Posts Tagged ‘Women’s National Book Association’
January 2012 Events for Writers, Authors, Business Owners
Happy New Year to You!
January 5, 2012 6:00-7:30pm Women’s National Book Association SF Chapter members and prospective members welcomed to “Authors Exchange Solutions” discussions with Birgit Soyka, Teresa LeYung-Ryan and Mary E. Knippel at San Francisco Main Library, Latino/Hispanic Room A – free event
January 8, 2012 “Writing Career Make-Over with Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan” at California Writers Club Redwood Branch in Santa Rosa, CA $5 for CWC member; $8 non-member
January 12, 2012 roundtable discussion “Building Your Writer’s Platform with Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan“ free Internet event. Sign up at National Assn. of Memoir Writers
January 29, 2012 10:00am–5:00pm Half Moon Bay, CA “Create Your Success Story from the Inside Out” with Mary E. Knippel, founder of Your Writing Mentor, sponsored by Women’s National Book Assn-San Francisco Chapter $35 for WNBA member; $55 non-member
February 2, 2012 6:00-7:30pm Women’s National Book Association SF Chapter members and prospective members welcomed to “Authors Exchange Solutions” discussions with Birgit Soyka, Teresa LeYung-Ryan and Mary E. Knippel at San Francisco Main Library, Latino/Hispanic Room A — free event
Arts in the Valley is hosted by Kim McMillon on 1480 KYOS in Merced, CA. Merced County has a vibrant arts community that Arts in the Valley showcases along with local and national authors. Arts in the Valley often has theme shows where topics of health, healing, women’s issues, and topics of interest to our listeners are discussed. http://artsinthevalley.wordpress.com/
California Writers Club CWC http://calwriters.org/ 10 branches in northern California and 9 branches in southern California. CWC shall foster professionalism in writing, promote networking of writers with the writing community, mentor new writers, and provide literary support for writers and the writing community as is appropriate through education and leadership.
Sincerely,
Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan
Teresa is author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW (in print edition and E-book)
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Coach Teresa . . . starting a new format with my blog posts
Since I wear 3 hats, as writing career coach & author who helps you Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days / editor & manuscript consultant who helps you identify themes and archetypes / novelist of Love Made of Heart who encourages adult children of mentally ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their families, I wish to divide my post into 3 sections.
As 22-day Platform-Building Coach:
Promote yourselves by linking your names & your projects to these recognized events. According to Chase Calendar of Events, November is:
- Adoption Month, National
- Alzheimer’s Disease Month, National
- American Diabetes Month
- American Indian Heritage Month, National
- Aviation History Month
- Banana Pudding Lovers Month
- Diabetes Month, National
- Diabetic Eye Disease Month
- Family Caregivers Month, National
- Georgia Pecan Month, National
- Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month
- Inspirational Role Models Month, National
- Lifewriting Month, National
- Long-Term Care Awareness Month, National
- Lung Cancer Awareness Month
- Marrow Awareness Month, National
- Peanut Butter Lovers’ Month
- Pet Cancer Awareness Month
- Pomegranate Month, National
- PTA Healthy Lifestyles Month
- Vegan Month
- Today November 16, 2011 is United Nations: International Day for Tolerance
- the fourth Thursday in November is Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.A.
- November 11, 2011 is Veterans Day
Every month is relevant to marketing your literary work. Day 19 of my workbook Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days demonstrates the beauty of linking your name to a date that is celebrated or recognized for the entire month–you’ll have a whole month to re-use one piece of writing.
As Editor & Manuscript Consultant:
Give yourself reasons to plot & write and replot & rewrite!
November is National Novel Writing Month (founder is Chris Baty)
Write Nonfiction In November (founder is Nina Amir)
December is International Plot Writing Month (founder is Martha Alderson, The Plot Whisperer)
Read or reread a book – I’m reading Nothing Can Scare Me Now: Managing Breast Cancer So It Doesn’t Manage You by Juliane Cortino (a colleague at Women’s National Book Association)
As author of Love Made of Heart:
I found “Veterans and Mental Health: We Owe Them Better” blog post by Mike Fitzpatrick, NAMI Executive Director
Last year, more than 1.2 million veterans were treated by the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) health care system, about a third for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). That is an increase of about 25 percent from four years before, as troops return home from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Washington Post reports that approximately 18 veterans die from suicide every day. Yet in survey released in September, the VA reported that 70 percent of its doctors, nurses and social workers believe the system lacks the staff and space to provide adequate mental health care. More than 37 percent said they cannot schedule an appointment for a new patient within 14-days.
