Author Resources By Cindy

Cold Coffee Writer's Magazine is now available!

2012-01-11T20:45:00.000-06:00

Cold Coffee Writer's Magazine - Winter 2012

By Books In Sync in Books In Sync Cold Coffee Writer's Magazine

64 pages, published 11 JAN 2012

Books In Sync Cold Coffee Writer's Magazine: January 2012 Winter Issue

Books In Sync Cold Coffee (hard copy) Writer’s Magazine Is An Author’s Book Promotional Resource

2011-12-03T00:23:00.000-06:00

Books In Sync Is Seeking 4 New Authors To Finish Out 2011 And Add Contributions To Our January 2012 Books In Sync Cold Coffee Writer’s Magazine. Depending On Authors’ Participation We Hope to Produce A Quarterly Magazine.

To Promote And To Become Contributors In Our

2012 Books In Sync Cold Coffee (hard copy) Writer’s Magazine

Books In Sync Cold Coffee (hard copy) Writer’s Magazine Is An Author’s Book Promotional Resource.

If You Are A Published Author And Would Like To Join Books In Sync, Cold Coffee and contribute To Our Writer’s Magazine Please Visit Our Submissions Page At Books In Sync And Follow The Directions:

http://www.booksinsync.com/submissions.html

Books In Sync Website Will Host Most Genres

http://www.booksinsync.com/submissions.html

Books In Sync (hard copy) Magazine Will Host Only Family Oriented (General Audience) Material As The Magazine Will Be In Homes and Businesses

§ Action/Adventure

§ Alternative Medicine

§ Anthology

§ Art/Fraud/Reference

§ Art/Photography

§ Biblical Wisdom

§ Biographies/Memoirs/Life Experiences

§ Business/Economics

§ Charity (Proceeds To Charity)

§ Children (Up To Age 10)

§ Christian/Religion/Spirituality

§ Christmas

§ Comedy/Humor

§ Computer/Technical

§ Cooking/Food/Diets

§ CDs

§ Crime/True

§ Critical Thinking

§ Education

§ Family Relations/Parenting

§ Fantasy (Thrillers)

§ Fantasy/Modern

§ Fiction (General)

§ Fiction/High Drama/Romance/Wild West

§ Fiction/Inspirational

§ Fiction/Suspense

§ Fiction/Thriller

§ Fiction/Young Adult Women

§ History

§ History Related To Places

§ History/Religion

§ Historical Fiction/Romance

§ Historical/Literary Fiction

§ Home & Garden

§ Horror

§ Juvenile (Age 9 & Above)

§ Legal Thriller

§ Letters

§ Literary Fiction

§ Movie Classics

§ Murder Mystery Thriller

§ Music

§ Mystery/Crime

§ Mystery/Horror/Paranormal

§ Mystery/Thriller/Novel

§ Non-Fiction (General)

§ Non-Fiction Inspirational

§ Non-Fiction Christian Religion/Inspirational

§ Paranormal Romance

§ Paranormal Suspense

§ Poetry

§ Reference

§ Reference (For Authors)

§ Reference Legal (aides laymen and attorneys)

§ Religion/Spirituality

§ Romance

§ Romance/Contemporary

§ Romance/Suspense

§ Sci-Fi/Fantasy

§ Sci-Fi/Romance

§ Self-Help

§ Self-Help/Bi-Polar Illness

§ Self-Help Mind Control

§ Self-Help/Substance Abuse

§ Short Stories

§ Short Stories and Poems

§ Supernatural/Adventure

§ Suspense/Drama

§ Young Adult Fantasy/Mystery

Other Genres Excepted If Book Cover, Description, Excerpt, Etc.; Are Not Offensive To Children For Use In Our Books In Sync Cold Coffee (hard copy) Writer’s Magazine.

***************************

Important Notice:

Books In Sync (hard copy) Magazine Will Host Only Family Oriented (General Audience) Material As The Magazine Will Be In Homes and Businesses

Books In Sync (small annual fee based promotional) website will host most genres but we hold the right not to promote the occult, eroticism and the promotion of illegal activities in our Books In Sync Hard Copy Magazine. Book Covers, Descriptions, Excerpts etc. are reviewed on an individual bases and Books In Sync holds the right to decline any material not suited for our Family Oriented Writer’s Magazine.

http://www.booksinsync.com/coldcoffeemagazine.html

Books In Sync Cold Coffee (hard copy) Writer’s Magazine Will Feature Our Authors Of The Month, Visitor Choice Award Recipients, Book Cover And Book Trailer Recognition Contest Recipients, Book Reviews, Books Coming Soon Highlights, Author Spotlight Interviews, Book Signing Events, Among Other Books In Sync Author Contributions.

Non Books In Sync Authors Can Contribute By Joining Our FREE Monthly Contests.

http://www.booksinsync.com/freecontests.html

If You Are A Publisher, Advertiser, Or Service Provider Wanting To Purchase An Advertising Space In Our Writer’s Magazine, Please Email:

promotionalservices@booksinsync.com

Books In Sync/Cold Coffee Management

http://www.booksinsync.com

http://coldcoffee.ning.com/

http://www.booksinsync.com/coldcoffeemagazine.html

Books In Sync

2011-11-06T14:51:00.000-06:00

Books In Sync and Cold Coffee were created for the purpose of bringing extra online exposure to our authors and their books. Our goal is to bring readers and authors together, thereby boosting book sales and improving authors' one-on-one relationship with their potential readers.

Our Cold Coffee (Hard Copy) Magazine Features Our Authors, Their Books, Contests And Awards Recipients.

Books In Sync stays competitive by keeping our site and amount of authors selectively small, which enables us to focus more productively on promoting our authors and their books. We consistently look for new ways to market our authors and their books and we have several Service Providers who can assist them with various publishing needs on an individual basis. Besides the Reader's Café our newest book promotion is called Books In Review.

Books In Sync Talk Radio: Enjoy meeting our authors on Blog Talk Radio Hosted by Sylvia Dickey Smith.

Books In Sync now hosts A Book And A Dish Book Reviews by Martha Cheves at Cold Coffee. As of late June 2011 we have opened Cold Coffee up for the public to view without joining.

Cold Coffee (Hard Copy) Magazine: Books In Sync 'Cold Coffee (Hard Copy) Writers' Magazine' first issue in 2012 will be called 'Cold Coffee 2011 In Review'. This writers' magazine will feature our Author's Of The Month, Visitor's Choice Award Recipients, Book Cover And Book Trailer Recognition Contest Winners among author contributions.

Books In Sync/Cold Coffee Management

http://www.booksinsync.com

http://coldcoffee.ning.com/

http://www.booksinsync.com/coldcoffeemagazine.html

http://www.booksinsync.com/honorveterans.html

http://www.booksinsync.com/freecontests.html

http://www.booksinsync.com/serviceproviders.html

http://www.booksinsync.com/submissions.html

Seeking 24 New Authors

2011-11-03T14:04:00.002-05:00

Books In Sync
Is Seeking 24 New Authors

To Promote And To
Become Contributors In
Our

Books In Sync
Cold Coffee (hard copy)
Writer’s Magazine

Please Review The Following List Of Genres. If Your Book (s) Fits And You Have Read The Important Notice Below Please Submit A Full Chapter Excerpt For Review And Consideration To: promotionalservices@booksinsync.com.

Please Visit Our Submissions Page At Books In Sync:

http://www.booksinsync.com/submissions.html

Action/Adventure

Alternative Medicine

Anthology

Art/Photography

Biblical Wisdom

Biographies/Memoirs/Life Experiences

Business/Economics

Charity (Proceeds To Charity)

Children (Up To Age 10)

Christian/Religion/Spirituality

Christmas

Comedy/Humor

Computer/Technical

Cooking/Food/Diets

Education

Family Relations/Parenting

Fiction

History

Home & Garden

Juvenile (Age 9 & Above)

Letters

Non-Fiction

Poetry

Reference

Romance

Self-Help

Short Stories

More Genres Will Be Added When Needed

***************************

Important Notice:

Books In Sync, Cold Coffee And Books In Sync Cold Coffee (hard copy) Writer’s Magazine Is Family Orientated.

As of November 2011 Books In Sync will no longer accept books, book covers, book trailers or offer a promotional contract to an author that uses the occult, eroticism and the promotion of illegal activities.

Book Excerpts are reviewed on an individual bases and Books In Sync holds the right to decline any material not suited for our Family Orientated Books In Sync, Cold Coffee and Books In Sync Cold Coffee (hard copy) Writer’s Magazine.

http://www.booksinsync.com/coldcoffeemagazine.html

***************************

Books In Sync Cold Coffee (hard copy) Writer’s Magazine Will Feature Our Authors Of The Month, Visitor Choice Award Recipients, Book Cover And Book Trailer Recognition Contest Winners, Book Reviews, Books Coming Soon Highlights, Author Spotlight Interviews, Book Signing Events, Among Other Books In Sync Author Contributions.

Non Books In Sync Authors Can Contribute By Joining Our FREE Monthly Contests. http://www.booksinsync.com/freecontests.html

If You Are A Publisher, Advertiser, Or Service Provider Wanting To Purchase An Advertising Space In Our Writer’s Magazine, Please Email: promotionalservices@booksinsync.com

Books In Sync September 2011 Newsletter

2011-09-01T18:03:00.002-05:00

Books In Sync September 2011 Newsletter

Books In Sync Genre of the Month - September 2011

2011-09-01T05:05:00.001-05:00

Books In Sync Service Providers 2011

2011-08-18T07:07:00.000-05:00

Books In Sync Offers Promotion For Authors & Their Books!

2011-08-13T08:48:00.002-05:00

Books In Sync, Author-Directory, Book-EBook Directory and Cold Coffee was created for the sole purpose of bringing extra online exposure to authors and their books using the power of four connected websites with six separate directories. Our goal is to bring readers and authors together, thereby boosting book sales and improving our authors' one-on-one relationship with their potential readers.

Books In Sync Talk Radio: Enjoy meeting our authors on Blog Talk Radio Hosted by Sylvia Dickey Smith.

Books In Sync will now host A Book And A Dish Book Reviews by Martha Cheves at Cold Coffee. As of late June we have opened Cold Coffee up for the public to view without joining.

Cold Coffee (Hard Copy) Magazine: We are working on a new issue of ‘Cold Coffee (Hard Copy) Magazine’. We plan to produce one every four months, if time allows and authors join Books In Sync/Cold Coffee and participate. This writer’s magazine will feature our Author’s Of The Month (BIS Picks), Visitor’s Choice Award Recipients (family, friends and visitors to BIS Vote from Author’s Page) Book Cover And Book Trailer Recognition Contest Winners among other things.

As of May 2011, we removed all authors' email addresses to provide more security for them. You can learn more about the author and their book(s) by visiting their author's page in our Author Directory. The author's page includes information about the book, where to purchase it, book reviews, book trailers and excerpts. If you have any questions or concerns you may Contact Us. If you would like to contact any of our authors, we will be happy to forward your information on to them.

Books In Sync August 2011 Newsletter

2011-08-01T16:08:00.002-05:00

Books In Sync August 2011 Newsletter

Books In Sync Author & Book Promotion!

2011-05-30T14:24:00.001-05:00

Books In Sync – Author/Book Promotion!

* Dedicated to helping authors promote their books

*Consistently looking for the best resources

*Pursuing new marketing avenues

The Power of THREE Websites with the Advantage of SIX separate directories!

Additional Online Exposure!

Author-Directory and Book-EBook Directory

Each Books In Sync Author receives one Free author listing, and one Free book listing (includes book trailer if applicable) at Author-Directory and Book-EBook Directory.

All Authors Have The Option of Additional Book Listings and Off-Site Promotions.

Author-Directory.com

Book-EBookDirectory.com

Check out the Books In Sync Service Providers:

Editors, Publishers, Book Covers, Book Trailers, Reviewers, Ghostwriters and More!

FREE Book Cover, Book Video Trailer, Poetry, and Short Story Contests!

Books In Sync Presents…

Cold Coffee Magazine!

http://coldcoffee.ning.com

Where else can you find another comprehensive promotional package at such a fair price?

Books In Sync Mission:

Books In Sync/Author-Directory/Book-Ebook Directory was created for the sole purpose of bringing extra online exposure to authors and their books. The 2011 Campaign is to use the power of three not only to bring more authors to the site, but readers as well. Our goal is to bring readers and authors together, boost book sales and improve the authors’ one-on-one relationship with their potential readers. We bring this additional online exposure through six separate directories (three connected websites), Author-Book Promotions, Free Author Related Contests, Cold Coffee Magazine, Service Providers, Honor Veterans, Newsletter, and Press Room.

