A Child Dreams of Authorship

Mrs. Palacio is 5th grade teacher in California; she is also my sister. She asked me to come to her school and talk to her students about writing a book. Surprisingly, many of her kids desire to be authors; some are already really good writers!

Anyhoo, after I returned home to Oregon, I received by snail mail some notes the kids had written after I left. I want to share them with you to show how admired and respected you are as published authors; people who were able to fulfill a dream. But more so, because they’re just really cute! I’ve desperately tried to re-write them as they are written, but of course they lose a tad bit of their authenticity when typed out and spell check keeps wanting to correct where I don’t want to!

Now, just so you know, the “authors” of these letters may be reading this Blog, so feel free to address a comment to any or all of the kids.

The Day Seeing Carol! Written by Kaja

Today we had a guest coming So I was expecting a guest, but not a superstar. I’m just kiting but she is a Author and a Writer! A super writer! She was nice to very nice she even gave us autograph. Her autograph was pretty. She said Best wishes! I like that part of the day. It was cool because I liked her. Your sister is nice that you. Thank you Ms. Palacio. Thank you Ms. Carol.

Nervous & scared, unsigned

Oh, Mrs. Palacio I have so much to tell you so…Ahhhhh, I can’t believe I saw a real author, you must be so lucky. Well, anyways, I learned that reading can be fun. And if you don’t have confidence in yourself then you will not might to get what you didn’t believe. Thank you for letting us see your sister Carol. I felt so nervous and so excited at the same time. Oh my gosh, I just don’t much have to say, I mean I don’t have much to say. So anyways, thank you, thank you, thank you.

Dear Mrs. Palacio by Maria

Today I learned that making a book is acutly a little easy and being a author is really hard so I think I will love to be a author. Also I learned that Mrs. Carol wrote 6 books and she probally writting another book. Also I learned that Mrs. Carol is a really cool person and she is going to give her autograph to us. Also I learned that her favorite book was how to make a book. Sincerly, Maria

Today I have met an author, unsigned

Today I have met an author. Actually, it was my teacher’s sister. Her name is Ms. Carol. Wow, she is so inspiring! I wish, when I become an author, that i’m like her.

Add comments or notes to the kid’s below in the comment section.

Google Offering $100 AdWords Coupon - STAY AWAY!

Many of this Blog’s visitors have their own Blogs and Websites. Some of them use Google to promote their sites. Google is an important part of my own site promotion. At the risk of Google dropping my positive ranking, I feel I must share this information with you. If Google is offering you a $100 AdWords free trial, STAY AWAY!!! You WILL be billed for all ads running past your trial and you will not know when that is. There is no notification until you are billed; then it’s too late. They require your credit card number upfront (probably to guarantee they can screw you later).

Many Bloggers and Website editors have received this “coupon” and signed up for the program. Why not? It’s free…NOT! They have realized the hard way that this is a scam by Google.

Just two weeks ago, on a flight home from California, I was fortunate to sit next to a Google employee, specifically, an AdWords consultant. He offered me tips on promoting my sites—I was grateful. Although the tips he offered were legitimate, and free, he did not mention this coupon scam.

The Google tools he recommended were:

*Google Insights
*Google Analytics
*Google Trends
*Google Webmaster

I also “squeezed” out of him the best tip for getting Google’s attention to your site (something he was not comfortable relaying due to confidentiality terms of his job at Google); inbound links from “related” Websites is the most effective way to get ranked by Google.

Back to the scam. Although I will not use the $100 coupon, and definitely DO NOT recommend my viewers do either, I do suggest Blog and Website editors utilize the tools listed above and provided free through Google.

Happy Blogging!

How Do I Get My Book Published for Free?

It’s possibly the most common question I get by e-mail from my Blog viewers, “How do I publish my book for free?” My answer; it can be done.

The odds of being picked up by a traditional publisher are slim; especially for the first-time author. This is likely the reason more than 80 percent of books are self-published. Most of these new self-published authors spend much more money on their book publishing than necessary. Companies such as Authorhouse or Outskirts Press charge a minimum of $200.00 for their basic services. This amount excludes some of the most important services such as editing, layout, and cover design; all “over-priced” additional fees. I’ve spoken to some new authors who invested over $10,000.00 to publish their first book. If you look at these company Websites you will see this is not even close to the most expensive package they offer. Visiting these self-publishing Websites can make a new author believe it is necessary to spend this much to release a successful book-not true.

If you are looking to publish your first book, or if you overspent your budget on your first book and are looking for a better avenue for your next, there are some free self-publishing options available to you. But remember, there will always be those unavoidable “extras” with any book publishing project. You do not want to skimp on things like page layout, cover design, and editing, and editing, and editing!!! A poorly designed book will get poor reviews and most likely WILL NOT SELL!

In my book, A Book Inside, How to Write, Publish, and Sell Your Story, I cover the proper way to layout your pages as well as itemizing the necessary components for your particular book. I strongly suggest if this will be your first book project or you have minimal success with your first release, you order this book and do it the right way from the start. Everything needed from start to finish to complete your book the right way and publish a professional looking piece of literature is covered in the book as an easy-to-follow guide.

