Experience This True and Moving Story About a Man Who Took His Life

New Book Recalls the Life and Times of a Man Through His Mother’s Viewpoint

CLEMSON, S.C., June 4, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) — Eric was good-looking, talented and intelligent and had two promising careers — as an engineer and as an actor. Quite unexpectedly he took his own life at the age of twenty-seven. Sandra Underwood recounts the emotional agony of coping with her only child’s sudden and shocking suicide in her book, Eric’s Story — Surviving a Son’s Suicide.

Eric never let anyone know of his bouts with depression; no one suspected that anything was wrong. He had just received a big promotion in his engineering job. Handsome and talented, he was beginning to attract attention in show business as well, appearing in the movie Forrest Gump starring Tom Hanks.

Sandra began educating herself about depression and suicide and learned that it occurs widely in all countries and walks of life. Part of her healing process from her devastating grief prompted what is known as a “spontaneous spiritual emergency” or kundalini which has to do with an opening of the subtle energies in the body. What followed were some extraordinary paranormal experiences. The book contains family photographs and a selection of poems. It is meant to show survivors and others hope for a fulfilling life that — despite the tragic loss of a child — one can still find

About the Author

Sandra J. Underwood lives in South Carolina with her husband of forty-five years. Both are retired from Clemson University after decades-long careers there; she as an administrator in strategic planning and he as an English Professor and Shakespeare scholar. They live on Lake Hartwell. She enjoys researching, studying, and photographing orbs and the orb phenomena.

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Book Marketing - Back To Basics

By Denise Glesser

I know how you feel. You have spent a lot of time and money to make your dream a reality. What I’m talking about is taking your book from concept to finished product and you want to sell a bunch of books now!

The first thing you have to wrap your brain around is being an author is a labor of love. You don’t go from unknown to the bestsellers list. That’s not to say that it hasn’t happened. It just doesn’t happen that often.

You have to be a walking sandwich board telling people about your book. Never leave home without them!

There are many steps that you need to take in order to sell your book. You have to find a distributor, develop a Press Kit, schedule book signings, launch a web site, put together a press release.

That is just the tip of the iceberg and the watered down version. Each step has several other steps to make it complete.

For instance, scheduling a book signing. You contact the events manager or community relations manager and talk with them about the book, the author, and your desire to schedule a book signing. They usually want to see a copy of the book before they commit so you send them a copy with a cover letter. Give it about two weeks and call back to schedule. You should always schedule a couple months a head so you have time to send the story some promotional material to hand out and hang up. You want to work as a team with the bookstore so that the event is successful for everyone involved. If the signing is successful then the next time you call and want to schedule a signing the bookstore welcomes you with open arms and you have sold some books!

Enjoy your accomplishments and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Denise

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34 Tips for Better Writing!

Article source: Authorsandspeakersnetwork.com

Thought the following tips might bring a smile to your face. The authors name has been lost in cyberspace. . . otherwise I would be happy to give proper credit.

1.  Verbs HAS to agree with their subjects.

2.  Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.

3.  And don’t start a sentence with a conjunction.

4.  It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.

5.  Avoid cliches like the plague. (They’re old hat)

6.  Also, always avoid annoying alliteration.

7.  Be more or less specific.

8.  Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are (usually) unnecessary.

9.  Also too, never, ever use repetitive redundancies.

10.  No sentence fragments.

11.  Contractions aren’t necessary and shouldn’t be used.

12.  Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.

13.  Do not be redundant; do not use more words than necessary; it’s highly superfluous.

14.  One should NEVER generalize.

15.  Comparisons are as bad as cliches.

16.  Don’t use no double negatives.

17.  Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.

18.  One-word sentences? Eliminate.

19.  Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.

20.  The passive voice is to be ignored.

21.  Eliminate commas, that are, not necessary. Parenthetical words however should be enclosed in commas.

22.  Never use a big word when a diminutive one would suffice.

23.  Kill all exclamation points!!!

24.  Use words correctly, irregardless of how others use them.

25.  Understatement is always the absolute best way to put forth earth shaking ideas.

26.  Use the apostrophe in it’s proper place and omit it when its not needed.

27.  Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.”

28.  If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times: Resist hyperbole; not one writer in a million can use it correctly.

29.  Puns are for children, not groan readers.

30.  Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.

31.  Even IF a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.

32.  Who needs rhetorical questions?

33.  Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.

34.  Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.

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Xlibris Author Spotlight of the Month: Noel Michaels

Most of us are familiar with the term, “horse whisperer,” due to the film of the same name starring Robert Redford. But a horse handicapper?

