November 2006 Newsletter #32


	As the Year's End Grows Near... by: Jay Johnson Be sure to check out The Aton Project Newsletters at: http://www.self-publishinghelp.com/TheAtonProjectNewsletters.html. This newsletter, by author Tony VanSluytman, has been receiving rave revues despite it not being directed to writers. In addition, we encourage you to visit The Book Doctor at: http://www.self-publishinghelp.com/TheBOOKDOCTOR.html. You'll find his articles to be a must read for writers at all levels of accomplishment. We are quite proud of the contributions of these two dedicated authors and wish for you to learn more about them. * Moonspinners Writer's Page (http://www.maureenmcmahon.com), the website of Maureen McMahon, has been voted one of the 101 Best Websites by Writer's Digest 2006 - specifically her Ask The Experts section, created in collaboration with fellow author Fran Silverman (http://www.maureenmcmahon.com/bookmarketing.html). The Experts Site is composed of 150 subscribers to Fran’s newsletter, Book Promotion Newsletter (http://www.bookpromotionnewsletter.com), who answer book marketing questions at no charge. Download: 10 Ways to Promote Your Book... Welcome our two (2) sponsors...** ADRdomainsPlus.com for Your Domain Names and Internet Products BOTH have GREAT rates and EXCELLENT service! A New Radio Show... A new radio show devoted to book marketing made its debut on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 on Achieve Radio, noon to 1 p.m., MST. Host Francine Silverman will talk with authors, publishers and publicists, providing listeners with a unique perspective on book promotion. To access Book Marketing with Fran, go to http://www.achieveradio.com and click “Click to Listen” at top of page. Should you miss the show, click “Shows & Hosts” on the left and scroll down to Fran’s show and click, “More-Click Here” for the archives. Patricia Fry, president of SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists, and Writers Network) and author of 24 books, will be Fran’s first guest. Patricia’s latest book is The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book (Matilija Press 2006), a comprehensive guide for hopeful and struggling authors. Fran is author of Book Marketing from A-Z and editor publisher of Book Promotion Newsletter, http://www.bookpromotionnewsletter.com BOOK PROMOTION NEWSLETTER Issue 96: October 25, 2006 ISSN 1545-5599 BOOK PROMOTION NEWSLETTER Issue 96: October 25, 2006 EDITOR: FRANCINE SILVERMAN http://www.bookpromotionnewsletter.com http://www.nystatetravel.com Issued every other Wednesday since 2003 In This Issue (1)Feature Article (2)Grist for your Mill (3)Promotional Coups (4)Contests (5)Progress Report (6)Kudos INTRODUCTION I am collaborating with The Virtuous Women Radio Show, which is a showcase for new non-fiction authors. The show offers three packages. The basic package is inexpensive and includes an audio of the interview, and each package will now include a copy of my book, Book Marketing from A-Z. If any of you fit the description of a really “new” non-fiction author, you may want to take advantage of this opportunity to be interviewed on a radio show. http://www.avirtuouswomantour.com --------------------------- I need help. At the Infinity conference in September, I spoke to other authors who told me they prepare their books in PDF format so they know how they will look when it's published. Well, my computer does not have PDF so I downloaded Adobe, only to learn that it's simply a reader. Then I read in Peter Bowerman's book about http://www.PrimoPDF.com and downloaded it. I was able to install the Primo PDF in my printer as instructed but have not been able to save my Word document (book) in the PDF template. There are no instructions on that in the on-line manual provided. Can anyone tell me how to do this? Or do I need someone to save my book in their PDF file and send it to me? Or must I spring for $300 for Acrobat Professional? --------------------------- (1) FEATURE ARTICLE The Business of Self-Publishing By Dar Hosta Self-publishing is not only the means to get your ideas onto the pages of a physical book, but is also a business, and it brings with it all the responsibilities and expenses that any business investment would bring. If you would hesitate to become an independent entrepreneur, self-publishing may not be right for you. There is an enormous and continual learning curve, and there are monetary investments that may take time to “break even,” but the fantastic personal and financial rewards are there to be reaped for the individual who is willing to look at all the parts, make good decisions, and keep at the job at hand. When you become a publisher, you pay for and do everything. Let this really sink into your brain because, regardless of how many times I say this, I always get questions like, “So, who fronts the money for the print run?” The answer is, YOU. This also means that you have more than a little homework to do in order to