Virtual Book Tour: My Path to Independent Self-Publishing, Lloyd Kaneko

My Path to Independent Self-Publishing 

By Lloyd Kaneko, Author

Kami Jin
 

BACKGROUND

      First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Tina-Sue Ducross for inviting me as guest blogger on the Virtual Book Tour and for the opportunity to be creative with this post.
      Many of you following the tour will probably have learned much about me and my book from other appearances on previous sites.  I thought this time around I’d be a little different and share my path and experience leading to my becoming an independent author/publisher.
      Like so many aspiring writers, I too had grand visions of becoming a famous author and receiving a 7-figure advance on my book.  I diligently sent out inquiry letters to literary agents and often was disappointed with rejection letters saying that my project wasn’t suited for their needs.  Then, I finally secured an agent through an online advertisement, knowing little about the agency’s background or history only to find out later that it was doing questionable practices that would be considered unethical.  I even went to the extent of having the manuscript professionally edited myself after shopping around for an editor that would do it at and a reasonable and affordable rate.
      So, after a stint of travelling down the path of the”traditional publishing” road, I decided to set out as an independent.  After all, why do I really need a middleman when I can do most of the things myself?
      I began researching a wide spectrum of publishing opportunities and discovered a whole range of companies that said they were “free services” to those who would publish the book for thousands of dollars.  So, here is reality check number one: nothing is free!
      After ruling out the subsidy publishers who wanted a fortune to publish my book, I joined networking groups and writers clubs to get recommendations and also to get feedback on my manuscript.  In the process of doing so, I received some very good advice on how to proceed next as an independent.  My first objective was to publish the book in hardcover first with secondary thoughts to trade paperback.  Initially, I didn’t even give any consideration to publishing electronically for at the time, e-books were just started to being talked about in publishing circles.
      One literary agent said that agents and publishers were mainly interested in authors who already had an established base.  This I did not have.  How was I going to create my base of followers?
      Facebook and Twitter were nice ways of starting.  Besides, I already had my own website (www.lloydkaneko.com).  I eventually became active on MySpace as well, then added Linked In and Plaxo to the mix.  And later on, Bebo and Digg were added to my networking sites.  I also have an opinionated blog which is an extension of my book at http://kamijin1951.blogspot.com where I post more of my thoughts and reflections on current events.
      So,  my social networking had been established, where was I going to find a publisher that would produce my book at a reasonable price?  I began to look at various e-book publishers.  Then, I came across a publisher that converted and published my manuscript electronically, for free.  All I had to do was follow their simple guidelines for converting my Word document into their pre-processing format, and it would be a piece of cake!  It took a little effort, but I managed to successfully convert my document to their requirements.  From there, it converted into seven different e-book formats automatically including Kindle and Sony.
      The other requirement was that I have a respectable book cover to use in order to place the book in their premium catalog for distribution.  Reality check number two:  find a professional graphic artist to design your book cover.
      A well designed book cover is going to go a long way in the publishing process.  Even though I have the illustration software to produce a well-made cover, I personally do not have the experience to produce a professionally designed cover.  If you shop around, you will find a good graphic artist for a very reasonable and affordable price.  Get references from other writers or look to art school students who may be looking to add to their portfolios.  Always request to see samples of their work.
      I published Kami Jin initially as an e-book in September 2009.  And by a stroke of luck, the publisher also recommended a partner company to publish a trade paperback edition.  The paperback edition was delayed for 6-months because I received an offer from another publisher who was interested in the book.  But after waiting and not receiving any response, I decided to take full control of the book myself and proceed with self-publishing.  The trade paperback of Kami Jin was released in March 2010.
      Unfortunately, an earlier version of Kami Jin had been released without my knowledge.  I discovered that the September 2009 version of the book was released when I assumed that the March 2010 version was going to be released in trade paperback. The 2009 version does not contain all the editorial corrections that were made since then.  So, the publisher will be releasing a newly corrected edition of Kami Jin to the market soon.  Reality check number three:  Keep in close contact with your publisher by phone.
      During this time, I also sought after affordable marketing and PR services for additional support.  Again, I shopped around and compared the services and personalities of various sales representatives.  I came across a wide spectrum of services and interesting people.  I am happy to say that I have found a service provider that is very pleasant to work with whose rates and services are extremely reasonable: Authors Promoting Authors (and this is not a paid advertisement ~LK).
GENERAL ADVICE
      I have taken public relations and journalism in college and have attended marketing workshops and seminars for the arts.  Since I already had PR and marketing knowledge and skills, I was able to comfortably transition off the route of the traditional publishing and become my own entrepreneur.  I have been used to this already since I already have my own small business.  For those just starting out or pondering taking the self-publishing path I offer some advice:

• Enroll in business and marketing classes at your local community college and/or take marketing workshops, seminars and conferences.  Besides writing, develop other skills that will be valuable to you.  Learn how to write press releases, log/taglines and develop the “elevator speech.”
• Get involved with your local community library.  Your local community librarian and staff will become an important ally to you when promoting your book in the community.  They also might invite you to a book signing in the library!  Not only this, but they can also help you with interlibrary loans, research, information on publishers, writing groups, etc.  It’s one of the writer’s greatest free resources.
• Besides becoming active on social networking sites, get involved with your local chambers of commerce.  Take every opportunity to network for yourself.
• You own the product – your book.  You are totally responsible for it!  Take pride in it – promote your work as best as you can and get a professional to help you out.
• Learn how to create a project and business plan.  This will help keeping you disciplined not only on your project, but will also help you plan your work, time, and resources.  Invest in a good self-project management software program like Project Planner Personal Edition.  I recommend this particular product over Microsoft Project because it’s an inexpensive download and it’s much easier to use.
• Set realistic goals and expectations for your book.  If you are prepared to wait for a very long time, then the traditional publishing road will be fine.  But be forewarned that larger traditional publishing houses are becoming more picky and demanding of the clientele they choose to do business with.  This also holds true with literary agents.  Be open for publishing alternatives – there are excellent choices out there – especially if you do not want to wait forever to get your book published.  But do your homework diligently!  Some companies aren’t in it for your best interest nor your pocketbook!
• If you decide on becoming independent, you are truly the CEO and project manager.  Therefore, learn how to prepare a project budget.  View your expenses as a “business investment.”  And, with all business, there is a degree of risk involved.  As a writer/business person, you must be mentally prepared to take these risks.  Allocate money that you can afford to invest in producing your book.  If you can get publishing partners/investors, that’s great.  But don’t spend a lot.  There are inexpensive publishing alternatives that won’t cost an arm and a leg.  And, especially for U.S. writers, track your expenses for income tax purposes and business deductions.
• Find ways of doing things yourself.  Think “Home Depot.”  There are many things you can do online without hiring a contractor – or like for writers, professional services or attorneys.  There are services that offer to register your book to the U.S. Copyright Office for varying fees – some inexpensive, others a complete rip-off.  Some copyright attorneys will provide these services.  For a mere $35, you can register the manuscript yourself online and do a copyright registration search yourself and save a lot of money.  http://www.copyright.gov/eco/.  Since the Copyright Office can take months, almost a year to register your work, you might want to consider protecting your work by registering the manuscript through the Writers Guild of America, West for $20 at http://www.wgawregistry.org/webrss/.  This process takes several weeks and you will get a registration number and a certificate in return.
• ISBN  Another item to consider is purchasing an ISBN number (International Standard Book Number).  Some e-book publishers say you do not need one.  But if you want to sell through the Kindle Store on Amazon, it is required.  In this instance, purchasing an individual number yourself may be the least expensive route.  But compare the prices first before making a purchase.  Some publishers offer this service for you.  In some cases, the purchase of an ISBN number may be packaged with another offer, like distribution services.  Therefore, the price of the ISBN number may be substantially discounted because the number is part of the publisher’s block of numbers.  This may be a better option than purchasing the ISBN independently.  So, weigh your options carefully.
• LCCN  Another number that you might want to consider looking into if you are in the United States, is the Library of Congress Control Number.  Again, you can obtain one on your own at http://pcn.loc.gov/pcn007.html.  Or, work though your publisher to obtain one.  The LCCN is different from the copyright number and usually, libraries will not accept your book without one.
• Professionally edit and proofread your book.  Some self-publishing houses provide this service for a fee.  You might be able to find someone to edit your book for much less (flat fee) elsewhere.  Nevertheless, get your manuscript professionally edited and proofread.  Even then, expect that errors are going to slip through the cracks.  Be prepared to pay for the service.  It doesn’t have to cost a fortune as some services do, like charge a few cents for each word.  And if your novel is several thousand words long, the dollars (U.S. or Canadian) can add up very quickly.  Many graduate students offer their services on Craigslist.com.  Some moonlighting editors also advertise the same way.  A lot of them will offer a flat fee which will result a few hundred dollars, rather than thousands of dollars.  Nevertheless, get a neutral assessment of your manuscript.
• Set realistic, measurable goals and expectations for your book.  Even with the best publicist, best edited book, best story, etc., you may not sell millions of books!  Look for entry points!  Develop your own personal strategic plan.  If you want to become the famous author, do it in incremental steps – it is not going to come overnight very easily.  Don’t expect your publicist to be a magician.  You must work realistically with him/her.  Their efforts are not going to magically or instantaneously produce a million dollars in book sales overnight.  Your publicist is only there to help you create the “buzz” for your book and to help you identify your focus on your target audience.  A lot of this also depends on your own effort and work after the book has been published also.
• Look for alternative marketing opportunities.  I call these the online “farmers’ markets.”  New ones are frequently starting up and they are also good to network among your peers, such as:
• Authors Supporting Authors – http://authorsnetworking.ning.com
• Book Market Network – http://bookmarket.ning.com
• Creative Artists Kettle – http://creativeartistskettle.ning.com
• Creative Artists Kettle Blog – http://creativeartistskettle.blogspot.com
• Create multiple streams of income.  This is so true and I’ve learned this from my failed and terrible experiences tied up in shady MLM’s.  But this is a good thought.  Don’t depend on the income from your book to be your source of income.  But also, don’t get trapped into online “work at home” offers either.  They promise that you will get rich overnight.  Actually, you don’t get anything but lose a lot of money up front.  I have created an online gift store to supplement Kami Jin by offering logo merchandise to offset my publishing costs through Café Press:
• http://www.cafepress.com/kamijin
• If you look hard, you can find viable sources that you can use to supplement your income without paying for anything up front (i.e. startup costs).
• Network and collaborate.  Don’t do this on your own.  Even though you are an independent – there is an entire network of independents out there willing to impart their talents, skills, experiences and wisdom.  This will also give you an opportunity to share your work – spread the word.  Outside of writing circles, I am collaborating with non-profits and environmental groups to promote my book as part of special causes such as planting trees, helping homeless causes.  In short, plan on giving something back to the community in order to strengthen your ties with you municipality.
• If you need anything printed, become good friends with the nearest print broker in your local community.  Print brokers are easy to find on the internet.  They can save you from 40-60% of your printing costs.

I have attempted to share a little about my path to publishing Kami Jin and some of the traps and pitfalls I encountered along the way.  I hope my suggestions and advice will be of some help, especially to those contemplating becoming independent self-published authors.  I highly recommend this route – especially if you are looking to build your audience base and a point of entry.  Rather than waiting around for some magical moment for something special to happen, this will give you an opportunity to add something to your resume, portfolio and profile on Google.  That’s way better than someone still waiting for something to happen.  The investment you make is not necessarily in your book, but more in yourself.  The dreams you achieve through your book may be small.  But the ultimate rewards will soon follow.

For writers wishing to contact Lloyd, write to him at creativewritertskettle@gmail.com.  Or, though advance arrangements, you can video chat with Lloyd via Skype or through video chat on his new networking site on http://creativeartistskettle.ning.com.

Lloyd invites guest art reviewers to post articles on his new blog.  To become a guest reviewer, write to him via the email address above.

