Announcing the Winners for the Allbooks Review Editor's Choice Award for 2011

Shirley A. Roe, managing editor of Allbooks Reviews International is please to announce this year’s winners of the Allbooks Review Editor’s Choice Award. Congratulations to all of these talented authors. We encourage readers to pick up a copy of these fine books today.

Inspirational
Beyond Doubt John J. Murphy

Health
Creating a Healthy Life and Marriage Judith Anne Desjardins

Fiction
Sardinian Silver A. Colin Wright

Young Adult/Children
Wyndano’s Cloak A. R. Silverberry


Mystery
Carnival of Lies Vernon L. Anley


Memoirs
The Most Revolutionary Act: Memoir of an American Refugee
Dr. Stuart Jeanne Bramhall

Non/fiction

Murderous Intellectuals Jonathan Maxwell

Visit the website today. www.allbooksreviewint.com Your book could be next year’s winner. Every book reviewed and promoted in 2011 (Nov. 2010 to Oct. 2011) will be automatically entered in our contest. (a $50 value)

The Fine Art of Story Telling from Allbooks Review

Lately I have found myself contemplating the fine art of storytelling. Some people are wonderful at it and others just want to make you yawn. The idea of storytelling is the conveying of events in words, images, sounds and embellishments. It is a way to express the emotional power of information. Robert McKee, in his book, Story, says “Stories are equipment for living.” In fact, when a story is told well, the listener is transported on a journey to a new place.According to John Gardner, "Like other kinds of intelligence, the storyteller is partly natural, partly trained. It is composed of several qualities, most of which, in normal people, are signs of either immaturity or incivility: wit (a tendency to make irreverent connections); obstinacy and a tendency toward churlishness (a refusal to believe what all sensible people know is true); childishness (an apparent lack of mental focus and serious life purpose, a fondness for daydreaming and telling pointless lies, a lack of proper respect, mischievousness, an unseemly propensity for crying over nothing); a marked tendency toward oral or anal fixation or both (the oral manifested by excessive eating, drinking, smoking, and chattering; the anal by nervous cleanliness and neatness coupled with a weird fascination with dirty jokes); remarkable powers of eidetic recall, or visual memory (a usual feature of early adolescence and mental retardation); a strange admixture of shameless playfulness and embarrassing earnestness, the latter often heightened by irrationally intense feelings for or against religion; patience like a cat’s; a criminal streak of cunning; psychological instability; recklessness, impulsiveness, and improvidence; and finally, an inexplicable and incurable addiction to stories, written or oral, bad or good. Not all writers have exactly these same virtues, of course. Occasionally one finds one who is not abnormally improvident."The holiday season is a good time to share stories amongst friends and family. Some people are better at verbal storytelling, while others, like myself, prefer to revert to the written word. Many of our preferences and comfort zones reflect back to the patterns of our childhoods. As an only child of working parents, I spent a lot of time reading and writing in my journal. My parents were first generation immigrants and worked very long hours to provide food for our table. Dinners were often rushed with a minimum amount of storytelling unless we had a visitor who probed us. As a result, I was raised with books and paper, but gravitated to friends who were good storytellers because my situation made me a good listener. Things haven’t changed. I am who I am.Lately, I've become good friends with a few great storytellers and I have been captivated, mesmerized and curious about what it is that’s missing for me to tell a good story. I have also done some reading to improve my own verbal storytelling (my family often tells me, I neglect to build up the tension and/or I omit the punch line). Heading into my sixth decade, I plan to improve this. Here’s what I’ve learned so far:- Before telling your story, you need to know it well and/or memorize it- Vary the pitch in your voice when telling a story- Make sure your facial expressions coincide with the story’s mood- Make sure the sequence of events is correct- Build up to the story’s climax- When finished do not go on to another story- Practice storytelling in front of a mirrorOne thing I also read was the importance of putting on a “story hat.” In other words, just before you are to tell a story, put on your story hat which gets you in the mood to tell your story. It is a way to take your mind off your audience, particularly if you are on the shy side.If you are curious about some more tips in this area, I suggest you check out a great you-tube on the subject, called, “Storytelling: Theory and Practice.”
Diana Raab, author http://dianaraab.com/blog/

View our most recent press release!

Announcing the Finalists for Allbooks Review Editor's Choice award for 2011 @
http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release-service/186680

Secrets fo Happy Couples/Review

Genre: Self-help
Title: Secrets of Happy Couples
Author: Kim Olver

Secrets of Happy Couples by, ‘Kim Oliver’ gives an enlightening look into the many challenges and obstacles that couples face everyday. The author gives down to earth advice on how to approach such challenges with new and fresh ideas. This book reminds us that as a couple in a relationship we want our bonds to last indefinitely. However, nothing lasts forever. Relationships lost due to divorce – death, or for whatever the reason may be, have a profound effect on our psyche. When you read ‘Secrets of Happy Couples’, you will delve into this delicate subject and many more.

The book begins by describing the relationship cycles – ‘The Alone Stage’ – ‘The Getting Together Stage’ – The Compatibility Stage’ and ‘The Maintenance Stage.’ As a reader, I found this to be quite informative and motivating. I know that I will use this book as a guide when it comes to my own relationships. Surveying over a hundred couples that have been together at least ten years and are both happy and fulfilled in their relationship, Kim Olver has discovered their secrets and happily shares her findings. As an expert in the field of human relationships, Kim Olver, shares her vast research with the reader in ‘Secrets of Happy Couples.’ It is the second in the ‘Inside Out Empowerment Series.’
I recommend this innovating and empowering book to all! Reviewer: Barbara Watkins, Allbooks Review

Publisher: Inside Out Press (1st edition)
ISBN# 978-0982754900
Pages: 248
Price: $19.95
Reviewed: September 19, 2010

Allbooks Review December 2010 Newsletter

Greetings of the Season

Visit our new site: www.allbooksreviewint.com

To our wonderful Allbooks Review authors, the best of the season and thank you for your continued support.

Congratulations and thank you to all of the publishers that we have worked with this year.
RealTime Publishing www.realtimepublishings.com
Loving Healing Press www.LovingHealingPress.com
Dreamcatcher Pub. www.dreamcatcherpublishing.com
Asteroid Publishing www.asteroidpublishing.com
Capital Crimes Publishing www.capitalcrimes.com
Spirit House Publishing www.spirithousepub.com
The Ebook Sale www.theebooksale.com
Tree Tunnel Press www.treetunnelpress.com
Lily Ruth Publishing http://lilyruthpublishing.com/lilyruthbooks.aspx
Outskirts Booksurge Lulu St. Clair Publishing Taggart

FEATURE
FINALISTS FOR THE 2011 ALLBOOKS REVIEW EDITOR’S CHOICE AWARD
These titles were chosen from hundreds of submissions during 2010. We congratulate the Finalists. Winners will be announced in January, 2011.

Inspirational
Beyond Doubt John J. Murphy
The Ultimate Enlightenment for 2012 Michele Doucette

Health
Creating a Healthy Life and Marriage Judith Anne Desjardins
Please God Not Two Alberta Sequeira

Fiction
Rebound Pamela Swyers Silver Sardinian A. Colin Wright

Young Adult/Children
Wyndano’s Cloak A. R. Silverberry
Cloud Riders Don Hurst
MysteryCarnival of Lies Vernon L. Anley
Healey’s Cave Aaron Lazar

Memoirs
The Most Revolutionary Act: Memoir of an American Refugee
Dr. Stuart Jeanne Bramhall
Voices In the Rain, Meaning in Psychosis Marcia A. Murphy

Non/fiction
The Great Pyramid Secret Margaret Morris
Murderous Intellectuals Jonathan Maxwell

SUCCESS STORIES

We love to hear of your success stories, submit them to us at: allbooksreview1@aol.com
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.

Submissions Wanted:
Urgently need cartoonists, for South African cartoon strips. I’m struggling to find artists who portray black characters. What’s needed are black heroes.... There are loads of possibilities. Eg; Where the subscriber can fill in the bubble captions thus writing the story board."Urgently need artists/authors who already do something like this or who might be capable of it. If this sounds like you, contact richie@theebooksale.com.

