AuthorBoard

So you're not a famous author.

irishrover — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:02:35 GMT

Hi Fellow writers, I'd like to pass along a brief description of my struggles when writing my first book. I began it in 2000 it took me four years to complete. Well really it only took one year to write then three more to re write and re write etc etc. When I finished I was pleased and excited, I had a couple of local people read the manuscript and give me feed back. It was all very positive so I went to the next step.Query letters phone calls etc. Hundreds of letter went out but few came back and those that did were all negative! (I know, you've been there done that!) Finally I came to the realization that publishers weren't going to do anything for me. Next step was a POD in my case booksurge, the cost was low. A good job too, I don't have a lot of money to invest . I'm retired and on a fixed income, if my book was going to sell I'd have to do it myself. Over the next few months I developed a variety of methods for selling. Local bookstore took copies on consignment and I have sold approx a hundred thru that channel. But I repeat if my book was going to sell I had to do it myself. I must admit at first I was hesitant to say my book was good, felt like I was blowing my own horn. I soon overcame that, if I didn't believe in it who else would. It was listed with amazon and my sales were quite good sold a couple of hundred in about four months (many to relatives and friends) I received a great write up in the local newspaper that helped sell more copies. Did book signings etc. I estimate in the first year I sold approx 600-700 copies. Then sales dried up! The initial surge was over and people who mostly knew me or had heard of the book had bought it. I had to get more creative. I spent a lot of time explaining my story to people I met in stores etc, it was the same thing over and over. I solved this by making up a business card. Not just an ordinary card , its double sided and folded over, the outer is the cover of my book in miniature Inside a brief outline of the story, email-phone -web page and how to order on line ISBN. I made up posters (very good even if I do say so myself) with scenes that are found in the book. I place them in high traffic areas, schools etc. But what has given me the most success is lecturing about my story. I offer to be guest speaker with any groups that are interested. I have spoken at numerous Women's Institutes and other similar groups. Community schools and groups interested in Irish Heritage. I have set up at the larger flea markets (Christmas) at car shows (I have an antique car) and in schools. Was even invited to speak at the Dept of National Defense HQ's in Charlottetown. I have a interesting web page and blog. I don't over do promoting on the web, that would turn people off. Yet its important to have your book on the web where people will see it. All of these methods have sold books, At the WI meetings I average a dozen per meeting. These groups exist all over the continent and are an easy source to tap. Most groups struggle to find interesting speakers ( only going to work if you are interesting) To date I have sold more than two thousand copies, haven't set the world on fire I know, but my book is getting out there and who knows where it will end. So I guess the moral of this story is to get out and do it. I invite you to have a look at my web page, you might get some good ideas from it. www.irishroversbooks.com

The Great NOW and the strings that grow from it!

year2027 — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 23:46:27 GMT

God first

The Great NOW and the strings that grow from it!

08-24-2008

Like the Great NOW which has no beginning or end because it is here and now not them or tomorrow is our God in a way because God has no beginning or end God is always here and now with us as we deal with our nows.

But our here and nows can have many kinds of strings connected to them while our God only has love connected to his unending now but ours are like the ship tossed to and fro.

Let me show you what I am getting at lets say your driving down the road in your car and someone cuts you off what strings of thoughts run through your mind are they to run him down or pray for him.

Otherwise are your thoughts of God or getting even and how long do they last, an hour, an day, or just a moment how long is your strings of thoughts on a small thing like this or have your taught your heart to bring captive every thought that not of Gods love.

Can you control your heart or does it flow like a ship with no captain at the wheel to tossed too and flow as life arrives for you to deal with or is your heart harden from bitterness of past goals lost in the open sea of life.

Have you purified your heart with love from God or have you harden it with what you think or been taught without no care for what is love but made everything a law others must follower you in because you must be right.

Which ways are your strings growing closer to God or far, far away from the love of God can you even see the light at the end of the string or you on the short string of God which God in you working to guide you into pure love no string at all just you and God.

I thank you for letting me write to you tonight as I open my heart to you and share it with you. Thank you, with love and a holy kiss blowing your way Roy.

Free Query Letter Editing

instantquery — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 04:17:01 GMT

Hey Everyone,

My names Gavin Nachbar and I am in the midst of setting up a website entitled Instant Query Letters. Its going to be a site that sells an e-book as a guide for unpublished writers who are looking for some help with their own query letters. A part of the ebook is going to feature query letters from unpublished writers that have been edited by professional writers and editors. I am looking to find some writers who would be interested in having their query critiqued for free.

