Book Covers

Monday, August 29, 2011

The Menace of Obesity by Oliver Greene





Over the last two to three decades, over nutrition and obesity have been transformed from relatively minor public health issues to a major threat to public health. The aim of this book is to show how serious obesity is and what needs to be done in order to solve the issue. It is important that anyone who is overweight or obese people know about their condition and learn that there is a solution to their weight issues and there are steps that they can take. Laid out in a modular fashion—each concept building on the next—The Menace of Obesity will help those affected to get started.
You can purchase on the web site.
Oliver Greene has written what is an indispensable new book for every parent in the World…The Menace of Obesity I can highly recommend it for its enlightening insights, and its nutritional management for our children today." 
— Terry Leahy , Life Change Councillor.
This is enormously one of the greatest books on Child Obesity that you can buy. You will not regret having purchased it. Put Oliver Greene’s book “The Menace of Obesity” information and suggestions to work for you and live a recovered, healthier lifestyle.
— Grace, New York

Would you like to see your book here? Leave a comment and we will get back to you.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Indie Book Design - You Need A Professionally Done Cover Because People DO Judge A Book By It's Cover




I just got back my fabulous new book cover and I'm very excited about it! The wonderful people at 'Indie Book Design' made it for me.

I wasn't sure at first what I wanted. I took a look around at what other covers looked like in my genre and then I discussed it with them. They sent me a first draft quickly. I made two small changes and voila, isn't it nice! They were really cool about the revisions.

I wanted a design that jumped out and grabbed people, I think this one does the trick. What do you think?

I've heard so many times how important it is to get a professional cover done because readers DO judge a book by it's cover. I thought that it would be expensive but Indie book design seemed reasonable.

In case you're wondering, Quick Kill will be published, if all goes according to schedule (fingers crossed) by Christmas. It's a murder mystery. Could you guess that by the cover? Hints were - guy with big knife and perhaps the word 'kill' in the title.  :)



Saturday, August 27, 2011

Author Interview - Attila Nemeti




This is a journey through nine countries of a young innocent globalized immigrant to find a new life and settle in the USA. An autobiography of different cultures, societies and people. This is not about good luck or good fortune but struggle to success. This story is about birth and death and rebirth, rising and falling like our breath, moment by moment. This story is about loneliness, homelessness, opportunity, uncertainty, drugs, prison-life and the American dream.


"...I am lucky to get to know Attila personally and I hope the people reading the book will get closer to him. Finishing the book, the words of Hamlet by Shakespeare will come to their mind "... There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy"."
Janos Brody - Recording Artist
"This book is worth the read. Attila has had a very interesting life. His journey is a testament to the phrase 'Perseverance furthers'."
Alan Edward Bell - Feature Film Editor
Water for Elephants
"Stepping Through is a unique tale of one man's life. Attila Nemeti exposes the American reader to experiences that seem unimaginable. The story of his struggle is engaging and eye-opening to many things I've taken for granted by being born in the USA."
Christine Schneider






Would you like me to put up your book? Just leave a comment...

Monday, August 22, 2011

In Leah’s Wake Social Media Whirlwind Tour - Twitterview

Announcing the In Leah’s Wake Social Media Whirlwind Tour—WooHoo!



As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the In Leah’s Wake Kindle edition has dropped to just 99 cents this week.
What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including a Kindle, 5 autographed copies of the book, and multiple Amazon gift cards (1 for $100, 3 for $25, 5 for $10, and 10 for $5 – 19 in all)! Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, August 26th, so you don’t miss out.

To win the prizes:


  1. Purchase your copy of In Leah’s Wake for just 99 cents
  2. Fill-out the form on the author’s site to enter for prizes
  3. Visit today’s featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book!

And I can win $100 too if you vote for my blog over on the author’s website. The blog host that gets the most votes in this traffic-breaker polls wins, so please cast yours right after purchasing In Leah’s Wake and entering the contests!