In reference to editing your manuscript, do not do-it-yourself unless you are at a minimum, an English major with a Master’s Degree. Even then, I previously read one manuscript self-edited by a writer with such a degree and found numerous typos which made the script hard to read.

If you must, and only if you must, follow these guidelines to get the best you can from your editing efforts;

*Use your spell check program.
*Read your script out loud at least 3 times looking for mistakes.
*Check for the same words repeated to closely and use Thesaurus to find other word options.
*Ask at least three non-bias friends to read your manuscript to help find your mistakes.
*Read it, read it, and read it more!

There are a few “truly” free book publishers available. Again, your book must be ready-to-publish before you attempt to submit to these sites. Otherwise, your final product may not present professionally at all. One of the best I’ve heard of (from authors who have used it) is Createspace.com by Amazon. It’s fairly easy and the only requirement is you must buy one of your own books. Your book is also listed on Amazon.com automatically and the ISBN is free.

Another with fair reviews by users is LuLu.com. However, with LuLu you still will need to submit your book to other bookseller sites such as Amazon.com unless you purchase their distribution package (no longer free).

Publish America will accept most manuscripts for publishing and will do the basic editing and cover design for you free. However, I caution you to accept their cover designs as most of the ones I’ve seen are horrific. You can design your own and submit it to them for approval.

In this post, I may be coming on as if book publishing is free and easy—it’s not. More than 90 percent of the books I used to review (quit because of this issue), were unprofessional, unedited, or just plain poorly written. Books such as these are not enjoyable to read. This may be why I feel so strongly about writers doing it correctly the first time. It’s your dream—don’t disappoint yourself. Be proud of your finished book! Learn the right process and professional way to write and publish your story before you leap in.




A Book Inside, How to Write, Publish, and Sell Your Story is available through Amazon.com and direct from the author at Authors Box Bookstore.

Do Books Outdate?

When you write your first novel or non-fiction work, is there any way to know for sure if the book will become outdated? Do authors even consider the possibility?
Gone With the Wind was released decades ago but remains a favorite and is truly a legend in the literary world. Yet an original and complete set of 1920 Britannia Encyclopedias are virtually worth nothing—why?

A well written fiction book should never outdate; a story is a story. But non-fiction writers beware, or should I say, “be aware.” Although history is history and will no longer change, many informational books suffer due to new science or technology. Even a family history book might be considered outdated once new family members are born into this world.

When and if your book outdates you can re-publish it with the same name as a new edition. Understand that with each new edition or format, you will need a new ISBN (International Standard Book Number). ISBN’s are assigned each time a book changes. If you create a recorded or CD version to sell, you will need a new ISBN. Any changes made to a published book with an original ISBN require a new number. FYI, printing additional copies with no changes at all, does not require a new ISBN.

There are few ways to get past the need for a new ISBN. When I wrote my latest non-fiction book, 100 Ways to Market Your Book for Free (or really cheap), I knew all along the book would outdate, and rapidly. I had to decide if I would be willing to re-write updated versions on a regular basis or come up with another solution—I did just that. I published the book as an e-book without an ISBN. Although this does limit my coverage in the book world, because I work directly with authors, I still get direct exposure through my Websites and Blogs. “My audience” is right here.

As an e-book, I can make changes to the text and update the content anytime the information in the book changes, i.e., Website links, new ideas, recommendations from the books readers. Then I simply re-publish the book with the same name. It’s not the traditional method of book publishing, but sometimes you need to think outside the box and do what works for your publication.

So when you are considering writing a non-fiction book, ask yourself these questions:

*Will the content or information in the book outdate?
*Will I need to re-publish the book with updated content in the future?
*Should I purchase a rack of ISBN’s (10-15) rather than just one?
*What is the most cost-effective and simplest way to produce the book based on the need to update the information?
*Should I make the book into a series (see post below at http://abookinside.blogspot.com/2010/01/are-you-considering-writing-book-series.html)?
Authors, please share your own insight in the comment section below.

How do You Market a Book with the “S” Word Attached? An Interview with Author Nancy Murdoch

In this final interview of our series (appropriately timed towards Valentine’s Day), we will visit with Nancy Murdoch, the author of It’s Mostly About Sex…And the Pleasures of Pleasing a Woman.

For typical non-fiction books like my own, there isn’t generally an issue with marketing; most avenues are open to me with little restriction. But for Nancy Murdoch, many doors slam on her in her attempts to promote her new book. Why? It’s all about “sex.”

In this interview I will talk with Nancy and see how she is able, or not, to overcome these obstacles and the stigma that comes along with “sex.”

Carol Denbow: Welcome Nancy. Let’s start with you telling us a little about your book.

Nancy Murdoch: Okay Carol. Married, single, divorced, dating or in a committed relationship …LOVE is everything, and without it we cease to thrive and flourish in all areas of our lives because life is about relationships. We are in relationship with family, friends, co-workers, our environment, the air we breathe and even the food we eat. But few people can honestly say they are truly happy in their love relationships.