Dollar Stretcher Seeking Articles---------------------------------The Dollar Stretcher is seeking articles for its monthly printmagazine and its online ezines. Payment for articles in the printedition is $0.10 a word and payment is made on acceptance. For moreinformation and to view the complete writers' guidelines visit: http://www.stretcher.com/menu/writers.cfmRegency Romance Wanted by Publisher-----------------------------------Aspen Mountain Press launched its new Aurora Regency imprint onOctober 15, 2010. Aurora Regency at Aspen Mountain Press is a linedevoted to Regency romance. Traditional Regency romances, asexemplified by Georgette Heyer's work, are first and foremosthistorical fiction about a very specific (and short) era.The Aurora Regency line is published by Aspen Mountain Press, aroyalty-paying e-publishing company. We do not charge fees forset-up or charge for editing your story once it has been acceptedfor publication. Our contracts request rights to the contractedwork, including digital and print formats as we will provide someof our titles in print later this year. Aurora is looking forwell-researched Regency romances between 35,000 and 70,000 words,although we will bend on the upper word limit if the story meritsit. For complete guidelines visit: http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/submissions/info_6.html

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:

Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Crystal Marcos
Silverdale, WA

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
BELLYACHE: A Delicious Tale
Cat Marcs Publishing

Tell us about yourself:
I have been a storyteller my entire life. Being the oldest of five children, I had a lot of entertaining to do. I am a member of SCBWI. I live on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington State with my husband and our daughter, Kaylee. BELLYACHE: A Delicious Tale is my first book. To learn more about me and for fun writing activities visit my site www.CrystalMarcos.com

When was the book released?
June 15, 2010

Give us an overview of your book.
A lip-smacking, mouthwatering, absolutely delectable debut, BELLYACHE: A Delicious Tale by Crystal Marcos is a literary feast. In the vein of Roald Dahl’s best-loved adventures, Marcos offers a mystical, character driven escapade that intertwines strands of reality with a larger-than-life fantasy world. When Peter Fischer sets out to help his grandfather at Papa’s Sweet Shop, he will quickly learn that sneaking sweets and covering up his sugar-dusted tracks will have major consequences. As Peter is transported to a mysteriously delicious, faraway land, a curious people known as the Candonites, some of whom have no time for a non-Candonite, will teach Peter a lesson on what it means to be different and what it means to forgive.

What inspired you to write this book?
My love for children’s books and children has inspired me to write BELLYACHE: A Delicious Tale. I also thought about what books I really enjoyed and which ones stuck in my mind from childhood. Oddly enough, all those books featured food and treats. Yes, I have a sweet tooth. I thought about what I would want my children to read about someday and I wanted it to be something I felt comfortable with them reading. I wanted them to be transported into a place that was so fantastic that they would always remember it.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?
My book teaches life lessons with a giant dose of magical fun!

Where can people buy your book?
My book is available on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and for other locations visit www.CrystalMarcos.com

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
I am excited to announce I am working on the sequel to BELLYACHE: A Delicious Tale due out next year.

If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
One big lesson I learned in publishing whether you are self published or traditionally published you have to market yourself and your book. No one will do it better than you. Online marketing a necessity in making people aware of what you do.

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
Book giveaways are an inexpensive successful marketing promotion.

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I found Allbooks Reviews from another reputable reviewing site that listed trusted reviewers.

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
Yes. It was a reasonable price to pay for what I received.


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

Nominate us for a listing in Writer's Digest's 101 Best Sites
of The Year. Please send your nomination, along with our webname 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. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com. Great promo for a great price, post audio, book trailers, contact with agents and producers and much more. Be sure and let them know Allbooks Review sent you and join our group.
http://ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html USE THIS LINK TO JOIN TODAY
**************************************************************************************************************

Finalists for Allbooks Review Editor's Choice Award 2011

Shirley A. Roe, managing editor of Allbooks Reviews International is please to announce this year’s finalists for Editor’s Choice Award. Winners will be announced in Jan. 2011. Congratulations to all of these authors.

Inspirational
Beyond Doubt by John J. Murphy
The Ultimate Enlightenment for 2012 by Michele Doucette

Health
Creating a Healthy Life and Marriage by Judith Anne Desjardins
Please God Not Two by Alberta Sequeira

Fiction
Rebound by Pamela Swyers
Sardinian Silver by A. Colin Wright

Young Adult/Children
Wyndano’s Cloak by A. R. Silverberry
Cloud Riders by Don Hurst

Mystery
Carnival of Lies by Vernon L. Anley
Healey’s Cave by Aaron Lazar

Memoirs
The Most Revolutionary Act: Memoir of an American Refugee by Dr. Stuart Jeanne Bramhall
Voices In the Rain, Meaning in Psychosis by Marcia A. Murphy

Non/fiction
The Great Pyramid Secret by Margaret Morris
Murderous Intellectuals by Jonathan Maxwell

Visit the website today http://www.allbooksreviewint.com/

Attn: Authors

Watch for the announcement of nominees for the Allbooks Review Editor's Choice Award.
Only 11 days to go!

Authors, PLEASE do not attempt to rewrite the review

Why ask a reviewer to review your book, if you are going to request that certain paragraphs be omitted, words changed, sentences added, etc? Reviewers are experts that give you their opinion and nothing more. Why ask them to change their opinion to make your book sound better. As the managing editor of Allbooks Review, I have had very few authors that have asked for changes. Our reviewers are professional that give an honest opinion. Once in awhile, an author tries to rewrite the review. Sorry but this is unacceptable.
In closing, don't ask for our opinion if you only want to hear and read your own. Sound heartless, no just being straight forward (like an Allbooks Review) and trying to make a point. Please, learn to take constructive criticism if you want to be a good author. To the other 90% of you, thank you and best of luck with your book sales
Shirley Roe, Managing Editor

Authors unsolicited comments on Allbooks Review

Writing Reviews
When writing reviews, it’s wise to read professional reviews to learn format and key points to pick up in a story.
In mystery writing, and when writing thrillers or any genre, or when writing book reviews, it’s wise to be aware of stereotypes in characters. Story lines are all-important; a great review happens when a story sets itself apart from others in the genre. However, when writing reviews, those are not the only story points to watch for.

Below is the latest review of my thriller, Down to the Needle. The review was completed by Lisa Haselton at Allbooks Review.
My full interview with Allbooks Review has also been published on their site: Allbooks Articles and Interviews.
In writing reviews, notice the professional format in the example below. This was forwarded to me as a document on “online stationary” with the Allbooks Review logo at the top. When reviewing books, you might consider preparing your page with your logo and other identifying information. You can do this whether or not you have a website or blog.

Genre: Fiction/Thriller
Title: Down to the Needle
AUTHOR: Mary Deal

It has been twenty-three years since five-year-old Becky was kidnapped. Abigail “Abi” Fisher is just as diligent today as she was on the first day in trying to find and reunite with her daughter. Abi looks at every young woman who crosses her path and wonders, “Is that Becky?”
Abi’s heart continues to celebrate, yet also break, as every missing child and every homeless young woman is identified or found, and is not her daughter. Five years ago, Abi met Joe. The two clicked almost instantly and they keep each other balanced through the emotional roller coaster that each deals with in life. Just as Abi’s interest piques with a woman on death row, Joe becomes distracted with someone from his past. Abi struggles with pursuing her newest lead that may bring her to her long-lost daughter while supporting Joe in his need for discovery, too.
The author has created a protagonist that any parent, or anyone who cares about children, can identify with. The need to protect a child is overwhelming, and the character of Abigail has lived with the guilt of not being able to do that for the past two decades. Readers will quickly empathize with Abi’s wholehearted desire to find a positive resolution – a reunion with her daughter – especially as the time for the quest seems to have a deadline. The tightly woven plot lines combine with the fast-moving action to keep the reader on the edge of her seat.
Mary Deal is retired and living in Hawaii. She spends a most of her time writing, but ventures out to the beach every now and then. Along with her passion for writing, she enjoys oil painting and photography. She has four published suspense/thriller novels and is working on more. Her third novel, River Bones, won the Eric Hoffer Book Awards competition. She has also published short stories and poetry in various magazines and anthologies.
I find the title appealing since the pacing and tension has the reader hoping for answers along with the protagonist right down to the needle. Will there be a positive resolution before lethal injection is administered? Make sure you have time to read, because once you start, it’s hard to stop. Down to the Needle is a great read. Reviewer: Lisa Haselton, Allbooks Reviews.
Available at: Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble online, other online bookstores, and iUniverse.
Publisher: iUniverseISBN:
978-1-4401-9820-5
Pages: 326
Price: $19.95 Jan 2010

Though I favor a scant few reviewing companies, I love Allbooks Reviews because they have so many additional opportunities for book promotion and publicity.
Writers of books in any genre should peruse this site for services offered.
Book reviewers seeking to learn a more professional format for writing reviews should read the ones found on the Allbooks Review Showcase.

