Thanks to Maryglenn for sharing this interview with Lin Pardey, author of Bull Canyon: A Boatbuilder, a Writer and other Wildlife.

How long did it take you to write Bull Canyon
I wrote the bare bones of the first five chapters almost 20 years ago. They languished in a file folder for twelve years. A chance encounter with Maria Eugenia Bestani, a professor of English Literature from the University of Tucuman, Argentina made me reconsider those chapters. Even with her encouragement and the enthusiasm of Kathryn Mulders, a Canadian literary agent, 8 years passed before I was fully satisfied with the manuscript. That’s 20 years from inception to completion—not a record but definitely a long gestation.
 
 
Which part of the writing process did you find easiest?
The story telling. Getting the individual incidents down on paper, especially those about my neighbors, the floods and all aspects of building the sheds and boat.
 
 
Which part of the writing process did you find most difficult?
Eliminating over half of the stories and incidents I put down on paper. I had such a treasure trove to choose from. I knew I had to be selective so each incident paid off and helped the plot progress toward a logical conclusion.
 
 
How was the process of writing Bull Canyon different than the process of writing your previous books?
The vast majority of the chapters in each of my previous ten books had started life as magazine articles, rather like a series of sailing stories. Since editors bought and paid for the stories, I had almost immediate feedback and validation of my efforts. Later, the individual articles were combined into a book with the addition of a few connecting paragraphs. Bull Canyon is, in effect, the first book length story I have written.

I also had an intimate knowledge of the people who would be reading my previous books, as those books were aimed toward other sailors, armchair or actual. At first I tried writing Bull Canyon for my regular readers. But Maria Eugenia convinced me the story would resonate with a much broader audience. This created a new challenge—being sure I didn’t bore non-sailing readers, and at the same time describing how my sailing life influenced so much of what happened during the years in the canyon.
 
 
How long after you left Bull Canyon did you begin working on the manuscript?
I always keep a journal, jotting short notes each day. Interestingly, I chronicled the majority of the story about the great car crash within days of it happening. It was such a bizarre event that I didn’t want to forget any of the details. I didn’t actually sit down to write the book until eight years after we left the canyon.
 
 
Did writing the manuscript make you homesick for Bull Canyon? If so, how?
No, not homesick, but it definitely brought back a flood of memories. In fact, one of the most enjoyable parts of writing this story was reliving those years with Larry. We spent hours reminiscing, laughing over the crazy incidents, metaphorically patting ourselves on the back as we reflected on the successes we had in spite of some quite daunting roadblocks.
 
 
What was your favorite part of living in Bull Canyon?
The parties! Big ones, small ones. The old stone cottage had a magical quality about it. The quiet of the canyon and the beauty of the hills around us helped our visitors slow down and relax. Almost all our friends who drove out stayed for a night or two. Then the warmth of the oil lamp light, the intimacy of the roaring fire seemed to evoke wonderfully wide-ranging conversations and music. Even better, since we had lots of room around us, it didn’t matter how many people showed up for two or three times a year pot luck occasions. It is amazing how many friends trace the origins of their relationships back to those country weekends at the old stone cottage in Bull Canyon.
 
 
Least favorite?
Mud and dust. I don’t think either of us was prepared for this aspect of country life. Remember, we had just spent eleven years on a small sailboat anchored out in quiet lagoons, sailing across oceans. One of my favorite aspects of life afloat is, though it may sometimes be wet or windy, it is almost always clean and dust-free. Of course being allergic to the desert plants and insects was a close second.
 
 
What was the hardest part about leaving Bull Canyon?
Saying good-bye to Cindy. I still miss that lovely dog and the long walks she lead me on. Right from the start leaving had been part of the plan. For a few years, while we were caught up in the California dream, we did contemplated making the old stone cottage part of our long term life. But my allergic reaction and the break down of Barbara and Jimmie’s marriage changed that. So in the end the cottage had to be sold.
 
 
How did your time in Bull Canyon change you?
I gained tremendous confidence in my ability to earn my living as a writer. I also felt less intimidated by the challenges I’d later face as we set off to sail around the Great Southern Capes because I realized almost anything would be easier than trying to control the forces of nature, and the inter-neighbor politics we’d seen in Bull Canyon.
 
 
How did your time in Bull Canyon shape and influence your work as a writer?
I never had formal training as a writer; numbers, math and engineering were what I was attracted to as a youngster. Until we moved to Bull Canyon, the few things I’d learned about my craft came about from reviewing stories after editors had massaged them (or hacked them up to gain space for advertising) into magazine articles, and by dissecting why particular articles were purchased quickly, why others were rejected. Once telephones arrived in Bull Canyon, I found myself working directly with Patience Wales, an editor at Sail magazine who had a successful background in short fiction. She gave me dozens of hours of one-on-one editorial training and plot-shaping advice. From her I learned the difference between a vignette and a story and, hopefully, used this lesson well.
 
 
If you had to pick the “best” lesson Bull Canyon taught you, what would it be?
I have always prided myself in being a highly organized person. But living in the canyon taught me to be far more flexible about changes to what Larry called my “tidy little plans.” I also learned going right to the top is often the only way to muddle through a bureaucratic situation.
 
 
It is fascinating to watch the progress of Taleisin through the pictures in Bull Canyon. What was it like to see Taleisin taking shape before your eyes? Was it bittersweet in any way in that it represented a time when you would leave Bull Canyon?
The only thing I like better than watching things being built is being part of that process. Watching Taleisin take shape was utterly fulfilling. Each new piece of timber that was fitted then varnished felt like a reason to celebrate. At first, I didn’t want the construction to go too quickly as I was enjoying the adventure of being on shore, savoring canyon life. I came to love our daily routines, my writing time (and wonderful office,) contact with my family. But as the frames slowly began to look more like a boat that would carry us onto new adventures, I began feeling ever more restless. Looking back, I feel blessed that the project and our time in Bull Canyon lasted just long enough.
 
 
Did the two of you ever drive each other crazy?
Although we worked together on the whole project, we both had our own jobs to do. When we weren’t working separately we were scheming and planning and wishing there was more time to spend with each other. Then I tended to be away on my own for twice a month shopping expeditions. Twice during the four years, I was off for 3 week long special events. Thus when readers envision us being constantly together 24/7 they are getting the wrong picture. On the other hand, we and others like us who share careers find it hard to imagine what it is like sharing their partner with jobs that fill the best hours of the day. Soon after we began building our first boat, 18 years before our Bull Canyon project, Larry asked me to quit my day job and work with him. His reason, “You wake up rushed and in a hurry to go off for 10 hours to work for someone else. Then you come home tired and often grumpy to spend the evening with me. Some employer gets all the best hours of you for money and I get the little that is left over for love.” In Bull Canyon we definitely shared the best hours. But as you’ll learn in this book, tensions do occasionally rise so we have come up with rules for handling them.
 
 
What do you hope readers take away from Bull Canyon?
The most important aspect of our Bull Canyon life was the growth it created in my marriage. By working as a true team Larry and I built something far more successful than either of us could have conceived of doing by ourselves. If this book inspires even one reader to work in true partnership with their spouse, then it will not only have been an enjoyable project but an emotionally rewarding accomplishment.
 
 
Did you ever envision writing a memoir? What finally convinced you to take the plunge, so to speak?
I never considered writing a memoir. I have written many tales about my sailing adventures but in those I rarely discussed the emotional aspects of my life. This book did not start out to be a memoir. But as it came together, it took on a life of its own. At first it was my mother sneaking her way into the manuscript. I had to examine my relationship with her. Then it was having to explain how I related to my canyon neighbors. Only when I accepted that this was a memoir did I figure out how to draw the story together.
 
 
What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?
Just when I decided to write my first magazine article in Cartegena, Columbia, Larry and I were invited to dinner by the owner of a local restaurant. He introduced to his wife, Penny Lernoux, a professional journalist and at the time, head of the South American International Press Bureau (see Penny Lernoux-Wikipedia for more). She generously invited me to spend the next morning at her home. When I arrived she handed me a note book and said “write about something that happened at dinner last night.” She left the room without giving me any further instructions nor time for questions. So I sat and pondered then wrote. Two hours later she came back in, stood at the door about 15 feet away from me and said, “Show me what you’ve written.” I held up the notebook and fanned out the pages. She tossed me red pencil and said, “Get rid of half of it.” Then Penny turned and walked away. An hour later she came back and quickly thumbed through my heavily red penciled pages without reading them. “I’ve taught you all you need to know; one—there is a story in everything you see or do, and two—half of what you wrote doesn’t have to be there.” After she made up a tray of coffee and sandwiches Penny did sit down and skim through my words and add, “Learn those lessons and you’ve got a good chance since you obviously know how to string words together.”
 
 
What is the worst piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?
Soon after I started writing sailing stories almost 35 years ago, a magazine editor took me to meet a quite famous London literary agent. “Haven’t been attacked by any sharks? Haven’t been eaten by a whale? Forget it, no one will read a book that doesn’t have a really dramatic story.” It was about three years later that our first sailing book was published. It told about life on a small boat and the interesting encounters we had with people along our sailing route. There are no big dramas, only a few days of stormy weather and lots of fine sailing tales. Cruising in Seraffyn has now sold over 50,000 copies and is still in print and available as an eBook, and people still write to tell me they how much they enjoyed the story.
 
 
What’s next for Lin Pardey book-wise? Do you have other books in the works?
I have already begun work on a book about the adventures we had on the boat we built in Bull Canyon. I also have notes for a second book I want to call The Compelling Power of Adventure.

Thanks Lin for sharing that with us! – Ed.

Bull Canyon (Hardcover, ISBN: 978-1-929214-67-9, $24.95, 6 x 9, 304 pages; eBook, ISBN: 978-1-929214-66-2, $16.95, Category: Autobiography/Memoir; Midpoint Trade Books, distributor) is now available via all good bookstores.

Lin Pardey is the author of eleven books. She and her husband Larry have sailed more than 200,000 miles and received some of sailing’s most prestigious awards. The Pardeys have also created several instructional videos on offshore voyaging. They make New Zealand their home base, but spend part of each year cruising on board their engine-free 29-foot sailboat Taleisin. Visit Lin Pardey online at: www.linpardey.com.
 
