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
at editor@llumina.com
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…
Llumina Press is proud to announce that J. Tracksler has
won the Colorado Independent Publishers EVVY Award for Best Fiction 2004 for
her novel The Ice Floe.
Llumina Press Wins Award
FORT
LAUDERDALE, OCTOBER 11, 2004: One of
local publisher Llumina Press’s recent publications, The Ice Floe by J.
Tracksler, has won the Colorado Independent Publishers EVVY Award for Best
Fiction 2004. A unique coming-of-age tale, the novel is about a young woman’s
intimate involvement with euthanasia, a divisive topic that rages on in
today’s society.
The award is one more advancement Llumina Press, a P.O.D.
(print-on-demand) publisher, has made in the quest to give self-publishing a
good name. Unlike most self-publishers, Deborah Greenspan imposes high
editorial standards, offers personalized customer service, and with the aid of
in-house graphic artists, designs books Barnes and Noble or any independent
bookstore would be proud to display. With each quality publication and award
of recognition, Llumina Press slowly but surely changes the way publishers,
the media, and the public view print-on-demand.
Llumina Press is located at 8055 W McNab Road in Tamarac,
FL 33321. For more information call (954) 726-0902, Toll Free (866) 229-9244,
or log on to
http://www.llumina.com.
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The Miami Book Fair
Be sure to make time for the Miami Book Fair on
November 12-14, 2004. First established in 1984, this two-day street fair has
grown into the one of the largest and finest book fairs in the country.
Hundreds of thousands of booksellers, book lovers and authors from all over
the world will gather to browse the wares of small and large publishers
alike. Llumina Press will have its own booth alongside the likes of
HarperCollins and Penguin as well as other small and independent publishers.
In addition, the Miami Book Fair kicks off with the Congress of Authors, a
series of speakers such as poet Rita Dove and novelist Lisa Glatt, from
November 7-11. Don’t miss it!
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R.J. Rummel, 1996 Nobel Peace Prize finalist, Professor
Emeritus of Political Science and author of twenty-five nonfiction books, has
chosen to publish his fiction series with Llumina Press. “I initially chose
Llumina because it offers public relations packages, returnability and a good
contract for authors. Of course, if
asked now why I would recommend Llumina, I would say, ‘Nice people.’” His
exciting seven-book series adapts his lifetime of research on the subject of
war and democide into spellbinding, complex stories of two heroes sent back in
time to prevent mankind’s greatest mistake…
Nobel
Finalist Says Power Kills
“During this century's
wars there were some 38 million deaths in battle, but almost four times as
many people--at least 170 million--were killed by governments for ethnic,
racial, tribal, religious, or political reasons,” says Rudolph J. Rummel, PhD
and 1996 Nobel Peace Prize Finalist.
Rummel’s lifetime of
research proves empirically that the only route to peace is through
democracy. “First, established democracies don't wage war on each other, and
they rarely commit other kinds of violence against one other. Second, the
more democratic two countries are, the less likely they are to incite a war.
Third, the more democratic a country is, the less violence occurs when there
is a conflict with another country. Fourth, the more democratic a country,
the less likely it will have domestic political violence. The bottom line:
democratic freedom is a method of nonviolence.”
Rummel has taken his findings a step
further by penning his first works of fiction, a series called Never Again.
In three novels in print and four and a nonfiction supplement forthcoming,
Rummel takes a creative stance regarding the last century’s history, sending
two heroes from a post-democidal world back in time to prevent mankind’s
greatest mistake.
Praise for books by Nobel Peace Prize
Finalist R.J. Rummel:
“26th in a Random
House poll of the best nonfiction books of the 20th Century.”
Random House (Modern Library)
“…the most important…in the
history of international relations.”
John Norton Moore, Professor of Law and Director, Center for National Security
Law, former Chairman of the Board of the Directors of the U.S. Institute of
Peace
Professor R.J. Rummel is a Professor
Emeritus of Political Science, a Nobel Peace Prize finalist and has published
twenty-five nonfiction books, one of which readers voted 26th among
the top nonfiction books of the century. He has received the Susan Strange
Award for shaking up the field of international studies and the Lifetime
Achievement Award in the study of conflict. His major contribution, called
the democratic peace, proves empirically that fostering democratic freedom is
the way to peace.
See his web site at
www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/NH.HTM for his latest research and publications.