Writing reviews is simple, but perfecting them to really do justice to the writer and the story is best accomplished by a professional review format.
Connect to further discussion of Down to the Needle.


>

Allbooks Review November 2010 REMEMBER

Visit our new site: www.allbooksreviewint.com

Nominate us for a listing in Writer's Digest's 101 Best Sites
of The Year. Please send your nomination, along with our webname 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. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com. Great promo for a great price, post audio, book trailers, contact with agents and producers and much more. Be sure and let them know Allbooks Review sent you and join our group.
http://ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html USE THIS LINK TO JOIN TODAY

Submissions Wanted:
Urgently need cartoonists, for South African cartoon strips. I’m struggling to find artists who portray black characters. What’s needed are black heroes.... There are loads of possibilities. Eg; Where the subscriber can fill in the bubble captions thus writing the story board."Urgently need artists/authors who already do something like this or who might be capable of it. If this sounds like you, contact richie@theebooksale.com.

Myriad Editions is Looking for Books to Publish-----------------------------------------------Based in the UK, this independent publisher publishes atlases,graphic nonfiction and original fiction. They do not publishchildren's stories, poetry or plays. For more information visit:http://www.myriadeditions.com/submissionsGrantville Gazette Wants Short Sci-Fi and Fantasy-------------------------------------------------This appears to be a good magazine to break into if you want towrite fantasy. They have strict guidelines but a supportiveprocess. You need to submit your story as it progresses onto aforum board where it will be discussed and problems with it ironedout. If they decide to purchase your story you will get paid 5cents a word. For more information visit: http://www.grantvillegazette.com/submissionsTimeline Wants History Articles on Ohio---------------------------------------The editors of Timeline, the publication of the Ohio HistoricalSociety, are accepting manuscripts of 1,500 to 6,000 words relatedto the history, prehistory, and natural history of Ohio and to thebroader cultural and natural environments of which Ohio is a part.Articles with a significant regional or national focus also will beconsidered. Suitable topics include the traditional fields ofpolitical, economic, military, and social history; biography; thehistory of science and technology; archaeology and anthropology;architecture; the fine and decorative arts; and the naturalsciences including botany, geology, zoology, ecology, andpaleontology. In addition to full-length feature articles, shorter, more sharplyfocused vignettes of 500 to 1,000 words will be considered.For more information and writer's guidelines visit the website:http://www.ohiohistory.org/resource/publicat/timeline/ifc.htmlDelicious Living Call for

Submissions ------------------------------------- US-based healthy lifestyle magazine is open to submissions. Delicious Living was the first magazine of its kind, and it remains ahead of its time--a lifestyle magazine that meets new millennium needs with centuries-old health solutions, combined with contemporary natural health care methods and modalities.Delicious Living articles are lively, informative, andconversational in tone, and provide up-to-date health informationin a clear, easy-to-understand manner. Writers should consultvarious sources for their stories, including health professionalsand research journals. They require that writers make every attemptto reference current research. For more information visit: http://deliciouslivingmag.com/contact/

FEATURE
Need Book Promotion Ideas?Snoop at Other Authors' WebsitesBy Patricia FryWhether you've been promoting a book for years or for just a few weeks, you are aware of the enormity of the task and the many book promotion options available. Most of us soon settle into a level of comfort. We pursue the promotional activities we prefer, that are fairly easy to implement and that make sense to our project. After a while, however, we realize that we could be doing more, but what? I suggest seeking out some tried and true ideas by snooping on other authors.If you've been doing your homework, you have identified the other experts in your field. You know who your competition is. I suggest dropping in and eaves dropping on other authors with books in your genre/topic. Do an Internet search to see if you can find out how many books they are selling. Where does their book show up? Where has it been mentioned and reviewed? Where is it offered for sale? You could even sign up for Google Alerts using this author or the subject or title of the book as your keywords. Each day you will receive information about where this book is being featured, spoken about, reviewed, etc. Sign up for Google Alerts here: http://www.google.com/alerts. Visit other authors' websites and discover how they are selling their books. What methods are they using? Where are they speaking? Where are their articles appearing? Who is reviewing their books? What are they offering customers, etc.?Do they list their calendar of speaking events? Read their blogs. Check out their media, testimonials and appearances pages. Visit their resources page. They might have an article posted about an unusual promotional activity through which they sold numbers of copies of their book. Make contact with authors of books like yours and discuss promotional ideas. If you share your successes generously, the other author will probably give in return. -------------Patricia Fry is the author of 31 books including "The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book," http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html. She also works with other authors on their book projects: http://www.patriciafry.com.

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

Congratulations to:

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:

Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country)
Holly Weiss, New Hartford, NY 13413, USA

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Crestmont
Star Publish LLC
Historical fiction

Tell us about yourself:
I am a vocal instructor and retired professional singer. I have a BS from West Chester University and a Master of Music from Northwestern University. I am married, have four grandchildren, and live in upstate New York. I live with post-polio syndrome, which affects polio survivors when they reach their mid-50’s. My health concerns forced me to retire from performing on the stage. One voice led to another, so to speak when I found my “other” voice in writing. Crestmont is my first novel and I am grateful for this different means of creative expression.

When was the book released?
May 2011

Give us an overview of your book.

Crestmont is a look into the lives and loves of the staff at the Crestmont Inn during the 1920s in Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania.

“A dream, after all, needn’t be fueled by particulars, only by desire.”

So notes main character, Gracie Antes, who is determined to take control of her life. Gracie leaves her unhappy home in 1925 to pursue her dream of a singing career. On her way to the big city, she accepts a job as a housemaid at the bustling Crestmont Inn. Once there, Gracie finds a life-changing encounter with opera singer Rosa Ponselle, family she never imagined could be hers, and a man with a mysterious past. Relive the 1920s with a colorful cast of characters. Discover with Gracie that sometimes we must trade loss for happiness.

Set in Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania, the story is interwoven with details about the town, the rich history of The Crestmont Inn, and the family who passed ownership from one generation to the next. Many attempts have been made to explain how the mountaintop lake nestled in this tiny town came to be. Crestmont gives a new twist to an old Native American legend, setting the tone of grace around which the story is built.

Let the period of the Roaring Twenties spark your interest with its unique social mores, fashion, jazz and a little bootlegging thrown in for pizzazz.

What inspired you to write this book?
You may be familiar with the saying, “Barn burned down, now I can see the moon.” I was a professional singer whose career was decimated by the effects of post polio syndrome. I had lost my primary means of creative expression. Asking why wasn’t helpful. Asking how I could make use of it was. The back cover of Crestmont says, “Discover with Gracie how sometimes we must trade loss for happiness,” and that was my experience as well.

My husband and I stayed at the real Crestmont Inn in November of 2006. We stayed in a dormitory for staff built in 1926 that had been refurbished into luxury suites. I began to think of what life would have been like for staff there during the 1920s. A light switch turned on in my head for an idea for the book. The next day I went to the innkeepers and asked permission to write a novel based on their inn.

Because of my singing experience, the creation of characters came easily. When one plays an opera role, the singer must create a whole world for the character she sings. In a recital of 14 songs, 14 different characters must be refined to fit the poetry being sung. My experience as a singer and vocal instructor was instrumental in the decision to include opera singer, Rosa Ponselle, in the story and to infuse the main character, Gracie, with the desire to sing.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?
I have found very few historical fiction books set in the 1920s and Crestmont is firmly placed in that era. Also, the famous historical fiction authors such as Rutherford and Penman write with intensive historical detail which is impressive if that is what you are looking for. My reviewers have complimented me for weaving several plot lines and including the period detail without being overbearing. Several have said the reading of the book provided a mini-vacation or respite from everyday life.

Crestmont also could easily fit into the Young Adult or Historical Christian fiction genres. The goodness of people and theme of grace are emphasized.

Where can people buy your book?
Autographed copies with free shipping are available on my website
http://www.hollyweiss.com.
You may purchase Crestmont discounted at www.amazon.com
or take the ISBN (978-1-935188-10-0) to your favorite local bookstore and they can order it for you.

