Allbooks Review Nov 2009 Newsletter

Falling leaves, crisp cool days, Autumn is the time for reflection

Nominate us for a listing in Writer's Digest's 101 Best Sites
of The Year. Please send your nomination, along with our web
name Allbooks Review and our URL www.allbookreviews.com
to: writersdig@fwpubs.com Subject "101 Sites".

Thank you for all of your support.

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

ALLBOOKS REVIEW IS NOW ON iFOGO. Be sure and join the Albooks Review Author’s Group where we can share our success and our mistakes.

FEATURE

PRESS RELEASE WRITING
The purpose of this guide is to outline the steps for writing a press release. Writers that follow this simple formula will be able to write an effective press release in an hour or less.

Step 1 - Choose the Topic of the Press Release

The entire press release writing process starts with "something that happened" that you wish to announce to the media and the public. This is your news and the subject of your press release. News that you can announce includes: a new website, new feature, new product or service, new office location, new employee, new award received, new sales record, new partnership... To get ideas for your own press release, it is a good idea to look at the announcements that others have made in press releases at www.mmdnewswire.com

Step 2 - Write the Headline

The headline is a single sentence statement that announces what the news is. Readers should be able to know exactly what you are announcing by reading the headline. The headline should be 100 characters or less including spaces.

Step 3- Write the Body of the Press Release

The body of the press release expands on the "Who, What, When, Where, How and Why" of the announcement or news. The details in a press release should be limited to the "facts" about the announcement or news. Opinion, fluff or hype is not appropriate. Statements about how the product or service is the most amazing innovation ever invented should not be included. It is important that readers form this opinion by themselves by reading the details (facts) in the press release.

Step 4 - Verify that the Basic Press Release Rules were Followed

- Was your press releases written in third person?
- Does your press release focus on your announcement or news
rather than selling something? Your press release should never resemble an advertisement or sales letter!
- Did you include a media contact name, email address and phone at the bottom of the press release?
- Did you include at least three links to your web site?
- Is there any way that you can make your press release more interesting, timely or unique?
- Is your press release more than 200 words and less than 500?
- Did you add ### to the bottom of the press release to signify the end?
- Is your headline clear and to the point? Can it be shortened without losing anything?
- Are all details of the "Who, What, When, Where, How and Why" covered in the body of the press release?

Call for Submissions:

Allbooks Review is now offering an Author’s Page, for $75 per year. You prepare your page to tell readers anything you like. Bio, book titles, where to purchase, link to website, etc. Include a photo of yourself, and a covershot for your books, one or ten+ it is up to you.

Each additional year is only $25. Get a full page ad that you can send your readers to. Just like having a website without the fuss.
Contact me at: allbookreviews@aol.com for details.

Remember to post your book signing, guest speaker events on our Bookstore page. Simply send us an email with details of your events and we will be happy to post them. Just part of the Allbooks service to our authors.

Success Stories

We love to hear of your success stories, submit them to us at: allbookreviews@aol.com
Words at Work wins award! Congratulations to the author
I wanted to let you know that Words at Work just won the top award in its category (writing/publishing) in the National Best Books 2009 Awards.Thanks again for your support! Best wishes, Lynda McDaniel
Children’s Author, Dawn Beaumont Lane has released A Witch’s Tale, in time for Christmas

Shirley A. Roe has released her third and final historical fiction in the Whittaker Family series, Return to Whittakerville. Copies can be ordered from: www.theebooksale.com or www.amazon.com.

TIP

Allbooks Review Interview

Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)

Bill Poje
Jacksonville, Florida USA

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:

Painless, Xlibris

Tell us about yourself:

I am a 45 year old male who is originally from Michigan. Fortune has allowed me to live in and also to travel to quite a few places in my life. Prior to attending college I worked in a new\used bookstore for 10 years buying and selling books, comic books, magazines, memorabilia and collectibles. The store specialized in science fiction and fantasy but we bought and sold every type of printed matter.

