Allbooks Review May 2011 Newsletter

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FEATURE
Let’s talk about Book Reviews
You are an author looking for a review. Do you want an honest review of your work? Or do you simply want someone to pile accolades one on the other? Do you want to listen to constructive criticism and possibly make your book the best it can be? Or do you want to rewrite the review removing any criticism and giving readers a false review? If this is the case, write the review yourself and save everyone’s time.
These are questions that you must ask yourself before requesting an honest review. Not everyone is going to love your work. Not everyone is going to agree with your philosophy or life style. When you request an honest review from one person, you are going to get that person’s personal opinion. To which they are entitiled! The next reviewer might love or hate, your book!
Please, use reviews to make you a better writer. If you get criticism, look at it seriously. Perhaps you do need to jazz up the plot, tighten up the story line, make the characters more interesting?
Readers are intelligent people who like to see more than one opinion of a book before buying. That is the reason sites like Amazon have a long list of reviews after each product.
Reviewers are avid readers. They know what sells and what doesn’t. Let them help you. Don’t argue with the reviewer or send nasty notes because they didn’t give you five stars. Don’t threaten to spread the word that the reviewer is inept and should be shunned by writers. Reviews are writer’s tools. Use them to improve your work.
Professional reviewers work hard to produce an honest review. Give these people the credit they deserve. Next time you get a review that is not glowing, read it and try to make use of the criticism. You might even send the reviewer a thank you note!
If you want to be a professional author, act like one. Writers are temperamental. This is what makes them good writers. This is a tough business and there is no place for childish tantrums over a bad review. All this does is waste both your time and the reviewer’s time. Sorry folks, but this had to be said. All the best with your book and let’s work together to make it the best it can be!
Shirley A. Roe, Author and Managing Editor of Allbooks Review International. www.allbooksreviewint.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.

World Wide Web—Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s short story “Truth, Fiction, Denial: A Big Bass Story” is a finalist for the Eric Hoffer Prose Award where it will also be considered for inclusion in Best New Writing, edited by Christopher Klim.
Klim says, “Finalists are a very small group of stories from among thousands of submissions.” Winners are announced in early fall of 2011.
Howard-Johnson is an award-winning novelist and poet; her fiction and poetry have appeared in literary journals nationwide and she is listed as a poet with Poets & Writers magazine. She was named Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment by the 43rd and 44th Districts of the California Legislature. Her Web site is www.howtodoitfrugally.com and she blogs at Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites pick, www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com .


Congratulations go to Kaite O'Reilly for winning the Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry for The Persians, her extraordinary retelling of the 2500 year old Aeschylus play. The Persians, which focuses on the tragedy of war and how it can destroy people's identity, was performed live last year amidst burnt-out tanks at a military base in the Brecon Beacons. The Ted Hughes Award is one of the only awards to acknowledge the wide range of work being produced by poets not just in book form, but in other forms too.

Submissions Wanted:
EatingWell Magazine Calls for Food Features-------------------------------------------EatingWell is the only national food magazine that focusesexclusively on eating healthfully (our motto: "Where Good TasteMeets Good Health"). We are the preeminent magazine resource forpeople who want to enjoy food that is delicious and good for them.Our readers are interested not only in cooking and nutritionscience, but also in the origins of food and social issues relatedto food networks. They appreciate eating culture and traditions.They are well-read and discriminating -- yet they don't takethemselves too seriously.EatingWell's "voice" is journalistic and authoritative; it speaksto both men and women. We cover nutrition with a newsy,science-based approach. Our recipes emphasize high-qualityhealthful ingredients, simple preparations and full flavor.We are freelance friendly and pay up to $1 a word. Check outwebsite for detailed guidelines. http://www.eatingwell.com/writers_guidelinesAngry Robot Seeks Novelists---------------------------Angry Robot is a global imprint dedicated to the best in modernadult science fiction, fantasy and everything inbetween.British-based but selling worldwide, their mission is to producebooks that appeal to everyone, from post-Dr Who and Xbox fans tolong-time genre enthusiasts. They are holding an open-doorthroughout March where you can send them your unsolicitedmanuscripts. All books must be science fiction, fantasy or horror.No children's books or uncompleted manuscripts. Works should bebetween 70,000 and 130,000 words. http://angryrobotbooks.com/open-door-month-guidelines/
Dark Discoveries Open to Submissions------------------------------------Dark Discoveries is looking for short stories from 500 to 6,500words. Stories must be in the horror/dark fantasy/dark sci-fi anddark mystery veins. They are looking for powerful, well-writtenoriginal ideas and new twists on old horror conventions. Payment is$0.05 per word and is paid 90 days after publication. For moreinformation visit: http://darkdiscoveries.com/blog/submission-guidelines/
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 Reviews INTERVIEW:


Please state your name and location.

Khoty Mathur, New Zealand

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:

Never Mind Yaar
Southpac Publishers Ltd

Tell us about yourself:

I did a bachelors degree in science but my heart always belonged to the arts.
I was born and brought up in Mumbai. After completing my degree, the travel bug bit me and I joined the airline as a flight attendant. I flew with Air India for almost twenty years. My partner and I immigrated to New Zealand for the fun of being international and I decided I’d stay at home while the kids were young. That is when I started writing. And I’ve been hooked ever since. Never Mind Yaar is my debut novel.

When was the book released?

October 2010

Give us an overview of your book.

Never Mind Yaar, is an attitude - our tendency to feel overwhelmed by the scale and nature of certain problems, give up and move on with a sigh and a “never mind”. Yaar simply means “friend” in India.
When long time friends Binaifer and Louella meet Shalini Dayal at Gyan Shakti College, Gyan for knowledge and Shakti for strength, a true friendship that transcends cultural and religious backgrounds is born. Louella is a Christian and Binaifer, a Parsi. The novel’s main plotline surrounds Shalini who is from a traditional Hindu family.

On the very first day at college her eyes accidentally look into those of a young fellow student’s and her heart is lost forever. She knows she must resist as her family won’t allow a match with a mere student. Brought up to believe her parents and autocratic grandma will choose her life partner for her, she is torn between her love for Bhagu and the safety of tradition. Binaifer (Binny) and Louella (Lou) refuse to let her surrender to the dictates of her elders, playing two very unlikely cupids.
The girls go through four years of college together, facing many challenges on the one hand but also the comfort and reassurance on the other, of growing up in the cultural, political and bewildering mosaic that is Mumbai. When a series of synchronized bombs and the racial (communal) violence in the aftermath leave them feeling badly shaken, Dr. Naakwa, the astute college principal, offers words of wisdom and healing. Why do the three friends decide the blame for the carnage lies squarely with secular Indians?
In a seemingly unrelated incident Dr.Naakwa discovers that Chacha, who runs the college cafeteria, is also the local slumlord. The decisions made by the villain, grandmother, Dr. Naakwa, Shalini’s parents and friends take the tale through to an unexpected finish.
This is how the story begins: Dr. Naakwaa of Gyan Shakti College couldn’t help smiling to himself as he looked at the sea of eager, animated young faces. They all seemed to speak at once, or so it seemed to an old man like himself, their ceaseless chatter outdone only by sudden bursts of loud laughter.
Even as they talked and laughed in their own groups, he saw their eyes covertly watching the others. An air of breathless expectancy hung about them, as if something momentous would sweep them up on a wing and fly them away to an unknown destination. Without exception, they all clamoured to go, even the ones standing at the periphery, hesitant and slightly lost though they appeared to be.
More free excerpts on Amazon.
How is your book different from other books in this genre? What inspired you to write this book?

