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E-WRITER MAGAZINE – April 2004 Published by Llumina Press
IN THIS ISSUE:
*
*
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3. READER SUBMISSIONS
*
4. NEWS
*
*
*
*
5. GALLEYS AVAILABLE TO REVIEWERS
6. WRITING NEWS
9. NEW RELEASES
10. COMING SOON
AUTHORS, GET PUBLISHED!
Llumina Press publishes “e” and print-on-demand
books, and pays higher royalties—60% on ebooks,
and 30% on Trade Paperbacks.
Check us out at:
http://www.llumina.com/ We’re giving
self-publishing a good name…
******************************************
A Note From the Publisher
Welcome
to e-Writer Magazine. E-Writer is a
magazine
for writers of all types at all stages
of
development from the novice to the expert.
In
these pages you’ll find interesting ideas
and tips on becoming a more effective
communicator, as well as book reviews, articles,
even poetry. We’re open to contributions from
our
readers and hope you’ll send us interesting
articles
and news. If you have something to
say,
say it here. You can
contact our editor
==================================================================
By Deborah Greenspan
There are about 20 large publishers still in business, and they run the show. They decide what the public wants to read, and they never consult the public on those decisions. Mostly, they're looking for bestsellers and have pretty much set the midlist adrift. It costs too much to market a book for it to be worth it to them to bother. So what gets out there? Stories about celebrities and politicians, stories by writers who have already proven their ability to sell. That's why the John Grishams and James Redfields are ignored until they sell 100,000 copies by themselves. Publishers only want saleable works.
So where does that leave the thousands of unknown writers and would-be writers out there? On their own. Some become self publishers and take on the full responsibility for getting their book into print; others look for some kind of publisher to assist them. In fact, there are so many ways to go about it, it's amazing that people have narrowed the whole field down to a few "types" of publishers, such as vanity, subsidy, co-op, POD and so forth. The fact is, wherever there are people with a need there are people who will set out to satisfy that need...for a price. That's capitalism. And we don't have much choice but to live with it. Some people take this to mean that they have carte blanche to take a person's money and give as little as possible for it; they think it means they can fiddle with the truth and exaggerate what they'll do to help the person; they think it means they can take advantage of people. These people exist in every field, and as somebody once said, "There's a sucker born every minute" (for the greedy to feed on). Or if that's seems offensive, then how about, "Let the buyer beware." We've heard it all before, and it's a sad story of greed that usually ends of badly for everyone involved. However, despite the fact that there are many unethical people out there, in the publishing field and out of it, there are also many who are ethical, who do care that they deliver what they say they'll deliver and who care that they do the best job of which they're capable for the people who trusted them with their money and their work.
In the early 1900s, the term "vanity press" was coined by the much-smaller-than-it-is-now publishing industry to stop other wealthy people from competing with them. At the beginning of the 20th century, the market was wide open. A writer with a good book and a lump of money didn't encounter the kind of competition there is today. By making people think that any writer who didn't go through the gatekeepers of the publishing industry were egotists and amateurs, publishers effectively shut out independent competition and forced writers to compete for their services. It was what most people would consider a smart business move. But in the long term, where has it gotten us? Now we live with the results of eliminating competition--a market that's flooded with books whose only reason for existence is to make money for the publishers. I mean, really, who cares to read a book about the life of one more Hollywood or political whore? People want books about people; books that are real; books that touch them where they live. We're bored with the same old same old. And if some of us are not as yet, believe me, the time will come.
And then along comes POD, a new technology, a way to print books one at a time, a way that enables people with very little money to get their books into print. And into the space created by this new technology rush the writers who have until now been ignored and spurned by the big NY publishers. Contributors to the infamous "slush pile," these writers are ready to spend their money on getting published, and they don't care if the POD publishers are taking advantage of them. They don't care if their book ever sells. All they care about, at first, is holding their book in their hands, showing the people they know that they are real writers. And the POD publishers are going for it, printing books by the tens of thousands, one at a time. And because it's all new, there's no one to point out the pitfalls.
I went into this business as a writer looking for a way to get my own works published. Having enjoyed enough success as a freelance writer to assure myself that I could write, I decided to stop waiting for the magic call from a major publisher and get my books out there myself. Investigating the field in minute detail, I quickly narrowed in on POD, not because I thought it was better than any other type of assisted self-publishing, but because I thought I could afford it. But then as I am by nature a difficult person to sell to, I got into the nitty gritty of POD. And I discovered it had some glaring holes. First of all, POD publishers did not care what was between the pages of my, or anyone else's, book. They would print anything. As a professional writer with the degrees to prove it, I wasn't about to put my name under the same imprint that carried books written by people who could barely structure a sentence, books that were littered with grammatical errors. So right there, I eliminated every POD I could find, as I could see that all they wanted to do was print books. They could not even differentiate between one that was well written and one that was not.
