Network with Us July 2010

NETWORK WITH US!

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

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The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest is open to anyone who loves arranging words into the beautiful art of poetry or writing a story that is worth telling everyone! And to all who have the ability to dream... Write a poem, 30 lines or fewer on any subject or write a short story, 5 pages maximum on any theme for a chance to win up to $500.00 in cash prizes. All works must be original.

Poetry Prizes: $250, $125, $50.
Writing Prizes: $500, $250, $100.

Entry fees: $5 per poem, $10 per story.
More info: http://www.dreamquestone.com

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Janet Riehl is both on the cover and between the covers of the anthology, The Spirit of a Woman: Stories to Empower & Inspire.  Janet
also wrote a foreword for Margaret Norton's just-published book, When Ties Break: A Memoir about How to Thrive After Loss.

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2010 Summer Writing Retreat
July 26-30, 2010
Sul Ross State University
Alpine, TX
512-499-8914
wlt@writersleague.org 

Ever want to get away from it all and spend a week immersed in writing? Here's your chance with the 2010 Summer Writing Retreat at Sul Ross State University in scenic Alpine, deep in the heart of West Texas.
There’s something about the stunning landscape of mountainous West Texas—not to mention the refreshing afternoon showers and cool summer evenings—that inspire writers to simply write.
Intensive writing workshops will be taught by five of Texas’ premier authors. Whichever class you select, it will feature:
• Intimate classes (20 students maximum)
• Personalized instruction
• Time dedicated for writing

Close the week at the 2010 Way Out West Texas Book Festival in Alpine July 29–31. The Summer Writing Retreat instructors will join other authors for readings and book signings and a whole lot of literary fun.

Tuition is $299 for WLT members / $359 nonmembers plus room and board. To register online with credit card, PayPal or Google checkout, visit the
Summer Writing Retreat registration page.

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Expert Corporate Writing
Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services now offers a way for businesses
to outsource their corporate writing. ContactMartin Smith for resumes, portfolios, press kits, executive summaries, and other white papers andbusiness documents.

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Write Press Newsletter, launched in December 2009, is a wonderful and exciting way for non-fiction authors to introduce their book to an entire community of online and offline readers. This newsletter, available in print form only, is designed to provide authors with an opportunity to share insightful information about the creation and inspiration of their book. The first issue of Write Press News, delivered direct to the front door of readers and distributed all of our live events, has been well received and the books we recommend are selling!

The upcoming issue of Write Press News will feature authors such as Joel Comm, Sarah Young and a personal interview with John Porter, Sr. The Write Press Newsletter is a valuable resource for readers and authors alike. Readers can subscribe and authors can learn more about how they can have their book featured in Write Press News by visiting our website at www.writepressnews.com. 

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Barbara Techel, proud mom of Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog, as well as bestselling author of
Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog book series is thrilled to announce that Frankie’s story will appear in the July 12th issue of one of the top-selling woman’s magazine, Woman’s World. For more information about Barbara and Frankie visit www.joyfulpaws.com.

Barbara’s passion is bringing a positive face and voice to all animals with disabilities! Invite Frankie to visit your classroom, library or book club via Skype an Author http://skypeanauthor.com

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Job Hunting in Nashville? 
 
If you've been sending out resumes and haven't gotten the response from employers you've been hoping for, then maybe it's time to put your best face forward. Stand out in a crowded and competitive job market with an HD Video Resume. To learn more about how you could be just one minute away from your dream job. Go towww.snapshotinteractive.com and check out our Video Resumes page. It's also a great resource from employers looking for the perfect person to fill an opening.

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Nancy Kelly Allen's latest picture book, Trouble in Troublesome Creek [Red Rock Press, 2010], has been selected as the book to represent Kentucky at the National Book Festival in Washington, DC in September. One children's book from each state is selected for this event.

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The San Francisco Book Festival awarded Janet Riehl's audio book, Sightlines: A Family Love Story in Poetry & Music http://bit.ly/aZVd1e.

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Want to learn how to get your book on the shelves at libraries? See  The Savvy Book
Marketer's Guide to Selling Your Book to Libraries.

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Get a FREE 30-day trial of Allison Maslan’s life coaching software for personal development and goal setting at http://ow.ly/KoxX

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Need help with using Twitter? Check out Dana Lynn Smith'sTwitter Guide for Authors.

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Writers! Would you like to know how your manuscript reads (and not by a family member or best friend) before you consider it "final"? Visit http://ow.ly/22oYK to see if this objective feedback reader
service fits your needs. You can also contact Joyce Shafer at jls1422@yahoo.com.

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Need a Personal Writing Instructor?

Adjunct professorDianna Calareso is available for one-on-one or group sessions by phone,email, and online conferences.

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Get your pens out (or keyboard) and turn your story into a winner!
If you’ve been following Claudia Del Balso's blog: http://www.claudiadelbalso.blogspot.com/, then you’ve read her posts regarding writing. It’s time to put your knowledge to the test. If you are currently working on a short story that needs tweaking or major editing then you’ve come to the right place. There’s NO entry or reading fee, so what are you waiting for?