Wiki.com defines thoroughbred handicapping in games and sports as “the art of predicting horses who have the greatest chance of winning a race, and profiting from these predictions at horse races.” This can very well describe the nature of the job Noel Michaels is in. Apart from being in known in horseracing circles as an ace horse handicapper, Noel is also the author of the humorous Xlibris release, Fix Six.

Armed with his wit, his knowledge of the sport, and his renowned eloquence with the written word, Noel gives his readers front-row seat tickets to the horse derbies through his Fix Six.

This book is his fictional, albeit satirical, account of real-life events that actually occurred in 2002. While the original characters of the story were a group of smart college buddies who first struck it rich at the horse races then eventually got caught due to several unfortunate circumstances, his Fix Six characters are composed of incompetent bumblers who managed to succeed in their betting sprees due to a severe case of dumb luck.

The reception to Noel’s Fix Six has been more than ecstatic so far. In fact, marketing his book has made him busier than ever. Noel has several book signings and guest appearances in several radio and TV talk shows lined up in his schedule. However, there are no complaints from this author, especially since he has been employing a special marketing strategy. “I have been a horseracing writer for nearly 20 years, so my name is well known in the sport. That seemed like the most logical place to focus my marketing,” he reveals.

It is this secret that Noel shares with other authors who have marketing concerns. He states, “Start by marketing your book where your name recognition is the greatest, or where you wish to establish some name recognition the most. These gains will be more valuable to authors than any money they can make.”

Recognition in his chosen field is primarily part of the driving force that gave Noel the inspiration to self-publish Fix Six with Xlibris – and he has not regretted his choice of publisher. He elaborates: “I think the most important thing about a self-publishing company is its ability to produce a professional-looking final product. Also, despite the fact that the book is self-published, it is nice to have the backing of a big well-regarded company like Xlibris standing behind the book, doing the legwork on so many elements from the beginning of the publishing process to the finish.”

In separating the man from the lover of the horseracing sport, one would see that there is not much difference. While the sport itself involves a bit of living on the edge, the man also has a zest for life. “I revel in life’s vices, and am proud to say I drink and gamble every day of my life while living life to the fullest,” Noel explains. He adds, “I’ve been doing things my own unconventional way for nearly 40 years, and it has worked out fine for me so far.”

Fix Six may be purchased directly through Xlibris Corporation or Barnes & Noble.com and Amazon.com. 

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How to Create a Great Title For Your Book

Tell Your Reader What’s In It for Them!

by Peter Bowerman

Some time back, I got an email from an ebook author who wanted a blurb for his upcoming writing title. I couldn’t help but notice that his title seemed a bit weak. The book was about getting past the obstacles that most fiction writers encounter on the way to finishing their books. The original title was:

Writing Your Novel: A Quick and Easy Guide to Getting It Done 

It needed to be more dynamic. Here’s what I came up with:

UNSTUCK! Kick Down Those Roadblocks and Finish Your Novel Now!

Now, someone can look at the title and know instantly what the book is about and the benefits they’ll get from reading it.

If you’re writing non-fiction, your title and subtitle are as crucially important as your great-looking cover. And in many respects, a title is similar to a corporate tagline, something I have a good bit of experience through my commercial writing career. Let’s look at some famous taglines:

GE. We bring good things to life.

Delta. We’re ready when you are.

Avis. We try harder.

Microsoft. Where do you want to go today?  

Virginia is for lovers.

What do they all have in common? They’re promises. They tell you what you can count on. Same with a brand. Think Dove soap. Tiffany’s. Mercedes-Benz. IBM. Any doubt as to the promise in those brands? Keep this in mind as you create your book title.

Promise, Then Elaborate

When I created my title, I kept in mind the promise, and I say I could have done a lot worse than The Well-Fed Writer (a detailed how-to guide on starting a “commercial” writing business – writing for corporations, where the income potential money was FAR greater than typical “freelance writing”).

I then used the subtitle to reinforce, clarify, elaborate on the promise of the title. I went with: Financial Self-Sufficiency as a Freelance Writer in Six Months or Less – an additional promise in its own right. Don’t make readers wonder what your book is about; have them “get it” right away from the title and subtitle. A good rule of thumb on titles vs. subtitles? If the title you come up with sounds more explanatory than catchy (and is more than 4-5 words, max), it’s probably a better subtitle.

It all comes down to benefits. Good title/subtitle combos tell readers what’s in it for them, why they should bother picking up the book in the first place. 

