Writers in the Sky Video

Writers in the Sky has been busy working with multiple clients this month, but we somehow managed to create a video about our company. We would appreciate your comments, feedback, and ratings on YouTube. If you are so inclined, feel free to share it with friends or…

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Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKuuaYGhf5g.

Author Interview with Christee Gabour Atwood

Today, we have an author interview with Christee Gabour Atwood that I would like to share with our WITS community. I think you will find this very entertaining as well as informative.

YVONNE: Welcome to Writers in the Sky Blog, Christee. It is a pleasure to have you share with us today. 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?
CHRISTEE: We all have our vision of what being an author would be like. I wanted to hear someone call me “author”… as opposed to ‘Waitress!’ I wanted to sit and drink martinis and have people beat a path to my door. (Do bill collectors count as people?) I wanted to sleep late in my beach house and wait for checks to show up at my door. (I get up at 2:30 every morning and really enjoy those days that the number of checks coming in match up with the number of bills.)

And the funny thing is, even though the reality doesn’t match the dream, I wouldn’t trade being a writer for anything in the world. I’ve decided that security, a retirement fund, health insurance, and the four food groups are highly overrated. I am doing what I love and I’d do it for nothing. The fact that this is often the case is just an inconvenience.

I had a number of inspirations. My parents owned a little weekly newspaper and I slept in the bottom drawer of their file cabinet, so the sound of a typewriter has always had a good effect on me.

My mom is a writer who has been published in major magazines and newspapers. She taught me the power that the written word can have as she wrote to battle injustice, inequality, and bad politics in Louisiana. (But it’s not true that Louisiana politicians can be bought. Only rented.)

I used to watch the Dick Van Dyke Show and wanted to be a comedy writer because I loved Buddy and Sally and wanted to work with them. (My connection with reality has always been a tad thin.)

And I’ve found writing to be therapeutic. I can write and get things out of my system, and it’s much more widely accepted than wearing tinfoil in my hat and shouting at passing cars. Don’t know why I always thought that was the alternative, but I guess I’ll cover that in therapy when I can afford to go to a real psychiatrist.

YVONNE: What is the title of your book? Give us the basic story line so we’ll know what it’s about.
CHRISTEE: Three Feet Under: Journal of a Midlife Crisis

It’s a look at the episodes of midlife. That’s the time of life from when you’re first called ma’am or sir right on through to the point where you realize you’re being nice to people just to be sure there’s a crowd at your funeral. It’s when you realize that you use your exercise bike as a coat rack and you list your hair color as “Number 186”. It’s based on my theme for life, which is “If I laugh at myself first, then the rest of the world is laughing with me, not at me.”

YVONNE: Is this the first book you have written?
CHRISTEE: No. I wrote the self-published version, Journal of a Midlife Crisis, first. Then it was picked up, expanded, revised, and sanitized for the new version with my publisher.

I’ve also got three business and training books, Succession Planning Basics, Presentation Skills Basics, and Manager Training Basics. Those are fun because I get a chance to write things to remind people to treat each other decently, even at work. I also get to laugh a little with business people who often take themselves much too seriously. That’s why I believe every corporation needs to have a rubber chicken in their boardroom.

And if we get into the books I’ve written that haven’t been published yet – well, that’s another kettle of monkeys. I’ve written enough books to wallpaper a medium-sized condo or a large-sized prison cell. Not that I’ve ever been in either of those. Really…

YVONNE: How long did it take to write this book?
CHRISTEE: Forty-five years. Mainly because this book built on the humor column I’ve been writing for many years. When it came time to actually put it all together and make it a book – that just took the six weeks of recovery time from getting spayed. A hysterectomy and all that medication made my writing seem incredibly brilliant. Although I had to discard a lot of those chapters because of a recurring use of the word “gnaarglesplact”.

YVONNE: How did you publish your book?
CHRISTEE: I did everything wrong. It was a lot of fun.

I got a lot of really good bites from publishers, but they didn’t seem to understand the concept of the book. They wanted me to rewrite it as fiction. I just couldn’t do it, so finally I self-published. It was wonderful to have total artistic control. I even designed the cover and it looked darn good to me … and my cat. Not sure how anybody else felt about it.

But, then I was able to prove that I really could market a book, so I got picked up by a publisher. They paid me seven strings of beads and tah-dah! I was a published writer!

