Posts Tagged ‘california writers club’
A client called to tell me he read my blog post about fun events for writers in October and asked if I would recommend his going to Martha Alderson’s plot workshop on Saturday. He said he had pitched his novel to agents; more than one agent complimented on his narrator’s voice but they felt that the manuscript is not ready for acquisition editors’ eyes. One agent told my client that the manuscript has “too much back story.” “Aah,” I tell my client, “too much back story means not enough front story, and, you need front story to plot character growth. Learning how to plot from Martha, the Master, is priceless. Go. You’ll thank yourself.”
For writers who couldn’t go to Martha’s workshop at Capitola Bookstore on Saturday, check her schedule http://www.blockbusterplots.com for future workshops. She’s teaching a 5-day Plot Retreat in November 2010
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I’m reformatting the second edition of my workbook Build My Name, Beat the Game with the help of Perfect Pages, by Aaron Shepard. I’ll be subscribing to Aaron’s newsletter. www.newselfpublish.com Also, I’m using a wonderful reference book – Indexing Books by Nancy C. Mulvany. http://www.bayside-indexing.com
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I was at the San Francisco Public Library-Main Branch for a Women’s National Book Association board meeting when I saw the flyer for the exhibit on “Iris Chang and Her Unfinished Dream.” San Francisco Public Library exhibition documents the life of the late author and her work exposing the truth of the Nanking Massacre; on view in the Chinese Center, Main Library, October 2 – December 2, 2010.
http://sfpl.org/index.php?pg=1002855001
On Sunday October 17, 2010 1:30-3:30pm Koret Auditorium, San Francisco Main Library Film Screening: Iris Chang–The Rape of Nanking, the full length docudrama (103 minutes, in English with Chinese subtitles, 2007) made for the 70th anniversary of the Nanking massacre, tells the compelling and courageous life story of Iris Chang, a young woman who at age 26 dedicated her life to teaching the world about the forgotten holocaust in World War II. Followed by Q & A with Iris Chang’s parents and Dr. Peter Stanek, president of the Global Alliance for Preserving the History of World War II in Asia.
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Kim McMillon informed me that she will be teaching a playwriting workshop once a month at UC Merced (a part of the Merced Writers’ Center). http://kimmcmillon.wordpress.com/ The class is the first Monday of every month. Also, Kim asked if I would be interested in conducting “Major League Tryouts with Writing Career Coach Teresa to Build Your Writer’s Name/Platform” I would have to say “I’d love to.” Thank you, Kim!
Did you that Kim is the producer of a wonderful blog talk radio show? http://www.blogtalkradio.com/onword and click on “Writers Sanctuary”
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I was reading colleague Yolande Barial’s blog (I knew about her advocacy in regards to bicycle-helmet-safety for children http://yolandebarial.wordpress.com/2010/10/01/bicycle-helmet-locks/) and was surprised and humbled by her post about my work as a writing career coach. http://yolandebarial.wordpress.com/2010/10/01/bicycle-helmet-locks/ Thank you, Yolande!
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I critiqued colleague Elisa Southard ’s keynote speech for the Redwood Writers’ Conference http://redwoodwriters.org/redwood-conference/. I hope you’ll be able to hear the speech yourself on Oct. 30, 2010 because Elisa is a generous teacher who helps writers turn into their best advocates. http://breakthroughthenoise.com/
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I gave advice to author Nina Amir http://writenonfictionnow.com/ on her new book proposal. She emailed to say: “Teresa, I can see now why everyone raves about your work… you are phenomenal and very giving.” This writing-career coach definitely appreciates the acknowledgment. It’s fun to help hard-working authors who want to help writers.
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Kim McMillon asked me to help MamaCoAtl update their new blog http://16daysofartivismforthehealingofviolence.wordpress.com to commemorate United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/violence/
What does a typical week look like for a writer/writing career coach/publisher? That’s it.