find a printer or a print broker who is appropriate for your book needs and priced competitively, not to mention a book designer, both topics for future articles. There are no advances in self-publishing and, furthermore, every aspect of the book's production and dissemination, from book design to the boxes and tape they get shipped in, is paid for by Y-O-U. The good news, and this is really good news in my opinion, is that when your book sells, all the profits are yours to keep. To put this in perspective, let's say that you create a book that experiences very moderate success in the mainstream retail and library market. Being really conservative for the sake of example, let's say that you could sell 2,000 books in a year and that the retail price of this book is $17.00, a typical price for a trade hardback children's book (FYI, the profit margin for hardback books always exceeds that of paperback and of board book format, and are just nicer, in my view). The cost of printing this book, at this quantity, overseas is going to be about $2.50 per book. It is worth noting that if you were able to afford, and more importantly sell 8K books, you would pay only $1.25 per book (remember when I said quantity is the name of the game?). It is going to cost you about another $1,600 for freight and customs from another country, presumably China or Hong Kong. While I am not including, here, charges for proofs (usually around $200 per set), file preparation/art scanning (about $1,700 for a 32 page book) book design and layout (usually done professionally for $100-175 per hour and taking approximately 30 hours), your total bill is now at $6,600, but the wholesale value of your books (at a 55% discount, per Baker and Taylor) is $15,300. I am not adding in shipping costs to Baker and Taylor, (library wholesalers, like Follett and Brodart, generally pay for ground shipping while also using only a 50% discount) or the cost of supplies, but I am also not adding in that some of your sales might be to independent stores at a lower discount (generally 40% for independent authors, sometimes less), school sales at author visits (even lower or no discount), or straight retail sales at cover price. Assuming that you can sell all these books, you have just made over $8,000. Imagine, then, what kind of profit you could generate if you have several titles in print that all perform moderately and consistently well. Now, I admittedly don't know exactly what the going rate for a children's book royalty advance is these days, though I have an idea, but when I went to an author's day at a regional school late last spring and told my fellow authors that I had independently sold over 13K books in a year, they started asking me questions. If, like I did, you get a fast order from a big chain, that big chain will place an order with your wholesaler (i.e., Baker and Taylor) for about 1-2K books, and then you will have sold all your books and you'll use your profits from the first press run to pay for the second. If both big chains order, you'll be forced to go back to press, but now you will have the capital to pay for most of the run in cash. Chain sales, however, can be both a blessing and a curse, as they are always “open sales”, which means they can be returned. All of these speculations hinge on the notion, though, that your book will sell, and there are many, many things to consider in the area of marketing a book and making it into a success, some of which will undoubtedly cost you more money. It is a common stereotype that we creative types do not always have a mind for business and, unfortunately, this is often true. I can imagine that some of you reading this might be thinking, Why bother with all this? Who wants to learn all this on top of trying to crank out a book a year? Well, I have always been a sort of go-it-alone type of artist, never feeling quite so romantic about my work as to keep me from thinking about it in terms of “product” and “business” regards. Having said this, last year I was a guest speaker at a literacy conference in Vermont. One of my fellow author/illustrators was there (I will not name her here, but suffice it to say that she has a very well established and respected career in children's books that deal with a certain black and white dog who teaches kindergarten…) I was thrilled to be able to attend her seminar because I love seeing other artists and authors at work and to hear the stories of their journeys, and she was a delight to listen to. She had with her an artist's dummy for the current project she was working on and, much to my pleasure, shared it with the small and rather intimate audience. Now, I do in fact work with an editor, so I understand that we would not be wise to live in a creative vacuum, but this fellow illustrator, as she showed us the dummy, had a note from an editor or an art director that called for changes on nearly each and every page. I thought of the year I'd spent, lovingly creating my first