by Yvonne Perry

I find it unbelievable how fast this year has gone by. A new year and a new decade will be here before we know it. I won't say anything about goals for the new year. Instead, I'll let my article about Allison Maslan's book launch and contest speak to you about HOW to start making positive changes to create the best decade of your life. Take a peek at her awesome Blast Off! Countdown Contest, too.

Yes, 2009 has been a terrific year for me personally as well as for Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services. I've been blessed with four new grandsons and many wonderful clients AND I published The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children, which *ahem* by the way would make a great holiday gift for a child or teacher! Life is good!

The Sid Series book tour is still going on, so if you missed the first half, go to http://tinyurl.com/SidTour and catch up on all the great articles about how and why I wrote the book, how I published it, and how I'm marketing it. Also see videos and flipbooks, listen to audios, and read a stories about Sidney's mystical gifts. The stops for the next two weeks are posted there as well. If you purchased The Sid Series and did not get your free coloring book, please let me know and I'll send it to you right away.

Any author who would like to see a good example of how to operate a virtual blog tour will not want to miss the instructional posts on my book marketing blog: http://OnlinePromotionMadeEasy.com.

Beginning December 26, I'll be sponsoring a children's art showcase. I am looking for original work by children (ages 3 through 9) that demonstrates a lesson learned by reading The Sid Series. This is NOT a contest. I don't believe children should be judged or rejected for their heart-felt creativity. Instead, every effort will be recognized and everyone's work will be included in an e-book . Every participant will get a free copy of the e-book we create as an artistic community.  Spending time with my grandson has provided an opportunity to talk about some pretty “adult” topics—some that many parents and teachers are hesitant to discuss with children. By sharing the stories in The Sid Series through this art showcase, I hope to reinforce and enhance these and other life lessons, and help open lines of communication between children and adults. I will post more information on our writing blog:  http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com.

Thank you, Barbara, for proofreading this month's newsletter. Thank you to all our readers who contribute material for this publication. Sarah Moore and Barbara Milbourn are the WITS writers and editors who assist authors and publishers with getting books ready to go to press. Those we work with become part of the WITS network and we are pleased to feature their books on our site. 

If someone forwarded this e-zine to you or if you happened to have stumbled upon this Web page, you may get your own subscription for free!

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by Yvonne Perry

We are fast approaching the end of 2009, and with it many people will feel sad when they look over what they didn’t accomplish in the past year. However, this is a great time to explore positive changes that can take us on a journey of personal growth in 2010. How would you like to create your best decade ever?

I would like to share a book with you by author Allison Maslan. It is called Blast Off! The Surefire Success Plan To Launch Your Dreams Into Reality and it is truly a journey of personal and professional rebirth.

The message of the book, which comes out on Amazon on January 19, 2010 is for anyone wanting to create powerful changes  in ALL areas of life—at any age. Blast Off! weaves together motivational stories, secret strategies and specific, easy-to-follow action steps to help people tap into their life purpose and manifest their goals and dreams  from business to health to finding the love of your life.

Those who buy book Allison's book on January 19 will receive more than 20 wonderful gifts being offered by mind-body-spirit-success professionals worldwide.

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Choose two or more services and get a 10% discount on the total project price if you mention seeing this ad in our newsletter!

A great deal for anyone needing online publicity!

by Yvonne Perry and Carolyn Howard-Johnson

My friend and mentor, Carolyn Howard-Johnson, is my “go-to” person when it comes to querying publishers. She has a terrific newsletter called Sharing with Writers in which she shares answers to questions asked by her readers. Recently, I had a client ask me a question that I felt would be better answered by an expert, so I referred the question to Carolyn. She shared her answer in her newsletter and I thought it only fitting that I also share this helpful information with my readers.

Here is the question:

“If an author must choose between pitching a query to a list of agents or to a list of publisher, which should she focus on? agents or publishers?”

And, here is Carolyn’s answer:

Yvonne, it depends on the title and the experience of the author. If she starts pitching to publishers without knowing much about how to determine what is best for her book, she may not get what's best for her book. That's because there are just so darn many ways to publish these days—combinations of subsidy (or partner) and POD presses and traditional, etc. She may not know what to look for.

Of course, pitching to both agents and publishers holds other dangers. That is avoiding the scam artists who abound in both areas of the publishing business. Avoid any agent who charges a reading fee or say they will represent the book if you buy other services first, like editing. The manuscript may well need editing and that advice might need to be taken, but the agent should not be making money from the service as either a referral fee or because the editing is a major part of her business.

