It is sure to hold you spellbound as you experience the wonder of an ancient prophecy and its effect on everyone who visits the area.

Golden PJs Awarded to Participants in Article Challenge

This summer I participated in Suzanne Lieurance and Kristin King’s article challenge with 60 other writers. The challenge was to write 30 articles in 60 days. I managed to crank out all thirty articles and won a Golden PJs Award last night.

As you may know, many of us freelancers who work from home have a daily attire of anything ranging from pajamas to the clothes we wore yesterday. I know, it's yuck to think about. We just get so involved in our work that we forget there is a world outside the room where we romance our computer.

I made a lot of new acquaintances in the challenge. There were writers on all genres and all skill levels; some even created their own personal goals in addition to meeting the 30 article challenge. Others were motivated to finally set up the Web site or blog they had been thinking about for years. The challenge means different things to different people, but all in all everyone in a winner as we moved to a new level of success as writers.

If you are interested in participating in the next Lieurance King article challenge, you may sign up at http://www.lkarticlechallenge.com/

Network with Us- October 2007!

Here are the announcements for October 2007 Writers in the Sky Newsletter:

Author Interview. In case you missed Yvonne Perry's interview with Phil Harris on his show "All Things that Matter," you may access the audio file at on http://www.blogtalkradio.com/pharris/blog/2007/09/25/all-things-that-matter Phil and Yvonne walked chapter by chapter through RIGHT TO RECOVER Winning the Political and Religious Wars over Stem Cell Research in America to highlight some of the things covered in Yvonne's educational book.

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Kathryn Struck, Publisher says, “We are open for novel submissions (for 2009)! Check our Submissions page (menu item at our site) for details: http://www.blogger.com/www.awe-struck.net .
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Dorice Nelson and her husband, Shel Damsky, also a writer, will be selling their novels at the huge Chronicle Book Fair on October 14th in Glens Falls, New York. http://www.blogger.com/www.doricenelson.com

Local Authors Day at Chelmsford Library on October 25th from 7-9 p.m. Elena Dorothy Bowman will be speaking about and signing her books for sale. http://elenadb.home.comcast.net/

Muse Online Conference - Nikki Leigh with Arline Chase & Dorice Nelson - Will offer a one hour workshop and forum for questions about choosing real life settings and incorporate location and historical facts into your books. What advantages and disadvantages are there in the creation and promotion of your books. Meet us on Tuesday October 9 at 6:00 pm EST to discuss this topic and visit our forum during the week to share your thoughts and questions.
http://www.freewebs.com/themuseonlinewritersconference/2007workshops.htm
http://www.freewebs.com/museconference/presenterskm.htm

To register to attend any of the programs for the conference, visit
http://www.freewebs.com/themuseonlinewritersconference/registration.htm

Nikki Leigh will be participating at Book Em writer's event in Waynesboro, VA on Saturday October 20, 2007. Visit http://www.bookemfoundation.org/. For information about Nikki Leigh - http://www.bookemfoundation.org/Pages/bookem/2007_authors_k_o.html.

New Releases –

Journeys of a Lifetime - Anthology from the Readers' Station will be available in ebook and print in October 2007. For more information, visit www.readersstation.com/journeys.htm.

Book Promo 101 - Basics of Book Promotion by Nikki Leigh (http://www.nikkileigh.com/) will be available in ebook and print in late October 2007.

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NaNoNational Novel Writing Month is a special writing competition that is held each November 1- 30. You will find tips and suggestions to help you participate, survive and win the NaNo writing competition at http://www.nikkileigh.com/nano_tips.htm or visit the NaNo Web site at (http://www.nanowrimo.org/) for more information about the competition.

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Announcing the First Writing Show New Year’s Poetry Slam!

We are looking for poets, judges, and sponsors for the event, which will be posted online at http://www.writingshow.com/ on January 1, 2008. A poetry slam is the competitive art of performance poetry. Writing and performance both matter!

Rules:

• Each poem must be of your own construction.
• You must hold the audio rights to your poem. If you haven’t given them away, you own them.
• Each poet or team gets three minutes (plus a ten-second grace period) to read.
• No props or musical instruments.
• One entry per person or team.
• English only, please.
• Any type of poem is okay.

Remember, your performance is as important as the writing. To submit, send an email to paula@writingshow.com that includes:
* The name of your poem.
* The text of your poem (this will not be published).
* Your contact details, including name, location, email address, and phone number (we will use this only if we have trouble reaching you via email. We will not give out any of your personal information without your permission except your name and location, which will be available to our audience).
* A link to your performance in .mp3 or .wav format.