From there I attended Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI, where a BS\BA in Business Administration and Accounting was conferred. An MBA in Finance and Operations Management from Vanderbilt University was also earned. During the formal educational process courses in Shakespeare, Robert Frost, EE Cummings, Southern American Writers and Creative Writing were also completed.

A variety of employment positions have been held. The most recent jobs were 8 years as Cost Management Manager in the automotive industry for a global Japanese corporation, and 3 ½ years as the Financial Controller for the largest exporter out of the Bahamas while I lived on Grand Cayman Island. But the life of Dilbert took its toll and a decision was made to give up island life, move back to the USA, and start a new career.

When was the book released?

Painless was released in September, 2008.

Give us an overview of your book.

Painless is ostensibly a crime novel. The main protagonist (Augustus “Aug” Valentine) operates an import-export company in South Florida that was started with “illegal” money. Periodic smuggling in and out of the USA occurs. In come a load of rubies, sapphires and diamonds and they are promptly stolen from Aug. Who did what and why is the primary plot of the story.

Painless is also the story of Aug’s conflict of love between his first wife Laurie and his new love Jocelyn. To tell you more here would spoil the fun.

On a societal level Painless is a metaphor for the world of today. The hurricane is a metaphor for the financial hurricane hitting all of us. Also, who are the bigger criminals, the protagonists in Painless or the crooks in Washington and Wall Street\Corporate Management? As one character states “Recidivism is ugly whether personal or social in nature.”

I describe Painless as “modern noir.” What this means is that the elements of “noir” fiction and film are in the novel (crime and society as well as characters who are all conflicted with choices of good and evil) but the style and setting are modern. The time frame is 2005 versus 1950’s Los Angeles or Florida. Virtually every chapter is action packed but the action doesn’t rely on fantasy weapons or fantasy locations.

Lastly, the characters are somewhat common people in criminal situations. The plot is not driven by secret government agencies or lawyers or detectives or “Let’s kill the president\high government official” or “Let’s stop the global terrorist threat.” And when the crimes are resolved the story is about people.

What inspired you to write this book?

Creating novels has been in my mind for many years but until recently I personally never felt mature enough to create a product that would meet my standards. But, as a movie buff, I have seen most of the crime\action\horror films made in recent years and I have found the screenplays to be, in my opinion, “lacking”…and that is being kind. My opinion is that I can create stories that are better than what I see on the big screen today and my belief is that Painless and the other material I am writing achieve that.

The Sergio Leone movie A Fistful of Dynamite has seen a lot of airplay recently as re-release. The story is brilliant. The plot revolves around the desire of Juan to rob a bank but the story is about war and revolution and family and death. The revolutionary with no family destroys the family of the man who wanted no revolution. When James Coburn blows himself up at the end of his life he once again states “Duck, you sucker” but he means not that his friend Juan save his own life because he is going to blow up the dynamite but that his character Duck was a sucker in his life for his belief in Revolution. The story has purpose.
Few recent films I have seen or stories that I have read have such purpose. They are throwaway material designed by the corporate marketing machines who “know best” what humans need. Painless is inspired by this perceived lack of cinematic\literary vision; this homogeneity of art. To steal and paraphrase a line from Videodrome  “Painless has something that most novels don’t have. It has a philosophy and that is what gives it strength.”

How is your book different from other books in this genre?

Most popular material I see published on mass scale today is either fantasy driven or is based upon effects rather than plot and characters. The stories are a capitalization of “what’s hot” and deal with cop, detective, lawyer, secret government agency\agent. In Painless the characters are people you might meet anywhere. The locations all exist and can be visited. The time frame is 2005 so the time is “now.” There is minimum fantasy (dream sequence) and the story is not technology driven. There is also metaphorical purpose to the story while recognizing that popularity is determined by the capability for the mass public to enjoy the novel.