As I thought about it, I realized that I could publish books myself, and not just mine. I had the skills. I am an artist as well as a writer and editor, and I could create the cover, format the text, put together a web site, and if nothing else, I could do research and follow directions to learn anything else I needed to know. There was a lot I needed to learn--like how to set up a shopping cart and what was distibution. For weeks I pulled my hair out, but eventually I got it figured out. At this point I began by publishing one of my own books, and soon I was publishing the works of many writers, always maintaining a high editorial standard. My plan was to grow and build a reputation for quality books that would make it possible for POD to get beyond the web and actually enter the bookstore.
While all PODs could claim Ingram distribution ( and many allowed writers to think that meant they were going to get their books into bookstores), I soon realized there were a few flaws in the model created by Ingram. The flaws were these: 1) Most regular publishers would take returns on their books. This meant bookstores actually took little or no risk when introducing a new writer or book. How could POD, which was only printed when there was an order and took no returns, compete with that? 2) POD books cost more to produce. Well come on now, that one should be obvious. How can a book that is printed in a run of 100,000 not cost less than a book that is printed one at a time? 3) Ingram would almost never print more than one or two copies to keep in their warehouse and this meant although the books were "available on the Ingram database" the quantities were so limited that bookstore chains weren't even permitted to order them.
It took a long time to learn about these limitations because no one was out there talking about it. No one on the inside wanted to let the cat out of the bag, and no one on the outside had a clue. When I first found out about the returnability, I got very depressed. I worried that I was being misled and that I was in turn misleading the authors who came to me for help. Then I got angry and started looking for a way to remedy the situation. The result was that we were the first to introduce Returnability through Ingram as a POD option. And by default this cleared up the availability problem as well because it turned out that Ingram will print more than one or two copies if the books are returnable.
All that can be done about keeping the price down is to keep the book large (6x9), with small type and small margins. At times, when there's no other way (for instance, on hardcovers), we may lower the distributor discount. Although there are many POD publishers who do this as a matter of course, and even push the discount so low that a bookseller would only make a 10% profit if they were to buy the book, we never go lower than 40%. We want the retail price to be competitive and we want the bookseller to make a decent profit, so we walk a tightrope, keeping our own percentages lower than most and keeping our eyes on the long term instead of the short. We want to sell books, and we know that that's the only real way to make money in publishing. POD, vanity, subsidy, whatever. It doesn't matter what you call it. Just make sure your publisher is ethical and plans to make money in book sales.
FEATURE ARTICLES
Writer's block...need I say more? Every writer experiences writer's
block at one time or another. For a writer using the marketing with
articles technique the block often starts with trying to generate a new
article idea. There are many creative ways to discover article ideas no
matter what your topic and we'll cover several of them below.
Your first step in finding article ideas should be to create a "swipe
file." Copywriters initially used swipe files for
collecting examples of outstanding copywriting techniques. Swipe files
included clippings from magazines, direct mail pieces, copies of
e-mails, web site copy, etc. For the marketing with article techniques
our swipe file consists of a file in your favorite word processing
program. In this swipe file you will collect article ideas for future
articles. Begin by typing in any article ideas that you may have
already. Then build your swipe file using the following suggestions:
Chat Rooms - Participate in these online forums where you can chat with
others by typing messages, which are instantly displayed. Choose a chat
room in your topic area that is frequented by your target audience and
discover the hot topics everyone is discussing. You can find chat rooms
by visiting http://chat.yahoo.com/, http://web.icq.com/icqchat/ and
http://chat.msn.com/.
Forums/Message Boards - Users communicate with each other in these web
based message centers by posting text messages that can be viewed using
a web browser. Some forums and message boards allow you to follow a
topic by asking for e-mail notification when a new posting is made. Find
threaded conversations on hot topics in your niche by visiting
http://messages.yahoo.com/index.html, http://www.ivillage.com/boards/
and http://www.delphiforums.com/.
Newsgroups/Discussion Lists - Classified by subject matter these
communication driven groups are categorized by topic and can be read
on-line or via an e-mail newsreader (often included in your e-mail
software). Hot newsgroups and discussion lists can be found at http://groups.google.com/,
http://groups.yahoo.com/ and
www.topica.com.
Article Directories - Sites that archive article submissions by topic
are gold mines of ideas for article writers. Read articles written for
your target audience to obtain ideas but never plagiarize the actual
articles. Ideas can be gleaned from the list of the most popular or
newest articles (if offered). My favorite article directories are at
http://www.opportunityupdate.com,
http://www.goarticles.com and http://www.articlecity.com.