* * * * *
Mr. Fitzpatrick,
Thank you for writing this post to shed light on what we can do to advocate for better care of our veterans and their families. I linked your post to mine dated November 16, 2011 http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/ so that my blog fans can get resources for their loved ones. My beautiful mom (not a Veteran but was an orphan during World War II) suffered mental illness all her life and I use my writings to honor her. In September I met NAMI Sonoma County board member Ron Shaw at the Sonoma County Book Festival. Rosemary Milbrath, Executive Director at NAMI Sonoma County, has contacted me and I hope to deliver my Heroes, Tricksters & Villains interactive workshop to the Sonoma County community in California in 2012. Sincerely, Teresa LeYung-Ryan, author of Love Made of Heart; mental health advocate
* * * * *
I hope to see you when I’m at these forums:
- Thursday December 1, 2011 at Women’s National Book Association get-together at San Francisco Public Library Main Branch
- Sunday January 8, 2012 at California Writers Club–Redwood Branch “Writing-Career-Make-Over with Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan”
Please click here for details.
“Reach out, not stress out, when pursuing your dreams!”
Sincerely,
Network with authors, illustrators, writers and publishers organizations, booksellers, librarians, educators–all readers, all Celebrating the Literary Arts & Promoting Literacy at the Sonoma County Book Festival.

Teresa LeYung Ryan, Amy Gorman, Kate Farrell, Rita Lakin, Pat Windom, Marcia Canton had fun together at Sonoma County Book Festival 2 years ago. This year Teresa shares Booth #34 with Kate Farrell & Margie Yee Webb
Old Courthouse Square, Fourth Street and Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA
September 24, 2011 10:00am – 4:00pm
Click here for schedule. Click here for list of exhibitors and booth numbers.
While Kate Farrell, Margie Yee Webb and I (Teresa LeYung-Ryan) will be at our booth #34 (on 4th Street near Mary’s Pizza Shack) from 10:00am–4:00pm; and on the Redwood Reading Stage 1:45-2:00pm Margie Yee Webb & Teresa LeYung-Ryan; 2:00-2:45pm Kate Farrell . . .
Redwood Writers Village–Reading Circle Stage
10 a.m. The Sitting Room
11 a.m. Broad Universe: Rapid Fire Readings
11:30 Journalists, Bloggers, New Journalism
Noon: Redwood Writers Memoir Contest Winners
12:30 Sisters in Crime
1:00 Vintage Voices Anthology
1:45 Women’s National Book Association (Margie Yee Webb & Teresa LeYung-Ryan)
2:00 Wisdom Has a Voice Anthology (Kate Farrell)
3:00 Bay Area Independent Publishers Assn.
3:30 Book Festival Raffle – Grand Prize Winner
3:45 Redwood Writers Raffle Winner Reading
La Rosa Restaurant Tequileria & Grille
500 Fourth Street
10 a.m. Book Biz Panel
11:15 Break
11:30 Shots Happen: A Mix of Mystery Writers
12:45 Break
1:00 The Sky Is High and So Am I: Alternative Subjects Panel
2:15 Break
2:30 Maxine Hong Kingston with the Veterans Writing Group
For the book festival’s full schedule: Click here
Other presenters will be at:
Central Library Forum Room–Sonoma County Library
211 E Street
Corrick’s
637 Fourth Street
Mary’s Pizza Shack, Party Room
615 Fourth St.
Young Adult Program
Literary Arts Guild Tent
Courthouse Square
Main Stage
Courthouse Square
Peanuts Pavilion, Courthouse Square
Children’s Program
Ongoing throughout day:
Secret Agent Jack Stalwart Treasure Hunt
Schulz Museum Drawing Booth
Learn to draw Scooby Doo, Tom and Jerry, Disney princesses and more!
Sincerely,
Coach Teresa
Teresa LeYung-Ryan says: “Reach out, not stress out, when pursuing your dreams!”