Perhaps there are others that create texts like Painless; I cannot speak to everything written. But when I look at bookshelves I don’t see anything that I would consider to be a modern time frame “noir” title. I don’t see anything like Painless on the bookstore shelves. If one reads the reviews on the Painless website one will see that the people who read Painless really enjoy the novel but there is no reference of “this is like…” This is a testament to the originality of Painless.

Where can people buy your book?

The Borders\Walden’s stores have been very kind to me as an author. The store managers of the 3 major US chains that I have spoken to all love the book but the Borders\Walden’s chain is the only chain to allow me in to the store to do store events and to meet people. The suits at the other chains won’t work with me because I am unknown…even though their stores would love to showcase the product. I appreciate this and promote purchase of Painless through the Borders\Walden’s chain.

Painless is available on Amazon and through all major bookstore chains or internet venues.

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?

I am concurrently writing 2 novels and have 4 more separate novels mapped out beyond those 2. One novel is the Painless sequel titled Blindless. The time frame of Blindless is 2007 and the crime is ratcheted up one level in society.

The second novel is code named “Project NLM.” NLM is loosely based upon the concept of the character of Kwame Kilpatrick who is the defrocked ex-mayor of Detroit. The protagonist of NLM is the mayor of Detroit in 2008 and he is embroiled in scandal. So he does what politicians do when confronted with crisis; he deflects criticism elsewhere. This is done by championing a social cause. The mayor winds up personal vendettas on a road trip from Florida to Detroit but uses the vengeance to promote the social cause through media manipulation. Besides media manipulation the theme of political correctness in today’s society is explored.

My goal is to publish both books simultaneously and I am targeting either a Spring or Summer 2010 release. The biggest issue I have is time to write. I have no dull days!

If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?

From the “meet and greet” events I have hosted the following things pop out to me as advice to aspiring authors:

1)What is your purpose in writing?

My purpose was to create a story translatable to the big screen that has originality and, when one is done with the crimes, the story is about people. So buying the “Rolls-Royce” package of Xlibris made sense for me so that there is full distribution. It also made sense to create a story that appeals to men and women both if I want to sell a lot of copies. So first answer the question of “purpose.”

2)Write a story from start to finish and then go back and re-edit

Many people have said to me “I’ve got half a book done.” Well, then you have nothing. How can you say it is half done if you haven’t finished it? Until you finish the book from start to finish you have no book or no 1\2 book.

Painless went through 6 full revisions. Except for some concepts nothing from revisions 1 & 2 exist in the final text. Revision 1 was a seventy five page prototype from start to finish that I had 30 people read. I found out what worked and what didn’t work from talking to the test market.

3)Be prepared to spend time and money on publishing and marketing.

I had a marketing plan in mind when starting that has continuously evolved. Some items have worked and some have not. But I spent the money to try things and to learn from my mistakes.

The biggest item is that I am not relying on others more than is necessary to sell my product. I designed my cover; I am seeking my reviews; I am lining up my book signings; I am spending my time and money on promoting Painless. It is a full time job, especially when combined with writing future products. It will be years before I make any, if any, financial gain off the novel(s). Are you willing to make that commitment?

Remember, you get what you pay for. If you want to buy cheap and save a couple hundred dollars on publishing your product you can do that; just don’t be surprised if you get a bad web site or a bad cover or have distribution issues because you went cheap. I went with Xlibris and I am happy I did.

If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:

Not applicable

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?

One of my successes is designing a cover that looks like a movie poster and allows me to have a 30 second speech that utilizes the cover to sell the book.

The Ruby symbolizes the South Florida action.
The Platinum Ingots symbolize Jocelyn selling Jaguars in Merritt Island and the scenes in Cocoa\Cocoa Beach.
The Sapphire symbolizes Aug & Jocelyn’s weekend getaway in Ponte Vedra.
The Diamond symbolizes the real estate developments in San Destin.
Aug’s life is a hurricane that is heading to San Destin.
His life is a gambling roll of the dice; is it Snake Eyes or a 7…and which is the better roll?
The gold I in the title symbolizes the gold.
The background and lightning symbolize the storm that surrounds the characters.
Painless means multiple things including “Pane Less” symbolized by the shattered glass motif of the logo.
There are rubies, diamonds and sapphires but the emeralds, the symbol of trust in “astro-gemology”, are saved for Jocelyn’s ring. See the “Emerald J”? There is also a “Gold A” entwined for Aug. This is their Ring of Love.