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FORT LAUDERDALE, SEPTEMBER
2004: American Jihad
FORT
LAUDERDALE, October 11 2004: What
would happen if the President, the director of the CIA and the Chairman, Joint
Chiefs of Staff sidestepped Congress and the public and disregarded the
boundaries of their authority? What if they created a secret group composed
of foreign specialists-for-hire, designed to attack terrorism where it sleeps,
using its very own tactics: stealth, ruthlessness and instant, violent
determination?
Mason Rose-Cross
vividly paints this all-too-plausible scenario in American Jihad.
Mason isn’t his real name, and he won’t be doing any interviews, but as a
Special Ops advisor working somewhere in the Middle East Mason Rose-Cross
knows the weapons, the strategies, the soldiers, and the politics of the
cruel, irrational struggle. He’s seen and knows more than he can tell.
American Jihad
turns the tables on terrorists. In a fiction which seems all too real, the
President of the United States learns that the world’s most fanatical
terrorist is planning an attack inside the US with a newly developed weapon of
mass destruction created by a secret group of scientists in Nazi Germany.
Bypassing all checks, balances and protocol, the President sends out a team of
specialists known as “The Collection Agency,” whose mission it is to
extinguish the threat—at any cost – and to collect on unpaid debts long past
due.
A tightly woven,
heart-racing, adrenaline-filled, utterly believable tale, American Jihad
will raise questions as well as the hairs on the back of your neck. Rose-Cross
envisioned this attack in the United States years before 9-11. What other
mayhem does he foresee? Is such a “Collection Agency” is already in
operation?
Praise
for American Jihad:
“American Jihad has the twists and turns
of a long, smoke-filled hallway in a burning building…great, great job!”
--Caroline
Paul, Best-Selling Author, Pilot, Athlete, Firefighter, Model
“Incredible blurring between fact and fiction—so
real!”
--Comments from a French Naval Special Operations Commander
- still
involved in Special Operations in the Middle East
“Rose-Cross pulls back the curtain to show you
the people who carry out the deadliest warfare … You wonder if you are reading
fiction.”
--Marie
Lacour, Professional Pilot, Teacher, and Businesswoman
American Jihad
Author:
Mason Rose-Cross
Trade Paperback ISBN:
1-932303-70-7
Pages: 376
Price: $16.95
Size: 5 x 8
Publication: 2004
Available from Llumina Press, Ingram, and Baker & Taylor.
Toll Free Orders Line: 1-866-229-9244
Or on the web at
orders@llumina.com
Contact Person: Deborah Greenspan
Address: P.O. Box 772246; Coral Springs, FL 33077-2246
Telephone: (866) 229-9244
Fax: (954) 341-7978
Email: dgreenspan@llumina.com
URL: www.llumina.com
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FORT LAUDERDALE, SEPTEMBER 2004:
The
Age of Man
In 200 Years, Human Development Skyrockets
Geological evidence shows that hominids first appeared on
earth three to four million years ago, billions of years after life appeared.
Today, it is apparent that humans are the dominant—or “fittest”, as Darwin would
say—species on the planet.
The Age of Man -
THE ASCENT OF MORALITY
is an exciting historical novel telling the story of the development of mankind
from the beginning of pre-man primates to earth’s most dominate and moral
animal. Charles Darwin postulated, “Natural selection by survival of the
fittest”. From early hominids to our current state has taken about four million
years. The expansion of mankind’s intelligence and morality are marked by
periods of time when significant growth was experienced. What were the events
that caused great growth periods? Why did tiny man rise above all other
creatures as the fittest? Using the geological record and recorded history,
Bryan offers exciting fictional scenarios of the events as they could have
happened. Heroic characters and imaginative plots are hallmarks of Bryan’s
literary expression, his message: optimism for mankind.
Jim Bryan, a child
during World War II, was born in Williston, North Dakota in 1931 and was raised
with strong ties to his church. In the early 1960’s he was introduced to
Foundation for Economic Education (FEE), an organization that proliferated the
concepts of individual freedom, private property, limited government and free
trade. Influenced by books recommended by FEE, as well as those of Ludwig von
Mises, F.A. Hayek, Milton Friedman and Ayn Rand, Bryan ran for the Libertarian
presidential candidacy. He was elected to the first national board of directors
and became the first chairman of the Libertarian Party in Oregon.