$9.81 for ebook; $22 for print edition
Love Made of Heart inspiring adult children of mentally ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their families.
As a manuscript consultant, Teresa LeYung-Ryan loves helping writers identify their themes and archetypes.
YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/teresaleyung
Teresa on facebook! She’s also involved in Women’s National Book Association and California Writers Club.
Be Kind To Editors and Writers Month – September
Dear Writers and Editors,
Please introduce yourselves by clicking on the title bar of this post and submitting a comment so that my blog visitors will get to see who you are. Thank you!
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Here are a few editors I recommend, including myself
We celebrate “Be Kind To Editors and Writers Month” !
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Sincerely,
Coach Teresa
Teresa LeYung-Ryan says: “Reach out, not stress out, when pursuing your dreams!”
$9.81 for ebook; $22 for print edition
Love Made of Heart inspiring adult children of mentally ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their families.
As a manuscript consultant, Teresa LeYung-Ryan loves helping writers identify their themes and archetypes.
YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/teresaleyung
Teresa on facebook! She’s also involved in Women’s National Book Association and California Writers Club.
Author and Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan celebrates “Library Card Sign Up Month” in September. She says: “Writers who want to write better, read more books. Go visit your local library. I have library cards from San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda County and Contra Costa County. I love libraries.” This video was filmed by author Birgit Soyka.
If you love libraries too, please click on title-bar of this post, scroll down and fill in the boxes, then press [submit]. Thank you!
What else is happening in September?
Saturday, September 24, 2011, 10:00am–4:00pm
Women’s National Book Association-San Francisco Chapter members and California Writers Club-Redwood Branch members at Sonoma County Book Festival, Santa Rosa, CA
Look for Teresa LeYung-Ryan, Margie Yee Webb, Kate Farrell at their booth and on the Redwood Village/Readers Circle Stage. Leigh Anne Lindsey, Linda Joy Myers, Zoe FitzGerald Carter, Laurel Anne Hill. Who else? Ana Manwaring orchestrates Redwood Writers Village Stage! Stage times: 1:00pm Redwood Writers Vintage Voices; 1:45-2:00pm Margie Yee Webb & Teresa LeYung-Ryan; 2:00-2:45pm Kate Farrell and anthology contributing authors
Sincerely,
Coach Teresa
Teresa LeYung-Ryan says: “Reach out, not stress out, when pursuing your dreams!”
Coach Teresa is the author of Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW
$9.81 for ebook; $22 for print edition
Teresa is the author of Love Made of Heart (available at public libraries) –the book inspires adult children of mentally ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and find resources for their families.
As a manuscript consultant, Teresa LeYung-Ryan loves helping writers identify their themes and archetypes.
Coach Teresa’s YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/teresaleyung
Teresa on facebook!
She’s also involved in Women’s National Book Association and California Writers Club.
“Coach Teresa, why is it important to show up to network? I don’t like mixers or meet-ups.”

screenwriter Terri Bertini, author Birgit Soyka, creativity mentor Mary E. Knippel and writing career coach Teresa LeYung Ryan at WNBA-SF Chapter Meet Up at San Francisco Public Library
June 2, 2011
Here’s my response: Take care of yourself; take care of your career. I don’t even like the word “network” so I get creative. Speaking of getting creative, tonight was an example of how to network and have fun.
Leon Veal, a WNBA member and outreach coordinator for Project Read San Francisco, calendared meeting space at the San Francisco Public Library main branch for us once a month. I asked fellow member and Creativity Mentor Mary E. Knippel to co-lead a WNBA Meet Up with me.
Members Birgit Soyka and Janine Kovac RSVPed.
Mary and I showed up early. I helped Mary re-configure her business card to read: You’ve been thinking about writing your book? Let me (Mary E. Knippel) help you. Mary showed me her Google Voice phone number. I want to create a YouTube channel for WNBA-SF Chapter–I provided the format and Mary came up with great idea–”Let’s create a how-to video tutorial for our members!” Mary is indeed the Creativity Mentor.
