Proof or Spoof? Life After Death Some of the Best Evidence

Proof or Spoof?
Life After Death Some of the Best Evidence
Author: Jan W. Vandersande Ph.D.
ISBN: 978-1-4327-2549-5
Price: $14.95 US
Publisher: Outskirts Press (2008)
Reviewer: Yvonne Perry

Is there really life after death? It sure seems that way. Even before reading this book, I believed life continues in the spiritual world. After reading it, I feel less inhibited to talk about my own experiences. I’ve never been in a séance, much less have I seen trumpets flying around the séance room, but I have seen ghosts, angels, and other bodiless energy forms.

Do you ever feel as though you are being watched? What if you actually saw or heard the entity? Vandersande’s book, Life After Death, gives many accounts of his sessions over an eight-year period where he personally witnessed such things as ectoplasm and direct voice through trance mediums and channelers. All his experiences are described in detail and with supporting strange-but-true photos.

Materializations of deceased entities are probably the most impressive evidence for life after death. He talks about materialization during sessions he calls sittings or séances in which the medium is usually in trance. This is not hard for me to believe, and probably a pretty acceptable idea to those who have lost a loved one and felt their presence near them thereafter. I have awakened during the night on more than one account to see a bluish-grey figure hovering over my bed. Things have been known to move from one place to another in my house. Thanks to Jan, I now know that these phenomena are due to spirit entities manifesting themselves. Such occurrences were so common in my life that I wrote and published a book about it in 2005.

Vandersande’s book is appropriately subtitled Some of the Best Evidence for Life After Death. The thing that captivated me about this book is how the medium or channeler was able to give exact details about a person or situation that let the seeker know that their deceased loved one was indeed speaking or communicating (in the case of a channeler) through them. There was no other way such intimate things could be revealed. The author considers alternative explanations for these psychic phenomena such as telepathy and ESP but to me, it would be just as hard (if not harder) to believe in telepathy or ESP as it would be in life after death. I’ve had readings/prophecies that were as effectively true.

He talks about a few frauds in this field, but there can be a fraud in any walk of life. Fortunately, this did not keep Dr. Vandersande from investigating the topic in depth and forming his own opinions. His beliefs are supported by his experience, which I would expect from a scientist such as Vandersande. We all want proof that our experiences are real, but we don’t to be rejected by those whose beliefs are different than ours. I think that is where many religions lead people astray; they tell people what to believe rather than teaching them to explore and accept their own truth.

I enjoyed this book and found the stories fascinating especially the ones where the medium was able to give personal details that he or she could not have known in the natural realm. I think that one of the most helpful spiritual gifts a person can have is to be able to provide comfort and emotional healing through prophecy or by providing readings that give specific and accurate information to let the inquirer know it truly was the spirit of their deceased loved one speaking.
Is this book and psychic phenomena proof or spoof? You must decide for yourself.

Listen to the interview with Dr. Jan Vandersande and Yvonne Perry on www.writersintheskyblog.com

Going Through a Hard Time? It Could Be a Blessing

Kenneth Worth will be joining us today on Writers in the Sky Podcast August 29, 2008 to talk about how hard times in his life have made him a stronger person.

The youngest of two children, Kenneth F. Worth was born in Neptune, New Jersey, in 1939. Orphaned at age eleven, Worth grew up in the Jersey Shore area and overcame many trials. He went on to earn an MBA degree in Management from Fairleigh Dickinson University and worked for over thirty-five years as a successful manager.

Click here to listen to Part 1...

About the book:

Journey with author Kenneth F. Worth as he faces hard times and great blessings. His has been a road made rough by many adversities, including the tragic death of his parents at age eleven, a year in Vietnam and an array of serious physical challenges. Yet Worth insists that he is a blessed man who sees life as a challenge to be met head-on and as an opportunity to make a difference. Here Worth lays out his tragedy and triumph for everyone to see. His story will renew your faith and your optimism. You will feel new hope and courage to live your life to the full. You will be aware of God's blessings. Come and share the experience!

Click here to listen to Part 2...

ISBN: 9781432723088
Book is available at: http://www.outskirtspress.com/hardtimes paperback and e-book or Amazon kindle e-book or on-line everywhere.

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

Tips to Strengthen Your Writing

By Ginger Simpson

Between belonging to two critique groups, being edited by different publishing houses and reading information on blogs, I feel more confused than ever. It seems that rules change from house-to-house and while the lines blur, I am very clear on the following traps we authors fall into while writing. I just wonder why some people refuse to crawl out after they’ve tripped up. I keep reading the same mistakes over and over so I’m offering a few helpful hints I’ve garnered from such places as Michelle Styles’ awesome blog at http://michellestyles@blogspot.com/ and from the owner of Enspiren Press, Suzanne James. These people seem to have an awesome grasp on what not to do when writing that winning novel. I’m going to address a few areas in no particular order:

1. Action/Reaction Sequence. The sequence makes sense. Before someone can react, something has to happen first. What may seem simple can be demonstrated with the following examples:

John jumped up and screamed when the ghost appeared from the closet. Or A ghost appeared from the closet, and John jumped up and screamed.

Sally bumped her head when the car hit a curb. OR The car hit a curb and Sally bumped her head. Both make sense, but the rule is: Action first, Reaction second.

The ghost appearing is the action, and I believe John’s reaction is apparent. Sally probably wouldn’t bump her head unless the car hit a curb. Make sense?

2. “That” bad habit. When I write, and I notice others do the same, I tend to stick in “that” where not necessary. I almost did it when I wrote the first sentence. Out of habit, I wanted to put “I notice that others do the same. A recent rejection I received noted I used “that” far too frequently, so now I’ve become accustomed to thinking before I type it. I normally would have typed the preceding sentence thusly: A recent rejection that I received noted that I used “that” far too frequently, so now that I’ve become accustomed to thinking… I think that you get the picture…oops. I think you get the picture.

3. Back Story. Almost every story we write requires some back story (facts leading up to current), but the secret is peppering it throughout so we don’t bury the reader with it. Novels are supposed to unfold as they’re read—happen in the moment and drawing the reader into the action. If you spend paragraph upon paragraph telling what happened earlier rather than showing what is happening now, you’ve most likely lost the reader’s interest. Give enough detail to bring the reader up to speed but don’t drown them in facts that may not impact the story at all. It’s an acquired talent and one I’m working hard on.

The same goes for describing the scene. The reader doesn’t need to know the location of every tree on the property and how many birds nest in them. Better yet, paint a mental image of the tree shading the heroine’s window and the light filtering through the leaves. I recently read a drafted story in which the author fully-described everything in the heroine’s kitchen, down to the knives in the drawer. I tried to explain you might mention the counter as the heroine moved past and picked up a knife from the drawer, but three paragraphs describing everything in the room soon grew tedious and overdone.

4. RUE = Resist the Urge to Explain. A good writer enables the reader to determine emotions from the text. Michelle Styles gave a wonderful example on her blog that demonstrates her message. Rather than tell the reader your heroine is sad, use descriptive sentences to reflect it. Let the reader assign the emotion. I’m following Michelle’s lead here:

It was Cindy’s birthday and she felt sad.
Or
The date on the calendar mocked Cindy—her birthday, but it seemed like any other day. As she sifted the mail, rifling through unwanted catalogs and advertisements, she hoped for one single personally-addressed envelope holding a card. There were none.