The Age of
Man Coming Soon!
Author: Jim Bryan
Hardcover Paperback
ISBN:
1-59526-290-3 ISBN: 1-59526-289-x
Pages:
268 Pages: 268
Price:
$24.95 Price: $17.95
Size: 6 x
9 Size: 6 x
9
Available from Llumina Press, Ingram, and Baker & Taylor.
Toll Free Orders Line: 1-866-229-9244
Or on the web at
orders@llumina.com
Contact Person: Deborah Greenspan
Address: P.O. Box 772246; Coral Springs, FL 33077-2246
Telephone: (866) 229-9244
Fax: (954) 341-7978
Email: dgreenspan@llumina.com
URL: www.llumina.com
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FORT LAUDERDALE, SEPTEMBER 2004:
The Dhammapada in Light
of the Unborn &
Unborn Light Reiki
Reiki energies attend to higher knowledge and spiritual consciousness (REI)
able to properly guide life energy (KI), creating positive results and affecting
positive personal and global change. This is an important time to begin working
with Reiki and Mystical Buddhism, as the Information Age has created a
fast-paced world both exciting and challenging.
For those who earnestly seek spiritual growth, The Dhammapada in Light of
the Unborn & Unborn Light Reiki offers unique insight and guidance
into the deepest wisdom of Mystical Buddhism. Drawing upon nearly two decades
of traditional spiritual practice, this introduction to the teachings of the
Unborn Mind Zen will inspire the budding adept to awaken to the inner workings
of their True and Original Nature.
Through the meditation techniques of Unborn Light Reiki, the student
will be empowered to recollect the Source of their True Nature and experience
spiritual development and healing in the Light of Reiki.
Dedicated to empowering others
to realize their full human and divine potential, Púsan has worked as a
Spiritual Mentor for seventeen years; he is also a Reiki Master. He holds a
Master’s Degree in Theology from Seton Hall University and lives in upstate New
York.
The Dhammapada
in Light of the Unborn & Unborn Light Reiki
Publication: August 2004
Author: Púsan
Paperback
ISBN: 1-595261-94-X
Pages:
104
Price:
$10.95
Size: 6 x
9
Available from Llumina Press, Ingram, and Baker & Taylor.
Toll Free Orders Line: 1-866-229-9244
Or on the web at
orders@llumina.com
Contact Person: Deborah Greenspan
Address: P.O. Box 772246; Coral Springs, FL 33077-2246
Telephone: (866) 229-9244
Fax: (954) 341-7978
Email: dgreenspan@llumina.com
URL: www.llumina.com
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FORT LAUDERDALE, SEPTEMBER 2004:
Lẻda…the
Swan
Contemporary Legal Drama Parallels Classic Greek Myth
Does art imitate life—or life imitate art? When closely
examined, mythologies of the distant past not only speak to the struggles of
contemporary life, but often parallel them.
Lẻda…the Swan, a breakout novel for Kenneth Pearce,
involves exactly this concept. Lẻda Swan is a young author hired as a writing
professor at a prestigious university. All seems to be going wonderfully—she is
both popular and comfortable in her new post—until the English Department’s
aging patriarch, Doctor Izẻus, inexplicably commences a legal assault meant to
take her by surprise and crush her in the wake of judicial inquiry. In a
surreal parallel story, the classical Leda finds herself under assault not only
by her ancient antagonist Zeus, but also by the broader underpinnings of the
classical tradition emanating from the original rape.
Intertwining the lives of contemporary characters with
those of their classical counterparts, these two analagous stories build to a
thrilling showdown between Lẻda and Doctor Izẻus as classical Leda fights to
turn the tables on Zeus.
Kenneth Pearce studies writing in the MFA program at San
Diego State University. He makes his home in Coronado, California.
Lẻda…the
Swan Publication: July
2004
Author: Kenneth
Pearce
Hardcover
ISBN: 1-932303-71-5
Pages:
320
Price:
$30.95
Size: 5.5 x
8.5
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FORT LAUDERDALE, SEPTEMBER 2004:
North to
California
The Golden State. “California Girls.” Surfing.
Sunshine. For people around the world, the word “California” is inexorably
linked to a glittering present and a bright tomorrow. But how did it all
begin?