This coming week:
- I meet with my mastermind group (Linda Lee, Mary E. Knippel, Lori Noack and me–Teresa LeYung Ryan);
- I meet with Elisa Southard http://elisaonassignment.com/ (we work together once a month)
- I prepare for my presentation at California Writers Club-Berkeley Branch (they meet at Oakland Library-Main Branch) on Sunday October 17, 2010 http://lovemadeofheart.com/Teresa-LeYung-Ryan%27s-Events.html
- Upload my publishing company’s profile on Bowker. http://www.isbn.org/standards/home/index.asp https://www.myidentifiers.com/
- Continue helping MamaCoAtl post updates on the website http://16daysofartivismforthehealingofviolence.wordpress.com/ for United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
- Continue reading How to Buy a Love of Reading by Tanya Egan Gibson; The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan; The Chinese Laborers of Lake Chabot (San Leandro, California) A History of Their Contributions to the Construction of Lake Chabot Dam, 1874-1892 by Jacqueline Beggs.
- I just said “Yes” to Bardi Rosman Koodrin http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000536791573 regarding my sponsoring one of the writing-contest at the 2011 San Mateo County Fair–Fine Arts Department.
Sincerely,
Teresa LeYung Ryan
Author / Writing Career Coach / Publisher
Teresa says: “Reach out, not stress out, when building your writer’s name/platform.” http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/
GraceArt Publishing is the publisher of Build My Writer’s Name, Beat the Game: How Do I Create a Platform to Attract Agents, Acquisition Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention? (the 22 minutes for 22 days workbook)
To comment on any of my columns (blog posts), just click on the blue title bar of the post, fill in the boxes and press “submit.” Please click here for my blog http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/
Colleague Margie Yee Webb told me about a fun event that happened this past Tuesday night. I believe in post-event cheers for my colleagues. If you’re in the Sacramento area, go meet these authors at events. What do these authors have in common? They’re all vibrant members at the Sacramento Branch of the California Writers Club. I have worked with them (Margie Yee Webb, Steve Liddick, Bob Quinlan, Frances Kakugawa, Kiyo Sato, Susan M. Osborn) at various literary events and I think they are all delightful! Margie, Bob, Frances and I are WNBA members
September 21, 2010-An Evening With Authors-Open to the Public
6-8 p.m. Luna’s Cafe, 1414 16th St., Sacramento, CA
These authors (they’re nice people too) read from their works and autographed books:
Bob Quinlan of Earn It: Empower Yourself for Love (Authority Publishing, $19.95, 252 pages)
Frances Kakugawa of Mosaic Moon: Caregiving Through Poetry (Watermark Publishing, $16.95, 232 pages)
Kiyo Sato of Kiyo’s Story: A Japanese-American Family’s Quest for the American Dream (Soho Press, $25, 352 pages)
Susan M. Osborn of The System Made Me Do It: A Life Changing Approach to Office Politics (Lifethread Publications, $19.95, 176 pages)
Sincerely,
Teresa LeYung Ryan, author, writing-career coach, founder of GraceArt Publishing
Build My Writer’s Name and Platform: Attract Agents, Acquisition Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention
is the 22 minutes for 22 days workbook.
“Reach out, not stress out, when building your writer’s name.”
The Jennifer Joseph, Publisher, Manic D Press Books
I met Jennifer Joseph at a writers’ conference many years ago and throughout these years whenever someone asks: “Who should we include on a panel of experts in the publishing industry?” I would reply: “Invite the owner of Manic D Press–Jennifer Joseph. Great energy. Savvy. She cares about her authors’ careers.”
Manic D Press is an award-winning literary press based in San Francisco, California publishing fiction, poetry, pop culture, music, art, narrative-oriented comix, and alternative travel books, representing a diverse group of unique writers and artists,
When I was president for California Writers Club-SF Peninsula Branch 2005-2006, I wanted to give our members a program of publishing experts at the June 2006 meeting–my last meeting as president. That day, I learned from Jennifer Joseph why publishers usually don’t print large quantities of any particular book, and, why publishers “remainder” books (sell a book at a low low price) even when they’ve been only recently published. Here’s the answer: Books are inventory; inventory gets taxed. To have unsold books sitting in warehouses cost money to the publishers.