Since I read Michelle’s piece, I'm so much more aware of unnecessary information we add to our stories when our dialogue should show the feeling and eliminate the need to explain what the reader should feel or see.

Another Example: Excited, Sarah entered the room. She felt tense and nervous at the same time. She needed water to soothe her thirst.
Could be: Sarah burst into the room (entered versus burst–using an action verb to show her excitement). Her heart raced, yet her jaw tensed. (showing her tenseness and nervousness). She smacked her lips, hoping for saliva to combat the cottony feel in her mouth. (showing her thirst).

Okay...so I'm not Nora Roberts...I wrote this on the spur of the moment, but I think you get the message.

5. Names: If you have an exchange going on between two people and it is clear to the reader, there is no need to continually use the characters name in the dialogue. One must assume the reader is intelligent enough to determine who is speaking with a minimal of hints and tags. Wouldn’t you find this a tad tedious?

Jane and Fred sat next to the fire, enjoying their wine. Fred turned to her with the flames reflecting in his eyes. "Jane, I'm having a wonderful time. Thank you for inviting me."

"Me too, Fred. I'm so glad you came."

"Jane, would you like me to refill your glass?"

"No thank you, Fred. I'm fine. I get giddy if I drink too much."

The same applies for starting every sentence with “she/he.” She heard the bell chime can be: The bell chimed. She saw the sunset become an artist’s pallet of colors can be, The sunset became an artist’s pallet of colors. He or she doesn’t have to identify with everything. Words are better spent describing action to your readers.

6. Tenses (Past, Present, Past imperfect…blah, blah, blah.) I'm still trying to acclimate to reading things written with “could see,” “could hear,” “could speak,” “had been missing.” Although I realize it's a style, I've had it beaten into me that saw, heard, spoke, and missed make the story unfold in the moment, and for me are preferred.

Consider: She could see his face, even in the dim light. The only sound she could hear was crickets outside the window. If only he could speak the words she longed for. She had been missing him far more than she expected.”

Now consider: She saw his face, even in the dim light. The only sound she heard was the crickets outside the window. If only he spoke those words she longed for. She'd missed him far more than she expected.

Okay...corny! Still, I prefer this style when at all possible. I realize dialogue can be in past tense, but I want to feel my stories happening now.

We all write differently. Each of us has a style or flair that is innately our own. I’m willing to make some changes and concessions during editing, but one thing I will fight for: keeping my own voice. Everyone should. It’s what makes us unique and helps us stand apart from the crowd. The hard thing is trying to convince your editor of that.

Author Ginger Simpson lives in Tennessee with her husband, Kelly, and shares her days with her autistic grandson, Spencer. Finding humor has always been a stress reliever, and is evident in her books and her blog. You can find her Web site at http://www.gingersimpson.com and join those who enjoy her blog at http://mizging.blogspot.com. Her efforts recently earned her a peer award for entertainment in blogging. She always loves to hear from people who enjoy her work.
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I (Yvonne) heard a Grammar Girl episode on using the word “that” and I think you will enjoy it: http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/when-to-leave-out-that.aspx

Ever Been Fined for Correcting Grammar?

Two men took it upon themselves to eradicate bad grammar, spelling, and punctuation by "fixing" government signs that had typos. The authorities called it defacing public property, fined them $3k each, and banished them from entering state parks for a year!

Read the story about grammar vandalism . . .

Brillante Weblog Premio - 2008 Blog Award

Nikki Leigh nominated Writers in the Sky Blog for the Brillante Weblog Premio - 2008 Blog Award. The award goes to blog owners who provide exceptional and useful content on a consistent basis.

I want to pay it forward, so I have chosen five blogs that I think are worthy of this award. The choice wasn't easy, but I have narrowed it down to the following. These are in no particular order.

Cherise Thorne's blog http://www.knowingspirit.blogspot.com/ is filled with informative posts, lovely poetry, beautiful photos, and is so soothing to visit. She allows other people to post their work on her blog thereby giving them a chance to be noticed. Her energy is very comforting and loving, so I always come away feeling uplifted and peaceful. Cherise has a radio show and a free newsletter that further enhances her blog and online presence.

Hal Manogue http://halmanogue.blogspot.com/created his blog just to share his thoughts and insights with people and show how we are all one in spirit. However, his blog has been a birth place for several of his books including his latest Short Sleeves Insights Live An Ordinary Life In A Non-Ordinary Way. I love his compassionate, non-judgmental way of sharing his truth with others.

Janet Riehl's blog http://www.riehlife.com/ has a wide variety of topics as she takes us all over the world with her poetic writing and daily insights. Her literary journey is dotted with photos, clip art, and useful links to other people's work. She has a great list of resources, too! Her blog is interactive and invites a lot of comments.

Barbara Techel 's book Frankie the Walk -n Roll Dog and her blog http://www.joyfulpaws.typepad.com/have got to be one of the cutest I've ever seen. Her top-quality posts are about topics relevant to physically challenged people and animals. Frankie is her dachshund who suffered a spinal cord injury and walks by using a custom-made set of wheels. Kids will love this blog too!

Tarot by Arwen http://tarotbyarwen.blogspot.com/ Horoscopes, tarot readings, and recipes, this blog has a lot of great content. Arwen even brings in a spiritual and writing component that I really enjoy. Plus, she has a great resource list of other blogs that I also like reading. I could spend all day on her blog.

Writing a Column Helps Sell Books

By Francine Silverman

I was wondering if newspaper and online columns affect book sales and asked some columnists for their feedback.

“For me, writing columns resulted in a book deal,” says Ginny Stibolt, a computer maven and Florida gardener whose first book, Sustainable Gardening for Florida, will soon be published.

The monthly columns she’d been writing for the online edition of Jacksonville’s newspaper (The Times Union), http://www.transplantedgardener.com/, impressed the acquiring editor for University Press. Although he declined publishing a compilation of her columns, he did ask if she could write a book on organic gardening for Florida instead. Of course she said “yes.” http://www.sky-bolt.com/

Dr. Gilda Carle is author of several books on relationships and dating. She writes a weekly column for MSN.com (partnered with Match.com) called Suddenly Single, in which she answers questions from readers. “Depending on how heated my topic is, I can often get up to 50,000 hits per day to my Web site, http://www.drgilda.com/, and my book sales and other products,” she says. One particular column titled “7 Signs Your Honey May Cheat,” got such a huge response that it was placed on MSN’s home page, “and I ended up getting their greatest number of readers in all their history…that’s not all. Match hired me to be spokesperson for them at an AARP conference, to discuss dating over 50.”

Cindy LaFerle, author of Writing Home (Hearth Stone Books 2005), a collection of her award-winning columns for the Sunday Lifestyles section of a suburban Detroit Daily, believes that having a regular column – print or online – “is a real boost for book sales.” Having written her column for 12 years, she had a following and became known as the “local columnist.” Cindy continues writing columns on-line and contributes to regional print magazines. “These pieces also help keep my book more visible, and I usually notice an increase in sales, especially on Amazon, each time a new one hits the stands.” http://www.laferle.com/

“To me, it’s all about keeping your name out there,” Cindy says. “A column gives readers a chance to know you, and to get a sense of your work,” Gilda agrees. “For sure, our written words translate into book sales, product sales, speaking engagements and more,” she says. “While all this was happening, I was appearing on an NBC TV show in Orlando. I found out about the MSN column’s popularity on my Blackberry, told the show’s producer, and I was asked to discuss the column’s topic on a future show. Written visibility is the best calling card you have!”