The featured events include:


Monday, Blogaganza on Novel Publicity! We’re kicking-off on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog. We’ll ask the writer 5 fun and random questions to get everyone talking. Leave a comment or question in response to the post, and you may win an autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake. Don’t forget to visit the author’s blog to enter for the other prizes!
Tuesday, Twitter chat with the author! Tweet with us between 4 and 5 PM Eastern Time, using the hashtag #emlyn. We’ll be talking with the author about her favorite books and best writing advice. Bring your questions about In Leah’s Wake and don’t forget to use #emlyn or to follow Terri @tglong. By joining in the tweet chat at the designated time, you may win an autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake. Don’t forget to visit the author’s blog to enter for the other prizes!
Wednesday, Google+ video chat with the author! Join our hangout between 12 and 3 PM Eastern Time to talk with the author and us via video chat. We’ll be gabbing about great books including In Leah’s Wake and about writing. Did you know that Terri is a creative writing instructor at Boston College? She’s got tons of good advice for aspiring writers. By joining in the Google+ video chat at the designated time, you may win an autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake. Don’t forget to visit the author’s blog to enter for the other prizes!
Thursday, Facebook interview with the author! Stop by Novel Publicity’s Facebook page and ask Terri questions. She’s chosen three of her favorite topics to talk about:  writing, parenting, and gourmet cooking. Of course, you’re welcome to ask about In Leah’s Wake too. Leave a comment or question as part of the thread, and you may win an autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake. Don’t forget tolike Terri’s Facebook page or to visit her blog to enter for the other prizes!
Friday, Fun & games based on the book! We want to close this whirlwind social media tour with a gigantic bang, which is why we've set-up two interactive book-themed features on the author’s blog. You can take the official Facebook quiz to find out which In Leah's Wake character is most like you and learn how that character ties into the story. Then try out our crossroads story game. Throughout the course of the narrative, you'll have several decisions to make. What you choose will affect the outcome of the story. Play as either rebellious teenager Leah or the trampled peacemaker and mother Zoe. Leave a comment or question on any of Terri’s blog entries, and you may win an autographed copy of In Leah’s Wake. Don’t forget to check out the other give-away contests while you’re on Terri’s blog!

About In Leah’s Wake:  

The Tyler family had the perfect life – until sixteen-year-old Leah decided she didn’t want to be perfect anymore. While Zoe and Will fight to save their daughter from destroying her brilliant future, Leah’s younger sister, Justine, must cope with the damage her out-of-control sibling leaves in her wake. Will this family survive? What happens when love just isn’t enough? Jodi Picoult fans will love this beautifully written and absorbing novel.


A Twitterview with Terri Giuliano Long, author of In Leah's Wake


You can tweet Terri @tglong. Please do!  To learn more about twitterviews, go here.

Twitterview with Terri, 1Twitterview with Terri, 2Twitterview with Terri, 3Twitterview with Terri, 4Twitterview with Terri, 5

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Bestseller For A Day August 17th - In Leah’s Wake



Today, August 17th, is Terri Giuliano Long’s big day! Her award-winning novel IN LEAH’S WAKE, is the featured book for BESTSELLER FOR A DAY. The premier promotion of the Indie Book Collective, BESTSELLER FOR A DAY is designed to push indie authors to the top of the Kindle charts!

(Don’t have a Kindle? Grab a FREE Kindle app here.)

What does all this mean exactly? How does this involve me? What do I do?
For you, the reader, it’s easy AND fun! Today through midnight:

1.  Go to Amazon.com and purchase Terri’s eBook In LEAH’S WAKE for only 99 cents! (The normal price is $2.99 so you save two dollars.) Terri loves when readers save money! They can buy more books! Like these 4 breathtaking bonus buys, on sale this week ONLY for just 99¢ each: BELLA, THE TRUST, SOPHIE & CARTER, and CHASING AMANDA

2.  Your purchase helps show the big boys in NY publishing houses what indie authors can do! Every purchase improves Terri’s ranking on the overall Amazon chart. Our goal is to get her eBook, out of the millions of eBooks, onto the Kindle Top 100!
IN LEAH’S WAKE, the BOOK BUNDLZ 2011 BOOK CLUB PICK, has already hit #7 on the Barnes & Noble Nook Bestseller List! And #14 on Amazon’s Books/Parenting & Families/Family Relationships chart! How awesome is that? Terri’s positively amazed! She had to pinch herself to prove she wasn’t just dreaming!

The Top 100 chart takes serious firepower! To do it, she needs your help!

Please shout her out to your Twitter stream, Facebook friends, friends and family, even your dog. Reviewers have called IN LEAH’S WAKE: “a stellar debut,” “engrossing, “a book for our times.” One reviewer said: “no one who reads this book can remain untouched or unmoved.” Another said Terri’s writing is “superb, compelling, and leaves a serious impact!”