 

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With the recent surge in popularity of freelancing websites like oDesk, vWorker, Elance and Freelancer.com, the potential to earn a full-time living from such sites has now become a reality but, with that, comes some stiff competition. Finding freelance work is not as simple as just joining up and throwing a few words here and there on your profile, you need to be pro-active and make an effort to impress potential buyers with your skills and experience. You can do this by spending time filling out your profile and by writing professional and courteous cover letters.

Portfolio

Most freelance websites offer members the opportunity to upload items to a portfolio which showcases their experience. This is important in all categories of employment but, particularly when it comes to design work and writing. Writers can upload PDF files of their articles and designers can upload jpegs or PDFs. If you’re worried about somebody stealing your designs, put a watermark symbol in the background. An empty portfolio sends the message that you’re not really interested in finding work. Why should a buyer blindly trust that you are skilled enough to do your job?

Resume

The resume section of your online profile gives you the chance to put in all details pertaining to work experience and education. This is your chance to shine and tell buyers about any courses you’ve done, certifications you’ve achieved and jobs you’ve had in the past (and what you’ve learned in those jobs).

Overview

If there’s an overview section in the profile settings, this is your chance to introduce yourself and inform buyers in a succinct manner what you can do for them.

Cover Letters

One of the most important components of an online job application is the cover letter. This is what sells your skills to the buyer. You must ensure that punctuation and grammar are correct and that the letter is professional but, at the same time, friendly. Try to resist the urge to cut and paste from one cover letter to another. It’s okay to re-use some sections but try to customize the bulk of the letter to suit the individual job you’re applying to.

Skills Tests

Some freelancing sites like vWorker and oDesk give members the opportunity to take skills tests. If you score well in these tests it gives buyers a good idea of your capabilities and it offers them peace of mind before handing over their hard-earned cash to you.

Keep learning

Just because you’re already a professional doesn’t mean you can stop learning. The internet offers a multitude of wonderful resources to help you learn new skills. Take advantage of these resources and, whenever you have a quiet hour or two, learn something new. Even the skills you are already adept at can be honed further by keeping up to date with the latest technologies and standards.

Increase the odds of getting jobs

Unfortunately, not everyone who advertises job/project openings ends up hiring someone. Some people post jobs and then disappear and never even bother to read the applications. Others post on a multitude of sites and end up choosing contractors on one of the sites you don’t belong to. It takes a lot of work writing cover letters and keeping your profile up to date but it’s worth sending a lot of applications every week to maximize your chances of success.

Article by Darren. Darren writes on the topic on doing people search for free, finding people and reconnecting with them online.
 
 

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6. Ebook Writers – How Google Can Help You Sell More Ebooks

Within the last few years, everyone has practically jumped on the bandwagon and either started a blog or a website. However, many of realize much too late that they are doing everything wrong when it comes to internet marketing. But hopefully, you will not make the same mistakes if you acknowledge these shortcomings:

1. You Don’t Have a Self Hosted Blog. Even though Google is very closely associated with Blogger, no one is going to treat you as a professional if you do not purchase a domain name for your website and host it yourself. In this particular case, a Blogger blog is not going to cut it.
2. Your Website does not look Professional. If you want to be taken seriously on the internet, you have to have a website that looks like it was professionally designed. If you don’t, the competition is going to eat you alive. This is because no is going to continue to visit a website that seems amateurish. Your traffic efforts might get them to your site, but once they see how unprofessional it is, they will not stick around.
3. You Want to Do Everything On Your Own. This is the reason that you failed in reason number two. You either refused or waited too late to get professional help. There are just certain things that you should leave to a professional. When it comes to internet marketing, the list is long. You will not have enough time to do everything on your own. Get help.
4. You Don’t Scope Out the Competition. Just like with brick and mortar businesses, you have to know what your competition is doing at all times. Also, remember that you have competitors from all over the world, which means that you have a large amount of competition. You can’t keep your head in the sand and not find out what things they are or are not doing.
5. You Don’t Use Tracking Tools. Chances are if you are lacking with reason number 4, then you never used tracking tools in the first place. Not only should these tools be used to spy on your competition, but they should also be used to monitor the health of your own website.
6. You Create Your Website and Sit Back and Wait. Many gurus will tell stories of creating a website and then waiting for the money to just start rolling in. This is not the case. Once the website goes up, you have to start promoting and backlinking in order for your website to be successful.
7. You Have a Confusing Call to Action. You cannot be shy when it comes to your call to action. You created that website for a reason. You want your customers to do something in particular. If you do not clearly tell them what you want them to do, then they will not do it. Lead the horse to the water and make it gulp up that water. Also make sure that your call to action is in a place that will be seen, which is above the fold.
8. You are too Cheap to Use the Right Vendors. Stop trying to skimp on everything in sight. This is your business. When you hire professionals, remember that you get what you pay for. Spend the money and make your website grand.
9. Your Checkout Process is Unclear. If your customers have to think too hard about what to do in order to purchase your products, you will lose plenty of sales. Make it easy for your customers. Don’t make them go all around the world just to purchase an eBook.
10. You Throw in the Towel Before You Really Get Started. Understand that internet marketing is not something that brings success as quickly as you want it to. You will have to work at it for a while, but success will eventually come.

Brian Waraksa is founder of Raxa Design, a Houston SEO firm. Brian has been in advertising and marketing small company branding since 2002. Feel free to follow Raxa Design on Twitter. Raxa Design, 2100 West Loop S # 900, Houston, TX (832) 429-7292
 

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6. Marketing Questions to Improve Your Writing

Thanks Ward for joining us at The Cuckleburr Times for this exclusive interview! I’m delighted to share this with our readers. On with the questions.
 
 
Q: Tell us about yourself and when you started writing.

I was a lawyer, in private and corporate practice, for almost thirty years and was ready for something else. I took an aptitude test. I scored highest in vocabulary and ideaphoria, the rate at which ideas flow. Encouraged by this, I took a novel writing course at Rice.
 
 
Q: What inspired you to write a novel?

In part the results of the aptitude test, but I had actually started writing a novel before then. In very rough form, of course, and somewhat autobiographical, which is a tendency of new writers.
 
 
Q: How did you use your life experience and your background to enrich your story?

That first novel, fifteen years ago, was about a down on his luck oilman who needs money to get a well drilled and can’t raise it. He gets mixed up in a money-laundering scheme after being approached by the front man for a Mexican drug cartel. At the time I was working for an oil company and had lived in New Orleans, where my fictional oilman was. Years later in this much more recent novel, After Isaactown, the main character is a corporate lawyer whose working life I was, in a general sense, familiar with.
 
 
Q: Are any characters based upon people you know?

No, they are people I see in my imagination. Hazily at first, both in appearance and personality, but after more drafts I learn how they look, how they feel, and think.
 
 
Q: Are your novels more plot driven or character driven?

The best fiction, in my opinion, is character driven, when the reader feels that he, or more often she, is watching not just a movie with all its twists and turns, but a life of someone they care deeply about and has that kind of emotional attachment to the end of the story, where it will, if done right, leave a lasting memory.
 
 
Q: Who is your favorite character and why?

I have many favorites who take over a story, as mentioned above, among them Roger Angstrom, Atticus Finch, Humbert Humbert, James Stevens, Frank Bascomb.
 
 
Q: What part of After Isaactown did you find most challenging?

Creating as a main character a mother of a ten-year-old daughter.
 
 
Q: What do you hope readers will take away from your book?

First and foremost, a sense of enjoyment, of escaping. Secondarily, the memory of something revealed or described or said during the novel.
 
 
Q: What writers have inspired you?

William Trevor, Alice Munro, John Updike, Philip Roth, Walker Percy, Richard Ford.
 
 
Q: What is the writing process like for you?

I write in the morning, usually two and half hours, another hour in the afternoon.
 
 
Q:What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

That success as a writer is a combination of three things: work, talent, and luck, and knowing I can control two of the three.
 
 
Q: What’s the worst piece of advice you’ve ever heard?

Write what you know. Far too limiting in this age of the Internet when research is so easy and fast compared to those trips to the library.
 
 
Q: What next, any books in the pipeline for you?

Yes. I’m nearing the end of a draft, the third.

K: Thank you Ward. That concludes our interview and we wish you every success with After Isaactown. Readers can enjoy an excerpt here at The Cuckleburr Times.
 
 
About the Author
An attorney for nearly 30 years, both corporate and in private practice, Ward R. Jones, author of After Isaactown knew the pressures, the challenges, and the life of the lawyer whose story he tells. It is this experience he draws upon to write a novel of business and law, a contemporary narrative that leads inexorably to the foibles of the human heart. To learn more about the author and the book, please visit Ward’s website at http://www.wardrjones.com/. After Isaactown is also available at Amazon.com.

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Human beings are a mass of seething emotions, much of which we keep deep inside. It’s just the tip of the iceberg that’s visible on the outside, the 10 percent we allow the world to see and which portrays a façade of normalcy and efficacy as we go about our daily jobs. However, our deeper feelings spill over into our everyday tasks, and we become more efficient or dull depending on where the needle lies on our emotional wellbeing meter. Some people are better than others at not letting their emotions spill over into their professions, but for creative minds, isn’t angst a muse that brings out their best work?
 
Writers are a breed unto themselves – there are different genres and different styles of writing, but at the core of them all is the fact that writing comes from deep within. So it’s only natural that your emotional state of mind spills over into your words and paints a secondary picture, one that is hidden inside the primary story you’ve written. It is this subtly hidden undercurrent that makes your writing more powerful, more compelling, and more captivating to the reader. Simply put, when you write from the bottom of your heart, it makes for fantastic reading.
 
But does this mean that you have to always be in a state of emotional turmoil for you to produce your best work? No, not necessarily – any intense emotion is a good catalyst that helps you better express in words what your mind conceives. Also, joy and happiness and satisfaction and all the other positive emotions help you get routine work done more efficiently – after all, every writer does have mundane tasks to attend to too as part of their regular routine.
 
However, in order to become a complete and well-rounded writer, you must have gone through the whole gamut of emotions, from pain and unbearable longing to happiness and unsurpassed joy – when you’ve actually felt them, your words make much more sense and carry much more conviction. So yes, emotional wellbeing does contribute to your success as a writer, but you must know how and where to draw the line, depending on what you want to achieve with your writing and the kind of audience you’re writing for.
 