Another part is going to feature queries that have led to an author being published to show what a successful query does in fact look like, so if you fall under that category I would love your help!

I realize that query letters can be quite personal, but I would look at this as a good opportunity to improve your own query, as well as help other writers improve their own.

If youre interested in this shoot me an e-mail at: authors@instantqueryletters.com

Thanks!
Gavin Nachbar

The WestSide Story Contest - Now Accepting Submissions

wordshop — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:22:37 GMT

Hi Fiction Writers,

The WestSide Story Contest is now accepting submissions (deadline December 31). Open to all genres of short literary fiction. This year's judge is Michael Walsh, former classical music critic for Time Magazine and winner of the 2004 American Book Award for Fiction. $12 per entry. First prize wins $300, second $150, third $50. For more information on guidelines, past winners, etc. please visit us at: www.westsidestorycontest.com

We look forward to reading your work.
Happy Writing, The WestSide

Viewing of my booksurge comments WoW!!

irishrover — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:05:20 GMT

Hi Folks just noticed how much interest my articles on booksurge created! over 8000 views Wow!!! Wish I could come up with something as interesting for my web site and blog!!!! www.irishroversbooks.com
I have to say booksurge have been quite good lately even raised the royalty payments to $5.25 per book. haven't had an fight with them for ages!!Hope it lasts.

CafePress - Has anyone used it to publish?

alimech36083 — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:19:13 GMT

If so, how were your experiences publishing with www.caferess.com ?

If I was God, what a miss we would be in!

year2027 — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 05:55:07 GMT

God first
If I was God, what a miss we would be in!

Wrote 07-15-2008

Here, here, here, mmmm, ooooo, what is coming down unto my mind of fleshly knowledge to share with you the very one who is reading that which I must write down before its too late and I forget the words of gold I have to share with no other than you.

O how I thank God for all he made for me and all he has done for us and the great riches he has prepared for us all for just loving him or her what he or she might be but back to the great gifts prepared for us so we could be us one very day.

Because if I had been God we would of never been here to read the first one of this note I must share because my love while it is growing is nothing compared to Gods great love for I am weak while he is stronger than my wildest dreams of me being a super hero for all to see.

God is a God of love not to be seem but to be feel deep down within our inner-self to our outer-self but both at the same very .0000000000001 of a second or even a shorter amount of time otherwise at the same time.

O how I long to see all that is prepared for me but I am not old enough yet to understand the very smallest light of things to come but I get a child like ideal of what is there to bless my heart and made life after life something more than fleshly words can speak.

Some may look at me and say where is he, me coming from but that is just something that happens but others will just enjoy my words with a thankful heart for my stand for Gods great love.

But lets us not forget my big brother Jesus the Christ who was born like flesh only to heal all of that which was lost that very day Adam took of the tree of knowledge of good and evil which has been called the great sin that divided us away from Gods image.

The great sin was repaid by the gift of Jesus the Christ giving up his fleshly life on the cross so we could received the seed of hope, Christ in us the gift of holy spirit and be created again a new creature one of Christ-like image.

No longer to die and be forgot never to live again but to live forever and not just us but all flesh that were born with the curse of sin and even the very two who curse themself by taking of the tree of knowledge of good and evil into their belly.

This day of Christ giving his life was a blessing for all flesh-kind no longer to be without hope but the path has been mark to follower one by one has each being wills. Time is running out because each day our very end gets closer and closer.

But enough words it is time to end this short note so thank you for your time reading, with love and a holy, holy kiss blowing your way Roy

Poetry Scams

cookcomm — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:48:49 GMT

Have you rejoiced when your poetry was recognized by a website, and you were offered a chance to buy an anthology with your poem inside, and travel somewhere to receive an award, only to later feel that the whole thing was a scam. That all poetry submissions received the same "recognition" in a scheme which enriched the poetry website? If so, do visit www.author-me.com/poetryscams.htm

Meanwhile, please join the discussion here.