The guidelines for submission are simple:

1) Length must not exceed 2,500 words (Word count is strictly enforced).
2) Manuscripts must be typed, double-spaced, and in Word.
3) Font should be either Arial or Times New Roman, size 12. (This will make it easier on our panel of readers’ eyes)
4) You must be an aspiring or emerging writer.
5) You must be working on this story (not published before).
6) Only one story per participant.
7) You must register to follow Claudia's blog by clicking on the icon "Follow" on the right-hand side at http://www.claudiadelbalso.blogspot.com.
8) Deadline to enter July 31, 2010. Winner will be announced in my blog on August 18th.
9) Send your entry via e-mail to: cdbc2007@hotmail.com
10) In the e-mail subject line, please write: Writing Contest: (Title of your story)

The prize: You’ll get to work with a Canadian author, editor, and poet. He’ll give you feedback on this story in order to make it better. You’ll have the opportunity to revise it twice and ask him questions. He’ll give you overall comments on POV, dialogue, and characterization. I am giving this opportunity to aspiring writers because I know how difficult it is to make it into this business. I bet you’re asking, so what’s the catch? An easy one! Join my blog. Click on the icon “FOLLOW”. You have nothing to lose but everything to gain by reading my tips and advice on everything there is to know about writing, editing, and publishing. Is that so bad? If you have any questions regarding this contest contact me to the e-mail address above. Keep your pen moving and your eyes on the prize! Good luck to all participants!

Learn more at http://www.claudiadelbalso.blogspot.com

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Announcing Creative Writing Classes with author Roberta Allen
Multi-published author Roberta Allen has taught private workshops since 1991 and is offering creative writing classes designed to help writers overcome blocks, build confidence, feel safe taking risks, recognize what works and what doesn’t, and learn to trust their intuition.

These creative writing classes are conducted in a group setting to those who can meet in-person in the New York, NY area. For those outside New York, Roberta has a special introductory offer on one-on-one mentoring tele-classes by phone and email.

Roberta’s supportive, constructive critiques give specific suggestions for improvement as she teaches students to recognize their individual writing process and what can be done to improve it. Learn how to write micro fiction, micro memoirs, short stories, memoirs, novels, experimental forms. Instruction on point of view, structure, voice, style, language, character, conflict, plot, theme, dialogue, and rhythm.

Ms. Allen has been on the faculty of The New School for 18 years and has taught in the writing program at Columbia University. Check out the classes or sign up at
http://www.robertaallen.com.

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Your announcement could be here. Check out the submission guidelines and send us your blurb.

Lost Angel Walkabout—One Traveler's Tales by Linda Ballou

Linda Ballou will be joining us on Writers in the Sky Podcast July 2nd, 2010! She will be discussing her new book, Lost Angel Walkabout—One Traveler’s Tales. 


Author: Linda Ballou
ISBN: 978-1449971526
Reviewed by Barbara Milbourn, an editor and writer in Nashville, Tennessee affiliated with Writers in the Sky

In roughly twenty short stories, travel writer Linda Ballou takes us with her up active volcanoes in Costa Rica, down hundred-mile rivers in the Yukon Territory, over combination jumps and oxers in Ireland, beneath the Sea of Cortez, and along unforgettable jaunts through deserts, woods, peaks, and valleys in both hemispheres. Her tales span years of traveling—sometimes alone, occasionally with her mother or life partner, and often with others in search of soft adventure. Brimming with action, intelligence, regional history, funny mishaps or tight squeezes, each story is set against a backdrop of nature’s jaw-dropping beauty. Ballou aims to share her world view, and through her Eco-alerts make the reader care more deeply about our vanishing resources and places of wild beauty.

Living in greater Los Angeles among millions of other lost angels keeping pace in a hurried world, Linda Ballou makes no bones about her need to seek equilibrium, solitude, and salvation in the sublimity of nature. Forget thousand-thread count sheets at luxury hotels or shopping for the latest bling. Like the great figures liberally noted in her pieces—Robert Frost, Jack London, John Steinbeck, John Muir—Ballou prefers the great outdoors and is intimately acquainted with it. She is a naturalist, a thoughtful traveler, one caring toward the environment and sensitive to local populations both near and far. And, she is a meticulous researcher.

Lost Angel Walkabout is richly detailed and poetic. It gifts the reader with the depth of observation in the clear and careful naming of the world around us—places, peoples, plants, birds, mountain ranges, animals, and sea creatures. More satisfying than naming is storytelling the authentic connection made with the inhabitants of land, sea, and sky; ravens and great spirits, fin whales the size of city buses, or Native Americans forced to flee their land. Because the author has connected deeply, so does the reader. Something is gathered from every place visited, and it seems impossible not to connect with our own highest and best self through Ballou’s experiences—not to mention wanting to get up and go there.

Linda Ballou keeps good company too and includes interviews with renowned travel writer Tim Cahill and endurance rider Lari Shea. Like her travel writing hero Tim Cahill, Ballou sees humor in many of the predicaments she stumbles into, or out of, or overboard after.

Don’t be surprised to find her on the back of a galloping horse yelling “Yee Haw!” and let out a yell yourself.

Visit Linda's website for more information http://www.lindaballouauthor.com/.

Author Celebrates Release of Book with Controversial Heroine.

Hear Them Roar!
An Interview with Author Ann Karen Dowd

Our guest today is a former professor, world traveled scholar and lecturer, a National Poetry Award winner, and author whose recently published work How Did She Get There? is a provocative novel about a poet whose obsession with a thirteen-year old prodigy drives her to the edge of reason.

A Virgo, born on September 13, Ann Karen Dowd grew up in New Jersey, but has travelled extensively and lived internationally over the years. Currently, Dowd makes New York state the base of operations for her writing and speaking career. A National Poetry Award winner for New Millennium Writing in 2004, Dowd has written two books: Echoes of the Heart (New York: Leisure Books, 1988) and How Did She Get There? (White Ink Press 2010, ISBN: 978-0615335308,) which became available for purchase in June 2010. Ann holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Hong Kong. She spent two years in Saudi Arabia, and upon her return held teaching positions in Virginia, Massachusetts, and Arizona.

