Monday, August 2, 2010

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.

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


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:

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

Monday, July 26, 2010

ATTN: Authors

Dear Allbooks Review Friends,

Here's an announcement from one of our sponsors about a free
telephone seminar this Thursday, July 29th with ex-Oprah guest booker on secrets to getting booked as a guest on national TV shows.
We encourage you to check it out and enjoy!

Want to be on TV? Ex Oprah booker tells how

ATTN: Non-Fiction Authors ....Ex-Oprah Guest Booker Tells How to Get Publicity As A Guest on National TV Shows
Would you like to be a guest on a top national TV show like Oprah, Good Morning America, CNN or Fox News?
Of course you would because there are few faster ways to instantly reach millions of people and make your book sales really take off than getting big-time TV publicity.
It's no secret the right national TV appearance can catapult a book to the top of the Bestseller List.
In fact, bestselling author Deepak Chopra told me sold 800,000 books in the month after his first Oprah appearance.
Curious to know how YOU might get on national TV?

Find out on a free 90-minute telephone seminar on Thursday, July 29th on ...

"The Three Big Secrets for Getting Publicity as a Guest on Top National TV Shows"

I'm Steve Harrison, publisher of Radio-TV Interview Report (RTIR) magazine and I'll be your host.

In addition to me, you'll hear from a former Oprah guest booker, a former Fox News Channel producer and other surprise guests. Together we'll teach you things unknown to 95% of all publicity-seekers.

To register for this call -- which is free except for your normal long distance charges -- go here now:
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On the call, you'll learn things like:

* Specific ways to increase your odds of getting free airtime as a guest on Oprah, Fox News Channel, CNN and other top shows.

* Understanding the mindset of national TV producers and how to get them to book you as a guest.

* What you should send TV producers (and what you shouldn't).

* The most important question you must be able to answer to land a TV appearance.

* Case histories of five authors and entrepreneurs who got booked on top TV shows

* How to stand apart from other would-be guests and dramatically
increase your chances of getting on the top shows.

* The biggest mistakes to avoid when pitching TV producers
(including ones that could even get you black-listed forever!)

... and much, much more!

Again, to sign up go here now:

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Once registered, you'll receive all the details back within five minutes.

Who knows - maybe we'll be seeing you on national TV very soon!
Best,
Steve Harrison, Radio-TV Interview Report

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Allbooks Review July 2010 Newsletter

Hot and steamy summer time

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

FEATURE
Provide waiting room Copies

When you receive your shipment of books from the printer, open the boxes and hand check each book for flaws. Set side those copies that are less than perfect and negotiate a partial refund from the printer. Place flawed books in waiting rooms throughout your city/county. I've left copies of my Ojai history book in several doctors', dentists', veterinarians' attorneys' and accountants' waiting rooms locally as well as in the lobby of the hospital. Place copies of your novel in the lounge at large companies.

Mark these books "waiting room copy." And, just inside the front cover, tape a list of local bookstores and specialty shops where the book can be purchased.

Is there value in placing books where so many people have access to them? Will people still want to buy your book when they can read portions of it for free? I say, "Yes." After all, how far can they get into a 375-page book in just ten or even twenty minutes? If the book is of any interest to the reader at all, he'll surely want to have his own copy. In fact, the receptionists in those offices where I've left copies of my Ojai book say that they get inquires every week from folks wondering where to purchase it.

From Over 75 Good Ideas for Promoting Your Book (Matilija Press 2000) by Patricia L. Fry

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:

Wyndano's Cloak is highly recommended by Kirsten Bussière, Allbooksreviews. Author's Website: www.arsilverberry.com, Publisher: Tree Tunnel Press, Publisher's Website: www.treetunnelpress.com
Retail Price: $21.95,I.S.B.N: 978-0-9841037-6-8

Finalist in the 2010 National Indie Excellence Awards in Young Adult Fiction
Finalist in the 2010 National Indie Excellence Awards in Adventure
• Winner of the 2010 National Indie Excellence Awards in Children's Cover Design

What Can We Do Next? The Adventures of Lexie & Lolly" was reviewed by your reviewer "Margaret Orford" back in October of 2008 . . . I'm happy to mention that my book has won FOUR Awards, and was a Finalist in a fifth competition, so that's pretty exciting for me.