Links:

http://www.booksinsync.com/

http://www.author-directory.com/
http://book-ebookdirectory.com/
http://coldcoffee.ning.com/

http://www.booksinsync.com/serviceproviders.html

http://www.booksinsync.com/freecontests.html

Books In Sync has several author service providers!

2011-05-29T12:03:00.003-05:00

Books In Sync also hosts these contests!

2011-05-29T10:01:00.000-05:00

Books In Sync also hosts a Book Trailer Contest and a Book Cover Contest!

Enter the Books In Sync Short Story Contest Today!

2011-05-27T23:03:00.001-05:00

I am truly amazed at the amount of authors who are unaware of the ongoing FREE author contests at Books In Sync. You need NOT be a member of Books In Sync to enter any of the contests. Enter today! If you win (and even if you don't) this is FREE promotion for you because Books In Sync is hosting the contests and you'll have the Books In Sync name behind you! So what are you waiting for?

Click here to enter the Short Story Contest Today!

Enter the Books In Sync Poetry Contest Today!

2011-05-27T22:59:00.004-05:00

Click here to enter the Poetry Contest Today!

It's time to gear up for your spring/summer book promotion!

2011-05-26T17:20:00.000-05:00

Spring and summer are the busiest months for authors promoting their books. It's the time of year to set up signing events, interviews and appearances. At Books In Sync, we want you to have the best internet exposure possible. If you haven't signed up for some off-site promotion, now is the time! My calendar is filling up quickly, so hurry and get set up for your internet promotional blitz today!

Visit Books In Sync Off-Site Promotions today and fill out the online form. I will invoice you via paypal for the amount of promotion you request and once payment is received, I will schedule you into my promotional calendar. The off-site promotion goes hand-in-hand with your Books In Sync author page and on-site promotion that is included with your annual author's page.

Don't miss out on getting the word out early about your newest release. Sign up today! You only pay for the amount of promotion you want. Promotions are done using your updated Books In Sync press release and author spotlight interview. Also, if you have any book reviews, please submit those as well.

Cindy Bauer

Books In Sync Author & Book Promotions

cindybauer@booksinsync.com

2011 Backspace Writer's Convention

2011-05-12T13:50:00.000-05:00

Starts:

Thursday May 26, 2011, 08:30AM EDT

Ends:

Saturday May 28, 2011, 05:30PM EDT

Event Type:

Conference

Location:

Radisson Martinique

49 W 32nd St

New York, NY 10001 US

Website: http://www.backspacewritersconference.com/

Organization:

Backspace, LLC

The Backspace Writers Conferences provide an opportunity for aspiring writers hoping to be published with a major publisher to meet with dozens of literary agents in a relaxed and productive atmosphere. Not only do registrants get their work critiqued by literary agents, because Backspace uses the literary agents in a teaching capacity in both small-group workshops and panels, conference attendees come away with the tools they need to reach their publishing goals. (in 2010, 11 authors met their literary agent through a Backspace event.)

The 2011 Backspace Writers Conference is less than one month away! We're very excited about the program, and truly believe the 2011 conference will be our best event yet.

Many terrific agents and editors have joined the faculty in recent weeks including Andrea Walker, Vice President and Editorial Director at Little Brown, who will be assisting Jeff Kleinman with his Thursday evening "Buy This Book!" workshop. But don't let her impressive title fool you - this workshop will be relaxed, informative, and fun. The cost is just $45, and it's a great way to spend the evening. If you haven't already signed up, there's still time to register!

Nicholas Croce (The Croce Agency), Nicole Resciniti (The Seymour Agency), Jessica Regel (Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency), and Louise Fury and Emily Keyes (L. Perkins Agency) are just a few of the nearly two dozen literary agents who have signed on to help with the May 26 Agent-Author Seminar small-group workshops.

Dan Conaway of Writers House, and Brittany Hamblin of Harper Collins will join author Susan Henderson (Up From the Blue, Harper Collins, September 2010) for a panel discussion on Friday about the unique challenges and rewards of writing and publishing literary fiction.

Other Friday conference program highlights include a workshop with Jeff Kleinman (Folio Literary Management) and his client, Elizabeth Letts (author of The Eighty Dollar Champion: Snowman, the Horse that Inspired a Nation, Ballantine Books August, 2011), on how to write a successful non-fiction proposal; a conversation with Scott Hoffman (Folio Literary Management) and Rachel Griffiths (Scholastic Press) on the agent-editor relationship and how books get sold; a workshop with New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Maberry on how to make money with your writing, and much, much more.

And on Saturday, May 28, literary agent Donald Maass will teach a full-day version of his outstanding "Writing the Breakout Novel" workshop at the 2011 Backspace Writers Conference! This intensive, hands-on workshop for advanced fiction writers teaches the techniques that make any story feel big. For writers who want to take their fiction to the next level, this workshop shows them how.

Maass presented a one-hour version of this workshop at the Backspace conference last spring that was simply amazing -- even the published authors on our faculty were madly scribbling notes during his presentation -- so we're thrilled to be able to offer a full-day workshop this year.

Participants should bring a WIP and writing materials. Details on the "Agenda" page of the conference website.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to email Backspace administrators Chris Graham or Karen Dionne. You may also telephone Chris at 732-267-6449.

Remember to use discount code NYCdiscount and save $50 at checkout!

May Madness At Books In Sync

2011-05-05T09:50:00.000-05:00

For a limited time only, you can just purchase the Author’s Page for $50.00 (with one free book listing on your Author’s Page) and add the onsite/offsite promotional piece (100.00) at a later date. This comes with a limited promotion contract.

Most buy the $150.00 package with promotion and $20.00 per each book listing. The annual renewal for 2012 will be $50.00, plus $20.00 for each book listing. All authors get a Promotional Contract each year.

This all goes to cover some of the labor involved. The promotional piece takes a lot of time and we can never fully recoup that in dollars as authors are having a tough time in the economy. Just let us know which way that you decide to go.

Our Mission:

Please request a Pay Pal Invoice for your option above or send money directly through Pay Pal to promotionalservices@booksinsync.com.

Books In Sync/Cold Coffee Management

http://www.booksinsync.com

http://www.author-directory.com/

http://book-ebookdirectory.com/

http://coldcoffee.ning.com/

http://www.booksinsync.com/freecontests.html

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books!

2011-04-21T15:29:00.001-05:00

Come see Chapman University at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books04.14.2011– The 2011 Los Angeles Times’ Festival of Books is coming Saturday, April 30th and Sunday, May 1st to the University of Southern California (USC) campus. The event has fun activities for all ages, like author book signings and readings, presentations, and giveaways. Best of all, admission is free! This year, be sure to visit Chapman University’s booth to learn about the prestigious Chapman Creative Writing curriculum and meet notable faculty and alumni who make this such a vibrant program. Plus, while you’re at the booth, be sure to become a part of Chapman’s new mixed media, interactive project titled 'Join the Conversation'.

Find Chapman University at booth #226 in the North Trousdale building. Books signings will be conducted all weekend, with appearances by former president of Disneyland, Jack Lindquist, and other notable authors like sci-fi great Jim Blaylock. There’s something for everyone, like a special children’s hour happening Sunday from 10 to 11 am. Limited quantities of books will be available for sale during each signing, but please feel free to bring your own copy from home!

While you’re at the booth, don’t forget to leave your mark by participating in the 'Join the Conversation' project. Chapman invites visitors to write their favorite provocative or definitive word on a cardboard sign. Each sign will be photographed with the author and uploaded to chapman.edu/create. Users are encouraged to log on, find their picture, and try their hand at crafting their own poem, haiku, sentence, tag line, or personal statement by selecting and shuffling the images.

Chapman prides itself on the following tenets: creativity, applied problem-solving, and a cooperative, integrative approach to higher education. Talk to students and other college representatives at the booth to answer any questions about the Creative Writing program – voted #4 in the country by students nationwide – which offers competitive MA/MFA degrees in English and Creative Writing. Chapman will be giving out free copies of 'Elephant Tree', the student literary publication, so you can see the caliber of work generated on campus. Be sure to get your copy signed – you never know who the next literary great will be!

Schedule of Book Signings

Saturday, April 30th

10 AM – 11 AM: Jim Blaylock, Chapman faculty member, will be signing 'Thirteen Phantasms', which won the 1997 World Fantasy Award for Best Short Fiction. Blaylock is an American fantasy author and pioneer of the steampunk genre of fiction, noted for distinctive, humorous style.

12 PM – 1 PM: Jack Lindquist, member of the Chapman University Board of Trustees, and former president of Disneyland, will be signing his memoir 'In Service to the Mouse: My Unexpected Journey to Becoming Disneyland's First President'. A must read for all devotees of the Mouse!

2 PM – 3 PM: Mark Axelrod, Chapman faculty member, will be signing 'Cardboard Castles', his interactive literary masterpiece that “would have made Joyce envious”. Axelrod is a Two-time recipient of the U.K. Leverhulme Fellowship for Creative Writing, the Camargo Foundation Fellowship in Fiction Writing, and many others.

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Joel Kotkin, Chapman faculty and noted demographer and futurist, will be at the booth to sign 'The Next 100 Million: America in 2050', which explores how the nation will evolve in the next four decades. The book has received rave reviews from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Globe and Mail, and National Public Radios.

Sunday, May 1st

10 M – 11 AM: Children’s Hour. Stop by to have Megan Meyer (Chapman alumni) sign a copy of 'Lariott the Liger'. This book uses fictitious blended animals to teach the value of diversity, individuality and family relationships. The book is beautifully illustrated by the author, using a variety of media to heighten visual interest for children (appropriate for ages 3-8). Also, meet Garett Gruber, author of 'The Monster Removal Guide', which helps children face and conquer fears by identifying tactics for removing monsters from under beds, in closets, and behind doors.

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Marvin Meyer, Chapman faculty, will be at the booth to sign 'Judas: the Definitive Collection of Gospels and Legends'. Meyer, frequently featured as a “religious expert” on the History, National Geographic, and Discovery channels, has also written numerous books and articles on Greco-Roman and Christian religions in antiquity.

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Ryan Gattis, Chapman faculty and alumni, will be signing his Young Adult hit, 'Kung Fu High School'. Gattis, who has been described as “the spawn of Quentin Tarantino and Robert Cormier”, has just sold movie rights to the book to Weinstein Company.

3 PM – 4 PM: Ross Brown, Chapman faculty, will be signing 'Byte-Sized Television: Create Your Own TV Series for the Internet'. Brown’s guide is the first of its kind, and perfect for those aspiring to gain extra exposure for their career!

General Information - Dates & Location

The annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books will be held:

Saturday April 30, 2011 from 10am – 6pm
Sunday, May 1, 2011 from 10am – 5pm

at - University of Southern California

Tickets & Admission - General attendance is free!

Parking - Parking at the USC campus will be $10.

Make sure to follow the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books on Twitter and Facebook for live traffic and parking updates!
For more information & directions/map - http://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/

FREE Contests!

2011-02-04T11:09:00.000-06:00

Don't forget to enter the FREE author related contests

at Books In Sync! You can't win if you don't enter!

The Perils of Publishing in the Digital Age by Dr. Charles N. Toftoy

2010-11-18T09:00:00.003-06:00

Now on video at Vimeo!

Authors! Please take time to visit the above link to watch AND listen to Dr. Charles Toftoy's highlights of his SOTE presentation on the Perils of Publishing in the Digital Age as given at the George Washington University. The actual presentation will also be made available on DVD soon. Vimeo is a new "video" site where you do NOT have to wait on "loading time". Check it out!

Dr. Charles N. Toftoy SOTE Presentation

Entry Dates Extended !!!

2010-10-25T20:47:00.000-05:00

ANY AUTHOR CAN ENTER!

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE
A BOOKS IN SYNC AUTHOR TO ENTER!

If you haven't already, don't forget
to check out Books In Sync's
FREE author related contests.
Come on - get some recognition!
You deserve it!

*check dates for entry submissions and voting submissions

http://www.booksinsync.com/bookcovercontest.html

http://www.booksinsync.com/booktrailercontest.html

http://www.booksinsync.com/poetrycontest.html

http://www.booksinsync.com/shortstorycontest.html

FREE Author Related Contests at Books In Sync!

2010-08-27T09:40:00.001-05:00

If you haven't already, don't forget
to check out Books In Sync's
FREE author related contests.
Come on - get some recognition!
You deserve it!