Virtual Book Tour: Authors Promoting Themselves, Omegia Keeys

Today I wanted to focus on authors promoting themselves.  No matter who you are published with, unless you are a big name or have an agent, it is important for us as authors to get out there and promote ourselves. Our job is not finished once we turn in our manuscript, it is just starting.  Yes, maybe our friends and family will buy our book but we need to think about the big picture getting our name our there nationally. 

With my first novel, Passionate Playmates, I was forced to weed through thousands of posts on message boards to figure out how to get my book out there because I was clueless.  On the message boards I learned some good and some not so good things to do.  I took these ideas and added to them for the release of Seduction.com.  The first thing I did was plan a release party based around the concept of my book.  It took lots of planning, but it was done prior to the release.  I was all over FaceBook and MySpace promoting the party and letting people read small excerpts.  I even had a few pre sales.  In the end the party turned out great.  I am not suggesting to everyone to have a huge party at a club, but do something to celebrate your release.  It can be at a coffee shop, local bar, or library.  If people see you getting excited about your book they will too.   I had several people who could not attend the party because they were in other states, but they did buy the book for support. 

Having a release party was only the beginning.  My publisher sent me a list of events that I could attend, and I jumped on as many as I could.  I did not stop with them, I picked up the phone and contacted libraries as far across the state as I was willing to drive and set up signings.  I found out that if they really are not sure about letting you do a signing, they have media rooms that you can use for free.  Book the media room and then announce that you are having a signing.  Most libraries will put up your flyers and list you in their monthly bulletins. 

Some other things you can do are to team up with another author.  Jo Davis and I have combined and started a Domestic Seduction Book Tour.  Bookstores seem to want something that will draw a crowd.  In our case two seems to be better than one.  People even seem to not want to disappoint one of us and buy both of our books.  Joining forces also makes the events fun because there will always be some down time and you do not want to sit there twiddling your thumbs; may scare some people off. 

The bottom line is who are we to get mad at someone else if our books are not selling, if we are not willing to promote them ourselves.  We wrote it, so let's celebrate it by getting the name out there.  I write erotic fiction, I am proud of it, and I want the world to know it. Now relax and prepare for seduction… 

Passionate Playmates, Seduction.com, Can You Keep a Secret?

www.omegiakeeys.com

www.passionatewriterpublishing.com

 Books By Omegia Keeys

The Queen of Seduction, Erika, is back and in charge. No longer a temptress at Passionate Playmates, but as the owner of Fantasy Girls; an online adult modeling agency. After a nightmare of events causing Passionate Playmates to shut down she sets out determined to make Fantasy Girls into a million dollar brand.

Using her business degree and good looks, Erika's website quickly becomes one of the top in the industry.  With her website doing well she sets her sights on building an elite martini bar, with a little something extra for the men. Erika soon finds out that being the boss may not be all that it is cracked up to be. Will Erika be able to survive the Adult Industry while balancing her sexual exploits, devious employees, and someone from her past trying to destroy her?

Erika has it all, the good looks, money, fine men, and a job that she dared not tell her father about.  Passionate Playmates is an enticing story of a woman's power over her sexuality in the adult entertainment industry.  Erika  is more than a sexy woman who can control men with a just a mere glance, she is an educated woman on a mission.  Determined to take care of her son and start her own business Erika fights to avoid being caught up in the fast life of drugs, prostitution, and of course the vindictive ways of the other entertainers.  Follow Erika aka Ecstasy as she mesmerizes her clients with her bold and explicit moves as a dancer in an exclusive lingerie modeling club.  This is a behind the scenes view of a multi-million dollar industry guaranteed to keep you intrigued and wondering, What is your Passion?

This second publishing includes additional story line and a short story.

ART, LIT AND PR

Lloyd Kaneko, Author of Kami Jin, is having an art contest hosted on his website and here are the details:
http://www.lloydkaneko.com/kami-jin-art-contest.html

The Great 2010 Kami Jin Art Contest -- Two great ways to win! -- BOTH FREE TO ENTER!
The Paper People Division
Picture
Draw, illustrate, paint, sketch your idea of "paper people" and win a signed copy of Kami Jin plus other prizes. Contest opens Saturday, May 1 through Saturday, July 31, 2010. Winner will be selected by electronic public vote. Entrants work must be submitted electronically via gif, jpg, png, or tif file formats to kamijin1951 live com, or, original artwork may be submitted by mail. If original artwork return is requested, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Entries may be viewed at the "Paper People Gallery". Contest is open to all children and adults.

Utopian Vision Division
Picture
'New York City In The Future' by Philip Hone Williams, www.eyewoo.com
Share your vision of a "utopian" world. What would your dream world look like? Win a signed copy of Kami Jin plus other prizes. Contest opens Saturday, May 1 through Saturday, July 31, 2010. Winner will be selected by electronic public vote. Entrants' work must be submitted electronically via gif, jpg, png, or tif file formats to kamijin1951 live com, or original artwork may be submitted by mail. If original artwork return is requested, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Entries may be viewed in the "Utopian Vision Gallery." Contest is open for mature adults 17 years and up.


AUTHORS PROMOTING AUTHORS PR is now taking on  more clients between now and the end of June. If you are looking for Book PR and think we would be a good fit, feel free to drop us a message and let's talk about it. apasuggestions@gmail.com
Our packages are:

Packages Offered
Mini Media Blitz
(Package One)

Your book is marketed to the general online media example: social networking sites, and popular book websites

Standard Media Blitz
(Package Two)

Your book is marketed to the general online media (including social networking sites, and popular book websites) and selective audiences.
APA PR creates targeted promotional marketing for a specific audience – those most likely to read your book and works to create promotions for libraries and bookstores.


All Out Media Blitz
(Package Three)

APA PR creates a unique and effective stand alone campaign for your book.
Your book is marketed to the general online media (including social networking sites, and popular book websites) and selective audiences.
APA PR creates targeted promotional marketing for a specific audience – those most likely to read your book.
APA PR also markets your book to different levels of the traditional media and APA PR places requests for interviews and book reviews and creates online book events.

