Words Carved in Stone

Lavinia E. Lewis is either 164 years old, or she’s interred someplace else. I paused for quite a while after finding this old graveyard on a hike through deep woods.

That got me thinking about the impact of punctuation on words. Consider:

A woman, without her man, is nothing.

A woman: without her, man is nothing.

Pardon, impossible to be sent to prison.
Pardon impossible, to be sent to prison.

My mind drifts when I hike and I start thinking about what motivates a writer. I’ve always believed that words have impact and outlive those of us who commit them to the page. But what happens when words take on new meanings?

I watch a spider spin a web and realize that for most people I know, spiders and webs are part of what happens on the Internet. I wait in line to buy stamps to post a letter. I am also online when I post a story to my blog.

Blog wasn’t a word ten years ago. Of course, neither were Google, email, muggle, and many other words now part of my vocabulary.

I can read a play by Aristophanes or Shakespeare and understand what those authors wrote. Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is as satirical and humorous when I re-read it now as it was when I read it in high school.

But with the amazing changes in our technology and the words that have emerged to define those changes, will future readers understand writers of the past? Should my words survive, would they have meaning to readers hundreds or thousands of years from now? I won’t be around to find out.

As I step past this gravestone, I think about how back in the 19th Century, this was probably a farm, not the deep woods of Harriman State Park. Averill Harriman, who donated this land, didn’t own it until the early 20th Century. This headstone will likely be here for a very long time. I plan to return periodically, just in case the death of Lavinia E. Lewis is ultimately recorded in stone.

Writer and naturalist JJ Murphy, http://www.WriterByNature.com, offers creative nature curriculum, wild food recipes, fiction, poetry, articles and writing services for individuals, entrepreneurs, small businesses and ecologically aware companies.

A Freelancer's Survival Guide at Forbes.com

Those who are looking for advice on starting a freelance business, may find this article titled "A Freelancer's Survival Guide" interesting: http://tinyurl.com/67awyq. Even though it deals with all types of freelancing, it is very applicable to freelance writing.

You may want to forward the link or add the article to your social networking sites such as facebook, del.icio.us, Digg, Twitter, MySpace or Stumbleupon to help others find this useful information.

Yvonne Perry
www.writersinthesky.com

Baseball & Father/Son Relationships Book

Kelley Dupuis will be joining us today on Writers in the Sky Podcast July 18th, 2008!

Kelley Dupuis was born in Vermont and grew up in California, where he attended San Diego State University, graduating with a degree in journalism and history. After a few years in newspaper and radio work, he joined the U.S. State Department and traveled about the world. Later he returned to journalism, winning a San Diego Press Club award for investigative reporting in 2004. He currently lives in Washington, D.C., where he works as a writer and editor. He and his wife Valerie, a real estate broker, have three dogs, three cats and no children.

Click here to listen to Part 1...

In Three Flies Up, Washington, D.C. author and award-winning journalist Kelley Dupuis explores two themes, one universal and one uniquely American. The perennial theme of fathers and sons forms the backdrop for the story of the author’s long, usually-troubled relationship with his own father, a career Border Patrolman who grew up both poor and largely without a father in his own life, and as a result had no role model for being a father himself. As the author grows up in the 1960s and ‘70s, father and son are at loggerheads more than often than not.

Click here to listen to Part 2...

But they share one very important, very American thing: a mutual love for the game of baseball, one of few things capable of bridging the cultural, generational and emotional gap separating father and son. Baseball is their chief, often only, common ground. When the author is in his late forties, after years of estrangement from his father and following his mother’s death, he returns home to California to assist in caring for his dad, now approaching 90 and gradually falling victim to dementia. Eventually, when the author becomes his father’s primary caregiver, baseball is more important than ever.

For more information please visit http://www.kelleydupuis.com/

***********************************

Listening to Writers in the Sky Podcast on a computer is easy. Just click this link: http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com/ and go to my blog.On the right sidebar there is a list of archived shows. Click on the interview you would like to hear and it will open a post that has a link to the audio file.

For information about being a guest on Writers in the Sky Podcast, see http://www.yvonneperry.net/Writing_Packages.htm#Publicity_Packages_

The Stories of Devil-Girl

The Stories of Devil-Girl
Anya Achtenberg

Modern History Press (2008)

ISBN 9781932690620

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (6/08)

The Devil-Girl was raised to believe that she had the devil in her, or at least he was at work in her life. Her abusive mother taught her to believe that she wasn’t worth anything. Throughout her childhood and young adulthood, Devil-Girl encountered perverts and sadists that cared only about using and abusing her. The Devil-Girl was never heard. She didn’t have a voice that was believed worth listening to. This is a really painful story to read. It made me fear for all of the “Devil-Children” out there who don’t get heard.

Achtenberg has a talent for writing scenes in vivid detail which brings them to life for the reader. It also makes the pain the Devil-Girl is suffering more real. It is inspiring to see the character turn her life around and use her experiences to help other Devil-Girls out there. This is a very good way to inspire others who are being abused to make something positive of their lives and not allow the current situation to ruin their futures. I think that it will also make people take a closer look at what is happening in the lives of people around them, especially children’s.

The Stories of Devil-Girl is the first book in the Reflections of America Series. This series “highlights autobiography, fiction, and poetry which express the quest to discover one’s context within modern society.” If The Stories of Devil-Girl is any indication of the quality of the books to follow in this series, readers will be thrilled to have access to some excellent works. If nothing else, this book is one tough act to follow.