*check dates for entry submissions and voting submissions

http://www.booksinsync.com/bookcovercontest.html

http://www.booksinsync.com/booktrailercontest.html

http://www.booksinsync.com/poetrycontest.html

http://www.booksinsync.com/shortstorycontest.html

Introducing Books In Sync Promotional Service

2010-08-09T22:29:00.000-05:00

“Books In Sync” Is A Promotional Site Dedicated To Promoting Authors and Their Books. Professional Author Specialty Services Partner With Books In Sync To Bring The Best Services At The Best Price To Books In Sync Authors. Book Enthusiasts Visit The Reader’s Cafe Daily. We Are Proud To Promote And Honor Authors Who Have Served As United States Veterans. Come Join Our Avid Reader’s Club And Have Fun In Our Seven Author Related Contests.

“Books In Sync” has several promotional packages available to suit just about any budget, with on-site only promotion or including off-site promotion to various social networking sites, blogs and press release sites. How much promotion you want is totally up to you, the author.

“Books In Sync” is not a “social gathering” site, but a full promotion site devoted to authors and their books. It is not a bookstore and does not retain any profits from sales made via the “Books In Sync” site. Although we can’t guarantee sales, we can give you great exposure to increase your chances of future sales by reaching a broader audience.

At “Books In Sync”, founded by Theodocia McLean, we’re dedicated to helping authors promote their books at the lowest possible prices available, consistently looking for the best resources to assist them and pursuing any new marketing avenues we come across. We want you to have the best available internet exposure as possible.

Remember, at “Books In Sync”, we do all the work for you, bringing you to the top of the search engines for maximum exposure and giving you more time to do what you do best... WRITE! And best of all... you’ll have the “Books In Sync” name behind you!

Books In Sync is just one more tool in your promotional toolbox!

• FREE Author/Book Related Contests

• Author Specialty Services

• Author's Page & Onsite Promotion

• Additional Full Author/Book Promotional Service

• We Honor Authors Who Are USA Veterans

• The Reader's Cafe

7 FREE Contests At Book In Sync!

2010-01-21T12:47:00.001-06:00

Books In Sync Has A Book Cover Contest Beginning Again On February 1st And It Is Open To All Authors!

Our Book Trailer Recognition Contest Is Just Beginning And It Is Open To All Authors!

It Is Time To Vote For The Poetry Contest & Short Story Contest Submissions And This Contest Is Open To All Authors.

We Have A New Fun Pet Corner Contest To Enter And It Is Open To All Authors!

New Author's Page 'Visitor's Choice Contest' Is Open To All Books In Sync Authors!

New Avid Reader’s Club Is Open To All Readers!

Theodocia McLean
Books In Sync
http://www.booksinsync.com

Books in Sync partners up with Cold Coffee Book Store & Magazine

2010-01-20T08:38:00.004-06:00

A new partnership has been established between Books In Sync and Cold Coffee. This will bring many advantages to authors on Books In Sync.

First Immediate Advantage: Exposure with your own page at Cold Coffee; plus extra visibility on the Books In Sync page on Cold Coffee with your own BIS press release, putting the Books In Sync Name to work for you.

Second Immediate Advantage: Winners (going forward) of the Book Cover, Book Trailer, Poetry & Short Story Contest at Books In Sync will get an exclusive write up in the Cold Coffee Magazine and receive a hard copy (courtesy of Cold Coffee Owner – David Price) of the magazine for your coffee table.

Third Advantage (down the line): Access to a writers' agent who recruits for traditional publishers. More information will be forthcoming.

Cold Coffee Social Network

Cold Coffee Book Store

***
To learn more and put BIS to work for you,

visit BIS or contact Theodocia McLean.
http://www.booksinsync.com
theodociam@booksinsync.com

***

Theodocia McLean

Owner of Books In Sync

http://www.booksinsync.com

Happy New Year!

We Expect Great Things In 2010!

Check out Books in Sync!

2010-01-19T08:54:00.019-06:00

BOOKS IN SYNC

Providing Author Services & Book Promotion

Connecting To Book Enthusiasts!

This is not an authors' gathering site. We are dedicated to the promotion of authors and their books, to bringing readers to Books In Sync and we are re-educating readers to purchase directly from authors - giving authors the royalities that they deserve for their hard work.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN TODAY!

Books In Sync Owner: Theodocia McLean

Contact: theodociam@booksinsync.com

If you would like Theodocia to call you and discuss your promotional needs & how Books In Sync can be another tool in your promotional toolbox, please fill out the Call Request form on the Join Today page.

Books in Sync announces upcoming author contest!

2010-01-10T21:02:00.002-06:00

Visitor’s Choice Contest Is Coming Soon!

Due To A New Marketing Plan For Books In Sync We Can Now Track Each Page & Our Visitors. Most of our contests are geared for all authors, but this contest will be just for BIS Authors.

The author who brings the most readers to his or her page to read and fill out form, will get a special mention on this Contest Main Page, the Reader’s Café Main Page, the Theater Main Page (if winning author has a book trailer in the theater), and of course the winning author will get special recognition in our Newsletter.

We encourage authors to invite family, friends, co-workers and other authors to their page. The idea is to bring more readers to Books In Sync. The contest will be up and running in a few days and a special form will be placed on the bottom of each author’s page.

So check back soon and let the visitors decide the outcome of this contest!

http://www.booksinsync.com/visitorschoicecontest.html

Theodocia McLean

Owner of Books In Sync

http://www.booksinsync.com

Happy New Year!

We Expect Great Things In 2010!

Poetry Contest

2010-01-06T13:22:00.001-06:00

Turner Maxwell Books Poetry Competition is now open.

Winners will be awarded a publishing contract and free marketing for 12 months.

Maximum 1000 words entry.

Entry requirements: Must be a great poem and original. There are no theme restrictions.

Copyright remains the property of the author. Entries of an offensive nature will be disqualified.

Entry Fee: Free

Entries should be sent as an email Word attachment to tmb@turnermaxwellbooks.com

The closing date is Jan 31st 2010.

We will review entries and announce winners in early February.

At the same time a publication of the winners work as a collection of poems will be available and marketed throughout 2010, with 25% payment to each author, as per our standard terms and conditions.

http://www.turnermaxwellbooks.com/Poetry%20Competition.htm

http://www.turnermaxwellbooks.com

Win 250 FREE Business Cards!

2010-01-06T06:53:00.005-06:00

Uprinting is hosting another great give-a-way!

Giveaway Prize: 250 Business Cards for one (1) lucky winner
Size: 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 3”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.5 x 3.5” (skinny card)
Paper: 14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock
Shipping: Sponsored bloggers and Winners have to pay for shipping
Eligibility: Limited to US Residents due to shipping costs.

Enter by: January 20, 2010!
Winner will be announced on: January 23, 2010
This giveaway is sponsored by: Uprinting.com

To enter for your chance to win, post a comment to this blog post about the giveaway explaining how you will use your business cards, should you win. It's that simple!!!

Not only will the winner receive the 250 free business cards, but I will too, just for hosting this really neat give-a-way! To get things rolling, here's one example of what my business card might look like!

For more information, visit these links:
Uprinting.com - Online Printing Company
Uprinting.com - Business Card Printing

You are welcome to post this contest on your blog as well, but please link it back to this posting and also to Uprinting.com. And don't forget to tweet your followers!

ENTER TODAY!!!

Contest! Cast Your Vote Today!

2010-01-01T13:37:00.000-06:00

Once again, it's a new year and that means it's time to cast your votes at the Preditors & Editors polls. I do hope you will show your support and vote, whether for me or another favorite.

I've made a list for you below showing you which awards I am up for this year and/or my latest release, Crystal Clear. Last year I was in the Top Ten for Best Mainstream Novel (Shades of Blue) and Best Cover Art (Shades of Blue).

Thank you for your continued support. You are all so appreciated! Bless you all and have a Prosperous and Happy New Year!

Cindy

Voting open from January 1, 2010 to January 14, 2010

best mainstream novel 2009
Crystal Clear - Third in the Memory Box Trilogy by Cindy Bauer
http://www.critters.org/predpoll/novel.shtml

best cover art 2009
Crystal Clear – Third in the Memory Box Trilogy
http://www.critters.org/predpoll/bookart.shtml

best review site 2009
Reviews by Cindy
http://www.critters.org/predpoll/reviewsite.shtml

best author published in 2009
Cindy Bauer
http://www.critters.org/predpoll/author.shtml

best writer’s resource / information / news source
Author Resources by Cindy
http://www.critters.org/predpoll/writerinfo.shtml

best book editor
Cindy Bauer
http://www.critters.org/predpoll/bookeditor.shtml

to check standings go here:
http://www.critters.org/predpoll/tally.ht

Ran across a new site today...

2009-12-24T17:06:00.001-06:00

http://listorious.com

Will check it out for you all soon!

ps... Merry Christmas!

Valle Pintado Writing Contest is a Tie

2009-12-23T05:34:00.004-06:00

Congratulations
Ed Leonard & Jacki Donnelly

A picture is worth a thousand words, as they say, and that was your assignment. Well, more accurately, 500 — 600 words. And writing about the above photo art, Valle Pintado by Aggie Villanueva, was the subject.

Our six judges returned a split decision, so without further ado Visual Arts Junction, and our many contest sponsors, take pride in introducing you to our two winners, and their winning entries.

Life in the Valle Pintado

by Ed Leonard (Papa Ed)

Ankles tucked and breathing slowed, I feel the tree dance, my wood platform sways and rocks in the hot southern trade winds. My sad, burnt, drought-stunted valley stretches before me. My humble ranch home swelters in a dry, coarse bunchweed field surrounded by stunted agreste woods that threaten to become caatinga.

Death menaces life like a Samhain specter. Gnarled stick trees grasp each other for desperate support. Their life juices drawn deep to survive the uncommon warm, dry winter. Earth spirits have driven the Numida fowl and the high plains antelope down the Tocantins to richer lands. The loss of precious water and the increased heat are taking a horrendous toll on animal and plant habitats in the Valle Pintado.

I have barely survived another winter. Spring has arrived with little promise, and my energy and will are suffering. I call out to the spirits of the jaguar and of the ocelot who once roamed here. But, they do not hear me.

I close my eyes, intent on escape. I release my saddened spirit. Hawk spirit enfolds me and I soar to a better time. I stroke the heavens and relish a gentle wind with a smooth glide. I alight to proudly perch atop a tall post and search the autumn grass for my choice of scampering breakfast.

The Valle Pintado proudly displays a dappled Autumn abstract quilt with primary colors blended and fused like fresh oils on nature’s canvas. My well-tended red adobe brick home blends quietly and comfortably before a large sugary wave of Palo Verde, Box Elder, and Hop Trees in full glory. My harvested corn patch glows golden yellow and my second growth wheat field rusty red.

A warm wind whispers, flicks leaves loose to float and flip their way to rich soil, and bathes my feathers in ripples. A hazy gray cooking fire screen rises among the trees with the rich smell of mesquite fired meat.

Two distant sandstone buttes, glimmer and flash with life, shrouded in milky early morning light. My world is balanced, healthy, and harmonious. I know now that the natural cycle of seasons will return my ranch to glorious life.

I spot a striped field mouse and launch, flapping lightly, then diving fast to my target. I dive and dive, but my prey remains distant. I linger, but the inevitable change reaches me. My spirit snaps back to my earth-bound body. Hawk has brought me hope and reminded me of the potential of my life in the Valle Pintado.

I resolve to exercise patience, to go back and seal my roof against the rain that must come again, to mend my fence against the predators that will return, to plant my corn and wheat knowing they will be nourished and watered. I resolve to hike to the top of the distant butte blessing all earth along the way. I resolve to come often to my tree platform and to meditate with the spirit of my totem animal, the hawk.

My sadness is gone.

Ed Leonard: My online name is papaed. I've been a compulsive reader and writer for nearly 50 years. I prefer poetry and have over 100 poems posted online. I've never tried to publish a book or articles in a magazine although I've done journalistic reporting freelance for several newspapers. I chose to place the Valle Pintado in the Tocantins watershed of Brazil and researched the habitat, geography, watershed, language, and native animals so that my 500 word piece reflects a possible mystical scenario there. I advocate meditation and peace issues in many of my writings and found your picture inspirational along those lines.

http://www.writerscafe.org/writers/edleonard/

http://papaed.multiply.com/

http://www.ipeace.me/profile/papaed

http://coldcoffee.ning.com/profile/papaed

http://nolan-ruizbooks.ning.com/profile/papaed papaed

Judges Comments for Ed's Entry

What I liked: You made the what and why of your transformations clear without actually saying it. I liked that you didn’t insult our intelligence as readers. That’s good storytelling. I empathized with your transformations; physical, spiritual and emotional, that produced a trust in, and ultimately a submission to, the Great Spirit through nature – a trust that transforms despair into hope restored, and then finally seeing things as they really are.