What's New at Allbooks Review

Read our Inspirational column each month on the Inspiration Feature of the Month page in Review Showcase. This column is by Deb Scott, author of Award winning: The Sky is Green and the Grass is Blue.
Inspiration http://www.allbookreviews.com/Default.aspx?tabid=560


Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:

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

Mark Whiteway, Storrington, West Sussex, England.

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:

Title - Lodestone Book One: The Sea of Storms
Publisher - Virtualbookworm

Tell us about yourself:

Mark Whiteway lives in rural West Sussex, England, near the former home of H G Wells. A lifelong devotee of H G Wells and Jules Verne, this is Mark’s first science fiction novel, built around the concept of negative matter–an extension of Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity. Mark lives with his wife Sandra.

When was the book released?

April 12 2010

Give us an overview of your book.

Ail-Kar–a white hole–a portal from another universe ejects a stream of material into the Kelanni System, raining meteoroids on to the planet’s surface. But the so-called "lodestones" behave according to different physical laws, changing Kelanni`s society, it’s religion and it’s people.

Now the land is ruled over by a mysterious "Prophet". With the aid of the fearsome Keltar in their flying cloaks, the Kelanni are put to forced labor to mine the lodestones, whilst the Prophet is building a machine of terrible destructive power.

Shann, an orphan with a fiery disposition, witnesses a battle between a Keltar and a stranger bearing a similar flying cloak. Fleeing the Prophet’s soldiers, she sets out to track down the stranger. She learns of the technology behind the Keltars’ power, and joins him on a mission to free the slaves and cut off the Prophet’s supply of lodestones.

Meanwhile, Keris, a Keltar, is sent on a mission to track down the rebels. She is attacked by a flying creature and saved by the enigmatic Chandara. At their Great Tree, she receives a message from the distant past that the Prophet is out to destroy the Kelanni. She must travel to the other side of her world to retrieve a device, designed to disable the Prophets machine. She races to save the rebels from a trap set for them, joining the party.

They flee to a tower containing a displacement transporter, pursued by Keltar. The tower is destroyed as they are attempting to use it. They then make for the coast in a desperate attempt to cross the barrier of storms that divides their world. After surviving a battle with an immense creature, they arrive at the coast and modify a ship to carry them through the barrier. Following a titanic battle at sea, Shann is washed up on a distant shore, where a world shaking revelation awaits.

What inspired you to write this book?

Einstein’s Theory of Relativity predicts a number of strange consequences for our understanding of reality. One of these is the possible existence of negative matter. Although negative matter has never been found, we know from the math involved that it would have some highly peculiar properties, including negative inertia. My thought was “What might happen to an alien society that was exposed to a source of negative matter and the power it offered?” The result has been the Lodestone series of books.

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

As far as I am aware, no previous Science Fiction series has comprehensively explored the concept of negative matter in this way. In addition, the series weaves in alien life cycles, ultrasonics, electro and gamma ray laser technology, null space transporters, the “action at a distance” effect of particle physics, black holes and time dilation in a gripping action oriented story involving complex and engaging characters.

Where can people buy your book?

Direct from the publisher Virtualbookworm, Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com or any good bookstore. Links appear below.

http://www.virtualbookworm.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=bookstore&Product_Code=Lodestone_Book_One&Category_Code=

http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=lodestone+book+one

http://www.amazon.com/Lodestone-Book-One-Sea-Storms/dp/1602645469/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272215579&sr=8-1

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

The second volume in the Lodestone series, subtitled “The World of Ice and Stars” is now complete and is already at the publishers, receiving its final edit prior to publication. I am very excited about it. The characters really come into their own and there are a lot of twists and turns along the way. I am hoping that those who enjoyed the first book will be swept up in the story as it progresses. I anticipate a publication date of August/September 2010.

