Tag Archives: order fulfillment for independent publishers

Listen and Obey

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“Conscience is the root of all true courage; if a man would be brave let him obey his conscience.” ~ James Freeman Clarke

The signs are all there, and it is time, just for a few days, to get off the merry-go-round. The signs began with a scratchy throat, an ear ache, and I have gone through a box of Kleenex. I have been afflicted  by the common cold.

The feverish pace I have kept, trying to keep up with the independent publishing industry, and all of it’s changes, I am afraid have worn me down. But it is all so exciting, and I don’t want to miss a beat. It even has me all a Twitter!

I am going to listen to my inner voice telling me to be kind to myself and take a weekend break. Perhaps I will go  cold turkey- no more letters, let the e-mails pile up, forget the social media marketing.

We all need to give ourselves permission to seek some peace and quiet every once in a while. I may even hunker down, pull the covers up around my chin and reach, reach, reach across the bedside table for those two independently published books that have been waiting for me!

What is that saying? “Before you can help others, you have to help yourself?”

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Bull or Bear Art Market?

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“If you count all your assets, you always show a profit.”                              ~ Robert Quillen 

Who said art is not selling during these economic times? Who said we have all returned to frugality? And of all things, who said there is no value in being an artist?

All the skeptics have been proven wrong! “L’ Homme Qui Marche 1”  (Marching Man 1) was sold within 8 minutes of the opening bid to anonymous buyer at a London auction.  The opening bid was 12 million pounds and it sold for 65 million pounds ($103.4 million dollars) and the guy is not even a CEO!!! He is a piece of sculpture!! Imagine that!

The sculpture is a thin, wiry figure of 72 inches in height, crafted by 20th century Swiss artist Giacometti.  The last time one of this artist’s sculptures was auctioned off was 20 years ago, and it sold for 6.82 million.  Wednesday’s sale of “L’Homme Qui Marche 1” set a world record. It is reportedly “the most expensive piece of art ever sold” by Sotheby’s auction house.

The sculpture is said to be “both a humble image of an ordinary man, and a potent symbol of humanity.” Well- the value placed on that walking man’s head was not humble!! As for being a symbol of humanity,  we do sometimes attach that kind of  high value to some men or women walking around today, whether we agree with it or not!

Don’t get me wrong, if the artist was alive today, I would say “good for you, Mr. Giacometti, for being able to garner that kind of value from your artistic talents!”

Can anyone help me calculate what the profit per square inch of sculpted wire would be?

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Switching Gears

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“Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things  in  a different way.” ~ Edward de Bono

I am amazed at the versatility of  some artists! Last week, a few members of the Steamboat Symphony Orchestra came to our weekly Kiwanis International meeting to give us all a short presentation on their programs, upcoming events and to showcase the talents of a few of their professional violinists. There before me stood two women, who produced a magnificent range of harmonious sounds that were representative of the classical music they play in concert with their other symphony members.

Later that week, my husband and I went out to dinner, and performing at the restaurant was one of the very same artists playing her violin. This time, of all things, it was lively, foot stompin’, fun lovin’ blue grass music. Could she ever play! The joy and intensity with which she played was evident on her face, while she played the music of both genres. During one performance, very serious yet beautifully engaged as she gently stroked the violin strings and during the other, broadly and brightly smiling as she plucked and strummed . Two separate manifestations of expression.

Musicians are not the only multi-faceted artists. Writers too, do not always adhere to the same genre of writing. Writers often have the ability to switch from adult to children’s literature, from fiction to non-fiction to poetry or other structure of prose.

Artists by definition are practioners of creativity, ever expanding their repertoire of skills. Switching gears makes life interesting for all of us, artist or non-artist!