A picture is worth 1,000 words and I have a picture that I can point to when talking to both bookstores and customers. There is immediate visualization about the product that is achieved through this process.

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?

To market a book one needs reviews and I found Allbooks Reviews researching websites for reviews. My only expectation was that Painless would be reviewed in an objective manner. I have confidence in the product as the people who give Painless a try really enjoy the novel because it is not only a good read but also because it is unique.

I believe that the Allbooks review bears this out. The review states that the book is good for “a light, fun read for a day at the beach” but also that it has “a complicated and intriguing plot” and “plenty of humor” full of “action and quirky humor.” This sounds exactly like a 1950’s noir story except that the time is now.

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?

I have no complaints about the cost and I feel that, in today’s world, the cost is exceptionally fair. Allbooks is certainly not getting rich off of me!

I cannot state what else Allbooks should do for authors because I am too new at this business to really know. Between my personal life, promoting Painless and writing the next 2 novels, I really have no needs that I am aware of other than the review and advertising.

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.

Word Trippers: The Ultimate Source for Choosing the Perfect Word When It Really Matters

By Barbara McNichol

As Mark Twain said, “The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter–it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.”

That’s why choosing the exact right word is important. For example, do you know when to use “affect” versus “effect” in your writing? Or “further” versus “farther”? Or “famous” versus “notorious”?

If you’re not sure, Word Trippers is the perfect reference ebook for you. This ebook contains 49 pages of 300+ pairings of words in alphabetical order and searchable on your computer, so they’re easy to find. Each word pairing is explained, then used in sentences to easily show how each is properly used, like this:

Affect, effect – “Affect” is a verb meaning to change or influence. “Your quick action affects (influences) the outcome.” “Affect is also a noun to mean feeling, emotion, or emotional response. “During his grief process, my client displayed an uncharacteristically flat affect.” “Effect” is a verb meaning to bring about, to cause. “You can effect (bring about) a change easily.” “Effect” is also a noun meaning result or outcome. “The story has a desired effect.”

Whether you’re writing for business or crafting the next great American novel, this Word Trippers ebook will lead you to choosing the correct word when it really matters. It’s been created by expert nonfiction editor Barbara McNichol.

This reviewer highly recommends Word Trippers as an excellent reference tool, and gives it a four-star rating.

Robert Medak - Reviewer

The Step-By-Step Guide to Self-Publishing for Profit!

C. Pinheiro and Nick Russell

Do you have a book inside you that wants to get out? Have you thought about finding and agent to get your book published? Think about self-publishing instead, especially if you are a new writer. We cannot all have name recognition. The Step-By-Step Guide to Self-Publishing for Profit leads us through the process. Self-publishing is less expensive than finding an agent and then hope for the best. Working through an agent can be a long and expensive road to travel for publication with no guarantee.

The authors of this book have done the homework for you, all you need to do is write the book, and follow the steps to publication. With self-publishing, you will have to do the marketing, selling, and promotion of your book. The Step-By-Step Guide to Self-Publishing for Profit has information and resources to help you with that also.

You will also find some information about creating your own publishing company and selling your book(s) on Amazon using CreateSpace, a Print-On-Demand (POD) subsidiary of Amazon. The authors also mention other POD publishers, along with the Pros and Cons of self-publishing. If you want to see your book in print, this guide will show you how to make it happen.

Why create a publishing company? This way you keep all rights to your book; and to keep more of the money your book makes in sales. This is because you own the International Standard Book Number (ISBN).

This book is easy to read and understand. This book receives a four star recommendation from this reviewer.