I am now writing the third volume, “The Crucible of Dawn.” Look for it during the first half of 2011.

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

The route I took amounts to something of a middle way between self and traditional publishing. Virtualbookworm only accept manuscripts of suitable quality. Once my work was accepted, I found them generally very helpful and would have no hesitation in recommending them to authors like me who are starting out.

If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:

See above.

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?

Well my first book has only just been published, so it’s a little early. However, can I say that my Allbooks review has already attracted a fair amount of attention?

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

I Googled you (like everyone else).

I will be sending you my second book for review as soon as it’s ready. I’m confident you will give it the same careful consideration as you gave the first.

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

That sounds exactly like the sort of question that an American would ask!

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

www.allbookreviews.com Your one stop author promo and review source since 2000.

Monday, May 31, 2010

What's New at Allbooks Review?

Read our Inspirational column each month on the Inspiration Feature of the Month page in Review Showcase. This column is by Deb Scott, author of Award winning: The Sky is Green and the Grass is Blue.

Inspirational Feature of the Month

Allbooks Review June 2010 Newsletter

Get Hot with your writing this month

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

FEATURE
Here are five tips for using social media to build your opt-in list:
1. Join Targeted Groups and Post Effective Discussions. Within your social networks, choose the groups wisely in which you will participate, focusing on groups that are active and contain your target market. You should post discussions to demonstrate your professional expertise and drive people to your website, taking care to make your headlines short and interesting.
2. Make Sure your Website is "Opt-in" Friendly. Make sure your opt-in form is prominent throughout your website, with a message telling visitors that when they sign up for your list they will receive helpful information (as opposed to spam).
3. Invite Every One...But Don't Pester! Every time you get a friend request or a new follower, send a message introducing yourself and include an invitation (with the link to your site's opt-in form) to sign up for the helpful information you send to your list.
4. Be Direct...But Not Too Often. If you have a helpful and valuable incentive to offer, occasionally post updates inviting your friends and followers to go get it! Keep in mind you are treading a thin line with this type of post, so make sure they are infrequent and are mixed in with many posts that are completely non-promotional in nature. You don't want to be considered "that guy" who's just there to promote to people.
5. Be Consistent in Your Social Networking! The key to making points 1 - 4 above really work for you is - stay active in your networks and groups. If you are only an occasional visitor, you might as well "stay home." In order to reap the rewards of these strategies, post often and wisely, and pay attention to your group members.
Participation in social networks can be enjoyable and rewarding, so start posting and have fun!

Warm regards,
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.

The Sky is Green, the grass is Blue is a Finalist in the Motivational Category of the 2010 Next Generation Indie Book Awards! Deb


I wanted to share some great news with you: Conversations with Jerry and Other People I Thought Were Dead has been chosen as an IPPY finalist in the category of Death and Dying and will either be awarded the gold, silver or bronze medal. My husband and I will be traveling to NYC for the gala event and award ceremony. I am so very excited, especially since this is my first book! All the best, Irene


PublishingGuru: I am accepting queries for traditional publishing in all genres. todd.rutherford@yorkshirepublishing.com


Congratulations to all of our great authors on their success.

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:(Please put your answers in black)

Please state your name and location.(city and State or Province, Country)
Deb Hosey White
Greensboro, North Carolina USA

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:
Pink Slips and Parting Gifts
iUniverse
1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403
ISBN 9781440158049, $20.95, www.iuniverse.com

Tell us about yourself:
Thirty years of corporate life never really "cured" me of being an English major, a creative writer, and a poet. And while up to my eyeballs in 401(k) plan administration, ERISA, COBRA, and other stress-inducing arcanity, I never stopped collecting and writing stories. Anyone who has ever worked for a large organization knows that the best workplace stories end up in human resources. Now retired from corporate life, I'm free to share some of those stories--without naming names, of course!