So it doesn’t seem to matter anymore whether you write a column on-line or for a print publication. All that matters is exposure.

Francine Silverman’s latest book is Talk Radio for Authors - Getting Interviews Across the U.S. and Canada (Infinity Publishing 2007). Her forthcoming book is Talk Radio Wants You: An Intimate Guide to 700 Shows and How to Get Invited (McFarland & Co. 2009). http://www.bookpromotionnewsletter.com/

Hard Times and Great Blessings

Today, we welcome Kenneth F. Worth (Ken) to our writing blog. He is discussing his book Hard Times and Great Blessings–the story of my life. Ken will be joining us on Writers in the Sky Podcast August 29, 2008.


The youngest of two children, Kenneth F. Worth was born in Neptune, New Jersey, in 1939. Orphaned at age eleven, Worth grew up in the Jersey Shore area and overcame many trials. He went on to earn an MBA degree in Management from Fairleigh Dickinson University and worked for over thirty-five years as a successful manager.

About the book:

Journey with author Kenneth F. Worth as he faces hard times and great blessings. His has been a road made rough by many adversities, including the tragic death of his parents at age eleven, a year in Vietnam and an array of serious physical challenges. Yet Worth insists that he is a blessed man who sees life as a challenge to be met head-on and as an opportunity to make a difference. Here Worth lays out his tragedy and triumph for everyone to see. His story will renew your faith and your optimism. You will feel new hope and courage to live your life to the full. You will be aware of God's blessings. Come and share the experience!

YVONNE PERRY: Tell me something about yourself and your writing background.
KEN WORTH: My life is pretty much an open book now that I have put it in writing for all the world to see. I had a normal early childhood and then in one second my whole life fell apart and was full of hardships. That is spelled out pretty well in the book. But then my life was also filled with God's blessings. I can look back and see God's hand in my life repeatedly over the years. I am truly blessed. As far as my writing background, I didn't have any. I had a story to tell and this is my way of telling it. I pray that it will be a blessing to those who read it.

YVONNE: What is the title of your book? Give us the basic story line so we’ll know what it’s about.
KEN: The basic storyline is to chronicle my life and draw the reader into the experiences with me, to see both the hardships and blessings that I have been through. The book shows that you can be blessed and be a blessing through the many hardships of life. You have to play the cards you are dealt but you can enjoy the game and be an inspiration to the other players.

YVONNE: What inspired you to write this book?
KEN: It was a story—a true story—that was crying out through me to be told. It is a story of God's faithfulness. The first chapter draws the readers in. It is emotionally charged and most people tear up while reading parts of it and are blessed throughout—especially at the end.

YVONNE: Is this the first book you have written?
KEN: Yes. I never even considered writing a book. I honestly did not believe I could write one. I didn't think I had it in me. But once I started, I got into it and enjoyed it. And I feel good because I think It will be a blessing and inspiration to many. Initial feedback is good. Some are reading it cover to cover almost without stopping and many can relate to specific parts of the book. I am very satisfied with the final product.

YVONNE: How long did it take to write this book? Any interesting tidbits about your writing method or how the book developed?
KEN: I remember that I started writing this book on Jan 1, 2008. It was published on 14 May 2008. That is 4 ½ months. Once I started, I pretty well kept at it full time until it was completed. Everything went on or before schedule. Of course having a good publisher helped too.

YVONNE: How did you publish your book? Tell me about your publishing experience and what you learned from it.
KEN: My publishing experience was a good one from beginning to end. I used Outskirts Press, a POD (Print On Demand) company. Since I had no experience with publishing, I needed someone who could help me along the way. Outskirts did that very well and printed an excellent quality book. Through the process I learned that I could do it. And that it was actually easier than I thought.

YVONNE: Did you work with an agent? If so, how did you find the agent? Was it beneficial to you?
KEN: I never even considered an agent. My main concern was getting the book into the hands of people who need it – to make a difference if you will. I was not looking to make a lot of money on the book. However, the book has to sell to get it in people’s hands, so I'm thinking about where to go from here. Of course, it has only been published about two months so it is still early.

YVONNE: Where is your book available? Do you have a Web site or blog where we can learn more about you or your book?
KEN: The book is available online basically worldwide. The best place to get it either in paperback or e-book is from my book website at http://www.outskirtspress.com/hardtimes. Of course you can order it through any bookstore using the ISBN: 9781432723088. Or Google it!

YVONNE: As far as marketing, do you do more online publicity or print/radio/TV promotion? Tell me some ways you have promoted your book. Give examples and links to any sites you feel might help other authors.
KEN: The book is still so new and I am still just getting into the marketing thing. But I am mostly into online and radio venues I am working on marketing strategies given out by Outskirts Press. This podcast is an example and I am working toward other interviews and am networking with other authors to pick their brains. Quite honestly, I have no budget at this point for marketing, so except for review copies of my book and a few incidental costs I am perusing basically free opportunities at this time.

YVONNE: Have you hired a publicist to help promote this book? If so, what was your experience like?
KEN: I have no plans to hire a publicist at this time.

YVONNE: Any other comment you would like to share?
KEN: Yes, don't be afraid of the publishing system. You can do a lot more than you think you can. Everyone has story or as passion–go for it!

YVONNE: Thank you for giving us the opportunity to get to know you and learn about your book. I wish you well in your journey as an author.
KEN: Thanks to you and Writers in the Sky for the opportunity to come here and be interviewed. I really enjoyed it.

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

Working with Multiple Programs at One Time

I know am guilty of running too many programs at once. I expect my computer's processor to keep up with my spontaneous, split-second, impulsive mind.

When working on a project, I am usually at my PC. I will typically have running: Ms Word, Wordpad (to remove unwanted formatting), the client's file folders, a photo editing program to work with graphics I'm adding to the text, and the client's Website may be open in case I need to reference it.

My MS Outlook is normally open all day. My Web site is pulled up to make it easy to answer the continuous flow of emails that need a response. My blog dashboard is more than likely open in case I get ideas for a new post. I may type in a blurb on Twitter as it crosses my mind; therefore, I may have at least four tabs open in Firefox and I may even have Internet Explorer simultaneously running with multiple tabs. Heavens, I've even had my MacBook open on my desk for more multi-tasking. How much is too much?

Whew! How many programs do you normally run at one time? Feedback welcome in the comments under this post.

Writing the Second Draft of Your Book

This article written by award-winning author Mary E. Martin shares the process involved in the second round of writing a book.

I sometimes say the first draft of a novel is the most satisfying to write. When the creative spirit gallops free as a mare in the fields, kicking up its heels. You know the work is going splendidly! But when it’s not, your spirit [creative or otherwise] drags along like a lame donkey hauling a cart of manure. Life can be unmitigated hell.

But at last, it’s wonderful! Your first draft of an entire novel exists, complete with a beginning, middle, and end. Now what happens?If your creative spirit roamed free in writing the first draft, it may be a terrific novel, but I’ll bet you’ll have your work cut out for you.

I wrote Final Paradox, the second in The Osgoode Trilogy, in long bursts of creativity. In fact, it seemed someone else inside me, [a different person from the one who wrote Conduct in Question] was doing the heavy work. Ever had the experience of saying something and thinking—who on earth said that? I believe that’s your subconscious chiming in. And so, if that happens when you’re writing, pay attention! It’s probably really good.

