Urgently need cartoonists, for South African cartoon strips. I’m struggling to find artists who portray black characters. What’s needed are black heroes.... There are loads of possibilities. Eg; Where the subscriber can fill in the bubble captions thus writing the story board."
Urgently need artists/authors who already do something like this or who might be capable of it. If this sounds like you, contact richie@theebooksale.com.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you
Shirley A. Roe
Managing Editor,Allbooks Review
www.allbookreviews.com
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Allbook Reviews site will be new!
Allbooks Review International is developing a new website. After more than 10 years, we are moving our site to: www.allbooksreviewint.com
Our old site: www.allbookreviews.com will be up until the end of December. We are still working on the new site to bring you some great books. Please visit the site, let us know if we can be of assistance in promoting your book or finding some great reads.
Allbooks Reviews International is the review and author promo source for POD AUTHORS as well as traditionally published authors. Authors around the world use our service.Great coverage for your book for twelve months +.Our complete review and author promotional package is less than $50.U.S and includes entry in the Allbooks Review Editor's Choice Award (a $50 US value) Unbelievable value!! www.allbookreviews.com and www.allbookreviewsint.com For complete details contact us.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you
Shirley A. Roe
Managing Editor,Allbooks Review
www.allbookreviews.com
We highly recommend you become a member of iFOGO. Just click this link to join.
http://www.ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html
Our old site: www.allbookreviews.com will be up until the end of December. We are still working on the new site to bring you some great books. Please visit the site, let us know if we can be of assistance in promoting your book or finding some great reads.
Allbooks Reviews International is the review and author promo source for POD AUTHORS as well as traditionally published authors. Authors around the world use our service.Great coverage for your book for twelve months +.Our complete review and author promotional package is less than $50.U.S and includes entry in the Allbooks Review Editor's Choice Award (a $50 US value) Unbelievable value!! www.allbookreviews.com and www.allbookreviewsint.com For complete details contact us.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you
Shirley A. Roe
Managing Editor,Allbooks Review
www.allbookreviews.com
We highly recommend you become a member of iFOGO. Just click this link to join.
http://www.ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Allbooks Review October 2010 Newsletter
Happy Halloween
The goblins have been having a great time with our website, we apologize for any inconvenience during September. Our new site will be better than ever, you can check it out at:
www.allbooksreviewint.com but remember it is only in the infant stages right now.
Nominate us for a listing in Writer's Digest's 101 Best Sites
of The Year. Please send your nomination, along with our web
name Allbooks Review and our URL www.allbookreviews.com
to: writersdig@fwpubs.com Subject "101 Sites".
Thank you for all of your support.
*****************************************************************************
ALLBOOKS REVIEW IS NOW ON iFOGO. Be sure and join the Albooks Review Author’s Group where we can share our success and our mistakes. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com. Great promo for a great price, post audio, book trailers, contact with agents and producers and much more. Be sure and let them know Allbooks Review sent you and join our group.
http://ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html USE THIS LINK TO JOIN TODAY
Submissions Wanted:
Swyers Publishing Poetry Anthology Volume One: Making Waves
by Pamela Swyers on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 7:14pm
Just wanted to take a moment to explain a bit about our upcoming Poetry Anthology "Making Waves". As a small, independent publisher, Bill and I wanted to find a way to help young up and coming artists (poets specifically) get their work into print. Having walked the long, and often arduous road of getting something published, we feel the pain of those who want to see something they have written in printed form. I have been blessed to cross tracks with several young and amazingly talented writers and poets, and thought by donating some man-hours (and woman hours) and fronting the cost to get the anthology up and out there, the young poet could finally have a way to send someone to a place where they could purchase a poetry anthology that contained their works.
What's in it for us?We get the pleasure of helping out talented young poets and we make a small bit of money off each book sold on-line through Amazon or Smashwords, to help us recoup our costs.
What's in it for the poet?They may purchase (at our cost to produce, plus shipping) as many copies as they like directly from us, then re-sell these and make money off of them and/or they can send others to our site, Amazon or Smashwords to purchase as many copies as they would like. They have a printed, professional collection of poetry works to share and sell.
How does it work?We are currently searching for the best of the best from young, aspiring poets. (Okay, they can be "young at heart" as well.) By going to SwyersPublishing.com, anyone can submit their poetry (up to 5 per person) for consideration in the anthology. Go to "authors and projects" tab. Then go to "poetry project" tab. You will be asked to view the rules and guidelines and then to electronically submit your poem. ALL entries will be viewed and serioulsy considered for inclusion, however, it is ultimately up to our discretion on which ones we feel are the right ones to be included. (It is possible that yours may not be chosen this time, but may be chosen for Volume Two at a later date.) The poets will be contacted and informed as to whether or not their poem(s) has been chosen for inclusion by February, 2011 (at the latest). Chosen poets will be posted on the website. The anthology is set to be printed in the Spring of 2011, and the deadline for submissions is December 31st, 2010. Poets retain the rights to their works, so they can print or sell them elsewhere at any time. (We have non-exclusive rights to publish this once.)
The website is www.swyerspublishing.com
MINOTAUR BOOKS FIRST CRIME NOVEL CONTEST
-----------------------------------------
DEADLINE: November 13, 2010
GENRE: Books
OPEN TO: any writer, regardless of nationality, who has never been
the author of a published novel. Self-published writers may
enter, as long as the entry has not itself been self-published.
DETAILS: Submit previously unpublished works of book length (no
less than 220 typewritten pages or approximately 60,000 words).
PRIZE: $10,000 advance and a publishing contract from Minotaur
Books.
Science Articles Wanted
------------------------
Cosmos, the Australian science magazine, is open to submissions.
Cosmos is largely interested in ideas, particularly those that
involve, or are driven by, science and technology. Payment for
features ranges from A$900 to a maximum of A$3,000. View PDF for
full guidelines.
http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/pdf/Cosmos_writers_guidelines.pdf
FEATURE
FEATURE: Virtual Book Tours: A Five Step Planning Process
=================================================================
By Mohamed Mughal
I participated in an international virtual book tour the third
week of March 2010. The tour focused on my debut novel and on my
overall approach to writing. I had stops in Berlin, Germany;
London, England; and Washington, D.C. This being my first virtual
book tour, I didn't quite know how to plan the event. I took a
deep breath, I planned what I thought made sense and then I took a
head-first dive into the deep end.
Guess what? It was great!
Not only did I have the privilege of direct interactions with
readers world-wide, but the depth, complexity, relevance and humor
of the questions contributed to a number of compelling personal
and literary revelations.
Want to try it yourself? It's not difficult. You can start by
taking a look at the simple, five-step process that I used.
The Five Step Process
---------------------
Steps 1 through 4 happen before the tour. These steps don't
necessarily follow a strict sequence of one-after-another. Expect
some overlap in the execution of them. Step 5 happens after the
tour.
Step 1
------
Do web searches for literature blogs, particularly those who focus
on your genre. Contact as many as possible and briefly explain
who you are, what you wrote and why they should be open to hosting
you for a virtual book tour.
Being a Maryland-based writer, I'm a member of our state's
writers' association. I went to that organization's website and
contacted fellow members who maintain literary blogs. One of my
blog hosts came from these contacts. I found another of my hosts
through a web search on the terms "literary blogs" and
"book blogs." I found my third host by searching for writers with similar demographics as mine. Be persistent. I contacted three dozen blogs before finding three
willing to host my virtual book tour.
Step 2
------
Once you've gotten commitments from the number and the type of
blogs that you want on your tour (I wanted three literary blogs),
confirm tour dates with each host.
In addition to setting dates for the tour, this message tells
hosts to expect a prewritten tour announcement by a specific date;
it reinforces the mechanics of the tour; and it informs the hosts
of upcoming press releases.
Step 3
------
Pre-plan the mechanics of the tour and share this plan with each
of your hosts. Have your hosts share this information with their
blog's readers prior to the tour.
For my event, readers from each blog could ask up to three
questions about my writing and/or book. I developed and posted my
answers in about a day. To increase participation and interest, I
gave a free signed copy of the novel to the first person to post a
question at each blog. I made sure that I included information on
the giveaway in all my press releases and in all announcements
that I posted to my web-site and to other social media sites.
I also wanted to make sure that the information that my hosts
distributed to their readership was consistent and cross-linked.
Providing this information and text to your hosts makes it easier
on them. All they need to do is cut and paste the content into a
post on their blogs. Doing this also allows you to maintain
control over the mechanics of the tour while shaping its overall
message. Insert links to useful background information such as
book reviews and author interviews. Create an integrated set of
tour segments from one blog to another by having each host post
clickable links from their blog to each of the other participating
blogs.
Step 4
------
Issue a series of press releases to publicize the tour.
You can issue these releases through a press release service, your
website, local newspapers and through any other social media that
you participate in such as Facebook and Twitter. The idea is to
drive as much traffic as possible to the host blogs and to make
for a better attended virtual event.
I planned a series of four press releases. I issued the first a
month before the tour, the second about three weeks before, the
third about a week before and the last one on the day before the
tour. Here's sample text from one of the press releases:
Virtual Book Tour Puts God on Trial
American literary cubist Mohamed Mughal will participate in an
international virtual book tour for his novel, Resolution 786,
in March 2010. The novel's plot includes a trial of God for
crimes against humanity.
The tour has stops in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United
States. The following blogs are hosting the tour:
21-23 March 2010, ………………………………….etc.
You get the idea. In snappy, easy language, tell them who, what,
where, when and why. Make sure you throw in personal interest
material, background information that you think and feel will
resonate with the types of people who might read your books. If at all
possible, include clickable links in the press release. Make it
as easy as possible for potential participants to get to where you
want them, posting questions and comments at your host blogs
during the dates of the tour. Finally, think hard about the
titles of your press releases. You want titles that are accurate,
relevant and as compelling as possible.
Step 5
------
Once the tour is done, post clickable links to each host's Q&A
segments on your website and on all social media sites in which
you participate.
In addition to my web-site's blog, I posted my virtual book tour's
links on Facebook, hubpages and squidoo.
Conclusion
----------
There's an admitted simplicity and logic to the five-step process
and to the implementing details associated with each step. The
art and inspiration come with the personal nuances that you imbue
into the mechanical process. Make it special. Make it you.
Would I do another virtual book tour? Absolutely! Done right,
the process yields increased visibility to an author while
increasing traffic for the host blogs. It's an ideal venue
through which to create and leave behind a long-lasting
cyber-trail of information about your book, about your writing and
about yourself. Most of all, a virtual book tour is a perfect
vehicle through which to enjoy the benefits and revelations of a
real-time, deep conversation with readers and literature
enthusiasts the world over.
>>--------------------------------------------------<<
Mohamed Mughal writes in the schools of literary cubism and
absurdism. Learn more at http://www.mohamedmughal.com.
Copyright (c) 2010 by Mohamed Mughal
Allbooks Review is happy to be a stop on your virtual tour, just contact us.
SUCCESS STORIES
We love to hear of your success stories, submit them to us at: allbookreviews@aol.com
Remember to post your book signing, guest speaker events on our Bookstore page. Simply send us an email with details of your events and we will be happy to post them. Just part of the Allbooks service to our authors.
Congratulations to:
Congrats to our Managing Editor, Shirley A. Roe on the release of Snow Eagle
Available on Amazon.com in print and kindle, ebooks at: www.theebooksale.com
Conversations with Jerry and Other People I Thought Were Dead won the silver medal in the 2010 IP Death and Dying Category, and was a Finalist in the 2010 Indie Excellence Awards.
Irene
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:
Please state your name and location.
N. E. (Ed) Walker, Tampa, Florida, US
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Nexus, self-published ebook
Tell us about yourself:
I'm president of Design/Analysis Consultants, Inc., a small firm specializing in the creation of highly reliable electronic products. Because of my affinity for science and engineering, I've always loved good science fiction, but for some unknown reason I enjoy speculative fiction (science fiction without the rocket ships and futuristic gizmos) even more, particularly stories with offbeat psychological themes.
I've been writing non-fiction for over twenty years, primarily newsletters and one published technical book that has done well. I became serious about fiction approximately ten years ago, but on a part-time basis because of the demands of my career. Nexus is the first completed novel.
When was the book released?
July, 2010.
Give us an overview of your book.
I don't think I can beat the Allbooks review by Cindy Taylor.
What inspired you to write this book?
I enjoy writing, plus had a desire to write the type of book that I like to read that seems to be harder to find these days; i.e., one without the boring and predictable car chases, fist fights, and gratuitous vulgarities.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
Other than being somewhat retro as mentioned above, it's a character-focused mixed-genre blend of mainstream and speculative fiction.
<emWhere can people buy your book?
Nexus is available at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Nexus-ebook/dp/B003S3S0CQ
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
Yes, Purgatory, which is also a mix of mainstream/SF, scheduled for mid-late 2011. Purgatory examines a self-centered protagonist who, as a result of the terrifying side-effects of a serious injury, is forced to review the effects of his past actions from his family's perspective. A brief excerpt from Chapter 1 of the draft:
Bathed in a suffocating warmth, I eventually became aware of the faintest glow, eking its way through my translucent covering. The outline of a large ragged hole floated before me, ink black centered in the darkest gray. Its top was flattened against a charcoal ceiling; its rounded bottom connected to a coarse and dusky wall that dropped down into the depths.
Where was I?
This idle curiosity suddenly exploded, blowing away my calm detachment, as the horror of my situation plugged itself into my brain. My erupting screams were throttled into a dreadful moaning by my constricted throat, muffled further by the pungent fabric that smothered my face, and I writhed fiercely, trying to break myself free. Swaying as if on a tether, I realized that I was head down, wrapped and hung like a specimen in an insane collection.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?Before you do, be sure to spend the time and effort to be very sure that your work is very polished and marketable. If you think you're at that point, an Allbooks review would be a good way to obtain professional and unbiased feedback. If the feedback indicates that you're not quite there, then obtaining their professional editing services would be a good next step.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I was seeking a professional editor's opinion, and found Allbooks on the web. From reading several of their reviews, I could tell that they would provide the sort of straight talk that I was looking for, and that criticisms would be balanced and constructive.
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
www.allbookreviews.com
The goblins have been having a great time with our website, we apologize for any inconvenience during September. Our new site will be better than ever, you can check it out at:
www.allbooksreviewint.com but remember it is only in the infant stages right now.
Nominate us for a listing in Writer's Digest's 101 Best Sites
of The Year. Please send your nomination, along with our web
name Allbooks Review and our URL www.allbookreviews.com
to: writersdig@fwpubs.com Subject "101 Sites".
Thank you for all of your support.
*****************************************************************************
ALLBOOKS REVIEW IS NOW ON iFOGO. Be sure and join the Albooks Review Author’s Group where we can share our success and our mistakes. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com. Great promo for a great price, post audio, book trailers, contact with agents and producers and much more. Be sure and let them know Allbooks Review sent you and join our group.
http://ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html USE THIS LINK TO JOIN TODAY
Submissions Wanted:
Swyers Publishing Poetry Anthology Volume One: Making Waves
by Pamela Swyers on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 7:14pm
Just wanted to take a moment to explain a bit about our upcoming Poetry Anthology "Making Waves". As a small, independent publisher, Bill and I wanted to find a way to help young up and coming artists (poets specifically) get their work into print. Having walked the long, and often arduous road of getting something published, we feel the pain of those who want to see something they have written in printed form. I have been blessed to cross tracks with several young and amazingly talented writers and poets, and thought by donating some man-hours (and woman hours) and fronting the cost to get the anthology up and out there, the young poet could finally have a way to send someone to a place where they could purchase a poetry anthology that contained their works.
What's in it for us?We get the pleasure of helping out talented young poets and we make a small bit of money off each book sold on-line through Amazon or Smashwords, to help us recoup our costs.
What's in it for the poet?They may purchase (at our cost to produce, plus shipping) as many copies as they like directly from us, then re-sell these and make money off of them and/or they can send others to our site, Amazon or Smashwords to purchase as many copies as they would like. They have a printed, professional collection of poetry works to share and sell.
How does it work?We are currently searching for the best of the best from young, aspiring poets. (Okay, they can be "young at heart" as well.) By going to SwyersPublishing.com, anyone can submit their poetry (up to 5 per person) for consideration in the anthology. Go to "authors and projects" tab. Then go to "poetry project" tab. You will be asked to view the rules and guidelines and then to electronically submit your poem. ALL entries will be viewed and serioulsy considered for inclusion, however, it is ultimately up to our discretion on which ones we feel are the right ones to be included. (It is possible that yours may not be chosen this time, but may be chosen for Volume Two at a later date.) The poets will be contacted and informed as to whether or not their poem(s) has been chosen for inclusion by February, 2011 (at the latest). Chosen poets will be posted on the website. The anthology is set to be printed in the Spring of 2011, and the deadline for submissions is December 31st, 2010. Poets retain the rights to their works, so they can print or sell them elsewhere at any time. (We have non-exclusive rights to publish this once.)
The website is www.swyerspublishing.com
MINOTAUR BOOKS FIRST CRIME NOVEL CONTEST
-----------------------------------------
DEADLINE: November 13, 2010
GENRE: Books
OPEN TO: any writer, regardless of nationality, who has never been
the author of a published novel. Self-published writers may
enter, as long as the entry has not itself been self-published.
DETAILS: Submit previously unpublished works of book length (no
less than 220 typewritten pages or approximately 60,000 words).
PRIZE: $10,000 advance and a publishing contract from Minotaur
Books.
