LOOKING FOR FALL!!!

Today, we’re heading to Tennessee. We’ll be spending a week in the mountains with some members of my family and we are SO excited. The one thing I miss the most about Maine (aside from our good friends there) is the Fall foliage.

AUTHORS BEGGING FOR CASH ONLINE? INSULTING!! – Angela Hoy

Warning – Some may be offended by today’s column.
I used to get SO annoyed when somebody would send me an email asking me to “click here!” to vote for their story or book or whatever on some website that was basically running popularity contests. There’s something FAR worse now and it involves not begging for votes, but begging for CASH.

How Fast Can You Publish My Book?

Can you publish my book immediately? My current POD publisher (one of the largest ones) is trying to get more money out of me for marketing so they are STALLING, and have been stalling for about two months now. I told them I am not giving them ONE CENT MORE!!!

A Toehold in Fiction Writing – Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

I typically write non-fiction: profiles, how-to’s, trend pieces and web copy. It amounts to about 25 to 30 articles and projects per month and represents the bread and butter of my writing. I write for a handful of publications whose editors regularly tap me, and if I pitch to them, they usually accept.
But, as an avid fiction reader, I’ve always wanted to try my hand at fiction. Sometimes, great story ideas just pop into my head and beg to be written. Other times, it’s bits of stories, such as an interesting character, plot twist or scenario that could be part of a good story.
The trouble is, most editors want a complete manuscript since the subjective nature of fiction makes it nearly impossible to rate a story based upon a query letter. Writing a story without a contract could be a complete waste of time if I don’t sell it.
That’s where writing short fiction for Sunday school curriculum publishers has been a terrific way for me to get my fiction writing off the ground…

Our New Doctor Doesn’t Force Vaccines! Yea!

On a whim, I contacted a family practice here in town (not a pediatrician) and made an appointment for six of us to go in. I thought maybe if they realized we were bringing them a ton of business (for years to come!) they wouldn’t force the vaccine issue.
The doctor and I had a long talk and she agreed that more vaccines would definitely not be a good idea for our child. Since we homeschool, we are at far lower risk than the general population. She even admitted she does not get a flu shot each year. She said if you’re healthy, well-nourished, and well-rested, your body is perfectly capable of fighting off the flu and most other illnesses.
I was SO relieved!!

Featuring Real People in Your Writing? Protect Yourself From Lawsuits! – Angela Hoy

Last week an author submitted a book that contained some of his friends’ life experiences. I, of course, asked him if he had obtained legal releases from his friends to include their stories in his book. He had not.
What’s the big deal, you ask? His friends voluntarily contributed to the book, right? Yes, they did. But, they might change their minds about doing so someday.

Letters To The Editor For October 10th

This Week:


  • Another BookLocker Author Lands a Traditional Contract!
  • A Great, Author-friendly Indie Bookstore in Greenville, SC!

Ask These 3 Questions BEFORE Starting Your Book! – Anne Violette

Ask These 3 Questions BEFORE Starting Your Book! – Anne Violette

As an author, and speaking on behalf of all of us collectively, our primary goal in writing a book is to achieve blockbuster sales and mega success. It’s the ultimate dream happy ending for authors, even if the novels and books we write don’t require a happy ending for the readers. For some, it may even be the reason for writing it…