However, be careful. You’ve probably got a tremendous amount of re-drafting work ahead of you. In it’s first draft, Final Paradox, was a crazy, sprawling mass of contradictions. You could tell creative passion had written it. Rough and disorganized it may have been, but it had an energy all its own.

What to do? First, I went through it chapter by chapter, trying to see just what should go where. Although I almost never make charts and plans at the outset, I frequently make scroll-like charts to show me where I’ve been. Then I can tell whether I made a wrong turn there or went down a path to nowhere at another point. Then, I studied Robert McKee’s extremely useful book Story, Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting. This helped me “train” the story, so as to put it into an effectively paced, properly integrated progression of scenes. And that took many months of study and re-organizing.

Next came the refining. Once I had the chapters reasonably well organized, I was able to examine the manuscript in more detail. How did the dialog sound? Did each major character speak in his or her own distinctive voice? Could I contrast one action scene with a slower paced, more reflective one? How could I weave in themes of love and forgiveness among all the murder and fraud? How could I connect these two levels? Thousands of questions came up, but finally, I was at a second draft, which was much more understandable.

After that, I could pay attention to all the smaller details, such as grammar, spelling etc. One of the tasks, which comes in the much later drafts, is polishing and embellishing. For example, suppose you’ve written a scene [as I did in Final Paradox for Harry Jenkins] where he is on the run and hiding out in a dingy motel. I wanted to capture not only the description of the place, but also express his mood of desperation and depression through that description—all in just a few sentences. Making those choices of words and phrases is, for me, the polishing and embellishing of the manuscript.

And so, if you’ve “tamed” that manuscript, without killing it’s passion and energy, you’ve done a great job. When the wild horse is “broken” and trained properly with love and care, he may win the race. If you keep revising and redrafting, you may win the Kentucky Derby of novels!

http://www.theosgoodetrilogy.com/
www.authorsden.com/maryemartin
A TRIAL OF ONE, the third in The Osgoode Trilogy, is the winner of the Readers Views Literary Award and is a finalist in Foreword Magazine, Book of the Year Award. Also, it won an honorable mention at The London Book Festival. FINAL PARADOX, the second in the trilogy earned an honorable mention at the Hollywood Book Festival.

Some of the Best Evidence for Life After Death

Jan Vandersande will be joining us today on Writers in the Sky Podcast August 22nd, 2008!

Jan W. Vandersande Ph.D. received his B.A. with Honors from Swarthmore College, his M. Sc. in Physics from Cornell University and his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. He was a lecturer, then an Assistant Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand and then a visiting Associate Professor at Cornell University. Before working at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) –part of Caltech/NASA- for eleven years he was a stock market analyst at the brokerage firm Rodman & Renshaw in Chicago for a year. At JPL he was a Technical Group Leader and worked on power sources for space applications. After leaving JPL, he was the President & CEO of the AMEX listed company Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. for eight years. Currently he is the Director of Communications for the Hi-Tech company VIASPACE Inc. and spends most of his spare time reading and writing about psychic phenomena. He has had over 80 scientific articles published in scientific journals and conference proceedings and has three patents.

Click here to listen to part 1 of this fascinating interview...

Summary of Life After Death, Some of the Best Evidence

The author, Jan W. Vandersande Ph.D., has described in considerable detail some of the best evidence that he is aware of for life after death. He has based this evidence on his own experiences which include sittings with trance mediums and channelers, and also sitting quite regularly over an eight-year period in a circle in which he witnessed physical phenomena such as trumpets flying around the séance room, direct voice, and ectoplasm. All his experiences are described in detail.

Additionally, three of his close friends witnessed full materializations numerous times and one of them, Professor Jack Allen, photographed ectoplasm coming from the medium as well as two full materializations. These four photographs are shown in the book.

His experiences have made it possible for him to critically read a lot of the existing literature on psychic phenomena. He has cited numerous cases, which he believes are genuine and are some of the best evidence for life after death. These cases come from channelers, trance mediums, direct voice and materialization sittings. Several materialization mediums are discussed in detail, and some photographs of ectoplasm and full materializations are shown and are compared to the ones taken by Professor Allen. Considerable emphasis is placed on materializations since they are the most impressive evidence for life after death.

Click here to listen to Part 2 about how Jan published and is marketing his book...

The author also considers alternative explanations for these psychic phenomena such as fraud, telepathy and “super-ESP” but in all the cases he documents the survival of life after death hypothesis is the most likely explanation.

Read more or purchase Jan's book at http://www.outskirtspress.com/bestevidence

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

Networking News for Writing Newsletter

I am accepting networking items pertaining to the business or craft of writing, editing, book publishing, and book marketing for the September issue of Writers in the Sky Newsletter.

See examples of qualifying entries at http://tinyurl.com/5b7ndr and send your material to me via the contact page of our writing Web site.

The newsletter will go out on the first Tuesday of the month, which is September 2. Read our current or archived issues of Writers in the Sky Newsletter.

A Writer's Best Friend

As a writer and editor who works all kinds of crazy hours, I can relate!

Amazon Blitz for Award-winning Book

Today, August 19, my colleague, Irene Watson, has gathered together leading authors and experts, to show you new ways to lift your life to breathtaking heights--including transformation, personal growth, and creating an inspiring life.

I’m working with her on this offer. If you purchase her award-winning book: The Sitting Swing: Finding Wisdom to Know the Difference today, you will be on your way to receive the many gifts entitled to you.

All you have to do is go to http://www.readerviews.com/RV-amazon/index.html and follow the link to purchase your copy of The Sitting Swing: Finding Wisdom to Know the Difference at Amazon.com. Then enter your Amazon transaction number in the space provided and you will be directed to where you can claim your gifts.

All proceeds from the sale of The Sitting Swing will be donated to Higher Power Foundation, Inc., a foundation created to give financial assistance for people to attend recovery-based spiritual and life training events.

So don't delay, go to http://www.readerviews.com/RV-amazon/index.html and claim your copy of The Sitting Swing today, August 19th.

Life After Death, Some of the Best Evidence

Author on psychic phenomena, Dr. Jan Vandersande, will be joining show host Yvonne Perry on Writers in the Sky Podcast August 22, 2008. Today we welcome Jan to our writing blog. He is discussing his book Life After Death: Some of the Best Evidence.

Yvonne: Tell me something about yourself and your writing background.
Jan: I am a physicist by training and have a Ph.D. degree. I have published over 80 scientific articles in scientific journals and conference proceedings. This is my first book.

Yvonne: What is the title of your book? Give us the basic story line so we’ll know what it’s about.
Jan: The title is Life After Death: Some of the Best Evidence. It describes the psychic phenomena my wife and I experienced over an eight year period. We were lucky to experience trance mediumship, direct voice, trumpets flying around the séance room and see ectoplasm. Using my own experiences I was able to critically read much of the literature on psychic phenomena and take some of the best evidence for survival from it. These cases are described in my book.

Yvonne: What inspired you to write this book?
Jan: As I just mentioned, my wife and I witnessed psychic phenomena, called physical phenomena, which are very rare to see, over an eight year period. These phenomena were the inspiration to write this book. These phenomena provided such good evidence for life after death that I wanted to tell the story about what we witnessed. Also, my experiences made it possible for me to critically read much of the psychic literature and take from it some of the best evidence for life after death.

Yvonne: Is this the first book you have written?
Jan: Yes, this is my first book.

Yvonne: How long did it take to write this book? Any interesting tidbits about your writing method or how the book developed?
Jan: It took me about three years to write it. I did a lot of reading of the psychic literature to take some of the best cases providing evidence for life after death.