Science Articles Wanted
------------------------
Cosmos, the Australian science magazine, is open to submissions.
Cosmos is largely interested in ideas, particularly those that
involve, or are driven by, science and technology. Payment for
features ranges from A$900 to a maximum of A$3,000. View PDF for
full guidelines.
http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/pdf/Cosmos_writers_guidelines.pdf
FEATURE
FEATURE: Virtual Book Tours: A Five Step Planning Process
=================================================================
By Mohamed Mughal
I participated in an international virtual book tour the third
week of March 2010. The tour focused on my debut novel and on my
overall approach to writing. I had stops in Berlin, Germany;
London, England; and Washington, D.C. This being my first virtual
book tour, I didn't quite know how to plan the event. I took a
deep breath, I planned what I thought made sense and then I took a
head-first dive into the deep end.
Guess what? It was great!
Not only did I have the privilege of direct interactions with
readers world-wide, but the depth, complexity, relevance and humor
of the questions contributed to a number of compelling personal
and literary revelations.
Want to try it yourself? It's not difficult. You can start by
taking a look at the simple, five-step process that I used.
The Five Step Process
---------------------
Steps 1 through 4 happen before the tour. These steps don't
necessarily follow a strict sequence of one-after-another. Expect
some overlap in the execution of them. Step 5 happens after the
tour.
Step 1
------
Do web searches for literature blogs, particularly those who focus
on your genre. Contact as many as possible and briefly explain
who you are, what you wrote and why they should be open to hosting
you for a virtual book tour.
Being a Maryland-based writer, I'm a member of our state's
writers' association. I went to that organization's website and
contacted fellow members who maintain literary blogs. One of my
blog hosts came from these contacts. I found another of my hosts
through a web search on the terms "literary blogs" and
"book blogs." I found my third host by searching for writers with similar demographics as mine. Be persistent. I contacted three dozen blogs before finding three
willing to host my virtual book tour.
Step 2
------
Once you've gotten commitments from the number and the type of
blogs that you want on your tour (I wanted three literary blogs),
confirm tour dates with each host.
In addition to setting dates for the tour, this message tells
hosts to expect a prewritten tour announcement by a specific date;
it reinforces the mechanics of the tour; and it informs the hosts
of upcoming press releases.
Step 3
------
Pre-plan the mechanics of the tour and share this plan with each
of your hosts. Have your hosts share this information with their
blog's readers prior to the tour.
For my event, readers from each blog could ask up to three
questions about my writing and/or book. I developed and posted my
answers in about a day. To increase participation and interest, I
gave a free signed copy of the novel to the first person to post a
question at each blog. I made sure that I included information on
the giveaway in all my press releases and in all announcements
that I posted to my web-site and to other social media sites.
I also wanted to make sure that the information that my hosts
distributed to their readership was consistent and cross-linked.
Providing this information and text to your hosts makes it easier
on them. All they need to do is cut and paste the content into a
post on their blogs. Doing this also allows you to maintain
control over the mechanics of the tour while shaping its overall
message. Insert links to useful background information such as
book reviews and author interviews. Create an integrated set of
tour segments from one blog to another by having each host post
clickable links from their blog to each of the other participating
blogs.
Step 4
------
Issue a series of press releases to publicize the tour.
You can issue these releases through a press release service, your
website, local newspapers and through any other social media that
you participate in such as Facebook and Twitter. The idea is to
drive as much traffic as possible to the host blogs and to make
for a better attended virtual event.
I planned a series of four press releases. I issued the first a
month before the tour, the second about three weeks before, the
third about a week before and the last one on the day before the
tour. Here's sample text from one of the press releases:
Virtual Book Tour Puts God on Trial
American literary cubist Mohamed Mughal will participate in an
international virtual book tour for his novel, Resolution 786,
in March 2010. The novel's plot includes a trial of God for
crimes against humanity.
The tour has stops in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United
States. The following blogs are hosting the tour:
21-23 March 2010, ………………………………….etc.
You get the idea. In snappy, easy language, tell them who, what,
where, when and why. Make sure you throw in personal interest
material, background information that you think and feel will
resonate with the types of people who might read your books. If at all
possible, include clickable links in the press release. Make it
as easy as possible for potential participants to get to where you
want them, posting questions and comments at your host blogs
during the dates of the tour. Finally, think hard about the
titles of your press releases. You want titles that are accurate,
relevant and as compelling as possible.
Step 5
------
Once the tour is done, post clickable links to each host's Q&A
segments on your website and on all social media sites in which
you participate.
In addition to my web-site's blog, I posted my virtual book tour's
links on Facebook, hubpages and squidoo.
Conclusion
----------
There's an admitted simplicity and logic to the five-step process
and to the implementing details associated with each step. The
art and inspiration come with the personal nuances that you imbue
into the mechanical process. Make it special. Make it you.
Would I do another virtual book tour? Absolutely! Done right,
the process yields increased visibility to an author while
increasing traffic for the host blogs. It's an ideal venue
through which to create and leave behind a long-lasting
cyber-trail of information about your book, about your writing and
about yourself. Most of all, a virtual book tour is a perfect
vehicle through which to enjoy the benefits and revelations of a
real-time, deep conversation with readers and literature
enthusiasts the world over.
>>--------------------------------------------------<<
Mohamed Mughal writes in the schools of literary cubism and
absurdism. Learn more at http://www.mohamedmughal.com.
Copyright (c) 2010 by Mohamed Mughal
Allbooks Review is happy to be a stop on your virtual tour, just contact us.
SUCCESS STORIES
We love to hear of your success stories, submit them to us at: allbookreviews@aol.com
Remember to post your book signing, guest speaker events on our Bookstore page. Simply send us an email with details of your events and we will be happy to post them. Just part of the Allbooks service to our authors.
Congratulations to:
Congrats to our Managing Editor, Shirley A. Roe on the release of Snow Eagle
Available on Amazon.com in print and kindle, ebooks at: www.theebooksale.com
Conversations with Jerry and Other People I Thought Were Dead won the silver medal in the 2010 IP Death and Dying Category, and was a Finalist in the 2010 Indie Excellence Awards.
Irene
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:
Please state your name and location.
N. E. (Ed) Walker, Tampa, Florida, US
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Nexus, self-published ebook
Tell us about yourself:
I'm president of Design/Analysis Consultants, Inc., a small firm specializing in the creation of highly reliable electronic products. Because of my affinity for science and engineering, I've always loved good science fiction, but for some unknown reason I enjoy speculative fiction (science fiction without the rocket ships and futuristic gizmos) even more, particularly stories with offbeat psychological themes.
I've been writing non-fiction for over twenty years, primarily newsletters and one published technical book that has done well. I became serious about fiction approximately ten years ago, but on a part-time basis because of the demands of my career. Nexus is the first completed novel.
When was the book released?
July, 2010.
Give us an overview of your book.
I don't think I can beat the Allbooks review by Cindy Taylor.
What inspired you to write this book?
I enjoy writing, plus had a desire to write the type of book that I like to read that seems to be harder to find these days; i.e., one without the boring and predictable car chases, fist fights, and gratuitous vulgarities.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
Other than being somewhat retro as mentioned above, it's a character-focused mixed-genre blend of mainstream and speculative fiction.
<emWhere can people buy your book?
Nexus is available at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Nexus-ebook/dp/B003S3S0CQ
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
Yes, Purgatory, which is also a mix of mainstream/SF, scheduled for mid-late 2011. Purgatory examines a self-centered protagonist who, as a result of the terrifying side-effects of a serious injury, is forced to review the effects of his past actions from his family's perspective. A brief excerpt from Chapter 1 of the draft:
Bathed in a suffocating warmth, I eventually became aware of the faintest glow, eking its way through my translucent covering. The outline of a large ragged hole floated before me, ink black centered in the darkest gray. Its top was flattened against a charcoal ceiling; its rounded bottom connected to a coarse and dusky wall that dropped down into the depths.
Where was I?
This idle curiosity suddenly exploded, blowing away my calm detachment, as the horror of my situation plugged itself into my brain. My erupting screams were throttled into a dreadful moaning by my constricted throat, muffled further by the pungent fabric that smothered my face, and I writhed fiercely, trying to break myself free. Swaying as if on a tether, I realized that I was head down, wrapped and hung like a specimen in an insane collection.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?Before you do, be sure to spend the time and effort to be very sure that your work is very polished and marketable. If you think you're at that point, an Allbooks review would be a good way to obtain professional and unbiased feedback. If the feedback indicates that you're not quite there, then obtaining their professional editing services would be a good next step.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I was seeking a professional editor's opinion, and found Allbooks on the web. From reading several of their reviews, I could tell that they would provide the sort of straight talk that I was looking for, and that criticisms would be balanced and constructive.
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
www.allbookreviews.com
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Author is looking for information. Can anyone help?
My question is, would you have any information on how I could get this book into the Scholastic collection for school fairs? As it was published by Infinity, a POD publisher, it seems a bit more complicated. I contacted Scholastic and they would need 7000 books, which Infinity can print as they do their own publishing. It sounds rather lucrative (even at $1.00 a book royalty, or so) and I would certainly like to try.
I would be so grateful for any information you could give me.
Regards,
Sheila McIntyre
NB. Please contact Shirley Roe at allbookreviews@aol.com and your information will be forwarded to Sheila
I would be so grateful for any information you could give me.
Regards,
Sheila McIntyre
NB. Please contact Shirley Roe at allbookreviews@aol.com and your information will be forwarded to Sheila
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Allbooks Review site updating.
The Allbooks Review website www.allbookreviews.com is down for a few days for upgrading. Please return to the site at a later date if you can not access it. Thank you.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you
Shirley A. Roe
Managing Editor,Allbooks Review
www.allbookreviews.com
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you
Shirley A. Roe
Managing Editor,Allbooks Review
www.allbookreviews.com
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Myriad Editions is Looking for Books to Publish-----------------------------------------------
Based in the UK, this independent publisher publishes atlases,
graphic nonfiction and original fiction. They do not publish
children's stories, poetry or plays. For more information visit:
http://www.myriadeditions.com/submissions
Grantville Gazette Wants Short Sci-Fi and Fantasy
-------------------------------------------------
This appears to be a good magazine to break into if you want to
write fantasy. They have strict guidelines but a supportive
process. You need to submit your story as it progresses onto a
forum board where it will be discussed and problems with it ironed
out. If they decide to purchase your story you will get paid 5
cents a word. For more information visit:
http://www.grantvillegazette.com/submissions
Timeline Wants History Articles on Ohio
---------------------------------------
The editors of Timeline, the publication of the Ohio Historical
Society, are accepting manuscripts of 1,500 to 6,000 words related
to the history, prehistory, and natural history of Ohio and to the
broader cultural and natural environments of which Ohio is a part.
Articles with a significant regional or national focus also will be
considered. Suitable topics include the traditional fields of
political, economic, military, and social history; biography; the
history of science and technology; archaeology and anthropology;
architecture; the fine and decorative arts; and the natural
sciences including botany, geology, zoology, ecology, and
paleontology.
In addition to full-length feature articles, shorter, more sharply
focused vignettes of 500 to 1,000 words will be considered.
For more information and writer's guidelines visit the website:
http://www.ohiohistory.org/resource/publicat/timeline/ifc.html
Delicious Living Call for Submissions
-------------------------------------
US-based healthy lifestyle magazine is open to submissions.
Delicious Living was the first magazine of its kind, and it
remains ahead of its time--a lifestyle magazine that meets new
millennium needs with centuries-old health solutions, combined
with contemporary natural health care methods and modalities.
Delicious Living articles are lively, informative, and
conversational in tone, and provide up-to-date health information
in a clear, easy-to-understand manner. Writers should consult
various sources for their stories, including health professionals
and research journals. They require that writers make every attempt
to reference current research.
For more information visit: http://deliciouslivingmag.com/contact/
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you
Shirley A. Roe
Based in the UK, this independent publisher publishes atlases,
graphic nonfiction and original fiction. They do not publish
children's stories, poetry or plays. For more information visit:
http://www.myriadeditions.com/submissions
Grantville Gazette Wants Short Sci-Fi and Fantasy
-------------------------------------------------
This appears to be a good magazine to break into if you want to
write fantasy. They have strict guidelines but a supportive
process. You need to submit your story as it progresses onto a
forum board where it will be discussed and problems with it ironed
out. If they decide to purchase your story you will get paid 5
cents a word. For more information visit:
http://www.grantvillegazette.com/submissions
Timeline Wants History Articles on Ohio
---------------------------------------
The editors of Timeline, the publication of the Ohio Historical
Society, are accepting manuscripts of 1,500 to 6,000 words related
to the history, prehistory, and natural history of Ohio and to the
broader cultural and natural environments of which Ohio is a part.
Articles with a significant regional or national focus also will be
considered. Suitable topics include the traditional fields of
political, economic, military, and social history; biography; the
history of science and technology; archaeology and anthropology;
architecture; the fine and decorative arts; and the natural
sciences including botany, geology, zoology, ecology, and
paleontology.
In addition to full-length feature articles, shorter, more sharply
focused vignettes of 500 to 1,000 words will be considered.
For more information and writer's guidelines visit the website:
http://www.ohiohistory.org/resource/publicat/timeline/ifc.html
Delicious Living Call for Submissions
-------------------------------------
US-based healthy lifestyle magazine is open to submissions.
Delicious Living was the first magazine of its kind, and it
remains ahead of its time--a lifestyle magazine that meets new
millennium needs with centuries-old health solutions, combined
with contemporary natural health care methods and modalities.
Delicious Living articles are lively, informative, and
conversational in tone, and provide up-to-date health information
in a clear, easy-to-understand manner. Writers should consult
various sources for their stories, including health professionals
and research journals. They require that writers make every attempt
to reference current research.
For more information visit: http://deliciouslivingmag.com/contact/
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you
Shirley A. Roe
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Making Waves
Swyers Publishing Poetry Anthology Volume One: Making Waves
by Pamela Swyers on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 7:14pm
Just wanted to take a moment to explain a bit about our upcoming Poetry Anthology "Making Waves".
As a small, independent publisher, Bill and I wanted to find a way to help young up and coming artists (poets specifically) get their work into print. Having walked the long, and often arduous road of getting something published, we feel the pain of those who want to see something they have written in printed form. I have been blessed to cross tracks with several young and amazingly talented writers and poets, and thought by donating some man-hours (and woman hours) and fronting the cost to get the anthology up and out there, the young poet could finally have a way to send someone to a place where they could purchase a poetry anthology that contained their works.
What's in it for us?
We get the pleasure of helping out talented young poets and we make a small bit of money off each book sold on-line through Amazon or Smashwords, to help us recoup our costs.
What's in it for the poet?
They may purchase (at our cost to produce, plus shipping) as many copies as they like directly from us, then re-sell these and make money off of them and/or they can send others to our site, Amazon or Smashwords to purchase as many copies as they would like. They have a printed, professional collection of poetry works to share and sell.
How does it work?
We are currently searching for the best of the best from young, aspiring poets. (Okay, they can be "young at heart" as well.) By going to SwyersPublishing.com, anyone can submit their poetry (up to 5 per person) for consideration in the anthology. Go to "authors and projects" tab. Then go to "poetry project" tab. You will be asked to view the rules and guidelines and then to electronically submit your poem. ALL entries will be viewed and seriously considered for inclusion, however, it is ultimately up to our discretion on which ones we feel are the right ones to be included. (It is possible that yours may not be chosen this time, but may be chosen for Volume Two at a later date.) The poets will be contacted and informed as to whether or not their poem(s) has been chosen for inclusion by February, 2011 (at the latest). Chosen poets will be posted on the website. The anthology is set to be printed in the Spring of 2011, and the deadline for submissions is December 31st, 2010. Poets retain the rights to their works, so they can print or sell them elsewhere at any time. (We have non-exclusive rights to publish this once.)
The website is www.swyerspublishing.com Email is bill@swyerspublishing.com
by Pamela Swyers on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 7:14pm
Just wanted to take a moment to explain a bit about our upcoming Poetry Anthology "Making Waves".
As a small, independent publisher, Bill and I wanted to find a way to help young up and coming artists (poets specifically) get their work into print. Having walked the long, and often arduous road of getting something published, we feel the pain of those who want to see something they have written in printed form. I have been blessed to cross tracks with several young and amazingly talented writers and poets, and thought by donating some man-hours (and woman hours) and fronting the cost to get the anthology up and out there, the young poet could finally have a way to send someone to a place where they could purchase a poetry anthology that contained their works.
What's in it for us?
We get the pleasure of helping out talented young poets and we make a small bit of money off each book sold on-line through Amazon or Smashwords, to help us recoup our costs.
What's in it for the poet?
They may purchase (at our cost to produce, plus shipping) as many copies as they like directly from us, then re-sell these and make money off of them and/or they can send others to our site, Amazon or Smashwords to purchase as many copies as they would like. They have a printed, professional collection of poetry works to share and sell.
How does it work?
We are currently searching for the best of the best from young, aspiring poets. (Okay, they can be "young at heart" as well.) By going to SwyersPublishing.com, anyone can submit their poetry (up to 5 per person) for consideration in the anthology. Go to "authors and projects" tab. Then go to "poetry project" tab. You will be asked to view the rules and guidelines and then to electronically submit your poem. ALL entries will be viewed and seriously considered for inclusion, however, it is ultimately up to our discretion on which ones we feel are the right ones to be included. (It is possible that yours may not be chosen this time, but may be chosen for Volume Two at a later date.) The poets will be contacted and informed as to whether or not their poem(s) has been chosen for inclusion by February, 2011 (at the latest). Chosen poets will be posted on the website. The anthology is set to be printed in the Spring of 2011, and the deadline for submissions is December 31st, 2010. Poets retain the rights to their works, so they can print or sell them elsewhere at any time. (We have non-exclusive rights to publish this once.)