 
 
This article is by Michael Parsons, who writes on the topic of Masters in Psychology Online . You can contact Michael at his email id: mike.parsons261-AT-gmail.com
 

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Do you want to see your book sales soar? Are you an author with the courage to risk a fee and enter an awards competition? When-and if-you win, your book will rise to a new and intriguing level in the eyes of potential readers. Once you place a winner’s sticker on the front cover, sales will soar.

The psychology is very simple. Just as a favorable review represents an unbiased third party’s opinion, so an award gives a potential buyer confidence that your book has been evaluated and recommended by an objective panel of judges.

The entry fees are usually modest, some as low as $25, but even these turn some authors away. They feel it represents a gamble with no guarantee that they will win and gain the recognition they covet. I firmly believe the potential benefit is so great that it justifies this modest risk.
 
Gaining Recognition

While capturing an award will be a benefit to any author, it is particularly helpful to novice and unknown writers. It can provide the cornerstone on which to build a strong reputation. The award boosts an author from anonymity to at least a modest level of acclaim and gives him/her a strong start toward becoming a respected factor in the publishing world.

Not everyone agrees, however. Some industry observers scoff at these programs, charging that the awards are “bought” because the program requires a fee to enter. They contend that the sponsors are running a business and interested only in profit, not quality.

That may be true of some of the smaller newcomers to the awards scene, but the sponsors of the most popular programs conduct carefully controlled competitions with highly qualified judges hired to evaluate all submissions with total objectivity.
 
Choose Your Category

Most competitions have lengthy lists of categories, and each submission must designate the niche into which it best fits. Both of the broad classifications, fiction and nonfiction, are broken down by genre or subject matter.

For example, fictional categories include romance, spiritual, mystery, historical and more. Nonfiction incorporates memoirs, true crime, politics, history, reference books, as well as a variety of other subject matters.

Most competitions set no limit on the number of categories to which you can submit an entry. What I mean, as an example, is if your book is nonfiction and deals with the subject of writing and self-publishing, you might consider entering it in the writing category, as well as in reference, possibly self-help, education or in the academic category.

Each specific entry will cost you a separate fee, so be very careful to select only those categories that have true relevance to your book.
 
Submitting Your Book

There are various level of sophistication in the book awards world. It is unlikely-but always possible-that you can submit for a Pulitzer Prize, administered by Columbia University’s School of Journalism. Many competitions will accept submissions only from authors who reside in the state or other region that they cover. Some are associated with organizations, and accept submissions only from members. Nonetheless, there are a number of very impressive competitions that are available to the majority of authors with none of these limitations.

Select the awards you are most interested in, and locate complete instructions on deadlines, fees and other pertinent information on how to submit by clicking on their websites. Each competition publishes its own rules, and in many cases they differ. If you deviate from these guidelines, you risk being automatically rejected.

Although it should go without saying, neatness and professionalism are key factors when submitting. Be alert to any spelling errors, particularly ones relating to the name of the program.

Where allowed, add any material to the package you submit that can enhance your submission. This doesn’t mean a favorable review from your mother or cousin, but there is value in submitting one or two reviews from recognizable professionals or a list of any endorsements that have not been printed in the book because they arrived after press deadline.

Whether you capture First Place or even Honorable Mention, purchase enough stickers to cove r all of your books that have already been printed even though it is costly to hand paste. The value of that sticker, as I indicated above, will be one of the most effective promotional tools you can have.

If copies of your book have already been distributed, it is worth the effort to try and reach every bookstore where it is in stock to add a sticker. The store manager will be more than happy to cooperate because he/she knows the value of an award.

So gather up your courage. If you have confidence in the book you have written reach out for several competitions. You may be surprised and thrilled at how well you do.
 
 
To view more than 60 free, informative articles by author and editor Charles Jacobs, click on to his new website http://www.wisewriter.com. Click on “Library” to discover all of this information on writing, publishing and book promotion.Read his widely-heralded book “The Writer Within You,” named a BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR seven times and a gold and bronze medal winner.
 

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I’m delighted to share here an interview with Ward Larsen, author of Fly By Wire. Many thanks to Ward and also to Maryglenn at OceanView Publishing for allowing us to share this interview! – Ed.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself, how and when you started writing.

I recently did an essay on Ernest Gann for the compilation work, Thrillers: 100 Must Reads. Gann, of course, was the father of aviation thrillers. While researching the piece, I discovered that Gann was an airline pilot who began to write because he had extra time on his overnights. I had to laugh, because I started writing for the very same reason—as an airline pilot, I had a fair amount of dead time in hotel rooms, and writing seemed like a productive way to use it.

Q: What inspired you to write your novel?

Fly By Wire is an idea I’ve had in the back of my head for many years. Without giving too much away, it’s a plot that deals with the integration of technology into our lives—in this case, relating to aviation—and the ability of the “antagonists of the world” to find weaknesses in that reliance.

Q: How did you use your life experience or professional background to enrich your story?

My aviation background is used throughout the story. Truth is, it saved me a lot of research. When I was in the military, I attended the Air Force’s Flying Safety Officer course, which trains pilots to act as aircraft accident investigators. It’s an interesting field with a lot of pure detective work, which I think comes through in the story.

Q: Are any characters based on people you know?

I never purely take a living person and design a character around him, but I often take traits of individuals I’ve known, and mesh them into a character. The protagonist’s name in Fly By Wire, Jammer Davis, is actually a real person, a former pilot in the Marines. Nothing else about the character was drawn from the original—I just loved that call sign.

Q: Would you say that your novel is more plot driven or character driven?

Fly By Wire, I think, has a very original and almost frightening plot concept. I’m not sure if I’ll ever come up with a more legitimately troubling premise for a novel. That said, I think some of the minor characters in this work will really keep the reader’s interest.

Q: Who is your favorite character and why?

The defrocked plastic surgeon. I had a lot of fun creating that character—I hope the readers will enjoy reading about him as much as I enjoyed creating him.

Q: What part of writing Fly By Wire did you find most challenging?

It’s always a challenge not to give things away too soon, to meter the suspense bit by bit so that a reader keeps turning the pages. That’s probably the biggest challenge I have in most of my work—a writer always knows where things are heading, but you have to put yourself in the reader’s place.

Q: What do you hope that readers will take away from your book?

I hope they will find entertainment value—enjoyment and a few hour’s escapism.

Q: What writers have inspired you?

I enjoyed reading Robert Ludlum and Frederick Forsyth, early on. Different writers bring different strengths to the literary table, and there are dozens who have made their impression on me. Tom Clancy’s knack for detail. Ken Follett and Jeffrey Archer are terrific at building characters. As a reader, which all writers are at heart, I appreciate them all.

Q: What is the writing process like for you?

I write whenever I find the time—simple as that. I have no set schedule. My first book, The Perfect Assassin, took nine years to finish. I wrote the first draft of Fly By Wire in nine weeks.

Q: What is the best piece of advice about writing that you’ve ever received?

Stuart Kaminsky once told me that he always carried an index card with him to write down good ideas that came to him over the course of a day—he could never remember them otherwise. I do it now and it’s great. Maybe a phrase or a situation, even a single word I want to use. I write it down and work it into my writing later.

Q: What is the worst piece of advice about writing you’ve ever received?

Send an unsolicited manuscript to publishing houses in New York.

Q: What’s next for you? Any new books in the pipeline?

Fly By Wire is intended as a series, which is something new for me. I’m working on the second, tentatively titled, Fly By Night.
 
About The Author
Ward Larsen is an award-winning author whose debut novel, The Perfect Assassin, garnered numerous awards and accolades, including top honors in the Royal Palm Literary Awards, the Gold Medal in the Military Writers Society of America Book Awards, the Silver Medal in the Florida Book of the Year Awards, and the Silver Medal in the ForeWord Book of the Year Awards. The Perfect Assassin was also named an award-winning finalist in the National Best Books 2006 Awards, as well as the 2006 Indie Excellence Awards.Born and raised in South Florida. Larsen graduated from the University of Central Florida. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served seven years as a pilot in the 95th and 75th Fighter Squadrons. Ward traveled widely across North America, Europe, and the Middle East, and flew 22 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm. You can find out more at his website, http://www.wardlarsen.com/
 

Related posts:

1. Author Interview: Ward R. Jones, author of After Isaactown
2. Author Interview: Curt Weeden, Co-Author of Book of Nathan
3. Author Interview: Lin Pardey, Author of Bull Canyon: a Boatbuilder, a Writer and other Wildlife.
4. Writing Tips – Jumpstart Your Career As An Author by Asking “Why?
5. Author Interview: Barbara Levenson, author of Justice in June
6. Revive a Stalled Novel – Weave Sub-Plots Into Your Fiction Novel

Book authors sell their books — the fruits of their writing labor.  Thus it may seem counterintuitive to recommend that, for online book marketing success, book authors must be willing to share abundant free content.

Why is this?

On the Internet people are usually looking for relationships (connections) before buying something.  Even if the book author has an effective website – one that makes it immediately clear what’s on offer and provides an easily visible BUY button, this effective website is often not enough by itself to motivate buying the author’s book.

Let’s look at 10 ways that fiction and nonfiction authors can share free content:

1.    Offer a free sample chapter on their websites and on other sites around the Internet.

2.    Write a blog with information based on their book or on another interest.

3.    Provide book group discussion questions.

4.     Leave thoughtful comments on other people’s blog posts.

5.    Participate in conversations on Twitter.

6.    Write articles and upload these to article directories such as Ezinearticles.com.

7.    Participate in groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.

8.    Write book reviews on Amazon.

9.    Write brief book review comments on Glue.com.

10.    Upload several chapters or the entire book to fReado.com.

Now let’s discuss what all this free content sharing does:

•    Perhaps most importantly, it demonstrates that you can indeed write well – that your book is probably well-written.

•    It also demonstrates that you’re not just out to sell your books.  You’re interested in engaging with readers.  In fact, readers can contact you directly at social media sites such as Twitter.

•    Third benefit?  You may have just written enough new material to compile into an ebook that you can sell off your website.

•    And, finally, it does help you sell your books because people are reminded of you and your book at different places around the Web.  How many times have you decided to buy something and then forgotten to buy it?  With your name and writing examples all over cyberspace you’ve provided potential fans with subtle reminders about your book.

Some writers are concerned that others will “steal” their material if that material is so easily accessible.  I believe you have to be willing to take this slight risk in order to reap the greater probability of having people become interested in your writing.

Although some writers are happy to write only for themselves, most writers would like as large a reading public as possible.  Being willing to share free content on the Web can help book authors attract a wider fan base.
 
