Writing and Publishing News

Did you read where Books a Million is opening 41 new bookstores—mostly in old Borders’ buildings. This is encouraging for those of us who still love holding the print book in our hands and for publishers who haven’t, yet, figured out how to promote books outside of the traditional bookstore. I notice that most of the stores are opening in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maine, Maryland, Virginia and other Eastern states.

I’m wondering if young people who read are still reading print books or if they are switching over to electronic readers? What is your child’s preference? Are teachers encouraging e-books? What are kids’ electronic readers of choice? What caused your kids to embrace e-readers or not?

In our household, we have a new e-reader convert. He wanted to try reading a book on a Kindle, so borrowed one and then bought one. He now reads mostly using the Kindle. I haven’t had a chance to try it, so I’m still reading the old-fashioned way. How about you?

Since this is a short blog post today, after you leave your comment, you have time to visit my website and order a book, sign up for a course, check out my appearances page, print out my resume to give to the program chairperson for an upcoming writers/authors conference or writers group meeting, read some of my articles, sign up for my free e-booklet and more.

http://www.patriciafry.com
http://www.matilijapress.com
Contact me here: PLFry620@yahoo.com

It occurred to me that some of you may not have visited my websites and might not know the extent of my array of books for sale and other offerings. Let me take you on a tour at: http://www.matilijapress.com

First and foremost, at least in my mind and with my many, many fellow authors in mind, is my latest book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author. This book is only two months old and is already helping hundreds of authors understand their responsibilities as a book marketing agent for their books and how to go about book promotion. This book is also available in print and Kindle at Amazon. http://amzn.to/oe56Ia While I have other ebooks, this is my first Kindle. Exciting.

Also showcased on the home page are The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book (which is currently discounted); How to Write a Successful Book Proposal;The Successful Author’s Handbook (an ebook); The Successful Writer’s Handbook; A Writer’s Guide to Magazine Articles and The Author’s Repair Kit (an ebook designed to help the struggling author to heal any publishing mistakes they’ve made with their books and experience more success).

You’ll find Catscapades, a book of charming, true cat stories. Also for fun, I offer a situational memoir, Quest For Truth—quite a fascinating true story with a metaphysical slant.

From Liguori Press, I showcase my books, Creative Grandparenting Across the Miles and Write On, Journal-keeping for Teens. I also have a book on youth mentoring (not shown).

In my local history line, I still have a few copies left of The Ojai Valley, An Illustrated History and Nordoff Cemetery, Book’s One and Two.

Did you notice my little luau book? The Mainland Luau, How to Capture the Flavor of Hawaii in Your Own Backyard was a hot selling little book when I came out with it in the mid 90s. I still get an order every once in a while from someone who wants to try cooking a whole pig at home and wants a few Polynesian recipes to go along with it.

Also at this website, you’ll find dozens of my articles posted, a writers’ resource list, my appearances page, many testimonials and my editorial page—showing how I can help you with your writing projects.

For more in-depth information about me and my editorial work, visit my Patricia Fry website at: http://www.patriciafry.com Here, you can sign up for a FREE ebooklet, 50 Reasons Why You Should Write That Book.

I wrote this ebooklet to help you determine if you are, indeed, ready to become a published author or if you have more things to think about, decide, act upon before taking the leap. My desire with this ebooklet is that it will stop you from producing the wrong book for the wrong audience at the wrong time in your life. And I hope that it will help you to clearly see where you need to put in the time and effort in order to prepare and how to proceed toward your goal of success.

Yes, there’s a lot going on at the Patricia Fry and Matilija Press websites. This blog is just part of the whole story. Pay us a visit today.
http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

Several times each year, I get the thrill of seeing a client’s book in print. Yesterday, one came in the mail. I’m excited for the author, of course, and I feel a sense of pleasure in the fact that I was a part of his dream.

Most of the time I am the editor of the book. Sometimes, I offer guidance through the publishing maze. Unfortunately, only some of the books I work on with clients become published. As I looked through my client files this morning, I noticed that less than half of those who started books actually finished them. And, of those who finished their books, approximately one-quarter of them never published. I also noticed that a few of my clients’ books that were published seem to no longer be available.

Publishing is a daunting process—some hopeful authors just can’t seem to manage it. And book promotion is even more difficult. Many fall by the wayside and quit.

Because I am proud of my clients—their talent, their hard work and their sense of follow-through—I thought it would be fun to introduce some of their books.

The book that arrived in the mail yesterday—hot off the press—is Container, Zero Nine Eleven by Jim McDonald (Houseman Press, 2011). This book is a humorous and yet bittersweet story of one man’s middle-age meltdown which unexpectedly unfolds into a thrilling adventure at sea. It really is an interesting, edge-of-your-seat read. Order the book through the author at jamcdonald913@msn.com (Jim, you really need a website with a buy button.)