Now, putting all that aside, it will depend on the factors like:

• Is this a genre that will require an agent to sell it to the publisher?

• Is this a title that will benefit from having a high-powered agent who has the contacts to go for a movie contract or other commercial prospects? Agents can sometimes even get a bidding war going.

• How much time does the author want to spend? It can take a long time to land the right agent and then more time for that agent to sell the book.

• Is this a title that will appeal to a small publisher? Your client should know that her proposals/query letters will not be read by big publishing houses in any case. She NEEDS an agent for that. So, if she is hoping for Knopf or Simon and Schuster, she will have to have an agent.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Web site: http://www.HowToDoItFrugally.com
E-mail: HoJoNews@aol.com

by Norman German

While researching my third novel, A Savage Wisdom, I discovered that in real life Toni Jo Henry was not a sympathetic character on which I could build a true crime novel. At that point I became interested in “rewinding” her life, recreating her as an ingénue deceived into high-class prostitution. A Savage Wisdom thus became a study in deception and an exploration of identity development.

Put to death in 1942 for the 1940 Valentine’s Day murder of a Houston businessman, Toni Jo Henry is still the only woman ever executed in Louisiana’s electric chair.

Toni Jo’s story has intrigued me since childhood, when I would read about her in special features in the Lake Charles American Press, which tantalized readers with reproductions of her leggy portrait as a coddled death-row inmate.

When I decided to “novelize” her life, my four-year research led me to the newspaper archive room, legal documents, and Toni Jo’s gravesite.

First, I read dozens of newspaper articles on the murder, capture, trial, and execution. To create the dense, “textured” world of a novel, I immersed myself in magazines and popular histories from World War I to 1963 (JFK’s assassination).

From antique stores, I bought ten copies of magazines from the period, including Life, Look, Collier’s, and Saturday Evening Post. I read every article and studied every ad in order to realistically recreate the clothing, slang, and pop-culture icons of the era.

Two indispensable histories were Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920s and Since Yesterday: The 1930s in America, both by Frederick Lewis Allen. However, my most valuable source was written by a hobbyist historian. New Orleans in the Thirties, by Mary Lou Widmer, includes hundreds of photographs chronicling the interior décor, men’s and women’s clothing styles, cuisine, and social customs reproduced in the novel.

For the 1950s, I ordered legendary journalist David Halberstam’s The Fifties. From Time magazine’s special issue “Time Capsule: 1950, The Year in Review,” I became familiar with everything from automobile models and colors to whiskey brands.

The authoritative source for the trial was the Southern Reporter, a series containing summaries of regional court cases—dull reading, indeed, but it led me back to the newspaper accounts describing the various parties in the courtroom. For example, during Toni Jo’s three trials, members of the courtroom audience often made slitting motions across their throats.

For years, I had heard the rumor that Toni Jo’s grave was not marked by a headstone for fear of vandalism. I went on my scavenger hunt in the Orange Grove-Graceland Cemetery on Broad Street, thinking to walk in concentric squares until I found her tombstone or proved the rumor valid.

I discovered that the name of Louisiana’s most notorious murderess had been misspelled. Annie Beatrice McQuiston, carved as “Anna,” adopted the name “Toni Jo” as a prostitute and became Toni Jo Henry upon marrying Claude “Cowboy” Henry, himself a murderer on the lam.

Norman German is Professor of English at Southeastern Louisiana University, Fiction Editor for Louisiana Literature, and Winner of the Deep South Writers Contest for No Other World. Visit the author at www.asavagewisdom.com.

by Scott Lorenz

Are book fairs an effective way to promote books? As a book publicist and book marketing specialist, I am the first to impress on authors the new and powerful marketing avenues open to all authors on the Internet – from book Web sites to book trailers to social networks like Face-book, Twitter and YouTube. While these are fantastic tools when used properly, authors should never overlook opportunities to meet the reading public face-to-face where they can easily be found—at book fairs, book festivals, trade shows, book conferences and conventions.

Any book event, regardless of size and name recognition, is worth attending by an author who is serious about promoting their book. This requires personal effort and time by the author in person. People don’t want to meet the author’s assistant or friend; no they want to talk to the author.

Book fairs provide an excellent chance to learn more about the publishing industry, about booksellers, publishers, distributors and marketers. The attending author will also learn a great deal about what readers want and how to reach readers. And while acquiring a vast amount of knowledge about the book industry, the author can also take advantage of the chance to expose their book and name to a new audience – leaders in the book industry who are interested in meeting new authors. While you may not walk away with a book deal you’ll make yourself known to the movers and shakers and that has long-lasting benefits. Remember, word of mouth is one of the strongest promotional tools available and authors need to be where the mouths are – the mouths of book publishers, distributors, promoters, agents and readers – at book fairs, conventions and conferences.

