Victor R. Volkman presents a special edition of Authors Access recorded live at the Motown Writers Conference on November 9th, 2007 at the Southern Fires restaraunt in Detroit, Michigan. Our guest is author and publisher Linda Daly, who is also the owner of Light Sword Publishing. Linda brings her hard-won knowledge of book marketing to the table including: developing a visual image, creating flash movies, focusing on your message, and developing concise marketing materials.
Light Sword, is a full-service, time-honored, conventional publishing company, dedicated to providing the reader with both fiction and non fiction books from established authors, as well as talented newcomers. The range of genres that we offer, include, but are not limited to:
On November 15th, 2007 Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman spoke with award-winning author Carolyn Howard-Johnson, creative force behind the HowToDoItFrugally Series of Books for writers. She has just released second book in the series, The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success. Carolyn shared her best tips and strategies for low-cost/zero-cost marketing campaigns and also talked about what NOT to do to market your books. She also talks about the value of editing and how it directly controls how your proposals, books, and marketing are peceived in the marketplace.
Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s first novel, This Is the Place, won eight awards. Her book of creative nonfiction, Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, won three. An instructor for UCLA Extension’s world-renown Writers’ Program, her book The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won’t was named USA Book News’ “Best Professional Book 2004,” and was given the Irwin Award. Her second book in the How To Do It Frugally series is The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success. Her chapbook of poetry Tracings, was named to the Compulsive Reader’s Ten Best Reads list and was given the Military Writers’ Society of America’s Silver Award of Excellence. She is the recipient of the California Legislature’s Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment Award, and her community’s Character and Ethics Committee awarded her wo
rk promoting tolerance with her writing. She was also named to Pasadena Weekly’s list of 14 “San Gabriel Valley women who make life happen.”
On October 12th, 2007 Victor R. Volkman and Irene Watson spoke with Patrick Snow, bestselling author and book coach. Patrick is author of Creating Your Own Destiny: How to Get Exactly What You Want Out of Life which has sold over 125,000 copies since its first printing in July of 2001. He spoke with us about the crucial elements of cover design and what turns consumers on (or off) when looking at your book. We also talked about realistic amounts to spend on cover design and your role in promoting the book after its printed. Patrick also touched on effective generation of the title and subtitle and how important they are to your platform. He generously shared many real-life examples of books that he has helped shepherd into production.
For more than 20 years, he has studied the field of personal growth and development. Patrick’s “DESTINY” message has been recognized in major newspapers such as The New York Times, Denver Post, and the Chicago Sun Times. His book and photo were also featured on the cover story in the December 5, 2002, issue of USA Today. His message has also been featured on hundreds of radio stations throughout North America and Europe. Patrick has also been a TV guest on Seattle’s popular Northwest Afternoon.
Patrick has been in business-to-business and high-tech corporate sales for more than 15 years. During this time, he has been tracking layoffs and worker discontent. As a Business-Ownership Advocate, Patrick’s mission is to help others overcome their fears by turning their career distress into personal success, through business ownership.
Originally from Michigan, Patrick graduated from the University of Montana in 1991, and now lives in Seattle with his wife and children.
On October 4th, 2007 Victor Volkman and Irene Watson spoke with author and publisher Jacqueline Church Simonds. She is the co-owner of Beagle Bay, Inc., publishers of women’s adventure fiction, travel guides and self-help books. Jacqueline helped us navigate the dangerous waters of self-publishing including such tough topics as:
Do you have the skills needed or drive to acquire them?
Do you have the money to do justice to the book?
Do you have the temperament given the long odds of breaking even?
Who can help me?
Jacqueline’s company also offers small press distribution and book packaging services through their imprint of Creative Minds. She is the author of Captain Mary, Buccaneer, a pirate novel for adults, which was her first novel and the genesis of her company. She is also the creator of the New Self-Publisher’s FAQ and Jacqueline is one of the co-moderators of the SPAN Self-Publishing Discussion List otherwise known as Self-Publishing@Yahoo Groups.com