Yvonne: How did you publish your book? Tell me about your publishing experience and what you learned from it.
Jan: I submitted the book to about ten publishers but all turned it down. Many publishers will not take direct submissions so you have to go through an agent. I tried about five agents that handle New Age books but they turned me down. I believe that the publishers and agents were afraid to touch a book about physical phenomena such as ectoplasm and materializations. As a result I decided to publish the book myself. I used Outskirts Press to publish the book and they have done a great job.

Yvonne: Where is your book available? Do you have a Web site or blog where we can learn more about you or your book?
Jan: The book is available on-line at: Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com. Towerbooks.com, etc. The website for the book is: www.outskirtspress.com/bestevidence.

Yvonne: As far as marketing, do you do more online publicity or print/radio/TV promotion? Tell me some ways you have promoted your book. Give examples and links to any sites you feel might help other authors.
Jan: I have been able to get two psychic websites to recommend the book as well as a critic who specializes in books on the paranormal. I did a radio interview and will give a lecture later this month. I sent out books to try to get reviews but that is not easy. My topic is controversial (materializations) and I think that not to many book reviewers want to touch it.

Yvonne: Have you hired a publicist to help promote this book? If so, what was your experience like?
Jan: No, I have not thought about a publicist yet. I am waiting to see how sales go by doing it myself.

Yvonne: Any other comment you would like to share?
Jan: Writing the book is half the battle. Then there is publishing and promoting it.

Yvonne: I agree! Marketing a book can be a full-time job. Thank you, Jan, for giving us the opportunity to get to know you and learn about your book. I wish you well in your journey as an author.

Summary of Life After Death, Some of the Best Evidence

The author, Jan W. Vandersande Ph.D., has described in considerable detail some of the best evidence that he is aware of for life after death. He has based this evidence on his own experiences which include sittings with trance mediums and channelers, and also sitting quite regularly over an eight-year period in a circle in which he witnessed physical phenomena such as trumpets flying around the séance room, direct voice, and ectoplasm. All his experiences are described in detail.

Additionally, three of his close friends witnessed full materializations numerous times and one of them, Professor Jack Allen, photographed ectoplasm coming from the medium as well as two full materializations. These four photographs are shown in the book.

His experiences have made it possible for him to critically read a lot of the existing literature on psychic phenomena. He has cited numerous cases, which he believes are genuine and are some of the best evidence for life after death. These cases come from channelers, trance mediums, direct voice and materialization sittings. Several materialization mediums are discussed in detail, and some photographs of ectoplasm and full materializations are shown and are compared to the ones taken by Professor Allen. Considerable emphasis is placed on materializations since they are the most impressive evidence for life after death.

The author also considers alternative explanations for these psychic phenomena such as fraud, telepathy and “super-ESP” but in all the cases he documents the survival of life after death hypothesis is the most likely explanation.

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

Need an Editor?

And, let's start with an o-f-f-i-c-i-a-l  spelling lesson!

Need an editor? Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Service can help. www.writersinthesky.com

How to Escape an Abusive Relationship

How to Escape an Abusive Relationship
Author: Dottie Randazzo
ISBN-13: 978-0615184241
Publisher: Creative Dreaming
Book Length in Pages: 80
Price/Currency: $10.95 US
Paperback

I never cease to be amazed at how Dottie Randazzo can pack such a powerful punch in so few words. All of her books are short and to the point, and only have a few sentences in large print on each page, but she gets her message across in a way that impacts the reader to take action. How to Escape an Abusive Relationship spoke to me so profoundly that I felt goose bumps all over while reading it. Dottie's plan is to have a plan. I know it sounds simple, and it is simple for someone who is not in an abusive situation, but her plan is doable for anyone who IS in an abusive relationship. It may not be easy, but having a plan moves the victim one step at a time toward freedom without upsetting the abuser and making the situation worse. Dottie has been there and knows what it is like to have to sneak around to get a moment alone in order to make her next move toward getting out. She has captured the mind of the victim without ever seeing herself as a victim. In fact, she sees herself (and so do I) as a smart, funny, successful woman who somehow got herself into a very undesirable and unhealthy situation. I admire her for being brave enough to refuse staying a victim and taking undeserved punishment. And, I admire her for writing this book to help others. Dottie tells exactly how she escaped the mental and emotional abuse of her ex-husband. This empowering information will help you formulate your own plan to get out alive and with a means of providing for yourself after your prison bars open.

Don't stay any longer than you have to; get started on your road to freedom now! Anyone who is in an abusive situation should GET THIS BOOK!

Orchestra Leader Shares Writing Experience

Today we welcome Hugh Ballou to our writing blog. He is discussing his book Transforming Power: Stories from Transformational Leaders to Inspire and Encourage.

YVONNE: Tell me something about yourself and your writing background.
HUGH: I worked for over 40 years as conductor of choirs and orchestras and learned much about motivating people, setting and achieving goals, getting the most accomplished in short rehearsal times, making important decisions on my feet, and giving clear directions for people to know exactly what to do. I began to write in 2004 because I understood how a conductor transforms black dots on paper (musical notation) into sound and then into a wonderful musical statement. I transferred this skill set to conducting effective meetings. I then understood how powerful this could be with leaders anywhere, so I wanted to share this knowledge with as many others as possible, so I wrote my first book. I did not consider myself to be a “writer” but I did have something to say, so I began to write. That book, Moving Spirits, Building Lives: Church Musician as Transformational Leader is in its third printing!

YVONNE: What is the title of your book? Give us the basic story line so we’ll know what it’s about.
HUGH: My newest book is Transforming Power: Stories from Transformational Leaders to Inspire and Encourage. It is an anthology of stories by leaders who have lead or been a part of a transformation of and organization, in people’s lives or the transformation of an idea into reality. All of them are published authors with great stories. Each has a different perspective on leadership and is willing to share it with readers. The leadership concepts are universal and can be use by leaders in any kind of organization.

YVONNE: What inspired you to write this book?
HUGH: My first four books (three in print, one still underway) are strategies and “how to” tips. We all learn differently. Some need facts and next steps and some need a story and some relate to both. I wanted to touch leaders who are having challenges in implementing a vision (we all experience this) and give them a vision of how others have met the challenge.

YVONNE: Is this the first book you have written?
HUGH: I have three books in print (one in its third printing) and one almost out. Transforming Power is the fifth one I started, the fourth book; Leaders Transform is being finished and will be out in the fall. The topic I write about is Transformational Leadership. The titles are:
Moving Spirits, Building Lives: Church Musician as Transformational Leader
Moving Spirits, Building Lives: A Workbook for Transformational Leaders
Building High Performance Teams: Structures and Systems for Leading Teams and Empowering Transformation


YVONNE: How long did it take to write this book? Any interesting tidbits about your writing method or how the book developed?
HUGH: The book took 6 months to pull together and it took me a long time to write my short sections. It’s more difficult to write a short section than a longer book. I asked 25 people to contribute to the book and gave them my vision for how it would look. Only 2 people said no. They could not contribute because of timing. Others responded enthusiastically without any question of what was in it for them. They supported the idea and wanted to support the concept. All the authors have other publications, but this project stood out enough to get their attention.