Article by Phyllis Zimbler Miller. Phyllis Zimbler Miller (@ZimblerMiller on Twitter) is the co-founder of the social media marketing company Miller Mosaic Power Marketing and the author of the novel www.MrsLieutenant.com. She blogs on social media and marketing topics at www.millermosaicllc.com/blog
.
 

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1. How to Make Your Book a Bestseller – By Harnessing the Incredible Power of Internet Marketing
2. 5 Easy Ways to Build Your Digital Reputation
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5. Real Time Web for Old Time Books: The Benefit of Social Media for Publisher and Authors
6. How to Get a Celebrity Endorsement For Your Book – Tips to Get a Quote on Your Book Cover

I’m delighted to share here an interview with Curt Weeden, Co-Author of Book of Nathan. Curt Weeden is among the nation’s most sought-after speakers on philanthropy and social responsibility issues and trends. The author and business executive mixes humor, personal experience and data-based facts to map out ways nonprofits can generate more revenue—and to help businesses get a stronger return on investment from their charitable donations.



Q:Tell us a little about yourself, how and when you started writing.

A: First serious writing experiences were as a journalist for a chain of weekly newspapers in Rhode Island (Phoenix Times Publishing Company). Moved from reporter to news editor before leaving the newspaper field to attend graduate school in New York City (NYU). Dabbled in fiction writing over the years but made no serious moves in that direction until leaving my post as vice president of Johnson & Johnson (2000).
 

Q: What inspired you to write your novel, Book of Nathan?

A: Most of my professional career has centered on addressing social challenges/problems. The novel – although deliberately comedic and light – deals with extremism and how it can cripple attempts to resolve critical issues. The novel is intended to generate more interest in my speaking engagements which will increasingly touch on sensitive issues such as population expansion and its impact on global stability.
 

Q: How did you use your life experience or professional background to enrich the story?

A:The characters, venues and many of the situations (e.g. Ellis Island special event, homeless shelter activities, etc.) are all based on real-life experiences. Having been involved with building business-nonprofit partnerships for over 30 years, I have been afforded a wide perspective on people and events that have been stirred into Book of Nathan.

Q: Anything autobiographical in Book of Nathan?

A:There are some autobiographical overtones to the book. But it is largely a novel about others I have met over the years.
 

Q: So there are characters based on people you know?

A: In a very general way. Douglas Kool, the slippery fund-raising consultant, is a very familiar character in my world. The other main actors in the novel are composites of individuals who have been in and out of my life (other than Twyla Tharp, the “erotic dancer” who conducts extra-curricular activities!). The wealthy investment banker (Arthur Silverstein) is based partly on very well-to-do people who are friends and more distant associates – however, none are quite as devious or issue-driven to the point of being dangerous.
 

Q: Would you say that your novel is more plot driven or character driven?

A: The plot — the quest for a previously lost book of the Bible – drives the story. However, the characters are vital to the tone and pace of the book.
 

Q: Who is your favorite or most sympathetic character, and why?

A: The lead character is Rick Bullock and clearly the individual who is closest to my own interests and values. The one-time history professor, Doc Waters, brings high but misdirected intellect into the story. However, it is Bullock who is the most compelling character in the book.

Q: Who is your least sympathetic character, and why?

A:Clearly, it’s the investment banker Arthur Silverstein and to a slightly lesser degree Judith Russett, the head of the Quia Vita, the aggressive pro-life organization. Both these characters illustrate how extreme views and decisions make it so difficult to find a middle ground where social challenges can be reasonably addressed.
 

Q: What part of writing Book of Nathan did you find the most challenging?

A: Time. For this author, fiction writing is a demanding task and output does not come about easily. The book was written in conjunction with another business book (to be released January 2011 by Jossey-Bass – Wiley). Coupled with managing a consulting business and allocating time to be a husband, father and grandfather, the effort was trying.
 

Q: What do you hope that readers will take away from your book?

A: The book is intended for as wide an audience as possible given the important message(s) that wind through its pages. The “take-away” is (as mentioned) the danger of extremism in addressing any issue (political, religious, social). In addition, the book hints at the risky course the planet is taking by not addressing unchecked population expansion (the central theme of an earlier book this author wrote: How Women Can Beat Terrorism) and how the vociferous abortion debate clouds this very serious global problem.
 

Q: How do you dial up the tension to keep your readers on the edge of their seats?

A: Tension and locking in a reader is largely a credit to co-author Richard Marek whose main role was to heavily edit the original manuscript. Dick is among the very best editors in the nation as is evident by his stable of authors he has aided over the years.
 

Q: What writers have inspired you?

A: Interestingly, many of the great writers have not been inspirational but intimidating. I do not have the talent to match the “gold standard” writers of the past or the popular authors of contemporary fiction. A number of relatively new authors reviewed Book of Nathan and I was honored to read some of their books. More widely recognized writers like Janet Evanovich were kind enough to comment on Book of Nathan. There are a battery of writers I enjoy reading such as Pat Conroy, Harlan Coben, James Patterson among others. New novelists such as Kathryn Stockett (The Help) are brilliant. I am also amazed at how so many journalists can turn a timely topic into a story that has all the compelling elements of a fascinating novel. To come even close to some of these far more gifted writers would be a great accomplishment for me.
 

Q: What is the writing process like for you?

A: Very difficult. So much has been written about the solitude and self-discipline that goes into writing. But until one goes through the exercise, it is not something truly understood. Most of my writing is during the early part of the day (7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.) and on airplanes going to/from business meetings and speeches.
 

Q: What is the best piece of advice about writing that you’ve ever received?

A: Richard Marek has been my most ardent critic and important teacher. He has taught me that so often what you consider your own good writing is only half as good as you think – and sometimes deeply flawed. But he also has shown me what it takes to whittle a barely passable set of words into a reasonable sentence or two. The message: find someone you respect and trust to honestly evaluate your work, recommend improvements and be thick-skinned enough to take the suggestions to heart.
 

Q: What is the worst piece of advice about writing that you’ve ever received?

A: That I am strictly a non-fiction writer. Granted, my non-fiction books and articles are probably at a higher standard than Book of Nathan. However, if I had listened to the few people who have told me not to waste my time with fiction, Book of Nathan would not be a reality.
 

Q: What’s next for you? Any new books in the pipeline?

A: As mentioned, a business book for January 2011 (completed) and another novel titled Dutch Island. The novel is about a small island off the coast of Jamestown, Rhode Island that is now a publicly owned, undeveloped park. The island was once the property of Daniel Weeden, an ancestor who was deeded the island by Benedict Arnold, the grandfather of the notorious traitor. The novel is set in contemporary times and centers on a series of murders that can only be resolved if the original deed to the island can be located. It stars many of the same characters as are in Book of Nathan.
 

Q: Any final words you would like to say about yourself, your novel, or life in general?

A: Hopefully Book of Nathan will be more than a “good read.” My aspiration for the book is to use it as a door-opener for discussion and thought about concerns and challenges important to all of us. Fiction can be a terrific gateway to new ideas and more open thinking. The true measure of Book of Nathan’s success will be how far it takes me (and others) toward this goal.

Book of Nathan is available at all good bookstores, including Amazon.com.

Many thanks to Curt and also to Maryglenn at OceanView Publishing for allowing us to share this interview! You can also find out more about Book of Nathan at Curt’s website, http://www.curtweeden.com/ – Ed.

Related posts:

1. Author Interview: Ward R. Jones, author of After Isaactown
2. Author Interview: Ward Larsen, author of Fly By Wire
3. Tool: Think you know your characters inside out?
4. Author interview: Dr. David Field
5. Author Interview: Michael Stevens, Author of Fortuna
6. Author Interview: Barbara Levenson, author of Justice in June

This Guest Article is by Fauzia Burke, President of FSB Associates.

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5. Book Publicity – How to Create an Online Media Kit
6. How to Get a Celebrity Endorsement For Your Book – Tips to Get a Quote on Your Book Cover

I’m delighted to share here an interview with author Michael R. Stevens about his new book, Fortuna. Michael began his writing career in high school as a music columnist for the Vallejo Times Herald, his hometown newspaper. After graduating from the University of California at Berkeley as an English major, he served two years in the U.S. Army’s Berlin Brigade, then began a career in high-tech marketing, first as a writer and later as a creative director and Silicon Valley ad agency executive. Concurrently, he managed the technical development and marketing of two successful software products. At present, Michael is a contributing editor for several high-profile web sites in the technology arena.
 
In addition to writing, Michael Stevens is a serious amateur musician who has produced four CDs. He lives in Berkeley, California, and at an undisclosed location in Second Life.
 
Fortuna is his first novel. So on with the interview!

 
Start to finish, how long did it take to write Fortuna?
 
Eighteen months.
 
 
How did you get the idea?
 
I learned from NPR that online role-playing games have real economies, just like America or Japan, and I thought that was astonishing. That special sword you need in order to kill a particular dragon? It’s worth actual dollars. You can buy stuff like that on eBay. And if I steal your sword while we’re playing online, you can sue me in a real-world court. That’s already happening in Asia. I was also attracted by the anonymity of these games. How far will people go if no one knows who they are, and their actions have no consequences? Of course, in the book, there are consequences.
 
 
Which part of the writing process did you enjoy most?  Why?
 
Like most professional writers, I have a sort of ritual. I write almost exclusively in cafés, usually in the morning. What could be better than to be in a place where there’s a lot of intellectual energy, you get these wonderful caffeinated drinks—maybe a croissant—and then you get to do the same thing Hemingway or Sartre did? By the way, I should say that drinking lots of coffee is arguably the only talent I share with those great writers.
 
 
What part of the writing process did you find most challenging?  Why?
 
Dealing with editors!  When I worked in advertising, my writing often got edited in ways that harmed the project, and over the years I came to hate that. So I have this automatic negative reaction to the editing process that’s not always fair to the editor.
 
 
Did you have to do any special research while writing Fortuna?  If so, what did you research and how did you conduct the research?
 
I read a lot of books about Renaissance Italy and the major houses. Some of it was very detailed, like issues about coinage and interest rates and other business practices. I also studied the paintings. I didn’t have to research the technical stuff. I knew about that by working with dozens of high-tech companies over the years.
 
 
Do any of the characters in Fortuna have an autobiographical component? If so, which character, and how are you similar?
 
