For book/ebook authors, publishers, & self-publishers

May 2008 Blog Posts (179)

Help A Reporter

This might help to publicize your books. Sign up for Help a Reporter at helpareporter.com

Each day, you'll receive up to three emails, each with anywhere from 2-10 queries per email. They'll all be labeled with [shankman.com] in the subject line, for easy filtering. If you see a query you can answer, go for it! HelpAReporter.com really is that simple.

Added by Robert Gordman on May 5, 2008 at 1:46pm — No Comments

How To Build a Successful Writing Career in 3 Easy Steps

Step one: Make sacrifices to get the book written

Charles Bock, author of Beautiful Children, has said,

"Truth is I worked on this novel for 10 years. Not ten years of watching Seinfeld at 11 PM. Ten years of a high priority in my life. When I was dating the woman who is now my wife, I would only go out with her two nights a week because I couldn't give more time to… Continue

Added by Karen Harrington on May 5, 2008 at 9:58am — No Comments

Midnight Hours takes 2nd place

I entered the synopsis and first two chapters of Midnight Hours in the OWFI (Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc) contest in the unpublished manuscript mystery/suspense category. Not only did Midnight take 2nd place, but the comments from the judge, who sent a short critique, really encouraged me. He/she wrote comments such as the following:

I'll be honest - I love this story! Your characters are believable; the plot is… Continue

Added by Vivian Zabel on May 5, 2008 at 9:30am — 3 Comments

New Experiences in Germany

Since my arrival in Bavaria, the action has been non-stop. It usually is with all the sightseeing we like to get in. On my first day there, all of my cousins and friends came to greet me and my family. Upon seeing me my cousin Matthias (whom I appropriately made a leprechaun named “Maddy” in “Laura and the Leprechauns”), he hugged me and said, “On Tuesday you will come with me to school and talk to my class about America, English and writing.” Since he hadn’t posed this as a question, I was a… Continue

Added by Amber T. Kingston on May 5, 2008 at 7:02am — No Comments

Faith, Hope & Inspiration: Surviving Mothers of Breast Cancer Tribute

"Faith, Hope & Inspiration: Surviving Mothers of Breast Cancer Tribute"

Seeking poems that focus on MOTHERS and strong WOMEN to be read on the BAN Mother's Day Tribute Show.

On Thursday, May 8, 2008 8pm-10pm EST, The Black Authors Network (BAN) will open its phone lines for any callers who wants to tell the world how much they love their mothers!

It is also an opportunity for those who have… Continue

Added by Ella D. Curry on May 5, 2008 at 5:51am — No Comments

Faith, Hope & Inspiration

Greetings!

On Thursday night at 8pm-10pm EST, the Black Authors Network will host a Mother's Day tribute night. I am inviting you to prepare a 5-10 minute statement on MOTHERHOOD, or WHAT IS A STRONG WOMAN, or on THE MAKING OF A VIRTUOUS WOMAN. Your contribution can be a brief essay, quote, scripture, or poem. Your contribution can also be a dedication to a particular woman or group of women. We welcome shout-outs to any mother that you think needs to be showcased for her work… Continue

Added by Ella D. Curry on May 5, 2008 at 5:46am — No Comments

On the Lighter Side of Writing

I am a big fan of Shel Silverstein, one of the best poets I've ever read (W.B. Yeats not withstanding). I have been re-accquainted with his writing thanks to my children. I recently posted a personal look at how I write. This one might work just as well.

Writer Waiting by Shel Silverstein

Oh this shiny new computer -

There just isn't nothin' cuter.

It knows everything the world ever knew.

And with this great computer

I don't need no writin'… Continue

Added by Ron Adams on May 4, 2008 at 5:33pm — No Comments

PRESS RELEASE - THE LONG AWAITED DOCUMENTARY- THE FAMILY IN THE CAR, A Revelation - IS NOW AVAILABLE

For Immediate Release

Contact Information:

Brenda Farrar-Ejemai

E-Mail: favorblooms@thefamilyinthecar.com

A SHELTER IN THE TIME OF STORM

Author Releases Documentary after 4 Years

Columbia, MD-April 5, 2008--

Well-known author, Brenda Farrar-Ejemai reveals, what was at first anonymously written, a documentary that records her experience in New York City over 17 years ago. Faced with the unexpected trauma of homelessness, her struggle… Continue

Added by Brenda Farrar-Ejemai on May 4, 2008 at 1:45pm — No Comments

"The Cardinal Pirate" - Now Available

My latest novel, "The Cardinal Pirate", the sequel to "Surfing Treasure's Wake" is now available from Amazon.com as well as other online book stores.

The following is a short description:

“I am dead, may the Lord have mercy on my wretched soul and forgive me my many sins. I did what I had to do.”

So begins “The Cardinal Pirate”, the sequel to “Surfing Treasure’s Wake.”