Last week, at the publishing panel sponsored by Women’s National Book Association at San Francisco Public Library-Main Branch, I learned from Jennifer Joseph to take advantage of the facebook phenomenon. I love writing blog posts to help writers build their names/platforms; Jennifer recommends my using facebook to broadcast new posts.
Also, I learned that she publishes poetry books. On the Manic D Press postcard are thumbnail-size images of 20 book covers with their titles, authors’ names, genres, ISBNs and cover prices; 5 of them are poetry/essays.
Please visit the online Manic D store http://manicdpress.com
On her website, Jennifer says: “If there’s a Manic D book that’s not here and you want it, send an email, okay? Thanks for everything (and especially for reading our books).”
Writers who want to see submission guidelines, go to: http://manicdpress.com and scroll to the bottom of the page OR click here: http://manicdpress.com/submissions.html
http://www.facebook.com/manicd
http://twitter.com/manicdpress
Awards presented to Manic D Press include 2000 American Library Association Stonewall Award for Literature; 1997 Firecracker Alternative Book Award for Art; 2002 and 2000 Firecracker Alternative Book Awards for Fiction; 1998 American Institute of Graphic Arts juried traveling exhibition 50 Books, 50 Covers; Sept/Oct 2003 + March/April 2004 Booksense 76 lists; SF Bay Guardian’s 2004 Best of the Bay: ‘Best Quintessentially San Franciscan Publisher’, Publishing Triangle’s 2007 Thom Gunn Award for Poetry + 2008 Edmund White Award for Debut Fiction; SF Weekly’s “Best of San Francisco 2008″; 2009 and 2010 Lambda Literary Transgender Awards.
Thank you, Jennifer Joseph, for being a hard-working publisher who enjoys sharing your insight with the writing-and-reading community!
Sincerely,
Teresa LeYung Ryan, author, writing-career coach, founder of GraceArt Publishing
Build My Writer’s Name and Platform: Attract Agents, Acquisition Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention
is the 22 minutes for 22 days workbook.
“Reach out, not stress out, when building your writer’s name.”
http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/
More September Birthdays in My Literary Community
Dear Writers,
Eight years ago when my novel Love Made of Heart was about to “hit the streets,” my publisher (Kensington in New York) had purchased front-store-shelf -space at Borders and Barnes & Noble; Nancy Suib & Anne Shulenberger, the independent sales reps for Kensington, had recommended my novel to their accounts/independent bookstores.
An author is lucky to get shelf-space (and to be “face out” so that customers would see the book cover), but, because new releases from publishers arrive every day, those precious high-visibility shelf-spaces usually cannot be reserved for one particular book for more than what is paid for by the publisher.
And, even if a new book gets into a bookstore, how do customers know about it? One way is for the author to appear at the bookstore. But, bookstore appearance aren’t easy to land because, as I said before, new releases from publishers arrive every day.
Two booksellers gave me my first break. Kate Kelley from Books Inc. on Chestnut Street in San Francisco and Luan Stauss, owner of Laurel Book Store.
Luan says in her wonderful e-newsletter this week:
“Nine years ago, on September 15, 2001 the Laurel Book Store opened the doors for the first time. And yes, it really has been that long. Babies then are now reading. 10 year olds then are now in college. Some of the college students then are now parents. While a whole swath of us haven’t aged a bit.
It’s been quite a ride and I’m planning for bigger and better things for the future. We’re trying hard to roll with the economic punches and it’s made better by all of you who have been here supporting us all this time. And by all the great books that come out each year making it tough to decide what to sell!