Wishing you a great week, 

Authors Promoting Authors 
apasuggestions@gmail.com

Virtual Book Tour: Melody Dempsey, Writer's Block

I know that when a writer sits down to create a story, writer's block can be a major pain in the... well, you know. I had a couple of issues when I was writing my book, The Forest Portal. I resolved them pretty easily by just getting away from my work for awhile and doing something else. I would go outside and work. That would clear my head. The second time when I found myself "stuck" I would go for a little drive. I found that little drive was very helpful! Thank God I was able to get back to my writing with no problems. I am glad that my writer's block only happened twice. Yeah, the first time, instead of going outside to work, I should have went for a drive, but, like I said, it cleared my head, but I didn't find it as easy to get back to the creating process as fast as it did when I took that drive. You know, I've heard of writers' going for weeks with writers block. I guess the creative left side part of the brain "takes a powder.

In some writers, it can be a few minutes, up to a few hours. In others, it takes a bit longer. Long is good though. I'll bet the best novels in the world to date were those written by writers who had some major writers block.

Melody Dempsey is the Author of THE FOREST PORTAL: 

The Forest Portal tells the story of three teens as they embark on an amazing journey through time. Thrilled about the last day of school, Cameron Maine, his younger sister Collette, along with their friend Taden, decide to go to the beach for an afternoon of fun and relaxation, but Cameron has other plans he has not revealed to the other two. He tells them he wants help collecting seaweed, shells, and other seashore items. Taden questions his friend’s request, but reluctantly decides to lend a hand.

Cameron has plans to develop a sealant that turns old wood new again. Taden, feeling doubtful about the plausibility of Cameron new project soon discovers, along with Cameron and Collette that the sealant actually turns out to be a paint that has the ability to turn wood bight, rainbow colors. Excited, the three decide to paint some trees in a heavily wooded area behind Cameron and Collette’s house. The three soon discover, to there amazement that the two freshly painted trees has the ability to transport them into another time, another place. The trio find themselves probing even more into a dimension so bizarre, deeper into the realm of an unknown world that they discovered, sending them on a journey that makes a summer they will never forget! 

To Learn More About Melody and her book, please visit: www.authormelodydempsey.com

Virtual Book Tour: The Story of Hope Moon, Lily Oak

The Story of Hope Moon 

Let me paint you a picture. One Janruary morning earlier this year, I sink into the sofa cup of tea in hand, recovering from manic morning getting kids to school. I flick on the TV, and am greeted with harrowing news pictures from the Haiti earthquake disaster. I wish I could do something I thought. Just then my phone started chirping at me, I recognised the number as my temp. agency. "...they said they didn't need you after all. We've got you another placement though it starts on Monday." Nevermind I thought I've already booked child care so I guess I get three quiet days to myself... I'm sure I'll find some thing to do. Something. Then it clicked, being a firm believer in everything happens for a reason, what else would I do?!
Half an hour later this appeared on Facebook:

I sat nervously sorting out an IBAN a couple of hours later, panicing I really was going to fall flat on my face! But, luckily it turns out there are some pretty fantastic people in the world. Namely: Isabelle A Newbill, Julie Carty, Kaolin Fire, Lidia Tremblay, Rob Bond. All the people at Pagan Magic, Lakefront Pagan Voice, Static Movement and Rainbow Tarot.

Hope Moon contains a wide range of things from a wide range of people. It includes a lesson in basic moon magic, contributed by Dawn Gribble and taken from Pagan-Magic.com's witchcraft e-course. Some brilliant artices on how the moon effects us all in different way by, Lidia Tremblay, Scarlet Page and Laura Goodfellow. It also has it's fair share of creative writing. There are two beautifully haunting short stories by Chris Bartholomew and Kaolin Fire. All of these components are punctuated with poetry by Julie Carty, Isabelle Newbill, Laura Goodfellow and Rob Bond (who's stunning painting adourns the cover). I also made my own poetic contibution...

The Night I Died I Came Alive
 
The night I died was the night I came alive,
It happened by the light of the Full Cold Moon.
My friends and family all mourned,
They thought it happened too soon.
I had spent the day following the foot fall of deer,
I noticed that darkness had began to decend.
I knew I should head home but felt comfort in The Wood,
That was my beginning, though most thought it my end.
I don’t remember pain, or cold, or dark,
I just stared at the sphere above shining bright.
All my troubles and worries seemed further away,
The world seems much more peaceful when it’s wrapped in the night.
The air became icy whispers as the hours wore on,
It was like learning secrets as I lay back amongst the trees.
I felt so at home watching the midnight mist swirl,
I knew I never wanted to leave, so from my body my spirit I eased.

Copyright © Lily Oak 2010 - taken from 'Hope Moon'
 

 http://hedge-witcherybooks.blogspot.com/

Virtual Book Tour: James C. Wallace and Writing From Oz

My name is James C. Wallace II and I am the Royal Liaison to Princess Ozma, Royal Ruler of Oz.

I was born one day short of the 41st anniversary of the passing of Lyman Frank Baum, the kind gentleman who wrote The Wizard of Oz over a hundred years ago.

I grew up in a loving household where my parents read to me on a daily basis and taught me the joy of reading. Many a night I recall sitting in our front room as my mother would read from the many books of Oz and my father would act out some of the odd scenes pictured within.

As I grew up, my love for reading never diminished and my parents support for my love of reading never wavered. In addition, I was fortunate enough to encounter a number of mentors who would shape my view of the world and how I would find my way in it.

In particular was Captain Kangaroo, otherwise known as Bob Keeshan. His unique program was instrumental in shaping my mind towards the joy of learning.

Another was Clyde Crashcup, an odd cartoon character who inspired me to become a scientist and educator. Despite what many psychologists would have you believe, television did not rot my brain. In fact, my fondest memories of childhood were of Saturday mornings in front of the TV machine watching the Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour and eating Captain Crunch with Crunchberries cereal.