YVONNE: How did you publish your book? Tell me about your publishing experience and what you learned from it. Please go into detail if you wish.
HUGH: My first books are self-published because I wanted to get material into the hands of leaders right away. I wanted to have a major publishing house take this project on to give it credibility and thorough distribution. I approached George Donegian at Discipleship Resources, a publishing entity of the United Methodist Church, to share the idea. He said he’d present the idea to his publishing committee if I could get commitments from authors. I did and he did. I began the project with his word and we signed the contract when I got the manuscript together. They did a find job of design, editing and publishing the book and we are now trying to let people know that it’s ready for reading. I learned that a great idea would get traction if you can present why it’s valid and why it’s good for the publisher. The major publishing label for the United Methodist Church rejected my first book, which is in its third printing saying that they felt pastors would not purchase a book written by a musician. Most of these books are in the hands of pastors. I learned that there is a way to get to your readers and to not give up my dream.

YVONNE: Did you work with an agent? If so, how did you find the agent? Was it beneficial to you?
HUGH: I did not need an agent for this book. I got to the right person who believed in me. Because he believed in me, I was determined not to let him down. So I made the collection the best I could – for them, for me and for readers.

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?
HUGH: Go to http://www.transforming-power.com/
There is a click to order the book from Amazon. I have collected over $3,000 worth of free leadership resources from great leadership trainers, authors and consultants for those who purchase my book.

YVONNE: As far as marketing, do you do more online publicity or print/radio/TV promotion? Tell me some ways you have promoted your book. Give examples and links to any sites you feel might help other authors.
HUGH: Here’s some stuff on my book:We are in the fifth day of a 30-day viral campaign for Transforming Power.Here are two posts today on sites that get a lot of traffic:http://www.themarketingmindset.com/2008/08/how-does-an-orc.htmlhttp://www.evancarmichael.com/Book-Reviews/2820/Transforming-Power-by-Hugh-Ballou.htmlI have two radio interviews posted on our site http://www.transforming-power.com/ Endorsements are here http://www.transforming-power.com/quotes.htmHere’s the schedule for the blog tour:http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/06/transforming-power-virtual-tour-with.htmlhttp://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/06/what-can-conductor-teach-you-about.html

We have also promoted the book on live leadership teleseminars. The details are at http://www.leadershipteleseminar.com/

I have not yet planned TV, Radio and other marketing, but will be doing so with the publisher in the next two weeks.

YVONNE: Have you hired a publicist to help promote this book? If so, what was your experience like?
HUGH: No. I hired a viral marketing expert. Between what I know and the resources of the publisher, we passed on hiring a publicist.

YVONNE: Any other comments or things you would like for us to know?
HUGH: I am excited about this interview and would love to answer any questions from your readers. They can email me at hugh@hughballou.com

YVONNE: Thank you for giving us the opportunity to get to know you and learn about your book. I wish you well.

For more information about Hugh Ballou, visit www.hughballou.com. Book information is available at http://www.amazon.com/Transforming-Power-Transformational-Encouragement-Inspiration/dp/0881775312 For full tour details, visit http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/06/transforming-power-virtual-tour-with.html

A SPECIAL BONUS TO EACH PERSON WHO PURCHASES TRANSFORMING POWER TODAY – Hugh Ballou has compiled a list of great FREE bonus gifts for anyone who purchases Transforming Power today. To see a sample of the items that are being given away, visit http://www.transforming-power.com. Just buy a copy of Transforming Power, return to this page and click to submit your invoice number to receive the web page link to download all of these gifts for FREE.

Nikki Leigh – Author, Publicist and Tour Coordinator
www.nikkileigh.com – Book Promo 101: Learn the Basics of Book Promotion

Author Shares Book, Publishing Experience, and Marketing Tips

African-American Romance Author Deondriea Cantrice will be joining Yvonne Perry on Writers in the Sky Podcast to share the storyline of her book, her publishing experience, and some marketing tips.


Deondriea Cantrice is a student of the human condition, wielding the written craft to captivate the mind much like an artist wields a brush. The pages are a blank canvas on which to draw from a talent heralded by many and matched only by an imagination that rises to the task. Rhythm Can’t Keep Time is the first in a series of recent pursuits for Deondriea Cantrice, with work progressing quickly on the horizon. Deondriea aspires to entertain, educate, and inspire her readers with tales of true life.

Click here to listen to Part 1...


Synopisi of Rhythm Can't Keep Time, Sometime Love Just Ain't Enough

Rhythm is synonymous with time, but what happens when Rhythm Can't Keep Time? Sterling and Sheridyn were not looking for love when they discovered a distinct rhythm in each other. A Song, a dance, and a simple beat led them into a journey of Urban Love. Rhythm Can't Keep Time is not a sappy love story, but a tale of passion, purpose, and possibilities that will keep you entranced in Sterling and Sheridyn's dance. Although love is timeless, it waits for no one.

Click here to listen to Part 2...

For more information, testimonials, or excerpts, please log onto http://www.deondriea.com/.

Rhythm Can't Keep Time (ISBN 9781432722968) is available at http://www.amazon.com/, http://www.bn.com/, and http://www.tatteredcover.com/.

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

The Writing Life: English as a Flexible Language

One of the beauties of the English language is its ability to absorb new words to reflect our changing culture. Here are definitions for some words officially recognized by the Merriam Webster and Oxford English dictionaries.

Baliwood or Bollywood – The film capital of India.

Blog – The words “Web log” shortened and condensed to mean an online journal.

Corporatization – When corporations, not the government, control economic reform.

Earjacking – A graphic way of saying eavesdropping.

Google – A play on the mathematical term “googol,” it’s the brand name of the most powerful online search engine.

Insourcing – Performing a service within a company, rather than sending the work out to a vendor or another company.

Locavore – A person who eats locally grown and harvested food.

Muggle – From the Harry Potter novels, meaning a person with no magical powers.

Webcast – Broadcasting an audio or visual program over the World Wide Web.

That’s just the new words. Then there are the words that have added new meanings.

As a naturalist, “spider” describes an 8-legged arachnid. As a writer who publishes online, “spider” is how Google ranks material published online.

In nature a “web” is what a spider weaves to catch insects for food. In the 21st Century, the “Web” is the abbreviation for the World Wide Web, linking users on the Internet.

I’ll save the topic of phrases for another article.

The words “muggle” and “locavore” came to my attention because of writers. JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series is credited with inventing “muggle.” My head spins when I think of the fact that it took less than ten years for her invented word to make it into the dictionary.

The word “locavore,” created by four women in San Francisco, also made it into the dictionary in less than ten years. Locavore became part of my vocabulary when I read Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable Miracle. I aspire to Kingsolver’s mastery of an eco-friendly lifestyle and her mastery of the written word.

If Thoreau or Darwin came back today, I wonder how long it would take them to translate from 19th to 21st Century spoken English. Could they have a conversation with Rowling and Kingsolver?

That’s one conversation I’d love to eavesdrop on – I mean earjack.



JJ Murphy has been eating wild foods since her farmer parents pulled weeds from the veggie garden and she ate the weeds. JJ continues to forage and write in Harriman, NY, posting recipes and resource information at http://www.WriterByNature.com.

How Do I Get Started Writing?

Whack a Few Writing Myths by Joyce Shafer

There’s all kinds of advice on how to write including:

You must write every day.
Write in the same designated spot at the same time every day.
Write for at least one hour every day.
Get up early several mornings or every morning to write.
You must have complete silence.
You must eat only blue M&Ms or no blue M&Ms, I forget which.