book, I Love The Night, an artist's experiment if ever there were one, and cringed at the thought of changing a single word or moving a single image. I have been told by other children's authors that most editors would not force them to make a change they absolutely did not want to make but, as a creative type, I would be leaving out a very critical point if I did not tell you that one of the very best things about self-publishing is that the final rejection or acceptance comes from the same place the money does. Y-O-U! --------------------------- Dar is an Illustrator, owner of Brown Dog Books, and author of the award winning titles, I Love The Night, and I Love The Alphabet --------------------------- 2) GRIST FOR YOUR MILL It has been brought to my attention that Dr. Laura Schlessinger devotes a portion of her radio show to promoting books. Here's the blurb from her website: “On my radio program, I recommend relevant books which continue the discussions on topics that are significant to our lives: the sanctity of marriage, the welfare of our children, religion, and our values and moral fiber. Below is a list of some of these books. New books are always added so check back. I know these books will inspire and enlighten you." -- Dr. Laura You can go to http://www.drlaura.com/reading to see some examples of the kinds of books she likes. Joe Hearn, a guest on my radio show, said he mailed a cover letter and a copy of his workbook, If Something Happens To Me, to Laura and she featured it on the show - which, of course, boosted book sales. He has a video from that segment and lifted her words to form a blurb for his website. Her address is: Dr. Laura Schlessinger P.O. Box 8120 Van Nuys, CA 91409 --------------------------- Shirley Cheng would like to exchange links with anyone interested. Please email her and provide your site information (all sites must be family-friendly). My site info is below, and feel free to use it for your site. Title: Dance with Your Heart! Inspirational and Fantasy Books and Poems by Shirley Cheng, Motivational Speaker URL: http://www.shirleycheng.com --------------------------- 3) PROMOTIONAL COUPS A suggestion from Max Anderson: If you have a Barnes and Noble, Borders, or other big book store near you, have you gotten to know their community relations manager yet? I recently met with mine at Barnes and Noble. I'd been having trouble getting my books back into the store, after my publisher changed distributors. It was kind of crazy because my books had sold out twice, yet the manager refused to try to stock them again. So, I met with the community relations manager. We had a great meeting as she listened to why I was writing for reluctant boy readers. Normally they schedule authors for events at least two months in advance. But, after our meeting, she included me in a night, for area educators, that was less than two weeks away. This resulted in invitations to speak in 5 schools. But, more importantly, she put me in touch with their small press office in New York so we can pursue a regional buy of my books for all their stores in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. I'll also have my own event in January, and another one for teachers in the spring. It also means that my books should be available in this store again in the near future. Sometimes these meetings may strike fear in your heart, but remember, the worst thing they can do to you is say no. And, think about it, they're in the business of selling books. They also tend to love authors. I encourage you to go outside your comfort zone, and make the call. Max is author of action-adventures & mysteries for readers 8 - 13 --------------------------- 4) CONTESTS Linda Nathan is sponsoring a drawing each month for free books autographed by the authors in order to promote clients' books. During October, the book is Austin Boyd's "The Evidence" (NavPress 2006) in his Mars Hill Classified Series, and the book Linda wrote for former national karate champion Tonie Gatlin, "The Dark Side of Karate." Email your name, address and answer to the following question to editor@logosword.com by October 31: “I would consider using a freelance editor when ________”. Linda's blog at http://www.logosword.blogspot.com has all the details on how to enter the drawing - which will be on Oct. 31, and she'll announce the winners that day. During November, Linda will be giving away Austin's second book in the series, "The Proof," along with Janine Ridings' book of devotionals for those suffering from multiple chemical sensitivities, "Comfort in the Storm." She'll also continue to give away "The Dark Side of Karate" until current supplies run out, and will be sending out new announcements then. --------------------------- Alma Bond is calling all crime authors to enter this contest: http://getpublished.courttv.com/?link=mycrimenovel --------------------------- 5) PROGRESS REPORT These are the spots I found for my clients: Walter Brasch will be on Wade Taylor's