Many men have come to me feeling empty, brokenhearted and disillusioned searching for the secrets to connecting intimately with that one special woman. And even more men want to know how to lavish a woman with the selfless giving of pleasure. So I wrote this book to help all men become more self-empowered so they can engage in healthy, loving relationships with everyone, including a significant romantic partner.

It’s Mostly About Sex…And the Pleasures of Pleasing a Woman gets down to the nitty gritty of why men are attracting women they don’t want to be with in relationships and are repelling the women with whom they are interested. I use many real-life stories throughout the book in order to provide readers with clear examples of how to shift the energy that draws them into painfully unhealthy relationships, and change it into a natural, radiant sex appeal that women can’t say “no” to.

But I’m going to warn you right now that if you have an ego you may feel a sting. There is no ego in love and this book intentionally strikes at the core of what drives men because I want you to succeed. I truly believe in love and happy-ever-after relationships.

Carol Denbow: Although your book is non-fiction self-help, it also falls into the erotica genre. Some advertisers, reviewers, etc. still see this as taboo. Has this posed problems with your efforts to market and promote your book?

Nancy Murdoch: I was actually dumbfounded to learn that my book was judged by some reviewers and advertisers without them even reading the first page! Every time someone said, “Sorry, we don’t deal with that type of book.” I felt I was back in the days when they hanged “witches” or burned women at the stake because these women had knowledge to help people heal that was feared by those in authority. Each time I’m perceived as a threat to someone’s antiquated belief system, I’m shocked. But then again, I’ve known for many years that I’m a catalyst to individual and mass transformation and “change” isn’t always comfortable for those who need to do the changing. When people attempt to avoid change the most popular path of resistance is to shoot the messenger – or ban, burn and ignore the book, the message or the messenger.

Challenges are merely opportunities in disguise. Thus, I do not look at this “taboo” as a marketing problem, but rather an unexpected edge I have over other books that are playing it safe. I never play it safe; I always play it real and give everything I’ve got to help people find lasting happiness in love and life. If this means bringing sexual energy, porn, prostitution, intimacy and love to the table, then I’m going to dish it out in heaping portions. There is already an inherently strong opinion about my subject matter which can play in my favor. Strong opinions attract equally strong contrasting points of view which creates a virtual breeding ground for controversy, discussions and media attention. This book has the power to generate enough attention to help humanity as a whole start to lessen the gap between men and women and begin to truly love one another. Whether this happens or not is up to the readers.

There is nothing erotic about my book - not even the cover. The image on the cover is a charcoal drawing I did about 20 years ago in university when I was going through the Fine Arts Program. It was my first ever drawing class and I was so thrilled to get my drawing to look like the live model and not some weirdly contorted monster from Planet Distortion. So I definitely view this cover as fine art, not erotica. I’ve even got the degree to prove it. A woman’s body has beautiful shapes, contours, colors and textures that are as much a part of nature as are the flowers, oceans, sky and earth. That’s why I love drawing, painting and sculpting the female figure. Tell me the last time you saw a lioness hide her naked body in modesty or shame? Why should men and women feel demoralized by the image of a nude human body whether it’s on the cover of a book or standing on the beach in front of you?

So, if love, happiness, deep intimacy, caring, sharing, selflessness and self-understanding are considered erotica, then get out the X-Rated stamp because this book is loaded from cover to cover.

Carol Denbow: What have you found to be the most effective ways to market your book?

Nancy Murdoch: Marketing has been my greatest challenge. I want someone else to do it for me so I can get back to doing what I am most passionate about and what I do best – writing more books and creating art. But what author can afford that, right? I have 5 books in various stages of completion and 3 bodies of art work waiting impatiently for me to stop marketing and start manifesting again. Contrary to what unknown authors are taught by seasoned authors who have been around the publishing block a few times, I KNOW I’m not meant to do my own marketing. But my mystery marketer hasn’t shown up yet. So, I’m going to market by intuition; which basically means getting out of my own way in order to allow space for the “real” marketer (a complement to the gifts I’ve got to throw into the mix) to enter the scene.

I’m also setting intentions for how I want this to play out and shifting my beliefs to be in alignment with my intentions. In other words, I’m creating my own success story. Time will tell if my methods are working or not. Meanwhile, I am continuing to take heart-inspired actions, which could mean sending a few paperback copies to newspapers and magazines, renting a booth at a mind/body/spirit show or setting up a virtual book tour. It’s too early in the game to decide what’s effective and what isn’t.


Carol Denbow: I’m curious; do you have more book orders or inquiries from men or women?

Nancy Murdoch: Men. But I’m sensing that women may be the ones who initially read the book then gift it to their boyfriends, husbands, brothers and sons . . . and even to their girlfriends to pass on to their men. The general consensus is that men prefer to watch and listen rather than read a book. So, I created an audio MP3 version men can listen to on their compute to and from work.


Carol Denbow: Okay, you’re here, right now, with a book that’s difficult to market. Show us how this is done. Valentine’s Day is approaching; sell us on your book!

Nancy Murdoch: There are books you read....and then there are books that change your life. This book holds all the secrets to attracting a quality woman and maintaining a healthy, happy, growthful relationship that can span the test of time. Secrets that are relevant to every man's life regardless of age, size, relationship status or profession, while challenging a man to be the best he can be.