The autobiographical components are negligible. I did attend Stanford, and I was an executive in a rather large corporation, and I think that helps give Fortuna an authentic feel. But neither Jason nor his father are stand-ins for yours truly.
 

 
How did you get the ideas for the characters in Fortuna? Are any of the characters based on people you know?
 
I think every character in every novel is based on people the author knows or fragments of people pieced together in new ways. But as far as specific characters in Fortuna, what the lawyers so often recite is true:  “any resemblance to persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.”
 
 
What do you think is your protagonist, Jason Lind’s, most admirable quality?
 
He questions things.
 
 
What do you think is Jason Lind’s least admirable quality?
 
Through much of the book, he can’t act with conviction, at least that’s how I see it. He has a little of Hamlet’s fatal hesitation, not that I’m comparing myself with Shakespeare. I think most readers would agree that he should commit more fully to his girlfriend in real life rather than chasing after an online heroine.
 
 
How do you think you are most like Jason Lind?
 
I have always had a question about how I fit into society. I still do.
 
 
How do you think you are least like Jason Lind?
 
Jason wants to plan things. I tend not to look before I leap.
 
 
What is your interest in online role-playing games?
 
For me, online role playing games are like an e-mail or instant messaging service that lets me conveniently connect with people. Second Life also helps me to keep my other languages sharp because, at different times of the day, there are people online from all over the world. The role-playing aspect for me is nil. I am not part of a Gorean clan or anything like that.
 
 
What do you think attracts Jason Lind to Fortuna—the escape, or the anonymity it affords him?
 
The English major in me has to point out that Jason Lind isn’t a person, but a literary creation. Having said that, I think the short answer is escape. In Fortuna, Jason is an adult. In real life—“RL” as gamers say—Jason plays a role that is subordinate to the adults who run things.
 
 
What do you think, in general, is the allure that draws people in to online role-playing games?
 
Romance, sexuality, adventure, and violence are the primary themes of most online role-playing games. It’s sad, but that’s why people play.  We live in a lonely, angry society. And online role-playing games give us a chance to have what we feel is missing in our lives anonymously. That removes a lot of inhibitions. A third factor is the lack of consequences. If a woman walks on the wild side and finds herself about to be attacked in a dark alley, she can just press the delete button.
 
 
Do you think there’s a real danger in becoming compulsive, such as Jason does, when playing online games?
 
Yes. There are people who are online eight, ten, twelve hours a day, so yes, the danger is real. At the same time, this may be a good thing for some people, for example, those who are confined to a bed due to chronic illness.
 
How possible—and plausible—do you think a virtual community such as the one you present in Fortuna is?
 
There’s no issue of possibility or plausibility. Such virtual communities exist. For example, there is a large online “Gorean” community with villages, costumes, etc., based on the (notorious and trashy) “Gor” novels of John Norman. There are also several such communities revolving around vampire lore. It is amazing to me, I’ll say in passing, how many women seek out the role of virtual slavery in these communities.
 
 
As someone with a background in technology, how have you seen gaming evolve over the years?  Do you think gaming has changed for the better?  Why or why not?
 
The great leap forward in online gaming communities was the introduction of graphics, which are becoming increasingly realistic as time passes. The older virtual communities were based entirely on text, which combined dialog and what might be called stage directions. (He grasps her by the shoulders and pushes her down onto the bed. She whimpers, “No, please.”) Some say that the text approach has fewer limitations and is more imaginative.
 
 
You present a great deal of detail about Renaissance Florence in Fortuna.  What is your interest in Renaissance Florence?
 
Renaissance Florence was the birthplace of the modern global economy. In many ways it was the Silicon Valley of its time. It was also the birthplace of Machiavelli. If our business leaders and politicians would study Renaissance Florence more carefully, we would be much better off as a nation.
 
 
Do you intentionally draw parallels between today’s Mafia families and the prominent families of the Renaissance?
 
Yes. They are quite similar. The style of execution, for example, hasn’t changed at all. Nor has the importance of execution itself as a tactic.
 
 
What made you want to write a novel?
 
Isn’t that the dream of every English major?
 
 
Which writers influence and inspire you?
 
Not very many, and they’re not politically correct. Frank Herbert, the seventies’ science fiction writer. John Updike. Lawrence Durrell and others, I’m sure.
 
 
If you could give an aspiring author one piece of advice, what would it be?
 
I think attending writers’ conferences is very, very helpful, especially when it comes to selling and marketing a novel. It’s really the only way to get a good understanding of what the players are like: the agents, the acquisition editors, even the other writers, who can be friends as well as competitors. Also, aspiring writers should read my blog at www.fortunathebook.com, where I tell all about what it’s like to actually get published.
 
 
What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?
 
Somebody once told me that every short story should begin with something like, “Tom Smith glanced at his watch. Eleven thirty. If he didn’t get to the top of the mountain by noon, he’d be dead.” I think particularly today, in the era of short attention spans, each segment of a novel has to be like a short story that keeps people turning the pages. This approach, I should add, does not preclude the exploration of important, complex questions.
 
 
The worst?
 
“Writing is re-writing.” I say, get it right the first time. If your work needs a lot of editing, you’re not very good.
 
 
What do you hope readers will take away from Fortuna?
 
I hope readers are led to question some of their romantic visions of what human societies are like, and to take a new look at Machiavelli’s vision. I don’t mean that it’s a good idea to simply kill your enemies—it’s not!—but other aspects of his work have relevance, particularly in U.S. foreign policy and also in understanding the problems that plague inner cities.
 
 
What’s next for Michael Stevens?  Any other books in the works?
 
My next project is a novel of industrial espionage set in Berlin, 1923, during the Weimar Republik and before the rise of Hitler. The working title is “U,” which is the chemical symbol for uranium.
 

 
Fortuna is available from all good bookstores, including Amazon, now.

 
Many thanks to Michael and also to Maryglenn at OceanView Publishing for allowing us to share this interview!  – Ed.

Related posts:

1. Video Game Addiction: Five Warning Signs for Assessing Risk
2. Author Interview: Curt Weeden, Co-Author of Book of Nathan
3. Author Interview: Barbara Levenson, author of Justice in June
4. Author Interview: Ward Larsen, author of Fly By Wire
5. Author Interview: David Bowman, Author of 300 Days of Better Writing
6. Author Interview: Ward R. Jones, author of After Isaactown

Charles Gulotta, Author of Writing Rules! helps teach youngsters the rules of writing in a humorous, memorable way. For anyone who ever thought the subject had to be a stuffy and boring read, pick up a copy and watch your mind change. I’ll be doing a full review soon. Here are some snippets to whet your appetite in the meantime.

Here are a few more examples of gerunds correctly modified by possessives:

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6. How to Start Writing Your Book

In your author and book publicity activities, it’s critical to make it easy for journalists, talk show producers and other influencers to quickly find everything they need to know about you and your book. One of the best ways to do that is to create a page for the media on your website and blog.

Online author and book publicity pages are called by several names, including media room, media kit, press room or press kit, or they are simply labeled as Media or Press on the site’s navigation menu. On some sites, the media page is accessed through a link from the About page of the site. Whatever you call your book publicity page, just make sure it’s clearly marked and easy to find from any page on your site.

Remember, your media page isn’t just for the media – it’s a great place to showcase your credentials and biographic information for a variety of author and book publicity purposes. For example, you can link to your media page when introducing yourself to bloggers, potential clients and potential partners.

Sandra Beckwith, a former award-winning publicist who now teaches authors how to generate media attention, advises imagining what questions journalists would ask about you and your book and making sure they can find the answers to those questions in your media room. “You want to make sure you’re providing the information they want in a format they’re familiar with,” she says. “That means you want to present that information in a factual way without hyperbole or exaggeration.”

Here are some of the most important elements to include on your book publicity page:

• About the Author – You might create two bios, a short one of about three sentences (imagine a radio announcer introducing you) and another bio about half a page long.
• About the Book – Summary of your book, written in a news style without marketing hype.
• Praise/Endorsements/Reviews – Feature any celebrity quotes prominently.
• Awards – Book awards and awards received by the author.
• Author Photos – High resolution version for print and low resolution for online use. Include a caption beneath your photo listing your credentials or author tagline.
• Book Covers – High resolution for print and low resolution for online use.
• Contact Information – Make this easy to find, include email address, phone number, and address if applicable. See these tips for protecting your email address online.

Other elements commonly found on author and book publicity pages include:

• Complete Press Kit – One page or document containing all of your media information in one place.
• In the Media – Provide links to previous media coverage that you’ve received. If you have appeared in any major print or broadcast media, include their logos prominently on your media page.
• Audio and/or Video Clips – Short audio or video clips of you (preferably being interviewed) allow potential interviewers to hear or see you in action.
• Interview Topics – A list of topics you can speak about.
• Sample Q & A – Radio stations, in particular, will appreciate using questions you provide for an interview
• Article Topics – A list of topics you can write about and/or suggested angles for feature stories about you. You might even provide pre-written stories or tips for the media to use.
• Fact Sheet – One-page document with pertinent facts about your industry or book topic.
• Press Releases – Links to online versions of press releases about you, your book or business.
• Media References – Nice quotes from media who have interviewed you or worked with you.
• Clients Include – If you’re a consultant, you might want to post a list of important clients (with their permission) and a few testimonial quotes from clients.

Many online book publicity pages contain downloadable documents in PDF format, but Sandra Beckwith advises just putting the text of your media materials on a web page and letting people copy and paste from there. Even when it’s convenient to copy or download your book publicity materials from your website, some people will still want you to email information to them or even send a printed media kit.

Your online author publicity page is a great promotional tool. If you don’t already have a media page on your site, get started now – you can always add to it over time. If you do have a media page, now is a good time to review and enhance it.


Article by Dana Lynn Smith. Dana is a book promotion coach and author of several book promotion guides, including The Savvy Book Marketer’s Guide to Successful Social Marketing. For more tips, follow @BookMarketer on Twitter, visit Dana’s book promotion blog and get a free copy of the Top Book Marketing Tips ebook when you sign up for her complimentary book promotion newsletter.

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Remember the marketing of your book starts months before the book comes out. You must plan early and never stop!

1. Always over deliver with the content of your books, seminars, talks, etc.

2. Make your marketing efforts creative and consistent enough to position yourself as one of the top authors in your field.

