Category Archives: digital publishing

Settling In Amid Peaks and Valleys

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Last week I promised that I would share my impressions of moving from the northeastern part of the U.S. to the town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I came site unseen since my husband relocated several months prior to my coming.

My original poem begins on the East Coast – and this segment picks up as my husband, son and I drove into Steamboat in a fierce snowstorm the day after Thanksgiving, five years ago.

(The form is a little different due to digital formatting challenges) but never-the-less every word is as I wrote it).

Settling In ~ by Sue Batton Leonard

Relocating, arriving like dandruff on shoulders,

a sprinkling of sugar, dusting about

dancing, leaving polka dots on

peaks and in deep valleys,

marking the panorama, a white capped day

ill-timed to some, peaceful, sparkling to others

trailing like ribbons of baby’s bonnet

freed from summer heat, a white capped day

insulating earth from hoarfrost of winter

playground for skiers, aggravation for vehicles

skidding and sliding, driving the

business of living

steep and deep canyons, icing tiered

high, champagne to play in, romantic visions,

a Christmas rose, welcome alpine

guests of a white capped day

effervescent spirits, chilling exteriors

covered, absolute abundance

paralysis, blocked highways and byways

igloo walls till spring thaw

children naively playing, blizzard conditions

pompoms on powder puffs, feathery scarves,

woodstove fed and red-hot fired,

melting spikes of a white capped day

sit and snuggle, aside a blazing fire

top the chocolate with whipped cream. A cherry.

till next fall, remember, a white capped day ~

whipped creme and cherry

Wishing You and Yours a Happy Holiday Season! Do return tomorrow to

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Lessons Add Up to Nitty Gritty of Story

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tissueflower1There are always flowers for those who want to see them  ~ Henri Matisse

I love those words from Henri Matisse, and in them there is a lot of wisdom. We can almost always find the positive in any situation if we look deep enough. Sometimes it takes a retrospective perspective to find out what difficult moments in life are supposed to teach us. But there are morals to be learned in everything we do, even if it is nothing more than teaching us we are stronger than we think we are or that we have survival skills and have made it through what many thought we couldn’t.

Last night I shared Matisse’s words at my public speaking class as I slipped back into my childhood for a few moments and demonstrated how to make tissue paper flowers – an art project I learned at age eleven as a junior Girl Scout.

There is a personal anecdotal story with life lessons that go along with making the paper flowers. Things I learned at age 11 that helped me blossom and grow into the person I am today. If I shared more of the story with you now it would be a spoiler for my upcoming publication.

But, if you understand the essence of Matisse’s adage, you will comprehend a wee part of what my memoir is about. I’ll keep you posted on its progress. The lion’s share of the work is already done. Now we are getting down to the nitty gritty.

Reliving an art project from Junior Girl Scouts

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flower 3

Look forward to seeing you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling. The blog of www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

E-Books: A Vital Option

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“The freedom to move forward to new opportunities and to produce results comes from living in the present and not the past.” ~ Brian Koslow

Shopping-CartIf you are ready to publish your manuscript, there are many choices to consider. Offering an electronic version of a book has become a necessity if you are an author who wants to reap the benefits in the digital marketplace. More often than not, potential book buyers want to know if a title “is available as an e-book?”

According to a recent article in Publishers Weekly Magazine, sales in e-books have dipped a little from when the Kindle and the Nook were initially rolled out. However,  e-book sales have remained strong, jumping a total of “4,456% since 2008.” That is a big deal and e-books have become a “billion dollar industry” according to the article. Here is a link so you can see all the e-book selling statistics from 2008 – 2012. http://bit.ly/Hc3JVq. We won’t see the 2013 book sales results for a few more months.

In my opinion, there will be more technological developments coming that will blow away any remaining doubts that e-books are just a passing trend. Especially as digital publishing becomes integrated into more classrooms and library catalogs.

Authors don’t miss out on a stream of income by failing to offer an e-book version of your title. And remember “if you are selling over the internet, you must be marketing over the internet” because that is where your potential book buyers hang out!

Speaking of hang-outs, thanks for frequenting this website. Do return tomorrow to www.AllThingsFulfilling.com tomorrow, the blog of www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Quick Delivery, Read it & Enjoy!

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sustainability_landing

On Friday, I read an interesting article in USA Today about business and entrepreneurship. The article described how the co-founder of Reddit, Alexis Ohaninan, was fueled by rejection. “True failure,” it was pointed out in the article ” is not to persevere and learn from setbacks.”

The article also mentioned how the Millennial generation has grown up in an environment so different than what older Americans have experienced before. There is no longer a predetermined path for the American dream, thus in today’s world “there aren’t a lot of conventions to be conventional about.”

