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A Victory for All

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“In reading the lives of great men…self discipline with all of them came first.” ~ Harry S. Truman

You’ve heard it from me before. Independent publishers, it is not all about the manuscript. The most successful independent publishers have vision and a solid marketing plan for their books, prior to even beginning the writing process.

I love hearing stories of independent publishing success and the other day I got word of some very exciting news about author and past president of the Colorado Independent Publishers Association, Mara Purl. Her romantic women’s fiction, the Milford-Haven Novels, have been picked up by a New York Publisher, with a plan that Mara has dreamed about. Her novels will be re-launched by Bellekeep Books, and will reach an even larger audience than before. Mid Point Trade, a major national distributor, is also involved in the deal.

Mara, whose curriculum vitae includes author, screenplay writer, actress on Days of Our Lives and script writer for The Guiding Light has always had great vision for her professional life and for her written work. She parlayed her vision for her serial novels into great success in the U.K. Her stories of the fictitious, small town, Milford-Haven, was the first American radio drama ever licensed by the BBC. It has reached an audience of 4.5 million listeners! For more information on Mara and her Milford-Haven novels, please visit www.marapurl.com and her blogsite http://bit.ly/ekghXc.

I look forward to seeing the unfolding of this story. Mara’s first novel will be re-launched in August 2011, and another publication is scheduled to hit the market every six months. There will be no down time for Mara. That is for sure!

When I hear stories like this, it is not victory for one.  It is a victory for all who have decided to take the non-traditional route to publishing and have found success.

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Dwell in Possibility – Move Forward in Surety

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“We all have possibilities we don’t know about. We can do things we don’t even dream we can do.” ~ Dale Carnegie

Yesterday, I had another opportunity to share with others my love and my passion for the independent (or non-traditional) publishing industry. I shared with the group that what began as my vision of providing stellar customer service for the internet sales of a single art book became a business of my own, dedicated to providing affordable e-commerce and e-marketing services for an industry of independent publishers. It has been from the beginning, my wish for independent publishers to be able to survive, as a sustainable industry, because I believe in the powers of independent thoughts, words and views that our country allows under it’s Constitution.

After the presentation, I began to think what an appropriate place to hold the event! In a library constructed with sustainable building materials and filled with the published works of writers, filmmakers and musicians who dared to step out and take a risk of telling their stories for the benefit of others. This is the basis from which many successful small businesses are formed. Successful business owners have passion, vision, belief and enduring energy that their product and service with be useful to others. And it is the customers and clients that endorse, sustain and support the dreams of the business owners that make them profitable. It truly is the American way.

Thanks to all who came, and I wish you the best in your journey of fulfilling your dreams in business and in publishing!  Thanks to the Bud Werner Library for providing a beautiful, light-filled space for those who gathered to learn more about what I see as a fascinating, fast growing, sustainable industry. www.steamboatlibrary.org.

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Plein Air Returns

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“Popularity is the easiest thing in the world to gain and it is the hardest thing to hold.”   ~Will Rogers 

Artists, Feel the Breeze! The stir of artist’s whispers and newfound creativity has the much-missed Plein Air Magazine back into existence. The magazine was first published in 2004, and then it was published as Fine Art Connoisseur. It is coming back into circulation, once again as Plein Air Magazine as of February 2011.  Just in time for winter reading, and spring inspiration. It is fulfilling to know the art community mourned its loss and demanded its return! 

At the helm of the magazine is publisher Eric Rhoads and Editor Steve Doherty, two seasoned professionals in the art publishing world. Look for this great resource on newsstands. This magazine is for all painters but especially valued by artists who like to step out of the studio and into nature to paint its elements from real life. 

Plein Air Magazine is available in print, digital version or you can subscribe to both editions at http://bit.ly/dO0s5D.

 

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From a Personal Perspective

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“Above all, be true to yourself, and if you cannot put your  heart in it, take yourself out of it.” ~ Unknown

Although I took last week off from the blogging world, make no mistake, I was still working hard. I spent my time reading and writing and ciphering, in preparation for the New Year as a business owner offering e-commerce and e-marketing services to those who have chosen a path of fulfilling their lives by combining business and the arts.

The arts is a big, broad term that in my opinion includes those persons who have made it an art to live according to what they believe to be true and right and good. There are those who practice the art of excellence in customer service, work in the healing arts, the art of design, the art of creating beautiful spaces and faces,  the art of spirituality, the art of working in a capacity for the betterment of this world, not even to mention the stereotypical artists – writers, filmmakers, musicians, photographers, visual artists and performing arts, to name a few.