Entries are due October 31, 2007.The Writing Show will select 20 contestants, whose poems will be posted on January 1st. Winners will be announced in mid-January. Cash prizes TBD. The Writing Show http://www.writingshow.com/

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You are cordially invited to join author Sydney Molare her four month Global Blog Tour. You can post to Sydney's site, interview her on yours, share tips for aspiring writers, post excerpts, host contest and much more. This is a great opportunity to expose your work to new readers of all genres. Make sure you are on board this exciting Cyber Tour today. To join, please send an email to Sydneymolare@yahoo.com, put Global Blog Tour on the subject line. A date will be appointed to you within one week.

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Are you looking for a way to promote your book through Promotional Blogs?

Visit any or all of these sites and click on "HOW TO SUBMIT" to learn the simple steps to submit information about your books. These are FREE promotional blogs. Nikki doesn’t charge for the exposure, but she appreciates anyone who wants to spread the word about these blogs.

First Chapter Blog - Share the First Chapter of Your Book
http://www.startatbeginning.blogspot.com/

Share Details About the Best Friend in Your Book
http://www.mybestfriendsstory.blogspot.com/

Share Your Book Cover and the Story Behind the Cover
http://www.judgebookbycover.blogspot.com/

Tell Us More About the Setting of Your Book
http://www.itsallinthesetting.blogspot.com/

Share Details About Your Heroine
http://www.shareyourheroine.blogspot.com/

Share Information About the Hero
http://www.shareyourhero.blogspot.com/

Tell Us About Your Bad Guy or Bad Girl
http://www.badguysandvillains.blogspot.com/

Start With the Facts - For All Non Fiction Books and many Fiction
http://www.startwithfacts.blogspot.com/

From Books to Movies
http://www.frombookstomovies.blogspot.com/

In Detail with Nikki Leigh
http://detailwithnikkileigh.blogspot.com/

Promote Your Book through Current Events
http://www.inspiredauthor.com/v3/current-events-and-your-book-promotion-0
Submit an example of an article which ties the content of your book with current events.

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Views on POD, Print on Demand Technology
By Michael Lee Johnson

I used iUniverse Publishers, http://www.iuniverse.com/ to publish my book of poetry, The Lost American: From Exile to Freedom. I attempted to contact traditional publishers of chapbooks and small press publishers specializing in poetry, and other non-main street venues, but I soon found out that most were associated with contests once a year to generate funds for the one publication printed per year; or no real interest since poetry as a general rule doesn’t generate money for the publisher. It appears that self-help books and the occasional novel stand a better traditional chance of selling and making profit. Since I’m 59, soon to be 60, I didn’t want to invest more time into seeking out the slim hope of finding a traditional publisher, so I looked to POD, Publishing/Printing on demand. PODs print books as they are ordered. The wholesale cost is higher than a traditional publisher, but you are not stuck with inventory under your bed. Prices and services vary greatly from one POD publisher to the next, but most have a format or procedure they follow and most provide a rudimentary distribution process through wholesalers to get your book at least listed with some key players like Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Target.com, Baker and Taylor, Ingram, etc.

Unless the author promotes the book his own efforts, the book is likely to die without sales. You must market yourself right from the start if you have any hope of sales, especially on your first book as a relatively unknown author. One key benefit to POD is that the author keeps control over his work. My book was published and assigned an ISBN (0-595-90391-6) which is critical for creditability. Some POD publishers are Author House, who recently merged with iUniverse, Book Surge. A more complete list with pricing and comparison of services can be found at: http://booksandtales.com/pod/index.php

Overall, POD suited my needs to get established and retain ownership with a quick and easy procedure. My printed book and eBook is now Listed at Amazon.com and http://www.iuniverse.com/.
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Increase Your Creativity Seminar!

Meet your inner Muse face to face! Improve your out-of-the-box thinking! Find solutions to stubborn problems! Break through creative blocks!

You may have heard the statement: We use only 10% of our brains. Curious about what the other 90% has to offer? Now’s your chance to find out!! Whether you’re a songwriter or visual artist, a playwright or actor, a housewife or entrepreneur, improved creative ability can speed you toward your dreams and goals.

In this three-session workshop geared to all levels of creativity, from daily challenges to masterpieces, you’ll learn right brain/left brain techniques to access your “inner muse”---anytime, anyplace. The workshop includes experiential and guided visualization work as well as information to help you take your creativity to the next level---or two! You’ll leave inspired and energized, with tools that will last a lifetime.

Three Tuesdays, November 6, 13, and 20, 2007, 6:30 - 8:30 pm. $75. (Some scholarships available.) Seating limited to 12, so reserve your place today! Call Batya at 615-299-6525, or email UPositive55@aol.com.

