Friday, September 30, 2011

Latest Aps For Kindles: What You Need To know

Authors and book lovers try to stay abreast of changes that affects their publishing goals or reading. Amazon provides up-to-date information regularly.

Discover More of Kindle:
Kindles
The latest Aps

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

CreateSpace Complaints Continue


Angela Hoy posts a heads up about CreateSpace complaints.


Visit WritersWeekly , and continue to beware.

Calling All Writers


The Internet Writing Workshop is aggressively seeking members for the NFICTION list.

Gary Presley, IWW Ass't Administrator said,

"There was an IWW mention in WRITER'S DIGEST, and we admins are seeing new member applications increase as a result. But there's always a turnover, and it's important to keep "the word" circulating about the IWW. I am among the admins of the nonfiction (NFICTION) list, and I *know* that list isn't overpopulated.

Presley lives in Missouri and can be contacted via the Internet Writing Workshop.


"We ask that you "tweet," "blog," "Facebook," or <fill in the name of your favorite social media here> the word about our great volunteer group. Be sure to mention the IWW website <http://internetwritingworkshop.org/> because that's the gateway to the application process.

 "As we say down in the hill country, '"Thanks 'til you're better paid."'
In addition to Nonfiction, IWW critiquing lists include:
Fiction, Lovestory, Nonfiction, Novels, Poetry, Practice, Prose/Flash-fiction, Script-writing, Child/Young adult .

The IWW also includes discussion lists: Writing, Creative Nonfiction, MarketChat, and SFChatAlso, The IWW Blog Writing Advice .

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Author Ann Hite Touts Internet Writers Workshop For Ghost On Black Mountain


Now and then the backstory about a book and it's author arrives in my email. A promising new book, Ghost On Black Mountain, published by Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster) and its author, Ann Hite, is the latest. (Available at Amazon, Borders and Barnes and Noble.)

Author Ann Hite said
"Ghost On Black Mountain hit the bookstores running yesterday ;). Book launch was wonderful and 92 copies of the book sold. Publication has been a long time coming."
Hite has been a member of Internet Writers Workshop, a premier writers online critique and support list, for many years. She praised list members highly, and singled out prolific short-story author, Wayne Scheer, author, Rick Bylina,  and author and instructor, Carter Jefferson.

Ann said, "When I stood in front of the crowd yesterday, I couldn't help think[ing] of all the crits my Black Mountain stories received [ on IWW]. Thank you all."
Ghost On Black Mountain will be the alternate pick for the month of October at the following book clubs: Doubleday Book Club, Literary Guild, Mystery Guild, and Doubleday Book Club LP, not to mention Columbia Music.

Atlanta Magazine will publish an interview with Hite in their October issue, and Western North Carolina Magazine will review Ghost On Black Mountain, also.

Hite busy schedule for the next two months shows her willingness and ability to promote her book, as all authors are committed to doing in today's publishing world. A whirlwind of book signings and writing conferences in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi and Tennessee, plus and online conference will keep her novel in the limelight as she climbs the ladder of success.

September 13:
Swan Coach House Gallery
3130 Slaton Drive Northwest
Atlanta, GA
Luncheon and Reading 11:30-1:00. Signing to follow

September 15:
Barnes and Noble
3 South Tunnel Road
Asheville, NC
7:00pm

September 17:
SIBA (Southeast Independent Booksellers Association)
Embassy Suites North Charleston
5055 International Boulevard
North Charleston, SC
Reading 9:30 pm

September 24:
Gulf Coast Writers Association
Gulfport Galleria of Fine Arts
2200 25th Avenue (Hwy 49)
Gulfport, MS
2:00pm

October 3-9:
Online Writing Workshop (You Want To Write A Memorable Novel)
http://themuseonlinewritersconference.com/

October 4:
Fox Tales Book Shoppe
105 East Main Street # 138
Woodstock, GA 30188
7:00 pm

October 7:
Hattie's Books
1531 Newcastle St.
Brunswick, GA
Book Club 2:30-4:00pm
Signing 5:00pm

October 8:
Hattie's Books
Darien, GA
12:00 pm-2:30 pm

GJ Ford Bookstore
600 Sea Island Rd.
St. Simons, GA 31522
3:00-5:00 pm

October 10:
WNBA(Women National Book Association) NRGM Bibliofeast Dinner
Charlotte, North Carolina
Place and time to be announced

October 14 and 15:
Southern Festival of Books
Nashville, TN
Time and solid date to be announced.