Passionately unafraid, Dowd speaks candidly on topics including issues of objectification of women's bodies; girl's/women's self-image; addictions and eating disorders; British, American and Third-world, feminist literature and theory; language and women; tattoos and women; women's history; ageism; and women's roles overseas

Learn more about the author and her up-coming book tour from her website at  www.annkarendowd.com or by following her on http://twitter.com/annkarendowd, and at http://bit.ly/facebookannkarendowd.

How Did She Get There? Book Review

Friday, June 25,2010, author's assistant Vonnie Faroqui will interview Ann Karen Dowd about her recently released novella, How Did She Get There?

Ann Karen Dowd, author, poet, public speaker, and teacher takes the reader on a journey into disquieting realms of thought, challenging preconceptions of womanhood, desire, love, and transformation.

What does the author have to say about the unlikely heroine of her new book and about the passion which fuels her writing?

“Unlike so many female characters in fiction, Caro is neither pure victim nor villain. Rather, she is a woman whose capacity for transgression is countered only by her capacity for transformation.”

“For me as a writer, it’s the fissures and splits, the broken, undefined images that ignite my imagination . . . but it’s not only the search, in filling the gap . . . it’s the excavation of the narratives, deep within the fissures and chiasms of our sub-conscious that are already there and most people never unearth.”

Here is Vonnie's review.

Book Title: How Did She Get There?
Author: Ann Karen Dowd
ISBN: 978-0-615-33530-8
Publisher: White Ink Press 2010
Link to purchase: Amazon/How Did She Get There?
Reviewer Byline: Vonnie Faroqui for WITS

How Did She Get There? is what I almost want to call a modern day cautionary tale. The heroine however does not turn anyone into a golden statue out of greed; or laze all day in the sun, thinking the world owes her a living while others labor. She is as human and self absorbed as we come, with all the classic confused notions found in a folk tale character. The author, Ann Karen Dowd, has certainly written a story that leads her heroine and the reader through a maze of challenges; attitudes to be overcome, confused perceptions about right and wrong, pitfalls of human nature, even exploring the motivational fears and desires which often hide beneath well meaning intentions.

The story’s thread takes its heroine, poet Caro Barrone, to the very edge of reason, when she becomes obsessed with Livia, a thirteen-year old poet prodigy. How Did She Get There? looks at Caro’s inner turmoil as she struggles to rediscover a sense of identity and deal with the decaying pieces of her changing life; motherhood, the empty nest, fears of growing old, expectations, abandonment, and misdirected desires. She is not the typical heroine and this is not the typical feel-good tale. Instead the author has dug deeply into the places we fear to look, excavating aspects of a woman’s inner experience in ways and situations that are far too near our hearts for comfort. Ann does this with such compassion and understanding that she manages to guide us to the far side of the hedges healthier than we were before entering the labyrinth.

This is a deeply provocative read that will challenge as well as please the reader on many levels. The book offers a well-developed story line and believable characters that feel like people you know and care about. The poetry is exquisite. Ann has, with skill and grace, allowed the reader to travel the winding path of one woman’s second coming of age from beginning to end and turned Caro’s story into one of triumph.

Learn more about the author and her up-coming book tour from her website at http://www.annkarendowd.com/ or by following her on http://twitter.com/annkarendowd , and at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ann-Karen-Dowd/129363370417423

A Haunting Glimpse of Forever: an interview with author Ivzi Cipuri

Born in Albania in 1944, Ivzi Cipuri’s life story has led him around the globe as a diplomat. He served his country as both the director of foreign relations for the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education respectively, and in the 1990s supported the democratic movement in Albania. However, it isn’t stories of his political career or views that fill the pages of his first published work, but instead the story of his great love and the courageous fight for a life that even now he cannot let go of. Join our podcast as we interview the author, exploring how writing can bring healing and learn from his experience translating his autobiographical poetry, Forever With You, which is dedicated in loving memory to his departed wife.

Interview:

This book is available through Amazon.com

Online and In-person Creative Writing Classes

I have recently connected with an author named Roberta Allen, who has been published many times through independent and mainstream publishers. Three of her eight books are on the topic of writing.

Roberta has been on the faculty of the New School University for 19 years and has taught in the writing program at Columbia University. She has taught private workshops since 1991.

That is impressive enough, but the reason I’m writing is to let you know about her creative writing classes designed to help writers overcome blocks, build confidence, feel safe taking risks, recognize what works and what doesn’t, and learn to trust their intuition.

She offers these creative writing classes in a group setting to those who can meet in-person in the New York, NY area, as well as one-on-one mentoring sessions via email and phone.

Roberta’s supportive, constructive critiques give specific suggestions for improvement as she teaches students to recognize their individual writing process and what can be done to improve it. She will teach students how to write in a variety of literary genres—micro fiction, micro memoirs, short stories, memoirs, novels, experimental forms—as they learn about point of view, structure, voice, style, language, character, conflict, plot, theme, dialogue, and rhythm.

Whether you are a beginner or a professional wanting to simply hone your skills, you can benefit from working with Roberta.

In-person classes are limited to six participants who revise at home, then read aloud in class and get feedback and support at every session. Most class time is devoted to constructive analysis, specific critiques, and free-flowing discussions about the strengths and weaknesses of each work after it has been read aloud to the group. When each member reads aloud, the group reads along on copies and makes individual notes. Therefore, each member gets written feedback to use for further revisions. The writing process, the elements of writing, dynamic beginnings, and strong endings are explored within the context of each given work.