Birgit Soyka arrived, looking vibrant. She and I will be showcasing our books later this month:
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Tuesday, June 28, 2011, 7:00-9:00pm
BookShop West Portal, 80 West Portal Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94127 415-564-8080
Women’s National Book Association (WNBA) members celebrate June’s “Rebuild Your Life Month” featuring books by members Birgit Soyka and Teresa LeYung-Ryan. Join us for a fun evening— reception; authors’ presentations; meet the new board and members of the San Francisco Chapter. Please RSVP by emailing BookShopRSVP@wnba-sfchapter.org
Birgit Soyka (author of To Drink the Wild Air: One Woman’s Quest to Touch the Horizon)
and
Teresa LeYung-Ryan (author of Love Made of Heart and Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mary and I were telling Birgit about using YouTube to promote our work and Birgit was telling us about her wanting to identify her biggest target audience. Would that be readers of spiritual growth, world travels, women’s issues or motorcycle racing?
Then Terri Bertini (screenwriter, producer and director) showed up! I had met Terri at the Asian Heritage Street Celebration last month. When Birgit showed her book to Terri and started talking about her motorcycle racing and world travel . . . Terri said she remembers meeting Birgit in Los Angeles fifteen years ago at a race and that it seems like just yesterday. Voila! Birgit (in her motorcycle gear) is memorable and attracts attention.
I asked Terri if she has a blog and she told us the blog name she is considering. When her blog name is official I will broadcast on my blog.
Birgit is interested in showcasing her book at more venues. Mary and I will be at the Literary Arts/Fine Arts Department at the San Mateo County Fair on Friday 17, 2011 (please see http://www.lovemadeofheart.com/Teresa-LeYung-Ryan%27s-Events.html for details) but we cannot be at the fair the following day for Bardi Rosman Koodrin’s Author Book Day June 18, 2011, 2:00-4:00pm because Mary is giving a workshop in Half Moon Bay and I had promised to take photos and film her.
Here’s an idea: I would email Bardi and pitch Birgit. Mary suggested to Birgit that if she gets table space on the 18th to showcase her books that she might also showcase my books.
Aah, helping each other, helping ourselves and having fun at the same time! This is why it is important to show up to network.
Janine Kovac, we missed you. Check out Janine’s blog. See you real soon.
Terri Bertini, thank you for joining us at the library.
Cheering for all hardworking writers!
Hope to see you on June 17, 2011! at the Literary Arts Dept. Stage at the San Mateo County Fair in California
4:00-6:00pm Mary E. Knippel presents “Coaxing Creativity” workshop
6:30-8:00pm readings by California Writers Club–San Francisco Peninsula Branch members including contributing authors in the anthology Fault Zone: Words from the Edge.
8:00-9:00pm Author Teresa LeYung-Ryan uses Love Made of Heart to inspire adult-children of mentally-ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas and gain resources for their families. As Writing Career Coach Teresa, she helps fiction and nonfiction authors gain a competitive edge before and after publication with her workbook Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days.
Women in Women’s National Book Association have related news.
The Women’s National Book Association announces that Masha Hamilton has been chosen the winner of the 2010 WNBA Award. The award is presented by WNBA to a living American woman who derives part or all of her income from books and allied arts, and who has done meritorious work in the world of books beyond the duties or responsibilities of her profession or occupation.
Ms. Hamilton also established the Afghan Women’s Writing Project in 2009 “to foster creative and intellectual exchange between Afghan women writers and American women authors and teachers.” The website publishes the work of Afghan writers under the mentorship of AWWP participants, including authors, poets, essayists, memoirists, and others.
Previous winners of the WNBA award included Kathi Kamen Goldmark and Dr. Perri Klaas. NEW YORK www.wnba-books.org
Thank you, Joan Gelfand, immediate-past president (and poet extraordinaire), for the news.
Meanwhile, WNBA member Diane LeBow has this new:
March 30, 2011 11:30am-1:00pm Kabul Restaurant in Burlingame, California
The Afghan Friends Network is holding a benefit lunch on March 30, 2011 at Kabul Restaurant in Burlingame: “Connections: Joining Hands and Hearts for Afghanistan” Guest speaker is Fariba Nawa, an award-winning Afghan-American journalist. Join us in a traditional, celebratory Afghan luncheon. More info: http://afghanfriends.net/
Thank you, award winning writer and photojournalist Diane LeBow, for telling me about this benefit luncheon. Recently Dr. LeBow read from her Afghan stories for Left Coast Writers at Book Passage in the Ferry Building, San Francisco. There were about 50 in the audience.