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and for many people it’s THE most depressing day of the year. But whether you are single, married, dating or somewhere in between, every day can be a day of joy and love that lasts an entire lifetime – with or without a partner in your life!

And, to make it super easy I’ve put together a power-packed Valentine’s Day Special that includes the PDF book, It’s Mostly About Sex…And the Pleasures of Pleasing a Woman, 140 minute Audio Book MP3, 2 - 30 minute Magical Love Meditations For Men MP3s and a Relationships Survival Guide PDF. I can’t guarantee you’ll find love by Valentine’s Day . . . but I guarantee that this package will be the best kick-start a man will ever need to become a better lover.

Carol Denbow: Alright authors, there’s your tip for the day! Nancy, where can we learn more about this juicy new book of yours? Website? Blog?

Nancy Murdoch: Additional information can be found at http://itsmostlyaboutsex.com. And, until February 14th I’ll be posting strategies to improve confidence and increase self-esteem on my blog http://nancy-lovesangel.blogspot.com so everyone can be revved up and ready for luv. For articles on self-awareness, life purpose, health and inspiration, please check out http://loves-angel.com.

Carol Denbow: Thank you Nancy for sharing the in’s and out’s of book promotion for sensitive issued books!

Are Pyramids Too Big for Publishing? The Day Steven Myers Fulfilled His Dream

We’ve all been there-the big day. We worked for months, sometimes years. And now it’s here-our book is done! Can we all reach this goal? Of course we can. But we need guidance, persistence, and most of all the courage to see it through and believe we can do it. Our own book in print-yes we can!

Steven Myers has now joined the rank of “published author.” How did he do it and how does he feel now? In this interview, I will talk to him about his first book, hot off the press, Lost Technologies of the Great Pyramid, How the Great Pyramid was Built.

Carol Denbow: Steven, so glad you’re here to share this amazing experience with us. First I would like to congratulate you on this massive accomplishment and say, I can’t wait to read your book!

You and I met more than a year ago in a small town in Oregon where I had a vendor booth set up at a summer festival. I was talking with, and selling my books to festival attendees; you were one of them. In fact, you bought a copy of my book, A Book Inside, How to Write, Publish, and Sell Your Story. Out of sheer curiosity (and I should have more confidence than to ask), did the book help guide you in any way?

Steven Myers: Absolutely! Your book was a goldmine of technical information to be sure. It helped in a big way as a reference to guide me through the labyrinth of creating a manuscript and turning it into a finished product. I referred often to your book as a guide virtually every step of the way.

Carol Denbow: Wow, thank you Steven! That’s great to hear.

Many writers work on their book projects for long periods of time and eventually give up on ever finishing. How did you stay focused on yours, how long did it take you to complete the book?

Steven Myers: Wow, that’s a good question! The best way I can answer is that I had a book inside of me; I felt compelled to get it out. The book became more than a project, it was a compulsion. I gave all that I could to the book project. I allocated huge blocks of time to researching the subject matter and worked everyday writing the manuscript. I had been researching the subject for over twenty years and it took about seven years to write the manuscript. All I know concerning why I was able to finish this work, is that it became a life-quest for me. I knew that if I kept working I would not fail; only if I quit would I be defeated. So I simply kept working until the manuscript was finished and the book was completed!

Carol Denbow: That’s inspirational to hear and I hope your story helps influence other writers to keep on going with their projects.

You live in a small town of about 4,500 population. This must have limited your access to resources. So where and how did you find the resources to complete and publish your book?

Steven Myers: You are right that a small town offers limitations. Yet we live in a time of many resources. Certainly I borrowed countless books from the local town library. That was a great resource. But the most fantastic wonder that transcends any small town’s limitations is the computer and the internet. These resources, unavailable to generations past, give us the tools and information to complete research, write a manuscript, and create a book.

Carol Denbow: Not everyone is an accomplished author who writes a book. What were your strengths and weaknesses as an author?

Steven Myers: As for weakness I have quite a few. I am actually not well suited to be an author. I am dyslexic and have a very difficult time spelling. That makes proofreading extremely frustrating. Also, I created the illustrations for my book, yet I am quite colorblind. Through perseverance, and help from family, friends, and associates, I was able to transcend these deficiencies to reach my goal of creating a book. I do have a few attributes a writer needs. I have a wholehearted commitment to the project and I am able to put together my thoughts into sentences. But my best attribute is that when I am faced with a research or writing obstacle, I am able to be tenacious in solving the problem. Transforming the manuscript into a PDF document created a number of hurtles for me. I was able to research and find out what I need to know to complete the tasks of creating my book.

Carol Denbow: You published your book through Creatspace.com, would you now recommend them as a publishing option for others, and why?

Steven Myers: Yes I would, because they seem to be easy to work with and a well organized company. The book is produced very professionally. Also Createspace is associated with amazon.com which should help in a number of ways.

Carol Denbow: Did you submit your manuscript to any traditional publishers? Did you receive the “Dear John” letter from any? If so, how did that make you feel?

