Category Archives: small presses and micro-presses

Galleries On-Line

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“It is not enough to have a good mind, the main thing is to use it well.” ~ Rene Descartes 

Have you ever visited an e-Gallery? It is without a doubt a very different experience than visiting a brick and mortar store. You can’t smell the fresh paint drying on the canvas, you can not touch or feel the textures that a fiber artist has incorporated into their work of art, a gallery assistant or docent does not greet you at the door. Best of all, the pressure to buy has been eliminated. Unique works of art, often times at more reasonable prices, can be found. 

Selling artwork through e-commerce has added a whole new dimension to the way artists do business.  E-galleries, otherwise known as art galleries on-line are cropping up in places all around the world. For the emerging artist, or for an artist who can not afford high rents for gallery exhibition space, setting up a virtual gallery can be an ideal option for selling art. Websites such as www.artroof.com provides a way for artists to set up an on-line store in very short order. Different subscription packages are available to fit the budget and gallery size requirements of any artist. 

Building an independent art business on-line allows an artist, working in any kind of medium, to be found by potential buyers from any place across the globe. Some other advantages of opening a virtual gallery – overhead is low, thus eliminating the need to inflate prices on the artwork. Parking is never an issue with an e-gallery and the shop doors are open 24 hours a day. Selling art over the internet is also fulfilling a need for those who like to gallery hop but sometimes find it hard to visit during traditional business hours or for those who live far from art hubs. Locating an art gallery, for any kind of art you prefer, is as easy as visiting a site such as http://bit.ly/h0MAZ0. 

Galleries on-line will never be able to duplicate the experience for the art collector of visiting an actual brick and mortar store. But, when artists sell and market their art work over the internet, it greatly increases their visibility and their potential for sales.

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A Letter to an Independent Filmmaker

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“The things you want are always possible…the only real obstacle in your path to a fulfilling life is you.” ~ Les Brown

 On February 25 in 1988 Bruce Springsteen’s “Tunnel of Love” tour began. It also marked the day when the start of love relationship with a child, whose arrival can only be described as JOY.  Our son entered into this world 23 years ago today and my husband and I began fulfilling our dreams of raising a precious, much-wanted child. For all who knew us then, it was a time of great celebration. For those who know us now, the gratitude and love we still feel for this gift of life is still very apparent. 

Dear Independent Filmmaker,

Can you help your parents out by setting the record straight for us? Your ability to communicate so well was evident at such an early age. But, what was it that made you decide to become a filmmaker? Was it the huge library of children’s books that we amassed and that I read to you over and over again that gave you a love for storytelling? Was it the hours you spent on your Dad’s lap watching Disney, We Sing and other children’s movies together that made you want pursue a life of entertaining others through cinematography? Was your interest in sound, lighting, cameras and lenses what made you want to create visual effects? Perhaps it was the outstanding mentor who shared everything he knew about the TV/filmmaking industry with you. What was it? We really want to know!

 Your journey as an adult, friend, storyteller, visual effects artist and filmmaker has only just begun. Continue to use the most valuable gift that you were given – good common sense. You’ve always had a great moral compass of right and wrong – use it to stay on the right path.  Staying true to your values is what has gotten you this far already. Use your energy to make this world a better place and always remember your family and where you came from. Your highly inquisitive mind, your caring nature and love of people will carry you far. You continue to amaze us with your spirit, your talents and the gifts that that you bring to this world. We can not wait to see where life and your career takes you. 

Have a safe, fun birthday. We love you! Mom and Dad

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Face the Book TV

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 “All television is educational television.  The question is:  what is it teaching?”  ~Nicholas Johnson

 The Independent Publishers of New England has a cable access TV show that is fulfilling the need for promoting regional independent publishers.  Face the Book, is similar to the concept of C-Span’s Book TV, only on a smaller level. It reaches 15,000 households through Verizon, RCN and Comcast public access TV cable channels. 

The aim of this TV show, broadcast out of Arlington, Massachusetts through Arlington Community Media, Inc. is “to bring the best of independent publishing to New England readers, authors and to publishers through their community media stations.” 

Right now, Face the Book is looking for children’s book authors who would like to appear as a panelist on the show to promote their independent publications. This is an excellent opportunity if you are a member of IPNE www.ipne.org and you have independently published a children’s book that you would like the public to learn about! 

For more information on this cable access TV show, Face the Book, please visit http://on.fb.me/es8nlr or visit the Independent Publishers of New England webpage by going to http://bit.ly/f3Pl4S.  

Being able to appear in front of 15,000 households on Face the Book TV is only one benefit to joining this non-profit trade association dedicated to educating the independent publisher. For more information on IPNE, please visit www.ipne.org.