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
I am toying with the idea of turning the “One Voice Led to Another” aspect into a novel. I find memoirs limiting. I would choose instead to use my personal experience as a basis for the main character in a novel.
Right now, I am very busy with public speaking opportunities to market Crestmont, and am writing articles and book reviews to keep my writing skills sharp.

If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:
I chose a small, independent publisher, Star Publish LLC. Star offered me a complete package of editing, formatting, and marketing. They promised me a release date of May 2010 and they stuck to their timetable. As a result, I was able to take advantage of the summer tourist season in Eagles Mere to promote Crestmont.

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
I thought carefully about my target audience. The people of Eagles Mere, PA where the book is set, are passionate about their tiny, mountaintop town. Relatives of many town residents had worked at the Crestmont Inn in their younger days. I knew the community would love a refreshing look at a well-loved resort hotel. The “buzz” about Crestmont started this summer when I did several book signings in Eagles Mere and has spread from there.

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
I like to browse reviews on Amazon. I came upon several done by Allbooks and was impressed with the quality. Then I noticed you were one of Writer’s Digest’s 101 best sites. “The best was recommending the best,” so to speak. I was equally impressed that the Author Interview is posted in a wide variety of places, not just on the Allbooks website.

I hope to widen the reading audience of Crestmont through this interview with you and to gain some insight into further marketing techniques.

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
Yes! I was delighted with the amount of service offered for the price. The greatest challenge for authors seems to be publicity. I thank you for directing me to iFOGO, a wonderful publicity service. It seems that Allbooks, a perfect resource to offer advice on how to best publicize our books, has covered it all.

Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.
Thank you for inviting me to do this author interview and for all of your help.

NEW WEBSITE

Allbooks Review International is developing a new website. After more than 10 years, we are moving our site to: www.allbooksreviewint.com Our old site: www.allbookreviews.com will be up until the end of December. We are still working on the new site to bring you some great books. Please visit the site, let us know if we can be of assistance in promoting your book or finding some great reads.
Allbooks Reviews International is the review and author promo source for POD AUTHORS as well as
traditionally published authors. Authors around the world use our service.Great coverage for your book for twelve months +.Our complete review and author promotional package is less than $50.U.S and includes entry in the Allbooks Review Editor's Choice Award (a $50 US value) Unbelievable value!! www.allbookreviews.com and www.allbookreviewsint.com For complete details contact us.

Cartoonists needed for South African cartoon strips

Urgently need cartoonists, for South African cartoon strips. I’m struggling to find artists who portray black characters. What’s needed are black heroes.... There are loads of possibilities. Eg; Where the subscriber can fill in the bubble captions thus writing the story board."

Urgently need artists/authors who already do something like this or who might be capable of it. If this sounds like you, contact richie@theebooksale.com.

Allbooks Review October 2010 Newsletter

Happy Halloween

The goblins have been having a great time with our website, we apologize for any inconvenience during September. Our new site will be better than ever, you can check it out at:

www.allbooksreviewint.com but remember it is only in the infant stages right now.

Nominate us for a listing in Writer’s Digest’s 101 Best Sites of The Year. Please send your nomination, along with our webname 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. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com. Great promo for a great price, post audio, book trailers, contact with agents and producers and much more. Be sure and let them know Allbooks Review sent you and join our group.

http://ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html USE THIS LINK TO JOIN TODAY

Submissions Wanted:

Swyers Publishing Poetry Anthology Volume One: Making Waves

by Pamela Swyers on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 7:14pm

Just wanted to take a moment to explain a bit about our upcoming Poetry Anthology “Making Waves”. As a small, independent publisher, Bill and I wanted to find a way to help young up and coming artists (poets specifically) get their work into print. Having walked the long, and often arduous road of getting something published, we feel the pain of those who want to see something they have written in printed form. I have been blessed to cross tracks with several young and amazingly talented writers and poets, and thought by donating some man-hours (and woman hours) and fronting the cost to get the anthology up and out there, the young poet could finally have a way to send someone to a place where they could purchase a poetry anthology that contained their works.

What’s in it for us? We get the pleasure of helping out talented young poets and we make a small bit of money off each book sold on-line through Amazon or Smashwords, to help us recoup our costs.

What’s in it for the poet? They may purchase (at our cost to produce, plus shipping) as many copies as they like directly from us, then re-sell these and make money off of them and/or they can send others to our site, Amazon or Smashwords to purchase as many copies as they would like. They have a printed, professional collection of poetry works to share and sell.

How does it work? We are currently searching for the best of the best from young, aspiring poets.(Okay, they can be “young at heart” as well.) By going to SwyersPublishing.com, anyone can submit their poetry (up to 5 per person) for consideration in the anthology. Go to “authors and projects” tab. Then go to “poetry project” tab. You will be asked to view the rules and guidelines and then to electronically submit your poem. ALL entries will be viewed and serioulsy considered for inclusion, however, it is ultimately up to our discretion on which ones we feel are the right ones to be included. (It is possible that yours may not be chosen this time, but may be chosen for Volume Two at a later date.) The poets will be contacted and informed as to whether or not their poem(s) has been chosen for inclusion by February, 2011 (at the latest). Chosen poets will be posted on the website. The anthology is set to be printed in the Spring of 2011, and the deadline for submissions is December 31st, 2010. Poets retain the rights to their works, so they can print or sell them elsewhere at any time. (We have non-exclusive rights to publish this once.)

The website is www.swyerspublishing.com

MINOTAUR BOOKS FIRST CRIME NOVEL CONTEST
—————————————–
DEADLINE: November 13, 2010
GENRE: Books
OPEN TO: any writer, regardless of nationality, who has never been the author of a published novel. Self-published writers may
enter, as long as the entry has not itself been self-published.DETAILS: Submit previously unpublished works of book length (no
less than 220 typewritten pages or approximately 60,000 words).
PRIZE: $10,000 advance and a publishing contract from Minotaur Books.

Science Articles Wanted
————————
Cosmos, the Australian science magazine, is open to submissions. Cosmos is largely interested in ideas, particularly those that
involve, or are driven by, science and technology. Payment for features ranges from A$900 to a maximum of A$3,000. View PDF for full guidelines.
http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/pdf/Cosmos_writers_guidelines.pdf

FEATURE

FEATURE: Virtual Book Tours: A Five Step Planning Process
=================================================================
By Mohamed Mughal

I participated in an international virtual book tour the third week of March 2010. The tour focused on my debut novel and on my
overall approach to writing. I had stops in Berlin, Germany; London, England; and Washington, D.C. This being my first virtual
book tour, I didn’t quite know how to plan the event. I took a deep breath, I planned what I thought made sense and then I took a
head-first dive into the deep end.

Guess what? It was great!

Not only did I have the privilege of direct interactions with readers world-wide, but the depth, complexity, relevance and humor
of the questions contributed to a number of compelling personal and literary revelations.

Want to try it yourself? It’s not difficult. You can start by taking a look at the simple, five-step process that I used.

The Five Step Process
———————
Steps 1 through 4 happen before the tour. These steps don’t necessarily follow a strict sequence of one-after-another. Expect some overlap in the execution of them. Step 5 happens after the tour.

Step 1
——
Do web searches for literature blogs, particularly those who focus on your genre. Contact as many as possible and briefly explain who you are, what you wrote and why they should be open to hosting you for a virtual book tour.

Being a Maryland-based writer, I’m a member of our state’s writers’ association. I went to that organization’s website and contacted fellow members who maintain literary blogs. One of my blog hosts came from these contacts. I found another of my hosts through a web search on the terms “literary blogs” and “book blogs.” I found my third host by searching for writers with similar demographics as mine. Be persistent. I contacted three dozen blogs before finding three willing to host my virtual book tour.

Step 2
——
Once you’ve gotten commitments from the number and the type of blogs that you want on your tour (I wanted three literary blogs),confirm tour dates with each host.

In addition to setting dates for the tour, this message tells hosts to expect a prewritten tour announcement by a specific date;it reinforces the mechanics of the tour; and it informs the hosts of upcoming press releases.

Step 3
——
Pre-plan the mechanics of the tour and share this plan with each of your hosts. Have your hosts share this information with their blog’s readers prior to the tour.