Middle School fun reading

Title: You’re It
Author: Marc J Loranger
ISBN Numbers: 978-1-4327-1862-6
Publisher: Outskirts Press, Inc.
Genre and Target Market: Young adult fiction
Publication Date: 2008Pages: 97
Reviewer: Barbara Milbourn of Writers in the Sky.

In You’re It, the second volume in his James Adventure Series, author Marc Loranger cranks out magic, mystery, and mayhem in the summer heat of Crabtree, Louisiana.

James and Corey are in middle school; friends since they were five in Connecticut. They’ve been reunited by an odd set of circumstances in this sleepy small town and are musing over the southern drawl of their third wheel, Jed. “His full name was Jedadiah Jacob Glunk to be exact . . . Jed was a scrawny looking kid with thick glasses and early signs of spotted acne . . .” writes Loranger.

The author has given Corey a penchant for spy games and one afternoon he and James lure Jed into a little harmless adventure. The game takes a turn when Jed discovers and retrieves a small briefcase floating in a creek. Its contents match those unwittingly picked up earlier by James who does not discover their magic powers until a little later in the book. About that time, Corey’s gone missing and very much needs James and Jed to come to his rescue.

Loranger gives us full throttle through the eyes of the uncritical-reading young adult. He keeps the action flowing and punctuates things to the max. The icky people have icky names like Wilbur and Lucifer; when the food’s bad, it’s the worst—sauerkraut, hog dogs, and Brussels sprouts; little sisters are a royal pain to put it nicely; the villains are ultra-eerie and the circumstances they create are the scariest! Boys are boys feeling time stand totally still on the last day of school; seeing that girls are pretty but as yet that’s about all; never having enough money and getting shooed by grumpy storekeepers; referring to anyone over forty as old lady this or old man that.

Reading You’re It made me feel like a kid again. I recalled breaking popsicles in half before peeling off the paper; my brother’s agitation at me, the little sister; the envy I felt about the games he played with his pals. Marc Loranger brings this special time alive once again. It’s pure fun.

Movie Girl Book Review

Movie Girl
Author: Christina Hamlett
Outskirts Press
$11.95 US
ISBN: 9781432718541
Reviewer: Melanie Cressman

When she is picked to write a screenplay for her school’s new movie, Laurie isn’t fazed. Soon after, she finds that she might have a need to worry.

Movie Girl is the classic untold story of a crush that takes control of someone and totally changes them without their realization. In this story, Laurie has a crush on Artie. She begins to follow Artie around, and without knowing it, pushes everyone away as she chases after him. She winds up missing cheerleading tryouts to join Chess Club, writing a love poem to herself, and nearly destroying a friendship with one of the greatest guys she knows, all the while attempting to write a screenplay for her movie.

Laurie finally decides to give up on Artie after realizing how much she has changed to become a person he might like and still has not convinced him to like her. We can all take a lesson from how Laurie stubbornly continued to like Artie despite the events that should have led her to like someone else. We just need to take the time to look around and not take our friendships for granted just because we think we want something else.

Movie Girl is a feel-good story; one that has a simple but common timeless theme—love will prevail. Everything always works out in the end, and everyone can realize that we should appreciate what is right next to us as much as what we could have. Some things are simply meant to be, and nothing, from crazy stunts to hectic scheduling, can ever change that.

About the Reviewer:
Melanie Cressman is a fourteen-year-old who enjoys reading and writing for pleasure in her free time. She has always loved the thrill of opening a new book. She began writing reviews for her school book club as they read the books nominated for the Volunteer State Book Award. She enjoys reading everything from mysteries to historical fiction, horror stories to romance. Her favorite author is currently Meg Cabot. She loves writing and hopes that she will one day be able to do it as a fulltime career and have someone else review her books!

Three Flies Up

Kelley Dupuis will be joining us on Writers in the Sky Podcast July 18th, 2008!

Kelley Dupuis was born in Vermont and grew up in California, where he attended San Diego State University, graduating with a degree in journalism and history. After a few
years in newspaper and radio work, he joined the U.S. State Department and traveled about the world. Later he returned to journalism, winning a San Diego Press Club award for investigative reporting in 2004. He currently lives in Washington, D.C., where he works as a writer and editor. He and his wife Valerie, a real estate broker, have three dogs, three cats and no children.

In Three Flies Up, Washington, D.C. author and award-winning journalist Kelley Dupuis explores two themes, one universal and one uniquely American. The perennial theme of fathers and sons forms the backdrop for the story of the author’s long, usually-troubled relationship with his own father, a career Border Patrolman who grew up both poor and largely without a father in his own life, and as a result had no role model for being a father himself. As the author grows up in the 1960s and ‘70s, father and son are at loggerheads more than often than not.

But they share one very important, very American thing: a mutual love for the game of baseball, one of few things capable of bridging the cultural, generational and emotional gap separating father and son. Baseball is their chief, often only, common ground. When the author is in his late forties, after years of estrangement from his father and following his mother’s death, he returns home to California to assist in caring for his dad, now approaching 90 and gradually falling victim to dementia. Eventually, when the author becomes his father’s primary caregiver, baseball is more important than ever.

For more information please visit http://www.kelleydupuis.com/

***********************************

Listening to Writers in the Sky Podcast on a computer is easy. Just click this link: http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com/ and go to my blog.On the right sidebar there is a list of archived shows. Click on the interview you would like to hear and it will open a post that has a link to the audio file.

For information about being a guest on Writers in the Sky Podcast, see http://www.yvonneperry.net/Writing_Packages.htm#Publicity_Packages_

The iPod & iTunes Handbook by Contel Bradford

A few months ago, I was interviewed about how I use my iPod. Of course, I use it for listening to music, but that is not the primary reason I got one. I wanted an iPod so I could listen to my writing podcast on the go.