Authors bring their own personality and the sum of their own experiences to anything they write. It isn’t any different for me.
Ever since I witnessed communal (or racial) riots in Mumbai as a young girl, I've always wanted to know why secularism, or a different way of doing things, is such a threat to some people while others are totally relaxed with those differences.
I remember, when I did find out, I felt almost liberated. For the first time I felt sorry for people who were communal minded – the ones who were fazed by others who looked and behaved different. This is what I wanted to share and it went into Never Mind Yaar in the form of a debate between two students – Is Mumbai Truly Secular.Arranged marriages are another fact of life in Mumbai. They’ve always co-existed with love marriages in India. Most arranged marriages, some of you might be surprised to know, seem to work out very well. In my book, it isn’t only the tussle between Shalini and her grandma, the traditional versus the modern, arranged marriage versus love that is relevant to contemporary India. The battle that rages within Shalini, as her emotions fight her traditional upbringing, is a dilemma that many a young Indian girl faces today too.
I hasten to add that first and foremost, the book is about the carefree and light hearted years of college, young love and true friendship between three girls from different cultural and religious backgrounds. I believe affirming and celebrating the ordinary, mainstream, middle class Indians, alongside stories of extreme poverty, male chauvinism and superstition help to give a more fully rounded picture of India as it really is.

Where can people buy your book?

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Never-Mind-Yaar-K-Mathur/dp/0473174790/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1298111173&sr=1-1

Best Little Bookstore, New Zealand: http://www.thebestlittlebookstore.co.nz/product-list.php?Contemporary_Fiction-pg1-cid62.html

Very soon, it will be available in India, fingers crossed.

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

The seeds of another book have started germinating in my mind.

If you’re self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers? If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited.

To someone browsing through a bookstore or online, it doesn’t matter how the book got published. They simply want to pick up an entertaining and perhaps, thought provoking, book to read.

“Distribution” is, and will always remain, the last bastion of reputed publishers. They are the ones who libraries and bookstores trust to provide them with good books regularly. They are spoilt for choice as they have so many millions of good authors to choose from day after day. Their minuses? Sometimes they let a better book fall through. It might be for any number of reasons like for example, the author isn’t well known enough and they can make much more from an established author who has another book in the pipeline and whose reputation they don’t have to build up – like in any business, the bottom line dictates all their decisions.

Self publishers have found infinite numbers of good to great page layout advice, front and back cover advice for their books. Getting self published is within the realm of possibility today. Once they suss out “distribution”, they will be infinitely better off. The major minuses of self publishers besides distribution are, to my mind, two others. Many self-published authors don’t feel the need to get their book professionally edited or, of the importance of reviews.

My advice to them is to start off by letting friends and family critique their book but to definitely factor in the cost of professional editing and reviews. Every penny you spend on professional editing is well worth it. Research the net thoroughly and pick the best (not necessarily the most expensive) Editor in your genre. I was, and still am, full of trepidation when I hand in my book for reviews. But the truth is, after spending so much time with my own book, I don’t have the capacity to judge its readability as much as others. Professional guidance and reviews are a chance I’ve GOT to take.

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?

I would have to say “reviews” have been my best marketing strategy. I can’t imagine me waxing lyrical about my own book. Even the thought makes me blush. But when reviewers like Barbara Watson title my book review with, “Sensational – Stunning – Mind Provoking“ as she has done on Amazon and AllBooks Review, I wouldn’t demure or protest modestly. (Here’s my opportunity to thank you personally, Barbara Watson, for your review. I am so glad you enjoyed Never Mind Yaar.)

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us? Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?

I found your review service prompt, professional and reasonably priced. I hope to get my book out there so people are familiar with the title, synopsis, front cover and background and their interest is piqued. I would perhaps enjoy responding to questions your readers might have about the book and about this interview.

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

Thank you too.

ALLBOOKS REVIEW INTERNATIONAL WORKS WITH AUTHORS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.www.allbooksreviewint.com

Shirley A. Roe's latest book release!

