Publishing Love Letters

“The love of  a family is life’s greatest blessing.” ~ Unknown

Desktop publishing has been used widely for families to document and share their family geneology and history. Because, let’s be honest, unless you are a member of a notable family, have accomplished something unusual in life, are a hot television personality or politician, a CEO “giant” or have an extreme story to tell, the chances are slim to none of having your book published by a traditional and major publishing house.

Many people find it important to travel to different parts of the world to discover, document and learn about their geneology, but it is not necessary. Tracing your family heritage is made simple in this digital age. Websites like Ancestry.com makes searching for relatives possible and fun.

The purpose of publishing a family history is to pass along stories of family members migrating from one geographical area to another, to teach of ancestor’s struggles and adversities, to record births and deaths, family values and ethnic lineage. A study of our ancestry helps us to identify and connect with those family members who came before us.

A common mistake is to think that only your family members would be interested in your family’s tales. Not so – I just read an independently published book called “Out of Vienna” by Ernie Weiss. www.OutofVienna.com.  The author is not personally known to me, nor is his extended family. But the recounting of his family’s eight year escape from Vienna during the Nazi occupation to the United States was fascinating.

If you are contemplating independently publishing a book about your family’s geneology – take the leap. For your relatives, a book of family history is the inheritance of a love letter written for your children and those not yet born.

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Braveheart

“When something can be read without effort, great effort has gone into it’s writing.” ~ Enrique Jardiel Poncela

Someone not too long ago made the comment to me that “I am a brave woman to bare my soul through blogging.” Her remark took me by surprise and I began to think about why people write and whether putting pen to paper is an act of bravery.

I came to the conclusion that, yes for many, writing is an act of courage. Therapeutic writing often addresses wrongdoings or failings in one’s life.  Topics of therapeutic writing can be ugly and fraught with raw emotion. Feelings of victimization, being punished or bullied, thoughts of resentment, shame, grief or frustration is often addressed in therapeutic writing. Acts of contrition are often mentioned.  Writing is cathartic and a useful tool of psychological therapy for many.

Writing a memoir takes guts too! Reflecting on one’s own life is not always easy. The act of sharing one’s own life story takes courage.  Deep reflection on one’s own life and it’s purpose often digs up unpleasant moments and times that have been pushed way back, lest they be remembered.

No, I am not a brave woman. I write because it is fun. It gets my fingers goin’ and my thoughts flowin’ and if someone likes my writing, it is all that more satisfying and fulfilling.

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More Indie Publisher News

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Learn from others. Attending other author’s book tours and book release events are an ideal way to learn to promote your book.

There is a great resource for finding out what author will be coming to your area by going to www.BookTour.com.

You can search the website by date, author and place and find out where you can meet and hear about your favorite author’s newest book releases, including NY Times best selling authors.

Learning from others is a great way to educate yourself so that when you are ready to promote yourself as an author, you have the knowledge of what it takes to have a successful book tour.

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Weekend Indie Publisher News

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Attention Non-Fiction Writers!!  If you have a book relevant to better living, enter it into the book award contest sponsored by www.livingnowawards.com.  This contest is looking for books which relate to living fulfilling lives. There are 28 categories offering gold, silver and bronze medals.

Some of the categories include:

  • Cooking – general, organic and holiday
  • Personal Growth
  • Health and Wellness
  • Enlightenment/Spirituality
  • Hobbies and Crafts
  • Wedding Planning
  • Gardening/Landscaping
  • Pets/Livestock
  • Green Living
  • Home/Remodeling/Decorating
  • Travel
  • Finance/Budget
  • Charity
  • Style/Shopping
  • Charity
  • Mature Living

For information on all categories and entry guidelines, please visit www.livingnowawards.com.

Enter Early and Save!

$70 per title until November 7, $80 per title from November 8 to January 8, 2010 and $90 per title from January 10 – February 14, 2010 (deadline date).

Books that win contests SELL! ENTER NOW!

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Moving Forward

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“Everyone has his burden. What counts is how you carry it”    ~ Merle Miller

There is  no free ride in life, and no one said being an independent publisher would be a walk in the park. You most likely have had successes and disappointments along the way. Don’t we all? But don’t let those frustrations get you down. Let them only be fleeting moments.

As an independent publisher, I am willing to bet that you have the gumption to hang in there, through thick and thin. What made you decide to independently publish was your steadfast belief that your book, film or music is unique, inspirational, educational or entertaining. I’ll wager you are persistant, persevering, have dogged determination, are unfaltering, devoted and unrelenting in your quest to see your project complete.

Precisely the reasons our company serves “independent publishers!”

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Weekend Indie Publishers News

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Wow! Where did this week go? It is hard to believe it is time to update you with more independent publisher news.

NEWS FLASH: The 2010 Eric Hoffer Book Awards are coming up!     Here is your chance indie publishers – shoot for the moon and submit!!