I answered Contel's interview questions via email and thought no more of it. This week I went to my mailbox and found a book: The iPod & iTunes Handbook by Contel Bradford. At first, I thought it was a book from a guest who was asking to appear on my podcast. After opening the package I was confused for a moment. I had not had a recent query from the author of that book. Then, it dawned on me. This is the book that I gave an interview for. Not only did Contel give my full response, but book is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn more about using an iPod or downloading from iTunes.

I have a MacBook and a PC. One day I was using the PC and my husband was using the MacBook to download songs from iTunes. Later he wanted to transfer them to my iPod for a trip we were about to make. Big problem. Neither of us could figure out how to get the purchased songs from the Mac onto the iPod without erasing everything I already had on the iPod during the sync. Guess what? How to manually sync only certain songs is described on pages 76-77 in Contel's book! 

From the basics of how to turn off or unfreeze your iPod to tips and tricks about changing the album art, this book contains it all. It even includes a detailed history of how the iPod and iTunes came into existence and the features available on each model. 

I really appreciate the chance to be featured in the book along with many of my writing friends, but I also know I will be using this book as a much-needed reference manual. Here is the link to find out more about The iPod and iTunes Handbook: http://tinyurl.com/5o75oh. 

Learn more about our writing podcast and how to be a guest on Writers in the Sky by visiting our Web site or writing blog.

Good versus Evil Book and Video

Imani M. Royale is a client of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services. She worked with Taryn Simpson on her latest book, Destiny's Deadly Dialogue, about the importance of finding one's destiny in life. I am excited to share this book with you and invite you to take a look at the book video Taryn made to introduce Imani and her book.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaLJZcHH21M

Synopsis

From the beginning, Ramla was set apart and predestined to carry out the will of God. Yet, at every turn, Satan was there to undermine every effort to do what was right. He placed many obstacles in her way, especially his protege', Samael. As Ramla fights for her life, her protector, Peter, the Angel of Faith will watch over her, but he is not able to interfere in her circumstances. Through Ramla, he learns why he didn't walk in the call God placed on his own life during his years in the world. A timeline was placed on her life to surrender to God. Will she make it in time or allow Satan to thwart the plan God has set for her? This supernatural thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Imani is a philanthropist. To help the poor, she donated thousands of dollars in 2006 to help spread the gospel to different nations. Ms. Royale traveled to West Africa to help the refugees of Sierra Leone. Imani's humanitarian efforts have taken her to the Netherlands, Ghana, Cameroon and Togo, Africa. She has also ministered to women all over the Washington metropolitan area.

Children's Book Author Dawn Menge

Dawn Menge will be joining us today on Writers in the Sky Podcast!

Dawn Menge has a Masters Degree and clear credential in Special Education. She has worked with the severely handicapped population for eleven years. She is currently working towards her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction. She combines imagination with practical skills to make learning fun. Dawn used her experiences within her life to create Queen Vernita's characters and her kingdom.

Click here to listen to part 1...

Queen Vernita's Visitors is a story that is woven around Dawn's friends and family. Queen Vernita invites twelve wonderful friends to visit with her during each month of the year. Queen Vernita and her friends enjoy fun activities throughout the Oceaneers Kingdom. Parents and teachers will love teaching the monthly calendar, days of the weeks and seasons through the storytelling adventures of Queen Vernita and her friends. Queen Vernita was the Queen of the majestic world called Oceaneer. She lived in a beautiful castle, that was covered in ivy and red roses.

Click here to listen to part 2...


For more information about Dawn Menge please visit http://www.outskirtspress.com/webpage.php?isbn=1598007149.

***************************************
Listening to Writers in the Sky Podcast on a computer is easy. Just click this link: http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com/ and go to my blog.On the right sidebar there is a list of archived shows. Click on the interview you would like to hear and it will open a post that has a link to the audio file.

For information about being a guest on Writers in the Sky Podcast, see http://www.yvonneperry.net/Writing_Packages.htm#Publicity_Packages_

Writers in the Sky Video

Writers in the Sky has been busy working with multiple clients this month, but we somehow managed to create a video about our company. We would appreciate your comments, feedback, and ratings on YouTube. If you are so inclined, feel free to share it with friends or…

Post to ...

MySpace
Facebook
Digg
del.icio.us
orkut
Fark
StumbleUpon
Live Spaces
Mixx

Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKuuaYGhf5g.

New Radio Show for Authors

Yvonne Perry will be Lillian Brumett's guest on Authors Read--a new radio show for authors. You may hear the entire show at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/authorsread on July 12, 2008 at 9 AM (Pacific).

Authors Read is a new radio show that allows authors, storytellers, and poets to read from their published work. Radio show host, Lillian Brummet, is welcoming applications from authors, poets, and storytellers who would like to appear as guests. Maybe you should be on the show, too!

I remember hearing my grandparents talk about about the days when folks would sit around the radio in the family parlor and listen to story hour. Even in a day when electronics have inundated our lives, one radio host reaches into the past to bring a storytelling favorite back to the future. You will have to listen on your computer, but the Authors Read concept is the same—authors entertaining those who love to hear a good story.

The show is already booked through July with a variety of genres and authors included on the schedule.

July 11: Connie Arnold (poet and children's author)

July 12: Award-winning author Yvonne Perry was Lillian’s guest on Conscious Discussions last May, at which time she talked about her freelance writing business. She will be reading a humorous excerpt from her book Email Episodes: A Hilariously Honest Look at Life. See www.blogtalkradio.com/AuthorsRead for a preview.