Rather than have a party this year, which by the way is the pottery year, we’re going to start planning for the 10 year anniversary. But do come by for a cookie, wish us well, and tell us what you’re reading!
Happy reading, and thank you for 9 years worth of your support.” Luan
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oakland-CA/Laurel-Bookstore/137434275283
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Leigh Anne Lindsey, a new member of Women’s National Book Association-San Francisco Chapter, celebrates her birthday. Leigh Anne writes novels, including Futuristic and Suspense-Thrillers. WNBA is lucky to have her in our chapter–she attended our September board meeting, assisted the board members at our Sept. 12 publishing panel at the SF Public Library, and, with Kate Britton (VP of SF Chapter) will represent WNBA at the Redwood Writers Conference on Oct. 30, 2010.
Also, Leigh Anne is a Member of & Social Media Wizard for the Redwood Writers – the second largest branch of the California Writers Club; she’ s a member of San Francisco Writers Community
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To Writers,
Keep writing, keep networking, keep building your name/platform, keep learning about the industry through the experts (including published authors, bookseller, librarians, teachers, literary agents, acquisition editors and folks in publishing houses, members in writers’ organizations, and folks in their circles of influence). Celebrate being a writer!
Hope to see you at October 2010 events!
Sincerely,
Teresa LeYung Ryan, author, writing-career coach, founder of GraceArt Publishing
Build My Writer’s Name and Platform: Attract Agents, Acquisition Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention
is the 22 minutes for 22 days workbook.
“Reach out, not stress out, when building your writer’s name.”
Same Day in October, Two Events for Writers, Both Career-Building
Saturday October 30, 2010 Redwood Writers Conference
I (Writing Career Coach Teresa) will be presenting my workshop and exhibiting my books at the Redwood Writers Conference. Elisa Southard will be the morning keynote speaker. Friends from CWC, WNBA, BAIPA, NCPA and other writers’ organizations will all be there to help writers further their careers. Cheers to Marlene Cullen & everyone on the conference-planning team.
Register now: http://redwoodwriters.org/redwood-conference/
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Saturday October 30, 2010 California Writers Club–SF Peninsula Branch
Geri Spieler will present her signature-workshop:
Super Sleuthing: Internet Research Secrets
- How to safely conduct Internet research
- Discover 100 tools that cut Internet research time by 80%
- Don’t get caught with unintentional plagiarism
Takeaway: This workshop is best delivered using a PowerPoint presentation in addition to my handouts. Attendees will gain a high level of understanding on how to effectively research information using a long list of research tools, Internet search strings and skills to recognize bogus Websites.
More info: www.cwc-peninsula.org/ and Geri Spieler
Meanwhile, see you on Sunday Sept 12, 2010 at SF Main Library for the Publishing Panel http://wnba-sfchapter.org/ and/or Oct. 17, 2010 at California Writers Club-Berkeley Branch (meeting and program at Oakland Main Library); I’ll be the guest speaker http://calwritersclub.wordpress.com/
Sincerely,
Teresa LeYung Ryan, author, writing-career coach, founder of GraceArt Publishing
Build My Writer’s Name and Platform: Attract Agents, Acquisition Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention
is the 22 minutes for 22 days workbook.
“Reach out, not stress out, when building your writer’s name.”
September is Library Card Sign-Up Month!
September is National Literacy Month!
October is National Reading Group Month!
Third week of October is California Writers Week!
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September & October & November 2010 events I recommend to writers in the San Francisco Bay Area
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“Poetry on Main” meets 2nd Thursday in Pleasanton, CA
Next meeting: Thurs., September 9, 2010 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Little Valley Winery, 739 Main St., Pleasanton, CA
Calling all Poets! Free event. For more info (what to bring): http://www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us/community/arts/civic-arts-literary.html
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Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010, 2:00-5:00pm
FREE TO THE PUBLIC
Women’s National Book Association presents:
Publishing Panel: Zen and the Art of the Book Deal
At San Francisco Public Library—Main Branch– Latino Hispanic Community Room, Lower Level, 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102.