The website is www.swyerspublishing.com Email is bill@swyerspublishing.com
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Allbooks Review September 2010 Newsletter
Cooler temps of autumn
Nominate us for a listing in Writer's Digest's 101 Best Sites
of The Year. Please send your nomination, along with our web
name Allbooks Review and our URL www.allbookreviews.com
to: writersdig@fwpubs.com Subject "101 Sites".
Thank you for all of your support.
*****************************************************************************
ALLBOOKS REVIEW IS NOW ON iFOGO. Be sure and join the Albooks Review Author’s Group where we can share our success and our mistakes. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com. Great promo for a great price, post audio, book trailers, contact with agents and producers and much more. Be sure and let them know Allbooks Review sent you and join our group.
http://ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html USE THIS LINK TO JOIN TODAY
Submissions Wanted:
POOLE LITERARY FESTIVAL NEW MEDIA PRIZE
---------------------------------------
DEADLINE: September 15, 2010
GENRE: Short Stories, nonfiction, poetry, young writers
DETAILS: Two age categories: adult and student. Storytelling,
whether fiction or non-fiction or poetry, written specifically for
delivery and reading/viewing on a PC or Mac, on the web, or via
mobile phone. Could be thought of as a short story, a novel, a
documentary, or poetry. However, "writing" and "literature" in the
digital age now can include words, images, film, animation, and
interactivity for the audience.
PRIZE: £250 and an Apple i-pad for 1st prize winner in each age
category.
URL: http://www.poolelitfest.com/new-media-prize.php
FEATURE
Why Book Promotion Takes Patience
By Patricia Fry
Why must authors have patience? Because it takes time to go from exposure to sales. Exposure is necessary in order to alert potential customers to your book-let them know that it exists. People have to know about your book before they will purchase it. News flash: Just having it sitting on a shelf in a bookstore, doesn't necessarily mean that people will be inclined to purchase it.
They need to hear about it, read about it, hear others talk about it, see it reviewed in their favorite related publications, handle it a few (or many) times, have it recommended and learn more about it. Not only do they need to know about it, they must be convinced that this is something they want to read-that they will enjoy it or benefit from it or that someone they know will. Handpicked books make great gifts.
So how do you get this sort of exposure for your amazing book? You must establish a website and, perhaps, a blog site. Go out and speak. Get your book reviewed many times over. Arrange for book signings. Rent booths at book festivals. Join organizations and groups that can help you get exposure for your book (those related to the theme or genre of your book as well as those that can help with marketing, offer resources, etc). Where appropriate, teach courses and/or give workshops related to your book. Speak at conferences related to your book. Talk about it everywhere you go. Submit articles to appropriate magazines/newsletters/sites. And make sure you are listed in Books in Print (so booksellers can special order your book for customers).
Currently, I am testing new waters while getting exposure for my latest book, Catscapades, True Cat Tales. And I am reminded how time-consuming book promotion can be, especially just coming out of the publishing gate. How much time is it taking? LOTS of it. Getting exposure in all the right places is my full time job at the moment. And it takes patience, because reviewers don't always respond as quickly as you would like. Booksellers can drag their feet about scheduling your signings. Potential customers who may really want a copy of your book put off purchasing it.
How long does it take to get the results you want through exposure? Do you want me to be candid? This is an ongoing activity for as long as you want your book to sell.
Until you have major name recognition as the author of mysteries, true crime books, children's or young adult books, fantasies, science fiction or books on finance, for example, you will need to practically hand sell each and every book you produce. As authors in this publishing climate, the best that we can do is to consider authorship a serious business, not a privilege that will result in instant fame and fortune.
Sure, you'll get a flurry of sales after a positive review is published by a reviewer of some credibility and with a large following. You may sell a box or a handful of books at a book festival or a large conference where you speak. You will surely sell a dozen or so books at a well-publicized book signing. And some of those customers will tell others about your book and you'll get some residual sales. But then, you're back to the drawing board reminding potential customers about your book on a regular basis while attempting to find new ways to get exposure.
Does it sound like a dismal reward for writing a marvelous book-to have to promote for evermore? It depends on how you look at it. I suggest shifting a measure of your creativity over from your writing efforts to the process of promotion and look at it as a creative challenge.
Here's another tip. Don't ever allow yourself to be discouraged when your sales, during a particular event or after a great review, fall below your expectations. Exposure doesn't always lead to immediate gratification (sales). In fact, I like to tell the story of a SPAWN member who shared in our SPAWN booth at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books one year. He didn't sell very many books that year, but he made some amazing contacts that led to him being involved in a documentary featuring the topic of his book. It airs frequently on the Military channel.
If you are currently or will soon be promoting a book, keep things in perspective. Understand the concept of book promotion.
• Book promotion is not a one-time shot. It is ongoing for as long as you want to sell copies of your book.
• Book promotion is not a passive process. It takes serious planning and assertive action.
• Book promotion efforts do not usually result in high sales right off the bat.
• Book promotion takes time, effort, energy and creative thinking.
If you have a good product, your next obligation is to be proactive in promoting it and be patient.
SUCCESS STORIES
We love to hear of your success stories, submit them to us at: allbookreviews@aol.com
Remember to post your book signing, guest speaker events on our Bookstore page. Simply send us an email with details of your events and we will be happy to post them. Just part of the Allbooks service to our authors.
Congratulations to:
Creating A Healthy Life and Marriage has won an award. Judith
Readers Favorite
2010 Silver Medal Winner
Non-fiction, Relationships
Dear Shirley!
Wow. Thank you for the wonderful review. I have been real busy and could not get back to you.
I just broke my third Guinness World Record on Live TV last week.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etDo37PKKvk (see me drop the anchorman on the floor live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGG9D7EO_rs
Another world record (4th one) is set for this Saturday August 14th at 1 PM PST at livestream.com.
The cookbook is here. I will send the hardcopy to you.
Thank you so so much!
THIENNA
Creating A Healthy Life and Marriage; A Holistic Approach: Body, Mind, Emotions and Spirit has received its first two awards:
Featured Book of the Month
August 2010
Pacific Book Review
http://www.pacificbookreview.com/
Readers Favorite Awards 2010
Finalist, Non Fiction - Relationships
Beyond Doubt is now available as an e-book through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and others, please let everyone know it is downloadable. Many blessings!
John
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW: (Please put your answers in black)
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Don Hurst. Roseville, California, USA
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Cloud Riders. ePress-online Inc.
Tell us about yourself:
I'm Don Hurst. My full name is Donald Douglas Hurst. I'm a 75 year-old life-long bachelor living in Northern California, U.S.A.
I have an AA in Art and a BA in Expressive Arts.
I am a veteran of United States Navy during the Korean War and a veteran of the United States Air Force during peacetime.
I have two younger brothers.
10 years younger, Dennis, who lives in San Diego, California. He's an electronics engineer. He's retired but still magnificently smart.
And Bob, who also lives Roseville. He's 3 years younger than me and has for years been the president of a corporation. He's now retired but is still unabashedly bossy.
I write fantasy mostly, because it's more real to me than so-called reality.
I have a web site: www.donstuff.com
On the back cover of Return to UKOO, my first book, is the following: 'No matter where I go, there I am. I can either get in the way or enjoy the company.'
Enough about me. I'm getting bored.
Don
When was the book released?
2010
Give us an overview of your book.
14 year-old Paul Winsome has to ride clouds to save his 11 year-old sister Vicki, and the solar system. He has no idea how. Why was he chosen? Could anyone be less qualified?
Through his parallel-imagined-life, Paul has to enter a dangerous, intimidating, puzzling pursuit of a reality just beyond his grasp. He has no choice but to trust his imagination. However, isn't his imagination mixed in with everyone else's imagination in an imagination life stew? Aren't his chances of failure literally astronomical?
"Your gift of imagination is able to reach any altitude,” says wizard Maken Fairchild. Easy for him to say. He doesn't have to confront gargantuan gorilla Claude Nab or his owner, queen authority of malice Calamity Horrid. He doesn't have to face an invading solar system Vile Extinction, whose added suns will cook Earth upon her arrival. He doesn't have to face her laser-shooting eyed son, Kid Badd. Face six eyed Keen Aware. Bully Buster. Save his cat, Isno Gravity.
Not to mention, how does one ride clouds anyway?
Surely someone has made a dreadful mistake.
What inspired you to write this book?
E. B. White answered a child's question about whether his stories were true.
He answered, quote: "No, they are imaginary tales… But real life is only one kind of life―there is also the life of the imagination." End quote.
Combine that with the Harry Potter series and Cloud Riders sprang to life in my imagination.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
I wanted to write a book about imagination itself. It took six years to complete. It's been quite a cloud ride.
Where can people buy your book?
www.ePress-online.com
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
Not at the present time.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
Cloud Riders is not self-published. But my advice is to remember that
'writing the book and self publishing it is only half the task. The other half is to sell it.'
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
Editing, cover design, encouragement and a reality check when my
Imagination soared too far for a reader to grasp. ePress-online Inc. is staffed by other writers helping writers with their craft. They have been wonderful to me both in guidance and understanding my goal.
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
My review by Alison Griffiths, an Allbooks Reviewer. She brought me out of a worsening dark cloud of self-doubt. The encouragement of Writers Village University's Donna Sundblad, know at WVU as Birdie, suggestions as to marketing. Marketing success is the branch held out to keep me running toward accomplishment. I truly care less for Don Hurst being successful than Cloud Riders reaching the reading public, young and old.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I found Allbooks Reviews on a site that lists book reviewers. I just got lucky in my pick.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
I'm 75 and living on Social Security. Low cost was not only a surprise, but a God send. As to what more Allbooks Reviews could offer, I haven't explored fully what is now offered. Seems to me so much is offered that it will take some time to grab a hold of the spinning merry-go-round of marketing help.
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Thanks right back at you. I am truly appreciative.
Nominate us for a listing in Writer's Digest's 101 Best Sites
of The Year. Please send your nomination, along with our web
name Allbooks Review and our URL www.allbookreviews.com
to: writersdig@fwpubs.com Subject "101 Sites".
Thank you for all of your support.
*****************************************************************************
ALLBOOKS REVIEW IS NOW ON iFOGO. Be sure and join the Albooks Review Author’s Group where we can share our success and our mistakes. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com. Great promo for a great price, post audio, book trailers, contact with agents and producers and much more. Be sure and let them know Allbooks Review sent you and join our group.
http://ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html USE THIS LINK TO JOIN TODAY
Submissions Wanted:
POOLE LITERARY FESTIVAL NEW MEDIA PRIZE
---------------------------------------
DEADLINE: September 15, 2010
GENRE: Short Stories, nonfiction, poetry, young writers
DETAILS: Two age categories: adult and student. Storytelling,
whether fiction or non-fiction or poetry, written specifically for
delivery and reading/viewing on a PC or Mac, on the web, or via
mobile phone. Could be thought of as a short story, a novel, a
documentary, or poetry. However, "writing" and "literature" in the
digital age now can include words, images, film, animation, and
interactivity for the audience.
PRIZE: £250 and an Apple i-pad for 1st prize winner in each age
category.
URL: http://www.poolelitfest.com/new-media-prize.php
FEATURE
Why Book Promotion Takes Patience
By Patricia Fry
Why must authors have patience? Because it takes time to go from exposure to sales. Exposure is necessary in order to alert potential customers to your book-let them know that it exists. People have to know about your book before they will purchase it. News flash: Just having it sitting on a shelf in a bookstore, doesn't necessarily mean that people will be inclined to purchase it.
They need to hear about it, read about it, hear others talk about it, see it reviewed in their favorite related publications, handle it a few (or many) times, have it recommended and learn more about it. Not only do they need to know about it, they must be convinced that this is something they want to read-that they will enjoy it or benefit from it or that someone they know will. Handpicked books make great gifts.
So how do you get this sort of exposure for your amazing book? You must establish a website and, perhaps, a blog site. Go out and speak. Get your book reviewed many times over. Arrange for book signings. Rent booths at book festivals. Join organizations and groups that can help you get exposure for your book (those related to the theme or genre of your book as well as those that can help with marketing, offer resources, etc). Where appropriate, teach courses and/or give workshops related to your book. Speak at conferences related to your book. Talk about it everywhere you go. Submit articles to appropriate magazines/newsletters/sites. And make sure you are listed in Books in Print (so booksellers can special order your book for customers).
Currently, I am testing new waters while getting exposure for my latest book, Catscapades, True Cat Tales. And I am reminded how time-consuming book promotion can be, especially just coming out of the publishing gate. How much time is it taking? LOTS of it. Getting exposure in all the right places is my full time job at the moment. And it takes patience, because reviewers don't always respond as quickly as you would like. Booksellers can drag their feet about scheduling your signings. Potential customers who may really want a copy of your book put off purchasing it.
How long does it take to get the results you want through exposure? Do you want me to be candid? This is an ongoing activity for as long as you want your book to sell.
Until you have major name recognition as the author of mysteries, true crime books, children's or young adult books, fantasies, science fiction or books on finance, for example, you will need to practically hand sell each and every book you produce. As authors in this publishing climate, the best that we can do is to consider authorship a serious business, not a privilege that will result in instant fame and fortune.
Sure, you'll get a flurry of sales after a positive review is published by a reviewer of some credibility and with a large following. You may sell a box or a handful of books at a book festival or a large conference where you speak. You will surely sell a dozen or so books at a well-publicized book signing. And some of those customers will tell others about your book and you'll get some residual sales. But then, you're back to the drawing board reminding potential customers about your book on a regular basis while attempting to find new ways to get exposure.
Does it sound like a dismal reward for writing a marvelous book-to have to promote for evermore? It depends on how you look at it. I suggest shifting a measure of your creativity over from your writing efforts to the process of promotion and look at it as a creative challenge.
Here's another tip. Don't ever allow yourself to be discouraged when your sales, during a particular event or after a great review, fall below your expectations. Exposure doesn't always lead to immediate gratification (sales). In fact, I like to tell the story of a SPAWN member who shared in our SPAWN booth at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books one year. He didn't sell very many books that year, but he made some amazing contacts that led to him being involved in a documentary featuring the topic of his book. It airs frequently on the Military channel.
If you are currently or will soon be promoting a book, keep things in perspective. Understand the concept of book promotion.
• Book promotion is not a one-time shot. It is ongoing for as long as you want to sell copies of your book.
• Book promotion is not a passive process. It takes serious planning and assertive action.
• Book promotion efforts do not usually result in high sales right off the bat.
• Book promotion takes time, effort, energy and creative thinking.
If you have a good product, your next obligation is to be proactive in promoting it and be patient.
SUCCESS STORIES
We love to hear of your success stories, submit them to us at: allbookreviews@aol.com
Remember to post your book signing, guest speaker events on our Bookstore page. Simply send us an email with details of your events and we will be happy to post them. Just part of the Allbooks service to our authors.
Congratulations to:
Creating A Healthy Life and Marriage has won an award. Judith
Readers Favorite
2010 Silver Medal Winner
Non-fiction, Relationships
Dear Shirley!
Wow. Thank you for the wonderful review. I have been real busy and could not get back to you.
I just broke my third Guinness World Record on Live TV last week.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etDo37PKKvk (see me drop the anchorman on the floor live)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGG9D7EO_rs
Another world record (4th one) is set for this Saturday August 14th at 1 PM PST at livestream.com.
The cookbook is here. I will send the hardcopy to you.
Thank you so so much!
THIENNA
Creating A Healthy Life and Marriage; A Holistic Approach: Body, Mind, Emotions and Spirit has received its first two awards:
Featured Book of the Month
August 2010
Pacific Book Review
http://www.pacificbookreview.com/
Readers Favorite Awards 2010
Finalist, Non Fiction - Relationships
Beyond Doubt is now available as an e-book through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and others, please let everyone know it is downloadable. Many blessings!
John
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW: (Please put your answers in black)
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Don Hurst. Roseville, California, USA
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Cloud Riders. ePress-online Inc.
Tell us about yourself:
I'm Don Hurst. My full name is Donald Douglas Hurst. I'm a 75 year-old life-long bachelor living in Northern California, U.S.A.
I have an AA in Art and a BA in Expressive Arts.
I am a veteran of United States Navy during the Korean War and a veteran of the United States Air Force during peacetime.
I have two younger brothers.
10 years younger, Dennis, who lives in San Diego, California. He's an electronics engineer. He's retired but still magnificently smart.
And Bob, who also lives Roseville. He's 3 years younger than me and has for years been the president of a corporation. He's now retired but is still unabashedly bossy.
I write fantasy mostly, because it's more real to me than so-called reality.
I have a web site: www.donstuff.com
On the back cover of Return to UKOO, my first book, is the following: 'No matter where I go, there I am. I can either get in the way or enjoy the company.'
Enough about me. I'm getting bored.
Don
When was the book released?
2010
Give us an overview of your book.
14 year-old Paul Winsome has to ride clouds to save his 11 year-old sister Vicki, and the solar system. He has no idea how. Why was he chosen? Could anyone be less qualified?