Steven Myers: Yes I did. Actually, I negotiated with two different conventional publishers. One wanted me to water-down the manuscript making the book less controversial; that was unacceptable. The other publisher was very interested in the book but I wanted to keep the TV and movie rights. The publisher was adamant in wanting me to give up those rights. Only then would they publish the book. I came to realize that the publisher would not have done any promotion for the book. I came to the understating as well that in this new era of publication options, I can eliminate the middleman and be actively involved in the publishing myself. I will be proactive in book promotion and keep the TV and movie rights. In this day and age, conventional publishers did not offer a significant advantage to use their services.

Carol Denbow: You are a smart fellow. I noticed that long before your book was to be released, you started a non-profit foundation for the study of the Great Pyramid; what a wonderful idea, as this will work as a pre-marketing prompt and “should” help with book sales. Please tell us about the foundation.

Steven Myers: Yes I am the founder of a 501 (c) 3 Oregon based non-profit organization called the Pharaoh’s Pump Foundation. Our Website is at: www.thepump.org. The subject matter of my book is the result of the research conducted at our foundation. It is a natural tie-in to promote my book at the foundation’s Website just as the book promotes the foundation. It is a perfect synergistic relationship. I have donated a limited number of signed copies to the foundation. There the books are offered as a fundraising campaign. In this way I can have a “virtual book signing” and the foundation can raise some needed funding.

Carol Denbow: You have recently experienced the joys of being published. Simply put, how does this make you feel?

Steven Myers: I have written a number of articles on this same subject which has been published in various print magazines. But I cannot tell you the absolute thrill and sense of accomplishment of first holding a book in your hands that you created. To see someone reading your book will give any new author a rush of excitement that words cannot convey.

Carol Denbow: Many pre-published authors are not aware that the “real work” begins after their book is released. What additional plans do you have to market your book now that it’s out in the world?

Steven Myers: You’re correct. Believe it or not there is as much work in promotion as there is in writing a manuscript. It is important to realize that the skills to write a manuscript are quite different than the skills needed to promote a book. Many well written books are poorly promoted. I have experience in promoting the foundation I am involved in and will use those skills to promote the book. I have been on numerous radio shows as a guest promoting the research about the Great Pyramid. My goal is to be the guest on fifty radio shows to promote the book. Several of the local newspapers have done articles on me and the research I’ve done. Now they can do articles about me and the book. I also intend to write a number of articles in print magazines which will help promote the book. We are going to produce a YouTube documentary which will promote the book as well. We will use this documentary to “pitch a deal” to a TV network to create a TV quality documentary. Plus I will do some lectures and book readings and of course I have a Website at: StevenMyers.org.

Carol Denbow: I could go on forever Steven. This is “the” moment so many of my Blog viewers are awaiting; to be published and actually hold in hand a copy of their book. Unfortunately, we have to close this interview (running out of room on the home page!). What advice do you have for writers wanting to write a book and get published?

Steven Myers: To be an author is the most completive endeavor on earth. The reader can choose from reading the classics, Shakespeare, or virtually any book on earth. That is what every contemporary author is facing as competition. Yet the world always craves new books to read. The world needs authors to meet this challenge. Writing my book was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Yet at the same time, it was one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. I recommend to anyone who has a book inside of them to do the work to reach the daunting goal of making that book a reality. The rewards will make the effort worth it!

Carol Denbow: Okay, Lost Technologies of the Great Pyramid, How the Great Pyramid was Built; Steven Myers first release. Give us some links to order this book or learn more about it.

Steven Myers: For more information about my book you can go directly to the publisher at: createspace.com/3412494. For the Amazon.com link go Amazon.com/Pyramid. You can also go to the Pharaoh’s Pump Foundations http://www.thepump.org/Joomla/index.php or my web page at: StevenMyers.org to find out more about the book and our research.

Carol Denbow: Steven, thank you so much for sharing this wonderful time with us, and again, congratulation on what looks to be an intriguing piece of literature.

Steven Myers: Thank you for your book, A Book Inside, How to Write, Publish, and Sell Your Story. Your book helped my book become a reality. We have met in person and you are a very intelligent author who is outstanding in actively promoting your work. That is a powerful combination! I know that you will be a constant resource in the months ahead as I do what I can to promote my book. Thanks again for the opportunity this interview provides.

Speaking Tours with Author Doug Benton

Speaking tours are a great way to promote our books; garnering the interest of our potential audience without screaming, “buy my book!” This type of exposure can be a good platform for our future releases as well.

Author Doug Benton, as well as being a special friend, is the author of several works of poetry and what I would call, “directive storytelling” works of fiction. He is by far one of the most talented writers I have ever met.

I recently had the opportunity to briefly interview him regarding his upcoming speaking tour. I've posted the interview below.

Carol Denbow: Doug, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk a little with us about your upcoming speaking tour. You are the author of a couple books, one I am very familiar with, and the other is a new release. Can you start by telling us a little about each one?

Doug Benton: Well, let me start by thanking you for the opportunity to discuss my work. As you know, The Road To Veritas was published back in 2005. In fact, you were most helpful with that one. It is a collection of narrative poetry dealing with life, liberty and spiritual truth.