Check out the classes and sign up at http://www.robertaallen.com

Forever With You: Review by Vonnie Faroqui

The author of Forever With You, Ivzi Cipuri, will join WITS's author's assistant Vonnie Faroqui on Writers in the Sky Podcast this Friday, June 18. Here is a review of the book.

Book Title: Forever With You
Author: Ivzi Cipuri
ISBN: 978-1-4327-4257-7
Publisher: Outskirts Press Inc., 2010
Price: $16.95
Pages: 138 pages
Reviewer Byline: Vonnie Faroqui for WITS






A Haunting Glimpse of Forever

When I first received the book, Forever With You, by author Ivzi Cipuri, I was struck silent by the faded photograph on its cover. I have been haunted by that lovely face; the way her eyes shy away from the camera’s lens, as if hiding the soul within, forever denying the reader’s gaze and foreshadowing the author’s torment. Lovingly dedicated, “To my unforgettable beloved wife Aije . . .” this volume of poetry is an autobiographical journey of love, life, and loss. Through it, the author seeks to immortalize his beloved wife and to share their story with the reader. The book is divided into three sections or moods of poetry. In the beginning, Cipuri offers the reader beauty and hope as he and his bride enter into a new life through marriage. His poetry describes glimpses of life well lived, of health and happiness. Then, the poems take a turn down darker paths, into clouds of fear, illness, battles waged, and ultimately death. The author completes his offerings by opening his chest, and in words, he gifts the reader with grasping, choking, ugly, angry anguish, and grief.

You beauty, you ugly, I hate you all!
You give me pain, I cry, I toll;
You pinch my soul, you break my heart,
I want to throw, to crash you apart . . .

I cannot tell whether it is the story of a woman’s courage, and love’s fight for life . . . or instead, if it is the story of a man’s love and anguish revealed in the poetry that I find more compelling.

This book is haunting in its humanity. The verse is rough, but true to the voice of the author and in its aching realism, more potently alive than prettier words or a more skillful pen could convey. Forever With You effectively sings a song of life and courage; its melody revealing depths of love and painful loss more poignantly because it is roughly sung.

I recommend Forever With You to readers who have suffered loss due to illness or for those and their families who are fighting to recover health. An excellent example of the healing power and transformative impact words and art can have on the grieving process and a ringing testament to a love and fidelity that knows no barriers, not even death.

This book is available through Amazon.com

Books and Bios to Gain Credibility

Writing and publishing a book can gain you more credibility than just about anything else. No matter what business you are in, having written a book establishes you as an expert and makes you stand out from your competition. If you are a keynote speaker, you have more than enough material than can be covered in one speech! you can boost your credibility by having a display table at the back or front of the room where you offer your book, CDs, and DVDs for sale. Think of your entertaining and information-packed talk as a commercial, and use it to whet the appetite and inspire the attendees to invest in your products.

A good biographical sketch of yourself and your business is very important written piece of your overall marketing needs. Writing a good bio about yourself can be difficult because even though you know yourself better than anyone else, you may find it hard to tell what you are good at and write it in third person. Here is a list of questions to help you get started writing your bio.

If you have a need for any type of writing, editing, or proofreading, please My team and I will be happy to help you. Please contact Sarah Moore to discuss your project: http://writersinthesky.com/contact.php or phone (615) 423-2467.

Calling for Submissions for July 2010 Ezine

It's time for me to start putting together the next fantastic and information-filled e-zine for July 2010. That means I need you to send me your articles, contest announcements, and brags to be included in the next issue. We have more than enough book reviews, but if I have room for them, I'll include them.

Read our guidelines for submittal here. Remember, the better your piece is written, the better attention and credibility it receives--and the less editing I have to do.

Memoirs from the Asylum on Writers in the Sky Podcast

Writers in the Sky Podcast will feature an interview with Dr. Kenneth Weene author of a truly unique book, Memoirs From the Asylum. Weene’s writing style is bold and risky. He takes you into the tormented minds of his characters, not from a neutral narrative's voice but from within the madness itself. Memoirs explores the inner life of its characters, including the inner life of a catatonic schizophrenic. Podcast host Vonnie Faroqui, will find out how the author developed his characters and why he chose to voyage so deeply within them?

Ecology, Traveling, and Writing

Lost Angel Walkabout—One Traveler’s Tales
Author: Linda Ballou
ISBN #978-1449971526
Price $14.95
Pages: 200
Publisher: Winddancer, 2010
www.LindaBallouAuthor.com
Reviewed by Yvonne Perry for WITS


With each story I read in Linda Ballou’s book, Lost Angel Walkabout, I thought, “This is the best story in the book.” Then, I would turn the page and find that the next adventure was even more interesting.

I love the way the author weaves accurate and little known native history into each story. This information isn’t what your typical tour guide might spout from a memorized script. This book and its information comes from roughing it in the wilderness in some very remote sites where most of us would not go with a group much less alone, which is Linda’s favorite way to travel. The aloneness is rejuvenating for her as she listens to nature and the spirits that dwell in each mesmerizing place speak to her. As for aloneness, Linda says, “Much is said of the virtues of connecting with local cultures, but in aloneness you can connect with the forces that shaped them.” I agree with her profound wisdom!

Not all of the trips were taken alone, however. I was especially touched by the story titled “Water Dogs” because of the tender way Linda showed grace and understanding to her 75-year-old mother who was along on a snorkeling trip. Linda was so creative in bringing the fish to her mom since Mom couldn’t dive under and hold her breath long enough to see them near the cave entrance below the water. But this story is also a favorite because of the humorous way Ballou depicts the cast of characters. In fact, her sense of humor in telling the story not only made me feel like I was on location with her, it gave me a sense of her lively personality.