Robert Medak - AllBooks Reviewer

Be an RCP (Review Copy Pushover)

Be an RCP (Review Copy Pushover)

Given how "easy" I am about sending someone a review copy, have I likely been scammed out of a free book now and then? No question. But, to send out a review copy costs me less than $5 (including book, mailer, postage and press kit) for the very best form of advertising I could possibly use: the book itself. If I get even one actual bookstore/Amazon sale as a result, it's paid for itself twice over. If that sale is off my site, now we're up to a three-fold payback. Plus, another book is out there in someone's hands, with all that word-of-mouth potential.

And take it a step further. Even when someone hasn't asked for a book, think about why sending one might be a smart idea. A few months back, I threw an audaciously self-serving offer out in my monthly newsletter. Want some cards to spread the word on my work (for your friends, writers groups, etc.)? And had a few takers. Including a guy who ran a large writers group out west, who asked me if I'd like to be a presenter at their spring conference, all expenses paid.

from The Well-Fed Self-Publisher by Peter Bowerman (Fanove Publishing 2007).

True Stories of Hope, Courage and Inspiration

About the book
Overcomers, Inc: True stories of hope, courage, and inspiration is the perfect book to read when you need a lift. Filled with gripping stories by 36 people from all walks of life, Overcomers, Inc will make you smile, move you to tears, and fill you with the strength you need to face life’s challenges.

Mission Statement
Overcomers, Inc: True stories of hope, courage, and inspiration will give readers the knowledge and emotional resilience to face the most difficult times of life by sharing inspiring stories of triumph and fortitude

Excerpt:

Dreams Come True

It has been an amazing journey. Stepping out from this place of belief has resulted in success for me – and for so many college students – with much more to come. The feedback I receive from students, parents, and deans is abundantly gratifying. I am a guest speaker, a mentor and a coach. I belong to mastermind groups that help keep me inspired and in top form. And I am living well with my muscle disorder, which is pretty much undetectable to those around me at this point.

To top it off, I came home one day to a message from an editor who wanted to know whether my book was still available to be published! (It’s coming out in 2010!)

Had I not experienced my challenging medical year, I never would have allowed myself to realize my dream. Misfortune can actually lead us to a place of joy we wouldn’t otherwise know. Whatever challenge you face, I hope you will allow yourself to recognize a meaningful opportunity that may arise as a result. Play soothing music, light a candle, mentally exhale, and listen to your heart. You will be delighted by what you hear.

From Overcomers, Inc.; True Stories of Hope, Courage and Inspiration. To get your own copy and receive dozens of bonus gifts go to http://www.overcomersbook.com/booklaunch

Allbooks Review Oct 2009 Newsletter

Falling leaves, crisp cool days, Autumn is the time for reflection

Nominate us for a listing in Writer's Digest's 101 Best Sites
of The Year. Please send your nomination, along with our web
name Allbooks Review and our URL www.allbookreviews.com
to: writersdig@fwpubs.com Subject "101 Sites".

Thank you for all of your support.

*****************************************************************************
Allbooks Review and all of our staff, wishes to extend our heartfelt sympathy to our Managing Editor, Shirley Roe in the loss of her mother, Pearl Droy Aug. 12th, 2009.

ALLBOOKS REVIEW IS NOW ON iFOGO. Be sure and join the Albooks Review Author’s Group where we can share our success and our mistakes.
FEATURE
___________________________________________________________
SHORT, FUN, AND LUCRATIVE WRITING OPPORTUNITIES

The greeting card market isn't just Hallmark, and it doesn't even stop with just greeting cards. This market is more appropriately labeled as the "slogan market" or "catchphrase market," because that's what it's all about--creating concise statements for money. Here are 5 such markets:

Brilliant Enterprises has been around since 1967. They pay $60 for "complete, ready-to-print word and picture design." Printing mainly postcards, this publisher says, "Messages should be of a highly original nature, emphasizing subtlety, simplicity, insight, wit, profundity, beauty, and felicity of expression. Messages should be of universal appeal, capable of being appreciated by all types of people and being easily translated into other languages."