When was the book released?
September 2009

Give us an overview of your book.
When is the first time a CEO dares to say out loud, “It’s time to sell the company”? Does he practice first in front of a mirror? Does he quietly float the idea to his most trusted colleague over dinner? Does he seek legal counsel? SEC guidance? Financial advice? If the CEO is gutsy enough, “selling the company” might quietly pass his lips for the first time during a clandestine meeting with a potential buyer in Las Vegas—setting the bait for a bid that will electrify the decision-makers back home.

Mergers and acquisitions are messy business and they change the lives of everyday people. Pink Slips and Parting Gifts is the fictional account of the sale of a U.S. development company, revealing absurd events mixed with employee anguish as another corporation changes hands and disappears from the big board on Wall Street.

By the time Easton Company CEO Jeffrey Elkins entices a major competitor to buy his Fortune 500 Company, the corporate jet is waiting and his parachute is platinum. In 14 weeks the deal of a lifetime transforms a handful of quirky executives into undeserving multi-millionaires, propels a workforce into unemployment and dispatches unsuspecting retirees into poverty. In the background, security guards dance naked in mall fountains, the corporate jet is sold on eBay, and a CEO utters his final words before relinquishing his title: Make sure the employees get their pumpkin pies.

The memorable cast of corporate characters includes a germophobic CEO, a marketing VP turned Elvis impersonator, the Sundance Kid of Everyman Compensation, and a purchasing director nicknamed the eBay Wizard.

What inspired you to write this book?
I spent more than 30 years in corporate America as a manager and a consultant. During that period I collected hundreds of stories about companies and the people who work for them.I also experienced firsthand the merger that inspired Pink Slips and Parting Gifts.As a corporate human resources director I was required to help "turn out the lights" at my company as it was sold to a competitor.I dealt with retirees whose health insurance and pensions were ripped from their aging hands; with long-term employees whose jobs were abruptly eliminated; and with a community that lost it's premier hometown corporate citizen.

Reading the news coverage of that merger and many others, I was struck with the realization that the stories being covered were heavily weighted to the top of the corporate heap—the CEOs, big stockholders,and top-level management who benefited most from the merger-mania. I wanted to get behind the headlines and tell the realities of those stories—the incredible perks, corporate jets, and multi-million dollar goodbye packages—but I also wanted to tell the stories of the maintenance workers, secretaries, and others whose lives were upturned by the merger.

How is your book different from other books in this genre?
Pink Slips and Parting Gifts is business fiction. That's not a genre that fits neatly onto library shelves or bookseller databases. But fiction set in the workplace is still a strong sub-category of modern literature. As such, Pink Slips and Parting Gifts shares a lineage with Up in the Air, The Bonfire of the Vanities, and The Devil Wears Prada. What is unique about Pink Slips and Parting Gifts is that it tells the story of a corporate merger not just from the perspective of the news-makers—the CEOs, board members, and power brokers—but from the mailroom clerks, secretaries, retirees, mid-level managers and even the homeless man living on the company's loading dock.

Also, Pink Slips and Parting Gifts employs flash fiction storytelling -- a unique format for a novel. Each chapter tells its own small story within the context of the larger novel. Many of the chapters could stand alone as stories within a story. The best example is the embedded "Tales of the Sofa." Many readers have commented on their enjoyment of the "sofa story" within Pink Slips.

Where can people buy your book?
The book is available online from:
• Amazon.com
• BarnesandNoble.com
• iUniverse.com
• Amazon.ca
• Booksamillion.com
• Amazon.co.uk
• Waterstones

Are you working on another book? If so when do you expect it to be published?
Yes.I am in the initial stages of a new workplace novel—publication date unknown.Also working on a screenplay for Pink Slips and Parting Gifts, and a poetry collection.