In San Francisco, we have 2 events to cheer for:
Saturday, March 26th, 2011
Meet-the-Agents Live. Writers Speed-Date to success. Only 15 spaces left. Click here http://www.wnba-sfchapter.org for agent and
editor bios, the scoop on the keynote lunch with Zoe Fitzgerald Carter, and to register.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
The 15th Annual Effie Lee Morris Lecture: TRICKSTERS!
Guest lecturer: Gerald McDermott – the Art of the Folktale
San Francisco Public Library, Lower Level, 100 Larkin Street (at Grove), SF, CA www.sfpl.org
5:00pm Reception & Book Signing; 6:00pm Lecture presented FREE by
Children & Youth Services and the Fisher Children’s Center of the
San Francisco Public Library and Women’s National Book Assoc-SF
Chapter. Board members of WNBA (a co-sponsor of this lecture)
encourage all members (especially authors of children’s literature)
to attend this event… a tradition in San Francisco. Effie Lee Morris
founded the San Francisco Chapter of Women’s National Book
Association. This annual lecture is just one of the many legacies
Effie Lee Morris left for readers and writers.
My best wishes to everyone ! See you at the San Francisco events,
Teresa LeYung Ryan, author of Love Made of Heart, cheers for brave immigrants.
22-Day Coach Teresa
Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW is available through Amazon. Read success stories (on Amazon) from writers who have finished the 22-day workbook I created to help fiction and nonfiction authors gain a competitive edge. Whether you want to be your own publisher or sell rights to another publisher, attract readers and more readers now! http://writingcoachteresa.com
http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/is-there-a-book-to-help-a-writer-build-platform-and-fanbase/
Photo: University of Louisville
“Happy Birthday, 19th Amendment (And thanks to Harry T. Burn’s mom)”
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Today is the 90th anniversary the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, the one that gave women the right to vote after a full century of organization, agitation and marching.
On this date in 1920 the Tennessee General Assembly became the 36th state to ratify the amendment, thus making it official.
To read the full article/post . . . http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/08/19th-amendment-constitution.html
* * * *
Happy Birthday, 19th Amendment; Thank You, Suffragettes and the men who walked the walk of equality with them!
The Nineteenth Amendment (Amendment XIX) to the United States Constitution prohibits each state and the federal government from denying any citizen the right to vote based on that citizen‘s sex. It was ratified on August 18, 1920.
Did you know that the Women’s National Book Association http://www.wnba-books.org/ was established in 1917, before women-citizens in America even had the right to vote?
The Women’s National Book Association is a national organization of women and men who work with and value books. WNBA exists to promote reading and to support the role of women in the community of the book. WNBA has been a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) member of the United Nations since 1959. http://www.wnba-books.org Jill A. Tardiff & Nancy Stewart are our UN DPI/ NGO representatives http://www.wnba-books.org/chapters-members/wnba-officers/
I am so proud to be a member of WNBA. I think my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother would be proud too. If you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area on Sunday Sept 12, 2010, 2:00-5:00pm, come by the San Francisco Public Library-Main Branch…
ZEN AND THE ART OF THE BOOK DEAL
Publishing Panel: Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010 • 2-5 p.m.
San Francisco Public Library-Main Branch
Latino Hispanic Community Room, Lower Level, 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102.
FREE TO THE PUBLIC
Women’s National Book Association – San Francisco Chapter brings you the latest news in the publishing industry from the following insiders:
- JENNIFER JOSEPH – publisher and editor of Manic D Press
- PETER BEREN – literary agent and publishing consultant
- BRIDGET KINSELLA – Breaking Books & navigating the publishing landscape
- GEORGIA HUGHES – editorial director of New World Library
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Moderator: Mary Knippel, immediate past president, WNBA-SF Chapter
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September is National Literacy Month. Join our panel of experts as they share the newest insights into the publishing industry.
- Participate in our Great Book Give Away. See you there!
- http://wnba-sfchapter.org/
Sincerely,
Teresa LeYung Ryan
Writing Career Coach Teresa says: “Reach out, not stress out, when building your writer’s name/platform.”