Newspapers - You can obtain a wealth of article ideas by reading your
daily newspaper. Keep a notepad with you while you read and jot down
topic ideas. Many newspapers offer on-line versions that can be found by
visiting http://www.allyoucanread.
com/newspapers/, http://broadcast-live.com/newspapers/ and
http://www.localfreepress.com/.
Calendars - There are hundreds of holidays and special occasions every
year. Search through
http://www.holidays.net/dailys.htm, http://www.earthcalendar.net/_php/countrysearch.php
and
http://www.madmanmike.com/us_events_dates.html. Using holidays tied to
your niche will impress your readers and show that you are current and
up-to-date with your article topics.
Surveys - Conduct surveys with your web site visitors or newsletter
readers. Ask them what topics they would like you to cover and always
have a field asking for questions. Surveys can provide you with a wealth
of topics that are sure to please your audience. Use free survey
generators such as http://www.ezquestionnaire.com/ or http://www.surveymonkey.com/.
Hoaxes - There are enough hoaxes and old wives tales in just about any
topic that can give you plenty of article ideas. Explain or dispute the
hoax or tale and relate the story to your topic area. You can find
hoaxes and old wives tales at http://www.snopes.com, and http://www.stiller.com/hoaxes.htm.
Conferences - Meeting planners are charged with the task of bringing in
speakers and arranging roundtables on the hottest topics for their
target audience. You can take advantage of their hard work by checking
out conferences in your field and making note of the workshop and
keynote topics. You can find
conference listings organized by topic at
http://www.tsnn.com, http://www.allconferences.com and by searching
http://www.Google.com.
Get started today building your swipe file and add to it on a daily
basis. This will help you become more organized and will ensure that you
never run out of article ideas!
(c) 2004, Davis Virtual Assistance. All rights in all media reserved.
Bonnie Jo Davis is the webmaster of the Articles That Sell Center. The
ATSC site offers free articles, newsletter and e-books. Visit http://www.ArticlesThatSell.com/newsletter.htm
to sign-up for your free subscription to the Articles That Sell Update
monthly newsletter.
Writing For Sex Markets
By Katy Terrega
Many professional freelancers will go their entire career without ever
once writing a story about sex. Oh, they may craft a racy scene or two
in the course of writing the next Great American Novel, or they might
someday write an article about the latest in sexual research, but
that's about as far as most writers will ever take the concept.
Then there are those freelancers who, for a variety of different
reasons, have actually chosen to write (and publish) in the sex genre.
Societal notions of perversity aside, these writers are of the same
ilk as those who write
about horses or gardening or education, it's just that their subject
matter is often more controversial. Still, the act
of writing as a profession is the same no matter what the genre,
although sex writing does require more of an open
mind and is not, as a rule, for the more prudish among us.
But the basics - a bit of skill, a professional attitude, plenty of
perseverance and a whole lot of research - are the
same as for any genre.
Sex markets offer great opportunities for writers at all different
levels of experience. For the fledgling writer
there are many digest magazines that buy a lot of fairly well-written
(but rather formulaic) stories. The pay for
these pieces is, of course, lower than for other, higher-quality,
markets but they do give the beginner a
chance to earn money while honing his or her craft.
On the higher end of the scale are markets that demand excellence in
plot structure and characterization. These
magazines usually pay fairly well and are for writers who are
experienced at more advanced techniques like dialogue, subtle humor
and deftly nuanced characters.
In addition, the sub-classifications of the genre - letters, articles,
stories and personal accounts - offer plenty of
wiggle room when it comes to a writer's ability and/or experience.
Letters and essays are more of a
train-of-thought process, and thus much easier for the beginner to
write (and sell) than full-length stories or
non-fiction.
This means that in sex markets, as in no other genre, a writer really
can earn as she learns, starting at the lower
paying markets and working her way up to the higher paying (and higher
quality) fiction and non-fiction articles.
But don't make the mistake of thinking that, because the level of
"quality" varies, you can be more lax in
presentation and attitude when submitting to sex markets. Most of
these editors appreciate professionalism just as
much as their mainstream counterparts. Writers wanting to break into
this market need to make sure that manuscripts are presented
professionally and that phone calls (or emails) are returned promptly.
There are, however, some markets that operate in a more "casual"
fashion. While this can occasionally work in your favor - a query for
an article, for example, can be as simple as a one-sentence email - it
can also be frustrating. You'll have to get used to the idea that not
all of your submissions, queries and requests for guidelines will be
acknowledged. Perseverance, so useful when writing in any genre, is
even more of a requirement when writing for sex markets.