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Film Friday

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The other day, an article appeared in the Steamboat Pilot newspaper http://bit.ly/i2xphp that I wanted to explore and share with our readers.  

According to Van Stevenson, senior Vice President of the Motion Picture Association of America www.mpaa.org, the State of Colorado is lagging behind in the incentives that it offers to attract filmmakers to the State to produce motion pictures.  There are two Colorado State legislators that want to change all that. 

 There is a new State bill that if approved, will add a 10 cent fee to all tickets sold at movie theatres. This 10-cent fee would be first of it’s kind in any State. Rooms, meals, and other services for movie stars and their production crews bring money to States and boosts local economies. A ten-cent fee added to each movie ticket sold seems inconsequential when you consider the financial benefits of having more movies made in the State. When you consider the amount of money people spend on buying a coffee “for the road,” ten-cents added to the cost of a theatre ticket is merely pocket change. 

“Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “True Grit” and the television series “Perry Mason” were all filmed in Colorado. But in recent years, few filmmakers have chosen to use Colorado as a location from which to shoot their films. There are many other states that make their state more attractive for making movies by offering good incentives. 

We will follow this story to see just how committed others in the State of Colorado are to bringing  movie production, whether it is independent or not,  to the State and will let you know how it turns out.

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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.

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

Wanderlust

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 “After all these years…It’s better to explore life and make mistakes than to play it safe.” ~ Sophia Loren

Is it really half way through February? Already? It has been a very, very busy past several weeks filled with treks for this family of three. In my travels, I was accompanied by a group of writers, some from the Steamboat Writers Group http://bit.ly/gHUxik  and others from varied walks of life.  They joined me in exploring possibilities in this New Year of moving in a positive direction for:

  • personal fulfillment
  • career advancement
  • increased visibility for themselves and their businesses all through the power of e-commerce and e-marketing.

 I am pleased to report some have already begun to fulfill their dreams of writing their stories.

My husband was the most adventuresome. He trekked across 9 time zones and 18,000 miles into unknown territory and back! He was recruited to the coaching staff to lead team USA Alpine Skiers to the World University Games in Erzurum, Turkey. The athletes, six women and six men returned home to the U.S.A. with an unprecedented number of medals – 5 gold and 2 silver and lots of stories to tell of a country they had known nothing about. What a fulfilling trip for a coach who has been involved with training and educating athletes for so many years. 

The culmination of many, many months of planning led our son this week, into the atmosphere of co-hosting an international independent film festival. As Associate Director of the New Mexico International Film Festival, he was fully involved in the minutia of what he loves to do best –watch, discuss, judge and analyze independent films. There were so many logistical details to put into place in arranging a first year event. No blueprints to follow, no tried and true formulas, no maps to lead the way, only a good, hefty dose of energy and willingness to step into the unknown. I am sure he will have his share of tales to tell, too. 

 Each of us has our own interpretation of what brings personal fulfillment to our lives. How about you? Do you ever dare to strike out into territories of the unknown? It is the best way to broaden horizons and bring fulfilling experiences to our lives. What will tomorrow bring?

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Near and Dear to My Heart

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“Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.” ~ Kevin Arnold 

On this Valentine’s Day, I thought I would write about a cause that is near and dear to the hearts of many. There are millions and millions of families affected by cancer each and every year. The number of books written by cancer survivors and by family members of the deceased helps us to realize that cancer directly or indirectly touches everyone’s hearts at some time in their lives. Books on this subject are helpful to others, because it brings to the forefront the enormity of the disease. Writing about cancer serves great purpose in fulfilling a need for survivors and family members to share their hurt, their physical and emotional trauma and sometimes, very happily, their triumph over the disease. By reading stories of others who have experienced the effects of this disease, it helps survivors and families realize that they are not alone.

Events such as The Race for Life raises awareness of the need to raise money for cancer research. Teams that participate in the annual Race for Life Relay, Nordic Style are dedicated to keeping the spirit of their loved one alive and to raising money for research. Amy’s Angels will be competing for a second year at the Trapp Family Lodge (of Sound of Music fame) www.trappfamily.com  in Stowe, Vermont, and defending their title as the top fundraising team. The Race for Life Relay, Nordic Style kicks off on March 19 and 20th, 2011. 

If you are unable to put together a team to compete in one of the Race for Life fundraising events, held across the country annually, but still wish to support cancer research or honor the spirit of a loved one that you have lost to cancer, please visit this link, and make your pledge to the American Cancer Society this Valentine’s Day. www.relayforlife/nordicstyle.org. 

I will be routing for the women on Amy’s Angels team come March from Steamboat Springs, CO. My friend, Amy whom I lost to breast cancer almost two years ago, is near and dear to me in spirit every day. Her legacy lies within the minds of hundreds of children that she educated, mentored and loved in her 30 years of teaching in Vermont.