So…what are you waiting for?

3.      Once you purchase her book, head over to the Bestseller For A Day site and enter to win a brand new KINDLE – Terri’s way of showing appreciation for your effort and support!

4.      Wait! There’s more! How about this? 4 MORE AMAZING reads – only 99¢ each! BELLA, by D.C. journalist Steve Piacente, a hotbed of danger and intrigue in the U.S. Military. THE TRUST by Sean Keefer, an award-winning, knock-your-socks-off legal thriller. CHASING AMANDA, a luminous, must-read thriller by award winner Melissa Foster. And, last but definitely not least, SOPHIE & CARTER, a rocking YA romance by Wonder Woman Chelsea Fine, one of Amazon’s hottest new authors!

5.  If you’re still not sure you should part with that buck and maybe win a brand new KINDLE, here are 45 – yep, 45 – outstanding 4 & 5-star reviews that may change your mind. It’s hard to part with your cash in this economy. We get it completely. Look at it this way: your 99 cents is an investment in a powerful and compelling family story, a great read. What’s more, it’s an investment in all indie authors trying to prove their worth.

Terri appreciates all the love and support you’ve shown her these past few months, pushing IN LEAH’S WAKE up the charts and onto the Barnes & Noble Nook Bestseller List. We can’t wait to see what Wednesday brings!
Please go directly to In LEAH’S WAKE now to purchase Terri’s book or to the BestSeller For A Day site for more details. If you have questions or comments, feel free to email Terri at terri@tglong.com or visit her blog. You can also catch her on Twitter or Facebook or Goodreads. When she’s not writing or gabbing with friends on a social networking site, she can be found at Boston College, where she teaches creative & nonfiction writing.
Comments welcome! Retweets and mentions greatly appreciated!!
Interested in participating in Bestseller For A Day as a Bonus Buy book? We’re always on the lookout for great indie books to include in our promotions! What’s required? You must be available in eBook format, be on Twitter, and have a blog. Want more info? Contact us at indiebookibc@gmail.comfor more information!
***

The Indie Book Blowout powered by IBC and the 99¢ Network!

THIS Labor Day Weekend, September 2-5, prepare your e-reader for Bargain eBook BLISS!
All ebooks! All genres! All at 99 cents! All Labor Day weekend long.
Plus a chance to win a KINDLE just by signing up for the newsletter!
Check it out NOW! www.indiebookblowout.com
Authors, to get your ebook listed in this phenomenal event, just click HERE for details. The cut off date for entrance is August 26th!

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Once Upon a Star - Celebrity kiss and tell stories by Peggy Trentini



"Once Upon a Star"is a true autobiography about a young Hollywood ingénue, who finds herself looking for love in all the wrong places of La La land. Peggy bears her heart and soul in her quest for love amongst Hollywood's most elite players. Her naivety will break your heart and make you laugh as she skips from one relationship to another, always believing that love would find her. This is a story that encompasses the sorrow and triumph of living in the celebrity fantasy world. "Once Upon a Star" is a story very seldom presented with such candor and truth. Journey along with Peggy's anecdotal celebrity relationships and flings with such stars as Sylvester Stallone, Billy Idol, Mick Jagger, Nicholas Cage, Sean Penn, Kevin Costner, Johnny Depp , Vince Neil, Sting and many others. Juicy and thought provoking, you will not want to put this one down.

Available at Amazon
Visit the website


If you would like your book featured here, just ask!


Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Indie Book Event 2011 - Promoting Indie Authors And Publishers


 The Indie Book Event, now in its second year, was created to offer independent publishers and self-published authors the opportunity to promote their work. The Indie Book Event offers writers a platform to showcase their latest publications, and provides aspiring writers with an opportunity to glean invaluable information and key networking. 

The schedule included a speaking panel with publishing and editing veterans as well as bloggers, social media experts, eBook professionals and author branding experts who provided important leads, tips, ideas, etc. There were discussions about the growing importance of e-publishing, the opportunities e-publishing presents to independent authors, and the significance that digital books has within the print publishing industry.






The three founders of the Indie Book Collective, Carolyn McCray, Amber Scott and Rachel Thompson were on a panel of experts and were kind enough to answer a few questions:


1. How did the Indie Book Event go?
The event was GREAT! There was a nice cohesion of indie publishing representatives on both the panels and in the audience: authors, social media experts, editors, book bloggers and publishers. Lots of great dialogue that is still continuing in blog posts as we speak! 


