We took Max and Mason to a gathering of local homeschoolers this week. We met at a local community center and each child brought a book they’d recently read, and gave a short presentation on it. Max is reading a book of ghost stories. He was at first nervous, worrying that “no other kids would like scary stuff” but he felt better after a little girl got up and talked about a monster book. So, when Max took his turn, he was very relaxed and did a super job…
Last week, we discussed ways some victims could have protected themselves from being scammed online. Here are more examples based on actual complaints that have been sent in over the years…
Letters will return next week.
As freelance writers struggle to make a living during this “Great Recession II,” we’ve all seen the “writers wanted” ads on Craigslist and elsewhere that outline — in great detail — the hefty amount of work, the long hours and the many qualifications for a particular job…
It was time to take my enterprise to the next level, offering myself as a writer for hire. It seemed a logical move once I’d become established as a writer of articles, poems and short stories. Ready to say “yes” or “maybe” to any proposal that involved stringing words together, I vowed I would never say “never”. I was ready to take on all comers.
The only trouble was the “all comers” didn’t come. It was down to me to make them…
After Ali and Justin’s bad accident and long recovery last year, our move last summer, my car being totaled by Frank (age 19 – thank GOD he was not injured!!), our Thanksgiving family reunion, and, of course, Christmas, I told Richard that I want to spend January doing absolutely nothing at all. I need a month of nothing so I can de-stress – no drama, no injuries, no illnesses, no trips, no holidays, no nothing.
That night, Frank backed our truck into a car in the bowling alley parking lot…
Over the years, I have helped hundreds of writers and authors who have been wronged or downright scammed by an individual or business in the industry. It’s very frustrating when it’s so obvious that most of the victims could have avoided being victimized in the first place, or could have at least limited their losses, had they simply done a bit of research.
Letters will return next week.
I have a question: Do bookstores ever stock self-published books? I know someone who runs a bookstore, and I was thinking of contacting her about this. How would it work as far as ordering books?
As writers, many of us prefer to dodge the spotlight. We don’t relish the idea of getting out in public and speaking about what we do for a living, perhaps preferring to remain behind the shield of our computers where we work in blissful solitude. I know that’s how I felt. But one morning when I stubbed my toe on that big cardboard box filled with contributor copies of various anthologies, I decided it was time for me to move those books out into the world. And the way to do that? I had to hold a book signing event…