Seminar presented by Passion-for-Life Psychotherapy and Personal Coaching, a division of LifePositive. Batya D. Wininger, LCSW, MA, CSC, Rev., has been a psychotherapist and group leader for 15 years, a life coach for more than 20, and a writer since age 8. She recently opened LifePositive, a practice encompassing psychotherapy and life coaching for individuals, groups, and small businesses, focusing on the creative life and its special needs.
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Goal Setting & Achievement for the Creative Person
Turn Creativity into Success through a Three-Week Goal Attainment Workshop

Led by Life-Coach and Psychotherapist Batya Wininger, LCSW, MA
Oct. 11, 18 & 25 (consecutive Thursdays), 6-8 p.m.
Hosted by the Songwriters Guild of America Foundation
SGA Nashville office, Suite 321, Cummins Station, 209 10th Ave. S.

Do you find that your everyday responsibilities get in the way of your writing dreams? Do your creative endeavors take a back-burner to everything else on your list? Are you wondering if you are as creative as you used to be? Do you need help returning to your creative path?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you should enroll in this new workshop. Deveopled specifically for the creative writer, performer, or visual artist, participants first be guided in establishing and prioritizing their specific goals. The next step, organizing and determining actual “doable” steps, leads participants to a system that provides continuing motivation and feedback. Within three consecutive Thursday evenings, workshop attendees will be well on their way to achieving their creative dreams.

Reserve your seat now! Seating for the three-week workshop is limited. Please call Kimberly Maiers Shaw at SGA (615) 742-9945 or email nash@songwritersguild.com Tuition for all three sessions is only $70 for SGA Platinum/Diamond members; $75 for SGA Gold Members; and $80 for non-members. Tuition increases by $20 after Friday, Oct. 5. All classes will be held at the SGA office, Suite 321, Cummins Station, 209 10th Ave. S. Nashville, TN.

A Song for the World: The Amazing Story of the Coldwell Brothers and Herb Allen: Musical Diplomats

A Song for the World: The Amazing Story of the Colwell Brothers and Herb Allen: Musical Diplomats

Authored by Frank McGee

Many Roads Publishing (2007)

ISBN 9780978794804

Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (7/07)

Award-winning author Frank McGee has compiled his remarkable story, A Song for the World, from hundreds of letters, documents and scores of interviews. This is the story of the Colwell Brothers and Herb Allen, musical diplomats to the world.

The book details the careers of these men, which span a period of over fifty years. As entertainers and songwriters they demonstrated courage, commitment, and vision leaving behind the comforts of home, promising careers, and budding romances to introduce a new concept for changing the world through the power of music. They touched the lives of millions of people worldwide with their songs. Their songs are written in dozens of languages and dialects.
The format of the book is eye-catching in design with hundred of photos giving detailed descriptions of the location, the events or persons. The text includes important sidebars for emphasis of important details. Each chapter contains a song, poem or composition written by one of the men.

I personally enjoyed the “The Amazing Music History Quiz” at the end of the book which highlights some of the early audacious adventures of the Colwell Brothers and Herb Allen. I also appreciated the complete index and bibliography included.

Working with “Up with the People” the team traveled six continents. They faced the dusty roads of India, the revolution in the Congo, the strife in Ireland, and the closed door of China. They presented a message of hope and peace. The “Up with the People” team produced the half-time show for four Super Bowls, viewed by over 90 million people on television.

“Up with the People” worked with twenty thousand cast members from over sixty countries over a period of forty years. They performed in Munich, Madrid, Watts, Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, Moscow, Beijing, and numerous other important locations and national and international events.

Direct quotes from Herb Allen, Paul, Ralph, and Steve Colwell reveal the depth of their dedication,and sacrifice to the cause of peace. The book is a tribute to these four men and the cause for which they dedicated their lives.

Frank McGee’s writing is crisp and descriptive. The book has a natural flow which includes historical events, musical diplomacy, and examples of organizational leadership.

McGee’s writing is informative, interesting, and compelling. A Song for the World is a book for anyone who wants to impact change in today’s world.

Take The Mystery out of Selling Fiction!

Join Valerie Connelly, the Publisher at Nightengale Press and author of Calling All Authors: How to Publish with Your Eyes Wide Open and p.m.terrell, author of Take the Mystery out of Promoting Your Book for a special, FREE teleseminar to be held on Wednesday, October 17 - and they'll be taking YOUR questions!

For more tips on successfully marketing your books and obtaining more media attention, tune in to "It's Your Call: Take the Mystery out of Selling Fiction!" This coming Wednesday, October 17 at 8:00 PM Eastern Time (7:00 PM Central Time). The call is FREE. Simply call in to 1-605-475-6006 about five minutes before start time. When prompted, enter this Access Code: 763624#. Then, sit back and listen to a great conversation between Global Talk Radio Host Valerie Connelly, who is also the Senior Publisher at Nightengale Press and the brains behind www.callingallauthors.org, and critically acclaimed author p.m.terrell. The call-in phone line will be closed five minutes after the program begins.