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Weekend Indie Publisher News

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A great way to introduce yourself as a writer or gain recognition as a writer is to submit your writing to contests. There are many contests that are open for submission during the winter months. Here are just a few:

2010 Leap Frog Press Fiction Contest. Submissions accepted beginning Jan 15 for adult literary fiction and childrens fiction. For more information, please visit www.leapfrogpress.com

2010 Women of Mystery Haiku Contest. Submissions accepted from now until the end of March. Results during National Poetry Month in April. For more information, please visit www.womenofmystery.com

Hurry! There is still time Writers League of Texas. Deadline for Manuscript contest February 24. Prize announced during the Writers League of Texas Agents Conference. June 25-27, 2010.  For full details visit www.writersleague.org.

Tupelo Press Contests – now accepting submissions for Chapbook Awards and First Book of Poetry Awards.  The Snowbound Series Chapbook Award is now accepting submission until February 28, 2010.

The 11th Annual Tupelo Press Press Award for First Book of Poetry now accepting submissions ! $3,000 prize money! Entries must be postmarked or submitted on line before April 15. For more information go to www.TupeloPress.org.

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Following Tradition

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“Grandfathers are for loving and fixing things.” ~ Author Unknown

Oh, how sweet it is! Isn’t that the truth? Pop was the best! He loved us all so unconditionally that he even loved us when he shouldn’t have. The four of us grandchildren were the apple of his eye, the light in his day, and we knew it!

I recently joined Kiwanis International. This service organization was established in 1915, when my Grandfather was a young man in his early twenties. Several months ago, I mentioned to my Dad that I was contemplating joining this fine service organization.  He reminded me of a few things – that my Grandfather, who was a fine custom homebuilder and my uncle, who was a medical reseach doctor, both were Kiwanians. Once I was reminded of this fact, I did vaguely recall that my Grandfather had a Kiwanis plaque hanging in his office.

Many might wonder why a person would join a service organization. It is simple! I was given so much as a child, in ways that have nothing to do with material goods, that if there is some way I can give back by being involved with this great organization, it will be my pleasure!

Kiwanians are involved in all sorts of service projects which benefit children. They aid in providing for homeless children, building playgrounds, raising funds for pediatric research, mentoring disadvantaged children, and much more. Great things come out of stepping out and giving a child a chance in life! I am going to follow in my grandfather’s footsteps, because being a Kiwanian is a tradition worth following!

This short trailer will give a little insight into what Kiwanis is all about! Take just a few minutes to watch fellowship, caring and community happen!  For more information on Kiwanis International, please visit http://www.kiwanis.org.

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The Art of Friendship

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“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.”  Voltaire

We have all known others who would give the shirt off their back for anyone. They give almost greater attention to others than themselves. They are so full of kindness, generosity and beautiful gestures that their souls are as golden as honey. You know the kind of person I am describing, each of us have friends like that!

I have a new painting sitting in my home that I love! I acquired it through a friend whose kind, giving nature makes the world better for so many others. I happened to see the beautiful painting hanging on her wall and remarked how well I liked it. She took the painting right off the wall and gave it to me!

The painting is unsigned, and it may not be an original, but what matters is that it brought beauty to my friend’s life by hanging in her home, and now it brings joy to my life. Is that not what art is all about?

As I brought it home and hung it on the wall, I began to think of the likeness of my friend and the artist. To each, creation of beauty in art and friendship is more important than name recognition.

Thank you, my friend, for your beautiful act of kindness. Your own art, of friendship, is noticed, valued and greatly appreciated.

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It’s All Good!

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“We immediately become more effective when we decide to change ourselves rather than asking things to change for us.” ~ Stephen Covey

You all must think that this blogsite only focuses on independent publishing. Not so! I will read any book or watch any film so long as it adds value to my life, independently published or not!

Although we all stop growing physically at a certain age in life, that does not mean our intellect and self improvement skills need to stop growing, too. Growth from that perspective should be never ending.  Our evolution as human beings should be ongoing, especially if we are to live the kind of life we want for ourselves.