For my event, readers from each blog could ask up to three questions about my writing and/or book. I developed and posted my answers in about a day. To increase participation and interest, I gave a free signed copy of the novel to the first person to post a question at each blog. I made sure that I included information on the giveaway in all my press releases and in all announcements that I posted to my web-site and to other social media sites.

I also wanted to make sure that the information that my hosts distributed to their readership was consistent and cross-linked.

Providing this information and text to your hosts makes it easier on them. All they need to do is cut and paste the content into a post on their blogs. Doing this also allows you to maintain control over the mechanics of the tour while shaping its overall message. Insert links to useful background information such as book reviews and author interviews. Create an integrated set of tour segments from one blog to another by having each host post clickable links from their blog to each of the other participating blogs.

Step 4
——
Issue a series of press releases to publicize the tour.

You can issue these releases through a press release service, your website, local newspapers and through any other social media that you participate in such as Facebook and Twitter. The idea is to drive as much traffic as possible to the host blogs and to make for a better attended virtual event.

I planned a series of four press releases. I issued the first a month before the tour, the second about three weeks before, the third about a week before and the last one on the day before the tour. Here’s sample text from one of the press releases:

Virtual Book Tour Puts God on Trial

American literary cubist Mohamed Mughal will participate in an international virtual book tour for his novel, Resolution 786,in March 2010. The novel’s plot includes a trial of God for crimes against humanity.

The tour has stops in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. The following blogs are hosting the tour:

21-23 March 2010, ………………………………….etc.

You get the idea. In snappy, easy language, tell them who, what, where, when and why. Make sure you throw in personal interest material, background information that you think and feel will resonate with the types of people who might read your books. If at all possible, include clickable links in the press release. Make it as easy as possible for potential participants to get to where you want them, posting questions and comments at your host blogs during the dates of the tour. Finally, think hard about the titles of your press releases. You want titles that are accurate, relevant and as compelling as possible.

Step 5
——
Once the tour is done, post clickable links to each host’s Q&A segments on your website and on all social media sites in which you participate.

In addition to my web-site’s blog, I posted my virtual book tour’s links on Facebook, hubpages and squidoo.

Conclusion
———-

There’s an admitted simplicity and logic to the five-step process and to the implementing details associated with each step. The art and inspiration come with the personal nuances that you imbue into the mechanical process. Make it special. Make it you.

Would I do another virtual book tour? Absolutely! Done right, the process yields increased visibility to an author while increasing traffic for the host blogs. It’s an ideal venue through which to create and leave behind a long-lasting cyber-trail of information about your book, about your writing and about yourself. Most of all, a virtual book tour is a perfect vehicle through which to enjoy the benefits and revelations of a real-time, deep conversation with readers and literature enthusiasts the world over.

————————————————–

Mohamed Mughal writes in the schools of literary cubism and absurdism. Learn more at http://www.mohamedmughal.com.

Copyright (c) 2010 by Mohamed Mughal

Allbooks Review is happy to be a stop on your virtual tour, just contact us.

SUCCESS STORIES

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

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.

Congratulations to:

Congrats to our Managing Editor, Shirley A. Roe on the release of Snow Eagle

Available on Amazon.com in print and kindle, ebooks at: www.theebooksale.com

Conversations with Jerry and Other People I Thought Were Dead won the silver medal in the 2010 IP Death and Dying Category, and was a Finalist in the 2010 Indie Excellence Awards.

Irene

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:

Please state your name and location.

N. E. (Ed) Walker, Tampa, Florida, US

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:

Nexus, self-published ebook

Tell us about yourself:

I’m president of Design/Analysis Consultants, Inc., a small firm specializing in the creation of highly reliable electronic products. Because of my affinity for science and engineering, I’ve always loved good science fiction, but for some unknown reason I enjoy speculative fiction (science fiction without the rocket ships and futuristic gizmos) even more, particularly stories with offbeat psychological themes.

I’ve been writing non-fiction for over twenty years, primarily newsletters and one published technical book that has done well. I became serious about fiction approximately ten years ago, but on a part-time basis because of the demands of my career. Nexus is the first completed novel.

When was the book released?

July, 2010


Give us an overview of your book.

I don’t think I can beat the Allbooks review by Cindy Taylor

What inspired you to write this book?

I enjoy writing, plus had a desire to write the type of book that I like to read that seems to be harder to find these days; i.e., one without the boring and predictable car chases, fist fights, and gratuitous vulgarities.

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

Other than being somewhat retro as mentioned above, it’s a character-focused mixed-genre blend of mainstream and speculative fiction.


Where can people buy your book?

Nexus is available at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Nexus-ebook/dp/B003S3S0CQ

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

Yes, Purgatory, which is also a mix of mainstream/SF, scheduled for mid-late 2011. Purgatory examines a self-centered protagonist who, as a result of the terrifying side-effects of a serious injury, is forced to review the effects of his past actions from his family’s perspective. A brief excerpt from Chapter 1 of the draft:

          Bathed in a suffocating warmth, I eventually became aware of the faintest glow, eking its way through my translucent covering. The outline of a large ragged hole floated before me, ink black centered in the darkest gray. Its top was flattened against a charcoal ceiling; its rounded bottom connected to a coarse and dusky wall that dropped down into the depths.

          Where was I?

          This idle curiosity suddenly exploded, blowing away my calm detachment, as the horror of my situation plugged itself into my brain. My erupting screams were throttled into a dreadful moaning by my constricted throat, muffled further by the pungent fabric that smothered my face, and I writhed fiercely, trying to break myself free. Swaying as if on a tether, I realized that I was head down, wrapped and hung like a specimen in an insane collection.

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

Before you do, be sure to spend the time and effort to be very sure that your work is very polished and marketable. If you think you’re at that point, an Allbooks review would be a good way to obtain professional and unbiased feedback. If the feedback indicates that you’re not quite there, then obtaining their professional editing services would be a good next step.

If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?

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

I was seeking a professional editor’s opinion, and found Allbooks on the web. From reading several of their reviews, I could tell that they would provide the sort of straight talk that I was looking for, and that criticisms would be balanced and constructive.

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

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

www.allbookreviews.com

AUTHOR LOOKING FOR INFORMATION:

My question is, would you have any information on how I could get this book into the Scholastic collection for school fairs? As it was published by Infinity, a POD publisher, it seems a bit more complicated. I contacted Scholastic and they would need 7000 books, which Infinity can print as they do their own publishing. It sounds rather lucrative (even at $1.00 a book royalty, or so) and I would certainly like to try.

I would be so grateful for any information you could give me.
Regards,
Sheila McIntyre

AllBooks Review Website

The Allbooks Review website www.allbookreviews.com is down for a few days for upgrading. Please return to the site at a later date if you can not access it.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you
Shirley A. Roe
Managing Editor,Allbooks Review
www.allbookreviews.com

We highly recommend you become a member of iFOGO. Just click this link to join.
http://www.ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html

Here are some helpful Submissions Wanted ads, get your work out there!!

Myriad Editions is Looking for Books to Publish
-----------------------------------------------
Based in the UK, this independent publisher publishes atlases, graphic nonfiction and original fiction. They do not publish children's stories, poetry or plays. For more information visit: http://www.myriadeditions.com/submissions

Grantville Gazette Wants Short Sci-Fi and Fantasy
-------------------------------------------------
This appears to be a good magazine to break into if you want to write fantasy. They have strict guidelines but a supportive process. You need to submit your story as it progresses onto a forum board where it will be discussed and problems with it ironed
out. If they decide to purchase your story you will get paid 5 cents a word. For more information visit: http://www.grantvillegazette.com/submissions

Timeline Wants History Articles on Ohio
---------------------------------------
The editors of Timeline, the publication of the Ohio Historical Society, are accepting manuscripts of 1,500 to 6,000 words related to the history, prehistory, and natural history of Ohio and to the broader cultural and natural environments of which Ohio is a part. Articles with a significant regional or national focus also will be considered. Suitable topics include the traditional fields of political, economic, military, and social history; biography; the history of science and technology; archaeology and anthropology; architecture; the fine and decorative arts; and the natural sciences including botany, geology, zoology, ecology, and
paleontology.

In addition to full-length feature articles, shorter, more sharply focused vignettes of 500 to 1,000 words will be considered.