What I didn’t expect, but found pleasantly refreshing was the spiritual aspect Linda brought into each tale. Her trips are inspired by her spirit guides, of whom she says, “Guides are simply that—guides. They try to direct you on an ever-changing path to soul-stirring moments, but the responsibility for the journey is ultimately yours.”

So, I guess that’s why Linda doesn’t blame her guides for forgetting to take her silk underwear with her on the trip to Dorothy Lake. She nearly froze to death when the zipper of her sleeping bag broke and exposed her backside to the elements. What’s an adventure without risk, right? And a little aroma from being wrapped in damp horse blankets to survive that night.

Tim Cahill’s interview was a very special treat and served as an interlude to gear up the reader for more action and adventure in the second half of the book. Having taken the time to chat with one of her favorite travel writers shows that this author has credibility in both the writing and traveling world.

Another thing that makes this book intriguing and sets it apart from other travel/adventure books is the eco alert at the end of many chapters. It’s sad to know that many of the places Linda recounts in her stories are no longer the quaint, rural, peaceful spiritual nests they were at the time of her visit. They have been ruined by greedy deforestation, over-fishing, and toxic waste. This was an unexpected call to action in our effort to care for the beauty of our Mother Earth.

Throughout the book, the author’s storytelling style is a great blend of travel journalism and real life experiences and spiritual insight that entertain and inform. Highly recommended reading.

Kenneth Weene's Memoirs from the Asylum

The author of Memoirs from the Asylum, Kenneth Weene, will join WITS's author's assistant Vonnie Faroqui on Writers in the Sky Podcast this Friday, June 11. Here is a review of the book.

Memoirs from the Asylum
Author: Kenneth Weene
ISBN: 978-0-9844219-5-4
Publisher: All Things that Matter Press, 2010
Link to purchase: http://amzn.to/atHrlu
Reviewer Byline: Vonnie Faroqui for WITS

Memoirs from the Asylum author Kenneth Weene has, with many twists and phobic turns, succeeded in writing a moving and fascinating exploration of the inner workings of the insane mind. Memoirs is set within the confines of a mental health institution and weaves its way through the lives and memories of the asylum’s patients, narrated from the internal perspective of two patients and their psychiatrist. The vision of life depicted within and around these 3 main characters makes a case for a larger societal madness as the author explores the bureaucracy surrounding and encapsulating the insane and their caregivers. As uncomfortable as some aspects of the book may be, these same passages hold illuminating power.

Well crafted, Memoirs from the Asylum has a developed plot line and believable story progression. The best aspect of the book is how the author has written from the perspective or inner thoughts of the characters. This is done with such realism, understanding and truth that it is easy to relate with the patient’s fears, frustrations, joys and triumphs. It is obvious that the author is writing from a deeper understanding of human motivation and psychosis. His treatment of his characters is compassionate and without judgment allowing the reader to formulate their own opinions and confront their own preconceptions and prejudices. Unlike so many other novels these days, Weene’s writing is not preachy or deliberately educational in tone, with well developed characters and originality that make for compelling reading.

At times the book is disturbing as it addresses and reveals many destructive societal attitudes and inhumanities. The author has skillfully lifted the veil of willful disinterest surrounding the mentally ill and shone a spot light on the role played by the greater culture in perpetuating and growing madness.
Full of memorable characters that are as tragic as they are comedic, this book proves itself in the great tradition of writing. Disturbingly honest and often graphic in nature Memoirs from the Asylum is an entertaining and enlightening read for adults.

Book to Help Parents of Children Who See Ghosts

Today is the launch of a great new book by Dr. Caron Goode. Kids Who See Ghosts, help to guide them through their fear. As part of the book launch, Dr. Goode is giving FREE gifts to everyone who purchases the book TODAY!  In fact, I am also contributing to the rich, substantial wealth of bonus gifts with three free e-books including a ghost story from The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children.

To see the bonuses, the partners, and where your buyers will receive their gifts, feel free to browse this page: http://kidswhoseeghosts.com/buy-now/bonus-page/


Kids Who See Ghosts: Guide Them Through Fear

If you like to help kids, then you’ll enjoy this newest, cutting edge information. I want to share this particular book, Kids Who See Ghosts, because it is already lighting new fires of knowledge and sparking conversations around the globe. Reading it, you’ll understand how children feel and experience their worlds of imaginary friends, ghosts or spirits. And you’ll learn how to soothe their fears, how to explore other realms, and help kids be resilient when facing the unknown.

The award-winning author of Raising Intuitive Children and Mom’s Choice Awards Lightworker of 2008, Dr. Caron Goode interviewed parents, educators, psychologists, a sensei, a skeptic, and psychics to present a well-rounded view of the kids-who-see-ghosts phenomenon. This trend seems to be increasing, which means parents need this book now!

Goode suggests you believe in your children, whether or not you believe in ghosts or spirits. Empowering kids is the goal, helping them to move through their fears and have more strength.

Buying on June 8th makes you are eligible to receive several thousand dollars worth of bonus gifts including free offers by acclaimed theater and acting star Shirley McClaine and more free bonuses from Dr. Caron Goode. A complete list of talented partners with free bonus offers is included below. For a detailed listing of all the bonus offers visit the Kids Who See Ghosts website at: http://kidswhoseeghosts.com .