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
Moderator: Mary Knippel, immediate past president, WNBA-SF Chapter
Participate in our Great Book Give Away. See you there!
Visit http://wnba-sfchapter.org/for more info.
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September meetings at California Writers Club
http://calwriters.org/ Find a branch near you
October meetings at California Writers Club
http://calwriters.org/ Find a branch near you
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Thursday October 14, 2010, starts at noon
WNBA-SF Chapter & Book Passage in Corte Madera host:
Literary Luncheon with Celebrated Author Joyce Maynard
Call Book Passage, Corte Madera (415) 927-0960 ext.1 to reserve. The ticket price of $55 includes an outstanding lunch catered by Insalata’s Restaurant & an autographed copy of Joyce Maynard’s book The Good Daughters.
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October 17, 2010 California Writers Club Berkeley Branch http://calwritersclub.wordpress.com/
General Meeting & Program
1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Oakland’s Main Library
West Auditorium
Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung Ryan will lead “Major League Tryouts with Coach Teresa to Build Your Writer’s Name”
understand the need to build one’s name/fame in today’s publishing arena.
identify advocates, endorsers and fans.
gain recognition through your words and your community.
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Saturday October 30, 2010 7:30 am – 6:30 pm Redwood Writers Conference
http://redwoodwriters.org/redwood-conference/
Writing Career Coach & Author Teresa LeYung Ryan says: “Go to this conference. You deserve to celebrate and grow your writing career!” 9:30-10:30am Teresa will present: “Build Your Name, Beat the Game: Be Happily Published”
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November 13 – 14, 2010 Writing for Change Conference
For non-fiction writers/authors
http://www.sfwritingforchange.org/
The theme of the conference is “Changing the World One Book at a Time,” and the goal is to encompass business, politics, technology, spirituality, personal development, health, social issues, the environment, culture, the law, international relations.
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If you have events for writers that you wish to recommend, please submit a comment to this post. To comment on any of my blog posts, just click on the blue title bar of the post, fill in the boxes and press “submit.”
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Teresa LeYung Ryan
Build My Writer’s Name and Platform: Attract Agents, Acquisition Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention
is the 22 minutes for 22 days workbook.
“Reach out, not stress out, when building your writer’s name.” http://WritingCoachTeresa.com
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.”
© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.
Call The Bee’s Allen Pierleoni, (916) 321-1128
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/08/09/2945533/self-publishing-gets-easier-with.html
Writers, Go & Enjoy a Day in Wine Country at Redwood Writers 2010 Conference
Saturday, October 30th, 7:30 am – 6:30 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdmhXqDaYTA
Redwood Writers, a branch of the California Writers Club, is producing its second annual writing conference, set in the beautiful city of Santa Rosa, CA.
Pre-conference Poetry Evening, Friday, October 29th
Flamingo Hotel and Resort, 2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, CA
Theme: Celebration of the Written Word
This one-day conference will feature agents, editors, and writers from all genres. They will offer their insights and experiences in the craft of writing at beginning through advanced levels, as well as the encouragement of fellow writers in a relaxed and friendly, wine-country setting.