 Go Amy’s Angels, go!

Film Friday

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A Quick Shout Out –

Cornerstone Fulfillment Service, LLC  extends their best wishes to the New Mexico International Film Festival in Jemez Springs, NM which begins tonight! Director Justin Evans and Associate Director Marc Leonard have a fulfilling line-up of films to screen for this 1st year film fest!!  Tonight their feature film will be the award winning “A Lonely Place for Dying” with a Q & A Session and meet the filmmakers afterwards.  Don’t forget to ask Marc Leonard how he did his visual effects that won him The Best Visual Effects Award at the Wild Rose International Film Festival. Filmmaker Magazine featured “A Lonely Place for Dying” in the Summer 2010 issue in an article called Period Pieces on the Cheap. The film was recognized for attracting big name actors to the low budget film and for it’s outstanding visual effects done on the cheap! For more information on this film, please visit http://alonelyplacefordying.blogspot.com/. 

For Aspiring Young Filmmakers: 

Looking for a fulfilling experience for your aspiring filmmaker? Enroll them now for a summer camp for want-a-be filmmakers organized by the non-profit organization Docs in Progress.

There will be offered a two week camp for middle school students (grades 7, 8, & 9) from June 27 to July 3rd. And a two week camp for high school kids (grades 10, 11 & 12). These camps will provide students the opportunity to work in small groups to plan, shoot and edit a documentary film. At the end of the camp, a mini film festival will be held so that parents and friends can be the first to see the finished work of the aspiring filmmakers. The finished docs will also be uploaded to YouTube for the entire world to see! In order to provide a quality camp, the enrollment is limited, so apply early.  For more information on this Silver Spring, Maryland summer camp, please visit http://bit.ly/h5heXK.

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Make the Most of your Post

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 “All those moments written or read together take on movement and architecture of the narrative.” ~ Marilyn Hacker

One of the most frequent complaints that I hear about those who have just entered the blogosphere is that their blogs never get read. Thus, frustration sets in, blog postings become infrequent or non-existent at all. Personally, I find blogging to be extremely fulfilling and like last night, I often find myself lying awake plotting and planning my next post. 

Not understanding the why’s, how’s and when’s of blogging can lead to feelings of “What is the point?” So many bloggers unnecessarily give up on their efforts when all it really takes is a little education and a few tweaks to their approach. Folks, remember blogging is not just an exercise in writing! There is a reason and a methodology behind it that needs to be understood and utilized so that you are not just wasting your time.  

Marketing over the internet is a whole new science. Independent publishers, as business owners, need to understand how to reach communities of people who are looking for their products and services. Before you give up, seek the help of an e-marketing professional who understands the science behind marketing through the internet. Often a little coaching is all it takes to fully understand the nuts and bolts behind marketing in this digital age.

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Make ‘Em Laugh, Make ‘Em Laugh

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“Laughter is the sensation of feeling good all over and showing it principally in one place.”  ~Josh Billings 

The nation and many individual states choose a deserving poet to be honored with the Poet Laureate Award each year. The Vermont Council on the Arts has just announced they will be honoring their very first Cartoonist Laureate on March 10, 2011. http://bit.ly/gftNdx. It is the second state, behind Alaska, to grant this kind of award. Chosen for the child-like intensity to his work, native Vermonter James Kochalka will been given the award. He is the illustrator of the comic strip American Elf and a number of graphic novels. It is not surprising that Vermont has decided to present a deserving funny-man or woman with the Cartoonist Laureate award each year. The state of Vermont has the distinction of  fulfilling the need for a Center for Cartoon Studies. www.cartonstudies.org. 

 I personally love a daily little chuckle but what I really like is to roar out loud until the tears come to my eyes and roll down my cheeks. Everyone knows that a laugh like that can sometimes hurt our bellies, but it is oh so fulfilling and worth it. The best is when I can share that kind of laughter with my twin sister. Wow – can we get going! It is often difficult to stop. Often the humor is only understood by the two of us. Others, they just don’t get it because it can be over the silliest things. In good times and in bad times, who can’t use a little laugh each and every day? It is good for our hearts. This I whole-heartedly believe! To read about a study from the University of Maryland on the health benefits of laughter, please go to http://bit.ly/qTtai. 

Just listening to the news each day and hearing the politicking is enough to make one laugh, no matter what your political persuasion happens to be. Democrats, Republicans and Independents, alike, often resort to child-like behaviors just to get their way. We could probably hold a debate as to whether it is even necessary to have a Cartoonist Laureate award. But there are too many debates already going on in this country, why add one more?

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