In November of 2009, my most recent book, The Hummingbird Goose was released. It is a book for children of all ages that addresses the age old myth of the hitchhiking hummingbird through a fable of faith in friends and family.

Carol Denbow: I understand you are attempting to organize a speaking tour. Are you focusing on one particular book or will you try to touch on each one?

Doug Benton: I will be primarily selling The Hummingbird Goose while developing interest in my next book.

Carol Denbow: How did you decide who exactly your audience would be for your books?

Doug Benton: Well, as it turns out, the market potential is still evolving. The preliminary feedback is far ranging. Frankly, I was pleasantly surprised at how many parents and grandparents have seen fit to buy The Hummingbird Goose to be read aloud to kids.

Carol Denbow: How did you go about finding suitable locations to speak?

Doug Benton: As you know, I have a background in Christian broadcasting and ministry. Many of my friends and colleagues are pastors and workers in the recovery field. Referrals for guest speaking are a natural outcome of such association.

In addition to promoting The Goose, this tour is a preview of my upcoming non-fiction work A Most Excellent Way which chronicles the eight years of “hands-on-experience” my wife and I had sheltering those recovering from drug and/or alcohol abuse.

Carol Denbow: How many tour stops would you consider “enough” to see results?

Doug Benton: “Enough” is an elusive term. I expect that referrals will result in developing many venues for the tour.

Carol Denbow: How do you find is the best way to “break the ice” with an unfamiliar audience?

Doug Benton: Humor is a great “ice breaker,” Carol and you know how funny-looking I am.

Carol Denbow: LOL! How will you go about selling your books to your listeners?

Doug Benton: The topics of the tour will deal largely with the methods we discovered for restoring “self-respect” and its companion “self-discipline” to those abused by life. The preliminary speaking engagements in the Portland area have resulted in both book sales and in gathering contact information for my e-mail feature Living Bread Crumbs. I am building a data base for continuing contact with my readers.

Carol Denbow: Do you have any additional words of wisdom for our readers?

Doug Benton: Science has determined that the “Human Spark”, the quality that sets homo sapiens apart from other creatures, seems to arise from the development of language. Insight and imagination are shared through the documentation of language….writing. Authorship provides the “footprints” that mark the human path. What a privilege it is to leave tracks!

Carol Denbow: If our Blog visitors would like to learn more about your work, do you have a Website we can send them to?

Doug Benton: www.hummningbirdgoose.com or www.booksaboutabba.com

Carol Denbow: Now let’s ask the important questions. Have you any “concrete” scheduled tour stops you can share with our readers in the event they would like to come and listen? If not, where will they be able to see your tour schedule once it’s all organized?

Doug Benton: I have a radio interview with Light House Radio Group (K-Light) later this month and I will begin to develop the tour schedule after that. I will be publishing the incremental schedule by e-mail. If any of your readers would like to be included in future mailings you may contact me at dgbntn@hotmail.com.

Carol Denbow: Well I thank you Doug for sharing this information with us. F.Y.I., K-Light Radio is in Oregon). Hopefully by reading this, our Blog visitors will be able to get some ideas for their own speaking tours.

Read some of my favorite poems by Doug at http://www.booksaboutabba.com/poems.php, then come back here and leave your comments. If you are interested in knowing more about Doug Benton, please e-mail him or click on his Website.

Writing Your Autobiography or Life Experience - A Word From the Wise

Since so many people desire to write an autobiography about their life experiences, I’ve invited Lori Foroozandeh, author of Lori’s Song to talk about her book and her reasons for writing her story.

Carol Denbow: Greetings Lori! Thank you for being a guest on A Book Inside Blog.

Your book is a recall of your experiences as an American woman being held captive in Iran. I read your book; a very interesting story. Can you please start by telling up a bit about your book?

Lori Foroozandeh: Well thank you Carol for allowing me this opportunity to share with your readers what I think might help or identify with a lot of your audience and most people in general.

First, my book in a short synopsis, deals with my marriage to an Iranian man, with whom I was totally in the dark about his dealings until I arrived in Iran. I thought he was just a very kind guy with a drug habit, one of which I had too, so I forgave and tried to forget. Once in Iran I found out that my loving husband was far from the person I thought him to be. He turned out to be a state sponsored terrorist who was head of the disinherited fund in which they executed Iranian war vets so the govt. wouldn’t have to deal with these people.

It also encompasses some tragedies I endured while living there close to four years. It explains some of the cultural differences and touches a lot on the Muslim religion and how it’s interpreted vs. how it is supposed to be practiced.
The book also deals with my childhood sexual abuse, living with bi-polar, being a victim of domestic violence more than once due to my several marriages. It also deals with my lifelong struggle with drug addiction. I hope this sums it up some for your readers. The book is graphic in it’s depiction of the violent acts that the prisoners and myself endured while in the camp for six weeks.

Carol Denbow: I noticed you focused the first several chapters on your upbringing in the U.S. Can you tell us why you chose to do this and what is the value in doing so?