Saturday Conference – All Day – October 30, 2010 7:30 am to 6:30 pm
7:30 – 8:15 am – Check-in
8:30 – 9:15 am – Morning Keynote Address by Elisa Southard
9:30 – 4:15 pm – Twelve Sessions available (including “Build Your Name, Beat the Game: Be Happily Published” with Writing Career Coach & Author Teresa LeYung Ryan at 9:30-10:30am)
12:30 – 1:15 pm – Luncheon Keynote Address by Sheldon Siegel
Recognition: Winners of the Prose contest
5:00 – 6:30 pm – Networking Session, hosted by your CWC – Redwood Branch Board
If you would like to enter the conference contests, go to http://redwoodwriters.org/redwood-conference/ then click on Poetry Contest and Prose Contest pages for fees and entry forms to be sent snail mail. The poetry contest is open to the public. The prose contest is open to conference registrants only. All contest entries and fees must be sent via snail mail to: P.O. Box 4687, Santa Rosa, CA 95402
Special thanks go to Marlene Cullen, Tricia McWhorter, Elizabeth Beechwood, Kate Farrell, and Redwood Writers http://redwoodwriters.org/redwood-conference/
Sincerely,
Teresa LeYung Ryan
To comment on any of my columns (blog posts), just click on the blue title bar of the post, fill in the boxes and press “submit.” Please click here for my blog http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/
Another Day in the Life of a Published Author/Presenter/Advocate of Literacy
Dear Writers,
I encourage everyone to finish writing that story or that book and find ways to get your work published in print form. When I first set out to write Love Made of Heart (originally entitled Grace) over 20 years ago, my dream was to someday touch readers the way Maxine Hong Kingston’s The Woman Warrior had touched me.
Since Love Made of Heart got published in October 2002 by Kensington Publishing Corp., New York, I have had the opportunities to make connections with readers not only with the book but also through personal appearances at community events, writers’ conferences, writers’ organizations, schools and libraries. Connecting with people through promoting literacy is my favorite role as an author.
Today I received this email which made me sad, but, I got a chance to offer a piece of me as an author. Thank you, Donna, for emailing me.
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Hello Teresa! My name is Donna Axelson. I am on the board of the non-profit Veterans Memorial that was built in 2007 in Cupertino, CA. I became involved with this project because my son, Matthew Axelson, a Navy SEAL, was killed in Afghanistan in 2005. If you have read the New York Times Bestseller Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell you have read about Matthew and Operation Redwing.
One of my major jobs with the non-profit is to chair the annual golf tournament that supports the Memorial. This is our fifth year to hold the golf tournament and one of the most sought after auction items is children’s books signed by local authors. I’m hoping you would be willing to donate a copy of one of your books this year for the auction. The golf tournament this year is Monday, August 23 @ the Palo Alto Hills Golf & Country Club. You can reach me at ____ and you can view our website at www.cupertinoveteransmemorial.org
Are you a golfer? We’d love to have you join us for golf or how about coming just for the dinner, auctions, and program. See attachment. http://www.cupertinoveteransmemorial.org/golf_tournament.html
Thank you!
Donna Axelson
This is my reply to Donna:
Tue, Jul 13, 2010
Dear Donna,
My heart is heavy as I read your email about how you got involved with Veterans Memorial.
Donna, I would be honored to donate a copy of Love Made of Heart (to honor your love for Matthew); however my book is not a children’s book. It is recommended by the California Reading Association and the California School Library Association (for high-school and college level); it’s archived at the San Francisco History Center. The main character is in her twenties.
This link has more information about the book:
http://lovemadeofheart.com/Love-Made-of-Heart-journey-of-an-adult-child-of-a-mentally-ill-parent.html
- Do let me know if you still want a copy of Love Made of Heart.
- I am the creator of “Heroes, Tricksters, and Villains” (a writing workshop for children). If you ever want such a presentation for another fundraiser, please invite me.
- You might want to also contact Frances Kakugawa, the author of Wordsworth the Poet and Wordsworth Dances The Waltz. http://www.francesk.org/homepage.html Please tell Frances hello for me if you email her.
- Donna, are you a writer? There must be a branch of California Writers Club near you. http://calwriters.org/
- Lastly, how did you find me?
Sincerely,
Teresa
Teresa LeYung Ryan
The following day, Donna emailed again:
Teresa,
I looked up your book so know a bit about it already. We have at least one foursome of high school and college age golfers plus parents of those same age young people golf. Plus our CEO is involved with the Organization of Special Needs families in our area. I think your book would be a wonderful addition to our auction. Please send it to the address below % CVM Golf Tournament.