• Yvonne Perry: Writers in the Sky
• Lynn Andrews: School for Sacred Arts and Training
• Dr. Tom Goode: EnergizeYouNow.com
• Dave Markowitz: DaveMarkowitz.com
• Shanta Gabriel: The Gabriel Messages
• Glenn Smith: Anxiety and Panic Attacks Gone
• Hillary Raimo: Intuitive, Metaphysical Teacher, Talk Show Host, Author
• Johnathan Goldman: Healing Sounds
• Devra Jacobs: Kinetics
• Andye Murphy and Gavin Harrill: PeeKSgroup
• Melissa Peil: Psychic, Teacher, Medium
• Kathy Kirk: Life Transformation, Natural & Simple
• Shelagh Jones: Spiritus.com
• Lynn Serafinn: Spirit Authors.com
• Ellen Braun: Raising Small Souls.com
• Melissa Halsey of Wisdom Word.com

Retrieving your bonus items is quick and easy! Here is what you do:

1. Purchase the book and receive the confirmation code for your purchase in an email from Amazon.com.

2. Visit the bonus page (http://kidswhoseeghosts.com) to verify your order number of 17 digits, grouped in three sections. An email will be sent providing the link to our Bonus Page. Browse at your leisure. Treat yourself to each gift and enjoy the benefits. Then read the book and become informed and up to date on this topic of increasing interest in today’s world.

I personally appreciate your participation and support for this award-winning author and her mission to help all kids sleep better at night.

Praise for this intriguing, informative and intelligent new approach to a hot topic

Laura Markham, Ph.D., founding editor of AhaParenting.com: “Sixty-five percent of all kids have imaginary friends during their first eight years of life, and countless children report conversations with a loved one who has died. How we understand these facts depends on our belief systems.

Jack Rourke, renowned psychic, parapsychological researcher, and author of Ghost Talk says, “Without confronting the validity of ghosts as an objective phenomena, one thing is certain: The subjective experiences of children who report ghost encounters are quite real and can leave uninformed parents feeling powerless. Kids Who See Ghosts is a compelling resource that draws upon Dr. Goode’s vast experience as a psychotherapist and provides a valuable tool for parents dealing with a paranormal concern.”

The launch is today. Go to http://kidswhoseeghosts.com/buy-now/ to purchase and get your free bonus gifts!

Caron will be my guest on my new spiritual show, We Are One in Spirit Podcast, July 8.

Yvonne Perry

Book Review -- Fade from Blue by P. J. Thomas

Title of Document: Book Review
Book Title: Fade from Blue
Author: P. J. Thomas
ISBN: 1-4241-6939-9
Publisher: Publish America
Genre and Target Market: fiction; thriller; crime
Publication Date: 2007
Book Length in Pages: 210

In my professional work as part of the publishing world, I usually have one encounter with an author’s work. While most books that I am asked to read are good and are obviously created with the genuine passion of the author, they quickly became another addition to my bookshelf and I move onto the next novel. In some instances, however, I am given the opportunity to really examine the breadth of an author’s work through multiple publications. In the case of P. J. Thomas, the pleasure I have had to read three of his novels have served to increase my respect for his work and make me a bigger fan of the stories he creates. Each book that Thomas writes offers unique characters, formatting, and even writing styles, as every work shares a story different from the others. One aspect of Thomas’ work that does not change, however, is the quality of the writing. His latest novel, Fade from Blue, is a powerful thriller that will grip readers from beginning to end.

Fade from Blue tells the story of Frankie Rizzo, a police officer who must ask for help from some unsavory connections after he is accused in the murders of his wife and her lover. Frankie spends decades living under a false identity and building an entirely new life for himself in Mexico. In all of those years, however, he never stops thinking about the infant son he left behind. Frankie is eventually reunited with his now-grown child through a series of amazing circumstances and the climax which then unfolds is one not to be missed.

As he has so wonderfully done in his other novels, Thomas crafts a set of characters that are believable and honest in their portrayals. Whether the readers are following a high-ranking member of the mob, a corrupt police officer, a wisecracking older woman, or a scared girl with a history of abuse, they will find dialogue and emotion that fits perfectly and comes together to form a captivating storyline. I was particularly drawn to the women in Fade from Blue, each of whom showed both amazing strength and vulnerability. There were no one-dimensional stereotypes of women in the book, which I appreciated and which allowed me to become even more invested in the book’s outcome.

Thomas manages to avoid the predictable “gotcha” moments that are always found in lesser thrillers. He does not need to shock his readers with a ridiculous plot twist in order to grab your attention. (Don’t get me wrong . . . effectively executed plot twists are breathtaking, but I find that they are often forced into a book in an awkward or forced way.) Instead, Thomas slowly develops in Fade from Blue a tightly constructed novel that unfolds naturally. There are surprises, to be sure, but they are presented in a way that shocks but also integrates into the other events of the novel seamlessly.

If you are looking for a quality novel that will keep you turning pages but yet not wanting to reach the back cover, I strongly recommend Fade from Blue. And, once you become a fan of P. J. Thomas, I hope you will seek out his previous books and enjoy all that this author has offered to the literary world. I believe that, like me, you will enjoy the opportunity to explore Thomas’ work thoroughly and await the time you can hold the next work and begin what is certain to be another great reading experience.

Summertime Book Fairs and Book Festivals Authors Should Attend

By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications Book Marketing

Summertime is the perfect time of year for book fairs and festivals. It’s a great way for authors to combine a little vacation in with a little book marketing and book promotion. Book fairs are wonderful places to interact with fellow authors, publishers, network with book industry leaders, locate a book publicist or book editor, and learn what’s new in the marketplace.