Lori Foroozandeh: I wanted my audience to get to know the “REAL LORI” not just some victim of circumstance. I’m not saying that anyone regardless of the mistakes they’ve made in their life is due the horrendous acts committed towards myself and others but at the same time I wanted them to understand what got me to that point in the first place. My literary agent, Tina Foster, presented this book to some larger publishers and they had wanted to edit so much out of the book that I could not sit still for it. E.g. they had just wanted me to focus on being a victim in a POW camp in Iran, without the readers getting to know neither my past nor how I arrived at it. I think our whole life experiences are what bring us to any conclusion that we arrive at in our life. There is never just one incident that makes us arrive at a place or a state of mind.


Carol Denbow: Is it important to follow a calendar of events in one’s life story, or should a writer jump in and out of the future to make the story more intriguing (sometimes done in film). If so, do you think this sets the stage, or confuses and frustrates the reader? And how did you go about setting the stage for your readers?

Lori Foroozandeh: I believe the order of events depend on the situation that the writer is trying to focus on or draw light on. I know I did this somewhat in the book but for me it was my calendar of events.

My thoughts that drifted back to memories or incidents in my past that helped me explain or help the reader understand how I arrived to the point of where I am in life. Some people can follow this flow and others can not, I apologize to those that would like to read the book and can’t follow the way I wrote it. I’m also a first time author so please don’t judge me too much.

Carol Denbow: I’ve heard authors of autobiographies say they refused to professionally edit their books because their wording and tone of voice are sometimes dramatically changed. After all, an autobiography is one’s very “personal” story and I do understand the importance of speaking in one’s own voice. I’m also a stickler on proper editing (for easier reading). How did you go about having your book edited and still maintain your own voice in the book?

Lori Foroozandeh: Well in a way I didn’t and did. When I first wrote the book I just sat down and penned it day after day without going back, then when I was told by enough people that I should publish the book I hired a literary agent. Actually she found me. Then after her editing and telling me that if we are going to publish it we will have to edit a lot out of it, I refused, paid her in full and finished the book the way I wanted to. It’s important to maintain “who you are” in life and on paper, especially if your going to be true to yourself and not regret something like writing a book that will follow you for life. I also think that the readers like people in life don’t always speak proper grammar and when they read a book that is full of proper grammar then it just becomes a reading assignment and not a true documentation of life events. People don’t follow rules of proper etiquette in life nor do they speak like an English book. This is just my opinion though.

Carol Denbow: Would you suggest a writer with many interesting life experiences write separate books about each one, or write a sequence of beginning to end, combining all adventures into just one book?

Lori Foroozandeh: I think that choice should be left up to what the individual thinks is best. Not everyone has an innate instinct in life to write. I know I do not think I do, but if you want to share your life, I think doing it in just one book is best and the most efficient. After all what has brought you this far in life and has encompassed you in a series of experiences hasn’t evolved in volumes, everything that you’ve done and experienced in life arrived you at this point. But as I said it’s up to the individual. Obviously, Harry Potter wouldn’t agree with me.

I do believe that the sum is part of the whole and while I believe in God, and not religion (I think man has become too involved and has made it too greedy and judgmental I do believe that God will allow us into heaven even if we aren’t Catholic, or Baptist or Muslim). All religions had good starting blocks but as I said in my opinion man has ruined the true meaning of these and put a PRICE TAG ON IT!

Carol Denbow: Many authors choosing to write an autobiography or life experience (often times traumatic) do so as mental therapy to “heal the wounds” of their life. As you make clear in the book, you are no different. Has writing this book helped you find relief and peace in your life?

Lori Foroozandeh: I started out writing this book since so many people told me it would be a good “catharsis.” So I sat down one day in 2002 and just started writing. I never went back and re-read the book nor did any type of editing. I just wanted to recall the events and get them down on paper. I just sat there each day recalling my life from day to day, when I first wrote the book I didn’t want to do any mudslinging towards my family; so that I kind of glossed over and ignored. But once the book was done I was told you have to get it “ALL OUT OF YOU” so I went ahead and put in the foreword. That is why the rest of the book doesn’t really fit in with some of the chapters, but if you understand the workings of childhood sexual abuse. You will understand my need to not want to delve into the horrors of what I went through then; I just wanted people to think “good” of my family. So I wrote distancing myself of sharing too many stories about them. I didn’t want to mudsling about my adopted brother molesting me starting at the age of 10. Nor did I want to delve into the actions of my adopted sister who had slept with two of my husbands. In a way when you’re hurt in childhood you’re embarrassed to share these things with people so you do quite the opposite (or at least I did) I made everything out to be OK in the family. Nothing wonderful, nothing insane, just normal. I think it’s because that is all you hope for in life is some type of normalcy so any chance you get to just be normal you try hard to do so. I don’t know if that makes any sense at all to your readers, but it’s my take on why I do/did the things I did.

Carol Denbow: Lori, you are a wonderful and informative guest and I thank you for sharing your story with us. Much of your books proceeds go towards helping worthy causes and I know this is important to you. Can you please close by telling us a little about the organizations you support and where a viewer might find you book for purchase?