As I meandered through the aisles of the library last week, I came across a book in the inspirational section called “This I Believe.”  www.thisibelieve.org.  Each essay is a proclamation from an individual who has a unique perspective on what they believe to be true in their lives. Each statement offers a personal “raison d’etre.” They are acknowledgements of what fulfills each individual with hope and makes sense of their world, no matter what their history or mission in life has been.

The end of the book challenges each reader to write their own 350-500 word narrative based on a “This I Believe” statement. For people who are driven by their passions in their work, this task should be a breeze! For me, as a business owner, it is!  My own personal statement is what makes me rise to and enjoy the challenges each and every day.

In the interest of keeping this blog short and not too laborious to read, I will state my “This I Believe” briefly. “I believe those who use their passions in their work, live the most fulfilling lives. I believe, as a business owner, that by serving others, so that our clients can focus on what they do best, this world will be a better place.”

Write your own “This I Believe” statement now! It will bring to light to your core values and it will drive you to do your best each and every day.

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Sleighbells…Are you Listening, Booksellers?

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I decided to take a trip yesterday, through the powers of my intuition, into the fulfilling world of publishing! What my intuition told me is that some print shops all over America are busier at work this year. How can they not be? Non-traditional publishing grew a whooping 181% from 2008 to 2009, according to Bowker  http://bit.ly/cp3anL.The trend, my intuition tells me, has risen again this year. Wish I knew for sure. But, only Bowker will be able to tell me, after they have tallied their reports at the end of the year. It’s just one of those things! 

Do you know what this could mean for the holidays? Santa may have a lot more stops this year – picking up books at companies that offer POD (print on demand) and short run printing. My intuition tells me the machines are cranking. More than ever, people want books (and films, too) that inspire, educate, inform and amuse that are not run of the mill. 

When Santa makes his rounds, my intuition tells me the sleigh bells will be ringing a lot louder this year, in support for the non-traditional publishing industry. If the trend in independent publishing stayed on the up and up again in 2010, is it what may be  keeping the publishing industry afloat? 

Hope Jolly Old St. Nick, has a stash of inspirational stories set aside for me this year. Ah well… if they sell out before Santa arrives at my door, they can easily be reprinted! No longer does the publisher need to print by the 10’s of thousands. That’s the beauty of independent publishing!

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Books to Film

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“Everyday, things change for me…you make the necessary adaptations.”  ~ Craig Thomas 

I went on a quest today to fulfill my need for information about how many books are adapted into films each year? So, it’s time for all of you to guesstimate what I found out! 

According to one source, Variety Magazine, market conditions have reduced the number of literary adaptations from books to film in recent years. Approximately 30 books are adapted by major film production studios for screen each year. A small number, given the large number of books that are published each year! To see a list of books that were adapted for cinema release in 2010, see this article. http://www.chasingthefrog.com/moviebooks.htm. 

Slated for novel to cinema adaptation in 2011, is a film that I can not wait to see. The novel “Water for Elephants” was one of my most memorable reads in recent years and I look forward to seeing how the cinema version of the story compares. I flat out loved the book! It is being adapted for film along with several other popular literary works. Wondering what other popular literary works are scheduled for upcoming film release in the New Year? Visit http://amzn.to/93TjmI to take a sneak peak. 

In order to turn a novel into a successful cinematic release, all the right elements must be there. Are you interested in learning more about how to get your book turned into a film, please visit http://bit.ly/9TzhzP.

 If anyone out there has inside information about what else we can look forward to seeing in theatres in 2011, we would love to hear from you, if it is not top-secret information.  Perhaps in 2011, I’ll see you at the theatre – I’ll buy the popcorn if you save me a seat!

 

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Fits, Starts and Floods

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“Thinking is the enemy of creativity…you can’t try to do things, you simply must do things.” ~ Ray Bradbury 

Ever since I entered into the blogosphere, I have become very cognizant of writing patterns and creativity – my own, that is. What has become apparent is the fact that my ideas for writing comes in fits, starts and floods. The search for fulfilling blogging subjects is perpetual and my creativity, unpredictable! 

The fits start as this:

  • Words and phrases come quickly out of nowhere and then evade me. Just like that. As if someone snaps their fingers and says “be gone with you!” Poof – what was just the right notion flees faster than a flea can jump.

                                 OR

  • An elaborate schematic pops up in my head – clear and concise. Putting pen to paper, suddenly it vanishes into thin air – gone. Never able to be recovered in the exact same state again. 

The starts begin like this:

  • All begins well – words flow, creativity is rolling then suddenly my mind takes a detour and detaches. A real and senseless casualty.

                               OR

  • The ideas arrive like a farm delivering fresh eggs to a bakery – by dozens at a time. Each idea with a rich, central point –  the binding ingredient for many a sweet creation. The ideas overwhelm to the point that is difficult to know which concoction to make first. 