I will contact Frances. Thank you for her information.
Last year when I went to the Linden Tree in Los Altos (Dennis and Linda always donate books for the auction.) I purchased a book 2007 Writers and Illustrators Network Guide [Authors and Illustrators Network Guide] and you were in that book.
Fondly,
Donna Axelson
c/o Cupertino Veterans Memorial Golf Tournament
So, I inscribed a hardcover copy of Love Made of Heart to “The Cupertino Veterans Memorial Hearts” and attached a personal note to Donna and mailed the package out.
Dear Writers,
On my wesite is a page “Writers Resources” http://lovemadeofheart.com/Writers-Resources.html I attend many of the events sponsored by Women’s National Book Association-San Francisco Chapter.
See you at a community event or on cyberspace!
Sincerely,
Teresa
As an author and community spirit, Teresa LeYung Ryan speaks out for public libraries, honors immigrant-stories, advocates compassion for mental illness, and helps survivors of violence find their own voices through writing.
Love Made of Heart inspires adult-children of mentally-ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas that their parents suffer. http://LoveMadeOfHeart.com
Build Your Name, Beat the Game: Be Happily Published is the 22 minutes for 22 days workbook. Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung Ryan says: “Reach out, not stress out, when building your writer’s name.” http://WritingCoachTeresa.com
Saturday, July 31, 2010, 10am – 5pm
Northern California Storybook & Literature Festival
http://www.roseville.ca.us/library/programs_n_events/lit_fest.asp
Maidu Library & Maidu Community Center, 1530 Maidu Drive, Roseville, CA 95661
10:20-11:20am Reception Hall - Teresa LeYung Ryan, Tanya Egan Gibson, Laurel Anne Hill, Jeff Carlson & Jack L. Parker; moderator will be Gail McGrath
11:30am-12:30pm Teresa will be autographing books at outdoor booth I-7
1:00-2:00pm Meeting Room 2 – Teresa LeYung Ryan will present her signature workshop “Transform Your Personal Experiences Into Potent Stories”
The author of Love Made of Heart will give you simple tools to craft a short story with an enticing beginning, engaging middle, and a satisfying ending. Teresa says: “My short stories were the building-blocks for my book.”
2:30-5:00pm Teresa will be autographing books at outdoor booth I-7
noon – 1:00 p.m buddy/colleague Mary E. Knippel will be moderating the “Healthy Living” panel – B. Lynn Goodwin, Davis Liu, MD, Jennifer Martin, Joanne Neft, Richard Simmons.
I am so looking forward to July 31, 2010 (the same date as a loved one’s birthday)
Thank you again, Margie Yee Webb, Jamie Finley, Dena Grover, City of Roseville Library, and California Writers Club.
Sincerely,
Teresa LeYung Ryan
As an author and community spirit, Teresa LeYung Ryan speaks out for public libraries, honors immigrant-stories, advocates compassion for mental illness, and helps survivors of violence find their own voices through writing.
Love Made of Heart inspires adult-children of mentally-ill parents to speak openly about the stigmas that their parents suffer. http://LoveMadeOfHeart.com
Build Your Name, Beat the Game: Be Happily Published is the 22 minutes for 22 days workbook. Writing Career Coach Teresa LeYung Ryan says: “Reach out, not stress out, when building your writer’s name.” http://WritingCoachTeresa.com
Invite Coach Teresa to conduct “Major League Tryouts to Build Your Name” at your writers’ club or group. http://WritingCoachTeresa.com
• identify your mission statement, the scope of the project, and the perfect book title
• build your name to attract the right agent or publisher or more fans
• design and grow your blog (to showcase your expertise and experiences)
I am happy to announce that my trademark is finally being used at Love Made of Heart online store where you’ll find gift items for yourselves, women, children, moms, grandmas, babies, friends and pets. http://lovemadeofheart.com/Love-Made-of-Heart-Online-Store-&-Gift-Shop.html