July 19: Janet Riehl reads from Sightlines: A Poet's Diary.

July 21: Hal Manogue reads from Short Sleeves A Book For Friends -&- Short Sleeves Insights.

July 25: Therese Tappouni is Lillian’s guest reader.

July 28: Jim Musgrave reads "A Betting Man" from The President's Parasite and Other Stories.

As a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM), keynote speaker for writing conferences, and host of her own weekly podcast, Yvonne Perry has a great deal of speaking and promotional experience and enjoys connecting authors seeking book publicity assistance with people like Lillian who give authors an opportunity to share their work.

“I enjoy forming strategic alliances with online networkers who have a genuine interest in promoting good literature and fine authors,” says Perry. “Lillian graciously gives to the global community through her writing and her radio shows. I appreciate the opportunity she is giving me and other authors through Authors Read.”

About Yvonne Perry: The author of more than twenty books, Yvonne Perry is a free-lance writer, editor, keynote speaker, and the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services based in Nashville, Tennessee. She and her team provide ghostwriting, editing, proofreading, book reviews, manuscript evaluations, and author promotion services. Perry is a graduate of American Institute of Holistic Theology where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Metaphysics.

“There is nothing like hearing the authors read from their work,” Lillian says. “Giving the readers the experience of their words—the way they meant them to be heard. So much of our communication depends on inflections, accents, and delivery. With Authors Read we offer readers a new experience while allowing them to have a taste of that author’s work– something they can’t get through browsing a bookstore or reading a book review!”

About Lillian Brummet: Lillian is the co-author of the popular book promotion guide Purple Snowflake Marketing–How to Make Your Book Stand Out in a Crowd (ISBN: 193335304X), Trash Talk (ISBN: 978-1413725186), and a collection of poems on society, the environment, and overcoming trauma titled Towards Understanding (ISBN: 978-1413793376). She is also the host of Conscious Discussions talk radio show that airs three times a week. Visit www.brummet.ca for information, resources and articles about the world of writing and details on how to appear on any of her radio shows.

Lillian is welcoming applications from authors, poets and storytellers who would like to appear as guests. See http://www.blogtalkradio.com/authorsread for guidelines.

###

Yvonne's reading for the show was prerecorded using Audio Acrobat--an online recording service for audio and video.

Get Noticed… Get Referrals: Build Your Client Base and Your Business by Making a Name for Yourself.

Today we welcome Jill Lublin to our writing blog. She is discussing her book Get Noticed… Get Referrals: Build Your Client Base and Your Business by Making a Name for Yourself.

Yvonne Perry: Tell me something about yourself and your writing background.
Jill: I’ve written two bestselling books Guerrilla Publicity and Networking Magic which went to #1 on Barnes and Noble. I’m privileged to be featured on McGraw Hill for my third book Get Noticed and all of my books teach people how to be influential, using publicity, networking, and referrals.

Yvonne: What is the title of your book? Give us the basic story line so we’ll know what it’s about.
Jill: Get Noticed…Get Referrals. The story is about how to get more referrals and build your client base and your database by making a name for yourself.

Yvonne: What inspired you to write this book?
Jill: Because I noticed that most people are afraid to brag. They don’t know how to expand and leverage their network and how to give and receive referrals.

Yvonne: Is this the first book you have written?
Jill : No, I’ve had the delightful pleasure of authoring two other books Guerrilla Publicity and Networking Magic.

Yvonne: How long did it take to write this book? Any interesting tidbits about your writing method or how the book developed?
Jill: From the date of the contract to the book being published took a year and a half which is incredibly fast in the publishing industry. That’s because I’m a published author already with an existing platform and McGraw Hill is happy for that. I always work with a writer since this makes the process a lot easier and faster and I can concentrate on what I do best which is consulting and teaching my crash course in publicity.

Yvonne: How did you publish your book? Tell me about your publishing experience and what you learned from it. Please go into detail if you wish.
Jill: My publishing experience is with McGraw Hill. I had an agent pitch my book. I actually got two offers, one from Penguin and one from McGraw Hill and I decided to go with McGraw Hill because of their large reach and big company machine. It was an exciting and stimulating time with different publishers interested in my work and I’m thrilled to have McGraw Hill as my publisher.

Yvonne: Did you work with an agent? If so, how did you find the agent? Was it beneficial to you?
Jill: I worked with an agent who shopped this book for close to a year. It is absolutely beneficial and one of the keys to my success.

Yvonne: Where is your book available? Do you have a Web site or blog where we can learn more about you or your book?
Jill: Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Borders
www.getnoticedblog.com
www.jilllublin.com

Yvonne: As far as marketing, do you do more online publicity or print/radio/TV promotion? Tell me some ways you have promoted your book. Give examples and links to any sites you feel might help other authors.
Jill: I do more of print/radio/TV publicity. I am doing a blog tour, a joint venture campaign, a national radio campaign, a print campaign; I’m telling everyone I know to buy it and I’m telling my personal connection to tell them to help promote the book with me.

www.speakerservices.com
www.parapublishing.com
www.smallbusinesssuccess.com

Yvonne: Have you hired a publicist to help promote this book? If so, what was your experience like?
Jill: I’m working with Annie Jennings to promote the book and I’m very excited to be working with her, she does great work.


Yvonne: Any other comments or things you would like for us to know?
Jill: Creating a book is a huge job, you have to be prepared for it from start to finish and know that when you finish writing the book the real work begins—publishing and promoting it! I wish you luck in all your endeavors.

Yvonne Thank you for giving us the opportunity to get to know you and learn about your book. I wish you well.

