Tag Archives: Writing

Cracking Up!

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As an independent publisher, do you ever feel the tasks are overwhelming? There are printing matters to be dealt with, cover design decisions to be made, making sure the editiorial/revision process has been effectively handled, layout, pagination concerns, and the list just goes on and on. Isn’t it enough to just focus on publishing matters without having to handle the administrative tasks and shipping side of publishing too?

Before you reach beyond your limit, there is no reason to “crack up” from the stress of it all. There are companies out there that can assist you with processing and fulfilling your orders. They know the fastest and most economical ways of getting your book, film or other publication to the buyer and can even keep track of your sales and inventory matters.

It is easy to find a company to assist you. Go ahead, google “affordable order fulfillment for independent publishers.” It is that easy! Don’t wait until it is too late!

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

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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Best of Times for Indy Publishers

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There is no doubt about it, independent publishers have never had it so good! The independent publishing scene is hot, hot, hot! Proof is in the statistics cited by seasoned publishing professionals.

Desktop publishing software has been developed so that it has become user friendly. The arrival of the Expresso Book Machine really has independent publishers smiling!

For those of you unfamiliar with the EBM (Expresso Book Machine), it has the capacity of downloading manuscripts from PDF format files, printing and delivering a perfect bound book within 10-15 minutes time. I kid you not! I have seen it first hand at the Northshire Bookstore in Manchester Center, VT.  www.Northshire.com

The Northshire Bookstore was the first retail store to obtain one of these print on demand book machines. Even now, few establishments have them.  A visit to the Northshire Bookstore to see this beast in action will be well worth your time. The Publishers Weekly Magazine has given the Northshire an award of distinction for “The Best Independent Bookstore.”

When you go, plan to spend a good part of the day exploring the nooks and crannies of the store. It is like a destination resort, unlike any other you have visited before. But, do me a favor, tell General Manager Chris Merrow that Sue Leonard from Cornerstone Fulfillment Service, LLC says “hello!” And one more thing, please leave your kindle reader behind!

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What is Under Your Umbrella?

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“What is  your name?” and “What do you do for a living?” I am routinely asked being an unknown face in a new community. When I answer question #2 with “I own an order fulfillment company specializing in e-Commerce for independent publishers,” I am looked at like I am a space alien. To redeem myself, I usually go on to mention some of the services our company provides for independent publishers:

  • Order Processing
  • Order Fulfillment (pick and pack)
  • World wide shipping
  • Warehousing
  • Providing sales and inventory reports
  • Social Media Marketing for our clients (the alien look sets in again)!

Our company is definitely a niche market kind of business. But, anyone seeking our services knows what they are looking for.  They know to google “order fulfillment for independent publishers” to find us on the internet.

Sometimes when asked question #2 “What do you do for a living? ” I just put everything under one big umbrella and answer -“We assist independent publishers with the business and shipping aspect so they can focus what they do best – writing and publishing!”

Does that clear things up? I will keep my umbrella handy incase things get cloudy again.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

                            

Teaching and Inspiring, No Matter What!

I want to honor my friend Amy in my blog today. She inspires me to no end and our friendship has been unwavering for more than 30 years. She has been fighting the fight of breast cancer for alot of years now.

What amazes me is her ability to accept things as they are, move ahead and enjoy life anyway. She has always had this ability but, it has never been more evident than it is today. 

She has been the one to take care of us, her friends, when news of her cancer has been disappointing. She has been the one more interested in our lives than her trials and tribulations. She has been the one to teach us that our troubles pale compared to someone elses. Amy is a natural born teacher. In her 25 year teaching career, she was awarded Vermont teacher of the year, not once but twice!

Cancer is a heavy cross to bear. To Amy and to all those others stricken with cancer, thank you for the lessons that you teach us and for the dignity with which you live your lives. You are “angels” in my book!

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Take Time Out

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“Sometimes it is the smallest decisions that can change  your life forever”      ~Keri Russell

I am usually one who eats lunch at my desk.  Keeping my nose to the grind and trying to get the most accomplished in a work day as possible.  On Thursday, it was a picture perfect Colorado day. I decided to take an hour out, wander down to the Yampa River Botanic Park and listen to the Steamboat Woodwind Trio. The mountain backdrop, the splendor in the gardens and the fabulous music left me renewed, refreshed and ready to get back to the business at hand.

We all get stuck in ruts, doing the same thing day after day.  By just making little changes throughout our daily lives, we see life through new eyes.  Next time, you go about business as usual, put a little “bent” into your day:

  • If it is usually orange juice in the am, try apple!
  • If you usually use a black pen, try red!
  • Leave a little early and take the scenic route!
  • Pick something off a menu that is outside of your usual choices!