For more information and writer's guidelines visit the website: http://www.ohiohistory.org/resource/publicat/timeline/ifc.html

Delicious Living Call for Submissions
-------------------------------------
US-based healthy lifestyle magazine is open to submissions. Delicious Living was the first magazine of its kind, and it remains ahead of its time--a lifestyle magazine that meets new millennium needs with centuries-old health solutions, combined with contemporary natural health care methods and modalities.

Delicious Living articles are lively, informative, and conversational in tone, and provide up-to-date health information in a clear, easy-to-understand manner. Writers should consult various sources for their stories, including health professionals
and research journals. They require that writers make every attempt to reference current research.

For more information visit: http://deliciouslivingmag.com/contact/

Swyers Publishing Poetry Anthology Volume One: Making Waves

by Pamela Swyers on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 7:14pm

Just wanted to take a moment to explain a bit about our upcoming Poetry Anthology "Making Waves".

As a small, independent publisher, Bill and I wanted to find a way to help young up and coming artists (poets specifically) get their work into print. Having walked the long, and often arduous road of getting something published, we feel the pain of those who want to see something they have written in printed form. I have been blessed to cross tracks with several young and amazingly talented writers and poets, and thought by donating some man-hours (and woman hours) and fronting the cost to get the anthology up and out there, the young poet could finally have a way to send someone to a place where they could purchase a poetry anthology that contained their works.

What's in it for us?

We get the pleasure of helping out talented young poets and we make a small bit of money off each book sold on-line through Amazon or Smashwords, to help us recoup our costs.

What's in it for the poet?

They may purchase (at our cost to produce, plus shipping) as many copies as they like directly from us, then re-sell these and make money off of them and/or they can send others to our site, Amazon or Smashwords to purchase as many copies as they would like. They have a printed, professional collection of poetry works to share and sell.

How does it work?

We are currently searching for the best of the best from young, aspiring poets. (Okay, they can be "young at heart" as well.) By going to SwyersPublishing.com, anyone can submit their poetry (up to 5 per person) for consideration in the anthology. Go to "authors and projects" tab. Then go to "poetry project" tab. You will be asked to view the rules and guidelines and then to electronically submit your poem. ALL entries will be viewed and seriously considered for inclusion, however, it is ultimately up to our discretion on which ones we feel are the right ones to be included. (It is possible that yours may not be chosen this time, but may be chosen for Volume Two at a later date.) The poets will be contacted and informed as to whether or not their poem(s) has been chosen for inclusion by February, 2011 (at the latest). Chosen poets will be posted on the website. The anthology is set to be printed in the Spring of 2011, and the deadline for submissions is December 31st, 2010. Poets retain the rights to their works, so they can print or sell them elsewhere at any time. (We have non-exclusive rights to publish this once.)

The website is www.swyerspublishing.com Email is bill@swyerspublishing.com

Allbooks Review September 2010 Newsletter

Cooler temps of autumn

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. Also join iFogo and get www.booksonfilm.com. Great promo for a great price, post audio, book trailers, contact with agents and producers and much more. Be sure and let them know Allbooks Review sent you and join our group.
http://ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.html USE THIS LINK TO JOIN TODAY

Submissions Wanted:

POOLE LITERARY FESTIVAL NEW MEDIA PRIZE
---------------------------------------
DEADLINE: September 15, 2010
GENRE: Short Stories, nonfiction, poetry, young writers
DETAILS: Two age categories: adult and student. Storytelling, whether fiction or non-fiction or poetry, written specifically for delivery and reading/viewing on a PC or Mac, on the web, or via mobile phone. Could be thought of as a short story, a novel, a documentary, or poetry. However, "writing" and "literature" in the digital age now can include words, images, film, animation, and interactivity for the audience.
PRIZE: £250 and an Apple i-pad for 1st prize winner in each age category.
URL: http://www.poolelitfest.com/new-media-prize.php

FEATURE
Why Book Promotion Takes Patience
By Patricia Fry

Why must authors have patience? Because it takes time to go from exposure to sales. Exposure is necessary in order to alert potential customers to your book-let them know that it exists. People have to know about your book before they will purchase it. News flash: Just having it sitting on a shelf in a bookstore, doesn't necessarily mean that people will be inclined to purchase it.

They need to hear about it, read about it, hear others talk about it, see it reviewed in their favorite related publications, handle it a few (or many) times, have it recommended and learn more about it. Not only do they need to know about it, they must be convinced that this is something they want to read-that they will enjoy it or benefit from it or that someone they know will. Handpicked books make great gifts.

So how do you get this sort of exposure for your amazing book? You must establish a website and, perhaps, a blog site. Go out and speak. Get your book reviewed many times over.

Arrange for book signings. Rent booths at book festivals. Join organizations and groups that can help you get exposure for your book (those related to the theme or genre of your book as well as those that can help with marketing, offer resources, etc). Where appropriate, teach courses and/or give workshops related to your book. Speak at conferences related to your book. Talk about it everywhere you go. Submit articles to appropriate magazines/newsletters/sites. And make sure you are listed in Books in Print (so booksellers can special order your book for customers).

Currently, I am testing new waters while getting exposure for my latest book, Catscapades, True Cat Tales. And I am reminded how time-consuming book promotion can be, especially just coming out of the publishing gate. How much time is it taking? LOTS of it. Getting exposure in all the right places is my full time job at the moment. And it takes patience, because reviewers don't always respond as quickly as you would like. Booksellers can drag their feet about scheduling your signings. Potential customers who may really want a copy of your book put off purchasing it.

How long does it take to get the results you want through exposure? Do you want me to be candid? This is an ongoing activity for as long as you want your book to sell.

Until you have major name recognition as the author of mysteries, true crime books, children's or young adult books, fantasies, science fiction or books on finance, for example, you will need to practically hand sell each and every book you produce. As authors in this publishing climate, the best that we can do is to consider authorship a serious business, not a privilege that will result in instant fame and fortune.

Sure, you'll get a flurry of sales after a positive review is published by a reviewer of some credibility and with a large following. You may sell a box or a handful of books at a book festival or a large conference where you speak. You will surely sell a dozen or so books at a well-publicized book signing. And some of those customers will tell others about your book and you'll get some residual sales. But then, you're back to the drawing board reminding potential customers about your book on a regular basis while attempting to find new ways to get exposure.

Does it sound like a dismal reward for writing a marvelous book-to have to promote for evermore? It depends on how you look at it. I suggest shifting a measure of your creativity over from your writing efforts to the process of promotion and look at it as a creative challenge.

Here's another tip. Don't ever allow yourself to be discouraged when your sales, during a particular event or after a great review, fall below your expectations. Exposure doesn't always lead to immediate gratification (sales). In fact, I like to tell the story of a SPAWN member who shared in our SPAWN booth at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books one year. He didn't sell very many books that year, but he made some amazing contacts that led to him being involved in a documentary featuring the topic of his book. It airs frequently on the Military channel.

If you are currently or will soon be promoting a book, keep things in perspective. Understand the concept of book promotion.

• Book promotion is not a one-time shot. It is ongoing for as long as you want to sell copies of your book.

• Book promotion is not a passive process. It takes serious planning and assertive action.

• Book promotion efforts do not usually result in high sales right off the bat.

• Book promotion takes time, effort, energy and creative thinking.

If you have a good product, your next obligation is to be proactive in promoting it and be patient.

SUCCESS STORIES

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

Creating A Healthy Life and Marriage has won an award. Judith

Readers Favorite
2010 Silver Medal Winner
Non-fiction, Relationships

Dear Shirley!

Wow. Thank you for the wonderful review. I have been real busy and could not get back to you.
I just broke my third Guinness World Record on Live TV last week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etDo37PKKvk (see me drop the anchorman on the floor live)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGG9D7EO_rs

Another world record (4th one) is set for this Saturday August 14th at 1 PM PST at livestream.com.
The cookbook is here. I will send the hardcopy to you.
Thank you so so much!
THIENNA

Creating A Healthy Life and Marriage; A Holistic Approach: Body, Mind, Emotions and Spirit has received its first two awards:

Featured Book of the Month
August 2010
Pacific Book Review
http://www.pacificbookreview.com/

Readers Favorite Awards 2010
Finalist, Non Fiction - Relationships

Beyond Doubt is now available as an e-book through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and others, please let everyone know it is downloadable. Many blessings!

John

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:

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

Don Hurst. Roseville, California, USA

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:

Cloud Riders. ePress-online Inc.