Another mentor was a NASA scientist; Gene Shoemaker, who, by correspondence inspired me to be an astronomer. This was during the late 60's and early 70's when NASA was king of the hill, so to speak.

The most important mentor was my father, who inspired me to try everything and learn from those experiences. He got me involved in Toastmasters International and the International Brotherhood of Magicians. Those two organizations were directly responsible for much of my success as a public speaker and educator.

Fast forward to the mid-80's and my love of reading is now manifested in the lives of my 5 children as I read countless books to them, including the 14 books of Oz written by L. Frank Baum.

During this time, I am also completing my college education in Physics and running a public observatory teaching children about the night sky. This time is where the seeds of working for children's issues began for me.

Following my tenure at Indiana State University, I took a position as Planetarium Educator for The Children's Museum of Indianapolis.

By the way, if I haven't mentioned it before, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is the finest children's museum anywhere in the world. If you've visited there, you'll certainly agree. If you haven't, please make the time to do so. You'll not be disappointed. Be sure to visit SpaceQuest Planetarium at the museum. It's the best part of the museum.

Anyway, during my time there, I made it a point to be a mentor to youth volunteers and thus found my calling. To impact the lives of children in a positive manner is one of the greatest accomplishments of my life. It was during this period that I became involved with junior high school children in the inner city region of Indianapolis.

One day, while engaged in testing some educational software about Geography for 6th graders, I encountered quite a number of children who could not read, literally. It's one thing to suggest that there are kids in America who cannot read. It's quite another to come face-to-face with them.

I found myself at the end of the day sitting in my car in the parking lot shaking with remorse and resolving to do something about what I had just witnessed.
I then spent the next year in various teachers’ lounges having lunch with teachers and trying to understand how they could allow a child to go through school without mastering the art of reading.

Although some teachers cared deeply about their students, many cared only for their paycheck and thought little of the impact their negligence and disregard for the future of the next generation caused. This was reinforced by a school administration hamstrung by budget concerns and state-mandated test scores.

As a result, today's child has lost the art of reading. No longer do children sit down to read a book, to linger within the world of fiction and fantasy. Nowadays, kids are glued to the computer screen and read in snippets. In fact, with the advent of text messages, most kids now understand a truncated language that would have Daniel Webster spinning in his grave.

Only in the last few years has the Harry Potter effect taken hold and inspired kids to pick up the traditional book and immerse themselves in another world.
Despite this momentary reawakening, most kids still reach for the cel phone and communicate with their thumbs. Most kids would have trouble taking the time to sit down with a good book and giving themselves over to the realm of fantasy. They prefer the instant gratification that comes with a world overflowing with technology.

The book has become a lost art, and with that thought in mind, I chose to reinvigorate the original dream of L. Frank Baum.

In writing about young Jamie Diggs, the great grandson of O.Z. Diggs, the original Wizard of Oz, my most sincere desire is that children will pick up my book and rediscover the joy of reading.
If only a single child comes to understand and appreciate the joy of reading, then I have achieved my dream.
If, by writing about this wonderful land and all of its unique characters, I can inspire children and introduce them to the joy of reading, even if it be only a single child, I will have made an impact that reaches far beyond my own lifetime.

To this end, I have committed all my efforts towards creating an environment where kids will want to pick up that book and put aside that cel phone for a few moments. If I can serve as a mentor promoting Literacy to our youth, then I will have realized my dream.

To Learn More About James C. Wallace please visit:

http://magicianofoz.blogspot.com/
The Magician Of Oz has appeared as a Book Feature, on Authors Promoting Authors and can be found here

 

Thoughtful Thursday: Create!

All images courtesy of Christopher Chamberlain,
Many Faces Art

Please do not copy, borrow or repost without permission. 

Checkout The Wedding Fundraiser Art Special! 

http://manyfacesart.weebly.com/wedding-fundraiser.html

To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly.~Henri Bergson

Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will. ~George Bernard Shaw

I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. ~Albert Einstein

True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new.

~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

There is one thing one has to have: either a soul that is cheerful by nature, or a soul made cheerful by work, love, art, and knowledge.~Friedrich Nietzsche

The imagination imitates. It is the critical spirit that creates.~ Oscar Wilde

Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.  ~Henry Ward Beecher

But, if you have nothing at all to create, then perhaps you create yourself. ~Carl Jung

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No tricks or gimmicks.
apasuggestions@gmail.com
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Promotion Tips: Different Types of Blog Posts

Many authors are on a Virtual Book Tour, either by Authors Supporting Authors or independently and many authors are wondering what posts should look like.
It can be daunting, especially if you are just starting out. I thought I would highlight a few great posts we have had on the Authors Promoting Authors blog in the past.

Author Interviews: They don't always have to be in the form of a Q&A. At times, an interview can be written up like an article or in a journalistic style, like these two great interviews by D.VonThaer:

An Interview with Author Fiona Ingram:

http://authorspromotingauthors.blogspot.com/2009/09/author-interviews-fiona-ingram-author.html

An Interview with Author Kenneth Weene:

http://authorspromotingauthors.blogspot.com/2009/09/by-d.html

A wonderful example of a brilliant Q&A Interview is an interview with Author Lloyd Kaneko:
http://authorspromotingauthors.blogspot.com/2010/04/interview-with-author-lloyd-kaneko-kami.html

Just like the popular advice says, "Write what you want to read", give an interview you would want to read. The point of an interview is to let readers know about you and your work and to promote your book. Those things are hard to do with one worded-replies.

Book Features, or book spotlights can include an excerpt, links, a trailer and a general book blurb.
Shining examples of these are:

Cut Short, by Leigh Russell:
http://authorspromotingauthors.blogspot.com/2009/09/book-feature-cut-short-leigh-russell.html

The Journey of Om, by Chandru Bhojwani: 

http://authorspromotingauthors.blogspot.com/2010/02/book-feature-journey-of-om-chandru.html

Guest blogging (otherwise known as "Our Guest", here on APA) seems to bring a lot of confusion. A guest posts simply consists of a blog post you would like to share. It can be about your book, your writing process, your thoughts on life, thoughts on the world of writing or words of wisdom, like this post:

Our Guest: Don't Be A Niche Market Clone, Terena Scott

http://authorspromotingauthors.blogspot.com/2010/01/our-guest-dont-be-niche-market-clone.html

Sometimes a guest post can even be from a character in your book like this one:

Our Guest: The Dagda
http://authorspromotingauthors.blogspot.com/2009/09/guest-spot-dagda.html

No matter what theme or subject your guest post is on, it can always be tied back to your book.