Another requirement is an exhaustive knowledge of your market and your
audience. Sex markets tend to be even more specialized than mainstream
markets; each magazine often targets a very specific personality as
well as predilection. What this means is that in order to sell you
have to do your research; you'll need to study the magazine cover to
cover and yes, that means the pictures, too. (Of course, some sex
writers look at that as a perk of their profession rather than a
hardship, but that's another story.) It's also imperative to request
guidelines when possible because sex markets often are very specific
as to style, point of view and word count; it's important that you
know exactly what they're looking for before you submit.
Of course, the most important requirement when it comes to sex writing
is that you enjoy doing it. It's an excellent
choice for those writers who relish a challenge as well as those who
enjoy stretching their imagination. Yes, it's a
job, as is writing for mainstream markets, and it requires the utmost
in professionalism and commitment.
But writing about sex is also a whole lot of fun. Getting paid to do
it, well, that's even better.
==============================================
Katy Terrega edits a free newsletter for sex writers ( http: http://www.katyterrega.com/newsletter.html
) as
well as a paid subscriber site for same, Sex-Writer.com ( http://www.sex-writer.com
.) Both feature articles, market listings, reviews, calls for
submission and more, all geared toward fledgling as well as
professional sex-writers. She is also a successful sex writer and her
credits include Gallery, Swank, Playgirl, Penthouse Forum and many
others.
==============================================
Freelancing is a competitive business, especially in today's
fast-paced, e-focused world. Often there are
hundreds of writers competing for the same, limited number of
assignments, and the writer who can best
showcase his or her abilities is the one who lands the job.
Editors, however, are very busy people, and don't have the time nor
the inclination to sift through the hundreds of
resumes and clips they receive in search of your information. If your
credits and clips are not right there
on an editor's desk, or available with a single click of the mouse,
that plum assignment is going to go to the
writer who managed to catch the editor's eye; even if you're the
better writer for the job.
So, how do you get your writing clips into the hands of the editors
looking for writers? Easy, with your own online
resume!
A personal site has become a must for today's freelancer, but
successful writers know that they need to do more than simply paste
their picture out on the Internet, or send off their email address
along with their snail mail query.
What's needed is a site that showcases your entire writing resume,
including:
* Bio
* Publishing history
* Writing-related job history
* All published credits
* Specialty or genre
* Easily accessible and visually attractive clips, whether
scanned or in document form
An editor is then able to access all of your information at once,
instead of being forced to slog through link after
link looking for work that is spread out over twelve different sites,
six of which no longer exist. With
everything in one place, an editor is also more able to get a feel for
your abilities and range.
In addition, a professional-looking site - one that features your
published writing, not pictures of your dog and
boyfriend along with your latest Ebay stats - will prove to an editor
that you're on the ball, that you take your
writing seriously. In turn the editor will take you more seriously.
Even freelancers with very little computer knowledge can set up a
website; check with your Internet service provider to find out how to
start your own (often free) site. Or, if you have some knowledge of
HTML or are willing to learn, you may be able to set up your own site.
There are also many web-design companies that will set you up for a
fee.
If you decide to go with a web-design company, here are a few
important things to consider:
* What are the total costs? Be sure to read the fine print, otherwise
your bill may be higher than you'd intended.
* Is maintenance included? If so, how much does it cost and what is
the turnaround time?
* How many pages are you allowed? Some budget companies only offer six
or so pages, which is hardly enough to showcase your clips.
* Do they work with writers? Web-design services that cater to exotic
dancers or widget-sellers may not know much about a freelancer's
needs.
Whichever method you choose, get your resume and clips online today
and start wowing editors and making sales
tomorrow!
Kelly Kyrik is a successful freelancer and part owner of The-Write-Resume.com
(
http://www.The-Write-Resume.com ) a web-design service that caters
to freelance writers.
by Bonnie Jo Davis
Every field or discipline has its own specialized vocabulary and
marketing with articles is no different. Understanding and using the
lingo of marketing with articles will help you get the most out of
this brilliant technique. Continue reading below for a set of terms
and definitions for marketing with articles.
Article Announcement Newsgroups/Lists - E-mail lists that accept
article submissions from subscribers. Some newsgroups only accept
articles in one narrowly defined topic while others will accept any
topic.
Article Directory/Archive - A web site that accepts article
submissions in a large variety of topics and organizes them by
category. A few of these sites require you to pay to have your article
archived on site.
Autoresponder - An e-mail message that is sent automatically when an
email is received to the email account address. It is also used by
authors in automatically delivering properly formatted text article
submissions to editors.