If you self published, what advice can you give to fellow writers?
The publishing industry has been in a state of upheaval in recent years and self-publishing is a reality for many writers. In this reality, the author must take on tasks traditionally performed by professional agents, editors, copy-proofers, designers, and publicists. Print-on-demand publishers offer a Chinese menu of add-on (read that "extra cost") services, but the quality of those services may vary greatly. I experienced issues throughout the process–from layout and production concerns, to accounting issues, to unprofessional publicity services.
I would advise writers to first attempt to find a professional agent and/or publisher. If that is not possible–and the odds are stacked against new writers–then enter the self publishing world with eye wide open:

• Solicit a team of literate readers who will critique your manuscript (I used volunteers from a literary book group).
• Find a capable person to assist with editing, proofreading, and other production-related tasks.
• Budget more time than you think might be necessary to the critiquing, editing, proofing, and production process.
• Explore third-party publicity services rather than add-on services offered by the publisher. Be prepared to do much of the promotional process yourself.
• Submit your finished book for review by services such as AllBooks Review.
• Do not expect bookstores to stock your self-published book, but be aware of the multitude of online book selling services that predominate today's market.
If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:


Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?
Because my book is topical/newsworthy, I was able to arrange an interview from a regional newspaper in a city that has been affected by corporate mergers similar to the story in Pink Slips and Parting Gifts.

How did you find Allbooks Reviews and what are you hoping for in your relationship with us?
Allbooks Reviews was included on a list of reputable reviewers on the Midwest Book Review website. My hope is that the insightful Allbooks review of Pink Slips and Parting Gifts will receive broad international circulation and that it will be quoted and noted in numerous sources.

Was the low cost a surprise? What other things would you like Allbooks Reviews to offer writers?
Allbooks Reviews offers timely and personal service to their authors--something not to be undervalued in the 21st century literary marketplace!

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

Monday, May 3, 2010

Allbooks Review May 2010 Newsletter

Warm weather at last, Outdoor festivals begin

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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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

FEATURE
Podcasting Your Way to Success
By Sigrid MacDonald

About two years ago, one of my science-fiction clients started a podcast series. Every week he would put a new chapter of his book on audio, and upload it to iTunes and MySpace. He had a tremendous following and I really admired his form of promotion, but I thought it would be too difficult and expensive for me. Wrong! Podcasting is simple and affordable. And it can be an effective way to get the word out about your book because you are offering free content, which people love.

How do you make a podcast? Download free software from Audacity.com or splurge for the user-friendly package by RecordForAll. I went with the latter because it has an easy navigational system, and only costs $39.99. After listening to the tutorial, I was ready to record. I had long pauses in my sentences, but the software gave me the ability to edit. After recording, I took out the blank spaces, and the few times I coughed, or said, "Um" or "Ah." The end result was a polished product.

What can you talk about? Anything related to your book. My new book is called Be Your Own Editor. It's a crash course in grammar basics that deals with the most common errors people make when they're writing, as well as editing issues related to creative writing. So, I made ten different podcasts and broke them down as follows:

1. How to Avoid Writing Run-On Sentences
2. How to Use Apostrophes Properly
3. How to Establish Realistic Dialogue

I made each podcast brief since people have short attention spans online. If you have a nonfiction topic, podcasting is a breeze. Identify key points in your book and abbreviate them. This is a great teaser; it introduces people to you and draws them to your material. You won't be giving your whole book away - just pieces of it to whet a prospective reader's appetite.

Fiction is a little more complicated but you could read your book chapter by chapter on audio. If you choose this method, stop after two or three chapters. That way the reader is left hanging and needs to know the end of the story. Second, you could read excerpts from your book, and talk about yourself and what motivated you to write it. I hosted my podcasts on MySpace and searched the site using the terms writers, poets, editors, etc. Your search words would relate to your book.

You can also load your podcasts on iTunes. This requires software that has a feed such as FeedForAll and a website that will give you more space for hosting like Mevio, which is free.

We've come a long way, baby, since I started writing in my teens. Now that we have blogs, websites, video, web cams and podcasts, why not take advantage of them?
---------------------------------------------------


Sigrid Macdonald is the author of three books, including Be Your Own Editor. Visit her at http://sigridmacdonald.blogspot.com or http://beyourowneditor.blogspot.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.

Pink Slips and Parting Gifts was awarded Editor's Choice from the iUniverse recognition program this week.

Deb Hosey White
Pink Slips and Parting Gifts
CONGRATULATIONS DEB !