Another Case Study

In another case, I was hired to mentor a new self-publishing author, an ad industry veteran who’d written book on creativity. While he wanted to tap my expertise on a variety of nuts and bolts issues, in his mind, his cover artwork was nailed down, and title was set:

The Field Guide to Creativity:

One Path And 101 Pointers For Discovering Fresh Ideas

Well, when I told him his title needed work, he wasn’t exactly overjoyed. I must confess, I felt a bit like the parent telling his daughter that, despite the fact that the wedding is two weeks away, invitations sent, and caterer, florist, photographer and band paid for, I thought her intended betrothed is a loser and it’s not too late to call it off. Here was a book – a really good, interesting, valuable and yes, creative book – purporting to help people be more creative, and its title simply wasn’t. 

He took my advice, revisited the idea, he and I and a bunch of his friends (via email)  brainstormed a bunch of jazzier titles, and here’s what he ended up with:

ZING! Five Steps & 101 Tips for Creativity on Command

Know what the #1 best-selling trade paperback of 2002 was, according to Publishers Weekly? A cookbook! And one that sold 1.8 million copies. Title: The Fix-It and Forget-Itä Cookbook: Feasting With Your Slow Cooker. (Authors: Dawn J. Ranck and Phyllis Pellman Good). Now is that a promise or what?

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Source: Writeandpublishyourbook.com

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ALWAYS Sign Your Books!

by Larry James                                                                                                 

There is never a good reason for an author to not sign their book! Never!               

Ask any book store manager. If two identical books are sitting side-by-side and one is signed by the author and the other is not, guess which one sells first? Signed books sell quicker!

Don’t wait for someone to ask. Just sign it! Many people think because you wrote a book, you are unapproachable. Prove them wrong.

Talk to people. It builds relationships. Be exceedingly FRIENDLY! Book signings are certainly no place to be shy.

If you are sending books for reviews; sign them.

Obviously you are expected to sign your books at a book signing, however you must seize every opportunuty to sign your books.

I often will sign a bookmark for someone who lingers at my table but does not buy my book. Remember your mission: “Spread good will!” Many people will come back to the store and buy your book after you have left.

Give copies of your book cover to everone. Have extra book covers printed. Be sure you sign them! They make great giant book cover “postcards.” Sign and send them to friends, clients and book stores. Ask your friends to give (or mail) your signed book covers to their friends.

On second thought. . . sign EVERYTHING!

Print out and give away a FREE “Recommended Reading” list. List several catagories and make sure your book and website are listed in the first topic. Sign your name beside your book title and name to call attention to it. Don’t be afraid to list other competing titles.

As an author you should ALWAYS sign your books, even if you sell or give them to your friends or trade books with other authors. (I believe your friends should BUY your books to help support you in your author efforts.) Some people are too shy to ask for your autograph. Sign it anyway! Simply ask, “Here, let me sign that for you. Whose name would you like in it?” Always ask.

By the way, when you sign your book, ever assume the book is for the one who is buying it. In the beginning, I wasted several books by assuming that the book was for them. I also always ask for the correct spelling. Even John can be spelled, “Jon;” “Kelly: Keli, Kellie, Kelley, etc.”

If you sell your book by mail order be sure to include a blank on your order form for the person’s name to which the book should be signed. Remind them to PRINT the name. I also ask if they would like for me to write a date under my signature. Many people like to remember when they met you.

Authors often trade books with other authors. Remember to sign your books to them and ask them to return the favor.

Come up with a special way of signing your name every time you sign your books. For many years, I have signed books, “Sally & Jim, Celebrate Love! Larry James.” While signing, I always mention that my website is CelebrateLove.com; that there are lots of free relationship articles there and I would love to hear from them by e-mail telling me what they thought of my book. I also add, “If you like it, please tell your friends.”

Be creative in the ways you sign your books! My friend, Steven Andrew Guerrero, author of “Gentlemen, Start HER Engine,” signs his books: “Larry, Always race to win! See you in Victory Lane!”

Adding something special like, “Happy Birthday,” or “Happy Anniversary,” etc., will also make them very proud to show the book to their friends. Signed books are treasured much more than non-signed books!

Be shameless! You are an author now. Some people collect autographs! Give them freely! Don’t be sky. If you proud of what you have written. . . show it!

Sign your books!

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Source: Authorsandspeakersnetwork.com

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Self Publishing: Is this the Way to Publish Your Book?

By Deanna Mascle

Self publishing might be the best way to publish your book. There are several advantages to self publishing that you might not have considered.