For more information about Jill Lublin Author of Get Noticed… Get Referrals: Build Your Client Base and Your Business by Making a Name for Yourself (Touring July 7 - August 1) visit http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/06/jill-lublin-author-of-get-noticed-get.html

The World of Healers

Leonard Dobrzanski is the author of The World of Healers. We are happy to have him share his first book with us on Writers in the Sky blog. Here is a summary and a short interview with Leonard.

The author, an academic philosopher, is confronted with an incurable illness in his nearest family. Incapable of receiving any further help from the medical establishment, he turns to alternative therapists for a remedy. His desperate search for help led him first to open up his mind to investigate the subject of alternative healing. In his book the author describes his numerous meetings with some exceptional healers and experts on healing and gives accounts of the interviews he has conducted with them.

It is characteristic of the author's approach that he manifests a willingness to accept and even be drawn into the world of healing he is describing and at the same time shows the refreshing ability to stand back from it and continue to allow potentials doubts about it. This approach allows the author to create a lively and instructive dialog in the interviews he has conducted with healers and experts. Through the narrative, the author stresses the importance of reassessing the ways we perceive science and health.

In short, the book amounts to a presentation of healing and healers, liberally deprived of all spell-binding subjective enthusiasm but marked by a curiosity and investigative skepticism.

Yvonne: How long did it take to write this book?
Leonard: Two years

Yvonne: How did you publish your book?

Leonard: The original version in Danish was published by Borgen Publishers in Denmark. Sometime later the book was also bought by a Norwegian publisher and published in Norway My own English translation of the book has recently been published by Booklocker com.

Yvonne: Where is your book available? Do you have a Web site or blog where we
can learn more about you or your book?
Leonard: It is available from www.Barnesandnoble.com , www.amazone.com ,
www.amazone.co.uk , www.whsmith.co.uk , www.bookshop.blackwell.co.uk ,
www.booklocker.com , etc. Unfortunately I have not any blog or website of my own. On Amazon, there is description of my book and the table of contents.

Yvonne: As far as marketing, do you do more online publicity or print/radio/TV promotion?
Leonard: So far I have done nothing.

Yvonne: Writers in the Sky can help you with that. If you are interested in ways to get the word out about your book, we offer a wide variety of promotion packages at http://www.yvonneperry.net/Writing_Packages.htm

Tips for Correcting Common Mistakes in a Book Manuscript

For those writers who plan to have a book published, I hope that your manuscript will go through a thorough edit before it is printed. That is especially important for those who self-publish or use publish-on-demand (POD) services to bring their book to market. These methods usually do not require or offer editing services to catch mistakes that can cost you credibility as an author.

As an editor for individual authors as well as working as a contracted editor for two publishers, I’ve seen many grammatical or mechanical errors in manuscripts.
I’ll share a few of the more common mistakes in hopes that you might avoid these pitfalls.

Please note that Associated Press (AP) style is commonly used for journalistic works such as newspapers and Web text. The examples I am going to use are from Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) published by the University of Chicago Press. It is one of the most respected and trustworthy guidelines for literary works such as books.

1. A very common error in many of the books I edit or proofread occurs in the title, headers, and subheaders. The Chicago Manual of Style 7.127 states: In regular title capitalization, also known as headline style, the first and last words and all nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, and subordinating conjunctions (if, because, as, that, etc.) are capitalized. Articles (a, an, the), coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, for, nor), and prepositions, regardless of length, are lowercase unless they are the first or last word of the title or subtitle.

2. A book is not entitled (meaning deserving, allowed, permitted); it is titled (meaning to have a title, label, or name).

3. The titles of books, record albums, movies, TV shows, and screenplays should be in italic type. Do not use “quotation” marks. Do not underline these titles unless you are formatting them for a bibliography. However, article titles and poem and song titles do go inside quotation marks.

4. Unless a word is an acronym, it should not be in ALL CAPS. Use italics for emphasis.

5. OK should be spelled out: okay.

6. ISBN is the acronym for International Standard Book Number. To write “ISBN number” is the same as stating International Standard Book Number number. It is redundant to use the word “number” or the pound symbol (#) after ISBN.

7. Percent symbols (%) should be spelled out “percent” unless used in a chart or table. Numbers followed by a percent should be in numeric form. Example: 91 percent. However, if a percentage is the first word of a sentence in a literary work, it should be spelled out. Example: Ninety-one percent of the students passed the test.

8. Use one space (not two) after a period, question mark, colon, or semi-colon. This is quite the opposite of what we were taught in typing class way back when! It can be a hard habit to break.

9. CMOS 5.57 states, “In a series listing three or more items, the elements are separated by a comma.” For example: The dog, cat, hippo, and cow jumped over the moon.

10. When writing years, do not use an apostrophe. Example: 1960s, not 1960’s unless you want the possessive form of the word. If abbreviated: ’60s is correct; 60’s is incorrect. Notice that the apostrophe [ ’ ] is used as a placeholder for missing the numbers, and not a single close quote mark [ ‘ ] which faces the opposite direction.

11. Speaking of years, hyphens and numerals are used when you write “the 16-year-old boy.” No hyphen is needed, and the number is spelled out when you write “the boy is sixteen years old.”

12. Internet is a proper noun and the first letter should be capitalized. The debate on whether or not Web should be capitalized is still ongoing. CMOS says it should be written in proper case. It is another name for World Wide Web, which is a proper noun.

RE: Web site. When a word is used a lot, its spelling becomes commonly accepted even if it is incorrect. The most common spelling and use of this word is website. However, according to CMOS, it is two words: Web site. As long as you are consistent throughout your book or document, I doubt most people will question either spelling.