YVONNE: Did you work with an agent? If so, how did you find the agent?
CHRISTEE: No. I want an agent!! Does anybody have any connections?? I’ve tried and tried, but they seem even harder to find than publishers for me. I think I scare them. In fact, I think I scare most people. You should see the college boys who live next door. I scare them frequently when I go into the yard to sunbathe. I think one of them changed to an alternative lifestyle because of me.

Oops, I digressed again, didn’t I? Did I mention that I have the attention span of a gnat? Back to the agent question…

I’m trying to find an agent for the sequel because I’m terrible at negotiating. I paid full price for a house. I bought a car to get the pound of free sausage that they gave out with it. Needless to say, I would prefer to have someone else go through that process for me. Wonder what J.K.’s agent is doing these days?

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?
CHRISTEE: It’s available at online outlets and bookstores nationwide. Please go to your area bookstore and ask them to order it. Then email me and I’ll send you an autograph plate to put in it. It will make it priceless! Or at least worth 25 cents more…

I have a website – http://www.christee.biz/ -- but I admit that I haven’t used internet marketing enough. That’s what I’m trying to correct with this virtual book tour. I’ve realized that this is a wonderful opportunity to connect with more readers.

I’m working on my blog now and I’m creating podcasts and pod training, as well as related merchandise that will be available online. And I’ve learned to use terms like “sexy coeds” in the subject lines of my emails to get them noticed.

YVONNE: As far as marketing, do you do more online publicity or print/radio/TV promotion?
CHRISTEE: My marketing has mainly been through promotions on radio, television, print, and in personal appearances. I’ve gotten some great coverage through really silly methods. Yes, I wore a chicken suit and wrote a book in the window of a bookstore, but it got me on CBS news site http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/12/08/print/main2241177.shtml
I was also interviewed on syndicated radio programs and various television shows and I’ve gotten lots of print coverage from that one too.

Speaking engagements are a major part of my promotion efforts. I love captive audiences so I present sessions such as “Overnight Success … The 48-Year Method” that talks about all the things I did wrong on the road to publication. I teach sessions called “Fear of Frying: Presentation Skills for Writers” and of course, the always popular “101 Uses for a Rubber Chicken” which focuses on effective uses of humor.

I am currently working on a mall tour. I want to see how many food courts I can eat at before I add a full size to my wardrobe. I’m thinking of calling it ‘The Elastic Waistbands Tour. I really like to create events as opposed to just doing booksignings or readings’.

YVONNE: Have you hired a publicist to help promote this book? Have you worked with a publicist on any of your books?
CHRISTEE: This tour is the first time I’ve worked with a publicist. It’s nice to have someone working with you on a project, instead of going it all alone!

YVONNE: Any other comments or things you would like for us to know?
CHRISTEE: I believe every person in America should buy a copy of this book. It is safer than bungee jumping. It is lighter than a pair of concrete shoes. And it has not been shown to cause cancer … yet. What more can I say?

I’d also like to invite writers to join us for National Novel Writing Month this month. Go to NaNoWriMo.org to find out more. And you can join me (User Name: TheRubberChicken) and thousands of other crazy folks who are trying to write really bad novels of 50,000 words in one month.

And did I mention that you should buy a copy of Three Feet Under: Journal of a Midlife Crisis?

Well, back to the keyboard and my adventures of “will write for food.” Thanks for this visit!

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

Ghostwriting & Editing Business

On Wednesday, 11/14/07 Staff Writer Andy Humbles of the Tennessean Newspaper (Davidson AM) wrote a terrific article that featured my writing and editing business. I'd like to share it with you. Here is the the full story: http://www.tennessean.com


Ghostwriter authors own book on stem-cell debate Yvonne Perry runs a writing-editing company out of her Donelson home

DONELSON — Yvonne Perry can write just about anything you want.

She opened her own writing company in 2003 that has ultimately led to her new book on stem cell research now available in bookstores. Perry's Right to Recover: Winning the Political and Religious Wars over Stem Cell Research in America is being published by Nightengale Press.

Perry began her company, known as Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services, out of her home in Donelson in 2003 after working as an administrative assistant.

"I was already writing a lot, and I wanted to see how I could make money at that without being part of corporate America,'' Perry said.