Through his parallel-imagined-life, Paul has to enter a dangerous, intimidating, puzzling pursuit of a reality just beyond his grasp. He has no choice but to trust his imagination. However, isn't his imagination mixed in with everyone else's imagination in an imagination life stew? Aren't his chances of failure literally astronomical?
"Your gift of imagination is able to reach any altitude,” says wizard Maken Fairchild. Easy for him to say. He doesn't have to confront gargantuan gorilla Claude Nab or his owner, queen authority of malice Calamity Horrid. He doesn't have to face an invading solar system Vile Extinction, whose added suns will cook Earth upon her arrival. He doesn't have to face her laser-shooting eyed son, Kid Badd. Face six eyed Keen Aware. Bully Buster. Save his cat, Isno Gravity.
Not to mention, how does one ride clouds anyway?
Surely someone has made a dreadful mistake.
What inspired you to write this book?
E. B. White answered a child's question about whether his stories were true.
He answered, quote: "No, they are imaginary tales… But real life is only one kind of life―there is also the life of the imagination." End quote.
Combine that with the Harry Potter series and Cloud Riders sprang to life in my imagination.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
I wanted to write a book about imagination itself. It took six years to complete. It's been quite a cloud ride.
Where can people buy your book?
www.ePress-online.com
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
Not at the present time.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
Cloud Riders is not self-published. But my advice is to remember that
'writing the book and self publishing it is only half the task. The other half is to sell it.'
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
Editing, cover design, encouragement and a reality check when my
Imagination soared too far for a reader to grasp. ePress-online Inc. is staffed by other writers helping writers with their craft. They have been wonderful to me both in guidance and understanding my goal.
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
My review by Alison Griffiths, an Allbooks Reviewer. She brought me out of a worsening dark cloud of self-doubt. The encouragement of Writers Village University's Donna Sundblad, know at WVU as Birdie, suggestions as to marketing. Marketing success is the branch held out to keep me running toward accomplishment. I truly care less for Don Hurst being successful than Cloud Riders reaching the reading public, young and old.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I found Allbooks Reviews on a site that lists book reviewers. I just got lucky in my pick.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
I'm 75 and living on Social Security. Low cost was not only a surprise, but a God send. As to what more Allbooks Reviews could offer, I haven't explored fully what is now offered. Seems to me so much is offered that it will take some time to grab a hold of the spinning merry-go-round of marketing help.
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Thanks right back at you. I am truly appreciative.
Monday, August 23, 2010
A Travel in Time to Grand Pre
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:
Please state your name and location. (City and State or Province, Country)
Michele Doucette, Stephenville, Newfoundland, Canada
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
A Travel in Time to Grand Pré
St. Clair Publications
Tell us about yourself:
A Special Education teacher of 25 years, I am as equally passionate about the written word; I love to orchestrate and manipulate words. I spend countless hours working on genealogy; sourcing and validating relationships. I am a firm believer in the healing energies of crystals, stones and positive thinking.
When was the book released?
The first edition of the book was available on July 3, 2009. The revised edition became available on March 16, 2010.
Give us an overview of your book.
A Travel in Time to Grand Pré is a historically informative adventure, tying the history of the descendants of Yeshua (Jesus) to modern day Nova Scotia, Canada. Madeleine Sinclair feels disconnected with the era of her birth, yet intuitively aware of herself in another time period in history. Transported back to 1754, she comes to learn, live and experience firsthand the lives of the French Acadian people, meeting Michel (dit Sophie) LeBlanc, her love of that time.
Through the warm, loving and helpful guidance of fellow time traveler, Madame Pêche, she comes to understand the predetermined course of her Sinclair bloodline, beginning with Rollo the Viking, father of William Longsword, a line that is shown to be linked to the Merovingians, the Cathars and the Knights Templar (protectors of the Holy Grail).
Before long, the reader is led to the very apex of this time travel adventure. Madeleine has been decreed the one who is to introduce the words of Yeshua, spoken in Aramaic at the height of his ministry, to the modern world. Herein, Yeshua explains how individuals can find their way, their truth(s), so as to live their lives to the fullest.
What inspired you to write this book?
In a plot that came to me in 1996, I knew how I wanted the story to begin and I knew how I wanted the story to end. While I was sure about certain elements for inclusion in the story, I was very surprised at how the story unfolded.
I was inspired by my French Acadian heritage, my fascination with genealogy and current DNA findings, my attraction to quantum physics (courtesy of the spiritual and metaphysical realms) and my enthrallment with the plausibility of a holy bloodline as discussed in The Holy Blood, The Holy Grail.
In addition, it seems that I had been duly positioned, beforehand, to conduct extensive research: authors, books, websites, email communication (regarding genealogy) with countless individuals.
When the time came for me to begin writing, the entire process took less than six months.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
Having researched my own genealogy for close to 20 years, this book incorporates linkages to several ancestors of historical import.
Where can people buy your book?
Amazon US, Amazon Canada, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble
Direct from the publisher at http://stan.stclair.net
Direct from the author via email at michele.doucette@nf.sympatico.ca
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
Since A Travel in Time to Grand Pré was released, I have gone on to release several spiritual / metaphysical books, both published through St. Clair Publications. The next few months shall see the publication of two additional spiritual / metaphysical tomes followed by several in reference to the wisdom of crystals and stones.
Currently, I am busy reading and researching for Back Home With Evangeline, the sequel to A Travel in Time to Grand Pré. In keeping, I am aiming for a Summer 2011 publication date. I shall also be releasing Germain Doucet (Sieur de LaVerdure): Ancestry of Michele Doucette, based on my paternal lineage, in the not too distant future.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
Take the time to conduct thorough research into POD (Print On Demand) publication services before making a final decision. I also heartily endorse Stanley J. St. Clair of St. Clair Publications as a possible publisher.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
A good friend of mine, an author by the name of Jean-Claude Koven, was also reviewed by Allbooks Reviews, winning the Editor’s Choice Award for Best Metaphysical Book. It was this that led me to you.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
I was pleasantly surprised by both the low cost as well as all that was contained within that price. To be featured for one month with the review thereafter being posted in the Review Showcase for the period of one year is sensational. In addition, the initial review is posted in a wide variety of publications, both printed as well as online. Interviews are also posted on the website. To know that your website is denoted as being one of the best websites for authors speaks volumes. Just knowing that each book is automatically considered for the Editor’s Choice Award at each year end is quite the opportunity.
While I am unsure as to anything else that Allbooks Reviews might be able to offer, especially after citing the previous information, I am sure that they will be able to come up with something fantastic.
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you
Shirley A. Roe
Managing Editor,Allbooks Review
www.allbookreviews.com
Please state your name and location. (City and State or Province, Country)
Michele Doucette, Stephenville, Newfoundland, Canada
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
A Travel in Time to Grand Pré
St. Clair Publications
Tell us about yourself:
A Special Education teacher of 25 years, I am as equally passionate about the written word; I love to orchestrate and manipulate words. I spend countless hours working on genealogy; sourcing and validating relationships. I am a firm believer in the healing energies of crystals, stones and positive thinking.
When was the book released?
The first edition of the book was available on July 3, 2009. The revised edition became available on March 16, 2010.
Give us an overview of your book.
A Travel in Time to Grand Pré is a historically informative adventure, tying the history of the descendants of Yeshua (Jesus) to modern day Nova Scotia, Canada. Madeleine Sinclair feels disconnected with the era of her birth, yet intuitively aware of herself in another time period in history. Transported back to 1754, she comes to learn, live and experience firsthand the lives of the French Acadian people, meeting Michel (dit Sophie) LeBlanc, her love of that time.
Through the warm, loving and helpful guidance of fellow time traveler, Madame Pêche, she comes to understand the predetermined course of her Sinclair bloodline, beginning with Rollo the Viking, father of William Longsword, a line that is shown to be linked to the Merovingians, the Cathars and the Knights Templar (protectors of the Holy Grail).
Before long, the reader is led to the very apex of this time travel adventure. Madeleine has been decreed the one who is to introduce the words of Yeshua, spoken in Aramaic at the height of his ministry, to the modern world. Herein, Yeshua explains how individuals can find their way, their truth(s), so as to live their lives to the fullest.
What inspired you to write this book?
In a plot that came to me in 1996, I knew how I wanted the story to begin and I knew how I wanted the story to end. While I was sure about certain elements for inclusion in the story, I was very surprised at how the story unfolded.
I was inspired by my French Acadian heritage, my fascination with genealogy and current DNA findings, my attraction to quantum physics (courtesy of the spiritual and metaphysical realms) and my enthrallment with the plausibility of a holy bloodline as discussed in The Holy Blood, The Holy Grail.
In addition, it seems that I had been duly positioned, beforehand, to conduct extensive research: authors, books, websites, email communication (regarding genealogy) with countless individuals.
When the time came for me to begin writing, the entire process took less than six months.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
Having researched my own genealogy for close to 20 years, this book incorporates linkages to several ancestors of historical import.
Where can people buy your book?
Amazon US, Amazon Canada, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble
Direct from the publisher at http://stan.stclair.net
Direct from the author via email at michele.doucette@nf.sympatico.ca
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
Since A Travel in Time to Grand Pré was released, I have gone on to release several spiritual / metaphysical books, both published through St. Clair Publications. The next few months shall see the publication of two additional spiritual / metaphysical tomes followed by several in reference to the wisdom of crystals and stones.
Currently, I am busy reading and researching for Back Home With Evangeline, the sequel to A Travel in Time to Grand Pré. In keeping, I am aiming for a Summer 2011 publication date. I shall also be releasing Germain Doucet (Sieur de LaVerdure): Ancestry of Michele Doucette, based on my paternal lineage, in the not too distant future.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
Take the time to conduct thorough research into POD (Print On Demand) publication services before making a final decision. I also heartily endorse Stanley J. St. Clair of St. Clair Publications as a possible publisher.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
A good friend of mine, an author by the name of Jean-Claude Koven, was also reviewed by Allbooks Reviews, winning the Editor’s Choice Award for Best Metaphysical Book. It was this that led me to you.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
I was pleasantly surprised by both the low cost as well as all that was contained within that price. To be featured for one month with the review thereafter being posted in the Review Showcase for the period of one year is sensational. In addition, the initial review is posted in a wide variety of publications, both printed as well as online. Interviews are also posted on the website. To know that your website is denoted as being one of the best websites for authors speaks volumes. Just knowing that each book is automatically considered for the Editor’s Choice Award at each year end is quite the opportunity.
While I am unsure as to anything else that Allbooks Reviews might be able to offer, especially after citing the previous information, I am sure that they will be able to come up with something fantastic.
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you
Shirley A. Roe
Managing Editor,Allbooks Review
www.allbookreviews.com
Friday, August 20, 2010
The Gatekeeper
Genre: Fiction
Author: C. Alease
“The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.” Flora Whitmore
At 54 years of age, the main character has what she considers a mundane life. In limbo, so to speak, not happy but not sad, suicidal thoughts but no attempt at action, only to return on the cycle, to become bubbly again. She examines her life with questions about why she always attracted the wrong man; why two failed marriages and another on the way out?
She has three grown children, one who is showing the same anger outbursts that she has herself. She has learned to live with it, he has not. Keeping up appearances is of vital importance, but she has always felt inside herself, that something is not quite right, never feeling quite ‘together.’
After listening to a co-worker, she decides to take her son to a therapist for anger management, opening the door to her own obscure past. Repressed memories, flashbacks of repulsively shocking events are revealed, which explain why her mind fragmented. Survival at any cost!
The steady stream of new personalities coming forward compels you to read on. Being intrigued by this complex personality disorder, each personality struggling with their own crisis, propels you to the intense climax. Who is real? Will a convergence happen? Which personality will survive the convergence ultimately existing as only one whole person?
C. Alease has made her author’s debut with a very thought provoking, insightful story. Her natural, flowing descriptive style leaves nothing to the imagination as you become part of the scenes, and her words carry you to the end.
Although born in New York City, NY, she was raised in Philadelphia, PA. She is married with three adult children with confidence toward her own goal, to become a full-time author.
Highly Recommended: Reviewer: Cheryl Heinrichs-Ellis, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com
Available through Amazon.com, local book seller or the author herself calease@cadsmith.net
Title: The Gatekeeper
Author: C. Alease
Publisher: Bumblebee
ISBN-13: 978-1449552640
Pages: 207
Price: $19.99 USD
April 2010
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW: (Please put your answers in black)
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
C. Alease Smith, Philadelphia, PA USA
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
The Gatekeeper, a Novel by C. Alease, published by Createspace
Tell us about yourself:
My “Don’t quit your day job” is as an Information Technology Manager. I hold a BS in Information Technology and have been in the business of computing for over 27 years. I am married with three adult children, one of whom is an outstanding actress named Amina Robinson, who just finished three years on Broadway in Mama Mia as Aly and played “Jermaine Hicks” in the movie, “Precious,” which won two Academy awards. I am looking forward to being a fulltime novelist.
When was the book released?
The Gatekeeper was released in paperback in November 2009. It was released in Kindle electronic format in October, 2009.
Give us an overview of your book.
The Gatekeeper is a novel about a woman who discovers that her life isn’t her own, but that it belongs to a number of different, distinct personalities wrapped inside her mind. She searches for and ultimately finds herself and her purpose, but it is definitely not what she expected.
What inspired you to write this book?
There were many life experiences of my own that I can say inspired me. What I decided to do was imagine a woman with similar experiences and fold into those experiences a unique character whose purpose was to have just those experiences. I wound up with about 8 distinct characters, one dimensional, each with a purpose. Then I imagined what it would be like none of the 8 characters “knew” who was supposed to be in charge.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
I believe this book is different because of the way I describe the experiences throughout the story. I take the reader through each experience in such a way that they can feel the air in the sky, and they can see and touch the flowers in the vase on the round wooden table in the center of the room. They can smell the fragrance of lilacs in bloom by the window of the therapist’s office. The reader feels the torment of the protagonist as she is reminded of trauma in her past, as well as the humor and wit of the all the characters in the story. It’s that descriptive quality of the book that involves and holds the reader through to the end of the story.
Where can people buy your book?
The Gatekeeper is distributed worldwide through the Ingram Group. Because it is a “Print-on-Demand” (POD) technology novel, it can be ordered from bookstores that purchase through the Ingram Group, which include Barnes and Noble, Borders and others. The ISBN number is: 1449552641. It is presently available at Classics Books, 117 South Warren Street, Trenton, New Jersey, book_cellar@mindspring.com, 609-394-8400; Barnes and Noble.com; Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle; and iFOGO.com. Copies are also available through my website, http://thegatekeeper.cadsmith.net. Signed copies are also available by emailing orderbooks@cadsmith.net and providing name, postal address and email address. For Facebook users, signed copies of the novel are available on the C. Alease Fan page, Storefront tab at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/C-Alease/90340399803?ref=ts
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
I am working on another book, and I expect it to be published in about a year or a year and a half.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
Yes, I did self-publish through Createspace, the self-publishing arm of Amazon.com. My advice is, “read, research, read some more, and research some more. Find out what is acceptable formatting and page requirements for novels. Surround yourself with people who are similarly situated, through social networking services. Covet your contacts. Register your work with the Copyright office. Learn about literary predators; the agents and publishing houses to stay away from. Get your work professionally edited. Finally, you represent your work. Know that anything worth reading has been polished to a high gloss!
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
I recently began what I call “The Salon Tour.” Women in salons love to read good page turners while under the dryer, so my hairstylist and dear friend, Charlie Trendi gave me my first book signing at her salon. I wrote an article about it that you can read on my website: http://thegatekeeper.cadsmith.net/News_pics.html
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I discovered Allbooks Review through my association with iFOGO Village, a networking website for serious writers and authors. My first desire was to get an honest, unbiased review of my novel. When I checked out the website, I discovered that Allbooks Reviews is a reputable site for authors to showcase their work. I am hoping to get readers of Allbooks Reviews to read my novel and to pass the word about it to others.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
The low cost was a pleasant surprise. I must point out that reviews by Allbooks Reviews are not fee-based, which drew me first. To me that ensures an unbiased, honest review of my work. The promotional fee is extremely reasonable. I would be very interested in the opportunity to talk about my novel on the radio with Allbooks Reviews. I’m not sure if that is offered at this time, but it is something I would like to do.
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Author: C. Alease
“The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.” Flora Whitmore
At 54 years of age, the main character has what she considers a mundane life. In limbo, so to speak, not happy but not sad, suicidal thoughts but no attempt at action, only to return on the cycle, to become bubbly again. She examines her life with questions about why she always attracted the wrong man; why two failed marriages and another on the way out?
She has three grown children, one who is showing the same anger outbursts that she has herself. She has learned to live with it, he has not. Keeping up appearances is of vital importance, but she has always felt inside herself, that something is not quite right, never feeling quite ‘together.’
After listening to a co-worker, she decides to take her son to a therapist for anger management, opening the door to her own obscure past. Repressed memories, flashbacks of repulsively shocking events are revealed, which explain why her mind fragmented. Survival at any cost!
The steady stream of new personalities coming forward compels you to read on. Being intrigued by this complex personality disorder, each personality struggling with their own crisis, propels you to the intense climax. Who is real? Will a convergence happen? Which personality will survive the convergence ultimately existing as only one whole person?
C. Alease has made her author’s debut with a very thought provoking, insightful story. Her natural, flowing descriptive style leaves nothing to the imagination as you become part of the scenes, and her words carry you to the end.
Although born in New York City, NY, she was raised in Philadelphia, PA. She is married with three adult children with confidence toward her own goal, to become a full-time author.