13. The em dash [—] is defined as one em (letter “m”) in width. The double hyphen will convert to an em dash—if you type two dashes (hyphens) -- and do not put a space before or after. Or, you may create an em dash in Windows-based programs by pressing and holding Caps Lock and Alt while typing 0151 on your number key pad. Similar to a parenthetical phrase (like this), the em dash sets apart clauses in a sentence.

14. The en dash [–] is one en (letter “n”) in width: half the width of an em dash. The en dash is used to indicate a closed range, or a connection between two things of almost any kind: numbers, people, places, etc. For example: June–July 2008. Create an en dash in Windows-based programs by pressing and holding Caps Lock and Alt while typing 0150 on your number key pad. There should be no space before or after an en dash.

15. When writing dialogue, all punctuation goes inside the quotation marks. When a word or phrase is used to set apart text in scare quotes, the first example below is correct; the second is incorrect:

Every day we hear that the price of gas has hit an “all time high.”

Every day we hear that the price of gas has hit an “all time high”.

16. Numbers less than ten should always be spelled out. Some style guides will disagree about higher numbers. Chicago advocates that all numbers under 101 should be spelled out.
If in question, always consult a style guide. Be consistent and use the same style guide throughout the document or manuscript. Correcting these common errors will make your manuscript much easier and enjoyable to read.

If you need assistance with preparing your book manuscript, the editors on our team would be happy to help you. Our rates are more affordable than you might expect. See writersinthesky.com for more information.

Yvonne Perry is a freelance writer, author, and keynote speaker who enjoys assisting people with writing and editing projects. She is the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services—a team of freelance writers and editors located in Nashville, Tennessee. New subscribers to her free monthly newsletter about writing and publishing receive a free eBook Tips on Freelance Writing.

POD Used as a Community Project

We've been working on the Gems of Yesterday: Poetry and Philosophy of Bee Lewis for a year and a half. It took decades to discover the manuscripts, which finally came to us during a reading Daddy (Erwin A. Thompson) gave of his novel The Second Mile when a Lewis family member said she knew where they were. Afterwards, the family brought out two big boxes of manuscripts that Daddy spent the winter selecting and typing. He handed the manuscript over to me and I spent a year on production.

Each of the 274 poems in Gems of Yesterday: The poetry and Philosophy of Bee Lewis has been a labor of love for editor and long-time friend, Erwin A. Thompson as a tribute to Bee Lewis—a man he thought of as a kindred spirit and mentor. The poems span a period of close to four decades and cover a rare glimpse of a bygone era. The subject matter ranges from the personal to the philosophical, from dialect to description.

We'll be on the radio in July, and on the program at the Godfrey Congregational Church where we’ll be reading poems, telling stories, and playing music. All the proceeds from the sale of the book go to the church where Amelia Lewis, Bee's wife, was so active. It's a good example of POD used as a community project—one in which it's “all about the love, not the numbers” (my slogan). This has been a long-standing dream of the Lewis family to see Bee's poems in print and there's quite a buzz building in Godfrey as I hear. It's incredibly gratifying to see how happy the book is making everyone. That's been my goal: that the books I've been producing will be a source of happiness for us and everyone else.

Available on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Gems-Yesterday-poetry-Philosophy-Lewis/dp/0595479057 or can be purchased directly from Janet Riehl. All proceeds donated directly to the Godfrey Congregational Church.

Janet Riehl
janet.riehl@gmail.com

Humorous Book Excerpts on Audio

When I was going through a tough time in my life, I wrote about my woes in a humorous way and emailed them to my friends. These became so popular with my cyber audience that I ended up compiling them into a self-published book I titled Email Episodes A Hilariously Honest Look at Life.

I'm not trying to get anyone to buy my book, but I do want to demonstrate to my readership how to turn your book into an audio book by simply recording yourself reading your book over the telephone line via audio acrobat. By the way, this is the method I use to record Writers in the Sky podcasts each week.

Listen to a very short, but funny story about tomato soup and teenagers...

Publish Your Writing in our Newsletter

Come on and Network with Us! Writers in the Sky offers you an opportunity to connect with writers, readers, publishers, and publicist through our newsletter. All you need to do is subscribe to the newsletter and send us your article, announcement, poem, book review, or other material about writing, publishing, or book marketing. Add your announcement or brag about your writing accomplishment. Tell us about your book or business.


Here are the networking items from WITS writing community for July 2008.

Be in the “Author Spotlight” without the paying high advertising costs! For a limited time, A Book Inside online is offering FREE home page positioning for all authors wishing to promote their Web sites and books. This is a great opportunity to show off your talent and gain more exposure for your books. There is absolutely no monetary cost for your listing but a small link from your Web site is required. If you would like to request the “Author Spotlight,” e-mail your request to caroldenbow@gmail.com. We will promptly e-mail you instructions.
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A Book Inside is an online blog offering advice and guidance to new and seasoned authors. To view the blog, visit http://ABookInside.blogspot.com

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The Morning Nudge

When your pen won't budge, read The Morning Nudge. Sign up for free daily inspiration and motivation for your writing. Go to: http://www.workingwriterscoach.com
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New Radio Show for Authors

Authors Read is a new radio show where authors, storytellers, and poets read from their published work. Radio show host, Lillian Brummet, is welcoming applications from authors, poets, and storytellers who would like to appear as guests. Lillian is the co-author of the popular book promotion guide Purple Snowflake Marketing, How to Make Your Book Stand Out in a Crowd. See www.brummet.ca or http://www.blogtalkradio.com/authorsread for guidelines on how to appear on this radio show.
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GEMS has been a labor of love for editor and long-time friend, Erwin A. Thompson. Each of the 274 poems in this book was carefully selected and typed by Mr. Thompson as a tribute to a man he thought of as a kindred spirit and mentor. The poems span a period of close to four decades and cover a rare glimpse of a bygone era. The subject matter ranges from the personal to the philosophical, from dialect to description.