Duck and Cover Productions bought 120 ideas/samples last year. They pay $40 per idea, though none are contained in a greeting card. Duck and Cover specializes in buttons, magnets, and stickers only. The editor says, "Duck and Cover holds the trump card for intelligent, contemporary humor. We are a smorgasbord of existential angst, psychotic babble, dry wit and outrageous zingers."

Ephemera, Inc., pays $50 per slogan. Slogans are then used on novelty buttons, magnets, and stickers. The editors say, "Ephemera has a reputation for coming up with the most irreverent, provocative, and outrageously funny material on the market. We encourage you to be as weird, twisted, or rude as you like. We want humor that makes us laugh out loud."

Kate Harper Designs has been doing business since 1993. Freelancers write 100% of their material. The editors say, "We buy work from professional freelance writers, young 20-something writers, and children writers. Our subjects are mostly humor." They want unrhymed verse ideas only.

Koehler Companies, Inc., specializes in a line of decorative plaques. They bought 25 ideas/samples last year, and pay $125 per selected verse. In addition, they limit the use of the verse to allow writers the ability to resell their work for other uses. The editors say, "We combine art and message to create a product that a consumer will like enough to want to
look at for a year or longer."

___________________________________________________________
ANYONE INTERESTED IN POETRY?

Poetry is for real writing enthusiasts. For one, you realize very quickly that poets do not make big money off their poetry. And on top of that, it's nearly unheard of for a living poet to reach any sort of a mass-market audience. Bottom line— even the most respected poets of today go unnoticed by most people.

So, yes, poets are very dedicated and realize that writing is more than just a paycheck or fame. It's about the art and craft of creating beautiful language. Check out three book publishers who accept poetry:

Call for Submissions:
John Daniel and Co. pays 10% royalty on wholesale price. Established in 1980, they publish only the very best poetry they come across. When submitting a poetry collection, the editors advise sending 12-15 sample poems and SASE. Recent titles include Jonah and Job, by Judson Jerome, and The Balancing Pole, by Ann L. McLaughlin.

Oolichan Books hails from Canada and was established in 1974. They pay royalty on retail price, and "are one of the few small literary presses in Canada that still publishes poetry. We try to include 2 or 3 poetry titles each year. We try to balance our list between emerging and
established poets." Recent titles include Love Songs for a Tender God, by Hiro Boga, and Riverbook & Ocean, by W.H. New.

Red Hen Press was established in 1993. 90% of their books are from unagented writers. Books of poetry should be at least 60 pages, and submissions can be single or double-spaced. Poets should submit their poetry for the publisher-sponsored Benjamin Saltman Poetry Award. The editors say, "Our audience reads poetry, literary fiction, and intelligent nonfiction. If you have an agent, we may be too small since we don't pay advances. Be willing to promote your own book."

You can view complete, updated listings for these poetry book publishers at:

* John Daniel And Co.
http://www.writersmarket.com/index_nl.asp?cat=bp&id=1392

Allbooks Review is now offering an Author’s Page, for $75 per year. You prepare your page to tell readers anything you like. Bio, book titles, where to purchase, link to website, etc. Include a photo of yourself, and a covershot for your books, one or ten+ it is up to you.

Each additional year is only $25. Get a full-page ad that you can send your readers to. Just like having a website without the fuss.
Contact me at: allbookreviews@aol.com for details.

Remember to post your book signing, guest speaker events on our Bookstore page. Simply send us an email with details of your events and we will be happy to post them. Just part of the Allbooks service to our authors.

Success Stories

We love to hear of your success stories, submit them to us at: allbookreviews@aol.com

Shirley A. Roe has released her third and final historical fiction in the Whittaker Family series, Return to Whittakerville. Copies can be ordered from: www.theebooksale.com or www.amazon.com.