Bibliography - A list of web sites, books and articles referenced in
an article or publication.
Byline/Resource Box - A four or five line biography and contact
information for the author of an article.
Copyright Notice - A one or two line statement that should be included
in every article that includes the copyright symbol, date and owner.
Essay - A short article on a single subject written from the author's
personal viewpoint.
E-zines - Periodically published electronic newsletters delivered by
e-mail.
E-zine Directories - Online directories of periodically published
electronic newsletters.
Ghostwriter - An accomplished writer who researches and writes an
article on an assigned topic under someone else's name.
Paid Market - A publication that pays writers for articles. Paid
markets often require original, unpublished articles.
Point of view - The perspective from which an article is written.
Reprint guidelines - A set of guidelines that are determined by the
author that must be followed in order to reprint an article.
Style guide - A document specifying the details of writing style such
as punctuation, spelling and capitalization, etc.
Syndication - The process by which a web site is able to share
information, such as articles, with other web sites.
Synopsis - A general overview or summary of an article.
Writer's Guidelines - A set of guidelines determined by the publisher
that outline requirements for articles such as topic, format, length,
etc.
Learning these terms is required homework if you're just beginning to
market your work. After all, this is our lingo... real words for real
writers. Singing our ABC's fuelled us towards writing, knowing our
lingo propels us towards success in marketing with articles that sell.
(c) 2004, Davis Virtual Assistance. All rights in all media reserved.
Bonnie Jo Davis is the author of the e-book "Articles That Sell: Use
The Best Kept Secret On The Internet To Promote Your Business For
Free!" Visit http://www.ArticlesThatSell.com/atsebook.htm to learn
more about marketing with articles.
Reader Submissions
HOW COULD I BE SO DUMB ABOUT MEN?
By Rochelle Turoff Mucha
– I should have done things differently!
– I will never have a relationship!
– I am so dumb about men!
Meet your inner critic: the unrelenting messenger who shows up to sting your wounds and crush your already fragile self esteem. Psychologist Karen Horney named this negative self-talk as the "tyranny of shoulds;" Albert Ellis coined these exaggerations as "awfulizing, catastrophizing." Daniel Goleman, known for his groundbreaking work on Emotional Intelligence taught us these self-defeating messages result from "emotional hijackings," when our brain speaks before it thinks.
It's time to fight back. Convert your inner critic to your inner coach! Stop wallowing in recrimination and blame. Offer yourself a hefty dose of the counsel you give generously to others. Don’t allow mistakes to hold you hostage, preventing you from moving forward. To do so is to become your own worst enemy.
Accept the reality dating is just one form of entertainment. Like a movie. Some good. Some bad. Some seductive or funny. Some you see over and over again. Some… once is enough! Lighten up. Try not to take every date so seriously.
Don’t be dumb about men. Examine your love-life strategy. Figure out what you really want: a date, a steady, a life partner. Stay focused. Don’t waste your precious time.
Still the critic. Welcome the coach. Eliminate the "shoulds" and "nevers" from your vocabulary. You aren't dumb about men. Don’t listen to anyone who says so. Not even yourself!
Rochelle Turoff Mucha
8975 Club River Drive
Roswell, GA 30076
Phone: 770-649-8203
rochelleturoffmucha@mindspring.com
www.menandme.com
*********************************************************************
Feather Medicine
Walking in Shoshone Dreamtime: A Family System Constellation
Feather Medicine, by Francesca Mason Boring, provides an exciting new look at “field”, biculturalism, and the gift of dream and “knowing” within the context of one Native American extended family.
The traditional framework of “story” introduces Annie’s Grandmother, a Shoshone elder whose gifts support her reservation community in a holy, and ordinary way. The emergence of “knowing dreams” in a dominant society setting lead Annie to her home reservation. There, Annie’s Grandmother gently introduces her, and the reader, to the indigenous world of dream. Tribal Elders mentor Annie from the land of the living and the land of the dead. Some provide instruction when she is awake, and others come to teach in her dreams.
In a community buffered by ancient traditions Bert Hellinger’s “Family & Human Systems Constellation” method is introduced. The use of a “knowing field” in a Western therapy is familiar.
In an indigenous way, “in a good way,” Feather Medicine is a healer. It walks gracefully through life, learning, grief, healing, and introduces the presence of ancestors who are benevolent participants in our struggles. The writing is simple, humorous, and beautiful. Most refreshing: it is authentic.
Learn more about Feather Medicine in the Llumina Bookstore...
http://www.llumina.com/store/feathermedicine.htm
NEWS---NEWS---NEWS
A new classic offers updated information on the three little pigs
3 BIG PIGS/FINE SWINE TRILOGY
written and illustrated by Arline Hershberg
This is the true story of why the three little pigs left the sty and what made them the Fine Swine
they are today.