North to
California is the stirring history of how
Alta California—the California of today—was
originally discovered. This extensive text traces several sea voyages as
California is discovered, explored and named. Follow the great conquistador
Hernán Cortés as he leads the first expedition to Baja California. Hear
dramatic new evidence about the final resting place of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo,
discoverer of Alta California.
Explore a brand-new land with Sebastián Vizcaíno, the discoverer who named most
of the California coastline.
Full of amazing detail, this book clarifies the history of
California and the motivations of its original explorers, shedding new light on
the world-famous Golden State.
Paul A. Myers has sailed
California’s Channel Islands, the coasts of Baja California, and the
California shores as a weekend sailor, sailing instructor, volunteer deckhand
and first mate on traditional tall ships. He holds a US Coast Guard 100-ton
master’s license. For this book, he plotted the voyages day by day on modern
charts, providing him with fresh insights into the passages of long ago. A
self-employed CPA, he lives in Southern California with his wife, Minche.
North to
California Publication: June
2004
Author: Paul A.
Myers
Hardcover Paperback
ISBN:
1-59526-252-0 ISBN: 1-59526-251-2
Pages:
552 Pages: 552
Price:
$35.95 Price: $22.95
Size: 6 x 9 Size: 6 x 9
Available from Llumina Press, Ingram, and Baker & Taylor.
Toll Free Orders Line: 1-866-229-9244
Or on the web at
orders@llumina.com
Contact Person: Deborah Greenspan
Address: P.O. Box 772246; Coral Springs, FL 33077-2246
Telephone: (866) 229-9244
Fax: (954) 341-7978
Email: dgreenspan@llumina.com
URL: www.llumina.com
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FORT LAUDERDALE, SEPTEMBER 2004:
Incentive
Based Franchise: A New Model for World Governance.
Opportunities for positive change in the
world.
In this time of rapid transformation, as the global
community expands politically, technologically and economically before our very
eyes, unrest and uncertainty infiltrate our governments and our psyches. Dr.
Sondlo Leonard Mhlaba, a naturalized American citizen from Zimbabwe, South
Africa, presents opportunities for positive change the world over in his book
Incentive Based Franchise: A New Model for World Governance.
As we enter the 21st Century,
Dr. Mhlaba looks at the many lessons learned and is not disappointed. “The
nations of the world,” he observes, “are no longer isolated.” Emerging along
with this expanded awareness of one another is a global conscience summed up by
the term “international norms.” He asks the world’s communities to rethink how
they have managed their affairs to date, and argues that majoritarian democracy
has not always assured governmental accountability. He presents a
performance-based model for democracy, one in which the world’s governments are
judged on how well they meet ‘international norms’ in caring for their ordinary
citizens. He calls this model the Incentive Based Franchise.
Join Dr. Mhlaba as he follows Abraham, Confucious, Buddha,
Jesus and Mohammed through history and takes from them lessons to bring to light
a sense of global purpose. Full of startling ideas and written for an
international audience, this learned scholar gives insight not only into
politics but into human existence itself.
Dr. Sondlo Leonard Mhlaba has served, among many posts, as
an Officer of the Zimbabwe Patriotic Front in North America and is currently
Dean of Arts and Sciences at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston, MA. This
is his first book.
Incentive Based
Franchise: A New Model For World Governance
Author: Dr. Sondlo
Leonard Mhlaba Publication: June 2004
Hardcover
ISBN:
1-59526-337-3 Paperback
Pages:
192 Pages: 192
Price:
$26.95 Price: $15.95
Size: 6 x 9
Size: 6 x 9
Available from Llumina Press, Ingram, and Baker & Taylor.
Toll Free Orders Line: 1-866-229-9244
Or on the web at
orders@llumina.com
Contact Person: Deborah Greenspan
Address: P.O. Box 772246; Coral Springs, FL 33077-2246
Telephone: (866) 229-9244
Fax: (954) 341-7978
Email: dgreenspan@llumina.com
URL: www.llumina.com
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FORT LAUDERDALE, SEPTEMBER 2004:
Lifetime of a Chance
Coming-of-age Struggles
The teenage years are difficult, and coming-of-age a
struggle for everyone. Add to the normal stresses of growing up parents who
tragically pass away and a brand-new family, and you’ve got a remarkable
challenge for anyone.