These bits of advice are not etched in stone I’m relieved to tell you. I choose to be intentional and passionate about writing, not monastic. I’ve written at all times of the day and night, and not every day (well, I do count emails which are excellent practice); on my sofa, at my desk, standing up on the subway; for five minutes and for ten hours at a stretch; with jackhammers and leaf-blowers making a racket outside my window (and a neighbor learning to play drums); and I don’t like losing sleep.

One problem with trying to follow a “One Way” rule is that, more than likely, it’s not the most appropriate way for you. If you don’t follow the rule(s), you get into self-judgment. Then you’re so busy thinking and feeling bad about yourself, you’re not taking the action that will create your desired outcome. If you’re committed to writing, nothing and no one will stop you.

If you don’t know how to get started, start anywhere. Seriously. For fiction, if you have the ending, start there. The beginning and middle will come to you. If you’re writing non-fiction, make a list of what you plan to cover. You can write about any item on your list when you feel inspired to do it, or any section or chapter you want to focus on.

Coaching questions:

If you haven’t started, what’s stopping you?
What might you do to take the first step?
What’s the next step after the first? And the next?
Would it be nice if you were a published writer or do you intend to become one no matter what?

Exercise: Write a page about anything, even if all you write is, “This is stupid. I don’t know what to write. If I knew what to write, I’d be writing.” This will ignite your ability to just get going.
Article partially excerpted from Write, Get Published, and Promote: An Easy e-Guide for New and Aspiring Writers by Joyce Shafer (author/freelance services for writers). Get a discount at http://www.freewebs.com/writegetpublishedandpromote

Rhythm Can't Keep Time, Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough

Deondriea Cantrice will be joining Yvonne Perry on Writers in the Sky Podcast August 15th, 2008!

Deondriea Cantrice is a student of the human condition, wielding the written craft to captivate the mind much like an artist wields a brush. The pages are a blank canvas on which to draw from a talent heralded by many and matched only by an imagination that rises to the task. Rhythm Can’t Keep Time is the first in a series of recent pursuits for Deondriea Cantrice, with work progressing quickly on the horizon. Deondriea aspires to entertain, educate, and inspire her readers with tales of true life.

Synopisi of Rhythm Can't Keep Time, Sometime Love Just Ain't Enough

Rhythm is synonymous with time, but what happens when Rhythm Can't Keep Time? Sterling and Sheridyn were not looking for love when they discovered a distinct rhythm in each other. A Song, a dance, and a simple beat led them into a journey of Urban Love. Rhythm Can't Keep Time is not a sappy love story, but a tale of passion, purpose, and possibilities that will keep you entranced in Sterling and Sheridyn's dance. Although love is timeless, it waits for no one.

For more information, testimonials, or excerpts, please log onto http://www.deondriea.com/.

Rhythm Can't Keep Time (ISBN 9781432722968) is available at http://www.amazon.com/, http://www.bn.com/, and http://www.tatteredcover.com/.

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

Three Flies Up - My Father, Baseball and Me

Three Flies Up – My Father, Baseball and Me
Author: Kelley Dupuis
ISBN: 978-1-4327-2155-8
Publisher: Outskirts Press, Inc.
Genre and Target Market: biography; father/son relationships; baseball
Publication Date: 2008
Book Length in Pages: 382
Reviewer: Sarah Moore

There certainly is no shortage of stories that have been told about the difficult dynamics of the father/son relationship. The struggle for independence and manhood, generational differences in career expectations and the battle for respect have been put on full display for centuries. Amidst the emotional issues, it is not unusual to find the sport of baseball as an essential element woven into the American father and son story. The autobiography Three Flies Up, the third book written by author Kelley Dupuis, certainly contains all of these expected components. But, this autobiography is far from the formulaic tale of familial strife and reconciliation.

We are introduced to Dupuis’ entire family throughout the course of the book, including a troubled younger sister who suffered an untimely death and a mother who maintained a positive outlook despite a difficult marriage. We also get to know the cast of characters who worked with Dupuis over the years, most memorable being those who managed to irritate the author in some capacity. Dupuis’ world travels as an employee with the State Department and contentious relationships with domestic bosses are detailed with humor. His career successes and setbacks certainly do provide a backdrop in Three Flies Up, and create the circumstances for family interactions. However, the heart of this autobiography comes from the relationship between the author and his father, Joseph Ellis Dupuis.

Dupuis explains his father’s selfish behavior in a way that makes the reader uncomfortable, if not downright angry. How is one supposed to react to a man who tells his son on his tenth birthday that he is one-sixth of his way to death or who bullied his kids as payback to some assumed wrong from his wife? Joseph Dupuis was a man who found derogatory comments to make about minority groups, focused on the negative aspects of every situation and resented any moment at which he was not receiving everyone’s full attention (even at his own wife’s funeral). But, Dupuis also creates compassion for the fragility of his father’s personality. He was a man who showed quiet moments of tenderness when singing to his son’s elderly cat or caring for his tomatoes every year in his small garden. He cried out to his son as he lay in a hospital bed and realized that dementia was overtaking him, “I used to be a man!” To imagine those words coming from my own (very complex) father made for a very painful moment of reading.

There are moments in Three Flies Up that are absolutely gut-wrenching. Anyone who has struggled with the ravaging effects of dementia, particularly with a parent, will undoubtedly relate to Kelley Dupuis’ writing. As the primary caregiver for the last year of his life, Dupuis fed, changed, and guided a father who was slipping deeper into a world of confusion and anger. He writes about his father’s return to a childlike dependence with tenderness and honesty. When the author writes about his need to escape to the kitchen just to cry and mourn the person his dad had become, you cannot help but find yourself connected to the author.

Despite a troubled relationship that at one point led to five years of estrangement, the author and his father had one interest that allowed them to speak a common language—baseball (particularly the San Diego Padres). When every other discussion had reached an impasse, the question, “What time is the game on?” could reunite the two for a common cause. Mr. Dupuis uses each baseball season and its victors as a way of marking the passage of time in this book. Interspersed with funerals, love affairs and family fights are recollections of batting statistics, lousy trades, and the annual fate of those “good boys” from the Padres. While two pages abruptly detailing the pitch count in the seventh inning of a Padres game may seem superfluous to some, anyone who finds a connection with sports and their life lessons will appreciate the perfect symbiosis.

Three Flies Up was my introduction to Kelley Dupuis’ writing and I will be making it a point to read his two previously published books. While I will never be a father or a son, I could understand the relationships detailed in this autobiography. Don’t we all have some point of remorse or resentment with our parents? How many of us embrace those elements that strengthen sometimes the shaky bonds with our family? Aren’t our close relationships often the most complicated ones? I encourage you to learn more about Kelley Dupuis and his father by reading Three Flies Up and then, if you can, join your own dad at the ballpark for a couple of beers and some cheering for the home team.

A Saving Hurricane

A Saving Hurricane
Purchase at http://www.booklocker.com/books/3527.html and on Amazon.com.

Synopsis. From one storm to another. It was the worst decision she ever made but it was for the best. Where do you go to hide from an abusive husband? Where can you disappear completely? Where can you go to save yourself and your children? You run straight into the nation’s worst disaster in history--Hurricane Katrina. Because refugees have no name, because misery loves company and because in the devastation there’s a chance to start over. In a broken New Orleans, one woman builds a new life, falls in love, but makes dangerous choices to survive.