POD Newbie

FreddieMac — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:02:59 GMT

Hello All,

As my message subject suggests - when it comes to self publishing, POD etc I couldn't be more ignorant. I'd much appreciate any help.

a. I have now been running an IT training website for about a year and given the strong growth in visitor numbers feel confident enough about providing some of the materials on the site in the form of a book.

b. I will be marketing the book only on my site as part of a book + online services package. i.e. I am not looking for any book distribution services etc.

c. The book in question will probably be A5, coil bound, full color with ca 40 pages. I have only looked at printing costs with Lulu who quote around $10 for 10 copies of the book.

d. I want to divest myself of the responsibility of shipping the book. Amazon appear to offer a pretty competitive book order fulfillment service. Not sure that I can get that done with Lulu or someone else.

e. I will be creating the book in Open Office Writer and exporting it to PDF. Not sure if that is enough or whether I need to use Acrobat Writer (spend money) etc.

f. The material that goes into the book is ready but I still need to reformat it for book form, design a cover etc. How much time should I allow for this?

g. Are there any hidden costs apart from shipping that I should allow for? Also, do I need an ISBN?

As you can see... I know nothing about this game. Any advice would be much appreciated.

the many paths to Christ

year2027 — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:46:58 GMT

God first
The Many paths to Christ!!!!!!!
Wrote 07-01-2008
As I year2027 known as Roy William Perry III in the flesh sat here to write unto you, who will read what I find the need to write down tonight before daylights hits the place in this world I dwell until the great day comes.

But before I write what has been send unto my heart to write let me remind us all of Gods love for each of us with grace and peace along with the great gift out of love Christ has given to each and every one of us whether we be Christian or not.

I hear many religious groups claiming only they have the true doctrines to Jesus Christ but I say they are all only part right and by claiming one sect or religion over another they become cults unto each other.

While in truth there are many paths to Jesus Christ or should I call them stages of becoming Christlike which is more what it is all about. But who am I but a man reaching to live as Jesus the Christ did and is living right now.

The first stage is believing in the stories about and around Jesus Christ as if they are fairly tales who you desire to be the hero in the story like a child playing Superman with his or her friends.

The second stage is when you become a member of one basic religion sect and push the label of your religion over all others as if the religion is going to save you from death.

The third stage is when you begin to search the bible as if the bible itself will save you from death and you use it like a whip to control the evil you see with your fleshly eyes.

The fourth stage is when you begin to reach up to spiritual powers as tools to show the world how great and powerful you think you are but in truth you still a very young child.

The fifth stage is when you see that your religion sect has nothing to do with the love of God and is only about control of others and you begin to rebel against the sect you love so dear.

The sixth stage is when you begin to see it is not about fleshly research nor what you can find out fleshly but its about talking face to face with God and Christ one on one.

The seventh stage is when you begin to reach within the Christ deep within your heart and without when you reach the Christ who is everywhere all around you.

The eighth stage is when you move from this fleshly realm of flesh and bone to be like God and Christ a new creature one of light and truth that is everywhere like God and Christ are.

The day you changed by dying a fleshly creature only to become a spiritual creature one that can not die one who knows love as loved by God and Christ.

Now I not saying there are only eight stages because I am sure there are sub-stages upon sub-stages just like each person is a little different the paths we take are not the same.

Just like we are not robots with to the word the same beliefs personally within our hearts nor are the things that effect our lives the same.

We are children playing and learning from many different points of view with one thing the same we all want to enjoy love of one kind or another.

So let us talk about our loves in our life the things we reach out for while sating aside our personal doctrines or laws we seem to push and begin to love first and leave all other things undone.

Thank you, with Christlike love and a spiritual kiss from a heart of here and now Roy.

Take a minute and asked yourself what makes me a sinner?

year2027 — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:24:57 GMT

God first

Take a minute and asked yourself what makes me a sinner?

Wrote 06-12-2008

Here I sat just a little above Hell reaching out up and away for Heavenly wisdom to share with you from the God the Father and Mother of Creation who loves as does their beloved offspring of pure love Jesus the Christ the seed touching your heart.

If I was to say what makes me a sinner I would say my personal doctrines the things I believe others should do all so the beliefs I push on others like a law unto what I think is right and just. But if these doctrines are not given with love they have no value to anyone but me because I feel self-righteous while others feel walk on.

It does not matter whether I got my doctrines right out of the written word of God itself without love they are nothing but with love they have power while I share them with love and not as a hateful law they are received with meekness.

These beliefs share with Gods love are no longer doctrines of man but truths from above as we together see we both are sinners and ask above for understanding while we work on our weak areas together without one word of judgment but loving one another as believing friends can.