This statement made me think about publishing and how it is almost unrecognizable from where it was back in the late 1990s, when I began my company. At that time, only a few brave souls with spirit dared “buck the system” and publish independently. Now, we have moved into a whole different publishing model, where the independents have gained substantial market share which includes e-books (digital publishing).  Whether we can predict whether a time will come when books will only be available in digital form, it is too early to tell.

sprout greenThere are those who say they will never read an e-book, but my  question to doubters is “What is wrong with progress? Is that not what brought about the printing press?” And, I will always maintain my position that “a good read, is a good read, no matter how it is delivered. E-books are just one more way you can say you’ve read it and enjoyed it!

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling.

Publishing Message Of Importance

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 It is good to rub, and polish our brain against that of others. ~Michel Eyquem de Montaigne

This morning I’d like to send a shout out to two smart cookies –  Joyce Miller of Integrated Writers Services, LLC and to Jon R Tandler of Ryley Carlock and Applewhite for sharing their knowledge of copyright issues with the Colorado Independent Publishers Association members and guests. On Saturday, I came away feeling better informed. However, I am more convinced than ever that it is a good thing there are experts who can navigate the copyright laws for their publishing clients’ protection. Laws change, evolve, and are also constantly developing as we transition into world that is ever more reliant on digital media.  Here is a link to a very important resource for anyone in the creative field on copyright issues. http://amzn.to/19Uh3a0

 thank-you

 Image source – http://funlava.com/thank-you-quotes/

Now to a different subject but still within the realm of publishing – this year, the Colorado Independent Publishers Association has begun “focused forums” as part of their commitment to educating authors and publishers. These are great opportunities to hone in on a specific topic and learn from experienced publishing experts. Until the first of the year, these sessions are free for CIPA Members and non-members alike. Beginning in January there will be a charge to non-members of $25. It is necessary to pre-register on-line at www.cipacatalog.com  because space is limited.  See more specifics on the CIPA website.

The next focused form will be November 5th and the subject will be publishing children’s books. CIPA members Benjamin Hummel, Nancy Mills and Julie Federico will be leading the discussion. Anyone who has ever dreamed of writing for children should sign-up – it is free education!

On November 11th, Karen Saunders of MacGraphics Services will be talking about branding. If you are an author who is planning on writing more than one book, brand development is very important and can help sell books. (Think Chicken Soup for the Soul Series).

That’s my message for today. Have a fulfilling week ahead. This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com .

Copyright: The Godfather?

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“Yes, God made man first, but there’s always a rough draft before the final copy.”~Unknown

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I already know what is on my plate for the weekend – I’m headed into Denver for the monthly meeting of the Colorado Independent Publishers Association. http://www.cipacatalog.com/ . Copyrighting will be the focus of the day tomorrow, and “our” own in-house expert, Joyce L. Miller, co-author of Copyright Clearance for Creatives will be speaking.   I’ve found Dr. C. Daniel and Joyce L. Miller’s resource so helpful, and it recently received an excellent review from Esther Sinofsky of the Booklist Review. http://thecopyrightdetective.com/guide/ .

There is so much to learn about copyrighting. I just read a cleverly written article that initially made me think the movie The Godfather had something to do copyright permissions and laws, the kind of copyrighting the Millers are experts in. As it turns out I had the wrong kind of copyrighting on my mind. The article by Peter Michaels was about the value of watching The Godfather because of the copy that was written. The brilliance of the screenwriters, Mario Puzo and Frances Ford Coppola is evident as the audience is led through the movie with a brilliant opening scene, dealings of the characters and their standings in the community. The narrative is not necessarily all told through dialogue.

After reading the article, I have been persuaded that I need to watch The Godfather again this weekend for completely different reasons – paying close attention, this time, to how the movie communicates and convinces.

So, what are you doing this weekend? I If you are person who is considering publishing, I encourage you to join a regional or state-wide independent publishing association, such as the Colorado Independent Publishers Association or a local writers group. Joining and networking with a groups of other writers and publishers is where you will learn all kinds of tips of the trade.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. The space where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business. Do return to All Things Fulfilling on Monday.

Important First Steps to Publishing

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“It is not in the pursuit of happiness that we find fulfillment, it is in happiness of pursuit.” ~ Denis Waitley

The e-Book Extravaganza on Saturday sponsored by the Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA) was well-worth attending. During one of the breaks, the President of CIPA, Dr. Patricia Ross came over to me and said “Sue, I’d like you to meet one of our new members.” Of course, the usual niceties followed.

I asked the new member if she was enjoying the morning, and she said “Yes, but I feel so uninformed! There is so little I know about independent publishing.” Dr. Ross told her not to be discouraged, and off the President went doing her job of hob-knobbing about the room.

CIPA 9 13 #1As the new member and I stood talking, I said to her, “You know, each and every person in this room started where you began today, knowing nothing. That is the reason you have joined this group -to get help, to learn, to network and become informed about your options.” There is a lot to learn and you have taken a very important first step. You have joined this group!”

“Yes,” the new member replied. “There seems to be plenty of knowledge to learn from in this group.”

Before the break was over and we went to sit in our respective seats, across the room from one another, I had one more thing I had to say. “In your free time, read anything you can get your hands on about the industry, and keep coming to this group. It’s the best thing you can do for yourself.”