RealTime Publishing are delighted to announce that Shirley A. Roe’s latest book, Now My Life Begins is now available in both print and ebook version. Books can be purchased on Amazon.com in print or kindle and ebook at: www.theebooksale.com “Shirley introduced us to the Whittaker family in Dreams and Nightmares” states Richard O’Brien, founder of RealTime Publishing. “ Dreams and Nightmares was the winner of the UK Blether Gold Award. The second book in the series, ‘The Whittaker Family Reunion’ takes readers back to 1881 where the family is reunited once again. This book was nominated for the Indie Excellence Award. Fans of Roe’s claim her characters are so real, they become family and friends in their minds. Readers feel their pain, their fear and their happiness. Roe’s books are written to appeal to young adults as well as older readers. Christian readers appreciate the references to the family’s never ending faith in God and each other. Well received by readers of romance, adventure and mystery as well as historical fiction. The third book in the series, Return to Whittakerville was released in summer of 2009 followed by Snow Eagle in 2010.”Fans are happy to hear that a screenwriter is currently working on bringing the Whittaker family to the big screen. Author, Shirley A. Roe divides her time between Southern Ontario, Scotland and Florida. In addition to being an author, Shirley A. Roe is the Managing Editor and founder of Allbooks Review, an author promo and review source. Her credentials speak for themselves. Often a guest speaker at Writer’s guilds, conferences, libraries and schools, she is a sought after guest on many radio interview programs. Roe’s syndicated column for the California Chronicles is well received. She is a regular reviewer for Foreword Magazine, Midwest Reviews, Mystique Books, Poetic Voices and several other prestigious review publications. Currently working with a group of gifted students in Ottawa, Ontario Canada, she loves to inspire a love of books.RealTime Publishing is delighted with the announcement. “Shirley is one of our finest authors,” concludes Mr. O’Brien,. “Also nominated for an IPPY Award, we believe she can go all the way and can count on our total support throughout. Congratulations Shirley.” Books can be ordered from the publisher, amazon.com and most bookstores including Borders, Waterstones and Books A Million. Also available in ebook and Kindle format.Contact information, info@realtimepublishings.com or contact Shirley SRoebooks@aol.com. Thank you for the opportunity to serve youShirley A. RoeManaging Editor,Allbooks Review Internationalwww.allbooksreviewint.comMore than 3000 hits per weekWe highly recommend you become a member of iFOGO. Just click this link to join. http://www.ifogo.com/buy/order_abr.htmlandanother great author site you can join for free:
www.independentauthornetwork.com

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted. -Bertrand Russell, philosopher, mathematician, author, Nobel laureate (1872-1970)

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY from Allbooks Review Int:

Words differently arranged have different meanings, and meanings differently arranged have a different effect. -Blaise Pascal, philosopher and mathematician (1623-1662) www.allbooksreviewint.com

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY by Allbooks Review Int.:

No one imagines that symphony is supposed to improve as it goes along, or that the whole object of playing is to reach the finale. The point of music is discovered in every moment of playing and listening to it. It is the same, I feel, with the greater part of our lives, and if we are unduly absorbed in improving them we may forget altogether to live them. -Alan Watts, philosopher, writer, and speaker (1915-1973)

Allbooks Review International now reviews ebooks and audio books. Get a professional review from one of the oldest, most respected companies in the industry. www.allbooksreviewint.com

Read a great Allbooks Review for Pauline Hager, Georgi's Greek Tragedy www.buybooksontheweb.com

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn. -Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer and philosopher (1803-1882)