TIP

Tip: Did you know that most writers use the term "self - publishing" incorrectly? If you are considering "self - publishing," know how people are defining the term before you start a dialogue. You are truly self-publishing when you do everything on your own. If you get help (from iUniverse or a myriad of similar small publishers) you are subsidy - publishing. Sometimes that is called partner - publishing. There are probably as many combinations of self - subsidy - and partner -
publishing as there are firms and presses so do your homework. No one firm or method will be perfect. Yours is to choose the features that best suit your title, your personality and your pocketbook.

Allbooks Review Interview

Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
My name is Paul Kiritsis. I am from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
My book is titled Fifty Confessions and the publisher is iUniverse.

Tell us about yourself:

I was born on July 15th 1979 and raised in Melbourne, Australia. I have completed degrees in Behavioural Science and Professional Writing and Speech, with majors in English and Psychology. I am currently completing a doctoral degree. So far, I have published three books: Origin: Poems from the crack of dawn (2006), Hermetica: Myths, Legends, Poems (2007) and Fifty Confessions (2009). In 2008, Hermetica picked up three literary awards. I have an avid interest in history, mythology and the occult, but I also like to keep my academic interests balanced with forms of physical exercise like lifting weights, diving and thrill seeking. I am a man of adventure and love to expand my knowledge of other people and cultures by travelling. I have travelled extensively in Europe, Africa, America and Australia. Last year, I became a member of the Rosicrucian Order Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (AMORC), a humanitarian movement making for better health, happiness and peace in people’s earthly lives. I think it was the best decision I ever made!

When was the book released?

The book was released in March, 2009.

Give us an overview of your book.

Fifty Confessions is a collection of free-verse poetry exploring a metaphorical descent into the psyche of an author riddled by a mystery ailment. It begins and ends with a small prayer dedicated to the one in whom we all trust, live and have our being. The author’s note then expounds necessary background information including a short synopsis of his personal history through which the audience is better able to grasp the nature and context for the poetry. This is followed by a circle of over fifty confessions grouped into six sections pertaining to the psychosocial model of stress response, beginning with the illness’s onset and culminating in acceptance and closure.

What inspired you to write this book?

I was inspired to write this book after an illness I went through midway through last year (2008). It all happened very rapidly. I had completed a draft of it within a month’s time.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?

It’s different from other books of poetry in that it acts a confessional, revealing bits of my own personality and nature. Sometimes the confessions are blunt and directly, and other times they seep their way into consciousness via the avenues of mythology and folklore.

Where can people buy your book?

People can buy this book from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, my personal website or order it in from any local bookstore.

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?

Yes I am! I am currently working on a travel memoir/autobiography titled Shades of Aphrodite. It focuses on my many travels around Greece and explicates some of the lesser known folklore as well as some revelations of my own about the ancient landscape. It should be out by early 2010. I also have a few fictional works lined up after that, including a retelling of the Egyptian myth of Isis and Osiris and something really interesting and unique involving Plato’s legend of Atlantis.

If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?

Do your research! Make sure your manuscript is the best it can be and free of any errors before you send it in. Only the best will do. The internet is such a valuable resource when it comes to reviews, author blogs, editing, self-publishing and online marketing. After publication, you can host events, seminars or workshops that pertain to your book content and do giveaways! There are many great online marketing resources and suggestions if you go to authorsandexperts.com, authorsden.com, or prleads.com.

If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?

I have had some success with advertising in Parabola magazine, a publication centred on folklore and mythology. I think you’re bound to have more success with marketing if the publication you’re advertising in targets an audience that reads the type of material that you write about.

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?

I found the site by chance actually. I typed in a few keywords into Google whilst looking for possible book reviews and this site came up. By appearing here, I am hoping to gain some added exposure for my books. Every little bit counts!

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?

The low cost was a surprise actually, especially if you compare it with some of the other reviewers like Kirkus Discoveries which charge an arm and a leg to have a book reviewed. As for offering more services, well, perhaps a few more tips on book marketing and promotional tips from some top of the range people in the book publishing world.

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.

Attention Authors

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