Tell us about yourself:

I'm Don Hurst. My full name is Donald Douglas Hurst. I'm a 75 year-old life-long bachelor living in Northern California, U.S.A.

I have an AA in Art and a BA in Expressive Arts.

I am a veteran of United States Navy during the Korean War and a veteran of the United States Air Force during peacetime.

I have two younger brothers.

10 years younger, Dennis, who lives in San Diego, California. He's an electronics engineer. He's retired but still magnificently smart.

And Bob, who also lives Roseville. He's 3 years younger than me and has for years been the president of a corporation. He's now retired but is still unabashedly bossy.

I write fantasy mostly, because it's more real to me than so-called reality.

I have a web site: www.donstuff.com

On the back cover of Return to UKOO, my first book, is the following: 'No matter where I go, there I am. I can either get in the way or enjoy the company.'

Enough about me. I'm getting bored.

Don

When was the book released?

2010

Give us an overview of your book.

14 year-old Paul Winsome has to ride clouds to save his 11 year-old sister Vicki, and the solar system. He has no idea how. Why was he chosen? Could anyone be less qualified?

Through his parallel-imagined-life, Paul has to enter a dangerous, intimidating, puzzling pursuit of a reality just beyond his grasp. He has no choice but to trust his imagination. However, isn't his imagination mixed in with everyone else's imagination in an imagination life stew? Aren't his chances of failure literally astronomical?

"Your gift of imagination is able to reach any altitude,” says wizard Maken Fairchild. Easy for him to say. He doesn't have to confront gargantuan gorilla Claude Nab or his owner, queen authority of malice Calamity Horrid. He doesn't have to face an invading solar system Vile Extinction, whose added suns will cook Earth upon her arrival. He doesn't have to face her laser-shooting eyed son, Kid Badd. Face six eyed Keen Aware. Bully Buster. Save his cat, Isno Gravity.

Not to mention, how does one ride clouds anyway?

Surely someone has made a dreadful mistake.

What inspired you to write this book?

E. B. White answered a child's question about whether his stories were true.
He answered, quote: "No, they are imaginary tales… But real life is only one kind of life―there is also the life of the imagination." End quote.
Combine that with the Harry Potter series and Cloud Riders sprang to life in my imagination.

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

I wanted to write a book about imagination itself. It took six years to complete. It's been quite a cloud ride.

Where can people buy your book?



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

Not at the present time.

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

Cloud Riders is not self-published. But my advice is to remember that
'writing the book and self publishing it is only half the task. The other half is to sell it.'

If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:

Editing, cover design, encouragement and a reality check when my
Imagination soared too far for a reader to grasp. ePress-online Inc. is staffed by other writers helping writers with their craft. They have been wonderful to me both in guidance and understanding my goal.

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?

My review by Alison Griffiths, an Allbooks Reviewer. She brought me out of a worsening dark cloud of self-doubt. The encouragement of Writers Village University's Donna Sundblad, know at WVU as Birdie, suggestions as to marketing. Marketing success is the branch held out to keep me running toward accomplishment. I truly care less for Don Hurst being successful than Cloud Riders reaching the reading public, young and old.

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

I found Allbooks Reviews on a site that lists book reviewers. I just got lucky in my pick.

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

I'm 75 and living on Social Security. Low cost was not only a surprise, but a God send. As to what more Allbooks Reviews could offer, I haven't explored fully what is now offered. Seems to me so much is offered that it will take some time to grab a hold of the spinning merry-go-round of marketing help.

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

Thanks right back at you. I am truly appreciative.

Interview with Author Michele Doucette

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

Michele Doucette, Stephenville, Newfoundland, Canada

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:

A Travel in Time to Grand Pré

St. Clair Publications

Tell us about yourself:

A Special Education teacher of 25 years, I am as equally passionate about the written word; I love to orchestrate and manipulate words. I spend countless hours working on genealogy; sourcing and validating relationships. I am a firm believer in the healing energies of crystals, stones and positive thinking.

When was the book released?

The first edition of the book was available on July 3, 2009. The revised edition became available on March 16, 2010.

Give us an overview of your book.

A Travel in Time to Grand Pré is a historically informative adventure, tying the history of the descendants of Yeshua (Jesus) to modern day Nova Scotia, Canada. Madeleine Sinclair feels disconnected with the era of her birth, yet intuitively aware of herself in another time period in history. Transported back to 1754, she comes to learn, live and experience firsthand the lives of the French Acadian people, meeting Michel (dit Sophie) LeBlanc, her love of that time.

Through the warm, loving and helpful guidance of fellow time traveler, Madame Pêche, she comes to understand the predetermined course of her Sinclair bloodline, beginning with Rollo the Viking, father of William Longsword, a line that is shown to be linked to the Merovingians, the Cathars and the Knights Templar (protectors of the Holy Grail).

Before long, the reader is led to the very apex of this time travel adventure. Madeleine has been decreed the one who is to introduce the words of Yeshua, spoken in Aramaic at the height of his ministry, to the modern world. Herein, Yeshua explains how individuals can find their way, their truth(s), so as to live their lives to the fullest.

What inspired you to write this book?

In a plot that came to me in 1996, I knew how I wanted the story to begin and I knew how I wanted the story to end. While I was sure about certain elements for inclusion in the story, I was very surprised at how the story unfolded.

I was inspired by my French Acadian heritage, my fascination with genealogy and current DNA findings, my attraction to quantum physics (courtesy of the spiritual and metaphysical realms) and my enthrallment with the plausibility of a holy bloodline as discussed in The Holy Blood, The Holy Grail.

In addition, it seems that I had been duly positioned, beforehand, to conduct extensive research: authors, books, websites, email communication (regarding genealogy) with countless individuals.

When the time came for me to begin writing, the entire process took less than six months.

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

Having researched my own genealogy for close to 20 years, this book incorporates linkages to several ancestors of historical import.

Where can people buy your book?

Amazon US, Amazon Canada, Amazon UK, Barnes and Noble

Direct from the publisher at http://stan.stclair.net

Direct from the author via email at michele.doucette@nf.sympatico.ca

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

Since A Travel in Time to Grand Pré was released, I have gone on to release several spiritual / metaphysical books, both published through St. Clair Publications. The next few months shall see the publication of two additional spiritual / metaphysical tomes followed by several in reference to the wisdom of crystals and stones.

Currently, I am busy reading and researching for Back Home With Evangeline, the sequel to A Travel in Time to Grand Pré. In keeping, I am aiming for a Summer 2011 publication date. I shall also be releasing Germain Doucet (Sieur de LaVerdure): Ancestry of Michele Doucette, based on my paternal lineage, in the not too distant future.

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

Take the time to conduct thorough research into POD (Print On Demand) publication services before making a final decision. I also heartily endorse Stanley J. St. Clair of St. Clair Publications as a possible publisher.

If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:

N/A

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?

N/A

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

A good friend of mine, an author by the name of Jean-Claude Koven, was also reviewed by Allbooks Reviews, winning the Editor’s Choice Award for Best Metaphysical Book. It was this that led me to you.

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

I was pleasantly surprised by both the low cost as well as all that was contained within that price. To be featured for one month with the review thereafter being posted in the Review Showcase for the period of one year is sensational. In addition, the initial review is posted in a wide variety of publications, both printed as well as online. Interviews are also posted on the website. To know that your website is denoted as being one of the best websites for authors speaks volumes. Just knowing that each book is automatically considered for the Editor’s Choice Award at each year end is quite the opportunity.

While I am unsure as to anything else that Allbooks Reviews might be able to offer, especially after citing the previous information, I am sure that they will be able to come up with something fantastic.

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

Allbooks Review August 2010 Newsletter

Summer Festivals are everywhere

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.