One of the most successful books I’ve edited is Diana Zimmerman’s Kandide, Secret of the Mists, a young adult fantasy. After a fantastic run as a self-published book, Scholastic Books picked it up. You can learn more about this book and place an order here: http://www.kandide.com This is a kid-friendly site with interactive games, contests and a place where young writers can share their work.

My client, Leon Cooper recently produced his latest book, Remembering Private Lamb (90 Day Wonder Publishing, 2011). This novel tells the story of a WWII veteran who visits Tokyo to investigate the mystery of a Japanese officer’s body buried in a US marine’s grave. It’s quite riveting with unexpected twists and turns. http://www.90daywonder.net/rememberingprivatelamb

Virji Angelo produced her memoir, The News From the Master in 2008 through Xulon Press. You’ll find this amazing religious story at http://www.xulonpress.com Check out the cover—I think it is a masterpiece. The concept was actually my idea, but whoever ran with it sure did a lovely job with the artwork.

If you want an unbelievable read, purchase former police chief, Jim Barrett’s true crime, Ma Duncan at http://www.maduncan.com This is the true story of an evil woman who, because of jealousy, had her daughter-in-law and unborn grandchild killed.

Travel agent, Chantal Kelly produced her travel memoir, Gelato Sisterhood on the Amalfi Shore just this year. (Fenicia Press, 2011) http://gelatosisterhood.com Enjoy the story, photos and even recipes.

Educator, Ivan Paul followed through and wrote his memoir in hopes of helping other slightly or majorly wayward youngsters. Order The Coach and the Kid at Two Harbors Press http://www.twoharborspress.com

Constance d’Angelis, JD is the author of The 7 Laws of Inner Peace, How to Attract What You Want Without Struggle or Worry (IPS Publications, 2008) http://www.constancedangelis.com

I feel as though I am a part of this book because I brought the author and the illustrator together. Animals Have Feelings, Too! is an illustrated, educational A to Z guide for kids age 4 and up. The author, Karen Lee Stevens and the illustrator, Teri Rider have created a charming book. The book launch party is this Sunday in Goleta, California. Let me know if you want additional information. PLFry620@yahoo.com. Order your copy of the book for all of the children on your holiday shopping list at http://www.allforanimals.com Proceeds help support Steven’s nonprofit, All For Animals.

While you’re at it, if you are an author or plan to become one, be sure to order your copy of my latest book, Promote Your Book, Over 250 Proven, Low-Cost Tips and Techniques for the Enterprising Author (Allworth Press, 2011) http://www.matilijapress.com/promoteyourbook.html

I received a letter yesterday from a concerned parent. She said that her ten-year-old son has twice brought home books from the library that were not appropriate for children. Both times, he found the books in the juvenile section at the public library.

The mother spoke to the librarian about this and she took the books home and read them. She, too, determined they were not suitable for kids and moved them to another section. She explained to the mother that books come to the library with basic information printed on them as to the type of book this is and its audience. This is how they decide where, in the library, the book should be placed. They also use reviews to make this determination.

I started thinking about some of the many authors I know who promote their books as young adult novels because this is what was selling best in the marketplace at the time. Perhaps they didn’t stop to think that there were scenes in their books that were inappropriate for certain age groups.

The letter I received was a plea for organizations such as SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) to band with other organizations in an effort to establish some sort of rating system for books—in order to protect our young children.

The mother pointed out that movies and video games have ratings, some music carries warning labels, why not books? Do any of you have an answer to this? We’ve never had ratings for books, as far as I know. Has this always posed a problem? Or is the problem more wide-spread now that the publishing industry is in such chaos? What with so many authors publishing on their own and the rise in “vanity” or “pay-to-publish” companies, which publish indiscriminately, it seems that anything goes in publishing these days. There are no regulations as to the content in books, the writing abilities of authors or the identification key placed on the back cover of books. Authors/publishers are free to represent their books in any way they see fit, sometimes confusing (or deceiving) librarians and consumers.

I did a quick Internet search to see how others feel about the prospect of rating books. Some believe that warning labels on books would hamper the education of children. They call this censorship. Others would approve a system whereby the number and type of swear words, nudity, sexually explicit scenes and violence are listed on the book as a gauge to parents, teachers and librarians.

Others say it is strictly up to the parents and others responsible for what children read to examine the individual book before making it available to kids.

In one poll involving over 3,000 people, just over half were against a rating system for books. How do you feel about this?

http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com