Publicity for your book that is efficient, honestly detailed and cost conscientious.
apasuggestions@gmail.com
https://sites.google.com/site/authorspromotingauthorsbookpr/

Virtual Book Tour: Q&A with Nedyne Shorts-Nettles

About Nedyne Shorts-Nettles:

I was inspired to write because of stories like the Color Purple and all the Tyler Perry plays. I also loved the way the soaps like General Hospital and the Young and the Restless show people living their lives daily. I have found that each of my characters speak to different types of individuals for instance moms who have two jobs and don’t’ have enough time to monitor their children. Women who are so beat down by their partners they have lost a sense of self. These women refuse to walk away because they think eventually the situation will change, also women who take in men that they know nothing about only later to find that there is something wrong with the individual. It portrays the good kid that gets into a situation and can’t get out of it. The theme of the story is life. The reality of life can direct people’s lives in ways they didn’t see coming. An example of this was Vierna and Greg and her empowerment after the divorce. I would one day like to see this book made into a movie. Most people I talk to comment this book was a page turner and could not be put down.

 

Where did get the inspiration to craft this surprisingly potent tale?

I have always been a people watcher. I love to journal about things and people who interest me. The story came together like a picture on a canvas my inspiration was soaps or novellas. I love the way people are interacting through their lives struggles. Movies like Life as a house, Color purple, Goodwill hunting ect. Are all movies showing human characteristics as they are. My novel also focuses on people.

How much of the book (if any) is based on your own personal experience?

Each character has my voice. I decided they should be as real as I could make them. For instance, Vierna was a typical women scorned. I have met many women going through a divorce because their husband found someone new. I attended a travel and tourism convention so the description of the event was how I remembered it. The Ned character one of the central hubs of my novel moving from woman to woman is someone we see time and time again. He is a man who is nice looking and the woman just wanted him as an arm piece. They don’t take time to find out much about him. They are just tired of being alone. So if I placed a numerical figure I would say the book is 1/3 of my own experience.

Do you think Vierna’s personal story is one to which many readers relate?

Yes, I do because Vierna had been with Greg were together since high school and she still loved him. People are often asking me why Vierna took Greg back. My answer is love makes you do strange things. She was supposed to be over him but she wasn’t. There are a lot of women who get divorced only to return to a former mate, For example, Elizabeth Taylor.

Was it difficult to create each character and give them authenticity?

No, again the slate of the pages started our blank but the characters took on a personality with every stroke of the pen. They became real to me. I have always been a journal writing person and it contained things I would note in people. I guess you can call me a people watcher, some of which I used in the characters base.

What kinds of responses have you gotten to the book thus far? 

 

I have been given favorable response. People love the easy reading format. They love that it engages you at the beginning but they hated for the book to end.

How has your publishing experience been thus far with Publish America?

Publish America has been very supportive and have distributed my books nationwide. I appreciate them for believing in me. They are always accessible and I would publish another novel by them.

What are your future writing/publishing aspirations?

I plan to continue to write, because it is enjoyable. I have started a novel and in the near future plan to finish it. People have asked me if I would write a sequel to this book and I might.

If anyone would like to stay in contact with you where can they go?

My website is Http://Nedyne.webs.com/ or they can look me up on face book and add me as a friend.

Final thoughts? 

 

My final thought is that we only have one life to live and we should use it to leave an indelible print on the world. By writing this novel I have inspired a lot of people to write. I believe everyone has a story the challenge is getting it down on paper..I am an ordinary person who had learning disabilities early on and overcame this through my mom. And now just like in the movie PAY IT FORWARD, I am encouraging others to take a chance with their stories and see where it takes them. Your story needs to be told that is the Poison Reality of the situation.

Book Video Trailer (DRAFT): Posion Reality @ Yahoo! Video

 

Virtual Book Tour: Weaving Facts Into Fiction: How to Do It In Children's Fiction, Fiona Ingram

I am a South African author with my first children's middle grade adventure under my belt. Since my book - The Secret of the Sacred Scarab - is set in Egypt, there is naturally an educational slant, because there just has to be, given the nature of such a background to the story. I have been asked before how I manage to weave the facts in with the fiction to create something that informs while it entertains. Kids hate being 'told' things in a didactic manner, whether it's information or life lessons. Since my story included both (many) facts about Egypt, and (some) life guidelines, I formulated an approach for integrating both elements into my story.

 

Facts: My writing has a strong cultural, educational, and ‘thinking’ angle, apart from being wonderfully exciting mysteries. Many adult readers have described Egypt as being ‘like a character’ in my book. Although I never set out to achieve this intentionally, the magnitude of the Egyptian civilization was important to me in the portrayal thereof. It was impossible to skim over the facts when the characters are so deeply enmeshed in something vastly removed from anything in the Western world. Something as simple as catching a bus would be an almost impossible task for a Westerner – unless you like living dangerously. So, when choosing from the (no kidding!) hundreds of thousands of possible facts to include on Egypt, I decided to put in only the details, information, or clues my characters would need to survive. I analyzed every bit of data  before weaving it into my writing, asking myself, "That's very interesting to know about this temple. Do my heroes need it to survive?"