"An absolute risk,'' Perry called it, but she took the leap.

Writers in the Sky offers ghostwriting books and any written material for individuals and businesses. Perry and her team also write brochures, press releases, case studies, resumes, business documents, bios, advertising copy and newsletters. She also offers editing and proofreading.

"A lot of businesses like to outsource their writing,'' Perry said.

Business made profit quickly

The availability to self-publish and print on demand have created a market for individual authors to write. A ghostwriter writes behind the scenes for another person or entity. Sometimes the ghostwriter is credited and sometimes not.

Writers in The Sky was profitable by its second year, Perry said.

About a year and a half ago Perry was able to add a team of writers she contracts with for such specialties as editing, press releases and character development for non-fiction stories. There is also a graphic designer. Four of the team members live in Nashville, one in New York and another in Kansas City.

Business comes locally and around the country. Perry has also done work for a client in England.

"She pulled ideas out of me,'' said James Whitley of Portland, Ore.

Whitley found Perry online after an extensive search on his book called Whose Rump Are You Roasting, a pragmatic lighthearted look at life. He credited Perry's questions and collaboration for bringing the book along.

Prices vary according to services requested.

She'll write from scrap paper

Perry can do the interviewing and research for written material. She also works with audio recordings, rough drafts and other ways stories are presented to her. One book was written from scrap paper presented in a shoebox, Perry said.

Perry's self-published book, Email Episodes, a compilation of humorous stories she started in 1995, gave her the confidence to start the business. It was published in 2004. Perry self-published More than Meets the Eye: True Stories About Death, Dying and Afterlife in 2005. Perry has also written a collection of children's e-books called The Sid Series.

Right to Recover is her first book picked up by a conventional publisher. Perry met with owner Valerie Connelly about a year ago about the idea and signed the contract the next week.

Being an author "was one of the reasons I got into this,'' Perry said.

No-cost Book Promo for Authors

Here’s a great opportunity for authors to promote their book online. Answer the following questions by typing your answer below each question. Then, email your completed doc to writersinthesky @ Comcast dot net (remove the spaces and replace the word "dot" with a period)

We will post the interview on http://communati.com/main/blog/nashvillewriter where it may be seen by thousands of people.

1. Begin by telling us the author/pen name used for this book.

2. What is the title of your book? Give us the basic story line so we’ll know what it’s about.

3. Is this the first book you have written?

4. How long did it take to write this book?

5. How did you publish your book?

6. Did you work with an agent? If so, how did you find the agent?

7. Where is your book(s) available? Do you have a Web site or blog where we can learn more about you or your book?

8. As far as marketing, do you do more online publicity or print/radio/TV promotion?

9. Have you hired a publicist to help promote this book? Have you worked with a publicist on any of your books?

10. Any other comments or things you would like for us to know?

Yvonne Perry,
Freelance Writer, Author, Public Speaker
www.yvonneperry.net

Blog Chain

Hello to the Writers in the Sky (WITS) Community,

I'm putting together a blog chain for next week and I'm offering you a chance to participate in a fun and simple marketing event. All you need is to have a blog and a be willing to spend a few minutes reading and commenting on some blogs owned by fellow WITS members.

The most important thing about doing a blog chain is to have an up to date blog. Begin to post material on your blog so those visiting your blog have something new to comment on. If your blog has a setting that will allow people to comment without having to sign in, please make that feature available before the blog chain begins.

If you would like to participate, please email me with your blog 's URL and the email address where you would like to be notified when the list is complete. The email address will not be distributed to the rest of the group. I will blind-copy everyone with the list of blog URLs when we're ready to start.

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 Saturday.

Yvonne Perry
http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com

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

Recipe eBook

Our team’s graphic designer, Jessica Dockter and I collaborate on many projects that need both writing and design. Our latest project is a recipe eBook for the WITS community (that’s YOU!) We’re off to a good start, but we need more of you to contribute recipes to make it more exciting. So far we have Bloody Marys on a Stick, Red Wine Cola, Less-Sweetened Fruit Tea and Marinated Mushrooms! Email Jessica at leedesign@leedesign.org with your favorite summer drink or snack recipe and make sure you include your bio and a link to your Web site or blog so you will get credit for your entry. When the book is finished, all our newsletter subscribers will get a (PDF) of the eBook as a gift. Deadline is October 1.