You can even ask questions LIVE, ON THE AIR. When asking a question, please state your name and ask your question. Please wait until all other participants have had a chance to ask questions before you ask a second one.

Just a little teleseminar etiquette: for obvious reasons, please do not have barking dogs, crying children, blaring televisions, or other noisy distractions going on in the background. Everyone on air will be able to hear it!

If you sign up before the start of the teleseminar, you can even receive a CD-ROM or MP3 for FREE. Visit www.callingallauthors.org for more information.

Jordana Ryan

Jordana Ryan will be Barbara Milbourn’s guest on Writers in the Sky Podcast October 19, 2007!

Jordana Ryan is a 31 year old single mom in St. Louis Missouri. Jordana received her bachelors degree in Psychology from The University of Tennessee Chattanooga in 1998. Since that day, Jordana has spent much of her time working with the adult mentally ill population and Juvenile and Adult criminals. Jordana has been writing most of her life but until a year ago her writings remained for her eyes only. Since publishing her first novel No Matter What, She has developed a passion for the writing and publishing industry. She is currently working on several projects that she hopes her readers will enjoy!

Below is a blurb about her book, No Matter What.

Haunted by her involvement in her parents death at the age of ten, Cassandra has never been confident in the love that others felt for her—not her adoptive parents, her friends and certainly not the man she loved with all her heart. So, after giving herself to her high school sweetheart on prom night, she flees from the overpowering fears and all those who supported her.

And then after four years of sleeping with one strange man after another—whose names she couldn't remember or never knew—she decided enough was enough. It was time to return to face those she'd left behind, particularly Brenden Carter.

Brenden should hate Cass for running away from their love and with his daughter, but somehow even after years of telling himself he hated her--and doing a lot of womanizing himself--Cass' smile still managed to get next to him.Will he be able to forgive her for leaving him when he needed her most?

Check http://jordanaryan.tripod.com/ for more information about Jordana Ryan.

Her book is available at http://www.amirapress.com/, http://www.fictionwise.com/, http://www.amazon.com/ and by using the ISBN you can order at any local book store.

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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

Each show has multiple parts which last about 15-20 minutes each. The short-length classes are a great way to learn about the craft and business of writing while driving to work or sweating at the gym!

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/

Feminine Writes Compiled by Sheri McConnell

Feminine Writes Compiled by Sheri McConnell
Edited by Angel Brown and Julie Ann Halick
National Association of Women Writers
2002 Trade Paperback
ISBN: 0971477514
Adult/For Writers Inspiration/Self-Help (Writers) Explicit (violence, language)
Excerpt/More Info Link: http://www.naww.orgreviewed/

Women, Wisdom and Writing
Women Writers Bare Souls, Share Knowledge for Other Writers
Reviewed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, columnist and reviewer for MyShelf.Com and author of This is the Place, Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered and the How To Do It Frugally Series of books for writers

The three big Ws. Women, Wisdom and Writing. An apt subtitle for Feminine Writes, a kind of writing genre all its own.

Compiled by Sheri McConnell, president and founder of the National Association of Women Writers, this book is a little of many things. Eclecticism like this could be the kiss of death for a book, the path to self destruction, but in this case it works very well. The first five chapters are composed of inspirational works culled from essays by members of NAWW--a huge organization that is growing every day. Covering subjects like The Identity of a Woman and Passion and Creativity, they appear in this book by invitation and Sheri has been careful to include only the best.

These are lovely pieces that should be read by any writer, whether she journals only for her own needs, is a hard-working reporter or writes creatively. These essays may be read one by one and savored or devoured nonstop. Intended for women, many would be of value to men.

The second section is designed to give a writer experience but also to Ignite the Woman Writer’s Soul. Section three is all (or almost all) about the practical. It answers 25 commonly asked questions about the writing life. A woman writer may find something here that she had thought to ask but never did, or a new slant on an answer that she long thought she had the answer to. At the end of the book is a Directory of Wisdom. There is a surprise here that I shall not reveal. It may be sufficient to say that wisdom does not always spring from expected sources.

Feminine Writes, edited by Angel Brown and Julie Ann Halick, is available, along with many other perks, at no cost to writers who choose to become a member of NAWW. Or it may be ordered on Amazon.

I highly recommend this book. It is, in part, a mass memoir. Women share their innermost selves with other writers. It is a workbook extraordinaire. All in all, it is a book full of camaraderie. If I used a star system for rating, I would wave a flag full of them for Feminine Writes. A pretty pink flag, for women writers everywhere.

~Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s first novel, This is the Place, has won eight awards. Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, is a book of short creative nonfiction. It has won two. Both are seeing renewed interest because they are set in Salt Lake City, Zion to Mitt Romney. Howard-Johnson is also the author of The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't and The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success. Learn more at http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com/.)