The floods begin when:

  •  An idea starts and runs rampant. The idea unfolds and flows, unfolds and flows, and flows, and flows and flows some more and on and on it goes. With no stopping point in site. Hardly suitable writing for the blogosphere. The result -having to rein my blog writing in. 

What have I learned about my writing from this?

  • To be patient and wait, if the ideas or creativity does not flow.
  •  If I can’t create it today, try tomorrow.
  • Clarity eventually returns and often resumes better than ever.
  • Do not trash anything! Rework!  The result can be unexpected and different.
  • Maintain tough minded optimism that eventually a fulfilling story will come around. 

Let’s see what tomorrow’s writing brings. Will it begin with a fit, a start or a flood? As overwhelming as it may seem, I like when the ideas arrive by the dozen. Through creation, the central point of an idea eventually becomes all things fulfilling!

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Taking Inventory

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“The best thing you’ve got going for you is individuality.” ~ Richard Thompson 

I decided to do something different today – take inventory – my own! After working with artists for many years, the words “right and left brain” have been flung around in my presence quite a bit. I have always assumed that I am what artists are NOT. Fulfilling the duties of what artists find to be tedious, difficult, frustrating and overwhelming has earned me kudos time and time again, so naturally I assumed my brain inventory included the things that theirs lacked. 

After taking inventory of how my brain processes information, my intuition has served me well. Intuition is one of the few right brain traits that I can claim as being what I am all about. Although, when my intuition does not lead me, I do tend to fall into my left brained way of thinking – logically and sequentially.

 My left brain inventory also includes being able to focus on details and being organized. I like making lists and am good at keeping track of time (until all mediums of e-marketing entered into my life!) Lately, I can feel an unfamiliar heaviness on the right side of the skull due to this new occurrence of letting time get away from me, as I utilize my e-marketing skills to assist others become visible in communities. 

My saving grace? In order to use e-marketing effectively, good writing skills and logical thinking are heavily called upon, which utilizes once again the strong, left side of my brain. Result – balance! 

Curious? Do you know how your brain processes information? Take the right brain /left brain quiz and find out! It can help you determine whether a career path will fit into your way of thinking too! http://bit.ly/cyztTe.

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Shelf Sitting

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“Keep constantly in mind how many things you yourself have witnessed change.” ~ Marcus Aurelius 

Interesting! Lately I have been hearing more and more about something that I have suspected for a long time.  Bookstores are not the best places to sell books! I dislike even making this statement, because bookstores are my “safe haven.” A place to go when I want to relax, spend some quiet time and browse the vast selection of books until my heart is content. Almost all of us would say it is fulfilling to step into a bookstore. It is unadulterated bliss, as far as I am concerned. Rarely do I come out empty handed. It is hard to control my impulses in a bookstore.  

But, in terms of authors selling books, there are other ways. More specifically, by selling individual orders through e-commerce, and at other places besides the bookstore. Eliminated is the scenario of not knowing whether books, films and other media will be sold by a bookstore or they will be returned as unsold. 

The trend of internet buying is here to stay. If you are a writer who has not yet explored the possibilities of selling your book on line, what is stopping you? If you are not mired in contractual agreements with a publisher who has you locked into the traditional way of bookstore bookselling only, it may pay to look into a company that specializes in e-commerce and e-marketing for independent publishers. Don’t sit there not knowing how to move your books from basement, garages and attics into the marketplace. Be pro-active! http://bit.ly/bFnEGZ.

 

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Press On

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“Action is the key to all foundational success”~ Pablo Picasso 

Just learned of two artists whose books are in the coffers of the printing press, right now. Without hang-ups or glitches in the process, the books will be ready for holiday selling.  Hopefully, advance promotion of the book has been done, so that potential buyers know the book is on it’s way to the marketplace, and it is soon to be available. I’ll bet the beautiful publications will fulfill some holiday dreams of artists all around the world. 

How about your independent publishing project? How is it coming? Hitch up your britches and get to work in finishing up those final details, so that you can have it ready in time for Christmas selling or by the start of the New Year. Success means starting off the New Year right!  

Are you facing challenges in the process?  If so, here are a few tips: –

  • Focus on what is easy first, get it done so you can concentrate on problem solving.
  • Reorganize for better work flow
  • Don’t avoid challenges – step into them and view them as part of the process rather than as “hang-ups”
  • If the problematic can be quickly and easily solved by someone else, hand over the task. It will free you to focus on the work you can handle and the parts you do best.
  • Seek the advice and counsel of professionals, for the steps of the publishing process that you are unsure of. 

Good luck, hang in there and focus – visualize your finished book. It will energize you along the way.

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