We have all heard these words of advice time and time again. Nothing new is being revealed here, yet we all tend to fall back into our patterns of business as usual. Must be that is why we need to hear these words time and time again.

My most delightful lunch hour on Thursday was my reminder to take time out of my day and smell the roses. Actually, any kind of flower will do it for me!

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

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Joy in an Ordinary Day

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I  have had  careers in the hospitality/travel industry, as an insurance agent and branch manager, employment in the fine arts field, and now, as owner of an order fulfillment company specializing in e-Commerce. I have always enjoyed working. There is the good feeling of being productive, collaborating with co-workers and clients and the sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. No matter what type of work I have done, it has been satisfying. I guess it is all in the way that we look at things. And as they say, your outlook can determine your experience in life. I would much rather walk in the sun than in the clouds.

Some would say I am a stickler for details but, my feeling has always been the way I do my job is a reflection of my attitudes in life. I want to represent myself well!

Yesterday afternoon, I was a recipient of an email from C J Scarlett in North Carolina. She was writing  to tell me she had read my blog posts and I am “a  great writer.” Say what? For someone that just recently confessed to being a writer, it was pay back enough for the day’s work.  Maybe she was just spreading a dose of  kindness for the day. But, her comment was much appreciated and gave me JOY in an ordinary day!

See what you can do to spread a little kindness to someone each and every day!  See www.thekindnesscure.org.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

Early Warning!

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The name of this blog is a bit ominous sounding. There is nothing foreboding about this notification. I am writing to remind all writers, emerging and experienced, that the weekly radio show “Cover to Cover” with Frank Gromling is broadcast on Saturday mornings. Tune in to www.wnzf.com on line. The show is filled with information on getting started as a writer, marketing yourself as a writer, interviews with NY Times best selling authors and local writers exposing their new publications to the public.  It is educational, enlightening and fun to listen to. Broadcast times in the various parts of the country are :  

 11:30 am Eastern                                     10:30 am Central

9:30 am Mountain                                     8:30 am Pacific time

If you haven’t tuned in before, you are missing it!

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

 

 

   

To Market,To Market, To Buy A…….

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A few years ago, my husband and I saw a show on the Travel Channel about teardrop travel trailers. They are the cutest little june bugs! These camper trailers came on the market after World War II and were made out of surplus materials. The exteriors were made from the wings of World War II Bombers. They are making a come back and every so often, you will see one being towed behind a car, if you are alert.

This weekend at Arts and the Parks, we saw this little turquoise teardrop travel trailer being used as part of a booth display. The exhibitors were selling a line of cosmetics, soaps, hand lotions designed and packaged for the “rodeo girl.”  The products being sold were not exactly art, but what was art was the entire brand identity this company had built. The packaging of the products had an outstanding southwestern “rodeo” theme,  all highest quality of packaging, the company owner was dressed in her rodeo wear(complete with cowboy hat) and even the teardrop trailer was decked out inside with towels appliqued with western motif  and the galley table in the trailer had tableware settings of western design. The entire booth “worked” to sell their unique line of products. I remarked to the company owners that I liked their booth very much. They told me they had won best booth awards about 6 or 7 times from various arts and crafts events they have participated in. I can see why!

How does this relate to independent publishing you may ask? Well- products don’t sell themselves. People sell products. With independent publishing, critical to selling products is the author’s involvement in the process. You will need to sell yourself  as an author and that, in turn, will sell your publication. Polish up your “shoes” and know what you are passionate about as a writer. Visit bookstores, libraries, and other venues. Convey that passion about your publication to your potential readers. If you can find something “gimmicky” that will set you or your genre of writing apart, great!

Independent publishing is not just about the writing process!

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

Let’s be Frank

Owning a business that serves independent publishers, I am often asked my opinion about the Kindle reader and e-books.  I can see the convenience of both. But,  after sitting in front of a computer all day writing business prospecting letters, business proposals and now blogging, I can tell you the last thing I want to do is read a book on an electronic device.  When the day is done, I want to be as far away from an electronic screen as possible!

I like to curl up in a comfy chair, wrap myself up in a blanket, sit in front of a fire, enjoy a cup of tea  and hold an honest to goodness real book. I like feeling the weight of the book, the smell of the paper and seeing the print on the pages.

Curl up with an electronic reading device? I don’t think so!  But, that is only my point of view.

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