Lifetime of a Chance is the story of Eddie Chance,
orphaned at sixteen and sent to live with an uncle who hates him and an aunt
with a grievance against the world. After two terrible years he leaves his aunt
and uncle’s home in New York with a dream to hitchhike to Florida and grow
oranges. After weeks of traveling, Eddie stops in Wixton, Georgia and finds
himself drawn into the lives of its residents; but soon, he learns that not
everyone believes in Southern hospitality.
During Eddie Chance’s journey to find himself, he also
finds friendship and love—and faces hatred like he never knew existed.
Wayne Brown is a lifelong Georgian. He grew up in Blakely
and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1993. He works as a pharmacist
in Valdosta and lives in Hahira with his wife Jennifer and son Jacob. He has
written several short stories and is currently working on his second novel.
Lifetime of a
Chance Publication: July 2004
Author: Wayne Brown
Paperback
ISBN: 1-595262-53-9
Pages:
236
Price:
$17.95
Size: 7.5 x
9.25
Available from Llumina Press, Ingram, and Baker & Taylor.
Toll Free Orders Line: 1-866-229-9244
Or on the web at
orders@llumina.com
Contact Person: Deborah Greenspan
Address: P.O. Box 772246; Coral Springs, FL 33077-2246
Telephone: (866) 229-9244
Fax: (954) 341-7978
Email: dgreenspan@llumina.com
URL: www.llumina.com
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10 Do’s and Don’ts of
Self-Publishing
by Deborah Greenspan,
Publisher
Do: Decide whether your book has an audience. Are there
people who will be interested in reading it? How can you frame your message so
that it will be of interest to others?
Do: Write a good, well-constructed book. Ideas are a dime
a dozen; execution is what counts. Before you begin, be very clear in your mind
(and preferably on paper) about what you’re going to write. Use outlines,
character profiles or treatments—whatever brings out the framework of your
concept before you start writing.
Do: Revise, revise, revise. I
can’t say it enough.
Do: Take stock of your financial situation. How much are
you willing to invest? Decisions regarding editing and type of publishing will
depend on your budget.
Don’t: Don’t publish the book without having it edited.
If you can afford it, hire a professional editor. But be careful. Just as
everyone thinks they can write, there are many editors out there who only think
they can edit. If you can’t afford an editor, find an English teacher,
professor or student to help you out, keeping in mind to still be cautious.
Do: Decide what kind of publisher you want. If you have
a lot of money ($10,000 plus), you can have the book published in a large
quantity (around 3000) on an offset press. If it’s in color, though, it will
cost a lot more, and distribution may be a problem. If you don’t have that kind
of money, the only way to go is print-on-demand, which is the most inexpensive
way to self-publish.
Don’t: Choose a publisher without
doing the research. Again, be careful. Most self-publishing outfits will
publish anything they can because that’s how they make their money. And
booksellers know who they are. Those who are careful about what they publish
are few and far between. All POD companies print through the same printer in
order to get Ingram distribution for their books, so quality in output is not in
question. It’s quality of content that’s important.
Don’t: Hold up the publication process. Provide the
publisher with the materials they need in the format they request.
When they send a proof, do the work and send it back. Don’t give them
the wrong quality photo or wait three weeks to proof your manuscript because
this will slow down your publishing process.
Don’t: Don’t make any book signing
or speaking engagements until you have a finished book in your hand. You
wouldn’t want to disappoint readers by sending them home empty-handed, would
you?
Do: Understand that
like writing, publishing is an art. And art takes time and careful execution.
Since it usually takes some time to ready the book for print, get to work on
your marketing materials and strategy. Sell your books before they’re
published! You’ll be happy you did.
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How to Get Your POD Book onto
Bookstore Shelves
by Sandy Henry
So, you’ve written what you believe is a tight, compelling
book. And you’ve spent months researching publishers, none of whom seem to
beating down your door at the moment. But you’re hopeful—a “glass is half full”
kind of person, right? Finally, after careful consideration, you choose to
publish your book with a Print On Demand company, such as Llumina Press. Now
what? How do you get your POD book, more than likely a 6” x 9” trade paperback,
onto the shelves of bookstores, large and small?
Consider the following suggestions, which I implemented
while marketing my first novel, Something Borrowed, Something Blue (Llumina,
June 2004). These are crucial to your success with the big stores, as well as
the independents, known as “brick and mortars.”