new radio show, "A Liberal Dose of Reality," on WS Radio, http://www.wsradio.com from 6-7 p.m., on October 30th. “It'll be a Halloween scare show--what is the government NOW doing to you?” says Walter. Walter's latest book is 'UNACCEPTABLE': The Federal Government's Response to Hurricane Katrina (BookSurge Publishing 2006). http://www.walterbrasch.com --------------------------- Stephanie Chandler will be the guest of Pam Newman on December 5, 2006 on Unlocking the Secrets of Your Small Business radio show, coincidentally the same week that John Wiley & Sons releases Stephanie's new book, FROM ENTREPRENEUR TO INFOPRENEUR. Her earlier book is THE BUSINESS STARTUP CHECKLIST AND PLANNING GUIDE (Aventine, Sept 2005). http://www.rppc.net/unlockRadioSite http://www.businessinfoguide.com http://www.bookloverscafe.com http://www.stephaniechandler.com --------------------------- Susan Kaye Behm taped an interview with Brad Richard, the host of Alivewiredu, on Odeo at http://odeo.com/channel/44497/view and it was aired October 22nd. http://www.bradrichard.com. Susan is author of THE JOURNEY - BEYOND THE SAVAGE (Xulon Press 2006), a brutal story of a ritual abuse survivor's struggle, SECRETS IN PARADISE, a mystery, and CIVILIZED SAVAGES (Media Creations 20020, a shocking look at reality. http://www.SusanKayeBehm.com --------------------------- Shirley Cheng will be a guest of Jennifer Clark on The Namast Show on November 7, 2006 at 12:15 p.m. EST on CKCU-FM 93.1 FM, Ottawa, Canada. http://www.ckcufm.com A blind and physically disabled poet, Shirley was the author of five books by age 23. She is author of DARING QUESTS OF MYSTICS (Lulu Press 2005), an autobiography, THE REVELATION OF A STAR'S ENDLESS SHINE: A Young Woman's Autobiography of a 20-Year Tale of Trials and Tribulations (Lulu Press 2005), and DANCE WITH YOUR HEART: Tales and Poems That the Heart Tells (Lulu Press 2004). With highly acclaimed experts like Dr. Wayne Dyer, Tony Robbins, and Brian Tracy, Shirley co-authored WAKE UP…LIVE THE LIFE YOU LOVE: Finding Your Life's Passion, Second Edition (2007), the latest installment in the bestselling Wake Up...Live the Life You Love series; she is also the co-author of 101 GREAT WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR LIFE, Volume 2 (Self Improvement Online Inc. 2006), along with leading experts Jack Canfield, John Gray, Richard Carlson, Alan Cohen, Bob Proctor, et al. http://www.shirleycheng.com --------------------------- Bobbi de Cordova-Hanks and her husband Jerry will be the guests of Scott Chesney on Maximizing Life on Voice America on October 30, 2006. About 20 years ago, Bobbi was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer and thyroid cancer and given five years to live. She and Jerry have since started Bosom Buddies and lecture throughout the country. The couple authored TEARS OF JOY (Infinity Publishing 2003). http://www.speakersforlife.com --------------------------- Patricia Canterbury and Judith Columbo will be guests on the Jackie Sue Show on Passionate Internet Voices Talk Radio on http://www.internetvoicesradio.com - Pat on Nov. 2 and Judith on Nov. 30th. Patricia is author of THE SECRET OF ST. GABRIEL'S TOWER (Regeje Press 1998), the first of a proposed five book middle-grade historical mystery series, A Poplar Cove Mystery and CARLOTTA'S SECRET (Rbe Pub 2001), the first of her children's eight chapter book contemporary fantasy mystery series, The Delta Mysteries. A major motion picture studio has optioned Carlotta's Secret. http://www.patmyst.com Judith is author of THE FABLESINGER (Crossing Press 1989), a fantasy set among the myth and magic of the Caribbean, and NIGHT CRIMES, (AmERICA House 2001), a mystery/suspense tale. http://odin.prohosting.com/night01 --------------------------- 6) KUDOS WISHING MAKES IT SO (Hard Shell Word Factory 2006) by Marilyn Meredith was not only the winning best thriller for '06 from the American Author's Association, it also was a runner-up for horror in the DIY Book Festival. : http://fictionforyou.com http://hardshell.com --------------------------- Satisfaction Magazine, published by the Chicago Tribune, used a 2-page color photo of best selling husband and wife team, Judith Sherven and Jim Sniechowski, and called them "Doctors of Dating" for the title pages of an article that featured Judith & Jim. They were interviewed on the benefits of getting coached on how to date effectively after 50. The article also featured their 3rd book, BE LOVED FOR WHO YOU REALLY ARE (St. Martin's Press 2001) --------------------------- Tricia Molloy's book, DIVINE WISDOM AT WORK: 10 Universal Principles for Enlightened Entrepreneurs (Aha! House 2006) was chosen as a finalist in the “Business: Entrepreneurship” category in the USA Book News' Best Books 2006 competition. According to Tricia, there were more than 1200 entries and 408 were chosen. http://www.molloycom.com http://www.divinewisdomatwork.com For a complete listing go to: http://www.usabooknews.com/bestbooksawards2006.html --------------------------- Francine Silverman is author of CATSKILLS ALIVE (second edition) and LONG ISLAND ALIVE, both published in 2003 by Hunter Publishing and geared to every interest. To learn more about her guidebooks and for links to hundreds of attractions on Long Island and in the Catskills, visit Fran's one-stop website at http://www.nystatetravel.com BOOK MARKETING FROM A-Z (Infinity Publishing 2005) is written by 325 paid subscribers to Book Promotion Newsletter and available at http://www.buybooksontheweb.com (Category: Marketing) and at http://www.amazon.com Subscribers are entitled to a 20% discount. Contact Fran at franalive@optonline.net for code. The publisher's toll free number does not work outside the continental US and orders cannot be processed from its website for shipping outside the US. Subscribers in foreign countries who wish to purchase the book with the discount may email Michelle at michelle@infinitypublishing.com or fax an order (610/941-9959). She will provide confirmation that your order has been received and will be processed promptly. When using these options subscribers should put everything to Michelle's attention and reference the Promotional Code (contact Fran for code). If emailing Michelle, DO NOT put your credit card number in any email correspondence as this is not secure. Mail: Infinity Publishing, 1094 New Dehaven St, Suite 100, West Conshohocken, PA 19428 BOOK PROMOTION NEWSLETTER Issue 97: November 8, 2006 ISSN 1545-5599 BOOK PROMOTION NEWSLETTER Issue 97: November 8, 2006 EDITOR: FRANCINE SILVERMAN http://www.bookpromotionnewsletter.com http://www.nystatetravel.com Issued every other Wednesday since 2003 In This Issue: (1) Feature Article (2) Grist for your Mill (3) Promotional Coups (4) A Good Question (5) Feedback (6) Progress Report (7) Contest (8) Kudos INTRODUCTION I will never give up this newsletter, if only for the support I get when I have a question about my computer. I had asked for help in transferring my book file to a PDF file and the outpouring of emails from subscribers trying to help was heartwarming. In the end, it was Michelle True's suggestion to go to http://www.pdfonline.com. I did, and in less than a minute I converted my document file into pfd - for free. The expression “It's not what you know but who you know” is only partly true. It's “what you know AND who you know.” (1) FEATURE ARTICLE Advice to an Aspiring Anthologist By Arlene Uslander A writer named Sharon Brown, who is in the midst of compiling an anthology, visited the website for the anthology I co-edited, The Simple Touch of Fate, and thought perhaps I could give her some tips since she is a novice at this genre. Sharon asked me several questions, which I answered. In response, she wrote: “Your advice was so thorough and unlike anything I had been able to find on line anywhere, and I'm sure it will be of great help to other aspiring anthology editors. So, in case there are any other “aspiring anthology editors” reading this newsletter, perhaps the following interview will be of interest and help to you: Here is Sharon's original letter to me, along with her questions and my answers. “Dear Arlene, Congratulations on your wonderful collection of stories in "A Simple Touch of Fate." Stories that connect with people and bring them hope and inspiration are all too scarce these days, and it is wonderful to know that you are working to bring such stories to a wider audience. I am a first-time anthology editor, and was wondering if you had a few minutes to shed a little light on the process. I am putting together an anthology entitled A Quiet Corner Somewhere: Essays and Poems on Introversion. I am hoping to create a source of comfort and shared understanding for introverted readers and writers. I sent out calls for submissions with a deadline of November 1st of this year and have a core group of 40 strong submissions. I do not have a publisher at this time, but am putting together a query letter and researching publishers that may publish this type of materials. I have read a lot about finding a publisher for a novel or non-fiction book, but have not come across any information on how to go about submitting a query for an anthology. I was wondering if you would have a moment to answer a few general questions for me. Anything you could tell me would be extremely appreciated.” Sincerely, Sharon Brown Q: When seeking a publisher for an anthology, should one have the entire collection, or is there an anticipation of further submissions upon signing a contract with a publisher? A: It is best to offer the entire collection, or at least 75 percent of the stories if this is your first anthology. This will give the agent or publisher a good idea of the variety and quality of the stories. If you have already had an anthology (or anthologies) published, I would say that 10 sample stories would be sufficient. Q: I read that you initially went with a traditional publisher and then decided