Last week, I stopped by the library and picked up a book that I never expected to be as useful to my own life and business as it is. It is called “Daily Reflections for Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey, published by Franklin Covey Company. What a treasure chest of writings this book contains for a values based business. If every business operated with the same synergy suggested in this book, we would all be living in a diamond mine.  Every company and organization would shine so brightly, we would all need blinders on! There is no “preachiness” in each short daily reflection in this book, only empowering principles for living life effectively and with great integrity.

We are all diamonds in the rough. This helpful book may add polish to your life, and contain the very things you have been searching for along your path to an enriched life. Check it out!

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Weekend Indie Publishing News

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Have all of you spent time with Frank lately? I have an appointment with him at 9:30 am MT, and you can listen in, too! Frank Gromling’s radio show “Cover to Cover” for authors and publishers will be well worth listening to. It is every Saturday morning at 11:30 am Eastern Standard Time, 10:30 am Central Time, 9:30 am Mountain Time and 8:30 am Pacific Time.

It is a great way to stay on top of the ever changing trends in publishing, hear interviews with local and nationally known authors, tips for independent publishing and industry tips of the trade. Tune in to www.wnzf.com.  You’ll be glad you did!

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Writers Revelations

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“The root of all superstition is that men observe when a thing hits, but not when it misses.” ~ Francis Bacon, Sr.

I didn’t know writers were a superstitious group! In truth, it never crossed my mind. Except for a few, all superstitious beliefs escape me. Every once in a while, I will search for the allusive four leaf clover and I walk around rather than under a ladder. But that is more out of concern for safety than thinking bad luck will befall upon me.

Yesterday, I was reading Poets and Writers Magazine www.pw.org and there is a page where writers recommend their secrets to success. Each had unique words of wisdom, but writer Jonathan Lethem suggested that his belief in superstition has helped him succeed along the way. To quote him “Have lucky things. It doesn’t matter what they are. I bought a green cardigan sweater for a quarter at a thrift store in Bennington, Vermont and wore it nearly every day through the writing of my first three novels, until it was in tatters.”

Jonathan has struck my curiosity! Are writers really, as a group, a superstitious lot? What would you add to a list of quirks, habits, superstitions and rituals that you practice when engaged in a publishing project? You can post them on this blogsite for all to see.

I’ll bet Poets and Writers Magazine has some words of wisdom they could add – they have been publishing the magazine for 40 years! I hope they remember to blow out all the candles on the cake! Happy Birthday, Poets and Writers Magazine.

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Beyond Ourselves

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“Compassion is the basis of all morality” ~ Arthur Schopenhauer

Yesterday, we had a very timely speaker at our Kiwanis International weekly meeting. Dr. Dawn Obrecht and her husband Erik Landvik were there to speak with our group about the disaster relief work they have done all over the world. They set up a medical clinic to assist the victims of the Indonesian tsunami, Dr. Obrecht doctored the injured after Hurricane Katrina and has in fact, volunteered her time to five other calamitious events resulting in great loss of life and widespread destruction.

As we watch all that has happened in Haiti over the past week, it gives me pause to think, what this world would be like if Doc Dawn and her husband Erik and thousands of other extraordinarily compassionate individuals did not exist in this world.

Dr. Dawn Obrecht has chronicled her experiences through the writing of her independently published book, Mission Impossible: A Missionary Doctor’s Journey of Healing. http://www.docdawn.com/book1.php.  The perils that she has been up against in her work as a missionary doctor will leave you with an increased understanding of the compassion, kindness and unique human qualities that exist in individuals that are so willing to put themselves, at their own expense, on the line for others.

Dr. Obrecht’s work is not done, she has gotten calls to help in Haiti, however, until there is more order and structure with the relief efforts, she has been advised to wait. Hopefully, Erik will be at her side as this extraordinarily gifted couple work together to fulfill the work that is so important in their lives and to the survival of others.

It has been an honor to begin to know Dr. Obrecht, who like me, was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland! We will  be working together with the Macedonian Mission for Humanity, to help raise funds through an international dinner,  to ship a container of much needed medical supplies to children’s hospitals in Macedonia.

What small thing can you do to help your community or another community of people who are in dire need of help?

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