Highly Recommended: Reviewer: Cheryl Heinrichs-Ellis, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com
Available through Amazon.com, local book seller or the author herself calease@cadsmith.net
Title: The Gatekeeper
Author: C. Alease
Publisher: Bumblebee
ISBN-13: 978-1449552640
Pages: 207
Price: $19.99 USD
April 2010
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW: (Please put your answers in black)
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
C. Alease Smith, Philadelphia, PA USA
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
The Gatekeeper, a Novel by C. Alease, published by Createspace
Tell us about yourself:
My “Don’t quit your day job” is as an Information Technology Manager. I hold a BS in Information Technology and have been in the business of computing for over 27 years. I am married with three adult children, one of whom is an outstanding actress named Amina Robinson, who just finished three years on Broadway in Mama Mia as Aly and played “Jermaine Hicks” in the movie, “Precious,” which won two Academy awards. I am looking forward to being a fulltime novelist.
When was the book released?
The Gatekeeper was released in paperback in November 2009. It was released in Kindle electronic format in October, 2009.
Give us an overview of your book.
The Gatekeeper is a novel about a woman who discovers that her life isn’t her own, but that it belongs to a number of different, distinct personalities wrapped inside her mind. She searches for and ultimately finds herself and her purpose, but it is definitely not what she expected.
What inspired you to write this book?
There were many life experiences of my own that I can say inspired me. What I decided to do was imagine a woman with similar experiences and fold into those experiences a unique character whose purpose was to have just those experiences. I wound up with about 8 distinct characters, one dimensional, each with a purpose. Then I imagined what it would be like none of the 8 characters “knew” who was supposed to be in charge.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
I believe this book is different because of the way I describe the experiences throughout the story. I take the reader through each experience in such a way that they can feel the air in the sky, and they can see and touch the flowers in the vase on the round wooden table in the center of the room. They can smell the fragrance of lilacs in bloom by the window of the therapist’s office. The reader feels the torment of the protagonist as she is reminded of trauma in her past, as well as the humor and wit of the all the characters in the story. It’s that descriptive quality of the book that involves and holds the reader through to the end of the story.
Where can people buy your book?
The Gatekeeper is distributed worldwide through the Ingram Group. Because it is a “Print-on-Demand” (POD) technology novel, it can be ordered from bookstores that purchase through the Ingram Group, which include Barnes and Noble, Borders and others. The ISBN number is: 1449552641. It is presently available at Classics Books, 117 South Warren Street, Trenton, New Jersey, book_cellar@mindspring.com, 609-394-8400; Barnes and Noble.com; Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle; and iFOGO.com. Copies are also available through my website, http://thegatekeeper.cadsmith.net. Signed copies are also available by emailing orderbooks@cadsmith.net and providing name, postal address and email address. For Facebook users, signed copies of the novel are available on the C. Alease Fan page, Storefront tab at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/C-Alease/90340399803?ref=ts
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
I am working on another book, and I expect it to be published in about a year or a year and a half.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
Yes, I did self-publish through Createspace, the self-publishing arm of Amazon.com. My advice is, “read, research, read some more, and research some more. Find out what is acceptable formatting and page requirements for novels. Surround yourself with people who are similarly situated, through social networking services. Covet your contacts. Register your work with the Copyright office. Learn about literary predators; the agents and publishing houses to stay away from. Get your work professionally edited. Finally, you represent your work. Know that anything worth reading has been polished to a high gloss!
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
I recently began what I call “The Salon Tour.” Women in salons love to read good page turners while under the dryer, so my hairstylist and dear friend, Charlie Trendi gave me my first book signing at her salon. I wrote an article about it that you can read on my website: http://thegatekeeper.cadsmith.net/News_pics.html
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I discovered Allbooks Review through my association with iFOGO Village, a networking website for serious writers and authors. My first desire was to get an honest, unbiased review of my novel. When I checked out the website, I discovered that Allbooks Reviews is a reputable site for authors to showcase their work. I am hoping to get readers of Allbooks Reviews to read my novel and to pass the word about it to others.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
The low cost was a pleasant surprise. I must point out that reviews by Allbooks Reviews are not fee-based, which drew me first. To me that ensures an unbiased, honest review of my work. The promotional fee is extremely reasonable. I would be very interested in the opportunity to talk about my novel on the radio with Allbooks Reviews. I’m not sure if that is offered at this time, but it is something I would like to do.
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Book of Eli
Genre: Fiction/Humor
Author: Sam Moffie
The Book of Eli arrived in my office on a very busy day. After the first chapter, I thought, ‘Just another self centered, sex crazed hero- this is going to be a long, difficult read.’ Well let me tell you that I was pleasantly surprised.
Our hero, Eli Canaan, who is indeed a sex maniac, is basically a “Good man,” or so he thinks. When Eli wakes up in Heaven, things begin to change. This author’s flamboyant imagination takes readers on an interesting journey. Eli’s guide in Heaven is none other than Groucho Marx. The guide introduces Eli to many distinguished characters: Freud, atheist Madalyn Murray O’Hair, Ayn Rand, Buddha and, of course, Jesus. God has a mission for Eli, a very important mission.
You will laugh out loud at the antics of angel guide, Julius Henry Marx (Groucho). The characters are lively, bold and entertaining. The book’s message of salvation is subtle but inspiring.
Author Sam Moffie’s previous books are award winners. He resides with his family in Youngstown, Ohio where he owns a bar.
The Book of Eli is an eye opener. Readers will laugh, but more important they will question. Hopefully by questioning one’s own existence and making positive changes, improvements that will eventually affect all of humankind will take place. Bravo Sam Moffie!
Highly Recommended by Reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Review. www.allbookreviews.com
Available: www.samsstories.com and Amazon.com
Publisher:Mill City Publishing
ISBN: 978-1936107353
No. of Pages: 147
Price: $14.95
March 2010
Author: Sam Moffie
The Book of Eli arrived in my office on a very busy day. After the first chapter, I thought, ‘Just another self centered, sex crazed hero- this is going to be a long, difficult read.’ Well let me tell you that I was pleasantly surprised.
Our hero, Eli Canaan, who is indeed a sex maniac, is basically a “Good man,” or so he thinks. When Eli wakes up in Heaven, things begin to change. This author’s flamboyant imagination takes readers on an interesting journey. Eli’s guide in Heaven is none other than Groucho Marx. The guide introduces Eli to many distinguished characters: Freud, atheist Madalyn Murray O’Hair, Ayn Rand, Buddha and, of course, Jesus. God has a mission for Eli, a very important mission.
You will laugh out loud at the antics of angel guide, Julius Henry Marx (Groucho). The characters are lively, bold and entertaining. The book’s message of salvation is subtle but inspiring.
Author Sam Moffie’s previous books are award winners. He resides with his family in Youngstown, Ohio where he owns a bar.
The Book of Eli is an eye opener. Readers will laugh, but more important they will question. Hopefully by questioning one’s own existence and making positive changes, improvements that will eventually affect all of humankind will take place. Bravo Sam Moffie!
Highly Recommended by Reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Review. www.allbookreviews.com
Available: www.samsstories.com and Amazon.com
Publisher:Mill City Publishing
ISBN: 978-1936107353
No. of Pages: 147
Price: $14.95
March 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Pink Slips and Parting Gifts
Author: Deb Hosey White
In the world of fiction, many tales have been written about the famous business icon at the top of the pyramid whose name and life will always be remembered. However, when do we ever hear the story of the little guys at the bottom of the pyramid – the foundation blocks of the structure itself, without whose strength and stamina the whole building would collapse? Even if you have never worked in the corporate business world or been part of a merger or acquisition, you will find Deb Hosey White’s Pink Slips and Parting Gifts a clear and insightful journey into the world of corporate America. White defines and describes in great detail, but in simple terms, the lives of the “foundation” employees of The Easton Company through the merger process, opening the reader’s eyes to the stark reality of how their lives are thrown into upheaval by the selfishness of those great icons at the top.
If you have lived through the experience of a merger or acquisition, you may very well find yourself relating to the events and people within the storyline. The story is told through the eyes of employees at every level, from the maintenance man in the basement, to the accountant, to the human resources specialist, and it touches on all aspects of their shock, pain, heartbreak, confusion, and loss as their lives are turned upside down.
On the one hand, this is a very refreshing read as it falls outside of the standard, repetitive subject matter in the world of fiction today, but on the other hand it is a very disturbing and rude awakening to what the world of business has become. Gone is the much loved and admired company founder dedicated to the common good, the community, and the company’s employees, who built the company from the ground up to be known for its solid reputation, positive profile, and profitable business sheet. Enter the power and money hungry CEO’s and executives of the Fortune 500 generation who forget about the original goals and whose only concern now is the size of their parachute (the job insurance for top executives in case of a merger or acquisition) which allows them to leave with millions in their pockets to secure their futures, while the low men and women on the totem pole watch their futures crumble before their eyes.
Although the chapters were so short that I found the storyline a bit disjointed, making it difficult to get to know the characters, I was intrigued by the plot of this novel right from page one, and I could feel the tension building throughout as the employees of The Easton Company, comfortable in their stable lives, were thrown into chaos with no warning. It makes one yearn for the early days in business when no one was making huge amounts of money, but everyone loved their work and lived comfortably. No one, not even the CEO, was wealthy!
Pink Slips and Parting Gifts was certainly an eye opener for me, and I would highly recommend it for anyone who wants to see the truth behind big business today and the power of the privileged few.
Deb Hosey White is an executive management consultant and retirement coach who lives and writes in North Carolina with her husband, David. Reviewer: Cindy Taylor, Allbooks Review.
Title: Pink Slips and Parting Gifts
Author: Deb Hosey White
Publisher: iUniverse, Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-4401-5804-9
Price: U.S. $20.95
No. of Pages: 345
March, 2010
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:(Please put your answers in black)
Please state your name and location.(city and State or Province, Country)
Deb Hosey White
Greensboro, North Carolina USA
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Pink Slips and Parting Gifts
iUniverse
1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403
ISBN 9781440158049, $20.95, www.iuniverse.com
Tell us about yourself:
Thirty years of corporate life never really "cured" me of being an English major, a creative writer and a poet.And while up to my eyeballs in 401(k) plan administration, ERISA, COBRA, andother stress-inducing arcanity, I never stopped collecting and writing stories. Anyone who has ever worked for a large organization knows that the best workplace stories end up in human resources. Now retired from corporate life, I'm free to share some of those stories--without naming names, of course!
When was the book released?
September 2009
Give us an overview of your book.
When is the first time a CEO dares to say out loud, “It’s time to sell the company”? Does he practice first in front of a mirror? Does he quietly float the idea to his most trusted colleague over dinner? Does he seek legal counsel? SEC guidance? Financial advice? If the CEO is gutsy enough, “selling the company” might quietly pass his lips for the first time during a clandestine meeting with a potential buyer in Las Vegas—setting the bait for a bid that will electrify the decision-makers back home.
Mergers and acquisitions are messy business and they change the lives of everyday people.Pink Slips and Parting Gifts is the fictional account of the sale of a U.S. development company, revealing absurd events mixed with employee anguish as another corporation changes hands and disappears from the big board on Wall Street.
By the time Easton Company CEO Jeffrey Elkins entices a major competitor to buy his Fortune 500 Company, the corporate jet is waiting and his parachute is platinum. In 14 weeks the deal of a lifetime transforms a handful of quirky executives into undeserving multi-millionaires, propels a workforce into unemployment and dispatches unsuspecting retirees into poverty. In the background, security guards dance naked in mall fountains, the corporate jet is sold on eBay, and a CEO utters his final words before relinquishing his title: Make sure the employees get their pumpkin pies.
The memorable cast of corporate characters includes a germophobic CEO, a marketing VP turned Elvis impersonator, the Sundance Kid of Everyman Compensation, and a purchasing director nicknamed the eBay Wizard.
What inspired you to write this book?
I spent more than 30 years in corporate America as a manager and a consultant. During that period I collected hundreds of stories about companies and the people who work for them.I also experienced firsthand the merger that inspired Pink Slips and Parting Gifts.As a corporate human resources director I was required to help "turn out the lights" at my company as it was sold to a competitor.I dealt with retirees whose health insurance and pensions were ripped from their aging hands; with long-term employees whose jobs were abruptly eliminated; and with a community that lost it's premier hometown corporate citizen.
Reading the news coverage of that merger and many others, I was struck with the realization that the stories being covered were heavily weighted to the top of the corporate heap—the CEOs, big stockholders,and top-level management who benefited most from the merger-mania. I wanted to get behind the headlines and tell the realities ofthose stories—the incredible perks, corporate jets, and multi-million dollar goodbye packages—but I also wanted to tell the stories of the maintenance workers, secretaries, and others whose lives were upturned by the merger.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
Pink Slips and Parting Gifts is business fiction.That's not a genre that fits neatly onto library shelves or bookseller databases.But fiction set in the workplace is still a strong sub-category of modern literature. As such, Pink Slips and Parting Gifts shares a lineage with Up in the Air, The Bonfire of the Vanities, and The Devil Wears Prada. What is unique about Pink Slips and Parting Gifts is that it tells the story of a corporate merger not just from the perspective of the news-makers—the CEOs, board members, and power brokers—but from the mailroom clerks, secretaries, retirees, mid-level managers and even the homeless man living on the company's loading dock.
Also, Pink Slips and Parting Gifts employs flash fiction storytelling -- a unique format for a novel. Each chapter tells its own small story within the context of the larger novel. Many of the chapters could stand alone as stories within a story. The best example is the embedded "Tales of the Sofa." Many readers have commented on their enjoyment of the "sofa story" within Pink Slips.
Where can people buy your book?
The book is available online from:
· Amazon.com
· BarnesandNoble.com
· iUniverse.com
· Amazon.ca
· Booksamillion.com
· Amazon.co.uk
· Waterstones
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
Yes.I am in the initial stages of a new workplace novel—publication date unknown.Also working on a screenplay for Pink Slips and Parting Gifts, and a poetry collection.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
The publishing industry has been in a state of upheaval in recent years and self-publishing is a reality for many writers.In this reality, the author must take on tasks traditionally performed by professional agents, editors, copy-proofers, designers, and publicists.Print-on-demand publishers offer a Chinese menu of add-on (read that "extra cost") services, but the quality of those services may vary greatly.I experienced issues throughout the process–from layout and production concerns, to accounting issues, to unprofessional publicity services.
I would advise writers to first attempt to find a professional agent and/or publisher.If that is not possible–and the odds are stacked against new writers–then enter the self publishing world with eye wide open:
Solicit a team of literate readers who will critique your manuscript (I used volunteers from a literary book group).
· Find a capable person to assist with editing, proofreading, and other production-related tasks.
· Budget more time than you think might be necessary to the critiquing, editing, proofing, and production process.
· Explore third-party publicity services rather than add-on services offered by the publisher. Be prepared to do much of the promotional process yourself.
· Submit your finished book for review by services such as AllBooks Review.
· Do not expect bookstores to stock your self-published book, but be aware of the multitude of online book selling services that predominate today's market.
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
Because my book is topical/newsworthy, I was able to arrange an interview from a regional newspaper in a city that has been affected by corporate mergers similar to the story in Pink Slips and Parting Gifts.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
Allbooks Reviews was included on a list of reputable reviewers on the Midwest Book Review website. My hope is that the insightful Allbooks review of Pink Slips and Parting Gifts will receive broad international circulation and that it will be quoted and noted in numerous sources.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
Allbooks Reviews offers timely and personal service to their authors--something not to be undervalued in the 21st century literary marketplace!
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
In the world of fiction, many tales have been written about the famous business icon at the top of the pyramid whose name and life will always be remembered. However, when do we ever hear the story of the little guys at the bottom of the pyramid – the foundation blocks of the structure itself, without whose strength and stamina the whole building would collapse? Even if you have never worked in the corporate business world or been part of a merger or acquisition, you will find Deb Hosey White’s Pink Slips and Parting Gifts a clear and insightful journey into the world of corporate America. White defines and describes in great detail, but in simple terms, the lives of the “foundation” employees of The Easton Company through the merger process, opening the reader’s eyes to the stark reality of how their lives are thrown into upheaval by the selfishness of those great icons at the top.
If you have lived through the experience of a merger or acquisition, you may very well find yourself relating to the events and people within the storyline. The story is told through the eyes of employees at every level, from the maintenance man in the basement, to the accountant, to the human resources specialist, and it touches on all aspects of their shock, pain, heartbreak, confusion, and loss as their lives are turned upside down.
On the one hand, this is a very refreshing read as it falls outside of the standard, repetitive subject matter in the world of fiction today, but on the other hand it is a very disturbing and rude awakening to what the world of business has become. Gone is the much loved and admired company founder dedicated to the common good, the community, and the company’s employees, who built the company from the ground up to be known for its solid reputation, positive profile, and profitable business sheet. Enter the power and money hungry CEO’s and executives of the Fortune 500 generation who forget about the original goals and whose only concern now is the size of their parachute (the job insurance for top executives in case of a merger or acquisition) which allows them to leave with millions in their pockets to secure their futures, while the low men and women on the totem pole watch their futures crumble before their eyes.
Although the chapters were so short that I found the storyline a bit disjointed, making it difficult to get to know the characters, I was intrigued by the plot of this novel right from page one, and I could feel the tension building throughout as the employees of The Easton Company, comfortable in their stable lives, were thrown into chaos with no warning. It makes one yearn for the early days in business when no one was making huge amounts of money, but everyone loved their work and lived comfortably. No one, not even the CEO, was wealthy!