Build My Writer’s Name and Platform: Attract Agents, Acquisition Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention (the 22 minutes for 22 days workbook) http://WritingCoachTeresa.com
To comment on any of Teresa’s columns (blog posts), just click on the blue title bar of the post, fill in the boxes and press “submit.” Please click here for her blog http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/
Teresa uses her acclaimed novel Love Made of Heart to help survivors of violence find their own voices through writing. http://lovemadeofheart.com/Advocacy-For-Women-Resources.html offers resources for women.
How a Book Gets to be in a Special Collection at the Boston Public Library
I’m a member of Women’s National Book Association–San Francisco Chapter.
When Laurie Beckelman was national president of Women’s National Book Association, she coordinated with the Boston Public Library to create a WNBA Collection. Thank you, Laurie! Thank you, everyone at the Boston Public Library!
My dear sister was in Boston and guess what she did? She visited the Central Branch of the Boston Public Library and took photos of my novel Love Made of Heart proudly shelved. Thanks, Sis!
Sincerely,
Teresa LeYung Ryan
Chinese American author who writes for and about modern courageous women unbeknownst to themselves.
As an author I use my novel Love Made of Heart to encourage adult-children of mentally-ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas that their parents suffer.
Love Made of Heart is:
• recommended by the California School Library Association and the California Reading Association
• used in Advanced Composition English-as-a-Second-Language classes
• archived at the San Francisco History Center
Love Made of Heart is in 97 public libraries (84 branches in the United States, 2 branches in the United Kingdom , 9 branches in New Zeland; 1 branch in Austrialia, 1 branch in Singapore).
After you read the article, please check out these organizations
Bay Area Independent Publishers Association (BAIPA) http://www.baipa.org/
Northern California Publishers & Authors (NCPA) http://www.norcalpa.org/
California Writers Club 18 branches in California http://calwriters.org/
Women’s National Book Association http://www.wnba-books.org/
ZEN AND THE ART OF THE BOOK DEAL
Publishing Panel: Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010 • 2-5 p.m.
San Francisco Main Public Library
Details: http://wnba-sfchapter.org/
Self-publishing gets easier with online tools
apierleoni@sacbee.com
You, too, can be an author.
In print and online, self-published authors have never had so many choices of where and how to place their memoirs, novels, cookbooks, essays and poetry.
Among those there to help them is Bob Young, co-founder of the giant online publishing company Lulu. Young says “the new publishing model” will not be dependent on best-sellers – the lifeblood of traditional publishing – but on niche publications.
“Our most successful authors generally fit into specialized knowledge-based categories,” said Lulu spokesman Jonathan Cox. “They write about business, economics, computers, the Internet, art.”
Among the major players accommodating aspiring writers – in a few cases, established authors as well, such as John Edgar Wideman (“Briefs”) – are Amazon (CreateSpace and Digital Text Platform), Author Solutions (parent company of AuthorHouse, Xlibris and iUniverse), Barnes & Noble (PubIt!), Apple (iBookstore), Lulu, Smashwords, Scribd and Fastpencil.
Profits from sales are split between publisher and author, with publishers getting 20 percent to 30 percent and writers getting 70 percent to 80 percent.
Self-published authors can choose to have their finished products as e-books downloadable to a variety of e-readers (including Amazon’s Kindle and Apple’s iPad), other mobile devices and PCs, or in traditional book form, or both.
They’re doing so in viral numbers. Last year, 764,448 self-published titles appeared – an increase of 181 percent from 2008. That compares with 289,729 titles from traditional publishing houses, according to the R.R. Bowker Co., which compiles bibliographic data.
Ideal for untested writers; not great for literary stars
E-books account for an estimated 5 percent to 10 percent of all U.S. book sales, according to book industry consultants, but within five years they could account for up to 25 percent.
On Friday, Dorchester Publishing announced that it will abandon its traditional print publishing business in favor of “an e-book/print-on-demand model.”
The decision came after sales of its mass-market paperbacks, its specialty, fell by 25 percent last year and have been even worse in 2010.
Jim Milliot, co-editorial director of Publishers Weekly, said the self-publishing movement “isn’t making any of the big publishers nervous, but they’re certainly watching it.”