Seventeen-year-old Marc is joined by… Continue

Added by Doug Hanau on May 4, 2008 at 6:00am — No Comments

Intriguing Marketing idea

I just received a wonderful email.

I signed up to receive the newsletter from one of my favorite authors, Nina Bangs.

I credit her with my having a blog. Three years ago, I wanted to contact her, but to do so I needed to belong to the web ring Out Of The Blogosphere. To do that I needed to join Blogger.

It's been a wild ride since then.

I've also continued to read and enjoy Nina's style of writing.

Lo! Today comes an email stating that her publisher is going to try a… Continue

Added by Michele O. on May 3, 2008 at 7:09pm — No Comments

Whatever you do, please, please don't take my phone away!

Isn’t it crazy how dependent we’ve become of that device that connects us with others?

Working as an over-the-phone interpreter, I literally live on the phone. For eight hours a day, I receive calls with only a couple of seconds in between. Grueling? Yep, it is. But I absolutely love, love my job. Why? Because I delight in speaking. So what better way to best enjoy what I do than to be able to speak in two languages?

But that talking also carries into my spiritual life. I… Continue

Added by Janet Perez Eckles on May 3, 2008 at 2:40pm — No Comments

Troll Bridge Promotions Presents If Only by Celia Cooper

Troll Bridge Promotions is proud to announce the virtual blog tour of If Only by Celia Cooper.
Read the synopsis and an excerpt of this heartwarming novel at Buzz the Book. Leave a comment and be entered to win a free copy of If Only at the end of the tour.

Added by Jean Lauzier on May 2, 2008 at 10:30am — No Comments

Mother's Day Giveaway!

Since Mother's Day is coming up and I am wanting to do a little

advertising for my new bookstore, Harbor of Hope Christian Bookstore, I

thought I would kick it off with a book giveaway.

My bookstore is no where near where I want it to be, but I figure if I

wait until I get all the kinks worked out of it I might never launch

it, so as I continue to work with my web designer you will see it

transform. I only have a small selection of books right now… Continue

Added by Lightning Book Promotions on May 2, 2008 at 7:58am — No Comments

Book Attic Interview

The Book Attic Interviews Author Ronald W. Adams

City: Hamburg

State: New York

Country: United States of America

Tell us what makes you proud to be a writer from your City, State or Country?

I was born and raised on the South Shore in Massachusetts, but have lived most of my adult life in the Buffalo, NY area. I love this area for so many reasons. Mostly, I love it for the people. My experience here has shown me that there is a reason Buffalo is known as the city… Continue

Added by Ron Adams on May 1, 2008 at 11:01pm — No Comments

An interview with Jenn Savedge, the author of ’The Green Parent’

An interview with Jenn Savedge, the author of 'The Green Parent'

Three weeks ago I reviewed here the new book 'The Green Parent: A…

Continue

Added by Eylon Israely @ Eco-Libris on May 1, 2008 at 2:20pm — No Comments

Troll Bridge Promotions presents Tall Tales on the Iron Horse by Colin Davies

Troll Bridge Promotions is proud to announce the start of the Tall Tales on the Iron Horse Virtual Blog Tour.

Take a ride on the rails of fantasy as you journey to Titan inside the bowels of the Iron Horse. Witness a terrifying and deadly new game and meet a monster who will love you to death. Spend a little time with alien tourists, visit a real cardboard character, and dine in a restaurant where the food is expensive, but life is… Continue

Added by Jean Lauzier on May 1, 2008 at 1:54pm — No Comments

Self-Published Canadian Author Wins Prestigious National Award

According to this morning's Globe and Mail newspaper out of Toronto, a debut novel self-published by its author after he couldn't attract an agent or publisher, has won Canada's most prestigious award for literary humor: the CAN$10,000 Stephen Leacock… Continue

Added by Mark David Gerson on May 1, 2008 at 1:01pm — No Comments

All That I Need Is In Him

You are born helpless and needy, being totally dependent on nurturance from others. In fact, God has created you with a deep need that can never be satisfied until you turn to Him. One of His Names is El Shaddai, which means: God, the All-Sufficient One.

The Lord woke me up today with a jolt. Regardless of how well you know the Word and want to obey it, it’s not always easy to follow through, isn’t it? What do you do when the rent is due and you have nothing coming in, or when your… Continue

Added by Ann Stewart on May 1, 2008 at 10:30am — No Comments

Cover Art Design Awards - Voting now open

'A Study in Red - The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper' has been nominated for the Authors Lounge Cover Art Design Awards for May 2008.

Voting has now opened, and runs tro the end of the month. Could I ask any of my friends who feel kindly disposed towards the book to visit http://www.talauthors.com/TAL/RomanceandMoreAwards.htm and if you feel the book cover has merit, to place a vote which would be greatly appreciated.

Cover artwork was by the brilliant Deron Douglas at… Continue

Added by Brian L Porter on May 1, 2008 at 4:00am — No Comments