Allbooks Review March 2011 Newsletter

Don’t be an April Fool- get a review by Allbooks Review International Visit: www.allbooksreviewint.com Do not be fooled by unscrupulous review companies Important notice: There is currently a campaign to impugn the reputation of Allbooks Review International, a professional review and author promo company since 2000, by a new review company that is neither professional nor honest. Allbooks Review is asking any author that has had a good relationship with Allbooks to post a short comment on facebook, twitter or other internet media sites. Being professionals, we will not name this company however we will counter these unjustified attacks with honest, forthright comments from real authors. Allbooks Review International thanks the thousands of authors that have worked with us over the years, we appreciate you. www.allbooksreviewint.com A special thank you to iFOGO and Independent Author’s Network for posting our notice. We received many, many emails of support from authors that know Allbooks Review Int. and are proud to work with us. FEATURE How do I approach companies for expert opinions?By Moira Allen Writing World=================================================================Q: I am looking for instruction on how to approach companies forexpert interviews/opinion and how to gain their permission for anassignment I have already been given. I am also looking for thesame information for getting permission to cite from publications.A: As you have already been given an assignment, the best way toobtain interviews is to call a company or individual and explainthat you are a writer and that you are doing an article for thepublication that has given you the assignment. Explain what thearticle is about and ask if you could speak to someone in thatcompany to gather information. (It's often best if you alreadyhave an idea of whom to speak to, but if you don't, and thereceptionist can't help you, ask to be transferred to the publicrelations department.) If you haven't done this before, I'd suggest that you writeyourself a brief "script" to follow -- e.g., "Hello, my name isDavid and I'm working on an article about (subject) for(publication name). I'd like to speak to someone in your companyabout (topic). Could you recommend someone who might have a momentto give me some information about (topic)?" Once you've been given a name and possibly transferred to thatindividual or that individual's secretary, find out if this is agood time to ask your questions. You may need to set up anappointment for another call later. On the chance that you will get to speak to the individualimmediately, however, be sure to have your questions ready, and beready to take down the answers. When I conduct a telephoneinterview, I usually have my questions in an open file on thecomputer screen, and I type in the answers as I talk to the person.I also print out the questions, however, so that I can refer tothem easily if they've scrolled off my screen. Regarding gaining permission to quote from publications that oftendepends on how much you wish to quote. If you are citinginformation, you can often paraphrase it so that it isn't a directquote. For example, "As John Smith notes in the July 2000 issue ofScience Monthly, cold fusion is still more of a theory than apracticality." In this way, you are attributing the information tothe correct source, and you aren't using a direct quote. If you do need to use direct quotes, and this is a researcharticle, you can generally use brief quotes without obtainingpermission. However, those quotes must be brief and not constitutethe main part of your article. Do not attempt to build yourarticle on quotes from other published sources. This is badetiquette and can often be construed as a form of plagiarism. Forexample, I once reviewed an article on training animals that"quoted" several trainers -- but drew those quotes entirely fromthe trainers' books. Since the article would not have existedwithout those quotes, this was not an appropriate use of suchcitations. Any published quotes you use should only support andcontribute to your article; they cannot make up the bulk of yourarticle. It's always best to get "live" quotes than use previouslypublished quotes. If you expect to have to quote long sections, and you feel the needto obtain permission, you'll need to write to the publication firstfor information on how to obtain that permission. You may then bereferred to the author. It depends on who holds the actualcopyright to the material. This can be a long process, so again,it's much better to get "live" quotes than to try to use muchmaterial from previously published sources.Copyright (c) 2011 by Moira Allen 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. Independent Authors Network Everyone did a great job of promoting their IAN member page this month. These two blogs are wide open for your posts! The IAN Blog and Reader's Choice Books Please attach the post in a word file to an email to this address and include the post name like "Mystery Monday" in the email. ................................ Mystery Monday-If your book is a mystery then send over a blurb, article or synopsis of the book and I'll get it up on the next available Monday. .................................. Tuesday Guest Post is wide open for any posts about any writing or publishing topic. Send in your guest post. if you have a signing coming up or other event then tell me about and I'll post it on Tuesday. Send me a blurb about any book or author. .................................. WIP Wednesday- If you have a new book in the works that is about ready for publishing then shoot me over the book name, synopsis and when you are hoping to publish it. Also if you have a working cover send over the jpeg. I'll get your Work In Progress post up on the next available Wednesday. ....................................... Thriller Thursday- f your book is a thriller then send over a blurb, article or synopsis of the book and I'll get it up on the next available Thursday! ...................................... Fling