3. Welcome change as an opportunity to find ideas and improve your business and your life.

4. Make selling your books to new readers the start of a lifelong relationship.

5. Encourage readers to contact you, and regard this as an opportunity to serve them, to help attract new readers through word of mouth, and to publicize everything you can offer them.

6. Welcome the chance to say thank you and reward those who help you.

7. Let your decisions reflect harmonious short- and long-term personal and professional goals that make you eager to get up in the morning.

8. Ask the people involved with your books and your business to help you keep these commandments.

9. Strive to create harmony between what you think, say, and do, without crossing the line between being righteous and self-righteous.

10. Understand that marketing begins once you’ve made the sale and that a mind-numbing 68 percent of all business lost is due to apathy after the sale.

It is all about marketing. Not writing the book- it is what you do after your book is out. How much radio, TV, Newspaper and internet marketing you do! Please start 3 months before your book comes out!

Rick Frishman, the founder of Planned Television Arts, has been one of the leading book publicists in America for over 30 years.

Visit http://www.rickfrishman.com for the million $ Rolodex.

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Neatness counts when preparing your author press kit for distribution to the media and people who may book you to speak. So, be careful. You do not want to leave the impression of just learning to use glue.

Public speakers use their author promotion and press kits as fundamental, attention grabbing tools to get media coverage and personal appearance engagements that help them to sell books and to promote themselves as experts in their fields. Also referred to as media packages, press kits, can be useful to you in a number of ways, if you know what the press kit should look like and what should go inside.

Remember, the press kit should represent your book and you as an author and a public speaker in the most professional light. However, if you do not have the budget to hire a publicist to create the press kit for you or your publisher does not provide such services or you are a self-published author, here are some simple and inexpensive guidelines for preparing your author press kit.


How to create a press kit

First, pick a press kit presentation folder from an office supply store presentation folder isle. There are many choices, from bright blinding colors to soft neutral shades to dark conservative tones. Bright blinding colors may distinguish your press kit from the rest of the press kits that land on the desk of a reporter or talent agent, but the bright blinding colors may not be as flattering to your presentation as you think.

When in doubt, lean toward the conservative colors, such as black, white, navy, beige. Within those colors, there is a variety of styles, some with glossy finishes, gold embossing, cutout display windows and plastic covers. Plastic presentation folders cost more but look cheap. I recommend a good quality paper product.

I avoid glossy presentation folders, which look great before handling when they pick up smudges and fingerprints. Also be careful with cutout display windows on presentation folders. Display windows can snag and tear when the folder is stacked with other items, leaving your press kit looking ragged. My suggestion is to avoid cutout display windows.

Create a printed image of your book cover, which you can carefully paste onto the front of the presentation folder. I printed the image of my book cover on a glossy photo paper to give the image a crisp clean look that resembles the actual book cover.

Be careful not to get glue on the front of your book cover image or any other place on the folder itself. For the most professional look, use a glue stick all the way to the edges and corners of your printed book cover image, again to avoid snagging and pulling loose. Before applying the glue to your book cover image, be sure your placement has been measured and centered properly. Burnish the image onto the folder and then set the folder aside so the glue can dry thoroughly.


What goes inside a press kit?

Include your book signing event flyer. Write a press release. Include a book summary, professional biography, event details and copies of printed news coverage. Do not forget your picture–8×10 glossy print and CD, which contains your picture, book cover image, press release and event flyer. Make sure CD formats are jpeg for pictures and images; and MS WORD for documents. Also include a business card, bookmark, stamped-self-addressed reply postcard and cover letter.

I do not ordinarily include review copies of my book to everyone who gets my press kit. Review copies cost money and should be reserved for those you believe will be able to get you news coverage or speaking engagements. Although review copies to libraries, schools and organizations may not generate news coverage, these review copies can promote you as a public speaker and place you in a position to sell books.


Article by Sunny Nash. Sunny is an award-winning writer, public speaker, photographer and independent producer, created to help writers, photographers, producers other creative artists find information and links to help them in their careers. Sunny Nash is the author of the family memoir, Bigmama Didn’t Shop At Woolworth’s and creator of Shopping For Hope, a black-and-white photographic study of storefront churches across America.

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I’m delighted to share here an interview with author Barbara Levenson about her new book, Justice in June. Barbara has lived in Miami for the past 32 years. She has served as a prosecutor, and run her own law practice where she focused on criminal defense and civil rights litigation. Barbara was elected to a judgeship in the circuit court of Miami-Dade County where she still serves as a senior judge.

So on with the interview!

How long did it take to write Justice in June?

About six months.


How did you get the idea?

Readers got a look at the best weather in South Florida in Fatal February. I thought it would be fun to show the worst weather, the rainy season. Additionally, I wanted to show an inside view of a woman judge. During the time I was planning Justice in June, a trial was going on in Miami accusing a group of young men of being terrorists. This gave me the idea of Luis Corona’s story.


What do you like most about having recurring characters in your novels?

Having recurring characters in my novels makes the readers a part of the family of characters. It gives an author the opportunity to enlarge each character and show more fully just who they are, and to introduce new characters that may be highlighted in future novels.


Is there any particular challenge of having recurring characters?

The challenge in having recurring characters is that each successive novel may become too formulaic and may end up boring the readers. It is my job to keep each adventure new and fresh.


Has Mary Magruder Katz changed in any way since you first dreamed her up?

Mary has grown and, I hope, matured just as we all do when we meet new challenges. She is growing in stature in her profession and has begun to question her inability to be committed in her personal life. Readers seem equally divided about whether they want Mary and Carlos to marry. Both sides are adamant in their feelings, so I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how Mary feels about this important question.


What did you enjoy most about writing Justice in June?

My greatest enjoyment in writing Justice in June was working from a second point of view. It was interesting as an author to switch from Mary to Judge Liz Maxwell and then back to Mary again. Many writers and writing teachers warn against this, but I found it made the book move swiftly. We’ll have to see how readers like this variety.


Which part of the writing process did you find most challenging?

The part of the writing process I found most challenging was keeping my time focused on writing no matter what was going on around me or in my own life. Especially in mystery writing, if the author is distracted, the clues and characters may stray off course.

Your first novel, Fatal February, was released to rave reviews. Did you feel any pressure as you were writing Justice in June?

I didn’t feel pressured because of Fatal February, because I believe that this second book in the series is a better book. It gave me the opportunity to fill in the blanks about most of the characters, and that is what readers asked for after Fatal February. They wanted more Mary, more Carlos, and even more Catherine.


Are you as in love with Carlos as many of your readers are?

Am I as in love with Carlos as most of my readers are? Absolutely! He’s every woman’s fantasy lover; tender when with Mary, but forceful enough to be his own person, and occasionally a bit of a bad boy. I’ve only had one woman tell me she didn’t like Carlos. I wanted to send her to a sex therapist to test her for lack of libido, but I decided to mind my own business.


Is Carlos based on a real person?

In looks, yes. I happened to see the prototype at my local car wash. We chatted over the free popcorn. He was quite charming, but when he turned to talk to the attendants, he was very rude. That gave me the idea for the Carlos character. As to his “hottie” persona, he is totally imaginary, although several male acquaintances are sure they are the model for Carlos. Well, they can dream, can’t they?


Where do you do most of your writing?

I do all of my writing in my writing room in Miami in the winter and spring, and in my writing room in Quechee, Vermont, in the summer and fall. I write on the computer. In both places, I have great views of trees, blossoms, and birds, and in Vermont, I have a view of a family of wild turkeys who have taken up residence in the woods behind our house. They are so tame that they come up to the sliding glass doors and watch me write.


What’s your process for writing a novel? Do you start with the plot fully fleshed‐out, or does it develop as you’re writing?

I always have a general idea of the plot, but sometimes the characters make changes in my plan. They often decide to go their own way, and when I listen to them, the book is always better.


Why do you think Mary Magruder Katz is such a compelling protagonist?

I think Mary is a compelling protagonist because she’s not perfect. No matter what or how well she plans, life intercedes and throws her many curves. That’s how we all are in real life, so a variety of readers can identify with Mary. She’s not always right. Sometimes she hurts her parents’ feelings or her boyfriend’s feelings, but she keeps trying to get life right.


Do you think Mary’s enthusiasm is a good quality or a not‐so‐good quality?

The phrase “where angels fear to tread” sometimes springs to mind! I like Mary’s enthusiasm and her fearless attitude about her work. You can be a good lawyer by playing it safe and only taking winnable cases. To be a great lawyer requires taking on the unique cases and moving the law in exciting, new avenues. Mary does just that as she grows professionally. Mary certainly gets herself into some scrapes.


Do you think she has bad luck, or is she somehow inviting all of this craziness?

Because Mary refuses to play it safe, she ends up in some perilous situations. The old saying “no pain, no gain” comes to mind. She could have stayed in her safe environment with her former fiancé and his civil law firm. Instead, she ended up with Carlos and an exciting criminal defense practice. Both Carlos and the practice are bound to lead her to situations that require resilience.


Have you ever experienced writer’s block, and if so, how do you overcome it?

I have never had writer’s block. I love to write. Sometimes I’d rather go outside and dig in my garden, but I make myself get down to work and the words continue to fill the pages. Occasionally, I get bored with a part of the story, so I put it away for a day, and I go do something totally fun. The next day, I’m back at work with a new angle for the story.


For readers unfamiliar with Miami, what do you hope your novels show them about the city you so clearly love—most of the time, at least?

For readers who know little about Miami except for TV shows that only look at South Beach, I wanted to show the real Miami, an international city of hard‐working people; of families who get up early and fight the traffic to go to work, and who do not stay out all night at dance clubs. I definitely love Miami. I’m often asked when I give talks about the influx of immigrants to Miami. It’s my belief that each group that makes its home in Miami adds to the overall charm and vibrancy. Variety truly is the spice of life, and Miami has spice.


Would you ever envision writing outside the mystery genre? Why or why not?

I have written some short stories and a novel that are not mysteries, and I have outlined another novel that isn’t a mystery. But my first love is the mystery genre. The novel that isn’t a mystery is not very good. It’s a “coming of age” story, and we have too many of those already in print. The good thing about mysteries is that they cover numerous subgenres: humor, romance, thriller, paranormal, literary, and others, so there is something for every type of author and reader.


Which writers influence and inspire you?

Pat Conroy, Haven Kimmel, David Baldacci, John Grisham, Lisa Scottoline, Dave King, and of course I was influenced early in life by the Nancy Drew mysteries and Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women.