Pink Slips and Parting Gifts was certainly an eye opener for me, and I would highly recommend it for anyone who wants to see the truth behind big business today and the power of the privileged few.
Deb Hosey White is an executive management consultant and retirement coach who lives and writes in North Carolina with her husband, David. Reviewer: Cindy Taylor, Allbooks Review.
Title: Pink Slips and Parting Gifts
Author: Deb Hosey White
Publisher: iUniverse, Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-4401-5804-9
Price: U.S. $20.95
No. of Pages: 345
March, 2010
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:(Please put your answers in black)
Please state your name and location.(city and State or Province, Country)
Deb Hosey White
Greensboro, North Carolina USA
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Pink Slips and Parting Gifts
iUniverse
1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403
ISBN 9781440158049, $20.95, www.iuniverse.com
Tell us about yourself:
Thirty years of corporate life never really "cured" me of being an English major, a creative writer and a poet.And while up to my eyeballs in 401(k) plan administration, ERISA, COBRA, andother stress-inducing arcanity, I never stopped collecting and writing stories. Anyone who has ever worked for a large organization knows that the best workplace stories end up in human resources. Now retired from corporate life, I'm free to share some of those stories--without naming names, of course!
When was the book released?
September 2009
Give us an overview of your book.
When is the first time a CEO dares to say out loud, “It’s time to sell the company”? Does he practice first in front of a mirror? Does he quietly float the idea to his most trusted colleague over dinner? Does he seek legal counsel? SEC guidance? Financial advice? If the CEO is gutsy enough, “selling the company” might quietly pass his lips for the first time during a clandestine meeting with a potential buyer in Las Vegas—setting the bait for a bid that will electrify the decision-makers back home.
Mergers and acquisitions are messy business and they change the lives of everyday people.Pink Slips and Parting Gifts is the fictional account of the sale of a U.S. development company, revealing absurd events mixed with employee anguish as another corporation changes hands and disappears from the big board on Wall Street.
By the time Easton Company CEO Jeffrey Elkins entices a major competitor to buy his Fortune 500 Company, the corporate jet is waiting and his parachute is platinum. In 14 weeks the deal of a lifetime transforms a handful of quirky executives into undeserving multi-millionaires, propels a workforce into unemployment and dispatches unsuspecting retirees into poverty. In the background, security guards dance naked in mall fountains, the corporate jet is sold on eBay, and a CEO utters his final words before relinquishing his title: Make sure the employees get their pumpkin pies.
The memorable cast of corporate characters includes a germophobic CEO, a marketing VP turned Elvis impersonator, the Sundance Kid of Everyman Compensation, and a purchasing director nicknamed the eBay Wizard.
What inspired you to write this book?
I spent more than 30 years in corporate America as a manager and a consultant. During that period I collected hundreds of stories about companies and the people who work for them.I also experienced firsthand the merger that inspired Pink Slips and Parting Gifts.As a corporate human resources director I was required to help "turn out the lights" at my company as it was sold to a competitor.I dealt with retirees whose health insurance and pensions were ripped from their aging hands; with long-term employees whose jobs were abruptly eliminated; and with a community that lost it's premier hometown corporate citizen.
Reading the news coverage of that merger and many others, I was struck with the realization that the stories being covered were heavily weighted to the top of the corporate heap—the CEOs, big stockholders,and top-level management who benefited most from the merger-mania. I wanted to get behind the headlines and tell the realities ofthose stories—the incredible perks, corporate jets, and multi-million dollar goodbye packages—but I also wanted to tell the stories of the maintenance workers, secretaries, and others whose lives were upturned by the merger.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
Pink Slips and Parting Gifts is business fiction.That's not a genre that fits neatly onto library shelves or bookseller databases.But fiction set in the workplace is still a strong sub-category of modern literature. As such, Pink Slips and Parting Gifts shares a lineage with Up in the Air, The Bonfire of the Vanities, and The Devil Wears Prada. What is unique about Pink Slips and Parting Gifts is that it tells the story of a corporate merger not just from the perspective of the news-makers—the CEOs, board members, and power brokers—but from the mailroom clerks, secretaries, retirees, mid-level managers and even the homeless man living on the company's loading dock.
Also, Pink Slips and Parting Gifts employs flash fiction storytelling -- a unique format for a novel. Each chapter tells its own small story within the context of the larger novel. Many of the chapters could stand alone as stories within a story. The best example is the embedded "Tales of the Sofa." Many readers have commented on their enjoyment of the "sofa story" within Pink Slips.
Where can people buy your book?
The book is available online from:
· Amazon.com
· BarnesandNoble.com
· iUniverse.com
· Amazon.ca
· Booksamillion.com
· Amazon.co.uk
· Waterstones
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
Yes.I am in the initial stages of a new workplace novel—publication date unknown.Also working on a screenplay for Pink Slips and Parting Gifts, and a poetry collection.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
The publishing industry has been in a state of upheaval in recent years and self-publishing is a reality for many writers.In this reality, the author must take on tasks traditionally performed by professional agents, editors, copy-proofers, designers, and publicists.Print-on-demand publishers offer a Chinese menu of add-on (read that "extra cost") services, but the quality of those services may vary greatly.I experienced issues throughout the process–from layout and production concerns, to accounting issues, to unprofessional publicity services.
I would advise writers to first attempt to find a professional agent and/or publisher.If that is not possible–and the odds are stacked against new writers–then enter the self publishing world with eye wide open:
Solicit a team of literate readers who will critique your manuscript (I used volunteers from a literary book group).
· Find a capable person to assist with editing, proofreading, and other production-related tasks.
· Budget more time than you think might be necessary to the critiquing, editing, proofing, and production process.
· Explore third-party publicity services rather than add-on services offered by the publisher. Be prepared to do much of the promotional process yourself.
· Submit your finished book for review by services such as AllBooks Review.
· Do not expect bookstores to stock your self-published book, but be aware of the multitude of online book selling services that predominate today's market.
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
Because my book is topical/newsworthy, I was able to arrange an interview from a regional newspaper in a city that has been affected by corporate mergers similar to the story in Pink Slips and Parting Gifts.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
Allbooks Reviews was included on a list of reputable reviewers on the Midwest Book Review website. My hope is that the insightful Allbooks review of Pink Slips and Parting Gifts will receive broad international circulation and that it will be quoted and noted in numerous sources.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
Allbooks Reviews offers timely and personal service to their authors--something not to be undervalued in the 21st century literary marketplace!
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Short Circus
Genre: Young Adult
Author: Stephen V Masse
Everyone from twelve to one hundred and twelve can remember their favourite summer as a child. Equally as memorable are the essays usually entitled “What I did over the Summer.” that were a standard task in the Autumn Term of school.
“Short Circus” is, in basic terms, that essay, told by twelve year old Jem Lockwood, but expanded to novel length.
Central to Jem’s story is Jesse Standish, a Big Brother who leads him into the kind of adventures every teenage boy dreams of having. The Big Brother Association puts adults or older teens, with younger ones as a programme to teach the children about life, to keep them out of trouble, and above all else, to act as a role model. Jesse certainly ticks the boxes, but more than that he also can communicate with children in a way that someone of authority couldn’t get away with.
That said, Jem knows nothing about Jesse before he meeting him for the first time, and he conjures up images of someone more akin to a strict headmaster than the cool, trendy character that Jesse turns out to be. Together Jem, Jesse and Jem’s friends get involved in bike jumping, visiting the circus, fighting and waterfall bathing – all in all the perfect summer for a young adult.
Throw in a mystery surrounding the local swimming pond and a boys own adventure to discover the culprit, and you have a story that wouldn’t be out of place in a teenage magazine for boys.
Running parallel to this is Jesse’s story, told from Jem’s point of view. Despite being the perfect Big Brother on the outside, Jesse has problems to deal with such as being forced to sell his house due to lack of money and his relationship with his girlfriend. It is Jesse’s story that takes over in a contrast to the fun and frivolity of the earl part of the novel. Considering Jem’s mother approached the Big Brother solution as a way of giving Jem a role model in the absence of his father, it is somewhat ironic that Jesse is struggling to deal with loss of his own father, and it seems that losing himself in the younger boy’s antics is one way of helping him get through.
Aimed at early teens, the book is a prime example of playing to its target audience. The plot is probably not complex enough to stand out to adults who are looking for anything more than a quick-flick, but Jem and Jesse are characters that will appeal to the age range of 9-14 year olds, and the tale of children learning to grow up and adults who learn life’s lessons from children has just enough mischief and fun to hold their attention to the end. The writing is not too taxing, but similarly it does not patronise with primary school wording, and is actually a book that is written with a certain type of reader in mind and sticks to it. Short Circus is not the type of novel that can easily cross over into the adult reading market due to it’s subject matter as much as anything else, but I could see it translating well to a late summer family movie someday.
Highly recommended by Anthony Lund, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher – Good Harbor Press
ISBN : 978-0-615-32057-1
Price - $20.00
Page Count – 184
March 2010
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Stephen V. Masse
Medford, Massachusetts, USA
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Short Circus
Good Harbor Press
Tell us about yourself:
Stephen V. Masse was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Educated at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, he studied creative writing, and was author of a weekly newspaper column, "Out of Control." His first novel for children, Shadow Stealer, was published by Dillon Press in 1988. Short Circus is his second novel for children.
In addition to children’s books, Masse has written A Jolly Good Fellow, winner of the Silver Medal in the 2008 Independent Publisher Book Awards, as well as
honorable mention in the 2008 New England Book Festival for best books
of the holiday season.
When was the book released?
March, 2010
Give us an overview of your book.
Twelve-year-old Jem Lockwood has been fatherless for four years and finally gets a Big Brother, but just as the best summer of his life is about to begin, he discovers that Jesse Standish's rented house is about to be sold. Jem does all in his daring imagination to make Jesse's house unmarketable, and the neighborhood unfit for prospective buyers. This three-ring circus romps with Jem's boyhood friends and older brother Chris, all recognizable kids who share in the rough-and-tumble delight of living in a northern Massachusetts city whose newspaper is delivered by kids on bikes, where kids play in the streets, and the local convenience store is owned by the family of Jesse’s girlfriend, Andrea.
Sadly the city’s swimming pond has been sabotaged, and the city has to close it to all recreation after two boys are injured. Jem is sure he knows who did it, and helps carry out a plan to punish the evildoer. But Alpha qualities are not always perfectly aimed, and Jem learns about the consequences of jumping into action without sufficient knowledge or understanding.
What inspired you to write this book?
Memories of childhood as well as being a Big Brother.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
Packed with everyday people bending their lives into the fringes of sideshow lunacy, Short Circus is in a genre of its own – reality fiction from a twelve-year-old kid’s point of view.
Where can people buy your book?
Barnesandnoble.com; amazon.com; jacketflap.com; flamingnet.com
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
Yes, but not ready for publication.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I’ve worked with Allbooks Reviews before, and would like to keep a continually growing web presence for marketing my books.
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Author: Stephen V Masse
Everyone from twelve to one hundred and twelve can remember their favourite summer as a child. Equally as memorable are the essays usually entitled “What I did over the Summer.” that were a standard task in the Autumn Term of school.
“Short Circus” is, in basic terms, that essay, told by twelve year old Jem Lockwood, but expanded to novel length.
Central to Jem’s story is Jesse Standish, a Big Brother who leads him into the kind of adventures every teenage boy dreams of having. The Big Brother Association puts adults or older teens, with younger ones as a programme to teach the children about life, to keep them out of trouble, and above all else, to act as a role model. Jesse certainly ticks the boxes, but more than that he also can communicate with children in a way that someone of authority couldn’t get away with.
That said, Jem knows nothing about Jesse before he meeting him for the first time, and he conjures up images of someone more akin to a strict headmaster than the cool, trendy character that Jesse turns out to be. Together Jem, Jesse and Jem’s friends get involved in bike jumping, visiting the circus, fighting and waterfall bathing – all in all the perfect summer for a young adult.
Throw in a mystery surrounding the local swimming pond and a boys own adventure to discover the culprit, and you have a story that wouldn’t be out of place in a teenage magazine for boys.
Running parallel to this is Jesse’s story, told from Jem’s point of view. Despite being the perfect Big Brother on the outside, Jesse has problems to deal with such as being forced to sell his house due to lack of money and his relationship with his girlfriend. It is Jesse’s story that takes over in a contrast to the fun and frivolity of the earl part of the novel. Considering Jem’s mother approached the Big Brother solution as a way of giving Jem a role model in the absence of his father, it is somewhat ironic that Jesse is struggling to deal with loss of his own father, and it seems that losing himself in the younger boy’s antics is one way of helping him get through.
Aimed at early teens, the book is a prime example of playing to its target audience. The plot is probably not complex enough to stand out to adults who are looking for anything more than a quick-flick, but Jem and Jesse are characters that will appeal to the age range of 9-14 year olds, and the tale of children learning to grow up and adults who learn life’s lessons from children has just enough mischief and fun to hold their attention to the end. The writing is not too taxing, but similarly it does not patronise with primary school wording, and is actually a book that is written with a certain type of reader in mind and sticks to it. Short Circus is not the type of novel that can easily cross over into the adult reading market due to it’s subject matter as much as anything else, but I could see it translating well to a late summer family movie someday.
Highly recommended by Anthony Lund, Allbooks Review www.allbookreviews.com
Publisher – Good Harbor Press
ISBN : 978-0-615-32057-1
Price - $20.00
Page Count – 184
March 2010
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Stephen V. Masse
Medford, Massachusetts, USA
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Short Circus
Good Harbor Press
Tell us about yourself:
Stephen V. Masse was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Educated at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, he studied creative writing, and was author of a weekly newspaper column, "Out of Control." His first novel for children, Shadow Stealer, was published by Dillon Press in 1988. Short Circus is his second novel for children.
In addition to children’s books, Masse has written A Jolly Good Fellow, winner of the Silver Medal in the 2008 Independent Publisher Book Awards, as well as
honorable mention in the 2008 New England Book Festival for best books
of the holiday season.
When was the book released?
March, 2010
Give us an overview of your book.
Twelve-year-old Jem Lockwood has been fatherless for four years and finally gets a Big Brother, but just as the best summer of his life is about to begin, he discovers that Jesse Standish's rented house is about to be sold. Jem does all in his daring imagination to make Jesse's house unmarketable, and the neighborhood unfit for prospective buyers. This three-ring circus romps with Jem's boyhood friends and older brother Chris, all recognizable kids who share in the rough-and-tumble delight of living in a northern Massachusetts city whose newspaper is delivered by kids on bikes, where kids play in the streets, and the local convenience store is owned by the family of Jesse’s girlfriend, Andrea.
Sadly the city’s swimming pond has been sabotaged, and the city has to close it to all recreation after two boys are injured. Jem is sure he knows who did it, and helps carry out a plan to punish the evildoer. But Alpha qualities are not always perfectly aimed, and Jem learns about the consequences of jumping into action without sufficient knowledge or understanding.
What inspired you to write this book?
Memories of childhood as well as being a Big Brother.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
Packed with everyday people bending their lives into the fringes of sideshow lunacy, Short Circus is in a genre of its own – reality fiction from a twelve-year-old kid’s point of view.
Where can people buy your book?
Barnesandnoble.com; amazon.com; jacketflap.com; flamingnet.com
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
Yes, but not ready for publication.
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I’ve worked with Allbooks Reviews before, and would like to keep a continually growing web presence for marketing my books.
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
In Pursuit of Love, Spirituality and Happiness
Genre: Fiction
Author: Gita Audhya
When you feel trapped in your own life, a journey is often the only way to see things clearly.
Jonathan has led a comfortable existence. His family's wealth has kept him provided for, but with that status come certain expectations. In a rare moment of rebellion, he flies to Hawaii to take in the sights, and runs headlong into destiny.
In Pursuit is a love letter to Hawaii, both as a place and a state of mind. However, that does not necessarily translate well into fiction. Audhya's prose is rich, breathing life into her setting, but her characters are lacking in depth, and their dialogue is not as natural as it could be. The characters are there to explain things, to make points on behalf of the author. This is a common technique in fiction, but in this case the reader is constantly being reminded of it. Audhya clearly has talent, and passion for her subject, but might be better suited to non-fiction , specifically personal travel writing.
Gita Audhya has traveled from India to the UK, and then to the United States in pursuit of her dreams. She still travels frequently with her husband.
In Pursuit of Love, Spirituality and Happiness is a meditation on the wonder of life and the present moment, but its author might be more at home in a different genre. Audyha's debut is an Average read.
Reviewer: J. Blackmore, Allbooks Reviews. www.allbookreviews.com
Available at: iUniverse.com, Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com
Title: In Pursuit of Love, Spirituality and Happiness
Author: Gita Audhya
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1-4401-3989-5
Pages: 191
Price: $14.95 USD
Date: March 2010
Author: Gita Audhya
When you feel trapped in your own life, a journey is often the only way to see things clearly.
Jonathan has led a comfortable existence. His family's wealth has kept him provided for, but with that status come certain expectations. In a rare moment of rebellion, he flies to Hawaii to take in the sights, and runs headlong into destiny.
In Pursuit is a love letter to Hawaii, both as a place and a state of mind. However, that does not necessarily translate well into fiction. Audhya's prose is rich, breathing life into her setting, but her characters are lacking in depth, and their dialogue is not as natural as it could be. The characters are there to explain things, to make points on behalf of the author. This is a common technique in fiction, but in this case the reader is constantly being reminded of it. Audhya clearly has talent, and passion for her subject, but might be better suited to non-fiction , specifically personal travel writing.