Friday-If your book is Romance or any of the Romance sub-genres then end over a blurb, article or synopsis of the book and I'll get it up on the next available Friday. ...................................... Sample Sunday-Send over a 1000 word sample of your book and I'll get it up for you on the next available Sunday. ...................................... If you had a book review that you are particularly proud of or an interview at a blog or site and would like to have posted then please send them to me. If you review books for authors and would like them posted to Reader's Choice Books then please let me know. ..................................... I hope you'll send in your posts as these blogs see good traffic and could really help get your books out there! Thank you. William-- William R. PotterFounderThe Independent Author Network Independently Published/Promoting as a Group Submissions Wanted: WIN UP TO $500 WRITING A POEM OR SHORT STORY!Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest. Write a poem, 30 linesor fewer on any subject and/or write a short story, 5 pages max.on any theme, single or double line spacing, neatly hand printedor typed for a chance to win cash prizes. Visithttp://www.dreamquestone.com for details! The online TV version of The Authors Show, which has been a huge success in the United States for over 4 years, will soon launch in Europe, in The Netherlands, in Dutch, with a local host. For more information, visit DeAuteursShow.nl. Danielle Hampson Executive Producer The Authors Show The Authors Marketing Power House Dark Discoveries Open to Submissions------------------------------------Dark Discoveries is looking for short stories from 500 to 6,500words. Stories must be in the horror/dark fantasy/dark sci-fi anddark mystery veins. They are looking for powerful, well-writtenoriginal ideas and new twists on old horror conventions. Payment is$0.05 per word and is paid 90 days after publication. For moreinformation visit: http://darkdiscoveries.com/blog/submission-guidelines/ 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 Reviews INTERVIEW: Please state your name and location. (city and State or Province, Country) Bob Frey Sandy, Oregon Tell us the title and publisher of your book: Supermale’s Gone and Left Us Van Fleet Books Tell us about yourself: Bob grew up in advertising agencies as a copywriter. When he turned to writing fiction, he found it was a whole new ballgame and he had a lot to learn. He has now published a mystery, The DVD Murders, and some short stories, including Supermale’s Gone and Left Us. Also an actor, he loves to entertain, make people think and laugh, and maybe shake them up a little. When was the book released? December, 2010 Give us an overview of your book. How much can a man, especially if he is a superhero, take? Striped searched and sent to the pokey as an illegal alien. Locked up with liars, thieves, and murderers and treated as a common criminal by the warden and prison guards alike. Scorned as a snitch and Boy Scout by the other inmates, Supermale, the defender of truth, liberty, and the American way of life, declines to escape since it would be breaking the law and send the wrong message to America’s youth. Finally, since his country of origin no longer exists and the authorities have no place to deport him to, the super patriot is declared a national security threat and detained at Gitmo Bay as an enemy combatant. Is that the final straw that breaks the superhero’s back or is there more? At any rate, Supermale’s gone and left us. How does that bode for the future of the United States and the free world? What inspired you to write this book? I had the idea for this story kicking around in my head for a long time. If there really was such a thing as a superhero, what would be some of the problems he or she would face in real life? How would Superman handle the loss of all the civilian clothes he leaves in telephone booths, for example? He would have to have a helluva wardrobe. And since he is made of steel, how could he make love to a woman? By the time I got around writing it, a telephone booth was a thing of the past. Nevertheless, I still had a lot of fun writing about some of the problems a superhero might encounter. How is your book different from other books in this genre? I’m sure there are a lot of satires out there, but I don’t know if there are many that poke fun at superheroes. It always amazes me how people interpret what I write. They read into it ideas I had no conscious intention of putting on the page. Some good. Some bad. Where can people buy your book? Since it is a short story (44 Pages) it is available as an eBook on Amazon for only $0.99. Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published? I’m working on several: another mystery novel, a book of short stories, and a children’s book. All will be published early in 2011. If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers? If you want to be published traditionally, give it a try, but don’t spend too much time on it. Nowadays, authors published by mainstream houses are expected to put as much time in promoting their books as self published authors. There are few Stephen Kings or Ann Tylers. Consider a POD. If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited: I have a mystery book sitting with a traditional publisher right now. I expect I will try and break the contract. Why? Because the publisher wants exclusive rights to all media, including eBooks, and that’s where sales are headed if they are not already there. Can you share one of your marketing successes with us? I have sold four times as many eBooks of my mystery novel, The DVD Murders, than paperback copies. Of course, the eBooks are cheaper, but the sales are good for my ego. How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us? I hope to sell some books and build relationships with readers. Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers? Reader comments would be helpful. Thank you for this interview and best of luck with your book.