My Paranoia – Children Who Are Choking

Gene Papin (https://www.papincraft.biz), a writer and woodworker, sent me an email last week in response to my missive on choking parts in squeaky toys. He said, “One of the things I do is make toys, along with scroll work. With regard to small children, if the toy fits inside the pasteboard roll (inside lining) of a paper towel roll, it will go down a small child’s throat and choke him.”

Book Fairs – Worth The Effort? By Angela Hoy

I occasionally receive orders for books that authors plan to sell at book fairs. Unfortunately, in almost every case, the authors are sorely disappointed in the resulting sales.

Increase Your Freelance Income Through Stock Photography By Joan Airey

Increase Your Freelance Income Through Stock Photography By Joan Airey

If you love photography, there are numerous ways to expand your freelance income, by doing stock photography, fine art, contests, and assignments from ad agencies. The first photograph I entered in a calendar contest was of red mountain ash berries covered with snow. I took the photo in my front yard . It was picked for the calendar and it is the most I have ever been paid for a photograph.

A Foreign Company Published My Book Without Permission!

Hi Angela,
I periodically search my name through Google and check out any new hits on my name. I found a copy of my book, new cover and all, in what appears to be Hungarian. The only English words on the cover are my name and Fiesta at the top.
I have NOT sold any foreign language rights. It’s officially out of print by my publisher, so it’s my problem.
I don’t know where to begin!
Sharon

Finding a Mentor By Susan Johnston

I used to pooh-pooh the idea of a writing mentor. I figured I was doing well enough on my own, and I wanted to be published based on my own merits. Plus, why would an established writer want to spend time with someone who’d only published a handful of articles in magazines most people haven’t heard of?

Squeaky Choking Hazards and My Future Mud Room Jungle

Two of you wrote in last week advising me of the dangers of giving Mason chew toys with squeakers in them because they’re a choking hazard. Chay Duggan told me to remove the squeakers with a screwdriver. Good idea. Wanted to pass that along in case any of you decided to start shopping for your teething baby in the doggy toy department, too.