Andrea Campbell – Writing Realistic Forensics and Crime Stories

Posted on November 2, 2007 by Victor Volkman
On Thursday, November 1st, 2007 Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman spoke with author, criminologist, and consultant Andrea Campbell from her home in Hot Springs, Arkansas. in Hot Springs Arkansas. Her latest title is the Legal Ease: A Guide to Criminal Law, Evidence and Procedure (2nd Ed.), a reader-friendly book that is now a college law textbook published by Charles C. Thomas Publishers. Andrea shared with us how to find authoritatives sources for crime-scene forensics, evidence handling, police procedure, and court proceedings. She also shared many insider’s tips including how to find and use forensics experts and a realistic look at what it takes to write for the True Crime genre.
She is the author of ten nonfiction books on a variety of topics, but specializes in forensic science, criminal law, and entertaining with interactive parties. Andrea is also Editor for the Arkansas Identification News, a quarterly that goes out to forensic scientists and law enforcement, whom all belong to the International Association for Identification. A trained forensic artist, Andrea is capable of building a bust out of clay from a skull and can do cadaver drawings and fugitive updates. A Diplomate and Fellow with the American College of Forensic Examiners International, Andrea frequently attends forensic science training conferences and blogs on several topics. Currently, she is working on a book about the world’s first detective for Overlook Press.

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Liz Carmack – Tips for Planning and Organizing Research for Your Nonfiction book

Posted on October 26, 2007 by Victor Volkman
On Thursday, October 25th, 2007 Tyler Tichelaar and Victor Volkman spoke with writer, journalist, and researcher Liz Carmack. Her love for heritage travel and her desire to provide travelers with a practical reference to Texas’ historic hotels inspired her to write Historic Hotels of Texas: A Traveler’s Guide. Liz shared her hard-won experience and real-life stories of how to define your topic and its scope, identifying and exploiting research and information sources, how to work with an archival library, planning your time to be most effective, developing a useful information filing system, and how to maintain a sense of fun and curiousity about it all.
During her research, Liz traveled more than 20,000 miles across Texas to visit the 64 hotels featured in her book. Liz interviewed local historians, innkeepers and hotel guests, and uncovered historic hotel details in archives, libraries and museums.Liz is a freelance technical and business writer for the public and private sectors in Austin, Texas, and is principal of Liz Carmack Communications. Her travel articles have appeared in Texas Highways, Austin Woman, A, and Heritage magazines. A former newspaper journalist, she is the Austin City Expert for homeandabroad.com.

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Mark David Gerson – The Myth of Writer’s Block!

Posted on October 19, 2007 by Victor Volkman
On October 18th, 2007 Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman spoke with author, writing coach and mentor Mark David Gerson. He has taught writing as creative and spiritual pursuit for more than 15 years in colleges, universities and community centers, as well as for groups and individuals as a coach and mentor. His upcoming book, a book of inspiration, instruction and practice for writers and anyone who wants to write is The Voice of the Muse: Answering the Call to Write. Mark David shared with us his rationale of why Writer’s Block is a myth, how we create it and how we can un-create it, the role of distractions in blocking us, living with deadlines and commitments, and how we can be in the zone
writing.
Before moving to the U.S. in 1997, he worked for more than a decade as full-time as a freelance writer and editor in his native Canada. His latest book, a story about the power of story, is intriguingly titled The MoonQuest: A True Fantasy and is the first volume in a projected trilogy.
Mark David also produces a free inspirational e-newsletter every month that reaches more than 1200 subscribers in some two dozen countries. He spoke with us from his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

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Patrick Snow – Book Covers That Sell Books

Posted on October 12, 2007 by Victor Volkman
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.

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Jacqueline Church Simonds – To Self-Publish or Not to Self-Publish

Posted on October 5, 2007 by Victor Volkman
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 Captain Mary, Buccaneer

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    Posted in Book Development, Guests, Self-Publishing | Leave a comment