Make sure that your book, be it fiction, non-fiction,
poetry, whatever, is eye-catching. Some POD companies will limit the author’s
involvement in the publishing process. But my publisher, Llumina, encourages
author input on the book’s overall design. If your title is a thriller, make
sure that it LOOKS thrilling. I find that lots of black and a little blood
helps to sell mysteries. But you decide what works best for your title.
Also, if your publisher permits, consider the price that
your book will retail for in the stores. You may not have any input, but it is
a relevant consideration. The dimensions of the book and the page count
influence the price of a trade paperback. And bookstore managers and shoppers
alike will only allow a certain degree of latitude when taking a chance on a new
author. In addition, draft your own compelling synopsis for the back cover. No
matter what type of book you’re marketing, know that every reader and potential
customer will flip it over to read the back cover text.
Okay, here’s one for your highlighter. This tip is
absolutely critical for an author who wishes to see his or her book on a
bookstore shelf. Make sure that your title is RETURNABLE. I realize that most
customers don’t even realize that a book may be returned for a refund. But the
returnability is really for the bookstore’s protection. They are much more
willing to take a chance on an untested author if they know they won’t be stuck
with 25 copies of that book if it doesn’t sell. So, no matter how you choose to
scrimp, save and trim costs, don’t cut corners here. Returnability is key.
Create a professional, eye-catching media kit. If this
type of writing (press releases, sell sheets, author Q&As) is not something
you’re comfortable with, then you can commission the publisher or a public
relations rep to do it for you. I chose to learn how to do everything that was
writing-related for myself. I drafted my own press release and sell sheet, but
I did utilize the publisher’s graphics department for things like bookmarks,
posters, business cards and the like. However, writers are creative types, so if
you are skilled with computer graphics or have a friend who can create
professional looking marketing tools for you, then go for it. It’s a terrific
opportunity to sock away some money for your book returnability—which I equate
to “insurance.”
To make a good media kit, start with a nice folder. For
less than $1.20, I found some terrific folders at the office supply store that
accommodate an Acco prong fastener to hold three hole-punched pages, which I
slip into clear plastic sheet protectors. The folder also has an interior front
and back pocket and a Velcro closure. I don’t mean to bore you with this
simplistic information, but you cannot imagine how many gushing comments I
receive from bookstore managers about this folder! And they always assume that
I’ve spent big bucks on my press kit. However, I estimate that each one costs
me between $2.00 and $3.00.
For my kits, I slip a cover letter with my homemade
stationery (paste your book’s cool cover design at the top) into the front
pocket, personalized to the bookstore manager. And make sure your contact
info—phone number, fax number, website address—is visible. Apparently they
receive lots of media kits that are missing this important information. Oh, and
make it neat. One manager of a very busy Los Angeles bookstore told me that he
receives materials which are handwritten, torn and have smeared food and coffee
spills on them!
In the back pocket, I enclose some flyers and promotional
materials, like bookmarks to be left at the register. My flyers have a picture
of my cover, a brief synopsis, a few glowing reader reviews in 4-5 word sound
byte form (“A White-Knuckle Mystery,” “Something Borrowed, Something
Blue—Something Great!”) and a list of where the book may be purchased. Also
include an author bio and a Q&A. I admit to having been unfamiliar with this
tool, which is basically an interview with questions like, “So what is Something
Borrowed, Something Blue about?” Then you compose a brief, articulate answer.
It was bizarre and surreal at first, as I was basically interviewing myself.
But since that time I have had several interviews printed in the newspaper,
online, etc. So they have now become part of my kit. Also, I don’t generally
include a copy of my book with my kit unless I absolutely feel that I must.
Instead, I print out key chapters from my final proof and enclose an excerpt
instead. This has worked well, and it saves me the cost of parting with a bound
book.
In addition, you should use whatever leverage you can to
build a successful marketing campaign. I focused first on word-of-mouth. I
have friends and family all over the country, and a few scattered in other parts
of the world. They bought my book right away. Then I directed my attention to
my online business. I figured that once I’d set up my book page at amazon,
barnesandnoble.com, booksamillion, borders and target, the online sales would
work for me while I focused on other areas of promotion. I quickly received
reader reviews from the online sales, which I typed up and included in my media
kit. I became savvy about things like sales rankings, and mentioned my strong
stats when talking to booksellers either on the phone or in person. Every step
led to another, and my dance card filled up quickly with book signings and
“author chats.”