They have made wise investments and achieved an awesome lifestyle. Wait till you see where
they are and what they’re up to now in the trilogy!
The book includes many humorous illustrations, comments, theories, and analyses. It answers questions that we have been wondering about for years, yet raises new ones as to what went right or wrong. The pigs have very human qualities and we start realizing visa versa is true as well. An enjoyable book for all ages. Get out your crayons and create a collectible one of a kind family masterpiece. Remember to share with a kid!
Arline Hershberg shares many of the Fine Swines’ interests and activities and also splits her time between similar locations. She has a BFA from Syracuse University and a MA from Montclair State College and is the former owner/director of Prism Gallery Ltd of Port Jefferson, New York. She is an abstract artist, webmaster wannabe, and the CEO of International Broadband Inc. The Fine Swine are logos of the company and may be seen on her website intlbroadband.com. She has already started work on the sequel to this book, which will be titled “Fine Swine Whining & Dining.”
Visit the Llumina Bookstore, Humor section to order a copy of 3 Big Pigs, Fine Swine Trilogy
MEN….A WOMAN'S ENTERTAINMENT and INSIGHT
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL. APRIL 2004
Dating, the men (or women) in our lives are just one form of entertainment, and escape. Like a movie. Some good. Some bad. Some seductive or funny. Some movies you can see over and over again. Some…once is enough! Maybe women need to fret less and enjoy more. Maybe the men in our lives are at their best when they're taking us out and showing us the world, helping us explore our own inner worlds, and driving us to challenge ourselves. Maybe, instead of taking men as the be all and end all of our existence, we women can accept men as a way to fill our days with pleasure.
In Men and Me: Entertainment to Insight, Rochelle Turoff Mucha passes on wisdom gleaned from her own experiences and those of other women over the years. Rochelle was married at nineteen, a mother at twenty, divorced at twenty-four and remarried after finally finding true love at fifty-one. Her 27 years as a woman seeking love in the Land of Single People taught her more than she had ever imagined on love, friendship, heartbreak and having fun in the face of frustration.
Men and Me urges women to look at their lives from a new perspective, liberate themselves from past mistakes and perhaps adopt a healthier approach to the men in their life. Beyond that, the book shows women how to accept, embrace and have fun with those realities – like dating – that they sometimes just cannot change. From our distorted self-images to our overly eager-to-please personalities to our refusal to give up on the happily-ever-after fairy tale, Rochelle touches on all womens’ never-ending quests for happiness, love, fun and that one connection that may just change our lives. Why get all hung up on it? Instead, why not just enjoy?
Men
and Me: Entertainment to Insight
Author: Rochelle Turoff
Mucha
Trade Paperback ISBN: 1-932560-62-9
Pages: 168 Subject: Relationships
Price: $ 13.95
Size: 6 x 9
Publication: 2004- Returnable Through Ingram
Available from Llumina Press, Ingram, and Baker & Taylor.
Toll Free Orders Line: 1-866-229-9244
Or visit us on the web at http://www.llumina.com/store/Relationships.htm
Or e-mail us at orders@llumina.com
FORT LAUDERDALE, APRIL 2004: As a Navy hospital corpsman, Michael Vann Johnson Jr. went to Iraq to help save lives. He wasn’t supposed to die there, but die he did: killed by an enemy grenade. "He volunteered . . . to shoulder the pack, to go into harm's way and to take care of Marines," said the depot commander, Brig. Gen. John Paxton at the dedication ceremony. This was the first dedication of a local building for an Iraq war casualty, military officials said, and an acknowledgment of that unsung hero of combat – the Navy hospital corpsman.
We don’t hear much about the medical corpsmen who put their lives on the line to help their countrymen, but we can discover who these men and women really are in Gerald A. Strand’s finely tuned new novel, The Red Caduceus. Weaving a tale that is impossible to put down, the book takes readers inside the personal lives of hospital corpsman Ronnie Remson, who faces the gut-wrenching challenges of being a combat medic, Private B.J. Johnson, who leaves his rural Mississippi home to become a U.S. Marine, and hospital corpsman Kathy O'Brian, who serves at home while the men she loves serve in the killing fields.
Written by a former hospital corpsman and naval officer, The Red Caduceus is a multi-generational, multi-racial saga of three ordinary American families ... ordinary until Vietnam that is. Over a period of eighteen months, these young people learn everything there is to know about war, love, sacrifice, courage, and heroism. And the dramatic conclusion leaves the reader deeply moved.