Gita Audhya has traveled from India to the UK, and then to the United States in pursuit of her dreams. She still travels frequently with her husband.
In Pursuit of Love, Spirituality and Happiness is a meditation on the wonder of life and the present moment, but its author might be more at home in a different genre. Audyha's debut is an Average read.
Reviewer: J. Blackmore, Allbooks Reviews. www.allbookreviews.com
Available at: iUniverse.com, Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com
Title: In Pursuit of Love, Spirituality and Happiness
Author: Gita Audhya
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1-4401-3989-5
Pages: 191
Price: $14.95 USD
Date: March 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Allbooks Review August 2010
Allbooks Review August 2010 Newsletter
Summer Festivals are everywhere
Nominate us for a listing in Writer's Digest's 101 Best Sites
of The Year. Please send your nomination, along with our web
name Allbooks Review and our URL www.allbookreviews.com
to: writersdig@fwpubs.com Subject "101 Sites".
Thank you for all of your support.
*****************************************************************************
ALLBOOKS REVIEW IS NOW ON iFOGO. Be sure and join the Albooks Review Author’s Group where we can share our success and our mistakes. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com. Great promo for a great price, post audio, book trailers, contact with agents and producers and much more. Be sure and let them know Allbooks Review sent you and join our group.
http://ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html USE THIS LINK TO JOIN TODAY
Submissions Wanted:
CALL FOR ENTRIES: Dream Quest One Writing Contest! Write a poem,
30 lines or fewer on any subject or write a short story, 5 pages
maximum length, on any theme, for a chance to win cash awards!
Prizes: Writing - $500, $250, $100. Poetry - $250, $125, $50.
Entry fees: $5 per poem, $10 per story. Postmark deadline: July 31.
Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com for details and to enter!
Military History Articles Wanted
--------------------------------
Military History Quarterly welcomes feature articles. All eras are
of interest, particularly ancient times, if the writer bases an
article on up-to-date historical research. Rates for feature
articles start at $800 (more if special expenses incurred) for
1500-6000 words. Pays $400 for departments. View website for
details: http://tinyurl.com/28q8auo
Science Articles Wanted
------------------------
Cosmos, the Australian science magazine, is open to submissions.
Cosmos is largely interested in ideas, particularly those that
involve, or are driven by, science and technology. Payment for
features ranges from A$900 to a maximum of A$3,000. View PDF for
full guidelines.
http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/pdf/Cosmos_writers_guidelines.pdf
FEATURE
How to Get the Media Interested in You
You May Be Newsworthy Without Even Knowing It
Do you know what the media would consider newsworthy about you or your company?
Many new clients come to us with a strong opinion about what their "pitch" should be, but often miss the mark, in terms of knowing what will get the media to sit up and pay attention to their message. But it's very understandable that this could occur, if you're not working with the media the way we do, day in and day out, developing story angles intended to grab their interest.
For those who are new to PR, my message is this - think outside of the box! As normal as it is to be focused on your own company and industry or field of interest, there is a lot going on in the world, and your expertise might be news in ways that you've not previously envisioned.
I always recommend to my clients that they try to view their companies from the outside looking in, particularly, from the perspective of the media. The best way for you to garner the media's interest is to understand what it is about you and your company that might be interesting to them. The process is actually quite simple.
Read the News - If you want to be featured in the news, you should read the news. Be general in your approach. Read the top headlines in all the categories, even if your company is in a niche industry, because you never know what is going to happen. For instance, the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has focused a spotlight on oil rigs and the people who work on them. Journalists are looking at the companies who own oil rigs, drilling rights, and other oil company service firms. Analysts in that small business niche are being quoted in top tier media outlets, after existing for decades completely outside the reach of the media's radar. So, go broad with the topics that you track, and don't be afraid to become a little bit of a news geek. Being better informed about the world around you isn't a bad thing, and the by-product is that you'll be far more media savvy.
Track it Back - Now, as you absorb the headlines and the stories of the day, think about how one or more of them could track back to you, your company and your key messages. A good example comes from one of our clients, a maker of natural health supplements. Their primary product line uses a natural ingredient called Resveratrol. Clinical research has uncovered that Resveratrol can be helpful in reducing fatigue, restoring energy and safeguarding your immune system. Now, earlier this month, Reuters reported that doctors who performed an 11-year study of British civil servants discovered a direct link between heart disease and working 11 hours or more each day. Another story quoted U.S. Department of Labor statistics that more than 7 million Americans work at least two jobs. We combined those two pieces to demonstrate that millions of Americans are working way more than 11 hours, and are at risk for everything from chronic fatigue to heart disease. From there, it wasn't too difficult to beat a path back to the client's physician spokesperson who recommended a series of tips to prevent those outcomes, including a short tip about how some natural supplements can be helpful. At first blush, you wouldn't imagine that labor stats and a medical study in Great Britain would have any relationship with a natural health supplement, but by thinking creatively, we were able to make the connection and develop a strong radio pitch for that client.
Be Opportunistic - The news happens fast, so be prepared to think just as fast. Recently we took on a client named Jane Heimlich, who has a dual claim to fame. She is the daughter of dance hall king Arthur Murray, who established the largest chain of dance instruction centers in the country. She is also the wife of chest surgeon Dr. Hank Heimlich, the creator of the life-saving, anti-choking first aid technique called the Heimlich Maneuver. She had just written her memoir, and was looking to promote it via media interviews. When we brought her on board, the new season for the network TV show Dancing with the Stars was about to begin. In reading her book, we discovered that her father's TV show, The Arthur Murray Party, was the first network TV dance contest - and it involved the big stars of the day. So, we put together a radio pitch with the headline "Remembering the Original Dancing with the Stars." We booked 15 radio interviews and a full print campaign with that angle, and we just refreshed the angle with the CBS announcement that they are giving Paula Abdul her own TV dance competition.
At the end of the day, recognize that your expertise can be stretched beyond what you have in your marketing plan, and you'll be able to make you and your company more relevant to the press in a lot of creative ways.
Marsha Friedman
CEO EMSI Public Relations
SUCCESS STORIES
We love to hear of your success stories, submit them to us at: allbookreviews@aol.com
Remember to post your book signing, guest speaker events on our Bookstore page. Simply send us an email with details of your events and we will be happy to post them. Just part of the Allbooks service to our authors.
Congratulations to:
Conversations with Jerry and Other People I Thought Were Dead won the silver medal in the 2010 IP Death and Dying Category, and was a Finalist in the 2010 Indie Excellence Awards.
Irene
GREAT AUTHOR SERVICES
I highly recommend this cover designer. Trisha FitzGerald
COVER DESIGN www.myspace.com/bookdesign
PUBLISHING: E Books www.theebooksale.com
POD: www.realtimepublishings.com
EDITING: www.allbookreviews.com
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW: (Please put your answers in black)
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Kerin Bellak Adams Englewood NJ
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
AD/HD Success! Solutions to Boosting Self-Esteem: The Diary Method Ages 7-17
ISBN 978-1-61599-024-5
Tell us about yourself:
Kerin Bellak-Adams is accredited through ICF with an ACC certification and has years of experience as a highly respected coach, speaker, and expert on AD/HD. She has taught elementary school children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and comes from an unusual background being the daughter of world-renowned psychiatrist Dr. Leopold Bellak, a pioneer in ADD, back in the 1960s. From her teaching experience, Kerin not only developed this book, but specializes in coaching parents on such issues as: how to find your child or teenager’s gifts, how to ask questions that help with focus and get the actions you most desire, and much more. She also coaches kids ages ten and older with ADD symptoms and helps them define small steps that will help them feel more in control of themselves and happier.
When was the book released?
Feb. 2010
Give us an overview of your book.
The book boosts self-esteem by developing a child or teenagers awareness of what comes naturally to them. The book also directs the reader to focusing on the areas that are challenging each day at school, helping them to emphasize their focus which is based on time-management, organization, and other areas, while gently encouraging and strengthening behavioral skills. Chapters are broken out to handle problems and situations common to children in specific age brackets within the overall range of 7-17 years old.
What inspired you to write this book?
My father who was a pioneer in the psychiatric study of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), and being influenced by Dr. Edward Hallowell, author of Driven to Distraction.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
There is no other type book on the market that inspires the reader to grow, while boosting and maintaining their newly developed self-esteem. This book also is one of a kind as it directs and encourages the student to focus on challenging areas through prompts and questions while encouraging social skills. This book is both educational and for the home. Focus. There is a specific home/school accountability form designed for teachers and parents to use to communicate regularly on the students strengths and weaknesses, as they develop throughout their school life. There is also a parent evaluation and self-esteem logs and graphs.
Where can people buy your book?
Most people are buying it through online stores such as Amazon.com but you can call or visit your neighborhood bookstore and have them order it for you from Ingram with no shipping charges to pay.
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published? Yes I am it will be published in 2 years.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
Don’t give up 5 minutes before the miracle!
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
It creates some marketing ability, and cuts down on some costs.
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
My website has been the most successful marketing tool. Through a professional designer, I've been able to add book reviews, videos, promote events, and even add a special "Members Only" area where people who've purchased the books can download printable worksheets and extra content for free. I have to admit, a website is an author's best friend!
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
Through my publisher Loving Healing Press Inc. Victor Volkman tells me that he is starting to use Allbooks Reviews both to promote brand-new self-help and personal growth titles AND to revive interest in backlist titles. He says an Allbooks Review is always fresh and generates new buzz.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
I'd like to see a Content Management System (CMS) based website so that Allbooks Reviews could take better advantage of social networking tools. Imagine what using Drupal or Joomla could do to make visitors stays more interesting on the site!
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you, I really appreciate it.
In the News
Italian Writers Fight for More Rights
-------------------------------------
Four young Italian writers have set up a protest group, Writers in
Litigation, to protest what they see as unfair practices on the
part of the Italian publishing industry. It appears that authors
in Italy do not always receive their fair share of royalties.
For more on this story visit: http://tinyurl.com/36qvj67
Publishing Industry Unlikely to Return to Pre-Recession Heights
---------------------------------------------------------------
After eight out of ten publishers reported a fall in sales in 2010,
the Chief Executive Officer of HarperCollins, Victoria Barnsley,
has warned that sales are not likely to return to pre-recession
figures. HarperCollins saw sales fall by over 13% in 2010 and as a
result have reduced the number of books they will publish by 20%.
For more on this story visit: http://tinyurl.com/33bgx5s
Summer Festivals are everywhere
Nominate us for a listing in Writer's Digest's 101 Best Sites
of The Year. Please send your nomination, along with our web
name Allbooks Review and our URL www.allbookreviews.com
to: writersdig@fwpubs.com Subject "101 Sites".
Thank you for all of your support.
*****************************************************************************
ALLBOOKS REVIEW IS NOW ON iFOGO. Be sure and join the Albooks Review Author’s Group where we can share our success and our mistakes. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com. Great promo for a great price, post audio, book trailers, contact with agents and producers and much more. Be sure and let them know Allbooks Review sent you and join our group.
http://ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html USE THIS LINK TO JOIN TODAY
Submissions Wanted:
CALL FOR ENTRIES: Dream Quest One Writing Contest! Write a poem,
30 lines or fewer on any subject or write a short story, 5 pages
maximum length, on any theme, for a chance to win cash awards!
Prizes: Writing - $500, $250, $100. Poetry - $250, $125, $50.
Entry fees: $5 per poem, $10 per story. Postmark deadline: July 31.
Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com for details and to enter!
Military History Articles Wanted
--------------------------------
Military History Quarterly welcomes feature articles. All eras are
of interest, particularly ancient times, if the writer bases an
article on up-to-date historical research. Rates for feature
articles start at $800 (more if special expenses incurred) for
1500-6000 words. Pays $400 for departments. View website for
details: http://tinyurl.com/28q8auo
Science Articles Wanted
------------------------
Cosmos, the Australian science magazine, is open to submissions.
Cosmos is largely interested in ideas, particularly those that
involve, or are driven by, science and technology. Payment for
features ranges from A$900 to a maximum of A$3,000. View PDF for
full guidelines.
http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/pdf/Cosmos_writers_guidelines.pdf
FEATURE
How to Get the Media Interested in You
You May Be Newsworthy Without Even Knowing It
Do you know what the media would consider newsworthy about you or your company?
Many new clients come to us with a strong opinion about what their "pitch" should be, but often miss the mark, in terms of knowing what will get the media to sit up and pay attention to their message. But it's very understandable that this could occur, if you're not working with the media the way we do, day in and day out, developing story angles intended to grab their interest.
For those who are new to PR, my message is this - think outside of the box! As normal as it is to be focused on your own company and industry or field of interest, there is a lot going on in the world, and your expertise might be news in ways that you've not previously envisioned.
I always recommend to my clients that they try to view their companies from the outside looking in, particularly, from the perspective of the media. The best way for you to garner the media's interest is to understand what it is about you and your company that might be interesting to them. The process is actually quite simple.
Read the News - If you want to be featured in the news, you should read the news. Be general in your approach. Read the top headlines in all the categories, even if your company is in a niche industry, because you never know what is going to happen. For instance, the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has focused a spotlight on oil rigs and the people who work on them. Journalists are looking at the companies who own oil rigs, drilling rights, and other oil company service firms. Analysts in that small business niche are being quoted in top tier media outlets, after existing for decades completely outside the reach of the media's radar. So, go broad with the topics that you track, and don't be afraid to become a little bit of a news geek. Being better informed about the world around you isn't a bad thing, and the by-product is that you'll be far more media savvy.
Track it Back - Now, as you absorb the headlines and the stories of the day, think about how one or more of them could track back to you, your company and your key messages. A good example comes from one of our clients, a maker of natural health supplements. Their primary product line uses a natural ingredient called Resveratrol. Clinical research has uncovered that Resveratrol can be helpful in reducing fatigue, restoring energy and safeguarding your immune system. Now, earlier this month, Reuters reported that doctors who performed an 11-year study of British civil servants discovered a direct link between heart disease and working 11 hours or more each day. Another story quoted U.S. Department of Labor statistics that more than 7 million Americans work at least two jobs. We combined those two pieces to demonstrate that millions of Americans are working way more than 11 hours, and are at risk for everything from chronic fatigue to heart disease. From there, it wasn't too difficult to beat a path back to the client's physician spokesperson who recommended a series of tips to prevent those outcomes, including a short tip about how some natural supplements can be helpful. At first blush, you wouldn't imagine that labor stats and a medical study in Great Britain would have any relationship with a natural health supplement, but by thinking creatively, we were able to make the connection and develop a strong radio pitch for that client.
Be Opportunistic - The news happens fast, so be prepared to think just as fast. Recently we took on a client named Jane Heimlich, who has a dual claim to fame. She is the daughter of dance hall king Arthur Murray, who established the largest chain of dance instruction centers in the country. She is also the wife of chest surgeon Dr. Hank Heimlich, the creator of the life-saving, anti-choking first aid technique called the Heimlich Maneuver. She had just written her memoir, and was looking to promote it via media interviews. When we brought her on board, the new season for the network TV show Dancing with the Stars was about to begin. In reading her book, we discovered that her father's TV show, The Arthur Murray Party, was the first network TV dance contest - and it involved the big stars of the day. So, we put together a radio pitch with the headline "Remembering the Original Dancing with the Stars." We booked 15 radio interviews and a full print campaign with that angle, and we just refreshed the angle with the CBS announcement that they are giving Paula Abdul her own TV dance competition.
At the end of the day, recognize that your expertise can be stretched beyond what you have in your marketing plan, and you'll be able to make you and your company more relevant to the press in a lot of creative ways.
Marsha Friedman
CEO EMSI Public Relations
SUCCESS STORIES
We love to hear of your success stories, submit them to us at: allbookreviews@aol.com
Remember to post your book signing, guest speaker events on our Bookstore page. Simply send us an email with details of your events and we will be happy to post them. Just part of the Allbooks service to our authors.
Congratulations to:
Conversations with Jerry and Other People I Thought Were Dead won the silver medal in the 2010 IP Death and Dying Category, and was a Finalist in the 2010 Indie Excellence Awards.
Irene
GREAT AUTHOR SERVICES
I highly recommend this cover designer. Trisha FitzGerald
COVER DESIGN www.myspace.com/bookdesign
PUBLISHING: E Books www.theebooksale.com
POD: www.realtimepublishings.com
EDITING: www.allbookreviews.com
Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW: (Please put your answers in black)
Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Kerin Bellak Adams Englewood NJ
Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
AD/HD Success! Solutions to Boosting Self-Esteem: The Diary Method Ages 7-17
ISBN 978-1-61599-024-5
Tell us about yourself:
Kerin Bellak-Adams is accredited through ICF with an ACC certification and has years of experience as a highly respected coach, speaker, and expert on AD/HD. She has taught elementary school children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and comes from an unusual background being the daughter of world-renowned psychiatrist Dr. Leopold Bellak, a pioneer in ADD, back in the 1960s. From her teaching experience, Kerin not only developed this book, but specializes in coaching parents on such issues as: how to find your child or teenager’s gifts, how to ask questions that help with focus and get the actions you most desire, and much more. She also coaches kids ages ten and older with ADD symptoms and helps them define small steps that will help them feel more in control of themselves and happier.
When was the book released?
Feb. 2010
Give us an overview of your book.