What could be improved: I know you had a word limit, but I’d like to see it more developed.

What I liked: What an intriguing story of hope. Beautifully painted images; excellent use of the first person POV. Thank you for your contribution to the contest and good luck with your writing career.

What could be improved: My only criticism pertains to the structure of one sentence: Two distant sandstone buttes, glimmer and flash with life, shrouded in milky early morning light. I don’t understand the comma after buttes or the switch from present to past tense (glimmer, flash, shrouded). I wish my own writing problems were so small.

What I liked: The imagery of the story is good and the writer's effort to paint a story with apt descriptions works well.

What could be improved: The story reads like a synopsis for a much longer story. The grammar needs a little attention -- split infinitives and occasional change of verb tense.

A Painted Mountain Life
by Jacki Donnelly

It was almost a month since I resigned as Editor in Chief of New York’s most popular fashion magazine “Moda”, but my mental alarm clock was still sounding off promptly at 6 a.m. For the past 29 days this annoyed me, but today was different. Today I started my new life- I left my upscale life and the chaos in NYC. I traded it all in for what I hoped would be a more peaceful and meaningful life.

My dearest friend lost a life long battle with cancer. During her last few months I didn’t spend as much time with her as I should have. I didn’t have the time, you know, with being successful and all. Luckily I made it to her before she died. She reminded me to enjoy the life’s little things, and not always focus on money and work. “You are only what you let yourself become.” she gently whispered. And with that I gently embraced her frail hand for the last time.

I finally understood the meaning behind her unsolicited suggestions. She always wanted me to take time off work, to go on a date or read a book, which I refused. I always justified my disregard by her not having or wanting the lavish lifestyle I was accustomed to. I was wrong. Now I sat humbled and dissatisfied.

At that moment I decided to change. I resigned from my job, sold my apartment and packed only the necessities, which included a book I had been working on for over twenty years. I searched the internet for a cabin to retreat to in the mountains. Finally I found a quaint cabin rental nestled in the Apache-Sitgreaves Forest. After a short telephone call with the owner I packed up my car and headed west.

I slowly got out of bed letting my feet touch the cold wooden floor. The sunrise was creeping over the mountains and into the cabins’ windows. The fall air had a slight chill with a sweet smell to it. I managed a fire in the ancient woodstove, the only heat source for the small cabin. I walked to the kitchen and poured me a cup of coffee in my only mug. I grabbed a sweater from the pile of clothes on the floor and wrote a few items on a box lid I needed from the market. My chores today were to unpack, set up a space to begin writing again, and groceries.

That would have to wait I wanted to enjoy my first cup of coffee of my new life. I walked out onto the porch and sat down in a rickety, wooden rocking chair. The warmth of my coffee felt good as it trickled down my throat to the pit of my stomach. The scenery took my breath away.

I was overwhelmed with a feeling of awe and tranquility, foreign feelings to me. Such beauty greeted me with open arms on that porch. I listened to the sweet melody of the Mountain Chickadees’ and the Western Meadowlarks’ coming from the forest that surrounded me. The wind was swooshing gently through the Locoweed and Indian Paintbrush wildflowers that outlined the small wooden cabins land. The trees adorning the mountains were reflecting shades of crimson, wheat and amber down to me.

I sat captivated. At that moment, with that warm cup of coffee in my hands, I knew I had made the right choice. Today would mark the day I started to “live” life. A Painted Mountain Life - one I could only dream.

Jacki Donnelly: I currently live in the tropical state of Florida. I am new to writing and am currently discovering my talents. Any commentary on the attached piece would be greatly appreciated. This will be my first piece entered for review! I am very excited and look forward to continuing my path of writing. I am 30 years old, married to a wonderful husband and have a wonderful Boxer puppy named Baxter.

This picture reminded me of a trip we took recently to the Appalachian mountains - Life is so much different in a quiet country setting. I have recently returned to college in pursuit of a degree in English with a Creative Writing emphasis, and so far I am loving every minute of it. I hope to one day become an editor for a small press!

Judges Comments for Jacki's Entry:

What I liked: I thought the story was well written and had a great story line. If the Author wished she could make this into a novel.

What could be improved: The one thing I would change would be to describe the picture more in depth.

What I liked: BROUGHT TEARS to my eyes. She obviously was drawn into the picture and let the emotions of it be real in her story.

What could be improved:

What I liked: I chose Jacki's story because of the creativeness of her story and how well it went with the picture. It showed a lot of imagination. That's a good thing! Keep up the good work!

What could be improved:
The one thing I would've changed in the story, was that it was told in the first person, a pet peeve of mine. First person should be left for non-fiction stories, in my opinion, such as the author's biography in his/her own words or a memoir. Otherwise, it was great!

The Fine Print: Entries are judged on storytelling quality only. We do not judge on editing, manuscript prep, etc. Congratulations winners.

Sponsors

Aggie Villanueva

http://www.visualartsjunction.com/

http://www.aggiev.org/rightfullymine/

Carol Langstroth

http://www.carollangstroth.com/

Author Meeting Place

http://www.authormeetingplace.com/mindfogreviews.html

Linda Yezak

http://lindayezak.wordpress.com/

http://authorculture.blogspot.com/

Cindy Bauer

http://www.cindybauerbooks.com/

http://reviewsbycindy.blogspot.com/

http://interviewsbycindy.blogspot.com/

http://cindybauer.blogspot.com/

http://memoryboxtrilogy.blogspot.com/

http://recipesbycindy.blogspot.com/

http://writersblocknewsletter.blogspot.com/

http://seekinghimout.blogspot.com/

http://authorresourcesbycindy.blogspot.com/

Nanci Arvizu

http://pagereaders.com/

http://www.nanciarvizu.com/

Shelagh Watkins

http://shelaghs.blogspot.com/

http://shelaghwatkins.wordpress.com/

Kim McDougall

http://www.blazingtrailers.com/

Melinda Elmore

http://www.melinda.essentialwriters.com/

Fran Lewis

http://www.gabina.49.webs.com/

www.gabina49@wordpress.com

xanga.com bookmarketing.ning.com/profile/FranLewis

www.myspace.com/hotauntiebertha

http://www.franifashionista.blogspot.com/

http://writing4all.ning.com/profile/FranLewis

http://thewritespot.ning.com/profile/FranLewis

Amber Rigby Grosjean

http://amberrigbygrosjean.blogspot.com/

D.K. Christi

http://www.dkchristi.com/

Jhonny Thermidor

http://www.jhonnyt.wordpress.com/

http://www.jhonnythermidor.webs.com/

Robert Appleton

http://robertbappleton.blogspot.com/

Chelle Cordero

http://cce613.xanga.com/

Abe F. March

http://www.abemarch.com/apps/blog/

Paidra Delayno

http://paidraspen.blogspot.com/

Sandra Kay

http://www.sandrakayauthor.blogspot.com/

Jo Fulkerson

http://www.freewebs.com/thedesertwriter/

Elena Dorothy Bowman

http://elenadorothybowmansbooks.blogspot.com/

Hank Quense

http://hankquense.com/blog/

Mark Stephen Levy

http://authormarklevy.blogspot.com/

Jay Heinlein

http://heinleinpubservices.blogspot.com/

J. Michael Orenduff

http://www.thepotthief.blogspot.com/

Yolanthaiti Harrison-Pace

yolanthaiti.blogspot.com

New Give-a-Way contest! Win 100 free post cards!

2009-12-17T08:55:00.003-06:00

Post Card Give-a-Way from UPrinting.com!

Giveaway Prize: 100 Postcards for one (1) lucky winner
Size: 4x6
Paper: 14pt Cardstock Gloss
Printing: Full color both sides
Shipping: Sponsored bloggers and Winners have to pay for shipping

Visit the posting link (above) to my interview blog to learn more and enter!

Earn a $3000 Scholarship to the College of Your Choice

2009-12-13T19:00:00.003-06:00

Register for the Master Books 2010 Scholarship Essay Program!

About the Master Books Essay Scholarship:

Master Books, an imprint of New Leaf Publishing Group, will award one $3000 scholarship for the 2010-2011 academic school year. This scholarship is open to all high school juniors, seniors or equivalent from any public, private or homeschool venue. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 or above.
This scholarship is a one-time award and may be used at any accredited two-year, four-year or trade school within the contiguous United States. The award covers only tuition and university-provided room and board and will be forwarded to the college, university or trade school of the winner’s choice in the winner’s name.

Instructions:

Download your free chapters of The New Answers Book II below
Download the application below
Send the application form, essay, and your original high school transcripts or their equivalents signed by high school counselors, homeschool evaluators/supervisors or principals to:

Master Books Scholarship Essay Program
PO Box 726
Green Forest, AR 72638

*Note: Scholarship submission name and address must be exactly as noted on the grades

Revision notes...

2009-12-13T11:23:00.002-06:00

Thank you, Mart, for passing along this newest writing resource...

The Ten-Point Revision Strategy

Remove unnecessary exposition - RUE (resist urge to explain) - keep them guessing
Show don't tell—No adverbs
Know each character's motivation
Tighten dialogue - no direct answers
End chapter earlier - cut last paragraph
Kill adverbs
Tighten words—i.e. show pause rather than saying: He paused. - i.e. step to the door and give a backward glance at the photo on the table or such.
Describe through movement - .e Describe the chaos as he steps over piles.
Shorten as tension increases
Move story forward

Dialogue - no more than 3 sentences. We tend to never speak more than 3 sentences during a conversation before the other person interrupts us with a comment.

http://learnedaboutwriting.blogspot.com/2008/05/ten-point-revision-strategy-rue.html

Promote Your Blog & Freebies to boot!

2009-11-14T21:38:00.001-06:00

For any of you who have a blog and would like to host your own giveaway, you can apply for blog sponsorship @ http://www.uprinting.com/blog-sponsor-program/

Also, check out their latest Sales and coupons @ http://coupons.uprinting.com/

Valle Pintado Writing Contest: Deadline December 15th!

2009-11-13T11:15:00.002-06:00

http://www.visualartsjunction.com/?p=3585

Valle Pintato Writing Contest: Deadline Dec 15, 2009

Valle Pintado by Aggie Villanueva
See Aggie’s Limited Edition Photo Art
Join Aggie on her Virtual Photo Shoots

Be sure to also enter sister contest, our art Raffle,“Become an Art Collector for Under $5.00”
A picture is worth a thousand words, as they say, and that is your assignment. Well, more accurately, 500 — 600 words.

Write about the above photo art, Valle Pintado by Aggie Villanueva. Study the image, Valle Pintado means painted valley, and then write a story that this photo art inspires. You don’t have to write only fiction. Enter an essay if that’s what this image inspires in you. (No poetry please until we have poetry judges.)

Enter the sister art raffle here to winlimited edition print of Valle Pintado for yourself.

The Winner:The winner gains triple exposure on Aggie Villanueva’s three sites, and a post on the blogs of our prestigious panel of judges.

Plus, and this is a huge plus; every one of our contest supporters (and this list is constantly growing) will also post your winning entry. See our sponsor list below. So, if this image inspires your muse, go for it. You’ll be read by thousands.

Rules:This contest is open only to unpublished and amateur writers, or those who have been published less than 7 times in the past two years. Not qualified to enter if you have books published, either by traditional publishers or self published.

Study this image, “Valle Pintado”, which means painted valley, then write a story the photo art inspires. You don’t have to write only fiction. Enter an essay if that’s what this image inspires in you. (No poetry, please. We hope to have some poetry judges in the near future)

Deadline for the Valle Pintado Writing Contest is December 15, 2009. The winning entry will receive two critique statements from each judge; what that judge likes about your entry and what could be improved. See The Fine Print below.

Email your entry to Aggie at the Cabin. Be sure to type “Valle Pintado Writing Contest” in the subject line.

Include with your entry a short bio and attach your photo.
Include all links you want posted with your winning entry.
Include your telephone number if you want to be notified of a win by phone as well as by email.

If you do not send you phone number, you will only be notified by email.

Winning entries will be posted at all participating sites as near as possible to the 25th of each month.

You must respond within 5 days of the date on your winning email announcement. If you do not reply to your winning email announcement within that time limit, your prize will be assigned to the second place entrant.

The Fine Print: The judges’ critiques are confined to short comments; no in depth critique/editing. Entrants will be automatically added to the Visual Arts Junction newsletter. You many unsubscribe at any time. All rights to the Valle Pintado image remain with the creator, Aggie Villanueva.

Cindy Bauer Books partners up with Books-N-Sync!

2009-11-12T13:18:00.003-06:00

News Flash!

Cindy Bauer Books has partnered up with Books N Sync!