Book fairs provide an excellent opportunity to encounter media reps in search of a story. Producers of TV and radio programs, editors of newspapers, magazines, book reviewers and online media outlets attend these events in search of stories that otherwise would be under their radar. Never, never pass up on the opportunity to meet the media. Keep an eye out for small I-phone sized video cameras too as they shoot broadcast quality footage in natural light. If you see somebody using one, invite them over and give them a pitch. They could be shooting for C-SPAN, CNN, a book review blog or the local cable show; you won’t know unless you ask.

The major book conferences and conventions involve travel expenses such as airlines and hotel lodging, and a week’s investment of your time. But book fairs can be found close to home, easily accessed by car and often are only one or two days. A typical regional book fair will have 1,000 or more attendees and 100 or more exhibitors, providing a realistic exposure of 300 visitors a day. Why would an author not want to spend a Saturday and a Sunday within 100 miles of home to meet 600 readers or a reporter, editor or book reviewer?

At a book fair, just as at a book signing event, the author will want to bring promotional literature to pass out. Passing out promotional bookmarks or book covers is a great way to generate future sales for months and months after the book fair ends. The give-away should contain the author’s contact information, the book’s name, the front cover artwork, author’s Web site address, and where the book can be purchased online.

I also remind my author clients that book fairs often need speakers. By volunteering to speak, the author not only gains great exposure but can also add that appearance to their resume and press releases. But plan ahead; dates for panel participants, speakers and autograph sessions are arranged months in advance.

Book fairs are often attended by best-selling authors who will be willing to spend time with you sharing tips on writing, on how to be successful, and advice on where to find the help you need.

In summary, book fairs are wonderful places to interact with fellow authors, publishers, network with book industry leaders, locate the help you need such as a publicist or book editor, and learn what’s new in the marketplace. For more information about upcoming book events on C-SPAN2 visit: http://www.BookTV.org 

For a list of 25 book fairs and events that are worthy of your attendance (courtesy of Noel Griese, Editor of Southern Review of Books), see http://writersinthesky.blogspot.com

The bottom line: Make it a priority to visit a book fair in the coming weeks and months. You’ll be glad you did!

Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, http://www.westwindcos.com/ and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it's their first book or their 15th book. He's handled publicity for books by CEOs, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC Nightly News, The New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Family Circle, Woman's World, & Howard Stern to name a few. Learn more about Westwind http://www.book-marketing-expert.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 734-667-2090.

Growing Pains: Chapter One

She stained the table when bleaching her hair – MY new table!
My lovely, lovely, maple table bought with my first Chicago wage.

Pale and interesting was its look, the sheen that first attracted me.
Yankee boys said at twenty-two I was “pale and interesting” too.

“Limey” I was called back then, the year JFK was shot in my lunch
break. When I got back to the office, everyone, even Republicans, sobbed.

A table. My prize possession, apart from the more-than-usually-pricey shoes. They were tall taliswomen of my new, Over-There, Over-The-Pond life.

When I had announced my “gap year” before gap years were more akin to
World Tours, Dad was fine: “Go, girl, enjoy,” and he meant it. Mum scowled.

For almost a month she zipped her lip, and glowered at me. The scowl &
silence spoke volumes – nice girls from Oldham didn’t toddle away to the U.S. of A.

From Ringway I was supposed to go, and we had a farewell “do” the night
before. But my flight was cancelled. So off back home to hide a while.

Silly when I think of it today – “good form” dictated invisibility, a rigid
code. What a relief when I got to Uncle Joe’s – not over-paid, but over there.

I got signed up to work for the Mafia as they were “going legit.”. Book-keeper
accountants were “all the rage”. Comptometers & pencils deadlier than guns.

Writer & Copyright-holder: C.J. Heyworth July 2009

In the Afterlife
By Irene Brodsky, author of Poetry Unplugged

In the after-life,
you will find a new life
filled with loved ones
from a day gone by.

Just knock on the Lord's door
No need to fear.
He will welcome you
and make you right at home.

Rejoice!
So much to talk about
when you arrive in the after-life.
Lots of hugs & kisses too.

Look! There is Grandma Sarah
and Uncle Gene is waving to you!
Go to them
It's o.k.!

A wonderful world of no pain
All is well
Everyone is happy
In the after-life.