Shirley A. Roe is collaborating with screenwriter, director Randall Rutledge to bring her book Dreams and Nightmares to the big screen. All of us at Allbooks Review congratulate Shirley on this accomplishment.


Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:

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

Jonathan Maxwell. Taylorsville, Georgia.


Tell us the title and publisher of your book:

Murderous Intellectuals: German Elites and the Nazi SS. American Book Publishing, which is based in Salt Lake City.

Tell us about yourself:

I’ve been a writer and editor for about four years now. I hold a BA in English from Berry College in Rome, Ga., along with a psychology minor. I also possess a Paralegal Certificate. Since the publication of my first book- Murderous Intellectuals- I have written two additional books. I have also penned op/ed pieces for various newspapers, have contributed critical reviews to literary journals, and have written chapters for history textbooks. As an editor, I have worked for the publishing giants Harcourt and Pearson.


When was the book released?

November 2009.

Give us an overview of your book.

My book examines why so many well-educated professionals- such as doctors, lawyers, professors, scientists, and engineers- willingly joined the Nazi SS, the notorious group that spearheaded the Holocaust.


What inspired you to write this book?

My interest in the Holocaust- the Nazi war against Jews, Slavs, Gypsies, and other “undesirables”- began in high school. I read many excellent books about the subject through the years, but, eventually, I noticed a dearth of information in at least one crucial area. Popular culture tends to depict the Nazis as being brutes, but many Nazis did not fit this stereotype. Many Nazis, in fact, were superbly educated, graduating from the best universities in Europe. At times, books would briefly examine this contradiction, but no author that I knew of wrote a book about this phenomenon and what motivated these “murderous intellectuals.” I read book after book, but none dealt satisfactorily with the subject. Eventually, I got frustrated and decided to write the book myself.
How is your book different from other books in this genre?

Many books have been penned about the Final Solution (the Nazi term for the Holocaust), but comparatively few histories have examined the motivations of Nazi elites from psychological, sociological, political, and historical perspectives.

Where can people buy your book?

People can purchase a copy at www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, and www.pdbookstore.com.


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

My second book, Piltdown Man and Other Hoaxes, will be released in late 2010. It’s a far cry from my first one. The book is a lighthearted, fun examination of scientific frauds through history, such as the Missing Link Hoax and the Minnesota Iceman Hoax.

If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:

Working with traditional publishers helps to ensure that you get a quality product. My publisher, for example, requires your assigned editor to edit your manuscript four times. Then, your copy editor edits it once, and, finally, the proofreader edits it at least once. The editorial stage, then, transpires for at least a year. In addition, your book designer spends about six months creating a suitable cover, selecting fonts, choosing colors, and so on. It’s a slow, painstaking process, but in the end, you appreciate the results. Everything looks sensational.


Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?

Take a multi-tiered approach to marketing your work. Do signings at the book stores and libraries. Submit press releases to local and regional newspapers. Send out galleys to reputable reviewers. Perform lectures at schools, colleges, service organizations, and elsewhere. Get radio interviews. Don’t try starting at the national level. If you’re a new author just starting out, USA Today and Book TV are not going to give you publicity. Start out locally and work your way up.


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

I stumbled upon Allbooks Reviews while searching for book reviewers on the Internet. I was impressed by the website and I sent out an e-mail asking for more information. The information I received impressed me further, so I decided the use the company’s services.

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

Publicists are a requirement in the publishing industry, and Allbooks Reviews provides the most services at the most economical rates. To Allbooks Reviews, all I can say is: Keep up the good work!

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

Thank you!



Our newsletter is available on our website and blogs monthly. We do not do mass mailings
www.allbookreviews.com. Check it out, our website is constantly being updated.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Allbooks Review April 2010 Newsletter

Don’t be an April Fool

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

FEATURE
Sneak Peek: Characterization
from Accelerated Getting Started in Writing

Once you've determined who your characters are, what they look like and why they act the way they do, you'll need to find creative ways to get that information to your reader. The use of a variety of techniques to portray your characters to your reader is referred to as "characterization."