to self-publish. Would you recommend this route for the first-timer? A: I would definitely recommend trying to find a traditional publisher first; one that has distributors and a public relations department that will help you get media attention and book signings. The reason my co-editor, Brenda Warneka, and I self-published is because it turned out that our traditional publisher had financial problems and could not stay in business. We did not want to go through the whole submissions-waiting-rejection process again, and our contributors were anxious to see their stories in print. We decided to go with iUniverse, which is more reasonable in price than any self-publishing company that I know of, and they put out a high-quality book. Their staff is also very nice to work with. Q: Once the collection is in publication, when (and how) does one determine the amount of compensation for contributing authors? A: Unless you can find a publisher that gives you an advance, or you can afford to pay your contributors from your own pocket, offer a complimentary copy of the book and a bio, listing any books the contributors have written and a link to their website, if they have one. But, if you can afford it, offer at least $50 a story, and perhaps $200 for the best story. Once you have had an anthology published, if it sells well and your publisher wants you to do sequels, it will be their responsibility to pay the contributors. Q: Are there any complications presented when the editor is also a contributor? A: None at all. My co-editor and I each wrote several stories for the book because we are both writers. This was my 14th book, but my first anthology. If you self-publish, though, you should have someone other than you proofread the book. And, a “professional” next-door neighbor just doesn't cut it. It is very easy to gloss over one's own mistakes. I am a freelance editor and have no trouble finding my clients' mistakes, but can easily overlook my own. Fortunately, I have a co-editor; so between us, we were able to pick up most of the typos, etc. I say "most," because even in the best of books, by the best authors and publishers, you will find typos and other errors. Is there any other advice you would give the first-time anthology editor? A: Yes. Here are four VERY IMPORTANT pieces of advice. 1) Ask each contributor to sign a letter of agreement giving you one-time rights to use his or her story, which includes reprinting the story if you use it in more than one printing, or in a revised edition, and, also, the right to use it in publicity excerpts. 2) If your stories are supposed to be true, make sure you do fact-checking of dates, events, etc. And, if you mention brand name products in the context of your stories, you may need to get permission to do so from the company. Don't just take it for granted that you can mention a brand name or trademarked name without getting the company's permission. 3) Be sure you have complete contact information for your contributors, other than just an e-mail address, because those tend to change. You should ask for a home address and phone number and remind the contributors to let you know if any of their contact information changes. 4) If you state that the stories in your anthology must be true, as the “Fate” stories are, include a clause in the contributors' agreements affirming that their stories really are true. You may still have to do some fact-checking to verify that certain events mentioned in the story really took place, but, of course, you can only do so to the best of your ability, as your role is that of an editor, not a detective. Unfortunately, my co-editor and I lost a few of our favorite stories because, when it came time to sign the agreement, the authors admitted that their stories were fiction or a compilation of several real events. In other cases, upon doing some research, we learned that the stories could not possibly have been true. In cases like this, it turned out to be a waste of both our time and the contributors' time. My co-editor and I found that compiling an anthology, though quite time consuming - calling for submissions, making selections, editing and fact-finding, etc. -- was also very rewarding. Through the Internet, we got to know people from all over the world who had had their personal brushes with fate, and who were eager to tell about how “fate” changed, or in many cases, saved their lives. We still stay in touch with many of these people, and feel that we have become friends, through our mutual interest in the fascinating subject of “Fate.” Arlene Uslander is co-editor with Brenda Warneka of the anthology, THE SIMPLE TOUCH OF FATE: How the Hand of Fate Touched Our Lives Forever (iUniverse 2003); Arlene and Brenda are looking for more Fate stories for a second edition and can be contacted through their website: http://www.thefatesite.com ******************************************** (2) GRIST FOR YOUR MILL Max Anderson suggests that you might find the