What’s next for Mary Magruder Katz?

Mary will have to withstand changes in her life in Outrageous October, the third book in the series, so get ready for a change of venue and maybe even a new love interest.


What’s next for Barbara Levenson? It’s easier for me to know what’s ahead for Mary. I can see her future, but I can’t really foretell my own. I just hope to go on writing and observing human nature, and entertaining readers who turn to books to enrich their lives.

Justice in June is available from all good book stores, including Amazon, as of 6/7/2010 .

Many thanks to Barbara and also to Maryglenn at OceanView Publishing for allowing us to share this interview!  – Ed.

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“You are a strange man, Ludovico,” complained Alessandra Benucci. “You say that you love me, but you care as little for me as you do for your career.” Ludovico Ariosto looked out of the window and did not reply immediately.

His new job as governor of Lucca was difficult and his salary meagre, but the beauty of Tuscany never ceased to astonish him whenever he looked outside. “Sometimes, you have to slow down to prepare yourself for a long run,” answered Ludovico, shrugging his shoulders. “Anyway, at this moment, this was the only job I could get.”

“But you promised that we would get married soon,” went on Alessandra, walking up to him and setting her hand on his shoulder. It was June of 1516 and, in three months, Ludovico would be 42 years old. He turned around to face Alessandra and saw his promises reflected in her eyes.

“I am just asking you to have a little patience, my love,” he said, taking in a deep breath. “We will be married as soon as I have saved enough money to lead a proper life.” How often had he tried to explain that to her? A hundred or a thousand times, it didn’t matter.

Ludovico had changed jobs often, always moving forward, working endless days only to be able to devote his nights to his passion. After years of efforts, he had just completed his poem Orlando Furioso, although he was still planning to make some revisions.

“You should just let it go as it is now, Ludovico,” exhorted Alessandra. “Your poem is more than good, it is even more than wonderful! It is high time for you to forget about it and work on something else. Why don’t you write a Venetian comedy to please the Bishop? Or a song dedicated to the Duke?”

During the following eight years, Ludovico saved as much money as he could from his small salary. Shortly after his 50th birthday, he fulfilled his promise and married Alessandra. The couple purchased a small farm near Ferrara and retired to live there.

When Ludovico Ariosto’s poem Orlando Furioso was published, only eighty six copies were printed. During his retirement in the farm, his revisions of the poem never ceased. It is believed that he rewrote parts of it at least two hundred times.

Little by little, the reputation of Orlando Furioso began to grow. By the time Ludovico was 57 years old, his poem had been already reprinted many times and was already considered the work of a genius. Ludovico, nevertheless, continued to make new revisions one after the other. After his death, Alessandra Benucci published the final version. It was absolutely perfect.


Article by JOHN VESPASIAN. John writes about rational living and is the author of the books “When everything fails, try this” and “Rationality is the way to happiness.” He has resided in New York, Madrid, Paris and Munich. His stories reflect the values of entrepreneurship, tolerance and self-reliance. See http://johnvespasian.blogspot.com a blog about rational living.

P.S. Editor’s Note: you can read an English translation of this epic poem online here.

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Many fiction books jump from location to location, and include evocative detail on these settings. These scene changes help the action move along and set the story in the real world. But how do you write well about these places if you haven’t been there?

Thanks to reader Josh B for this great question posted on my comments. This is something I have been struggling with myself so it seemed a good time to discuss it. I’d love to hear how others do it too. Obviously travel writers write about places they have been, fantasy/sci-fic authors write about imaginary places, but what about fiction authors setting books in real world geography?

Also, what about when you have been there, but you didn’t keep very good notes?

Here are some ideas:

* Use your book as an excuse for a trip! This is my favorite tip and the one I intend to use when budget allows. Perhaps not practical for everyone but probably the best one. Philippa Ballantine took a trip to England to research the wonderful ‘Chasing the Bard’ podcast novel, and the research definitely added depth and detail.

* Guidebooks, online travel sites and other books/websites. You can of course research the old fashioned way with books at the library or online at many of the travel sites around. I have a scene in Venice for my novel and although I have been there, I still found myself on the travel websites looking for historical information I missed as well as names of churches. The detail is important. My favorite travel site would be LonelyPlanet.com. You can also go to individual location sites e.g. pick a hotel in London and go to their webpage. Descriptions and photos there will tell you a lot, and combined with Google Earth and Street View, you don’t have to physically be there.

* Surf Flickr and Travel blogs. The travel sites online with give you official information but personal travel blogs and Flickr photos from places will give you story behind those locations. Obviously you can’t plagiarize but you can write about photos you find and incorporate aspects into your story. Here’s a search I did on St Marks Venice New Year – look at all the concrete details I could incorporate into my writing.

* Google Earth. You can download Google Earth and then travel from your computer. If you haven’t tried it yet, it is truly amazing. With satellite pictures of most of the world, you can zoom into sites and see related pictures other people have posted. Brilliant for getting the lay of the land and adding detail you might not have noticed otherwise. You can even add sunlight and shadows based on the time of day so you can see where your villain could hide to perform nefarious deeds!

* Google Maps Street View. Your protagonist is hiding out in a New York apartment block and you want to know what might be around that area. Go to Google Maps and check out street view, which is expanding all the time. You can see pictures of the houses, cars and people around when the photos were taken. You can write about details of architecture, what is down the street, how the streetlamps look giving you real detail.

* Interview someone who has been there. This can be a friend/family member or even someone you meet online. I am frequently asking people for interviews for my podcast. You can record an interview and then give them credit in your book. Those remembered details from a personal point of view may give you some brilliant writing.

*Make sure your geography is right if you set your book in the real world.

It drives me nuts when books and movies change real-world geography to suit the story. Their credibility is shattered and often I ditch the book/movie right away.

*Truth can be stretched but not physical distance if the setting is meant to be realistic. A very sad example of this is the latest Transformers movie (can’t believe I even watched it!). The heroes drive away from the pyramids at Giza and round the corner is Petra in Jordan. Both amazing settings but seriously. That’s annoying.


Joanna Penn is the author of 3 books, and blogger at http://www.TheCreativePenn.com:  Writing, Publishing Options, Internet Sales and Promotion…For Your Book. This article was originally published here, http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2010/02/11/how-to-write-about-a-real-location-if-you-havent-been-there/, on February 11 2010.

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The interview below is conducted by Kay Elizabeth, Editor/Co-Owner of The Cuckleburr Times.

Q: Please welcome David Bowman, owner and chief editor of Precise Edit and author of 300 Days of Better Writing, which was just released for Kindle readers. Thank you for agreeing to this interview with The Cuckleburr Times. Please give our readers an overview of 300 Days of Better Writing.

A: Thank you. I am very excited about 300 Days of Better Writing. In short, this e-book provides writers with 300 daily strategies for improving writing. The general concept behind this book is simple. If writers learn one new writing strategy every day, over time their writing will greatly improve; their writing will get better for each of 300 days. As a whole, 300 Days comprises our best strategies, advice, and instruction for writing well.

Q: What is your biggest hope for this book?

A: (Laughing) What does every author hope for? Lots of money from book sales and get on Oprah! Ok, I’m joking. Some books are for creating social changes or helping people live happy, healthy lives; others are for promoting services, and so forth. It’s not just money. Sure, I’d like to make income from this book. But we only make money if we are truly providing something of value, something people want. Let me be even more serious for a moment. This book is about communication, and I am passionate about communication. Communication is how people interact. It’s how people reach their goals. It’s how we grow as individuals and societies. Many people struggle with communicating, particularly in writing. So my biggest hope is that people will use these strategies and learn to communicate effectively.

Q: Many books are available to help people become better writers, though not so many for Kindle, at least not yet. What makes 300 Days of Better Writing different?

A: Yes, there are. I own some of those books, and I’ve read through many others. Some are good; others are not so good. This book is different in several ways.
1) Practical. This book addresses a comment from a writing student many, many years ago: “Just tell me what to do.” That’s what this book does. It provides 300 answers to the question “What can I do to make my writing better?”
2) Easy-to-grasp. This book takes big topics, such as paragraph structure, and breaks them down into individual strategies. For example, instead of telling writers, “Here’s everything you need to know about clear sentences,” it says, “Here’s one thing you can do right now to make your sentences better.” I will add that the book contains a topic index for those readers who wish to read many strategies on a specific topic.
3) Instructional, not “fluffy.” Many books include cute cartoons, or tell stories about the author, or discuss the history of writing styles, or talk about various writers. Those authors are trying to entertain instead of trying to teach. In respect for the reader, 300 Days of Better Writing stays focused on instruction. 300 Days of Better Writing contains over 70 thousand words of instruction, and that’s a lot of instruction on how to write well!
4) No English degree needed. Let me toss in one more difference. This book doesn’t expect readers to have English degrees and know a lot of grammar terms. If I needed a term to explain a strategy, I first explained the term. However, readers with English degrees will find this book valuable, too. Much of the content in 300 Days of Better Writing is not taught in English programs.

Q: How would you characterize this book? Is it for novelists and story writers, or is it for a more general audience?

A: I get this question often. Who should read this book? The simple answer is “everyone.” The purpose of writing is to communicate, regardless of the document or genre. This book is for all writers who wish to communicate well, whether they are writing a business letter, writing a novel, or writing a funding proposal. The issues addressed in the book are the same for all writers.

Q: I like how you characterize writing as communication. So often we forget that that’s what we’re really trying to do. What types of information will readers find in this book?

A: This book contains 3 types of information: 1) Writing well. These are editing strategies for communicating clearly, directly, and purposefully. This category contains the most strategies by far. For example, the book has 33 unique strategies on effective sentence structure and 33 strategies for using descriptions and modifiers. 2) Writing correctly. These are techniques for using correct grammar, punctuation, and usage. 3) Writing to accomplish a purpose. These are strategies for engaging readers, persuading them to believe you, and emphasizing your ideas. I have interspersed the various types of strategies. One strategy might be about punctuation, the next about choosing powerful subjects, and the next about tone.

Q: I see that you have several e-books available as PDFs at Hostile Editing (http://hostileediting.com), including Precise Edit Training Manual and Bang! Writing for Impact. Why did you decide to write this one, and why are you making it available for Kindle?