This contest is accepting newly released books or older books from     Small Presses~Academic Presses~Micro-Presses~Self Publishers                                                                                                        Deadline:  January 21, 2010                                                                                    Entry Fee: $45                                                                                                           Grand Prize and World Wide Exposure                                                        Winner and Runner-up Prizes in Every Category                                     Coverage in The US Review of Books!

Categories: Art, Poetry, Children, Fiction & Non-fiction, Memoir, Culture, Business, Reference, Home, Health, Reference, Spirtual/Self Help.

A SINGLE REGISTRATION GIVES YOU FIVE WAYS TO WIN!!!

For full details and to enter – please visit www.HofferAward.com         Other Contact Information: email – info@hofferaward.com                      The Eric Hoffer Awards, PO Box ll, Titusville, NJ  08560

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Grow, Baby, Grow

“He who plants a garden, plants happiness”   Chinese  Proverb                             

Writing usually begins with a hint of an idea, a small thought, a vague notion.  As time goes by, the seed sprouts, the microscopic buds reach out and the plot develops, paragraph after paragraph, page after page, chapter after chapter!

But remember, your marketing plans for your book or film must too develop. Many independent publishers make the mistake of limiting the marketing possibilities to the thought that “my family and friends” will buy it. Quite bluntly, that is the wrong approach.

Just like a vine, the marketing possibilities  for your independently published book or film should reach out in every imaginable direction. Beauty can be found in unpromising places. Let your imagination run rampant, without discipline, without fences as it’s borders. You may need to trim the growth once you have discovered your target market but, when putting together the initial plan – brainstorm, brainstorm, brainstorm.

You have put too much time and effort into planting the seed, weeding and nurturing your publication to completion to limit its possibilities. A book or film which you may feel has limited potential is only limited by your efforts! Aim high, reach for the stars and most of all, share your thrill for your beautifully cultivated publication with others. Your excitement needs to be like poison ivy – contagious!

After all, a gardener is optimistic! Let that spirit carry your publication to the beautiful places you have dreamed about.

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Go, Venture, Explore

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It is rare to find a subject that has not been written about before. It is easy to find all kinds of knowledge on the internet. But, web browsing can not compare to spending time in a library, going up and down the aisles, reading the titles, looking at book covers. Before you know it, “gottcha!” a book will say to you. A book that you can not resist reading. It happens time after time.

Reading can take you to places you have never  been before! It is, no doubt, an escape from reality of our face paced world. What better way to de-stress, relax and visit with some different characters that we don’t hang with in every day life.

September is Library Sign-up Month! If there is a child in your life, whether it is your own child, a niece, a nephew, a grandchild or a neighbor – do them a favor! Take them to the children’s reading hour at a nearby library. You will see expressions of excitement, wonder and curiosity on children’s faces as they are being read to. It could  be your contribution to engaging a life long reader. While you are there, grab a book yourself, find a remote corner and enjoy the journey!

“The more you read,

The more you know,

The more you know,

The smarter you grow,

The smarter you grow,

The stronger your voice,

When speaking your mind,

Or making a choice.”

~ Unknown

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All Part of the Process

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“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”     ~Dolly Parton

Rejection! Most writers have heard it before:

  • “Not what we are looking for”
  • “Does not meet our standards”
  • “Our company does not publish this genre of writing”

Don’t take rejection to heart and let it deflate your ego! Consider how many manuscripts a traditional publishing company reviews for publication on a  weekly, monthly and yearly basis. The competition is stiff and it always has been.

Still, being turned down can be a hard pill to swallow when a writer has devoted so much time and research into their project, not even to mention the emotional investment involved.  But, rejection is not necessarily a sign that a book is not worthwhile and saleable.

Take heart, there could be another way! According to Bowker “on demand and short run books were up a staggering 132% in 2008.” There must be a reason behind it. If it were me, I would at least look into it, consider it and float the idea up in the air.

Who said your book won’t fly?

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How Could I Forget?

When patterns are broken, new worlds emerge” ~ Tuli Kupferberg

Here it is July 28th and I have failed to mention it is National Ice Cream Month! Ice cream is a bit of a joke in our family, and I happen to be the brunt of the joke when the subject of ice cream comes up.

You can take me to a table with a smorgasbord of desserts, and what do I want? Vanilla ice cream! Yes, every single time. So of course, my family has to roll their eyes and answer for me when the waitress asks me if I would like some dessert. There is no question about that – “She will have vanilla ice cream, please!”

I mentioned in a recent blog the importance of making changes in our daily lives. Stepping out of our comfort zone leads to growth and enlightenment. We all need to broaden our horizons from time to time because the deeper the rut gets, the harder it is to climb out!

I think I am going to heed my own advice! Next time they ask me what I want for dessert – I am going to say “Vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles, please.”

On second thought, I will have a piece of pie. That way, if I do not finish it, I know someone that will!

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