The major book conferences and conventions involve travel expenses such as airlines and hotel lodging, and a week’s investment of your time. But book fairs can be found close to home, easily accessed by car and are often only one or two days. A typical regional book fair will have 1,000 or more attendees and 100 or more exhibitors, providing a realistic exposure of 300 visitors a day. Why would an author not want to spend a Saturday and Sunday within 100 miles of home to meet 600 readers or a reporter, editor or book reviewer?

Book fairs are often attended by best-selling authors who will be willing to spend time with you sharing tips on writing, on how to be successful, and advice on where to find the help you need. For more information about book marketing visit http://www.book-marketing-expert.com and for upcoming book events on C-SPAN2 visit: http://www.BookTV.org
 
Here’s a list of summertime book fairs and book festivals worthy of your attendance:


1. National Black Book Festival, June 10-12, 2010, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Houston, TX, www.nationalblackbookfestival.com, dozens of authors, thousands of readers

2. Chicago Tribune Printers Row Book Fair, June 12-13, 2010, Printers Row/South Loop Chicago, http://www.chicagotribune.com/about/events/printersrow/, a large book fair attended by more than 100,000 book lovers.

3. American Library Association Annual Conference, June 24-29, 2010, Washington,
D.C. http://www.ala.org/ala/conferencesevents/upcoming/annual/index.cfm, some 2,000 seminars and events plus a huge trade show

4. Leimert Park Village Book Fair, June 26, 2010, Leimert Park, Los Angeles, www.leimertparkbookfair.com, attended by more than 5,000 people, more than 200 author appearances.

5. International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) June 27-30, 2010 http://www.christianretailshow.com/ Considered the best show for Christian authors according to Sara Bolme author of Your Guide to Marketing Books in the Christian Marketplace http://www.marketingchristianbooks.com

6. Ventura Book Festival, July 17, 2010 Ventura Beach, CA http://www.literaryarts-ca.org

7. Harlem Book Fair, July 17-19, 2010, New York City, http://www.qbr.com/page18993.asp

8. Decatur Book Festival, Sept. 3-5, 2010, Decatur, GA, www.decaturbookfestival.com/Community/index.php largest independent book festival in the country. Since its launch, more than 600 authors and 190,000 attendees have attended this event in downtown Decatur.

9. Carolina Mountains Literary Festival, Sept. 10-11, 2010, Burnsville, N.C., www.cmlitfest.org sponsored by North Carolina Arts Council, events held throughout the town of Burnsville.

10. Fall For The Book Festival, Sept. 19-24, 2010, George Mason University’s Fairfax Campus, Fairfax, VA., sponsored by George Mason University, Fairfax County Public Library, and Barnes & Noble., www.fallforthebook.org attended by more than 150 authors.

11. Baltimore Book Festival, Sept. 24-26, 2010, Mount Vernon Place in Baltimore, www.baltimorebookfestival.com more than 100 celebrity and locally known authors to attend.

12. National Book Festival, Sept. 25, 2010, on the National Mall between 3rd and 7th Streets, Washington, D.C., www.loc.gov/bookfest/ charter sponsors are Target and the Washington Post, attended by hundreds of prominent authors.

13. Queens Book Fair, September 25, 2010, York College, Jamaica, N.Y. www.queensbookfair.com sponsored by C&B Books Distribution.

14. Sonoma County Book Festival, September 25, 2010, Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa, CA. www.socobookfest.org attended by thousands of book lovers.

15. West Hollywood Book Fair, September 26, 2010, at West Hollywood Park, www.westhollywoodbookfair.org, more than 180 exhibitors expected.

16. Wyoming Book Festival, September 29, 2010, Lions Park, and Community House, Cheyenne, WY, www.wyomingbookfestival.org.

The bottom line: Make it a priority to visit a summertime book fair in the coming weeks and months. You’ll be glad you did!


Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it's their first book or their 15th book. He's handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman's World, & Howard Stern to name a few. Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at www.book-marketing-expert.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 734-667-2090.

Book Review: 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home

Title: 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home
Author: Tisha Morris
Turner Publishing Company
ISBN: 978-1-59652-567-2
Price: $9.99
184 pages
Self-help genre

Purchase on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com
Reviewed by Yvonne Perry for WITS

I’ve read (or should I say “started” to read) several books on feng shui and found them too difficult to understand. I wanted something practical that showed me exactly what to do. I don’t care about Chinese history regarding feng shui and I don’t want to read complicated maps or worry about superstition regarding where I put things. What I wanted was an easy read with an uncomplicated solution to remedy troublesome areas that I knew needed help. That’s exactly what I got in 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home.

I mean really easy things like changing the art on the walls, or tossing out a drawer full of old pictures, rearranging furniture, cleaning a closet, or adding a mirror or crystal. Did you know that ringing a bell can clear a room of negative energy? Simple solutions like these will get you started to remove stagnant energy and get things flowing again. I even learned how to bring in the five elements and found the motivation needed to take on a large project.

This straightforward book not only helped me understand how the surrounding environment relates to the various aspects of life and what I could to do change my environment in order to improve my life, it gave me the much-needed incentive to take action without dreading the process. Beware! You may decide to clean out your entire basement. I cleaned and painted my laundry room and completely revamped my workspace two days after reading this book! What can I say? I was inspired.

Based on the Bagua map that helps you see the specific relationships between parts of your house, Tisha’s interactive program teaches how to divide your living space into nine sections that reflects the Gua distribution. She doesn’t leave you with a bunch of ideas and no way to implement them. After showing you what to do and why, she tells you how to do it in the chapter titled “A Plan to Implement the 27 Things.”

I also like the size of this book. It fits in my purse and the print is large enough that I don’t need bifocals to read it! Be sure to check out Tisha’s feng shui app for iPhone in case you get inspired at work or while at a friend’s house!