To learn more about the Colorado Independent Publishers Association, please visit this link. http://www.cipacatalog.com/join-cipa/. Please note the organization also offers downloadable webinars if you are too far to travel to their meetings.

http://www.cipacatalog.com/categories/CIPA-College-Downloads/

As I drove home, I began to ponder how many first steps I have taken since 1998, when the independent industry was in its infancy. They’ve all been in a quest to learn all I could about the industry and it led to becoming a business.  And the wonders and development of the independent publishing universe never cease to amaze me. I find it fascinating.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. The space where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business. See you tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling.

e-Book Extravaganza

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Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family. ~ Kofi Annan

cipa logoOn Saturday I made the very worthwhile three hour trek into Denver from Steamboat Springs, Colorado to attend Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA) monthly meeting. The September agenda was an e-Book Extravaganza. Here are just a few things that were discussed throughout the day:

  • The e-book industry now represents 33% of book sales. How about that?
  • People like having a choice of formats, so offering books in print, as well as an e-book version is wise marketing.
  • There is still a viable market for books-in-print but there is a certain part of the reading population who are clamoring for e-books due to their convenience.
  • Surprisingly, people who are 55 years of age and over ARE BUYING e-books, contrary to what was expected. It is not just the young generation that are interested in the digital format.
  • We discussed pricing of e-books and how you can leverage your intellectual property.
  • E-books make it easy to offer samples, providing potential book buyers the  opportunity to see if they like an author they’ve never read before.
  • A big advantage to e-books – there is no printing involved, thus it removes the need for physical space of inventory.

If you are a writer who wants to get on The Fast Track to Independent Publishing, here is a short webinar that will introduce you to the basics. http://bit.ly/10cCp1Y. 

Do return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling, we will be discussing the next best step if you are a person who is considering independent publishing and you are in need of knowledge. I will tell you a quick but valuable story from this weekend.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com .

 

Film Friday: Teaching Emerging Filmmakers

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new day films “One of the privileges of being a filmmaker is the opportunity to remain a kind of perpetual student.”  – Edward Zwick

Are you an educator who teaches emerging young filmmakers? The other day I came across a film distribution company that may not be known to visitors who frequent All Things Fulfilling for news about independent filmmaking.

New Day Films is a filmmaker-run distribution company providing award-winning films to educators since 1971. This on-line site “delivers over 230 titles that illuminate, challenge and inspire.”  Many of the films can be digitally streamed directly from the website or delivered in DVD or VHS format.

willard van dykeSince the genre of documentary film is particularly interesting to me, I was drawn to a film called Conversations with Willard Van Dyke. http://www.newday.com/films/Conversations_with_WVD.html. In this film, Van Dyke discusses his belief that “films have the power of film to change the world.”  The man behind his films, Willard Van Dyke, “became synonymous with social documentary in the U.S.”

During his lifetime (1906 – 1986), Van Dyke painted portraitures of Americans, through the medium of film, who made their living through hard labor everyday such as steelworkers, cottonpickers and machinists. The Depression, he said, made an everlasting impression on him.Click for info & ordering Willard Van Dyke’s film

Van Dyke was director of the Department of Film at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) from 1965 to 1974. He also began the film department at the State University of New York in Purchase.  In 1978, he received the prestigious George Eastman Award, given by George Eastman House for distinguished contribution to the art of film. 

New Day Films distributes films on many social issue topics, among them:

  • Aging & Gerontology
  • Media, Art & Culture
  • Religion & Theology
  • African-American
  • Multi-Cultural
  • Children & Family issues
  • Sociology
  • Native American Studies

Film educators and film historians may find the perfect film they are looking for to use in the classroom on the website http://www.newday.com.  Check it out.

See you Monday. This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Treasuring Art

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 “Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.”   ~ Chinese proverb 

At a thrift store recently I came across an art print of Thomas Moran – imagine my delight! It seemed like a God thing – the image was just sitting there waiting for someone who’d appreciate it to pick it up . I gave in to my desires and purchased it – a real deal. I am very grateful to have the Moran art print hanging on my wall. He was one of the greatest illustrator and colorists of all times.

Every evening the week before last, I had been watching Ken Burns’ documentary The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.  http://bit.ly/182xh1N. Moran’s name was mentioned as one of the top landscape painters of the 19th century who ventured west. I learned he traveled to YellowstoneNational Park from the Hudson RiverSchool in New York, in the summer of 1871, to document on canvas what others described as a place where “hell bubbled up.”

Many artists traveled westward in the early days of the founding of the U.S. National Parks and they continue to be favorite places for artists who are seeking inspiration. Artists still go to paint, photograph and write about the dramatic landscapes in these protected government lands which are far more unique than many other places across the United States. Ralph Waldo Emerson described the National Parks as places where “God is more easily found in nature than in the works of man.” 

Lots of people find personal fulfillment in poking around in thrift shops. You never know what treasures you might find. I scored!

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Do return to All Things Fulfilling tomorrow!