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Submissions Wanted:
CALL FOR ENTRIES: Dream Quest One Writing Contest! Write a poem, 30 lines or fewer on any subject or write a short story, 5 pages maximum length, on any theme, for a chance to win cash awards!
Prizes: Writing - $500, $250, $100. Poetry - $250, $125, $50.
Entry fees: $5 per poem, $10 per story. Postmark deadline: July 31.
Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com for details and to enter!
Military History Articles Wanted
--------------------------------
Military History Quarterly welcomes feature articles. All eras are of interest, particularly ancient times, if the writer bases an article on up-to-date historical research. Rates for feature articles start at $800 (more if special expenses incurred) for 1500-6000 words. Pays $400 for departments. View website for
details: http://tinyurl.com/28q8auo

Science Articles Wanted
------------------------
Cosmos, the Australian science magazine, is open to submissions.
Cosmos is largely interested in ideas, particularly those that involve, or are driven by, science and technology. Payment for features ranges from A $900 to a maximum of A $3,000. View PDF for full guidelines.
http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/pdf/Cosmos_writers_guidelines.pdf

FEATURE
How to Get the Media Interested in You
You May Be Newsworthy Without Even Knowing It

Do you know what the media would consider newsworthy about you or your company?Many new clients come to us with a strong opinion about what their "pitch" should be, but often miss the mark, in terms of knowing what will get the media to sit up and pay attention to their message. But it's very understandable that this could occur, if you're not working with the media the way we do, day in and day out, developing story angles intended to grab their interest.

For those who are new to PR, my message is this - think outside of the box! As normal as it is to be focused on your own company and industry or field of interest, there is a lot going on in the world, and your expertise might be news in ways that you've not previously envisioned.

I always recommend to my clients that they try to view their companies from the outside looking in, particularly, from the perspective of the media. The best way for you to garner the media's interest is to understand what it is about you and your company that might be interesting to them. The process is actually quite simple.

1. Read the News - If you want to be featured in the news, you should read the news. Be general in your approach. Read the top headlines in all the categories, even if your company is in a niche industry, because you never know what is going to happen. For instance, the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has focused a spotlight on oil rigs and the people who work on them. Journalists are looking at the companies who own oil rigs, drilling rights, and other oil company service firms. Analysts in that small business niche are being quoted in top tier media outlets, after existing for decades completely outside the reach of the media's radar. So, go broad with the topics that you track, and don't be afraid to become a little bit of a news geek. Being better informed about the world around you isn't a bad thing, and the by-product is that you'll be far more media savvy.
2. Track it Back - Now, as you absorb the headlines and the stories of the day, think about how one or more of them could track back to you, your company and your key messages. A good example comes from one of our clients, a maker of natural health supplements. Their primary product line uses a natural ingredient called Resveratrol. Clinical research has uncovered that Resveratrol can be helpful in reducing fatigue, restoring energy and safeguarding your immune system. Now, earlier this month, Reuters reported that doctors who performed an 11-year study of British civil servants discovered a direct link between heart disease and working 11 hours or more each day. Another story quoted U.S. Department of Labor statistics that more than 7 million Americans work at least two jobs. We combined those two pieces to demonstrate that millions of Americans are working way more than 11 hours, and are at risk for everything from chronic fatigue to heart disease. From there, it wasn't too difficult to beat a path back to the client's physician spokesperson who recommended a series of tips to prevent those outcomes, including a short tip about how some natural supplements can be helpful. At first blush, you wouldn't imagine that labor stats and a medical study in Great Britain would have any relationship with a natural health supplement, but by thinking creatively, we were able to make the connection and develop a strong radio pitch for that client.
3. Be Opportunistic - The news happens fast, so be prepared to think just as fast. Recently we took on a client named Jane Heimlich, who has a dual claim to fame. She is the daughter of dance hall king Arthur Murray, who established the largest chain of dance instruction centers in the country. She is also the wife of chest surgeon Dr. Hank Heimlich, the creator of the life-saving, anti-choking first aid technique called the Heimlich Maneuver. She had just written her memoir, and was looking to promote it via media interviews. When we brought her on board, the new season for the network TV show Dancing with the Stars was about to begin. In reading her book, we discovered that her father's TV show, The Arthur Murray Party, was the first network TV dance contest - and it involved the big stars of the day. So, we put together a radio pitch with the headline "Remembering the Original Dancing with the Stars." We booked 15 radio interviews and a full print campaign with that angle, and we just refreshed the angle with the CBS announcement that they are giving Paula Abdul her own TV dance competition.

At the end of the day, recognize that your expertise can be stretched beyond what you have in your marketing plan, and you'll be able to make you and your company more relevant to the press in a lot of creative ways.

Marsha Friedman
CEO EMSI Public Relations

SUCCESS STORIES

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

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.

Congratulations to:

Conversations with Jerry and Other People I Thought Were Dead won the silver medal in the 2010 IP Death and Dying Category, and was a Finalist in the 2010 Indie Excellence Awards.

Irene

GREAT AUTHOR SERVICES

I highly recommend this cover designer. Trisha FitzGerald

COVER DESIGN www.myspace.com/bookdesign

PUBLISHING: E Books www.theebooksale.com

POD: www.realtimepublishings.com

EDITING: www.allbookreviews.com

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:

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

Kerin Bellak Adams Englewood NJ

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:

AD/HD Success! Solutions to Boosting Self-Esteem: The Diary Method Ages 7-17

ISBN 978-1-61599-024-5

Tell us about yourself:

Kerin Bellak-Adams is accredited through ICF with an ACC certification and has years of experience as a highly respected coach, speaker, and expert on AD/HD. She has taught elementary school children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and comes from an unusual background being the daughter of world-renowned psychiatrist Dr. Leopold Bellak, a pioneer in ADD, back in the 1960s. From her teaching experience, Kerin not only developed this book, but specializes in coaching parents on such issues as: how to find your child or teenager’s gifts, how to ask questions that help with focus and get the actions you most desire, and much more. She also coaches kids ages ten and older with ADD symptoms and helps them define small steps that will help them feel more in control of themselves and happier.

When was the book released?

Feb. 2010

Give us an overview of your book.

The book boosts self-esteem by developing a child or teenagers awareness of what comes naturally to them. The book also directs the reader to focusing on the areas that are challenging each day at school, helping them to emphasize their focus which is based on time-management, organization, and other areas, while gently encouraging and strengthening behavioral skills. Chapters are broken out to handle problems and situations common to children in specific age brackets within the overall range of 7-17 years old.

What inspired you to write this book?

My father who was a pioneer in the psychiatric study of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), and being influenced by Dr. Edward Hallowell, author of Driven to Distraction.

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

There is no other type book on the market that inspires the reader to grow, while boosting and maintaining their newly developed self-esteem. This book also is one of a kind as it directs and encourages the student to focus on challenging areas through prompts and questions while encouraging social skills. This book is both educational and for the home. Focus. There is a specific home/school accountability form designed for teachers and parents to use to communicate regularly on the students strengths and weaknesses, as they develop throughout their school life. There is also a parent evaluation and self-esteem logs and graphs.

Where can people buy your book?

Most people are buying it through online stores such as Amazon.com but you can call or visit your neighborhood bookstore and have them order it for you from Ingram with no shipping charges to pay.

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

Yes I am. It will be published in 2 years.

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

Don’t give up 5 minutes before the miracle!

If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:

It creates some marketing ability, and cuts down on some costs.

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?

My website has been the most successful marketing tool. Through a professional designer, I've been able to add book reviews, videos, promote events, and even add a special "Members Only" area where people who've purchased the books can download printable worksheets and extra content for free. I have to admit, a website is an author's best friend!

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

Through my publisher, Loving Healing Press Inc. Victor Volkman tells me that he is starting to use Allbooks Reviews both to promote brand-new self-help and personal growth titles AND to revive interest in backlist titles. He says an Allbooks Review is always fresh and generates new buzz.

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

I'd like to see a Content Management System (CMS) based website so that Allbooks Reviews could take better advantage of social networking tools. Imagine what using Drupal or Joomla could do to make visitors stays more interesting on the site!

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

Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you, I really appreciate it.

News:

Italian Writers Fight for More Rights
-------------------------------------
Four young Italian writers have set up a protest group, Writers in Litigation, to protest what they see as unfair practices on the part of the Italian publishing industry. It appears that authors in Italy do not always receive their fair share of royalties.
For more on this story visit: http://tinyurl.com/36qvj67

Publishing Industry Unlikely to Return to Pre-Recession Heights
---------------------------------------------------------------
After eight out of ten publishers reported a fall in sales in 2010, the Chief Executive Officer of HarperCollins, Victoria Barnsley, has warned that sales are not likely to return to pre-recession figures. HarperCollins saw sales fall by over 13% in 2010 and as a result have reduced the number of books they will publish by 20%.
For more on this story visit: http://tinyurl.com/33bgx5s