Flyer/Brochure Give-a-Way Winner!

2009-11-09T06:34:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to The Egypsy Speaks for her entry into the flyer/brochure give-a-way contest sponsored by UPrinting.com!

Check back often for more great give-a-ways!

Flyers & Brochures Give-a-Way!

2009-10-25T14:40:00.007-05:00

Giveaway Prize:

100 Brochures for One Lucky Winner !!!

100 - 8.5 x11" Brochure / Flyers

on 100lb gloss text paper ; 4 color printing on both sides

Folding Choices:

Half fold; Trifold/Letterfold; Z-fold; Accordion (4 panels) Roll Fold (4 Panels)

Shipping: FREE

UPS Ground ShippingEligibility: Limited to US Residents due to shipping costs.

This giveaway is sponsored by Uprinting.com & the winner will be posted right here by November 10, 2009 !!!

To enter for your chance to win:

Post a comment to this blog post about the giveaway explaining how you will use your flyers/brochures, should you win.

It's that simple!!!

Not only will the winner receive the give-a-way prize, but I will too! - just for hosting this really great give-a-way on my blog!

To get things rolling, here's an example of what my flyers will look like!

For more information, visit these links:

Brochure Printing

Flyer Printing

You are welcome to post this contest on your blog as well, but please link it back to this posting and also to Uprinting.com. And don't forget to tweet your followers!

ENTER TODAY!!!

Winner of 250 Free Business Cards!

2009-10-21T09:09:00.003-05:00

Congratulations goes to Carmen for her entry to win 250 Free Business Cards from UPrinting.com!

Watch for upcoming give-a-ways from my sponsor for your chance to win!

Magazine accepting submissions!

2009-10-19T06:10:00.003-05:00

Magazine Submission Guidelines

Moon’s Eye Magazine is a publication of mindseye.ning.com and we are looking for high quality and professionally-presented, original art in a variety of formats, including poetry, short stories and novel excerpts (all genres), and the visual arts (painting, sculpture, sketching, etc). Word limit for stories is approximately 3500 words; for novel excerpts, approximately 5,000 words. Poems should not be any longer than 50 lines.

Manuscripts should be sent via email in a Microsoft Word Document or Rich Text format and included as an attachment. The manuscript should be double-spaced, with paragraphs properly indented 0.25″ with at least 1″ wide margins all around. Please include your name, a pen name if you’re choosing to use one, and a valid email address where you can be contacted in the upper right hand corner of the first page of your manuscript. Right under this, please put the length of your manuscript in number of words.

Submissions should also include, on a separate page, a short contributors bio or other information concerning the submitted work.

Submissions should be sent to: mindseyemag@gmail.com. The current deadline for submissions is November 15, 2009.

If there are any questions or problems with the submission process, please contact Henry Moon Fortune at the submissions address.

Win 250 FREE Business Cards!

2009-10-07T06:59:00.000-05:00

Uprinting is hosting another great give-a-way!

Giveaway Prize:

250 business cards for One Lucky Winner (Free UPS Ground Shipping in USA)

Sizes: 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 3”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.5 x 3.5” (skinny card)

Paper: 14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock

Specifications: Full Color Both Sides; Offset Press; 3 Business Day Printing

Restrictions:

Free UPS Ground Shipping in the USA.

Canadian Residents must Pay Shipping and Taxes.

Residents of other countries are not eligible

Winner will be announced by October 22, 2009!

This giveaway is sponsored by Uprinting.com

To enter for your chance to win, post a comment to this blog post about the giveaway explaining how you will use your business cards, should you win. It's that simple!!!

Not only will the winner receive the 250 free business cards, but I will too, just for hosting this really neat give-a-way! To get things rolling, here's one example of what my business card might look like!

My book business card - Front

My book business card - Back

For more information, visit these links:

Uprinting.com - Online Printing Company

Uprinting.com - Business Card Printing

You are welcome to post this contest on your blog as well, but please link it back to this posting and also to Uprinting.com. And don't forget to tweet your followers!

ENTER TODAY!!!

How can I increase traffic to my blog?

2009-09-25T06:10:00.002-05:00

We'd all like to increase foot traffic to our blogs, which inevitably will increase foot traffic to our websites, right? Here is a great resource for tips on how to increase traffic to your blog:

http://uprinting.ning.com/forum/topics/10-ways-to-increase-blog

Win a free 18 x 24 poster!

2009-09-16T08:31:00.006-05:00

Prize: (1) 18" x 24" Rolled Poster Print
(Free UPS Ground Shipping!)

Winner will be announced by September 30, 2009

This giveaway is sponsored by DigitalRoom.com.

**This offer is open to US Residents only.

To enter for your chance to win, post a comment to this blog post about the giveaway explaining how you will use your poster, should you win. The posters can be done from any photo you already have or one you design yourself, as I've done below.

It's that simple!!!

Not only will the winner receive a free rolled poster print, but I will too! To get things rolling, here's the print I will be using on my poster to help promote my books. I'll take it to signing events!

For more information, visit:
Poster Printing or Digital Printing

**You are welcome to post this contest on your blog as well, but please link it back to this posting. And don't forget to tweet your followers!

ENTER TODAY!!!

Some Review Sites......

2009-09-06T15:14:00.002-05:00

Here are just a few more review sites for you to submit your books to for a review...

Mind Fog Reviews (pdf version accepted)
clangstroth@authormeetingplace.com

Ghostwriter Reviews (pdf version accepted)
reviews@ghostwriterreviews.com

Bookpleasures.com (pdf version not accepted)
bookpleasures@gmail.com

Sites you can use to promote your books!

2009-08-22T06:58:00.004-05:00

Some old, but most new. Here's a list of sites for you to check out and promote your books! Remember to keep your name and book titles out there and promote your work daily!

Blazing Trailers is having a contest!

2009-08-18T22:07:00.002-05:00

Contest #1 - New Authors

For the month of September, we will be having a little contest to see who can refer the most new authors to Blazing Trailers. The three people who refer the most new authors will each get a week on the homepage.

Here are the guidelines for Contest #1:

1. On the online submission form there is now a referral field. It's right below the contact information and is introduced by this line: If one of our authors referred you to Blazing Trailers, please tell us who so we can thank them. Ask your friends and colleagues to join Blazing Trailers and make sure they put your name down in the referral line.

2. Authors may not put their own name in the referral box.

3. Referrals are for new authors only.

4. If a new author posts 6 trailers and mentions Santa Claus in the referral field, this is still only considered 1 referral for Santa Claus.

5. Erotica authors get to play too. The top 2 referring erotica authors will have their trailers featured on the adult site.

6. Winners will be chosen at the end of September and the trailers will be featured for a week in October.

Contest #2 for Readers

One week a month will go to the "Random Act of Blazing Trailers." This will be a random author (one each for the mainstream site and the erotica site) that I choose. To get chosen, I need to see you, using your Blazing Trailers links. I still see so many Blazing Trailers authors using YouTube links. Breaks my heart every time. I can only think that you may have lost sales by using that dead end link.

Here are the guidelines for Contest #2:

In your internet travels, post your link to Blazing Trailers on chats forums and newsletters. I belong to over 40 yahoo groups. I'm a lurker in most, but I'm there. I also get Google alerts for Blazing Trailers. Every time I see an author using his/her BT link I'll add that name to a hat. The more times you use it, the more chances to win. At the end of the month, I'll draw one name.

If you're worried I won't see your promotion, cc to:

http://us.mc578.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=blazingtrailers@yahoogroups.com.This way, we will grow both our readership and author library.

If you have any questions please email me at kimm@blazingtrailers.com

How else do I get my trailer in the coveted "Featured Trailer," you might ask. Eventually, this spot will go up for sale. Right now, the trailers featured in Rick's Picks will be featured. Rick chooses the trailers to review, though. Finally, I have made an agreement with The New Covey Trailer Awards. The trailer that wins the 'Most intriguing trailer' each month will be featured too.

The Creative Penn - Articles & Ezines

2009-08-02T05:28:00.003-05:00

To give you a boost of information and inspiration, here is the latest Creative Penn ezine http://www.thecreativepenn.com/articles/ezines/- packed with links, free audio and video this month includes:

How to make 6 figures with the Business of words (audio)
The launch of Get Published TV
How to use mind maps to help structure your book
Tips for your author website and making the most of selling your backlist

And much more.

The ezine is a downloadable 2 page PDF - just right click on the link on this page http://www.thecreativepenn.com/articles/ezines/

Running Wild Writers LLC

2009-07-31T22:12:00.002-05:00

Contact: Lisa Kastner

Founder

lisa@runningwildwriters.org

http://www.runningwildwriters.org/

610-235-9626

Local Writers Make Room to Run Wild

Running Wild Writers, LLC debuts as Philadelphia’s newest writers’ community with its first Fiction Workshop beginning September 2009. Founded by Philadelphia-based writer Lisa Diane Kastner, Running Wild provides a venue for writers of all forms and all genres to learn and succeed in the craft.

Kastner is a fiction writer, former correspondent for the Philadelphia Theater Review, freelance journalist for the Delaware County Times, Features Editor for the Picolata Review, and President of Pennwriters, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit writers’ organization.

“In my years with the creative writing community, I have repeatedly been asked to provide writers a venue to more thoroughly explore the craft of writing. Running Wild Writers is the answer to that request.”

The inaugural Fiction Workshop will begin September 24 and will run once a week for ten weeks through December 2009. Attendees will have two opportunities to submit up to 5,000 words of original material to be reviewed by participants and to receive a detailed assessment from Kastner.

“What makes Running Wild Writers unique is that we believe all forms and genres are valuable. Most workshops specialize in a specific genre such as literary, thriller, mystery, romance and so forth. At Running Wild, we believe that writers can learn and grow by reading and writing across genres,” said Kastner. “The same is true for form. Writers need to experiment in creative non-fiction, poetry, and fiction writing to hone their skills and discover who they are as writers.”

Workshop Details Running Wild Writers Community will hold a 10-week Fiction Writers Workshop from September 24 – December 3, 2009. The group will meet on Thursdays at 7 PM. Participants will have the opportunity to workshop two pieces, maximum of 5,000 words each, during the sessions. Each work will be given thorough written feedback by the instructor as well as feedback from fellow attendees. In addition, the instructor will select elements of the craft to discuss during the sessions. Craft discussions will be based on the pieces workshopped that evening. Workshops will be held at 1241 Carpenter St., Philadelphia, PA 19147. In the heart of a thriving Philadelphia arts community.

Lisa’s Bio

Lisa Diane Kastner, fiction writer, creative non-fiction explorer, and former journalist writes fiction from Philadelphia and draws inspiration from her local experience. Kastner promises that her flaming red head tendencies will neither detract nor overly add to the commentary. If anything, it will bring a bit of flavor, like cinnamon.A former correspondent for the Philadelphia Theatre Review and Features Editor for the Picolata Review, Kastner currently writes freelance and by invitation in literature and the arts. Her literary interviews include Charles Baxter (Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Literature 1997) and Lee Martin (Pulitzer Prize Nominee 2006). Kastner is the Founder of Running Wild Writers Community, LLC and President of Pennwriters, Inc. (http://www.pennwriters.com/) , a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to assisting the novice to the award winning and multipublished writers to learn and succeed in the craft. She is the founder of the Pennwriters King of Prussia and Philadelphia Critique Groups, and can be found throughout the region leading workshops on business communications, and occasionally performing on the local stage or such theater companies as CelebrationTheater. Her short stories have been published in 63 Channels Journal and The StraightJackets Magazine. For more information go to www.runningwildwriters.org or contact Kastner at the phone number noted above.

How can you sell books and...

2009-07-28T19:14:00.003-05:00

How can you sell books and not yourself?

This is a question that has been troubling me for some time now. New authors. They want to sell a million copies but… they don’t want to “communicate” in order to do that.

Why?In retrospect, let me say this. I’m a shy person, typically, around people I don’t know. So when I ventured into the “publishing” world, a green horn (aren’t we all?), I was like (as the kids now say) “Oh my gosh, I gotta do what?”

Keep in mind, folks, I’m over that “50″ hill mark now. But I still see “me” in the mirror as being “16″ going on “21″. Following me so far? All my fears of “staying underground to keep outta trouble” had to be conquered (okay, I was just a tad bit rebellious). And… if you want to write, publish and actually sell the durned things, you have to as well!

I get these kinds of responses all the time when talking to “new authors” about how to promote their books:

“I want to sell books, but I don’t want to give out my email address.”

“Do I really need a website?”

“Why don’t they read my book and see that I’m the greatest author that ever crossed their email inbox?” (not really – but it is what the person meant)

I’m not kidding here. I’ve actually heard these and more!