 2. What was the most important thing you learned that you would like to pass on to other indie authors?
From our perspective, it’s never too early to establish your social media presence. There are many planks to your platform (Twitter, blogging, Facebook, Goodreads, etc.), and even as you’re writing your book you need to be out there branding yourself. We discuss this idea thoroughly in our bestselling eBook guide Dollars & Sense: The Definitive Guide to Self-Publishing Success available on Amazon for only $2.99. We also recommend that you ePublish your book, clearly a requirement for a successful sales platform from this point forward. Many indie authors are still reticent to jump into social media and ePublishing and for us, the two are critical to success.
3. What makes it a special event and why should indie authors attend next year? 
We think #IBE12 will only grow as the potential for indie authors continues to increase exponentially. This event spotlights all aspects of self-publishing and how to help indie authors flourish. Melissa of @indiepride deserves a hand for bringing light to our community and nurturing the spirt of indie!





Thursday, August 4, 2011

Is Writing A Book Like Following A Recipe?


It depends. Of course it does. It depends on many factors. It also depends on what kind of a cook you are. If you’re the kind of cook that never follows a recipe and just adds things as you go, then the chances are that’s just how you’ll write your book too. Good luck!

Me? I’m a little more organized than that. In my work life I’m a project manager, and project managers have to be well organized and structured. They also have to be able to react to change and manage risks and things that may (and do) go wrong. I think it’s pretty good training for writing a book!

So how exactly do I write a book? Let’s start at the beginning (and I want to add a comment here that due to the fact this is a blog post, the following process has been summarized). First off I have an idea for a story. It’s usually something really simple, and there are a few characters involved; the protagonist and the antagonist. Oh, and some kind of setting and back-story too. I usually write this down – a few bullet points – and then I let it sit and bake for a while. I come back to it from time to time and then add a few more notes. Eventually there comes a time when I’m ready to structure the story properly. I decide on the length I want it to be (80k – 120k depending on audience, genre, etc.), and I also decide on the number of chapters I want to write. 


This is where my project management experience kicks in. I know from personal experience that for every plot point I create, I will write somewhere between 400 and 600 words of story. This means that if I want to write an 80k word book, I’m going to need about 160 plot points. That’s a lot of things happening in a story!  My first job – before I write a single word – is to create at least half (preferably two thirds) of those plot points. This gives me a firm basis and direction for my book and also allows me to add other storylines as the book develops and gets ‘its own life.’ Then I write the book.

Okay, easy part done! Next I like to let my newly written manuscript sit for a while (just like letting bread prove). I don’t touch it for at least a month – preferably two – so that I can mostly forget about it. Then I come back to it anew and re-read it, editing as I read. It’s easy this time through to spot parts that don’t work or need changing somehow. After this is done the manuscript is ready to send out to a team of pre-readers (as I call them). These are people who are prepared to read through my manuscript at least three times, looking for different things including plot and character inconsistencies, grammar, spelling, parts of the story that don’t work, and all sorts of other things. I require my pre-readers to give me written reports that follow a strict template.

Next comes the final edit. I take all the feedback I have received and decide which I want to take and which I don’t (it’s still my story after all), and then I make my edits. One final reread and the manuscript is probably good to go. This just leaves covers, book blurb, pricing, marketing, press releases, advanced reader copies (ARCs) – for reviews - and all that great stuff to organize.

End to end timing? Wow, that’s a tough question. It depends on the actual writing part. I try and allow a month to let the story grow inside me, then a further week or so to flesh it out before I write. Then I write it. This usually seems to take about 3 months. Then a month to let it sit, a week to make edits, another month to get feedback from pre-readers, a week to make final edits and another couple of weeks to finalize all the other details. 


All in all, it’s about a 7 month process, end to end for an 80k novel. I’m sure some people can do it quicker and some people take longer. Just remember, you get one shot at your reader, so don’t rush the process – it will show through in the final product. We all want to start earning money off the book tomorrow, but a book is on sale forever and can generate revenue for years. Think about that when you come to the editing process. Spending quality time before the book goes on sale in order to create a better book is well worth it. Good luck!

Tel: 206-228-6006
"This world is not my home; I'm just passing through"
Follow me on Twitter: @jcx27
Read me online at: http://pauldorset.blogspot.com

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