“If they have a fear, it’s that one of their large-name authors will go out on his or her own,” Milliot said. “But what keeps the big authors tied to their houses is big advances. You’re not going to see a John Grisham go running to Smashwords.”
As e-readers, e-books and e-bookstores become more ingrained in our culture, the digital self-publishing model gets the most buzz.
Usually, the digital model works in conjunction with print on demand, in which a paper book isn’t physically printed until it’s been presold. That’s a double whammy for an author – an e-book and a paper version of the same title.
Start typing
How does a writer turn an electronic manuscript into an e-book? The process is simple.At www.barnesandnoble/pubit, for instance, the directions for the digital self-publishing template advise: “Set up your account (with us), then start loading files and cover art for … your e-books. PubIt! converts digital files to ePub format, the most widely accepted format for e-reader and mobile devices. … Now millions of readers can buy your e-books” through online bookstores.
Kenneth Umbach of Citrus Heights uses Lulu as a publishing platform for paper and digital books.
Through his Umbach Consulting and Publishing, he has produced his own titles (a collection of columns from the weekly newspaper Senior Spectrum, and a how-to-publish handbook) and those of others. Sales have been “modest,” he said.
Probably his company’s biggest seller was “Capitol Crimes,” a collection of mystery stories by members of the Sacramento chapter of Sisters in Crime, published partly as a fundraiser.
Umbach advises aspiring self-publishers to be aware of add-on services for sale by tech publishers, from editing to promotional packages.
“Hire someone with expertise in laying out your book, and have a set of competent eyes editing it,” he said.
Publishing is just one step
One of the conceits of self-publishing is that it democratizes the process, allowing anyone to put a book in the marketplace and name his or her price. There is no longer the need for an agent, an editor or a monolithic publishing house.The nature of success changes, too.
“For successful authors, writing the book is the beginning,” said Cox of Lulu. “They maintain blogs, speak at conferences, stay active in online forums that potential readers are likely to visit.”
“Success is different for every author,” he added. “Some just want to share an idea with the world, so they give away their books or sell them at cost. Others want to build a personal brand. Many want to make money.”
Lulu has paid “millions of dollars in royalties to our authors,” Cox said. “Some earn a couple of dollars over the lifetime of their books. Others earn thousands of dollars every year. We have one author who has earned more than $196,000″ from a technical book.
“The market is broad and diverse,” said Amazon spokeswoman Sarah Gelman. “We think that our Digital Text Platform makes it possible for authors and publishers to offer more titles, at better prices, to Kindle customers. We also think this will allow more authors to make a living at their craft.”
Milliot of Publishers Weekly cautions: “For a new author with no established audience, the chances of succeeding are not very high.”
Some find fame
But there are success stories.Unable to break into traditional publishing, Boyd Morrison placed “The Ark” on Amazon’s Kindle bookstore. Sales were so great that Simon & Schuster – one of the publishers that had rejected the thriller – bought it and printed it in hardback.
Frustrated by publishers who turned down her novel “A Scattered Life,” Karen McQuestion published it online. The e-book sold nearly 40,000 copies and now McQuestion has a movie option.
J.A. Konrath says he’ll make $100,000 this year from Kindle sales of his thriller “Whiskey Sour.” That despite book critics calling the title “formulaic” and “cliché-ridden.”
Which brings up the issue of quality. If anybody can publish anything, how good will most of it be?
“In the ‘old days,’ after 30 rejection letters, you’d stick the manuscript in a drawer,” said Milliot. “Today you send it to (an online publisher). By far the lion’s share of self-published material – both print or digital – would never be published (in a traditional way) because, frankly, it’s not professional grade. That said, there is some good stuff out there.”
Laura Miller, co-founder of the online magazine Salon.com, took self- publishing to task from the perspective of a former book editor who worked in the mainstream New York publishing industry.
In a brutal yet telling essay for Salon.com, she wrote in part, “Civilians … can talk as much trash as they want about the supposedly low standards of traditional publishing. They haven’t seen the vast majority of what didn’t get published. Believe me, if you have, it’s enough to make your blood run cold, thinking about (it) being introduced into the general population.”
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