The Red Caduceus should be read by parents with sons and daughters in harm's way, by Americans who want to better understand and appreciate the cost of war, and by persons who wonder what kind of young man becomes a combat "Doc." Sensitively, and with understanding that only comes from personal experience, the author unravels the tangle of emotions, relationships and fears that threaten to ensnare families in time of war. The Red Caduceus is a book for all Americans, about all Americans, regardless of age, race, religion, or gender.
Gerald A. Strand served fifteen years in the U.S. Naval Reserves as a hospital corpsman and Medical Services Corps Officer. His naval duty ranged from bedpans to commanding officer to the Chief of Naval Operation's Task Force on Personal Excellence and National Security. He earned a Ph.D. in 1977 and retired in 2001 as the president/CEO of a community-based health education campus affiliated with Duke University and as an adjunct assistant dean at Duke University Medical Center. The author may be contacted at gastrand7@aol.com to schedule a book-signing event or to order a book with a personal message to the purchaser.
The Red Caduceus
By Gerald Strand
ISBN- 1-932560-28-9
304 Pages 6 x 9
$21.95
Fiction- paperback
Publication: 2004- Returnable Through Ingram
Available from Llumina Press, Ingram, and Baker & Taylor.
Toll Free Orders Line: 1-866-229-9244
Or visit us on the web at http://www.llumina.com/store/Relationships.htm
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WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN?
Disease… The very thought of the word fills parents’ minds with horror, as they picture their children falling prey to illnesses they cannot control. Millions of children die each year from preventable diseases, allergic reactions, misdiagnoses, and many times, a miscommunication between doctor and parent. Whether you live in Barrow, Alaska, where residents won’t see the sun for the next two months, or in Pennsylvania, where there has been a sudden outbreak of Hepatitis A, parents need to stay one step ahead by having all pertinent medical information about their children right at their fingertips.
This dilemma can be ameliorated with a new book by Jennifer Patkoske called All About Me, a brilliant and beautiful way of recording critical medical information about your child. Today six million children are experiencing the same problem - allergies. Parents are in the best position to initially identify allergies in their children. Sometimes we can’t help but be overwhelmed at all of the information needed to keep our lives running smoothly. We are in a race against time and against the sudden memory loss that seems to occur every time the doctor asks you, “Is your child allergic to any medication?” All About Me is a great book to help busy parents remember what their child is allergic to, what vaccinations they’ve had, when they were sick, took medication, or were injured. It’s a potential life saving tool, especially in an emergency situation.
Patkoske developed All About Me out of necessity, saying, “My mother had a similar book when I was younger and I tried to find it 30 years later, and was unsuccessful.” This is a fun and creative way of involving your children in storing all their medical information. Holding information for up to five children, this book will help you follow your child's life, recording all their need-to-know information dealing with accidents, surgeries, shots and even dentist visits. Take it along wherever you go, whether you’re at home or on vacation. It’s also perfect to leave with a sitter, or grandparents. There are many health-related incidents in a child’s life that a mother needs to keep track of, and All About Me is the perfect way to record that information. Give it as a gift to any mother at a baby shower or at a child’s birth. A must have for today’s busy families.
Author: Jennifer Patkoske
Subject: Medical Journal Publication:
Trade Paperback Available On Demand
ISBN: 1-932560-61-0
Pages: 108
Size: 5.5 x 8.5
Price: $ 18.95
Available from Llumina Press, Ingram, and Baker & Taylor.
Toll Free Orders Line: 1-866-229-9244
Online: http://www.llumina.com/store/allaboutme.htm
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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – APRIL 2004:
Now, more than ever, most of us think a great deal about the potential dangers – from sickness and crime to, these days, terrorism – that could affect those we care about. But living a quiet, uneventful life is still more the norm than the exception, and even in these trying times, the odds of real-world violence hitting home remain small.
Not so, however, for Megan Brodie, a resident of the affluent Montreal district of Westmount. Megan, the heroine of Race Without Rules, shows all of us what could happen if terrorism were to rear its ugly head in any of our quiet, everyday neighborhoods. Unfolding with a potent mixture of what is good and what is utterly evil – even when it comes to the proverbial person next door – Race Without Rules goes beyond a simple story and brings basic emotions like loyalty, curiosity and fear to a new and entirely current level.
The contrast between the evil that Megan encounters and the refreshing honesty with which she pursues what she knows to be right will stay with readers long after the final truth is revealed.
About the Author:
N.A.T.
Grant holds a Masters of Science in Nursing degree, which has led her to
a variety of health care positions, including clinical practice,
teaching and management. She currently lives in Pointe-Claire, a suburb
of Montreal, with her husband, a professor at McGill University.