Life Lessons: A young preteen or middle grade reader is still (I think) susceptible to values projected in books. I also think it’s a responsibility of authors to consider the target audience, and how they can handle problematic themes or moral dilemmas. I’d like the young readers to learn as they share the journey (and subsequent journeys) with the heroes Adam and Justin that life isn’t always about the next gadget, what your parents can buy you, designer labels, the latest video game, etc. Life is about choices, meanings, friendships, loyalties, moral dilemmas, the right and wrong path to take. I think it’s important for young readers to recognize that, as humans, we are not perfect, but we can make the right decisions or else take steps to correct our mistakes.
My heroes aren’t rebels; they’re nice kids who get tangled up in something bigger than their wildest dreams (or nightmares). They like school, sports and class activities; they love and respect their parents, and want to do the right thing. Their challenges come when they are in a totally different environment with no access to any of their usual support systems, no way of calling for help (kidnapped and tour bus hijacked!), and faced with decisions that draw upon their upbringing and moral training (do they rescue their kidnapper or let him die in desert shifting sand?). My personal aim in creating my characters was to draw out these elements so that parents would feel comfortable with the development of the heroes, and happy that the young reader is taught something in a good way.
We can all be heroes, no matter whom or what we are.

 

Book and Author Details

Book Synopsis: A 5000-year-old mystery comes to life when a scruffy peddler gives two young South African tourists, Adam and Justin Sinclair, an old Egyptian scarab on their very first day in Egypt. Only when the evil Dr. Faisal Khalid shows a particular interest in the cousins and their scarab, do the boys realize they are in terrible danger. Dr. Khalid wants the relic at all costs. Justin and Adam embark upon the adventure of a lifetime, taking them down the Nile and across the harsh desert in their search for the legendary tomb of the Scarab King, an ancient Egyptian ruler. They are plunged into a whirlpool of hazardous and mysterious events when Dr. Khalid kidnaps them. They survive terrifying dangers in a hostile environment (such as a giant cobra, as well as sinking sand), pursued by enemies in their quest to solve the secret of the sacred scarab. They must translate the hieroglyphic clues on the underside of the scarab, as well as rescue the missing archaeologist James Kinnaird, and their friend, the Egyptologist Ebrahim Faza, before time runs out. They must also learn more about the ancient Seven Stones of Power and the mysterious Shemsu-Hor. With just their wits, courage, and each other, the boys manage to survive … only to find that the end of one journey is the beginning of another!

Nominations: The Secret of the Sacred Scarab was a Finalist in the Children’s/Juvenile Fiction category of the 2009 USA Next Generation Indie Book Awards and in the Children’s Fiction section of the USA National Best Books 2009 Awards. It is also a Finalist (pending winner announcement) in the Preteen category of the 2009 Readers’ Favorites 2009 Awards. The book has just been nominated Number 2 in the Top 10 Favorite Books of 2009 for Kids, Tweens and Teens in The Children’s & Teens Book Connection.

About the Author: Fiona Ingram (B.A., Hons. (Natal), M.A., (Wits)) was born and educated in South Africa. Her interest in ancient history, mystery, and legends, and her enjoyment of travel has resulted in The Secret of the Sacred Scarab, the first in her exciting children’s adventure series—Chronicles of the Stone. The first book was inspired by an actual trip the author took to Egypt with her two young nephews (then aged 10 and 12).

To Purchase THE SECRET OF THE SACRED SCARAB, please visit here

Fiona has visited us at Authors Promoting Authors before!

To Read an Interview with Fiona, click here

Interview With Author Lloyd Kaneko, Kami Jin

 Interview with Author Lloyd  Kaneko about his new book, KAMI JIN. 

 To learn more about this author and his work please visit: http://www.lloydkaneko.com/

Interview by Molly Kincerk, apamolly@gmail.com 

1.    Why Do You Want People to Read Your Book, Kami Jin?

People have different motivations for reading a book:
·         Some for solitude;
·         Others for information;
·         Others read for recreation and relaxation.
 
I can’t force people to pick up Kami Jin for any one particular reason, but if they seek to be entertained; seek to be comforted; or seek information; then I invite people to read Kami Jin.  The book may be good for recreational reading, but I can’t guarantee it will be relaxing.  It is meant to be thought-provoking.  Some may embrace the suggestions that I have written in the book while many will entirely reject my ideas.  I guarantee, the book will trigger some controversy at many levels.
 
2.    Who Do You Think Should Read Kami Jin?

·         People who are seeking change in the world.
·         Those who think people should be more important than profit.
·         Young adults who are disenchanted with the current political process in America.
·         People who want to make wars obsolete.
·         People who seek to create a more compassionate, loving society.
·         Those people who regard people as “human beings” and not “commodities.”
·         People seeking spiritual comfort.
·         People victimized by corporate greed and corruption, or know of people who are experiencing or have been victimized by corporate greed and corruption.
·         People seeking to know what it’s like to be jobless and/or homeless.
·         People in the world who have a concern for homelessness, poverty and starvation. People in general.
·         Traditional and non-traditional book readers (i.e. printed book readers and e-book readers).
 
3.     What Is The Message of Kami Jin?
 
A.      Life is fragile.  You can have the best laid out plans, goals and objectives in your life, only to be shattered by corporate greed and corruption.
B.      Put people first and foremost.  Changing the mentality of “What’s in it for I/me (as a individuals/country)?” to “How can it benefit we/us (people/the world)?”
C.     Don’t let anyone stand in the way of your dreams and aspirations.
D.    Treat people with dignity, humility and respect:  Corporate executives often say their employees are their company’s “greatest assets.”  But when it comes to downsizing, the first ones sacrificed are its employees.  Humans are often called to military duty and expected to sacrifice their lives for the “sake of the country” – to protect and preserve its “freedom.”  Life, essentially, has become a “commodity.”  We claim that life is precious and worth saving an unborn child, but living people are considered as “sacrificial lambs” when it comes to defending an unjustified war.  Where. therefore, is the meaning and value of human life?  Or, when they are no longer valuable or, “useless,” they are treated as “disposables.”  People are not “disposable paper.”
E.     “Kami Jin” is a Japanese term that has a double meaning.  “Kami” is “paper” “Jin” is “person” or “people.”  Hence, the first translation or theme, “paper people.”  Kami could also mean “godly.”  Therefore, “Kami Jin” can also be interpreted as “godly person.  The book also uses this interpretation when Gordon shares his “sermons on the mount.”
 