Oregon Trail West to the Sun to WITS Podcast Tom Good Comes

Join author's assistant Vonnie Faroqui as she interviews attorney and author Tom G. Good about his historical fiction novel, West to the Sun, the story of a young man’s adventure and journey to manhood on the Oregon Trail. They will discuss elements of writing including research for historical accuracy, plot elements such as man vs. man and man vs. the trail, character and story line development choices, and how the author approached writing for children about history.

T.G. Good is an attorney residing in the mountains west of Golden, Colorado with his beautiful wife, Christine, brilliant daughter, Deborah, and phenomenal son, Daniel. Like the heroes of “West to the Sun”, we left behind their eastern home and moved west to pursue their dreams of a different life. Fortunately, our transportation depended on automobiles and airplanes and not on oxen and wagons.

West to the Sun is my fictional tribute to the spirit of the individuals who left behind the known life to build a new home in the American West. It is this spirit of adventure and belief in the foundational values of faith, family and freedom that has consistently allowed the American people to face the ever-changing, but ever-present, challenges of life.

While raising both of my children, I became concerned over the lack of fiction for boys that positively presented the heritage of our nation. Yet, so much of the spirit of America has become buried in an endeavor to explore our national sins without fully recognizing the incredible spirit of adventure and achievement of our pioneers. Our national history is not one of total purity; yet, people like the Symons lived values and followed dreams that showed the best of human spirit. Through books like West to the Sun I hope that we teach our children the positive nature of the spirit of America.

Pioneering a Trail to Writers in the Sky

On Friday, June 4, our author's assistant Vonnie Faroqui will host Tom Good on WITS Podcast to speak about his book, West to the Sun. As a way of introduction, here is a book review Vonnie wrote for Tom.

Book Title: West to the Sun
Author: Tom G. Good
ISBN: 978-1-4327-5162-3
Publisher: Outskirts Press Inc. 2010
Link to purchase: http://amzn.to/9vfQxZ
Reviewer Byline: Vonnie Faroqui

In West to the Sun, author Tom G. Good weaves a story of the Oregon Trail, and the pioneer experience of Jeremiah Symons, an 11-year-old boy and his family. Good skillfully narrates the world and history surrounding the characters in a way that captures the readers imagination and carries the journey into visions and vistas outside of the modern experience. In his writing, the author successfully relates the hazards and dangers faced by our pioneer forefathers, exploring concerns, customs, needs, and desires that lay buried in our nation’s past and yet which have so deeply influenced the modern psyche. Good unearths and presents with wonder, surprise and no little amount of awe a fictional and yet historically accurate telling of the journey west for the enrichment of future generations.

Having myself experienced, at the age of nine, being uprooted from my home in modern day America and moved to the wilderness of Northern Canada, I could relate to the daily urgencies, the depiction of life hardships and ever present dangers related by the author. The story teller does not however, focus on the burning resentments, deep fears and the kinds of spiritual challenges an experience like this engenders in a child or the family dynamic. The main characters remain constant and unchallenged in their love for each other, their faith and in their sense of self. The voice of the narrative is more the voice of a wise father than a youth and so on occasion comes across as being a little too good, but the writing is skillful and the history sound. The real story in West to the Sun is that of the Oregon Trail itself, with the characters of Jeremiah and his family being a lens to look through and means of delivery.

This book is an excellent teaching tool for parents and teachers wanting to share with children the history and experiences lived by the courageous men and women of frontier America. With excellent written delivery of the preparation for the journey itself, accurate skillful portrayal of the social interactions between travelers and wagon train life, the difficulties faced and chance encounters along the way, this book offers valuable perspective and insight. Few children today have a comparative experience through which they can empathize or intuit understanding for the hardships experienced, wonders beheld and the demands such a journey would make on early pioneers. Thankfully, we have Tom G. Good’s skillful pen and talented imagination to breathe life into the telling.

Aspiring Authors Workshop

The course features a unique classroom-to-online platform that appeals to different types of learners and offer industry chats from published authors. Students must have internet access. Laptops are recommended. Teachers include Amanda Morgan and Victoria Schwab. Class begins June 1. A second series will be offered in July.

Amanda Morgan is a freelance writer who has been acknowledged in books like CANTERWOOD CREST: CHASING BLUE, THE ESPRESSOLOGIST, THE NAUGHTY LIST, BREAK, and THE MOCKINGBIRDS. She has been represented by Levine Greenberg LA, Bliss Literary, and now, Mary Kole of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Amanda wrote for the blog team for SCBWI Midsouth and is an online correspondent for bookchick.com.

Victoria Schwab is represented by the incredible Amy Tipton of Signature Literary Agency, and her debut novel, THE NEAR WITCH, will be released by Disney*Hyperion in Summer 2011. She has appeared in the acknowledgments sections of two books so far, Courtney Summers' SOME GIRLS ARE, and the upcoming debut THE MOCKINGBIRDS, by Daisy Whitney. She is also a member of the YA Rebels, a seven author team that does weekly videos on a variety of writing and publishing topics.

Amanda and Victoria are also co-organizers of the DO THE WRITE THING FOR NASHVILLE event.

Course Information:

* Addresses challenges faced by writers
* The Journey to Publication: How do I get started?
* Writing skills, drills, and more
* Introduces advanced writing concepts from prewriting to revising
* Emphasis on interpreting critique
* Agents and editors, etc.

The course also features a unique classroom-to-online platform that appeals to different types of learners.

Call (615) 377-2929 for more information or email frontdesk@mylearnlab.com

Thanks!