Finally, be prepared for resistance, and don’t take it
personally. And if you have to, donate a copy of your book, where possible. If
a bookstore manager is still unconvinced after you’ve explained that your book
is returnable, ask if an excerpt (cheaper than providing a galley or bound book)
would assuage his/her fears. Many print on demand books are poorly written and
poorly edited—thus, many of the managers’ concerns and reservations are
well-founded. Show him/her that your book is well written and carefully edited,
and you’ll get that booking. I have. And so far, no bookstore has asked me to
bring my own books for a signing. Once they see the book, the media kit, the
returnability (which I now tout in red at the top of my sell sheet) and my
dogged persistence, they cave! Give it a try and see for yourself.
Sandy Henry is
the author of a new POD thriller, Something Borrowed, Something Blue (Llumina
Press, June 2004). She has just completed work on an anthology of short stories
and is currently at work on her second mystery, entitled My Bonny Lies. This
summer, she is a featured author in the new collection of inspirational essays
by bestselling author Yitta Halberstam, entitled Changing Course. This
anthology is a follow-up to the successful Small Miracles series. Additional
information is available at
http://www.sandyhenry.com.
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______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Republican Socialism
by
Rep. Ron Paul, MD
by Rep. Ron Paul,Congress worked late
into the night this past weekend to pass a Medicare prescription drug bill that
represents the single largest expansion of the federal welfare state since the
Great Society programs of the 1960s. The new Medicare drug plan enriches
pharmaceutical companies, fleeces taxpayers, and forces millions of older
Americans to accept inferior drug coverage – while doing nothing to address the
real reasons prescription drugs cost so much.
Nothing from the
government is free, of course, and prescription drugs will be no exception. The
perception that seniors will be able to flash a Medicare card at the pharmacy
and walk out without paying anything is completely false. In fact, many seniors
will end up paying more out-of-pocket under the Medicare scheme than they do now
with their private plans. The Medicare drug benefit requires monthly premiums,
co-pays, and deductibles, just as private plans do. It also has gaps in coverage
that no sensible person would accept if offered by a private insurer. Like all
government programs, the Medicare drug entitlement will be shabby, degrading,
and inferior to the private sector.
The vast majority of
older Americans already have private prescription drug coverage that they don’t
want changed, and this 78% of seniors may well lose their good private coverage
altogether. In fact, the government’s own Congressional Budget Office estimates
that at least one-third of all private companies will dump their retirees into
the Medicare system as a result of the new bill. Big corporations love the
Medicare drug plan, because they want to shift the responsibility for providing
drug benefits to their retirees onto taxpayers. Dozens of major companies
shamelessly advertised in the Washington Times and elsewhere in support of the
Medicare bill for this very simple reason. Their pension plans are dangerously
underfunded, so naturally they use their lobbying influence to promote a
Medicare drug system. In this sense the Medicare bill is a taxpayer-funded
corporate bailout for hundreds of American companies.
The financial impact of
this legislation on taxpayers cannot be overstated. Government projections that
the drug program will cost $400 billion over the next decade cannot be trusted,
as existing Medicare programs cost 4 times more than estimated when they were
created. The likely cost is at least $1 trillion over 10 years, and much more in
following decades as the American population grows older. The Medicare “trust
fund” is already badly in the red, and the only solution will be a dramatic
increase in payroll taxes for younger workers. The National Taxpayers Union
reports that Medicare will consume nearly 40% of the nation’s GDP after several
decades because of the new drug benefit. That’s not 40% of federal revenues, or
40% of federal spending, but rather 40 % of the nation’s entire private-sector
output! Clearly this new Medicare spending will bury our great-grandchildren
unless we rethink the wisdom of ever-increasing entitlement programs.
Phony senior lobbies
want free drugs paid for by taxpayers; American corporations want to dump their
retirees into Medicare at the expense of taxpayers; pharmaceutical companies
want huge windfalls provided by taxpayers; and politicians want to get reelected
by passing incredibly shortsighted legislation courtesy of taxpayers. Most of
today’s politicians will never have to answer to future generations saddled with
huge federal deficits because of this expansion of Medicare. Those generations
are the real victims, as they cannot object to the debts being incurred today in
their names.
November 25, 2003
Dr. Ron Paul is a
Republican member of Congress from Texas.