article at http://www.mysterypromotion.com helpful. “Some of their sidebar information is dated, and I don't know where it all came from, but they still did a nice job,” he says. “Click on November newsletter, then scroll down to the article NICHE MARKETING AND MEDIA ATTENTION and click on it for the full 5 page article.” Guidebook writer David Stanley has been interviewed by the web-based magazine VagaBlond at http://www.vagablond.com/1744 David's publisher, Avalon Travel Publishing, supplied VagaBlond with three copies of Moon Handbooks South Pacific to be given as prizes to the three VagaBlond readers who provided the best answers to one of the article's questions. VagaBlond's editor, Gil Zeimer, is always interested in interviewing the authors of stylish books on travel, food, wine, and shopping, and he can be contacted at http://www.vagablond.com/contact-us ****************************************** (3) PROMOTIONAL COUPS Michelle True “was recently commissioned to write a poem and it wouldn't have happened if I wasn't interested in a broad range of issues,” she writes. “Last spring I heard about a couple of college students who were going to travel across the country during the summer and interview people about their passions. Their project, “Pursue the Passion,” was about finding people who were actually pursuing their dreams and passions and learning how they managed to do it. “I was scheduled to be interviewed when they were in Chicago, but had to cancel due to scheduling conflicts (I had to work late). Last week, I got an email from one of the guys asking if I'd write a poem for their website about pursuing passions. I was so inspired that I wrote the poem and emailed it back to him within a couple of hours. He loved it, posted it on the website and it has received many marvelous comments. The posting has a link back to my website, which will, of course, help promote my books. “You can read the poem and comments here: http://pursuethepassion.com/?p=622. You never know what may come your way if you pursue your interests.” http://www.michelletrue.com ****************************************** (4) A GOOD QUESTION How can Leon Newton create a buzz about his book, "Terrorism101: A Library Reference & Selected Annotated Bibliography" (Outskirts Press 2006)? He is interested in marketing the book to families who have libraries in their home as reference material or people who want the book for their personal libraries. Leon can be reached at LeonNewt@aol.com Be sure to put “terrorism book” in the subject line so he does not delete your email. http://outskirtspress.com/terrorism101 and for reviews http://www.bn.com ****************************************** (5) FEEDBACK Responding to Dar Hosta's feature article, Walter Brasch writes: “Dar Hosta suggests having books printed out of the country--"It is going to cost you about another $1,600 for freight and customs from another country, presumably China or Hong Kong." While many publishers do contract with international printers, we have a thriving book printing industry in the U.S. For publishers that care ONLY about bottom-line profits, outsourcing is one possibility. (Certainly, we have seen a LOT of subcontract work go overseas.) “There is a LOT of patriotic talk in America, with large segments throwing out words of 'traitors' and 'anti-American' to persons who disagree with the Bush-Cheney Administration. But if it isn't backed up by supporting American businesses, and the American union movement, then all it is is a lot of babbling for rhetorical effect.” Walter's latest book is 'UNACCEPTABLE': THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO HURRICANE KATRINA (BookSurge Publishing 2006). http://www.walterbrasch.com ****************************************** (6) PROGRESS REPORT These are spots I found for my clients: Walter Brasch was a guest on A Liberal Dose of Reality with Wade Taylor on http://www.wsradio.com and Walter's comment afterward was “Wade Taylor on WS-Radio did an excellent job as host/interviewer on 'A Liberal Dose of Reality,' Monday evening. He was prepared, and asked solid questions for the full hour. Thanks for sending him my way.” Heather Resnick was a guest on Canadian Moms Talk Radio on Nov. 2, 2006. http://www.womenreworked.com Heather is author of WOMEN REWORKED (Creative Bound Inc. 2005) http://www.womenreworked.com David Spero was a guest on Phil Main Mornings on AM 920 CKNX, covering Midwestern Ontario, Canada. http://www.am920.com “It went well,” says David, who awoke at 4:30 a.m. PT for the interview. David is author of THE ART OF GETTING WELL: Maximizing Health When You Have a Chronic Illness (Hunter House 2002) and DIABETES: SUGAR-COATED CRISIS: Who gets it, who profits, and how to stop it (New Society Publishers 2006). ****************************************** (7) CONTEST Vicki Taylor is running a contest from her website http://www.vickimtaylor.com and blog http://www.vickimtaylor.com/blogs, where you'll find a complete entry