There are three primary methods of characterization: description, action, and dialogue. Description is narrative that simply tells your reader something about your character:

Larry was a tall, unhappy man with short brown hair.

A more dynamic method of characterization is to show your character in action or in dialogue with another character (we'll discuss dialogue in more detail shortly). The words and actions of a character--particularly when enhanced by description--can tell your reader a lot about who that character is. Here, for example is Larry in action:

Larry shuffled into the kitchen, ducking instinctively as he came through the doorway. The dishes were piling up and the floor needed sweeping, but he couldn't find a reason to care about that right now. He pulled a beer from the fridge and sat at the table without opening it.

From this passage, we get an impression of Larry's height from the fact that he needs to "duck" through the doorway. His unhappiness is hinted at by his shuffling, and his apathetic reaction to his surroundings. In a similar way, dialogue can characterize by letting the reader see the
character relating to someone else:

Beth clicked on the light and jumped when she saw Larry slumped over the kitchen table. "Jeez, Larry, you scared me half to death. What the hell are you doing, sitting in here in the dark?"

"I don't know. Nothing." Larry ran his hand over his head, spiking his short brown hair.

"Did you go to work today?"

"No."

"You sick?"

"No."

Beth laid her purse on the table and sat down. "Now you're really scaring me. Tell me what's wrong."

Not only does this brief dialogue passage show us a picture of a despondent Larry, it introduces a second character and gives us some indication of the relationship between the two characters.

All three methods of characterization can be effective. How you use them, and in what combination, is a matter of your personal style and the needs of your story. You should practice all three, and study them in the published works of writers you admire to see how each contributes to the overall style of the piece and to your understanding of the character.

- - - - - - -

Get on the fast track to writing success!

Visit http://fwpubs.sparklist.com/t/2101129/3836259/1590/0/ to check out the six one-week sessions for this course, and to enroll in Accelerated Getting Started in Writing today!


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.

Hi:
Just wanted to share the news that my book has been nominated for an award in the Romance Category. Take a look, http://readerviews.com/Awards2009Finalists.html. Winners will be announced next month. :)

Christyna Hunter
Author, Wildfire &
The Butterfly's Dance

My New Book Unintelligent Humans will be released officially in July of this year. Check out detailed info at my website.www.UnintelligentHumans.com In addition, my last book Eastern Wisdom for Your Soul has recently been sold for translating to an E-Book publisher in Italy.
Richard Singer, Author, Eastern Wisdom for your Soul, Unintelligent Humans

TIP

Allbooks Review wishes to thank all of the authors that purchased our promo package in 2009, making this our best year ever. We have grown over the past 10 years and will continue to provide excellent service for reasonable fees. Our goal is to make your book sell !

Allbooks Reviews INTERVIEW:

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

Sherry Jones Mayo
Sedona, AZ

Tell us the title and publisher of your book:

Confessions of a Trauma Junkie: My Life as a Nurse Paramedic
Modern History Press

Tell us about yourself:

Depending on the day and situation, I’m a wife, mother, grandmother, nurse, writer, cook, confidant, or crazy cat lady. No matter which hat I’m wearing, after 20 years in emergency medicine and working with a paramilitary organization, I’ve accumulated enough experience to lend a more qualified hand in crisis response; my focus remains on continuing in the helping professions, but lately it is through another door. I find myself looking backward as much as forward, stopping to think, “Wait, I’m not entirely done with that yet, I still have something to say.” Knowledge gained while working toward the Health Psychology degree is giving me a clearer voice, and I hope to share those lessons and thoughts with my readers.

When was the book released?

Paperback edition was June 1, 2009. The publisher plans a hardcover edition for June 1, 2010.


Give us an overview of your book.