If you want to write, then publish, then have a zillion people actually read it and thus, make you rich (which I’m pretty sure is your main objective)… then you are in for a rude awakening.

But don’t give up if writing and publishing really is in “your blood” and don’t cry when someone says “…you call yourself a writer?” Because you might hear that or worse!

The true satisfication in ANY endeavor, whether it works out for you or not, is that you can go to sleep at night and say “I did my best” and be happy with that!

After all, if your book doesn’t sell, you can at least say “I wrote a book” instead of “I could write a book” because hey… we can all “could” all we want, but can we at least try to ”do it?”

In summary, if you want to sell books, whether you are a big name or not, you have to work hard at promoting it AND you! How can you sell a book if no one knows about you or your book?

Unless you’ve lucked into a traditional, well known publishing company, have an agent and maybe a public relations associate working for you as well, it’s not going to happen unless you MAKE it happen.

Browse well known author websites. Check out their site structure, what types of books they write that sell well, and what they are doing to promote their books.

Read interviews of well known authors. There you will learn what kinds of questions you might be asked if ever interviewed and you can learn a lot from the author’s answers.

Research publishers before submitting and prepare for rejections. Keep in mind that while it is true that it’s easier to get into a good publishing company if you have an agent, that it is also more difficult to convince an agent you have a worthwhile project than convincing a publisher.

So get out there and sell yourself and your book! And don’t be shy! When your famous you can “hide out” from the public but until then, make your presence known!

The Dreaded Comma Dilemma...

2009-07-28T19:05:00.002-05:00

I’ve dubbed this topic “the dreaded comma dilemma” from my experience while working for a daily newspaper. Trust me; I was confused at first as well. The late Kay White Miles was the publisher for many years and a close friend. She often had the final say in an article prior to publishing and thus, the “dilemma” begins. Leave it in or take it out?

We had a reporter who consistently put commas in everywhere. And Kay, inevitably, would mark her article to take out most of the commas. Thus the office joke - “the dreaded comma dilemma”.

When I attended school, we were taught to use a comma before the word “and”. However, I was taught at the newspaper that the “and” actually replaces the comma, thus the comma is not needed. I’ve found visual aids are often better when explaining something. Here’s an example:

The box contained some thread, needles, straight pins, and scissors.

The box contained some thread, needles, straight pins and scissors.

Technically, both are acceptable. However, if I were to edit your writing I would remove the comma before the “and”.

You can also use a comma to break up a sentence or indicate a “pause”. But be careful not to have a run-on sentence with too many commas. And keep in mind that a semi-colon might be the correct way to go. We’ll get into that in a minute. Here’s an example of using a comma to break up a sentence:

She climbed the stairs to the second floor and entered the room where she had last seen it, and wished there were an easier way to find it.

Notice I’ve left the comma in before the last “and”. This is not a sentence using description as the sample above. It’s a long sentence with more than one “and” so therefore, the comma before the last “and” is acceptable and helps to break up the sentence.

On to the subject of using a comma before the word “but”. This one is often a toughie for writers and better explained with another example for visual aid. You do not always put a comma before the word “but”.

What else could she do but give in?

There is another way you could get that to them sooner, but you’ll have to drive there instead.

When editing someone’s writing, I often run across improperly placed commas and semi-colons. When do you use the comma and when do you use a semi-colon instead? Commas are used between words in sentences where the remainder of the sentence is not a sentence, whereas semi-colons are used in place of a comma if the remainder of the sentence can be considered a sentence. So here’s another “visual aid” to help you understand better:

“Yes, he invited me to go, but I turned him down.”

“Yes, he invited me to go; I turned him down.”

Next time, providing I don’t forget again (LOL), we’ll discuss thesauruses.

Award-Winning Author to share promotion tips on free podcast...

2009-07-19T18:48:00.001-05:00

MaAnna Stephenson will interview author advocate Carolyn Howard-Johnson on her series of Just the FAQs podcasts on Thursday, August 14. The interview will be available at www.JustTheFAQS.net/podcast.shtml and on iTunes sometime after that.

Stephenson is an author in her own right. Two decades of technical writing, web design and marketing for countless private clients and community groups led her to produce this nstructional series titled Just the FAQs, the ultimate user-friendly guides to the technical aspects of internet marketing and promotions. Her book is The Sage Age: Blending Science with Intuitive Wisdom, which was featured in Publishers Weekly shortly after its debut.

The FAQs Podcasts feature informative interviews with industry professionals in the business of writing, marketing, and the creation of online media who will help writers create a top-notch product and help them reach their target audience.

The two writers will do what both do best, that is give their listeners lots of tips and ideas based on their professional experience and practical approaches based on practical experience promoting their own books.

Howard-Johnson instructs at UCLA Extension's world renown Writers' Program. Her first novel, This Is the Place, won eight awards. Her second book, Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, creative nonfiction, won three. She is also an award-winning poet. Her how-to book for writers, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't is recommended reading for her classes, was named USA Book News' "Best Professional Book" and is an Irwin Award winner. Her second book in the How To Do It Frugally series is The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success. It, too, is a USA Book News award-winner as well as the winner of the Reader View's Literary Award.

She is the recipient of both the California Legislature's Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment Award and the Glendale American Business Women's Association's Woman of the Year award. Her community's Character and Ethics Committee honored her for promoting tolerance with her writing. She was also named to Pasadena Weekly's list of 14 "San Gabriel Valley women who make life happen." She is a popular speaker and actor.

Learn more about Howard-Johnson at www.HowToDoItFrugally.com and Stephenson at www.JustTheFAQS.net
####
Support materials are available on request.

Book Masons - A review site....

2009-07-16T21:44:00.002-05:00

Stumbled across this site today. Haven't fully explored it yet, but appears to be a review site for promising authors.......

http://reviewabook.ning.com/

I do know that Books-n-Sync (Theodocia McLean) is involved in this site. I'll post more later after exploring the site more to keep you updated :)

Cindy

AllBook Reviews Hosts Monthly Book Give-a-Way!

2009-07-16T06:44:00.001-05:00

AllBook Reviews will be hosting a monthly book giveaway. Any author that wishes to donate one of their books, please contact Bob Medak at allbooksmktg@aol.com, please put “Attn:Bob” in the subject line. The author is asked to send the book to the winner of the contest. There will be several winners if authors will donate at least one book each.

This will allow readers to learn about the authors. The contest and the books for the monthly contest will be posted on AllBook Reviews two blogs, http://allbooksreview.wordpress.com/ and http://allbooksreviewinternational.blogspot.com/.

To enter the giveaway, contact AllBook Reviews at allbooksmktg@aol.com, please put “Attn:Bob” in the subject line to enter the monthly giveaway. Visit http://allbooksreview.wordpress.com/ and http://allbooksreviewinternational.blogspot.com/ for a list of books being given away monthly.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.

Shirley Roe, Managing Editor

Allbooks Review

www.allbookreviews.com

Where books are appreciated and judged by their merits

Best of the Best E-Book Contest!

2009-07-13T20:38:00.003-05:00

Editor Jennifer's first Best of the Best Ebook Contest is up and running!

First Prize: $250

The Basics:

Contest open to all self-published or independent e-press published novels.

Your novel must be available to the public for purchase before you enter.

Winner will receive $250 USD.

Each of 30 semi-finalists will have their novels showcased for a day on the Editor Jennifer website - including their book's image, a 250 word description, and a link to the site where it can be purchased.

The Rules:

1. Deadline for entries: midnight, PST, August 31st, 2009.

2. Entries must be received directly from the author either in print form or as a PDF file. Minimum novel length is 30,000 words. Novel must be published between January 1, 2008 and August 31, 2009, and must be published by the time you enter.

3. Along with your novel, submit your name, a one-paragraph bio, a 250 word description of your novel and a link to the site where it can be purchased.

4. Thirty semi-finalists will be announced, one per day, on the Editor Jennifer website, starting October 1st, 2009. I will post an image of their ebook with a 250 word description and a link to the site where the book can be purchased.

5. The winner will be announced November 1st, 2009.

6. There is no fee to enter.

7. No portion of any entree will be posted on this site. Authors retain all rights to their books.

8. All images and descriptions must be appropriate for a family-friendly website. No porn or ultra-violence, please.

Send questions and submissions to: jennifer@editorjennifer.com

Upcoming interviews in Writer's Block!

2009-07-11T10:01:00.001-05:00

2009 Schedule

August
Janet Nicolet (Books Alive!)
V.K. Sansone (multi-book author)

September
Norm Goldman (Bookpleasures Reviews)
Alice Grant (children's author)

October
Gail Gaymer Martin (Steeple Hill)
Sandra Lyerla (author of The Legend of Mariah Trilogy)

November
Michelle Sutton
Donetta Garman - (author of Growing Up Ugly and The Length of a Dream)

December
Special Guest Interview with Amanda Abizaid!
(The 4400, Charmed & Smallville)

Subscribe to Writer's Block Today!

Best selling author looking for that extra "exposure"?
Contact me today to set up an interview!

The Truth About Publishing a Book

2009-06-07T19:47:00.002-05:00

The Truth About Publishing a Book

You want to be an author. You have a manuscript. Surely someone will see how wonderful it is!

Today I’m going to tell you “The Truth About Publishing a Book”. First let’s begin with the basics. The manuscript.

Have you had your manuscript edited by a professional? Have you walked away from it for several weeks and then read it like a “book you just checked out at the library”? Have you spent hours and hours and hours researching, rewriting, looking it over like someone else wrote it?

Have you run it by your friends first? Your family? Are you positive it’s the best you can do? Have you run it thru a grammar and spelling checker? Have you checked for thesaurus replacements of common words?

Okay - if you said “yes” to those questions, all of those questions, then you’re ready to submit it for publishing. Now, let me ask you one more VERY important question.

Are you ready for the rejections? Let me tell you something about that if you are so SURE you are. No one is ready for those. But… expect them. Unless you are an already well published, well known author, you are going to get them and… if you haven’t procured an agent, expect a LOT of them!

Selling your polished manuscript is the hardest part to getting published. An agent is more difficult to sell your idea to, than a publisher. Take it from me. Please. I’ve been in this “crazy” business for over 5 years and I’ve yet to convince an agent, much less a “reputable” publisher my work is not only good, but great! And it will sell!

I’ve yet to conquer the dreaded “query” and “proposal” that stands out from all the others. I’ve read everything there is on writing the “perfect” query letter or “proposal”, but my stories just don’t “grab anyone”.

It’s not that my work is bad. My writing is very good. And no matter how many rejections I get, I’ll never get depressed and think they are not. SO DON’T YOU, EITHER!!!

To top it all off, in these very difficult economic times right now, agents and publishers are very “strict” on who they will take on right now.

My point today, is just this… don’t think that because you can’t obtain a publisher or an agent (and I put agent over publisher since they are more difficult to get) that your work is no good and quit. NEVER quit writing!

It’s a matter of economic times right now, first of all, and second, writing and publishing is one of the most difficult businesses to get into. Don’t quit your “day job”. And keep writing no matter how many rejections you get.

It’s not you! It’s not your work! Heck it’s not that your idea isn’t good, either. It’s a rough business. Period. And that’s the “Truth About Publishing a Book”.

And if you’re still not convinced by what I’ve taught you today, read some of your favorite books again. Compare that writing to yours, that story line and plotting to yours. Same? Better even?

Now, if that’s the case, bravo to you! NOW… you need to work on how to write that perfect query letter or proposal. Because selling it after it’s “perfect” will prove to be the most difficult. And promoting it after you do, you will find, the most time consuming!

And… bottom line - more and more, publishers are requesting you be represented by an agent. Reason, you ask? If you can’t sell your manuscript to an agent, they most certainly don’t want it because it’s not going to make them any money.

An agent (a legitimate one anyway) does not make a dime unless you do, so he (or she) has to know your “project” is going to be successful. If not, they won’t prosper. And if they don’t prosper, they don’t want you. Period.

Hang tough, keep writing and never give up. Learn all you can about the business end, besides the writing end. The writing part, if you’re any good at it, is the easy part. It’s the business end - the selling it part, that’s stopping most authors from making writing a living at writing.

And one of the most important lessons I can teach you about writing a book and trying to get it published, is research your publisher of choice first, thoroughly! Check them out at Preditors and Editors. Use your online resources that are available to you. If it comes easy, something is up and it’s not in your favor!

So learn all you can and do your best. And hey, even if you don’t ever get published, how many people do you know can say “I wrote a book”? Pat yourself on the back!

Next time we’ll discuss grammar. Does it have to be proper always? The answer is no. Find out why when I post again!