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***Also,
let me take this moment to thank you and the Llumina staff for the excellent job
you did with my book. The finished product is absolutely beautiful. I have
received so many compliments about how well done the book is. I am very proud
of this book, and I look forward to sending you my next manuscript. I've also
referred a few friends.
Thank
you all for your time and attention to my book, for your patience with me, for
your service to me. Thank you all for a JOB WELL DONE!!
-Victoria Pratt, author of Basking in His Presence
***********************
I just
wanted you to know that readers love the cover for HIGHER GROUND. You and your
staff do good work. Be assured I'll use your services again and recommend you to
others.
Gladys
Smith
***********************
Deborah:
I just
wanted to thank you and the gang at Llumina for the fine outcome of In That
Other Life: And Other Poems. There has been a lot of interest and
anticipation among family, friends, and colleagues in the book and I am already
getting complimentary phone calls and e-mails. It's a handsome book and I am
very pleased with it. Cheers!
Daril
Bentley, author of In
That Other Life: And Other Poems.
***********************
Debra,
I just wanted to let you know that Rocky did an outstanding job
with my cover. I really appreciated his time, effort, and
professionalism!... Rocky gives my novel a much better chance of being sold
with just his great artwork!
Thanks.
Reginald Buchanan
Novel (The Killer Postman)
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This is not meant to be an
excuse for spelling poorly, but…
The Human Mind
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd
waht I was rdgnieg.
The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid
Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at
Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer inwaht
oredr the ltteers in a
wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the
frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae.
The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll
raed it wouthit a
porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos
not raed ervey lteter by
istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?
Yaeh and I awlyas thought slpeling was
ipmorantt!
For all you lovers of good writing, here are the 10
winners of this year's Bulwer-Lytton contest--AKA The Dark and Stormy Night
Contest--run by the English Dept. of San Jose State University, wherein one
writes only the first line of a bad novel.
10) "As a scientist,
Throckmorton knew that if he were ever to break wind in the echo chamber, he
would never hear the end of it."
9) "Just beyond the Narrows,
the river widens."
8) "With a curvaceous figure
that Venus would have envied, a tanned, unblemished oval face framed with
lustrous thick brown hair, deep azure-blue eyes fringed with long black lashes,
perfect teeth that vied for competition, and a small straight nose, Marilee had
a beauty that defied description."
7) "Andre, a simple peasant,
had only one thing on his mind as he crept along the East wall: 'Andre creep...
Andre creep... Andre creep.'"
6) "Stanislaus Smedley, a man
always on the cutting edge of narcissism, was about to give his body and soul to
a back alley sex-change surgeon to become the woman he loved."
5) "Although Sarah had an
abnormal fear of mice, it did not keep her from eeking out a living at a local
pet store."
4) "Stanley looked quite
bored and somewhat detached, but then penguins often do."
3) "Like an overripe beefsteak
tomato rimmed with cottage cheese, the corpulent remains of Santa Claus lay dead
on the hotel floor."
2) "Mike Hardware was the kind
of private eye who didn't know the meaning of the word 'fear'; a man who could
laugh in the face of danger and spit in the eye of death -- in short, a moron
with suicidal tendencies."
AND THE WINNER IS....
1) "The sun oozed over the
horizon, shoved aside darkness, crept along the greensward, and, with sickly
fingers, pushed through the castle window, revealing the pillaged princess, hand
at throat, crown asunder, gaping in frenzied horror at the sated, sodden
amphibian lying beside her, disbelieving the magnitude of the frog's deception,
screaming madly, '”You lied!"
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___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Check Out
Writer’s Digest for Tons of Great Contests!
http://www.writersdigest.com/contests
Writing-World.com
Has a Searchable Database for Contests
http://www.writing-world.com/contests
Writer’s Market—A
Writer’s Essential Resource
www.writersmarket.com
First Voice on the Web
First Voice is an interview show on the web in search of
authors willing to do phone interviews discussing their nonfiction book.
Authors can email a query to see if their book would be of interest to us. We
deal with well-written nonfiction only; no children’s books, e-books or
biographies. There is no charge to authors or publishers and interviews are in
long format, pre-taped. Specifically, we're doing a series on alternative
cancer therapies in October and astrology books in November.
Find us on the web at: www.7to7.net
http://www.7to7.net
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The following books are available as galleys for book reviewers:
This list is being updated.
If you'd like to review one of these books in galley,
please contact the publisher at Llumina Press.
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