First, and most important, self publishing places you firmly in control of your book. When someone else is paying you to publish your book then they make many decisions regarding the editing of the manuscript, the cover, the title and the marketing that can impact not only how well your book will sell but also how it will be received by the reading public. For example, my second book ended up with the title “Kentucky Kisses” simply because my publisher’s marketing department reported that books with the word “kisses” in the title sold well. I felt the title was rather frivolous for the content but my wishes were ignored.

Self publishing is also faster than traditional publishing. With my novel, Kentucky Kisses, it took me over a year to find a publisher interested in buying and several months before we went to contract. Then after the contract was signed it was another 18 months before my book was released to the public. That is a long time to wait.

Self publishing also allows you to retain all the profits from your endeavor. While you may have to put some money up front (depending on the method you use to self publish your book) you will not have to wait for months or years to see income as a result. Most publishers only pay royalties once or twice a year and then those royalties are only a small percentage of the book price. When you self publish your book then once you have covered any publications costs everything you earn is pure profit.

Finally, it cannot be overlooked that self publishing offers you an opportunity to break into print that might not be otherwise available. The simple fact is that traditional publishing is highly competitive and many worthwhile manuscripts (and authors) cannot find a publishing home although there may well be an eager and receptive audience for that book.

It should be noted that self publishing may not be for everyone. If you are still struggling with your writing and voice, or your manuscript still needs polishing, then you should continue to work on your book and perhaps bring in the assistance of a critique group or professional editor. Self publishing a book that is not yet ready for publication could be a costly mistake. If your manuscript has been polished and well received by several critical readers then you should at least consider self publishing your book.

Not only does self publishing offer you the advantages of complete control, faster publication, and higher profits, it is easier and less expensive than it has ever been before thanks to modern technology. Self publishing could be your big break as a writer.

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Source: Ewritingtoday.com

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The Complete Guide to Selling Your Travel Photography

by Preethi Burkholder

If you enjoy travel photography, a good logical step is to try and make money from your hobby. Selling your photographs takes time and dedication, but it is possible.

The nice thing about selling photography is that anyone can do it – you are not dependent upon physical ability, age, or background. It’s all about attitude, effort, and outlook.

Presenting Your Portfolio

Step 1. Organize Your Photos

The easiest way to store and share your photos is with an online photo album site. There are many to choose from, and your choice of site would depend upon your application. Here are two examples: Flickr and Smugmug.

There are photo communities, photo blog repositories, file storage services, printers that will store your photos, photo album sites supported by advertising, and paid-subscription sites that allow you to license your images.

Many sites are free. Some have restrictions. The sites may have limits for image file size, storage space, and duration of storage (e.g. your photos may get deleted after 90 days of non-usage).

For a monthly subscription, you can often upgrade to a “premium” service, which may increase the size of files you can store and reduce the amount of advertising you endure.

Some sites permit printing and licensing, so you can make money off your photos, similar to stock photography.

Step 2. Make Your Own Web Site

Creating your own website has become almost mandatory if you want to sell your photographs professionally. If you are motivated you can learn web design yourself. Or else, hire a professional to create a website for you.

First find a web host. Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) may offer this, or you can sign up for a paid account with a hosting company.

Web hosting rates are going down and can vary between $10-25 per year. You can get your own domain name for a few additional dollars.

Include text to describe the pictures so your site will get found on search engines such as Google. Include an email address and/or phone number so you can be reached.

You can include copyright info if you like (e.g. Copyright Trent Burkholder Photography 2007). Don’t get too nervous about people stealing your images.

Magazines and other companies respect copyright rules. Besides, an image on the Internet is usually too poor quality to be printed well.

Remember- it’s better to display your images on the web risking theft, rather than hiding them in the closet, where no one can see them except spiders.

Publishing Your Own Travel Photography Book

The two basic ways of publishing a book on travel photography are 1) Finding a publisher and 2) Self publishing.

Finding a Publisher - Read the publisher’s guidelines. Once you get some magazine articles published approach book publications with your photographic samples.

First submit a book query. Then, if the publisher is interested, he/she will ask for a complete book proposal.

Self Publishing - Another way to get your book published is to do it yourself. If you are not concerned about making a vast amount of money, then you may consider self-publishing.

You can print your book at a regular printing press, pay a publishing company to do it for you online. However, the distribution and marketing will be your sole responsibility.

Getting your travel photography book published is useful in several ways:

• You are having a gallery opening and would like to give attendees a printed book that discusses and displays your photography
• You want to send a copy of your book along with your portfolio to curators, philanthropists, and jurors
• You want to have a few copies of your book at your studio, for visitors to browse through
• To earn an income

However you decide to publish and sell your work, remember, persistence is key. Best of luck!