Promoting Your Works

2009-05-21T07:32:00.001-05:00

Promoting Your Works
by Cindy Bauer

There are several ways you can promote and market your work. Networking is a great way to get your name and your work out there, plus it gives you the advantage of making new contacts. Blogging is another way to promote yourself and your works. But what other methods might one try?

I have found several other ways to promote my books which cost little to next to nothing. So for those of you looking for new ideas, here are a few I’ve used myself other than networking and blogging.

Post flyers around town. A lot of grocery stores and other businesses have bulletin boards near the front of their stores where customers can advertise for free. Another method of posting a flyer is to put one on each side of your vehicle’s passenger windows. It doesn’t block your view at all and everywhere you go, so does your flyer. Many times I have come back to my car from grocery shopping and found people reading the flyer on my window.

Bookmarks are another method. Pass them out generously. Leave a few at the library and other businesses you frequent. Send them out when you pay a bill or write a letter. Send several to family and friends to help spread the word about your newest book!

Business cards are a must. And since they are small, they are easily passed out everywhere you go and meet someone new or run into an old friend or co-worker.

Contests are another way. I conduct book give-a-way contests every year and with each winner, I include a business card, bookmark and/or flyer inside when I mail the book to the winner.

When you send in a payment for a bill, drop in a business card as well. They’re always sending brochures and information so why can’t you?

Submit your website to search engines and announce the site to everyone on your email list and ask that they pass the info on to their email buddies.

Free classifed ads on the internet. Now there’s another one! If you google “free classifieds” you will find there are several places that allow you to post a free classified ad for 30 days. These include many items for sale, so books are no different. These sites also get your ad listed with the search engines quickly and the name of the game in promoting your work, is to get your name out there on the internet in as many places as you possibly can.

Author fairs is another method I’ve used and you will find if your local library will allow you to have a signing event or hold an annual local author’s fair, that you will make a lot of sales there. Also check with Barnes & Noble as they often hold an annual author fair for new authors and you’ll want to get your name put on that list.

If you’ve the ability to speak in public, try to get some speaking engagements. Often they will allow you to bring your books with you and you can make a few sales there.

And don’t forget your church congregation. Often churches hold benefit events and it’s possible you might be able to get in on something like that if you donate a portion of your proceeds to the fundraiser.

Get as many reviews of your work as possible whether it’s by hard copy or via an email and ask the reviewer to post the review on the internet if possible, such as with Amazon, Barnes & Noble and others.

Newsletters are another good method of promoting your work. I’ve found the best method in newsletters is to offer various features that will attract the attention of more than one group. For instance, mine used to have so many features, I had to move them to blogs because it was becoming more of an ezine than a newsletter. But now I have a list of subscribers and they can visit the blogs that interest them the most, such as my recipe blog, or author resource blog. And everyone seems to enjoy the monthly column filling them in on the latest news.

Send out press releases to the newspapers in every town you’ve ever lived in. Small towns are more apt to print press releases so you can make those a little longer, but for larger, metropolitan areas, limit the size of your press release to the most important details. And if you don’t hear back from them or see your release in the paper, do a follow up. Sometimes that gets the ball rolling when they see you are truly interested in providing the information to the public. And space provided, many will put something in, even if smaller than the information you sent in your press release.

Contact your local tv and radio stations and find out if you might get an on/air interview. Also contact the local schools and see if you can talk to some of the classes about your work, answer their questions and enlighten them to the joys of your passion, whether it be writing or photography, graphics or designing, etc.

If you’ve written a children’s book, try to get a reading at one of the school’s or your local library and bring extra copies of your books with you. Often the parents will purchase one if they attended as well and their child enjoyed the story you read.

Spend at least one hour a day promoting your work and don’t give up. Something that doesn’t work for someone else, might work for you. Promotion is a lot of trial and error and depending on the product you are trying to sell, various methods will work better for one than another.

Also check with your local state and county fairs. Often you can rent booth space where you will be able to make some sales and with all the traffic there, you most certainly can get the word out to a lot of people in a very short period of time.

Send out emails before holidays to family and friends. Books or whatever you are promoting, make wonderful Christmas gifts and it never hurts to remind them that you have something that would not only be a great gift idea, but reasonably priced as well.

Attend conferences if you are able to. You can make a lot of great contacts at conferences and often, land that contract you’ve been do desperately trying to get.

Share one of your copies with friends and family so they can get a chance to read what you’ve written and hopefully recommend your book to someone else. Word of mouth goes a long way in promotion. Also, you can put excerpts online on your website and other sites where you network.

But most importantly, don’t be discouraged. Continue thinking of ways to promote and market your product. Many will fail, but you will get a few that produce sales and once you’ve discovered what does and does not work, you can focus your attention more to the methods that produce the results you were aiming for.

The Art of Blogging

2009-05-21T07:31:00.001-05:00

The Art of Blogging
by Cindy Bauer

Yes, blogging could be considered an “art” of sorts. There are many benefits and reasons for you to blog and to do so, often.

Blogs originally started out as a means of journaling (like a cyberspace diary). But since, they’ve grown and have become more like a website. As an author, artist or other professional, blogging is essential to your business. It’s a way to connect that your followers/fans might not be able to do on your website.

One benefit to blogging, especially if you are just starting out, is being able to link to your website. Blogs are generally posted very quickly to the search engines and links from your blog to your website will help increase traffic to your site and increase search engine listings of your site.

I have several blogs. Some are related to my books or reading/writing in general, while others are an expansion of my personal side . The reasoning behind the other blog extensions is to attract attention from other areas. The benefit to trying this approach is that you may be able to draw in potential customers who may not be in the market for your business related items.

For example, I have a news blog, where I post the most current “book” related news and a trilogy blog, where I post up to date news on the series I’m working on now. I have a review blog where I post book reviews of books I’ve read. Another is my interview blog, where I interview other authors and yet another, is my author resource blog, where I list sites of interest that may help an aspiring writer get that work published. You’ll notice these are all book or writing related.

For extension blogs, I have a recipe blog to attract the attention of others who like to cook, as I do, and an inspirational blog, where I post daily motivationals and devotions via my own “cyber” pastor (a close friend in a neighboring county). The inspirational blog can also be connected with my books, since they are Inspirational Fiction.

Blog often. As I stated earlier, blogs are generally picked up by search engines very quick and if linked to your website, you are increasing links to you on the web. And more links appearing in search engine results means more foot traffic. As you well know, foot traffic is essential in any business.

To further increase traffic to my blogs and hopefully to my website and books, I’ve added co-bloggers to some of my blogs. By using this method, you are adding potential traffic from their followers/fans as well.

And while we are on the subject of blogging extensions of your business, blogging is also a representation of your writing potential. Same as reviews and interviews would be a representation. Possibly these are factors you’ve never considered before.

So as you can see now, there are several benefits to blogging and as such, there is an art to approaching your blogging efforts. Next time, we’ll discuss various promotional/marketing methods I’ve used to attract sales from potential customers.

The Difference Between an Editor and a Proofreader

2009-05-21T07:27:00.002-05:00

The difference between an editor and a proofreader
By Cindy Bauer

Many writers have asked me what the difference is between an editor and a proofreader. Some of you may think they are one and the same. I know I did until I’d worked at a newspaper. And for the most part, proofreading is a part of being an editor.

A proofreader basically checks for typos, missing or incorrect punctuation and repetitiveness. Your second set of eyes, so to speak. The first rule I learned in the newspaper business is never check your own work.

Why? Because you are so close to what you’ve written that you will miss things. You can go over an article or a manuscript a thousand times and still miss things that will stick out like a sore thumb (excuse the cliche) to a proofreader, someone who has not read it before.

For instance, often while typing, we find that certain words we tend to make the same mistake on (over and over). ie: the word “from” often gets typed as “form”, switching the letters “o” and “r”.

And often because our eyes and our brain do not always agree with each other, you will miss that, though you are positive you read everything very carefully. Sometimes 2 or 3 proofreaders will read that same article and miss that as well. I used to know the medical terminology for this fact, but it’s eluding me at the moment.

Sometimes a proofreader will catch other things. For instance, you may have spelled a name differently in the article. When writing articles for a newspaper or magazine, this is quite common since there are many different ways to spell the same name. Steven and Stephen, Debra and Deborah and so on. So be consistent. Check to be sure you have spelled the person’s name the same way throughout the article.

Okay, we’ve covered what is expected of a proofreader. Now let’s talk about what differences there are between an editor and a proofreader.

An editor is also a proofreader, but they go beyond and look more extensively. An editor also looks at sentence structure, hopefully leaving the author’s own personal writing style in tact.
They also watch for discrepencies. Some discrepencies will practically scream at you from the page, while others may be well hidden. However an editor should catch such things.

For instance, let’s say your protaganist is living with a man. Her husband left one day to get a pack of cigarettes at the store and never returned. She assumes he’s left her and will not be coming back. Your next chapter then delves more deeply into her life, however the new man she’s living with somehow has eluded you and is never mentioned again. So what happened to him? You’ve changed course in your story while writing it and didn’t realize that you introduced a new character and then forgot about him as the story moves forward.

Another example would be writing a historical fiction and having dialogue begin with the word “Well…”. We do actually speak that way now, however it is unlikely that anyone spoke that way back in the 1800’s or whatever century it is you have placed your story setting.

Run on sentences. Now there’s another one. You didn’t realize you just made a 20 line paragraph using only one sentence and eight commas. Where would be a good place to break that up and how? Or shorten the word count without taking away from the purpose of the sentence in the first place.

You’ve put your character into a setting, but neglected to “describe” the setting. You see the room in your head, but did you describe the room to your reader?

Remember, you can see the story taking place in your head. But you have to be able to write what you are seeing into your story so that your potential readers can also picture the scene as you’ve imagined it. Rule of thumb is to show, not tell. I cannot see what you are seeing in your head. Use words that will “show” me what you are seeing.

An editor mentally “analyzes” your story or article and makes notes of changes that need to be considered. Of course, you’re the author and you should always have the final say. But do take an editor’s “viewpoint” seriously. Think of an editor as you would any potential reader, because they are your “average” reader. And be ready for some constructive criticism. Don’t take it personally. Editors are not typically critics, however they are going to point some things out to you that they feel need to be eliminated, changed or explained better.

The list is endless and I’ve not enough time or space here to explain further, but I do hope I’ve helped you to understand the differences and why you might need both a proofreader and an editor prior to submitting your work for publication.

You could have several friends or relatives read it first to “proof” it for errors. But you should consider having an editor look it over as well. Don’t be afraid of or avoid “rewrites”. You cannot publish something without some ”rewrites”. So get used to that.

The standard fee for an editor is usually $2 per page (and up) and a page is considered to be 250 words. So for example, if your story or article is approximately 25,000 words, that would translate into 100 pages or $200 to have it edited.

If you have a piece you would like to have professionally proofed and edited, I also freelance as a writer & editor and would be happy to assist you. I provide other services as well. You can learn more by visiting my website freelance services page at: www.cindybauerbooks.com/freelanceservices.htm.

A wonderful blog for writers!

2009-04-23T14:28:00.002-05:00

Need help with your writing? This is a wonderful blogsite for you to visit frequently and learn! Everything from POV's to style to the "Hook" and more!

Never Forget: Memoirs of the Peasant Queen... and the author who created her

This blog is about writing, living, art, friends, love, music, and books. It's about me and my small corner of the world. Because as we all know, the world is square. For only a square world has corners.

fReado - Market your books online for free!

2009-04-11T13:38:00.003-05:00

fReado.com

BookBuzzr - Free Online Book Marketing Technology for Authors

Do you want to:

Promote and publicize your book online in an innovative way?
Share your book-extract on Facebook, your blog and your website easily?
Convert your fans into book-ambassadors to evangelize your book on the Internet?
Reach your target audience on Facebook, blogs and over 60 other social networks & bookmarking sites
Tell them where your book is available
Persuade them to read it by allowing immediate preview of your book extract

Market your book online now. It's free!

2009 PASS BUSINESS BOOK EDGE AWARDS

2009-04-11T13:26:00.002-05:00

2009 PASS BUSINESS BOOK EDGE AWARDS - "Printing Your Passion" -

www.publishpass.com

Announcing the EDGE Awards sponsored by Professional Advancement Seminars and Services (PASS) Publishing Company recognize and promote independently published books and ebooks that change people's lives and promote the professional.

EDGE – Excellence in Demonstrating Ground-breaking Entrepreneurship. The EDGE Awards were conceived to recognize and reward extraordinary books by independent publishers.

Awards: Winning titles will be exhibited in a 2009 Publish PASS EDGE Book Awards Showcase web page. An overall Grand Prize winner, an honorable mention will be awarded.The EDGE Awards are focused solely on independently published business books and ebooks.