4.     What Do You Wish To Accomplish With Kami Jin?

Practically every author aspires to become a major prize winning author.  I have to admit, I’m no exception to the rule.  Every author would like to make a huge profit from the sales of their books.  Realistically, what I wish to accomplish with Kami Jin is to make an impact with long term benefits for the homeless, not only here in Whittier, but around the world.  I personally know how cruel society can be when you don’t have a job or are without a place to call home.  People are really treated as “disposable” in society, hence Kami Jin, “Paper People.”  The world as a whole needs to be educated on the dark side of the United States.  The USA is notorious for criticizing human rights atrocities round the globe, and boasts of its “record” at home.  Why can’t they explain the inhumane practices that are exercised when people are in despair and distress and forced out of their homes?  (Just look at Michael Moore’s film, Capitalism: A Love Story).  Eviction/foreclosure practiced all in the name of profit with no offers to humanely rehabilitate or assist the families to another home or provide supportive assistance elsewhere.
 
5.     Besides Writing, What Else Do You Enjoy?
 
I like singing – church choir and with a master chorale.  I especially like bowling in a seniors league although that frustrates me once in a while.  When I can afford it, I enjoy deep sea fishing.  Walking and playing with my dog and caring for my cat who thinks he’s human or king of the house.  Finally, being dad.  I have a wonderful daughter who was a Valedictorian in her middle school; Salutatorian in high school; spent a semester abroad in Greece and travelled to Turkey and Italy on the side; graduated college as a Fulbright Scholar and taught in Spain; now teaches in Oakland, California as an AmeriCorps volunteer; introduced Michelle Obama at the 2009 National Conference for Volunteer and Service.
 
6.     Can You Tell Us A Little About Yourself?

I was born in East Los Angeles in a district called Boyle Heights, then lived in a residence hotel that my grandparents owned in Little Tokyo just on the border of Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles.  My family moved to a Los Angeles suburb, Monterey Park, just east of L.A. where I grew up and went to high school in neighboring Montebello.
 
I attended California State University, Long Beach, where I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in English – Creative Writing and was a member of the school’s rowing team.  While at Cal State, I attended courses through the Open Door Program sponsored by the Writers Guild of America, West.  Kami Jin actually started as a screenplay project.
 
After graduating college, I worked for an aerial surveying firm in Long Beach as a computer operator and was eventually promoted to supervisor.  I was sent to Algeria to conduct training for computer operators on a similar system at the Institut Nationalé de Cartographie.  Upon my return, I worked for Hughes Aircraft before becoming a personal computer trainer for Great Western Bank.  Upon departing Great Western Bank, I became a consultant for a few years in directing training and human resources activities as well as technical writing.  Then I was laid off and unemployed for four consecutive years.
 
Because of the medical episodes I was experiencing, I retired permanent disability and enabled me to become a full-time creative writer/screenwriter, and I resumed working on the manuscript in earnest.
 
7.    What Would You Like To See Happen with your book?

Most of this I said in question 4.  But I would like to see a lot of readers reading the book.
 
To bring darkness into light.  Many would say that capitalism has benefitted the world, that it has reduced poverty and hunger.  If that is so, why does it continue to force people out of their dwellings when they (the families) are in distress because are suddenly unemployed?  In the so called richest country in the world, why is homelessness so high?  Why does capitalism make it difficult for people to return to society once they have been displaced from their jobs?  Expect you to pay for services and assistance when you don't even have a penny?  Make it extremely difficult for one to get a line of credit?
 
The next step is to see that the book gets published in an audio book format.  I'd like to see the book published in a wide variety of formats both electronically and in print.  It is already available in both formats.
 
I would like to see a lot of books sell.  But in my attempts to be environmentally friendly, I also don't want to see a lot of waste typically found with traditional publishing houses.  I want to minimize the unnecessary killing of trees in order to preserve the forests.  This is why I have elected to go with print-on-demand publishing.
 
8.    What is the hardest part of writing for you?
 
1.    Procrastination
2.    Writer’s block
3.    External interferences and distractions (other people demanding my time and energy)
 
9.   What used to be your response to the infamous "What Do You Want to do When You Grow Up?"
 
In Japanese-American culture, you were typically expected to become a doctor, lawyer or engineer.  I was always told by my parents that I would never make it as a musician or an artist – there was never any money in it.  Perhaps that was just it – everything during my growth as a child was “for the money.”  Even to this day, my heart is for “the people.”  In high school, I developed an interest in creative writing.  When I attended East Los Angeles College, my major was Engineering, but I could not handle the mathematics or science.  My college advisor suggested that I’d concentrate on “technical writing.”  .  When I transferred to Cal State Long Beach, they only offered one course on technical writing through their English Department.  But they offered a full program in creative writing.  I decided that was for me.  Although my professional career involved a lot of technical writing experiences, when I retired, it opened the doors for my creative writing ambitions.  So, in essence, I became what I set out to be – the long way around.
 
10. What was the greatest part of writing Kami Jin?

The “spiritual” experience.
 
The first third of my book was more of a reflection of what I experienced in “Corporate America,”  Some of it is based on true experiences but set in fictitious settings.
 
While writing the middle portion of the book where Gordon is kidnapped to the Sierra Mountains is when I really had the spiritual awakening.  When I thought of writing several “sermons on the mount” through Gordon’s experiences stranded on the mountain top, it was if I was personally being enlightened with spiritual messages giving answers to the earthly problems of homelessness, poverty, starvation, and wars.  It was if a spiritual being had given me the answers to solving these riddles.  Even when I re-read some of these passages now, it is difficult for me to accept the fact that I actually wrote those words into the book.
 
Just when I thought the book was completed, the characters encouraged me to continue writing the book and led me to write a second part of the book – the “utopian” portion.  It was as if they were saying, Earth can be a better place by following this distant planet’s example.

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Kami Jin can be purchased here (paperback) or here (e-book) 

If you would like to feature Kami Jin or interview author Lloyd Kaneko, please contact apasuggestions@gmail.com