The old lie "Thus said the Word" has been destroy in our hearts and replaces with "together we can grow more perfect as we live love of God together" as the puff up old man loses one more battle with the fleshly natural of self. Together we overcome our sins but apart the sins just seem to grow into devils who promote hate.

What are the true devil spirits of this world the ideals and doctrines of hate that seems to control the heart of the self-righteous fool who claims in his heart he loves God but in truth he loves promoting his ideals of what right and wrong are in his foolish mind. He jumps on the weak with words from the good book spoken without love thinking because he got them from the good book he can do no wrong.

But he has become an anti-Christ because he does not know the true Christ in his heart for how can he when he hates so many who are sinners when he is a sinner himself. Maybe one day he will wake up out of his rage and see it is not about a pushing game but a loving as God loves.

I do not care what the sin is whether its over eating or Homosexuality it is just a sin or whatever you call it but until you see the person who is a sinner by the act of Homosexuality as no different of a sinner than you who have your sins hiding from all too. You will never push your beliefs on the Homosexuality and make him change nor will he be able to change you into his kind.

It has never been about the label of the sin but loving each other as brothers and sisters who are fleshly sinners trying to become God-like or Christ-like. We are all human trap in a fleshly body until the great day when we walk spiritually by our hearts and not the lust of our flesh and bone.

Thank you

with love and a holy kiss blowing your way Roy

JM Northern Media

irishrover — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:48:57 GMT

I'm wondering if its just me or are others experiencing the same thing? I entered the New York Book Fest a few months ago, I paid the fee ($50) and sent a copy of my book, later received verification of payment and receipt of book, and was given a registration number. Now for approximately two months I have been unable to make connection with anyone at either the NY Book Fest or what I assume is their home office in LA. The competition is scheduled to start on 29th June 2008. I entered the DIY Fest in LA (same company) last year and it when off fine, even received Honorable Mention. Its seems they have disappeared from the internet I email the NY address and no response, I email the JM Northern Media contact on the web page and it bounces back undelivered????

In the sands of time

halucy4good — Thur, 12 Jun 2008 14:33:02 GMT

" In the sands of time , the son of man has strive to out wit all his demons"....this is an effort to appreciate you all of like minds and intellectuall reasoning.

wishing you all support and accept me,
i love the Board.

Halima

Check It!

sashay — Thur, 29 May 2008 02:48:43 GMT

Sashay's #1 ISSUE

Would like to see new authors for next month's issue.

View : sashayfiction.blog.com

Send mss : sashay@writing.com

Be-bob-ed O My-ie what a mess!

year2027 — Sun, 25 May 2008 18:45:25 GMT

God first

Be-bob-ed O My-ie what a mess!

Wrote 05-25-2008

M,m,m,m and O ben o my goodness here sats I looking within and without this fleshly world of my fleshly me for a message to hear from Christ to share unto you the reader of the moment. But first here we know the one who loves us no other than God and his son Jesus the Christ.

One, two, three, four, five, six, and seven events will pass but who is awake to see them when the moment of each event comes. I do not say this to warn you but to see if your awake or asleep in the light of love.

For my eyes are opening more each day but not wide awake yet because I have not came out of these fleshly box of limited love. But one day I will see as God as called me to see when my body is no longer fleshly but a new one of pure light.

If I say unto you help me watch will you sat with me an Godly hour or will you fall asleep leaving me with only Christ to sat with me. Christ sats with us all but most of our kin can not stay awake until the hour has come.

Hours come and go like cattle running to get away from the lighting that puts them in fear of their flesh being set on fire to burn alive. But you have been taught where to find a safe place to hide out until the storm is over.

The place for us to run is in the arms of God by being led by the hand by Jesus the Christ unto the love of no other than God the great true love who begin it all. Believe me or not because I am only one voice crying in the wilderness where danger is all around us.

But Christ is ready to take us to the promise land of spiritual milk and spiritual honey that fills us with light of love that is pure without spot of darkness. If you have not called on the name of my big brother Christ please call on it before the hour of your death comes.

For I long to flow alone the light of Gods love unto the great spiritual house of God the creator of all things small and great, whether limited now only to be forever here at a later day or never to be again because they never reach and asked Christ to help.

Now it is time to wrap this up into a circle which always comes back to the love God has reach to share with you by the gift of his beloved son Jesus the Christ. So I end with love and a holy kiss blowing your way from Roy.