Lori Foroozandeh: First I’m donating proceeds to Amnesty International (to help out women and men maintain some humane rights in other countries that they either visit or live in.) and to definitely help the women in Iran who want to get out of the conditions that they are forced to live in.
HSUS- My two cats have been my best listeners. Pets truly do help your health, and they are way smarter than we give them credit for and they definitely don’t deserve the cruel acts against them that you hear about daily.

Henry Ford Hospital and Brighton Addiction Hospital, two of the best Hospitals in the world that have helped me finally deal with my trauma and to kick my drug habit that I’ve had ever since age
15!!

You can find my book at Barnes and Noble, Borders, Amazon, and just about anywhere online. I encourage you to ask your local bookstores to carry this, so that I can at least pay back the money I had to use to publish it (self published) then I can truly make a differences with my charities. Please visit my Website at http://www.loris-song.com/

Thank you so much Carol in allowing me to answer your questions freely and share my story. You are a wonderful lady.

Finding Your Books Audience With Audrey Heagney

I realize we have posted several interviews of late, but I truly believe this information will benefit our readers, and that’s what’s most important to this Blog editor.

I’d like to introduce you all to my “second cousin” of sort. Author Audrey Heagney is actually my mother’s first cousin. Audrey writes a regular column for the Portland Baptist Examiner. She has also written three non-fiction books and has one more on the way.

Carol Denbow: Welcome Audrey. I’m so glad you are here to share your writing and publishing experiences with us. What I’d really like to share with our readers is how you go about finding the audience for your books. I have watched you aggressively seek out your potential readers over the past few years and I am truly impressed with your desire to search in non-traditional areas. Your first book, The Five G’s Plus Two is a family history book based on raising a family on Christian values. So to start, would you consider the genre of this book to be autobiography, Christianity, or both?

Audrey Heagney: Hi Carol, thank you so much for having me. It is a pleasure and an opportunity to be interviewed by you.

Finding an audience for my book has been an interesting venture. Aside from family and friends, young parents are interested in the avenues we took in raising our family and the values we instilled in our children. Since the genre of this book touches on family and Christianity the audience seems more receptive.

Carol Denbow: When you first published this book, I recall your frustration with the “lack of sales” (I hear this complaint regularly). I also remember advising you to look “outside the box” for interested book buyers. So where did you attempt to find your audience to buy this book?

Audrey Heagney: People who knew our family, neighbors who have children and even some grandparents found the book as a value to share with their families. Church groups, a booth at a local festival and woman’s clubs plus book stores and libraries all offer an audience and sales for family adventures in print.

Carol Denbow: I see you have not relied solely on traditional book sellers. This is what I would like to see more authors do with their own books; look for their audience at in other places.

You recently released a new book, Something Old ‘n” Something New. Can you tell us a little about this book?

Audrey Heagney: In this book I talk about the conditions of our society that I recalled as a youngster and the opinions formed as I walked through my years. In doing so, I compare those years to where society has brought us today. I also relate my growth in the Christian way of life and the benefits I feel I have derived from that knowledge.

Carol Denbow: I know you had realized early on that book’s don’t sell themselves. So how did you go about establishing a reputation which would increase your Christian audience as well as gain more exposure for yourself as a Christian author?

Audrey Heagney: Several years ago I was asked to start a bereavement class in my church. I soon realized I could be more effective writing a monthly column on the subject—so I did. With this experience under my belt, I auditioned to write a column in the Portland Baptist Examiner and was immediately asked to join that staff. I do enjoy this assignment and find it broadens my writing base as well as offering more exposure for my work.

Carol Denbow: Audrey, we all learn over time that a positive reputation and good public exposure can help us sell books. It seems you have learned that lesson well! We would love to hear what’s next for Audrey Heagney.

Audrey Heagney: I’m so glad you asked as my next book is offering a lighter venue. Life does present laughter and joy and very often it is healthy to be able to laugh at ones’ self. The title of the book is ‘Ah, Fifty Years… of Marriage, That Is’ and speaks of the peaks and valleys found from being inexperienced in the institution of marriage and parenting.

Carol Denbow: For a viewer who might be interested in your books, or might like to visit your Website, Jesus In Our Daily Lives, what is that link to click on?

Audrey Heagney: http://www.freewebs.com/audreyheagney is my web site; Jesus In Our Daily Lives. Clicking onto the link, ‘books’ will bring you to the publications. Both books can also be found on Amazon and they can be ordered from Barnes & Nobel or Boarders.

Carol Denbow: I would like to suggest when stopping by Audrey’s Website, visitors click on to her Blog as well.

Thank you Audrey for being a guest on A Book Inside. If anyone would like to leave a comment, please do so below.

Audrey Heagney: Thank you, Carol. It is always a pleasure to visit with you and a real plus to be related to you!

Thanks for visiting A Book Inside Blog!

How Paperback Books Are Made

Have you ever wondered how a perfect paperback book is made? Did you know you could make it at home? First, let me share with you this chart of book components so you can learn what all the parts of a book are called. To enlarge this image just click on it.



Watch this video on making your own perfect paperback books.



Enjoy and learn!