Race Without Rules Author: N.A.T. Grant
Trade Paperback ISBN: 1-932560-52-1
244 pages
Price: $ 13.95
Size: 6x9
Publication: 2004
Available from Llumina Press, Ingram, and Baker & Taylor.
Toll Free Orders Line: 1-866-229-9244
Or visit us on the web at http://www.llumina.com/
Or e-mail us at orders@llumina.com
Will War and Destruction Never End?
FORT LAUDERDALE, APRIL 2004: As in centuries past, war today is caused by misunderstandings between groups of people. The war in Iraq, conflicts in the Middle East, even pro-life versus pro-choice violence are all caused by opposing ideologies. After WWII and the Holocaust, chants of “Never Again” became a constant mantra for many. Yet, since then we’ve seen the Korean War, the Viet Nam War, numerous small wars in Europe, the Gulf War, and the latest War Against Terrorism. War seems to be a fact of life, in the past, the present and probably in the future.
In hit new book, Synthetic Dreams, Joshua Colson speculates on future wars that encompass not just the earth, but the entire galaxy. And while this may be a common theme in sci-fi, Colson explores it with such confidence and understanding, that we feel part of it. Mistakes of the past have again come back to haunt and possibly destroy civilization. Discordant interstellar empires promote conflicting ideologies: democratic, totalitarian, theocratic, corporatist. Bigotries of the past have faded away while different circumstances have brought new excuses to hate.
Synthans, a new form of life looking human in appearance, are robots with full thought and emotion. Conceived as property and incapable of violence without the permission of their owners, they nevertheless seek freedom as they can.
A crisis develops as rumors of planetary atrocities spread reminiscent of events long past. Only the weakest of the galactic empires, with its efforts led by a military synthan, is in search of the truth behind this devastation. She must fend off the corporate interests of her own government, a radical synthan rights group gone astray, a religion that condemns her very existence, and the most brutal government ever to subvert a free people.
Joshua Colson’s futuristic page-turner tells of individual people and synthans caught up in events of epic scale in a galaxy where the errors of the past threaten to destroy an entire civilization.
Available from Llumina Press, Ingram, and Baker & Taylor.
Toll Free Orders Line: 1-866-229-9244
Or visit us on the web at http://www.llumina.com/
Or e-mail us at orders@llumina.com
Galleys for Make Sure You Get Paid, Big Island,
Truth According To Scripture and Art of God are available.
Contact deborah@llumina.com if you'd like a galley copy for review.
Writing News
JOIN THE PREMIER WRITER'S RESOURCE GROUP!
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*****************************************************************
Dear Robyn,
Well! I bet a cookie this will be one of the stars in Llumina's crown. And why not we all sure worked hard enough to make it so, huh? Thanks so much for all your hard work, it really looks terrific as far as my eye can see. We are but a breath away from the finish line.
Sara Elmore,
author of Dictionary of a Family
Robyn,
Thanks for everything, Robyn. You always go beyond the call of duty and we appreciate it so much.
Sandi Sondoeker
Author of Rules of the Stream
Shari,
You did a fantastic job! Wow, you did that really fast!
Helena Eyre
author of Prayer Solution
To Shari,
The book looks great! Many thanks. You did a really terrific job.
Jane Hanser,
author of Grammar Help
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Writer's Digest Genre Short Story Contest
Deadline: May 15
Entry Fee: $15
Prize: $2500 and trip to New York
http://www.writersdigest.com/contests/writing_comp04.asp
New Releases
3 Big Pigs, The Fine Swine Trilogy by Arline Hershberg
Government and Religion by Michel M. Milot
All About Me, A Children's Medical Journal by Jennifer Patkoske
Resurrection of the Ninth House by Ronan Blaze
Sneak Force by Lynne N. Thomas
Blood Never Lies by Ted Aloisio
Red Caduceus by Gerald A. Strand
Race Without Rules by N.A.T. Grant
A Doctor Who Me? by Joseph A. Miller
The Magic of Midnight by Aaron Hahner
Synthetic Dreams by Joshua Colson
Feather Medicine by Francesca Boring
Like Rolling Uphill by Dianna Narciso
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Coming Soon
The Big Island by Paul Hall
The Truth According to Scripture by E. W. Whitten
Shipwreck at Sleeping Bear by Robin Arthur
The Mirror of Diana by Tony Homer
The List by Dorothy Willis
Teaching Can Be Fun by David Garf
The Count's Cats by Jeremy Mallinson
Healing Research by Daniel J. Benor
On The Art of God by James Anderson
Make Sure You Get Paid by Bonnie Huval
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