To read the full article click here.

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Five How To’s For Those Who Dream Of Becoming A Writer

by Constance Weygandt

I am often asked what it takes to become a writer or “How can I do what you do?” The answer is not complicated. Anyone can write. Even if you were never a contestant for your eighth grade spelling bee, there is spell check. It is a marvelous invention. All of us have access to a dictionary, a thesaurus and a myriad of books and articles on how to write. The following are some tips to get you started.

Pay attention to what you tell yourself, in your sleep. I often think that I have written a bestseller, on the nights, when I do not get up and write down my thoughts. I keep a pad of paper by my bed. When I get that eureka moment, in my sleep, I get up and jot it down. Some nights, I go right back to sleep. Other nights, I can’t wait to put my thoughts on paper and am off and running.

The early riser gets the article written. I am often awake before anyone else in my household. In the quiet of the early morning, ideas for articles or often the entire article, will come to me. Of course, this can play havoc with a social life. If I don’t retire at a reasonable hour, I am an irritable writer.

Read. There is no one person that is an authority on everything. What you don’t know, find out. Read everything pertaining to your field of interest that you can get your hands on. If you want to be a writer of fiction, read what you love. My interest and love, is a search for balance in life and helping others to achieve it. I try to read, talk and breathe balance. If we recognize that we are all a part of this human race, why not love it?

Talk and listen to others. I try and engage others in conversation as much as possible, in the grocery store, the mall, the post office, etc. Yes. I am one of those annoyingly interested people. I am interested in everything and will talk to you about anything. I also listen. By listening, which is also a part of the conversational gambit, I learn about others interests, needs and loves. Writers, write best, when they write what they know.

Writers, write. This is probably the most important part of writing. It separates the ones that want to be writers from the ones that succeed. If you feel that you have something important to say, put it on paper. It doesn’t matter if your initial draft is intelligible. That is what the re-write is for, to hone your thoughts.

Take an interest in life. Successful writers write about topics that inform, entertain, uplift or in some way fill the needs which we, as a human race, carry in our minds and hearts. When I began writing, I read a quote from Erma Bombeck, a humorist, syndicated columnist and successful author for many years. She said,” Not a day goes by that I don’t hear from aspiring writers who have questions. “What if I fail?” (”What if you succeed?”).” If you want to be a writer, begin today. Sit down and put pencil to paper or fingers to keyboard. I wish you much success.

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Xlibris Author Spotlight of the Month: David B. Rosenfield

By Jon Enriquez

David B. Rosenfield has been engaging in two of his dearest passions – his knowledge of neurology and his flair for writing – for quite some time now. The fusion of his two loves has resulted in the creation of his medical-cum-spy thriller, Dick Swept, M.D.(Tomorrow the World).

This new Xlibris release tells a fast-paced story of espionage and medical mystery that revolves around Dick Swept, a neurologist at the Texas College of Medicine, Houston Medical Complex. Dr. Swept investigates a drug that enhances the brain’s ability to process memory. After confirming the effectiveness of this said drug on animals, he now wants to test it on humans. However, his Department Chairman refuses to grant Swept’s request to administer the memory-enhancing drug on people with Alzheimer’s disease, thereby thwarting possible scientific progress. Unknown to Swept, a cabal of ex-KGB agents, Russian scientists, and a Chechen spy have discovered a similar chemical which they plan to use for world domination. These Russians begin a killing spree and plot to eliminate Swept and his colleagues as they seek to control the media, countries, and the world.

Dick Swept has been well-received by the reading public so far. “We have sold many books and people are making a movie about Swept (See Dickswept.com). In fact, the screen play placed second in the Houston Film Festival and is just one step away from the semi-finals in the Austin Film Festival,” he said.

During the initial stages of publication, David decided to let Dick Swept, M.D. see print with Xlibris. Looking back, he has no regrets with regard to this decision he made. “My experience with Xlibris was very good. I found the personnel helpful and informative. I was (also) pleased with what Xlibris provided,” David said.

David B. Rosenfield is the Director of the Speech and Language Center and of the EMG and Motor Control Laboratory at the Neurological Institute of the Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center in Houston. He is a professor of neurology at the Weill Medical Cornell University, and has published numerous scientific articles. Dr. Rosenfield also served as a Major in the United States Army Reserves, assigned to Special Forces at Fort Bragg. Dr. Rosenfield presently lives in Houston with his family.

Dick Swept, M.D. may be purchased directly through Xlibris Corporation or Barnes and Noble.com and Amazon.com.

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