Tuesday, October 26, 2010

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.

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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.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

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.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

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.

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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