“Confessions” reflects the innermost feelings of emergency services workers as they encounter trauma, tragedy, redemption, and even a little humor. I have worked as an Emergency Medical Technician (Paramedic), Trauma Nurse, and on-scene Critical Incident Stress Debriefer for Hurricane Katrina, and following small-airplane crashes. Most people who have observed or experienced physical, mental, or emotional crisis have single perspectives. This book allows readers to stand on both sides of the gurney; it details a progression from innocence to enlightened caregiver to burnout, glimpsing into each stage personally and professionally.

What inspired you to write this book?

A lot of people today are interested in the true ‘story behind the story’, especially when it comes to true-life situations that touch so closely upon what they or their family members may experience. Whenever I tell people what I do, they focus on the gory side of life, and the type of incidents that catch folk’s attention and prevent them from looking away. What they don’t realize, until it happens to them, is that those horrible things happen to someone who is loved and cherished, especially the children. I want people to see the world, for a moment, through my eyes, to walk with me through the broken glass, to sit next to me and hold the hand of the sick or dying, to fight against death. And then I want them to see the lunacy of it all and laugh.

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

Many books about emergency medicine and true life situations present the hero perspective, a viewpoint of glamorization and drama. This book presents the raw and honest feelings of people without (much) censure or euphemism. Love us or hate us, this is how we feel. My slant is in telling the side of the story you may never know: how the emergency services worker feels about his experience, how it impacts him (sometimes for the rest of his life), what he is thinking as he works his calls, how he internalizes most of the negative thoughts and experiences lest his coworkers or family see him as weak, and what happens after the call is over.

Where can people buy your book?

Ordering from my website allows readers to get an autographed copy (or not, as they choose) through http://sherryjonesmayo.com. Readers may also order from Amazon (which offers a Kindle version), or ask major bookstores to order the book for them.

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

I’m gathering materials for another book, but it will have to wait until grad school is complete, so I’m only writing short pieces for the next couple of years. I’m working on a master’s degree in Health Psychology, which offers a different perspective than my medical training offers. Nurses and Medics respond to the affects of injury and illness, I’d like to focus on a more proactive vision of promoting wellness, and future books may represent that bio/psych/socio vision.

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

If published traditionally, tell us how you benefited:

A publisher who provides services beyond editing and printing books is invaluable. My publisher, Modern History Press, gives writers tools for self-marketing and promotion that are beyond our experience and expertise, and regularly links writers to other writing opportunities (which in turn promote books). I wouldn’t have known where to begin without that service, and the book may never have gone beyond family copies and bragging rights. Simply, I’m an expert (of sorts) on emergency medicine and crisis response, not on publishing.

Can you share one of your marketing successes with us?

Recently my publisher provided a query regarding the experience of nurses who transitioned from paramedics. The piece turned into a feature interview on the website, and I was able to establish a writing agreement with the site owner. Now I’m not only getting a lot of publicity about the book every time I write for this site, but I have the opportunity to be a paid contributor.

Initial interview: http://rndegrees.net/confessions-of-a-trauma-junkie.php

First feature piece: http://rndegrees.net/blog/career-development/disaster-relief-a-paramedic-turned-rn-shares-her-story.html

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

Sherry: I’ll turn this over to Victor, my publisher, he can answer this question the best
Victor: Thanks Sherry! I believe I discovered Allbooks Reviews through a referral from my friend and colleague Irene Watson at ReaderViews. I like the professional and erudite nature of the reviews that AllBooks Reviews has consistently produced. I feel their reputation and influence in the independent review industry will only continue to grow. That is why I have selected Allbooks Reviews for all new titles coming from Modern History Press in 2010.

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

Victor: Allbooks Reviews is highly competitive and offers an excellent value-for-money proposition. In fact, I doubt you can get reviews of this caliber for less money anywhere. Their service is also quite speedy and customer service always friendly. Probably the next domain for them to conquer would be author-interview podcasts. Ok, I’ll turn the interview back over to Sherry.:

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

Sherry: Thank you! Selling books is nice, but the biggest joy is when someone has read the book and told me they laughed, they cried, they were deeply touched. Taking people to a place deep within themselves is extremely rewarding. It makes baring one’s own soul, standing naked before the world in one of the most vulnerable ways possible, well worth the exposure.