Winner, Finalists, and Honorable Mentions appear for an entire year at www.publishpass.com. Winners will also be featured and highlighted prominently in our monthly newsletter.Enter now by sending entry to:

Publish Passattn: Edge Publishing Award

4565 Point White Drive

Bainbridge Island, WA

98110

Books in Sync

2009-04-09T11:12:00.002-05:00

Books In Sync:

Recognizing Authors For Their Hard Work, Commitment And Contribution To Today’s Literary Field And Tomorrow's Literary Future!

At "Books In Sync" You Will Meet Some Of The Most Dedicated Authors In The Literary World! Author?s Who Give of Themselves in Many Ways to Change the World That We Live In! Books In Sync Offers Authors a Wonderful, Affordable Source for Marketing, Message Board, Author?s Blog, Book Cover Contest, Author Resources and Author Services.

The Reader's Café on Books In Sync Is for Book Enthusiasts! We Invites Book Enthusiasts To Get Acquainted With The Author's Community At Books In Sync!

Come Share with Other Authors and with Book Enthusiasts Your Wealth and Words of Experience at http://www.booksinsync.com.

Theodocia McLean
New Authors and Multi-Book Authors Please Visit: Books In Sync

And... don't forget to get in on the Reader's Cafe! I did :)

American Author Association

2009-03-15T23:38:00.002-05:00

http://www.americanauthorsassociation.com/

Thanks Mart! Visit Martha Ramirez online and check out her newest kiddies book!

Fiction Writing Courses

2009-03-15T23:37:00.000-05:00

http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/courses/publish/3.php

Another addition compliments of Martha Ramirez!

Polish it until it shines!

2009-03-15T23:36:00.000-05:00

Martha, you were busy, weren't you!

http://www.eharlequin.com/articlepage.html?articleId=1341&chapter=0

Writing World

2009-03-15T23:35:00.000-05:00

And here's another link for you to check out! http://www.writingworld.com/. Thank you again, Mart!

Inspiration for writers!

2009-03-15T23:33:00.001-05:00

http://users.wirefire.com/tritt/home.html

Compliments of Martha Ramirez - Visit Martz Books to learn more about Martha's children's books!

Quick Tips on Grammar

2009-03-15T23:32:00.000-05:00

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/EpisodeList.aspx

Thank you again, Martha!

How To Podcast a Book

2009-03-15T23:31:00.000-05:00

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/how-to-podcast-a-book.aspx

Another suggestion from Martha Ramirez - Martz Books

Online Writer's Conference

2009-03-15T23:29:00.001-05:00

http://www.themuseonlinewritersconference.com/mission.htm

Compliments of Martha Ramirez - Martz Books

Promote your book and/or website free!

2009-03-09T08:59:00.003-05:00

Here are just a few new links I've compiled for you to either promote your book or your website for free. I haven't had time to check them all out, but have visited several and used some.

http://promoteyourbookforfree.blogspot.com/

http://www.funguppy.com/m.php?M=7f1827&P=free

http://funguppy.com/m.php?m=7f1827&p=submit

http://www.humanmade.info/

www.technorati.com

http://r.yuwie.com/

http://www.webbizinsider.com/

http://trafficg.com/

http://www.freetrafficworld.com/

http://www.clicksagogo.com/

http://deepseahits.com/

http://hitsafari.com/

http://hubpages.com/

http://bookmarketingbuzz.wordpress.com/2008/02/18/would-you-like-free-publicity-for-your-book/

http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/promote-your-book-for-free

http://www.5minutesformom.com/promote-your-site

http://www.christian-books-for-women.com/christian-book-authors.html

http://www.freebyte.com/free_website_promotion/

http://websitesubmit.hypermart.net/freesubmit.htm

http://www.addme.com/

http://www.dreamsubmit.net/

http://www.college-scholarships.com/free_search_engine_submission.htm

http://www.aardvarkmailinglist.net/

http://www.coollist.com/

http://www.notifylist.com/

http://www.zinester.com/

http://becoming-a-writer-seriously.com/wordpress/2008/11/26/prlog-promote-your-book-for-free/

Blazing Trailers is open for submissions!

2009-02-14T08:08:00.002-06:00

Here's another resource for you to post your book trailers and be entered into contests! Per their website:

“It's FREE to add your trailers. Just mosey on over to the SUBMISSIONS PAGE and get started! We're planning a fun launch party soon with prizes and contests, so don't miss out. Get your trailer up there!”

So get hopping and enter your book trailer today to Blazing Trailers!

Thanks for the tip, Karen! Visit Karen Michelle Nutt at: http://www.kmnbooks.com

Library Information

2009-02-12T12:41:00.003-06:00

Public Libraries in the United States

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
D.C.
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

U.S. Teritories:
U.S. Virgin Islands

State Libraries & Archives

Alabama
Alabama Department of Archives & History
Alabama Public Library Service
Alaska
Alaska State Library
Arizona
Arizona Department of Library, Archives and Public Records
Arkansas
Arkansas State Library
California
California State Library
Colorado
Colorado State Library and Adult Education Office
Colorado Virtual Library
Connecticut
Connecticut State Library
Delaware
DELAWARE: The Digital Library of the First State
District of Columbia
District of Columbia Public Library
Florida
State Library and Archives of Florida
Georgia
Office of Public Library Services
Hawaii
Hawaii State Public Library System
Idaho
Idaho Commission for Libraries
Illinois
Illinois State Library
Indiana
Indiana State Library
Iowa
State Library of Iowa
Kansas
Kansas State LibraryBlue Skyways: A Service of the Kansas State Library
Kentucky
Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives
Louisiana
State Library of Louisiana
Maine
Maine State Library
Maryland
Sailor: Maryland's Public Information Network
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
Michigan
Library of Michigan
Minnesota
State Government Libraries
Mississippi
Mississippi Library Commission
Missouri
Missouri State Library
Montana
Montana State Library
Nebraska
Nebraska Library Commission
Nevada
Nevada State Library and Archives
New Hampshire
New Hampshire State Library
New Jersey
The New Jersey State Library
New Mexico
New Mexico State Library
New York
The New York State Library
New York State Archives
North Carolina
State Library of North Carolina
North Dakota
North Dakota State Library
Ohio
State Library of Ohio
Oklahoma
ODL Online: Oklahoma Department of Libraries
Oregon
Oregon State Library
Pennsylvania
State Library of Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Office of Library and Information Services
South Carolina
South Carolina State Library
South Dakota
South Dakota State Library
Tennessee
Tennessee State Library & Archives
Texas
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Utah
Utah State Library
Vermont
Vermont Department of Libraries
Virginia
The Library of Virginia
Washington
Washington State Library
West Virginia
West Virginia Library Commission
West Virginia Archives and History
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction: Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning
Wyoming
Wyoming State Library

PublicLibraries.com

2009-02-12T12:35:00.003-06:00

Membership Information

Authors, come and join the PublicLibraries.com and be a part of fast growing web community where public libraries, authors, and the general public come together.

Membership Benefits

Benefits of being a member may include increased visibility of your books and yourself as an author to librarians, our visitors (over 1 million unique visitors a year), and search engines. When you become a member, you will have your "Meet the Author" and "About My Book" pages within PublicLibraries.com site. In both pages, you can include photos, contact information, external links to your existing official website or publisher's website, etc.

"Meet the Author" page is about yourself as an author.
"About My Book" page contains information regarding your book.

Membership Fee

Annual membership fee is $49/year. This membership fee covers your "Meet the Author" page plus one "About My Book" page for free. If you want to list more than one book, each additional book will cost $30/year. There is a $50 one time setup fee.

Become a PublicLibraries.com Member

Avoid Living Waters Publishing Company !!!

2009-02-01T07:14:00.011-06:00

Now I myself have not had any dealings with this company, however, I've been contacted by a few authors who have. My advice is to stay away from this company. They are not reputable.

One thing you can do when considering a publisher, is visit Preditors & Editors. Another is Google the company's address.

Living Waters Publishing Company is supposed to be located at 17 Gannt Street, Marion, Arkansas. When you Google that address, click on satellite view, then street view. It's not exactly an area where a publishing company would be located and after doing a pan completely around the area between 14 Gannt Street and 22 Gannt Street, I could not locate their building!

They have since started using a post office box for an address instead and their phone is disconnected.

Don't be scammed by con-artists or less-than-reputable companies because you're excited about your book and want to get it published yesterday. Take the time to investigate first. It will save you a lot of heartache, money and wasted time and it is well worth your efforts.

The internet is a wonderful tool and can be used for many things. Just because someone has a website and offers a service, does not make them reputable.

See what the Better Business Bureau has to say about this company by visiting this link:

http://memphis.bbb.org:80/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=62&bbb=0543&firm=44031649

See what Preditors and Editors has to say about this company by visiting this link:

http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/pebl.htm

See what Absolute Write has to say about this company by visiting their forum at this link:

http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87390

One very unsatisfied client's blog:

http://www.donottrustlwpc.com

And here's one other link you should see:

http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2008/02/victoria-strauss-new-publishers-to.html

So authors beware!

Bookpleasures Book Reviews

2009-02-01T07:04:00.002-06:00

Needing to get that book reviewed? Not sure who to request one from? I review for Bookpleasures.com, managed by Norm Goldman, one of Amazon's top reviewers. Just send your review request to: Norm Goldman, Editor at: bookpleasures@gmail.com

BookTour

2009-02-01T06:41:00.002-06:00

As the world's largest, 100% free directory of author events, BookTour.com makes finding when a favorite author is coming to your town as easy as checking the weather.

In just a few minutes any author can create a page showcasing their biography, books, and upcoming engagements. Listing new events is as easy as answering a few questions. Publishers, booksellers, events managers, and even just well-informed readers can add tour dates by simply filling in a few blanks.

Most importantly, readers can search our database of author events for the best of what's nearby, or they can track their favorite authors on tour.

Readers can invite faraway authors to their town, or get in touch with authors already scheduled to appear locally to address additional groups, from company speaker series to book group meetings.

For authors, BookTour.com serves as a one-stop tool for book promotion, allowing authors at all levels of their careers to locate receptive live audiences.

BookTour is based in San Francisco, the city that buys more books (and wine) per capita than any in America.

2009-02-01T06:27:00.002-06:00

Over 30 million professionals use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas and opportunities. Stay informed about your contacts and industry. Find the people & knowledge you need to achieve your goals. Control your professional identity online.

LinkedIn has over 34 million members in over 200 countries and territories around the world. A new member joins LinkedIn approximately every second, and about half of our members are outside the U.S. Executives from all Fortune 500 companies are LinkedIn members.

Your professional network of trusted contacts gives you an advantage in your career, and is one of your most valuable assets. LinkedIn exists to help you make better use of your professional network and help the people you trust in return. Our mission is to connect the world’s professionals to accelerate their success. We believe that in a global connected economy, your success as a professional and your competitiveness as a company depends upon faster access to insight and resources you can trust.

LinkedIn is an interconnected network of experienced professionals from around the world, representing 170 industries and 200 countries. You can find, be introduced to, and collaborate with qualified professionals that you need to work with to accomplish your goals.

LibraryThing

2009-02-01T06:21:00.002-06:00

A home for your books.
Enter what you’re reading or your whole library.

It’s an easy, library-quality catalog.

A community of 500,000 book lovers.
LibraryThing

connects you to people who read what you do.

Join the world’s largest book club.
Catalog your books from Amazon, the Library of Congress and 690 other world libraries. Import from anywhere.
Find people with eerily similar tastes.
Find new books to read.
Free Early Reviewer books from publishers and authors
Enter 200 books for free, as many as you like for $10 (year) or $25 (life).

Writing Blog to check out

2009-01-17T08:11:00.003-06:00

These were recently passed on to me and you may want to check them out. The first one offers tips on writing fiction and the second offers tips on writing a novel with exercises to help you learn how to apply them as well!

Crawford Kilian

http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/fiction/

http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/novel/

And here's one more you may want to check out:

http://www.thegoldenpencil.com/

These tips were compliments of Martha Ramirez. Thanks Mart!

http://martzbooks.com

FundsForWriters.com

2009-01-02T19:12:00.004-06:00

A big thank you to Norm over at Bookpleasures for this link. A great resource for writers and freelancers that offers free newsletters (I believe there are 3 choices depending on your needs) - with links to paying freelance jobs, e-books to assist you in getting published and/or marketing your work, and also contests you can enter your writing in and possibly win some recognition.

So check this one out when you have some time to spend browsing. There's a lot to look into!

FundsForWriters.com

Until next time!

Cindy