The book boosts self-esteem by developing a child or teenagers awareness of what comes naturally to them. The book also directs the reader to focusing on the areas that are challenging each day at school, helping them to emphasize their focus which is based on time-management, organization, and other areas, while gently encouraging and strengthening behavioral skills. Chapters are broken out to handle problems and situations common to children in specific age brackets within the overall range of 7-17 years old.
What inspired you to write this book?
My father who was a pioneer in the psychiatric study of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), and being influenced by Dr. Edward Hallowell, author of Driven to Distraction.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?
There is no other type book on the market that inspires the reader to grow, while boosting and maintaining their newly developed self-esteem. This book also is one of a kind as it directs and encourages the student to focus on challenging areas through prompts and questions while encouraging social skills. This book is both educational and for the home. Focus. There is a specific home/school accountability form designed for teachers and parents to use to communicate regularly on the students strengths and weaknesses, as they develop throughout their school life. There is also a parent evaluation and self-esteem logs and graphs.
Where can people buy your book?
Most people are buying it through online stores such as Amazon.com but you can call or visit your neighborhood bookstore and have them order it for you from Ingram with no shipping charges to pay.
Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published? Yes I am it will be published in 2 years.
If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
Don’t give up 5 minutes before the miracle!
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
It creates some marketing ability, and cuts down on some costs.
Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
My website has been the most successful marketing tool. Through a professional designer, I've been able to add book reviews, videos, promote events, and even add a special "Members Only" area where people who've purchased the books can download printable worksheets and extra content for free. I have to admit, a website is an author's best friend!
How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
Through my publisher Loving Healing Press Inc. Victor Volkman tells me that he is starting to use Allbooks Reviews both to promote brand-new self-help and personal growth titles AND to revive interest in backlist titles. He says an Allbooks Review is always fresh and generates new buzz.
Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
I'd like to see a Content Management System (CMS) based website so that Allbooks Reviews could take better advantage of social networking tools. Imagine what using Drupal or Joomla could do to make visitors stays more interesting on the site!
Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you, I really appreciate it.
In the News
Italian Writers Fight for More Rights
-------------------------------------
Four young Italian writers have set up a protest group, Writers in
Litigation, to protest what they see as unfair practices on the
part of the Italian publishing industry. It appears that authors
in Italy do not always receive their fair share of royalties.
For more on this story visit: http://tinyurl.com/36qvj67
Publishing Industry Unlikely to Return to Pre-Recession Heights
---------------------------------------------------------------
After eight out of ten publishers reported a fall in sales in 2010,
the Chief Executive Officer of HarperCollins, Victoria Barnsley,
has warned that sales are not likely to return to pre-recession
figures. HarperCollins saw sales fall by over 13% in 2010 and as a
result have reduced the number of books they will publish by 20%.
For more on this story visit: http://tinyurl.com/33bgx5s
Monday, July 26, 2010
Dear Allbooks Review Friends
Here's an announcement from one of our sponsors about a free
telephone seminar this Thursday, July 29th with ex-Oprah guest booker on secrets to getting booked as a guest on national TV shows.
We encourage you to check it out and enjoy!
Want to be on TV? Ex Oprah booker tells how
ATTN: Non-Fiction Authors ....Ex-Oprah Guest Booker Tells How to Get Publicity As A Guest on National TV Shows
Would you like to be a guest on a top national TV show like Oprah, Good Morning America, CNN or Fox News?
Of course you would because there are few faster ways to instantly reach millions of people and make your book sales really take off than getting big-time TV publicity.
It's no secret the right national TV appearance can catapult a book to the top of the Bestseller List.
In fact, bestselling author Deepak Chopra told me sold 800,000 books in the month after his first Oprah appearance.
Curious to know how YOU might get on national TV?
Find out on a free 90-minute telephone seminar on Thursday, July 29th on ...
"The Three Big Secrets for Getting Publicity as a Guest
on Top National TV Shows"
I'm Steve Harrison, publisher of Radio-TV Interview Report (RTIR) magazine and I'll be your host.
In addition to me, you'll hear from a former Oprah guest booker, a former Fox News Channel producer and other surprise guests. Together we'll teach you things unknown to 95% of all publicity-seekers.
To register for this call -- which is free except for your normal long distance charges -- go here now:
http://www.getmajorpress.com/call858
On the call, you'll learn things like:
* Specific ways to increase your odds of getting free airtime as a guest on Oprah, Fox News Channel, CNN and other top shows.
* Understanding the mindset of national TV producers and how to get them to book you as a guest.
* What you should send TV producers (and what you shouldn't).
* The most important question you must be able to answer to land a TV appearance.
* Case histories of five authors and entrepreneurs who got booked on top TV shows
* How to stand apart from other would-be guests and dramatically
increase your chances of getting on the top shows.
* The biggest mistakes to avoid when pitching TV producers
(including ones that could even get you black-listed forever!)
... and much, much more!
Again, to sign up go here now:
http://www.getmajorpress.com/call858
Once registered, you'll receive all the details back within five minutes.
Who knows - maybe we'll be seeing you on national TV very soon!
Best,
Steve Harrison, Radio-TV Interview Report
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you
Shirley A. Roe
Managing Editor,Allbooks Review
www.allbookreviews.com
We highly recommend you become a member of iFOGO. Just click this link to join.
http://www.ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html
telephone seminar this Thursday, July 29th with ex-Oprah guest booker on secrets to getting booked as a guest on national TV shows.
We encourage you to check it out and enjoy!
Want to be on TV? Ex Oprah booker tells how
ATTN: Non-Fiction Authors ....Ex-Oprah Guest Booker Tells How to Get Publicity As A Guest on National TV Shows
Would you like to be a guest on a top national TV show like Oprah, Good Morning America, CNN or Fox News?
Of course you would because there are few faster ways to instantly reach millions of people and make your book sales really take off than getting big-time TV publicity.
It's no secret the right national TV appearance can catapult a book to the top of the Bestseller List.
In fact, bestselling author Deepak Chopra told me sold 800,000 books in the month after his first Oprah appearance.
Curious to know how YOU might get on national TV?
Find out on a free 90-minute telephone seminar on Thursday, July 29th on ...
"The Three Big Secrets for Getting Publicity as a Guest
on Top National TV Shows"
I'm Steve Harrison, publisher of Radio-TV Interview Report (RTIR) magazine and I'll be your host.
In addition to me, you'll hear from a former Oprah guest booker, a former Fox News Channel producer and other surprise guests. Together we'll teach you things unknown to 95% of all publicity-seekers.
To register for this call -- which is free except for your normal long distance charges -- go here now:
http://www.getmajorpress.com/call858
On the call, you'll learn things like:
* Specific ways to increase your odds of getting free airtime as a guest on Oprah, Fox News Channel, CNN and other top shows.
* Understanding the mindset of national TV producers and how to get them to book you as a guest.
* What you should send TV producers (and what you shouldn't).
* The most important question you must be able to answer to land a TV appearance.
* Case histories of five authors and entrepreneurs who got booked on top TV shows
* How to stand apart from other would-be guests and dramatically
increase your chances of getting on the top shows.
* The biggest mistakes to avoid when pitching TV producers
(including ones that could even get you black-listed forever!)
... and much, much more!
Again, to sign up go here now:
http://www.getmajorpress.com/call858
Once registered, you'll receive all the details back within five minutes.
Who knows - maybe we'll be seeing you on national TV very soon!
Best,
Steve Harrison, Radio-TV Interview Report
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you
Shirley A. Roe
Managing Editor,Allbooks Review
www.allbookreviews.com
We highly recommend you become a member of iFOGO. Just click this link to join.
http://www.ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html
Thursday, July 15, 2010
A Toast for You and Me, Vol.2
AUTHOR: Robert C. Valentine
In the twentieth century there was no greater cataclysm, natural or man-made than the Second World War. Less than a dozen countries remained technically neutral during the entire war from 1939 through its conclusion in 1945. Innumerable books have been written about it. Why would anyone want to read, much less write, another book about this conflict? It is necessary because this story can never be completely told. There are also so many angles and methods to convey this great struggle that there will be new material available for decades to come.
Robert Valentine has here written am interesting book that fits in very well the reading experiences of this reviewer. “A Toast for You and Me” can stand on its own or be an excellent adjunct to other histories of the period. This volume covers in detail the events of 1942 in a quite detailed manner. The two main reasons this book merits inclusion in most home libraries are its in depth coverage of the situation on the home front in the dark days of 1942 and the marvelous collection of photographs that help to illustrate the transition in the United States from an isolationist society to one that is dedicated to victory. This is all aside from its greatest gem: The exceedingly detailed timeline of the events of 1942.
This reviewer highly recommends this book to all readers. It is written in a clear and informative style. If the reader desires a typical academic tome, it is best to look elsewhere. This book is written for the common man; yet it does not condescend and is fact-filled, presenting an unapologetic look at America’s blemishes as well as her strengths in this uncertain time.
Reviewer: John D. Helman, M.A., Allbooks Reviews.
Author: Robert C. Valentine
Publisher: Dig-Cam Publishing
ISBN: 1-880633-84-2
Pages: 296
Price: $32.98 US
March 2010
In the twentieth century there was no greater cataclysm, natural or man-made than the Second World War. Less than a dozen countries remained technically neutral during the entire war from 1939 through its conclusion in 1945. Innumerable books have been written about it. Why would anyone want to read, much less write, another book about this conflict? It is necessary because this story can never be completely told. There are also so many angles and methods to convey this great struggle that there will be new material available for decades to come.
Robert Valentine has here written am interesting book that fits in very well the reading experiences of this reviewer. “A Toast for You and Me” can stand on its own or be an excellent adjunct to other histories of the period. This volume covers in detail the events of 1942 in a quite detailed manner. The two main reasons this book merits inclusion in most home libraries are its in depth coverage of the situation on the home front in the dark days of 1942 and the marvelous collection of photographs that help to illustrate the transition in the United States from an isolationist society to one that is dedicated to victory. This is all aside from its greatest gem: The exceedingly detailed timeline of the events of 1942.
This reviewer highly recommends this book to all readers. It is written in a clear and informative style. If the reader desires a typical academic tome, it is best to look elsewhere. This book is written for the common man; yet it does not condescend and is fact-filled, presenting an unapologetic look at America’s blemishes as well as her strengths in this uncertain time.
Reviewer: John D. Helman, M.A., Allbooks Reviews.
Author: Robert C. Valentine
Publisher: Dig-Cam Publishing
ISBN: 1-880633-84-2
Pages: 296
Price: $32.98 US
March 2010
Where You Are
Author: Michael Burns
What would happen if you lived in a small town most of your life in a dead-end job without much of a future of anything changing, except the seasons? The main character, Paul, is in such a place barely making enough to live on without his new bride also having to work and not liking this particular small town with nothing going on as far as any type of cultural activities, just the same old people doing the same old boring things, day in and day out.
His wife nags her husband Paul, to move to the west coast, and attend college. Moving is not something Paul has considered. He is also not sure about going to college. Paul’s only time away from his hometown was a stint in the army, then back to the same place, and losing contact with his high school friends.
Married around a year, Laura, Paul’s wife takes off one day with a note left for Paul that is cryptic at best. Has his wife Laura left him? Will they get back together? Will Paul finally leave his small town and the small town ways to the big city? The only way to find out is to read “Where You Are.” This reviewer is not going to spoil it for you.
“Where You Are” is a good read. If you like relationships and interesting situations, “Where You Are” is a book for you. This reviewer found the pace good, the characters true to life, engaging, and assigns a four star rating to “Where Are You.”
Available from publisher: allthingsthat matterpress.com, Amazon
Title: Where You Are
Author: Michael burns
Publisher: All Things That Matter Press
ISBN: 978-0-9840984-0-8
Pages: 246
Price: $16.99
Date February, 2010
What would happen if you lived in a small town most of your life in a dead-end job without much of a future of anything changing, except the seasons? The main character, Paul, is in such a place barely making enough to live on without his new bride also having to work and not liking this particular small town with nothing going on as far as any type of cultural activities, just the same old people doing the same old boring things, day in and day out.
His wife nags her husband Paul, to move to the west coast, and attend college. Moving is not something Paul has considered. He is also not sure about going to college. Paul’s only time away from his hometown was a stint in the army, then back to the same place, and losing contact with his high school friends.
Married around a year, Laura, Paul’s wife takes off one day with a note left for Paul that is cryptic at best. Has his wife Laura left him? Will they get back together? Will Paul finally leave his small town and the small town ways to the big city? The only way to find out is to read “Where You Are.” This reviewer is not going to spoil it for you.
“Where You Are” is a good read. If you like relationships and interesting situations, “Where You Are” is a book for you. This reviewer found the pace good, the characters true to life, engaging, and assigns a four star rating to “Where Are You.”
Available from publisher: allthingsthat matterpress.com, Amazon
Title: Where You Are
Author: Michael burns
Publisher: All Things That Matter Press
ISBN: 978-0-9840984-0-8
Pages: 246
Price: $16.99
Date February, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Sarah's Socks: My World of Autism
Genre: Children’s Book
Authors: Litsa Kamateros & Nia Morfonios
It all started the day Sarah went outside in a pair of old smelly socks she picked up from the dirty laundry.
Who knew the everyday life of an autistic child could be so intriguing and sweet? As you chase Sarah in and around her school with the rest of her classmates, you will find yourself unconsciously lapsing back into familiar memories and habits.
Both Montrealers as well as core Canadians, Litsa Kamateros and Nia Morfonios have combined their artistic talents to sculpt this delightful short story. Such a heart-warming and humorous children’s book will undoubtedly hit a chord deep within. It is highly recommended by Boyu Huang, Allbooks Review. www.allbookreviews.com
ISBN number: 978-1-61633-023-1
Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing Inc.
Number of pages: 26
Price: $13.95
Feb. 2010
Authors: Litsa Kamateros & Nia Morfonios
It all started the day Sarah went outside in a pair of old smelly socks she picked up from the dirty laundry.
Who knew the everyday life of an autistic child could be so intriguing and sweet? As you chase Sarah in and around her school with the rest of her classmates, you will find yourself unconsciously lapsing back into familiar memories and habits.
Both Montrealers as well as core Canadians, Litsa Kamateros and Nia Morfonios have combined their artistic talents to sculpt this delightful short story. Such a heart-warming and humorous children’s book will undoubtedly hit a chord deep within. It is highly recommended by Boyu Huang, Allbooks Review. www.allbookreviews.com
ISBN number: 978-1-61633-023-1
Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing Inc.
Number of pages: 26
Price: $13.95
Feb. 2010
A Freak's Journey: The Life and Times of a Circus Runaway
Genre: Adventure/Fiction
Author: Steven R. Roberts
An amazing historical backdrop of one special strong-willed man.
A Freak’s Journey is an exhilarating look of the true life story of Jim Stockley as told to the author by David Wood.
The author begins this extraordinary man’s life in a dam project, showcasing Stockley’s hard-shelled personality. From there the reader is taken to the past, reliving every single emotional upset, victory, and people Stockley had met that - in some way or the other - helped to shape and demean him to the point of nearly breaking down his spirit.
Mr. Roberts descriptive details of the 1930s and onward jump at you, drawing you immediately to the world he’s penned. His opening line:
Did you ever meet a guy who had a good job and you couldn’t for the life of you figure how he got it? hooked me; a simple question but one that has an enormous meaning. This emotional connection maintained evenly throughout the read, never once disconnecting me from the main character, and let me explain: I love to read novels about present day affairs, never have been interested reading anything that happened before my time. However, the author did a superb job with his descriptive details, mixture of dialogue that truly exemplified Stockley. But more than that – and this is why I loved this book – the novel contained virtues, loyalty, heartbreak, family situations, friendships, a battling court case to prove one’s innocence, and hardships that any reader at one point in their life will be able to connect and sympathize with.
Anyone that has experienced anything like this will truly dig deep into this novel and appreciate the storytelling talent of Mr. Roberts. I highly recommend A Freak’s Journey with no hesitation.
Lea Schizas, AllBooks reviewer. www.allbookreviews.com
Prepub review.
Author: Steven R. Roberts
An amazing historical backdrop of one special strong-willed man.
A Freak’s Journey is an exhilarating look of the true life story of Jim Stockley as told to the author by David Wood.
The author begins this extraordinary man’s life in a dam project, showcasing Stockley’s hard-shelled personality. From there the reader is taken to the past, reliving every single emotional upset, victory, and people Stockley had met that - in some way or the other - helped to shape and demean him to the point of nearly breaking down his spirit.
Mr. Roberts descriptive details of the 1930s and onward jump at you, drawing you immediately to the world he’s penned. His opening line:
Did you ever meet a guy who had a good job and you couldn’t for the life of you figure how he got it? hooked me; a simple question but one that has an enormous meaning. This emotional connection maintained evenly throughout the read, never once disconnecting me from the main character, and let me explain: I love to read novels about present day affairs, never have been interested reading anything that happened before my time. However, the author did a superb job with his descriptive details, mixture of dialogue that truly exemplified Stockley. But more than that – and this is why I loved this book – the novel contained virtues, loyalty, heartbreak, family situations, friendships, a battling court case to prove one’s innocence, and hardships that any reader at one point in their life will be able to connect and sympathize with.
Anyone that has experienced anything like this will truly dig deep into this novel and appreciate the storytelling talent of Mr. Roberts. I highly recommend A Freak’s Journey with no hesitation.
Lea Schizas, AllBooks reviewer. www.allbookreviews.com
Prepub review.
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