Author Bio.Bernadette Sukley has been researching, writing and editing for over 20 years. Her work has appeared in Sports Illustrated for Women, Men's Health and Natural Health magazines. She's written and copy edited for the Danish-based expat publication, ABROAD. She currently lives in the shadow of Hawk Mountain.

Why Your Book Should be Evaluated Before Going to Market

By Yvonne Perry

Have you ever purchased a product that didn’t live up to its promise? You probably felt disappointed and wanted your money back. A book is a product, and I have read a few that left me feeling frustrated.

If you own a store, you want to sell quality products to satisfied customers. If you ask a store to sell your product, you would not ask them to sell something that is broken or missing parts. It is the same way with bookstores. They do not want their shelves filled with books that are of poor quality. While many POD (publish on demand) outlets produce a nice cover and quality binding, they probably won’t require you to hire an editor to improve your book. In fact, most don’t even offer editorial services. Many PODs will accept any manuscript from anyone. They don’t ask the author for a marketing plan because they know that the money they make on a book is not from book sales; it is from the fee they charge up front to publish your book. Most books sell less than 100 copies.

Having an unedited book is the mark of an amateur and may prevent your book from being accepted by a conventional publisher. Publishers want manuscripts that are ready to publish. They don’t have time or money to invest in your manuscript in order to bring it to a marketable level. Yes, marketable within the publishing company, not to readers or bookstores. When your book comes to the acquisitions editor of one of the major publishing houses, someone has to believe in your product enough to move it up the line to the person or committee that will be reviewing the book for its sales potential and overall quality. If an editor can’t “sell” your book to her boss, your book will not be chosen for publication. A manuscript that lacks literary quality has: numerous typos, grammatical, spelling, and other mechanical errors such as verb agreement, shifts in tense, inconsistent voice, and poor sentence structure. It may need more development of characters, better set up of plot, improved transitional paragraphs, or a more logical flow of information. Manuscripts like these are not likely to reach an editor’s publishing list.

Most mechanical errors are caused by the author's lack of knowledge about correct usage rather than a lack of concern for correctness. Correct usage is very important and goes a long way to help a reader make sense of a writer's work. Even if you got all As in English, and are good at grammar and spelling, it does not make you a qualified editor. Did you notice I used As and not A’s in the above sentence? Using an apostrophe would make the word possessive rather than plural. A professional editor knows these things and also understands formatting, front and back matter, book structure, indexing, and is able to see your manuscript in a fresh, new way.

Let’s say you published your book through a POD, or perhaps you self-published and did not hire an editor before you released it. You have sent out hundreds of copies asking people to review the book, but you can’t figure out why no one is responding. It could be that the way the story was told was confusing or didn’t flow well. Perhaps the book contained so many mechanical errors that the reader was too frustrated to continue reading it. Even if they know enough about writing to critique a book, your friends don’t want to hurt your feelings. If they didn’t like your book well enough to write a review, they don’t want to lie about liking it. They will probably hope you avoid mentioning the book when they are with you. You have a better chance of getting reviews on a well-written, entertaining book that has wide market appeal, and reviews sell books.

Hiring an editor or getting an evaluation of your book before you publish will save you money in the long run. There is no guarantee that you will sell enough books to substantiate the time and money required to market a book. Having an inferior product lessens this opportunity even more.

Why not have a professional editor assist you with your book? Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services offers a plan that includes a thorough reading of your book or manuscript and a written assessment of its commercial potential. A kind (but honest) opinion of the author's strengths and weaknesses are given along with tips for improving the overall quality of writing. The evaluation includes an assessment of the manuscript's publishing condition and what it would take to get it ready to submit to an agent or publisher. The knowledge gained from this type of book evaluation helps an author become a better writer as he applies this feedback to future works. This money is well spent if you consider how much you will save by not trying to market an inferior product.

Yvonne Perry is a freelance writer and the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services. She and her team of ghostwriters and editors service clients all over the world by offering quality writing and editing at an affordable price. If you need a brochure, web text, business document, résumé, bio, article, or book, visit www.yvonneperry.net.

Do you agree or disagree? Please leave your feedback as a comment on this post.

What's Killing Your Publishing Career?

by C.F. Jackson

With the large increase of books being published by self-publishers, and the up-rise of print on demand, there is still a lot of death taking place in the publishing industry. In the United States, over 291,920 books were published in 2006, per Bowker.

Are you a part of this population? There are many aspects that make up these individuals. However, let us target just three that are undeniable to anyone reading this article.

As in anything we do, a large portion of it is about taking risks. Are you a risk taker? You have completed your manuscript or just published your novel; it is time to open the entrepreneur portion of your brain.

Risk takers do not mind the possible end result because the thought of success is pure motivation. Many writers and authors remain reclusive within the safe haven of their creativity. What makes this ideology costly? It is the slow return on their investment.

Are you wondering if you fit into this population of authors? Sure you have published your work for the whole world to read, even critique. But that is just the beginning of this venture. What makes you any different than the other hundreds of thousands of writers and authors?

Sure you can play it safe and hope your extraordinary opportunity hits you over your head. Why not become a risk taker and take it by authority?

Becoming a risk taker you must be:
--- persistent
--- creative
--- passionate

Another obvious bludgeon death is the lack of knowledge.

Yes it is lovely to remain in your creative world and just produce book after book. Can you imagine leaving all the other hoopla for others to sort out?

No one who’s a true business person would dare allow themselves to walk blind in their business. Prime examples are Oprah, Donald Trump, and Bill Gates. However, many writers and authors are just that, blind.

In order to be successful, you need to be savvy on all levels in the literary industry. If you are not, just like buying a car, you are going to get taken every time. Do your homework, rather than relying on third party hearsay. For example, many writers have shouted foul play regarding POD (print on demand). The pitch is knowing the short and long term of POD. Before signing any contract, may it be for a car, house, student loan, or what have you, the rule of thumb is to know what it says. If you do not know, you will swing at a curve ball because the only pitch you anticipated was the fastball.

To become knowledgeable:

--- ask questions
--- take the time to research
--- make sure you understand

Lastly, the beast of all beasts, is marketing. It is amazing how many authors are not marketing exhaustively.

This reverts back to the second point: lack of knowledge. Too many authors belief that a publisher will sign them and they will promote and market their book. Happy to inform you, that is not always the case.

This is your business and publishers have invested enough in you, such as advances, printing, and a brief promotion run. After this, it is the author’s job to build a Web site, create news releases, get interviews and so on.

There are many authors and writers out there with published works who are at a loss. Many assume self-published authors do not have to deal with marketing and promoting. If no one has informed you, allow me to say that is not true. All published authors, in any realm must market themselves. How else will your book or novel sell without getting out to the masses? Your readers?

To market, you must:

--- think-outside-the-box
--- market everyday on some level
--- address all angles of your novel or book
--- have a user friendly Web site

Take a look at where you are and where you desire to be in this literary world. Determine if you are killing your publishing career.

This is going to be a challenge, but you must have enough energy, passion, and juice to make it past the trying moments.

As a writer or author, make sure you are multi-dimensional. You are becoming an entrepreneur, so know where your hats are and when to wear them.

C.F. Jackson has been interviewed on The Sumter Television Show, The Louie Jones Show, Millionaire Monday Series by John DiLemme and Atlanta’s WVEE (V-103 FM), to name a few. Download your free Web site Makeover 101 at http://www. Web siteMakeoverWorkshop.com. Learn the two things a Web site must do.ph: 404.492.7644, email: info@Websitemakeoverworkshop.com