Available on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Gems-Yesterday-poetry-Philosophy-Lewis/dp/0595479057.
All proceeds donated directly to the Godfrey Congregational Church.

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The Earth Vision nature writing contest 2008

short fiction, creative non-fiction, poetic prose, or poetry
Deadline: October 15, 2008

Entries are now invited for the 2008 Earth Vision (EV) nature writing contest. The deadline for receipt of entries is October 15, 2008. The EV nature writing contest is held to support the cause of expression on the subject of nature and deep ecology. Any outstanding proceeds will support the EV project. Two honorable mentions. First Prize $500. Two Second Prizes of $100 each.

This contest is open to any writer in English producing an original short piece of fiction, creative non-fiction, poetic prose, or poetry on a theme of nature, deep ecology, spiritual ecology, or any work that has some element of nature woven into it. Submissions can be published or unpublished material, length to range between 500 and 2500 words per entry. One title per entry, you can enter as many times as you like, new entry fee to accompany each entry. Winners will retain all rights, and will be invited to post their entries on the Earth Vision Web site.

Entry fee: $12 (U.S.). You can either donate $12, or purchase two or more E-books from the Earth Vision site (at $6 each). See http://www.evbooks.net/contest.htm
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How to Escape an Abusive Relationship

If you have ever been in an abusive relationship you know you can't leave, you must escape. An abusive relationship is not just a relationship where hitting is involved. Emotional wounds take longer to heal than bruises. What do you do when you have found yourself in this kind of situation? You won't tell anyone because: you are embarrassed and ashamed, you don't think anyone will believe you, you don't want anyone to worry about you, and you don't want anyone giving you grief about it.

How to Escape an Abusive Relationship is the story of a smart, funny, intelligent woman who found herself in an abusive relationship. Learn of her escape plan and empowering information that can assist you should you find yourself in an abusive relationship.
Purchase on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/4tzabc

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Show Me the Funny
The Summer 2008 Warren Adler Short Story Contest Deadline: August 15

The theme for the Summer 2008 Warren Adler Short Story Contest is humor. We're looking for humorous stories in all their varied forms. From satire to farce, from the whimsical to the uproarious, all writers looking to get a laugh (in a good way!) should enter. We are looking for the subtle and the pungent, the black and dark, the sporty, the salty, the waggish, or whatever can spark a knowing smile, a sly chuckle, or a hysterical belly laugh. In other words, anything goes, just as long as it falls into this category no matter how one stretches its elastic boundaries.

Entries must not exceed 2,500 words, and there is a minimum length of 1,000 words. As in the previous contests, all stories will be judged on the basis of character authenticity, plotting, narrative drive, and the skillful manipulation of the short story literary form. Authors retain worldwide publishing rights. Submissions will be accepted from May 1st to August 15th. Entry fee up until August 1st is $15. After August 1st, a late entry fee is $20. Five cash prizes will be awarded. The winning story will be awarded the $1,000 grand prize and a personalized first edition of Funny Boys. Remaining finalists receive $150 each. See http://www.warrenadler.com/contest08.shtml
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MaAnna Stephenson’s new book, The Sage Age—Blending Science with Intuitive Wisdom will be in print soon. The galley copies are scheduled to be available by the end of July and the book will be released later this fall.

With a well-researched approach to its subjects, The Sage Age covers a broad range of material from ancient to modern thought, frontier science and current intuitive practice to deliver a depth and breadth of understanding that culminates in a holistic perspective for our time. Living up to its mantra of "new models for new thought," The Sage Age is certain to be a catalyst for dialogue and is destined to be a major work in its field. Visit www.SageAge.net for more information on the book and to get a sneak peek by reading the latest articles taken from book excerpts.

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I am so excited to announce that people are loving Wai-nani, High Cheifess of Hawaii my historical novel released in May 2008. They tell me it is truly unique, evocative, and a great ride!

From the cauldron of controversy that is Hawaiian history emerges Wai-nani, a reflection of the personage of the great chiefess Ka'ahumanu. Like all Islanders, she is a water baby finding pleasure, sustenance, solace, wisdom, and courage in the grand and vibrant sea. She is born fifteen years prior to the landing of Captain Cook in Kealakekua in 1779 and is the favorite wife of Makaha, a fierce warrior modeled after Kamehameha the Great. An excerpt from her story and reviews await you at http://www.lindaballouauthor.com/Books.html
An autographed copy of Wai-nani, High Chiefess of Hawaii Her Epic Journey maybe purchased on my site with free shipping anywhere in the world! If you prefer, you may order at Barnes & Noble.com or Amazon.com.
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Meet Austin software developer Charlie Hills, who has been gaining and losing weight for most of his adult life in Why Your Last Diet Failed You and How This Book Won’t Help You on Your Next One. Has Charlie missed his calling? The book makes great stand-up comedy.
Humor/Nonfiction, paper, 210 pages (Lockshire Press, 2007) www.whyyourlastdietfailedyou.com
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Promo 101 Virtual Blog Tours for July 2008

Dyan Garris - Radio Tour to Promote Her Healing Journey Toolbox (Continues). Tour details and schedule http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/05/dyan-garris-radio-show-tour.html

Jill Lublin Author of Get Noticed… Get Referrals: Build Your Client Base and Your Business by Making a Name for Yourself (Touring July 7 - August 1). Tour, author notes, and schedule details at http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/06/jill-lublin-author-of-get-noticed-get.html

Jim Musgrave Author of The President's Parasite. Tour, author info, and schedule details at http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/05/presidents-parasite-by.html

Book Promo 101 – a book written by Nikki Leigh to assist authors with book promotion is now available at www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_101.htm. Learn more about Promo 101 Virtual Blog Tours for authors at www.virtualblogtour.blogspot.com.