A: The answer to both questions is “market research.” Another way to say this is “paying attention to what readers want.” Subscribers to our “Writing Tips for a Year” service asked for a single document with the strategies. We had the content already, so why not? We modified the content from the subscription service and created this book. Why Kindle? We did what every writer should: we paid attention to what readers want. The PDF of 300 Days is nearly 200 8.5” x 11” pages when printed. That’s too much for most folks to print. They will use an electronic version, and this means PDF and Kindle. I did my market research. Are people buying instructional books for Kindle? Are writing titles already available? Is the Kindle market flooded with writing books? What price range is acceptable? And so forth. We decided to publish a Kindle version as a result of our research.

Q: How did you create the Kindle version?

A: The Kindle format is simplified HTML, like a web page. We did the conversion ourselves, and we learned a lot about the process. The instructions from Amazon are lousy, I mean really lousy. But we did some research, made a few mistakes, and we figured it out. Amazon will do an automatic conversion of PDF and Word documents, but this book relies on special formatting, italics, indents, etcetera, and I read that the automatic conversion isn’t accurate. The process took about two weeks, including figuring out the conversion and publishing process. Now that we know what we’re doing, though, the next one will be much faster.

Q: Do you have a website where readers can find out more about 300 Days of Better Writing? And can readers get a sample?

A: Sure. I recommend people head to Hostile Editing, which is the site for all of our writing resources. The URL is http://HostileEditing.com. Our free e-book, Your Writing Companion, contains a sample from each of our books. I have to edit that statement. The PDF version is free, but the Kindle version costs 99 cents. That’s the lowest price Amazon will sell books.

Q: Are you planning to write any more books about writing?

A: I keep saying “No more!” but then I write another one. Yes, I have at least one more book coming out. I’m preparing a short reference guide on commas and only commas. From my 19 plus years as an editor, I found that commas are the biggest problem people have with the mechanics of writing. As with the other books, we’ll do a PDF and Kindle version.

Q: I have to ask this. You run an editing company and, I suppose, do much of the editing work yourself, you teach university writing classes, you write grants, you write books and a blog on writing. You’re busy. How do you find the time?

A: The short answer? I work hard for long hours, and I take time to refresh my mind when needed. It’s a balance, but it’s not a chore. The long answer? I love what I do and find it very satisfying. When a client says, “Gosh, this is so much clearer!” or a book reader writes, “This book has really helped me write better!” I feel pretty good about all those long hours.

Q: Thank you for taking the time to discuss 300 Days of Better Writing. Do you have any last thoughts to share with our readers?

A: Just one point about the writing in general. Writing is about three things: passion, compassion, and technique. Passion is what you want to communicate, the content you want to express. Compassion is knowing what the reader needs and wants from you. What 300 Days of Better Writing does is help people learn the techniques to merge passion and compassion. It provides the techniques for communicating the content in a manner that meets the readers’ needs and accomplishes the writers’ goals.

KE: And that concludes our interview. I wish you success with your book and thanks again for joining us here at The Cuckleburr Times.

300 Days of Better Writing can be found in the Kindle Store at Amazon.com here.

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The interview below is conducted by Kay Elizabeth, Editor/Co-Owner of The Cuckleburr Times.


Q: Welcome to internationally renowned scientist Judith J. Wurtman, PhD, and her colleague, Nina T. Frusztajer, MD, co-authors of The Serotonin Power Diet:  Eat Carbs–Nature’s Own Appetite Suppressant–to Stop Emotional Overeating and Halt Antidepressant-Associated Weight Gain. Thanks for agreeing to an author interview with The Cuckleburr Times! Please share with our readers a brief overview of your book.

A: The Serotonin Power Diet explains how boosting brain serotonin, a naturally occurring brain chemical, allows a dieter to lose weight successfully without feeling deprived or succumbing to stress-eating. Serotonin is a natural appetite suppressant and mood-balancer. Increasing brain serotonin naturally by following a serotonin-boosting diet is satisfying and allows the dieter to better cope with stresses that may otherwise lead to overeating. The program is particularly effective for people who have gained weight on antidepressants or who overeat due to stress, menopause, PMS, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).


Q: The diet book arena is an extremely competitive one and many are vying for that precious shelf space. What is it about The Serotonin Power Diet that will make this program stand out from the crowd?

A: Unlike most calorie-restricted diets, The Serotonin Power Diet switches off the appetite and turns on a good mood. The key is boosting brain serotonin by eating healthy carbohydrates in the right portions and at the right times of the day. Most dieters feel deprived or their mood is in the dumps while losing weight. On The Serotonin Power Diet, the dieter eats a balanced low-fat diet with adequate protein but pasta, potatoes, rice, and many popular snack foods are not only allowed but required – this is music to most dieters’ ears whose periodic restriction of carbs has set them on the lifelong path of yo-yo dieting and a steadily increasing waistline.


Q: Had this book been in your minds for a long time before you both sat down to begin writing it? What gave you the final push to go ahead and write it? How long did it take?

A: The Serotonin Power Diet came out of Judy’s decades of research on the connection between brain chemistry, appetite, mood, and obesity. But it was when we began seeing more and more clients in our weight loss practice who experienced antidepressant-related weight gain as well as stress-induced overeating that it became clear we needed a book to reach the large number of people who experienced similar obstacles to weight loss. It took a year to write the proposal, a year to write the book, and another year to get it to publication.


Q: Do you feel this is the optimal time for this book’s publication rather than say a few years ago or in the future? Or do you feel timing is irrelevant and The Serotonin Power Diet would have been just as well received no matter when it came out?

A: The timing of the book’s publication in paperback is even better than when it came out in hard cover 3 years ago because the number of people taking antidepressants for an increasing array of medical conditions is growing. The financial crisis of 2009 definitely gave many people reasons to overeat but controlling appetite and balancing one’s mood is always a benefit to dieters making The Serotonin Power Diet a timeless program for effective weight loss.

Q: Most laypersons associate serotonin with mood stabilization and not diet. Apart from the weight loss this program can help adherents achieve, would the increased serotonin levels also have the additional benefit of elevating their mood?

A: Absolutely! There’s a reason comfort foods are typically carbohydrates. Non-dieters as well as those who have to lose weight will benefit from the diet. They will find themselves buffered against stress because their serotonin levels will be high. The key is to eat low-fat carbohydrates at the specific times of day to maximize serotonin levels whille limiting calories.


Q: Given the increased serotonin levels this diet produces, how safe would it be to follow this program for an extended period of time, if you had depression for example and were seeking an alternative to taking prescribed medications? Could you follow The Serotonin Power Diet in addition to taking medication or would it be one or the other?

A: Clients and readers who take antidepressants definitely report a more balanced mood, increased mental energy, and even better quality of sleep, but we never advise people to adjust or eliminate their medication regime. All medication intake and other medically-indicated therapy should be supervised by the dieter’s prescribing physician.


Q: Dr Wurtman, you’re no stranger to writing books, with this being your fifth. What special challenges do you face collaborating on a book as opposed to writing alone? Are there unexpected benefits that came to light?

A: Writing the book with Nina was a delight although it did tax our technological know-how. She was in California for most of the book writing and I was writing in Boston, Cape Cod and Miami Beach. So lots of attachments got sent back and forth and we escape the catastrophe of a crashed computer and lost manuscripts. As a physician, yoga instructor, life coach and mom of three beautiful children, Nina brought insight, experience , humor and wisdom to the writing process. Writing can be lonely but it was just fun doing it with Nina.


Q: Tell us a little about how you found a publisher please. Was it a very lengthy process? Did you use outside agencies to help you or did you go it alone? Do you feel the program’s development at a Harvard University affiliated hospital weight loss clinic helped open doors?

A: We credit our agent, Regina Ryan (Regina Ryan Books), with finding Rodale who turned out to be a wonderful publishing house for our book. It took Regina less than a month to seal the deal. We like to believe that the basic science as well as the lengthly clinical experience on which our weight loss program is based helped us find a publisher so fast. Not too many other weight loss books are based on decades of basic research on how the brain, food and emotions interact, and the research was subsequently tested and put into practice for years at a major university hospital clinic.


Q: What is your biggest hope for your book?

A: We know that there are many people who feel their bodies, their social life, their self- esteem and relationships with their family and friends have been altered because they gained weight on antidepressants, mood stabilizers and related medications. The major weight gain that occurs has been often understated, or advice on how to lose the weight is not applicable to people whose brains are making them overeat. Many people who have gained weight on medications would rather be depressed than fat. This book will allow them to stay on their medications, lose weight, regain the thin body that was hidden by medication caused weight gain and return to a happy thinner life. No other book, national weight loss plan, mail order food plan, etc. has even recognized this problem, let alone found ways to help this population. Every time someone writes to us and tells us that they are able finally to lose weight because our diet address their medication induced obesity, we feel that we have made the world a little better.


Q: What’s next for you both?

A: We hope to become advocates in whatever way we can for this group of dieters on antidepressants whose prescribing physicians have had, up until now, nothing to offer for successful weight loss and weight gain prevention.


Q: Do you have a website where readers can find out more about The Serotonin Power Diet?

A: Yes: http://serotoninpowerdiet.com


Q: Thanks very much to you both for your time. Is there anything else you’d like to share in conclusion with our readers?

A: Please tell your readers that there is hope for them if they have gained weight on drugs for mood disorders, fibromyalgia, hot flushes, etc. And we welcome email inquiries and are happy to help people figure out how to follow our diet plan and answer their questions.

KE: And that concludes our interview. I wish you both every success with your book and thanks again for joining us here at The Cuckleburr Times.

Author Bios
Judith J. Wurtman, PhD, co-author of The Serotonin Power Diet: Eat Carbs — Nature’s Own Appetite Suppressant — to Stop Emotional Overeating and Halt Antidepressant-Associated Weight Gain, has discovered the connection between carbohydrate craving, serotonin, and emotional well-being in her MIT clinical studies. She received her PhD from George Washington University, is the founder of a Harvard University hospital weight-loss facility and counsels private weight management clients. She has written five books, including The Serotonin Solution, and more than 40 peer-reviewed articles for professional publications. She lives in Miami Beach, Florida.

Nina T. Frusztajer, MD, co-author of The Serotonin Power Diet: Eat Carbs — Nature’s Own Appetite Suppressant — to Stop Emotional Overeating and Halt Antidepressant-Associated Weight Gain, counsels private weight management clients and is a practicing physician and certified professional life coach. She received her master’s degree in Nutrition from Columbia University and her medical degree from George Washington University. She lives in Boston, MA.

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