form. One lucky reader will win a gorgeous pair of paperback book earrings. Real Women. Real Life. http://www.vickimtaylor.com http://www.vickimtaylor.com/blogs http://www.vickimtaylor.com/forums/index.php>? ****************************************** (8) KUDOS John Klar, author of CHRISTIAN WORDS, UNCHRISTIAN ACTIONS: GEORGE W. BUSH AND THE DESECRATION OF CHRISTIANITY IN MODERN AMERICA (WinePress Publishing 2006), has been on a roll. He's been getting a lot of unsolicited interviews lately and the local TV station is giving him his own show (about local characters). “Some major national personalities are now in possession of my book, at their request,” he says, and the Vermont Guardian and The Times Argus are both reviewing it. John's book was “winner for Religion/Christianity from the Best Books 2006 National Book Awards, and Butch Paugh, an influential pastor in the Christian Patriot movement, embraced the book this week on the air (Genesis Radio).” http://www.christianwords.us Alycia Ripley was interviewed by ARTVOICE, a newspaper/magazine in Buffalo, NY “that covers everything artsy, but they are very picky on who gets interviewed and what gets in,” she says. “After a year of wanting to be in the magazine I just had an interview about me and the book ('Traveling With An Eggplant') and it was so much fun - I'm going to be spotlighted in the 'In the Margins' section and it will be coming out later in the month (it's a weekly publication). I just have to get the accompanying photo taken and it's set to go! I can't wait! My website, http://www.alyciaripley.com will have the interview linked, as well as the full hour long audio interview!” On another note, Barnes and Noble was the only store that didn't carry her novel. So, “On a whim” she brought it up again the last time she was there. “This goes to show that you always need to REPEAT YOUR ACTIONS and FOLLOW THROUGH because a year can make a big difference! Never assume that because you got one person at a company telling you 'no' that everyone would! This nice manager said she had heard of my book and put in an order for some copies while I stood there! "She said if these copies go she'll put me on the distribution list and the store will permanently stock the book! In addition - she said that they will make an 'event' for me around the time the Artvoice interview comes out- we'll do a reading/signing/publicity event that they will also promote! “I've done a lot of interviews and signings this past year but getting Barnes and Noble to not only stock it but push an event is a dream come true and shows that if something doesn't work one way or the first time, try and try again!!" Shirley Cheng received the Preditors and Editors' Author's Site of Excellence award. “I am absolutely honored and delighted,” she says. “It means a lot to me, especially when I've designed and am maintaining my site without eyesight.” Nightengale Press is proud to announce that its title ARTHUR, THE CHRISTMAS ELF (ISBN 1-933449-23-3 $24.94, 64 full color pages) by Valerie Connelly has been awarded the Adding Wisdom Award. Pub date November 1, 2006. Betty Jo Tucker is “so excited!” The producer of her ReelTalk Radio Show “is planning to broadcast a bunch of the oldtime Radio Theater versions of film classics -- and I get to introduce them,” she reports. “The first one is CASABLANCA, starring Alan Ladd and Hedy Lamarr. http://booktalkradio.libsyn.com/index.php?post_category=ReelTalk%20Movie%20Reviews ****************************************** Francine Silverman is author of CATSKILLS ALIVE (second edition) and LONG ISLAND ALIVE, both published in 2003 by Hunter Publishing and geared to every interest. To learn more about her guidebooks and for links to hundreds of attractions on Long Island and in the Catskills, visit Fran's one-stop website at http://www.nystatetravel.com BOOK MARKETING FROM A-Z (Infinity Publishing 2005) is written by 325 paid subscribers to Book Promotion Newsletter and available at http://www.buybooksontheweb.com (Category: Marketing) and at http://www.amazon.com Subscribers are entitled to a 20% discount. Contact Fran at franalive@optonline.net for code. The publisher's toll free number does not work outside the continental US and orders cannot be processed from its website for shipping outside the US. Subscribers in foreign countries who wish to purchase the book with the discount may email Michelle at michelle@infinitypublishing.com or fax an order (610/941-9959). She will provide confirmation that your order has been received and will be processed promptly. When using these options subscribers should put everything to Michelle's attention and reference the Promotional Code (contact Fran for code). If emailing Michelle, DO NOT put your credit card number in any email correspondence as this is not secure. Mail: Infinity Publishing, 1094 New Dehaven St, Suite 100, West Conshohocken, PA 19428 Banyon Publishing also offers... 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