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Just Released

Write, Get Published, and Promote: An Easy e-Guide for New and Aspiring Writers by Joyce Shafer. This e-book has been called user-friendly, concise, and informative. It provides an overview for new writers from getting the first word down on paper to promoting. Includes resources, active links, and a life coaching approach to move users forward. Visit http://www.freewebs.com/writegetpubishedandpromote to learn more or go to http://www.lulu.com/content/2805803.

Queen Vernita's Visitors

Dawn Menge will be joining us on Writers in the Sky Podcast July 11th, 2008!

Dawn Menge has a Masters Degree and clear credential in Special Education. She has worked with the severely handicapped population for eleven years. She is currently working towards her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction. She combines imagination with practical skills to make learning fun. Dawn used her experiences within her life to create Queen Vernita's characters and her kingdom.

Queen Vernita's Visitors is a story that is woven around Dawn's friends and family. Queen Vernita invites twelve wonderful friends to visit with her during each month of the year. Queen Vernita and her friends enjoy fun activities throughout the Oceaneers Kingdom. Parents and teachers will love teaching the monthly calendar, days of the weeks and seasons through the storytelling adventures of Queen Vernita and her friends. Queen Vernita was the Queen of the majestic world called Oceaneer. She lived in a beautiful castle, that was covered in ivy and red roses.

For more information about Dawn Menge please visit http://www.outskirtspress.com/webpage.php?isbn=1598007149.

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Listening to Writers in the Sky Podcast on a computer is easy. Just click this link: http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com/ and go to my blog.On the right sidebar there is a list of archived shows. Click on the interview you would like to hear and it will open a post that has a link to the audio file.

For information about being a guest on Writers in the Sky Podcast, see http://www.yvonneperry.net/Writing_Packages.htm#Publicity_Packages_

Writing Podcast Schedule July 2008

WITS Podcast Schedule July 2008. Authors interviewed this month include: 

July 11
Dawn Menge has a master’s degree and clear credential in special education. She has worked with the severely handicapped population for eleven years. She combines imagination with practical skills to make learning fun in the characters and kingdom of her Queen Vernita series of children’s books. Queen Vernita's Visitors takes place in the land of Oceaneers, and is a story woven around Dawn's 87-year-old grandmother and other family members, which include her parents, children, grandchild, nieces, nephews, and childhood friend. Some of these characters will be visiting during the interview with Sarah Moore.

July 18
Kelley Dupuis will be interviewed by Sarah Moore regarding the writing, publishing, and marketing of his recently-published book, Three Flies Up: My Father, Baseball and Me.
In Three Flies Up, Washington, D.C. author and award-winning journalist Kelley Dupuis explores two themes: one universal and one uniquely American. The perennial theme of fathers and sons forms the backdrop for the story of the author’s long, usually-troubled relationship with his own father, a career Border Patrolman who grew up both poor and largely without a father in his own life, and as a result had no role model for being a father himself. As the author grows up in the 1960s and 1970s, father and son are at logger-heads more than often than not. Read more or purchase at http://tinyurl.com/3rppl7.

July 25
Bridget Lenox, author of Beyond the Border, will be interviewed by Sarah Moore. In 1979, four of the toughest boys in town vomit and weep when they stumble across Border Patrol agents who covertly exterminated caged, illegal aliens with kerosene and a single cigarette. Later, as adults, two of the boys discover that the same practices still secretly exist and are sanctioned by both the State and Federal authorities to further political careers. Beyond the Border is a story about an attorney, Mike Phillips, fighting for the rights of illegal aliens—unknowingly and feloniously aided by a Columbian ally—but undermined by a staircase of politicians and political platforms that escalates to the Presidency and the future Presidency. ISBN: 9781598009217. Read more at www.outskirtspress.com/beyondtheborder and www.beyondtheborderbook.com.

Book on Diabetic Foot, Limb Salvage, and Amputation Prevention

I would like to introduce you to a book and an author I am working with. Dr. Mark Hinkes (Chief of Podiatry at Veteran's Hospital in Nashville, TN) and I are excited about getting this book ready because we believe many people will be helped by the information provided. Here is a synopsis:

Keep the Legs You Stand On is a patient educational tool meant for the average person who may have diabetes. It’s also for the caregiver or anyone involved with the diabetic patient to help them better understand the issues surrounding the co-morbidities that affect the foot of the diabetic patient.

It’s a very daunting task because there’s so many aspects of this disease that affect different systems. Diabetes has reached an epidemic proportion due to our diet and lack of exercise. Millions of people don't even know they have pre-diabetes. Then, there are the political aspects of access to healthcare. Diabetes is everywhere around the world but the way we deal with it and the way we take care of people’s feet varies depending upon our resources and politics. 

We also know certain minorities have other risk factors and higher incidences. So, we’re trying to bring new life and information to at-risk people who are diabetic and show why they don’t have to lose their leg. This book will teach what people can do to self-empower and become active in their health and prevent an amputation. This requires a partnership between the patient and the medical posse that takes care of the patient. Interdisciplinary or multi-disciplinary healthcare teams are strongly advocated in this book.

Nightengale Press will be publishing this book this fall. For more information about the book, see our Squiddo page.