October 16:
Gulf Coast Southern Expression Conference
Gulfport, MS.
9:00 am

October 22:
Barnes and Noble
Town Center Prado
50 Barrett Pkwy. Ste 3000 Bldg 3
Marietta, GA 30066
2:00 pm

Ann Hite
Ghost On Black Mountain
http://www.annhite.com/

Submishmash -- Writers and Publishers Share Their Experiences.


Submishmash, released in September 2010 by CEO Michael FitzGerald , a novelist and software programmer in Missoula, Montana has attracted a growing number of authors as well as publishers.

When I asked my writing peers, "So how does a writer signup?" One replied,
"You go to the mag that accepts submishmash sub and go through the steps."
However, SM replied,
"I am a facebook "friend" of Submishmash, the submission manager for literary magazines, both fiction and nonfiction, and where I have discovered several matches to my work from their status updates. I read this morning (April, 2011) they are starting a newsletter for calls for submissions."
The following comments furthered my understanding of using Submishmash:

Paul Pekin said,
"Stories I sent out went directly to Submishmash; that would be the Baltimore Review, Best Fiction, Word Riot, Hayden's Ferry Review, Prime Number Magazine, and Tin House. When I check my "account" I see all my submissions, plus their fates (not good, folks). No feedback, although the software does allow it. So, what do these editors see beside my stories?"
Mark Budman, Editor/Publisher\Webmaster of Vestal Review, a flash fiction magazine, wrote,
"I've been using Submishmash for Vestal Review about a year as well as for my own submissions and I love it. I see a lot of things, but nothing of what you submitted to other magazines. If you see "new," it means that your story hasn't been assigned to a reader yet.
 "If you see "in-progress," it means that your story is being read. Many university presses use a different submission manager or even e-mail subs. Some want print submissions. The problem is that while submishmash is free for the small presses, they require university presses to pay for it. And some smaller university presses can't afford it."
PF said,
"I think anyone who has submitted work this past year has used Submishmash. And yes, they hold a record of your submissions, where they were sent and the subsequent decisions in your account area. I would say that I've rec'vd a number of private notes from editors on acceptances and rejections alike, something I always consider a good thing, regardless of how brief. Makes me know that a human being has actually read the material and if I was close to hitting the mark. As far as what they can see? I'd be surprised if they can view the account areas since using the manager requires a private pass code."
Guilie Castillo Oriard responded,
"I've used Submishmash. I've also not gotten any feedback on rejected pieces, but then again, I'm a newbie and I don't submit much. I do like the ease with which submissions are made through this manager."
Barry Basden added,
"I started using submishmash a year or so ago for CPR. Can't believe how much time it saves keeping track and organized. And I can only see what is sent to CPR, not what is sent elsewhere. To avoid hassles, I generally don't provide feedback, but if I think a piece might be suitable somewhere else, I suggest one or two other venues to try.
 "If something is close to what I want, I ask writers to try CPR again. Only once has acceptance hinged on a change I suggested. And it was minor. If it's no, I've found it's best to move on unless a specific change or rewrite is asked for. CPR's lead time is several months now that we publish only once a week. But I send emails for all rejections and an email upon acceptance and another when I have a firm date when the piece will appear.
 "Also, I usually rave a lot and give grateful thanks for accepted pieces. Actually, I'm grateful for every submission. It's an honor and, after all, where would any zine be without content?"
Wayne Scheer said,
"Submishmash makes submitting easier and I'm sure it makes the life of an editor much easier. But, I have some problems with it. I've had one story accepted and published without my knowing it because I hadn't checked Submishmash.
"I had another story in a paying magazine accepted, and they were waiting for me to acknowledge the acceptance. Fortunately, I discovered the acceptance and wrote the editor who said they were two days from putting another story in my slot. Now I don't want to make editors unhappy, but that seems like laziness on their part. I understand them not wanting to respond every rejection, (and I understand I need to be more diligent in checking Submishmash on a regular basis), but correspondence between writers and editors, especially regarding acceptances, is one of the things I enjoy most about the writing/publishing game.
 "I would guess, also, that establishing a relationship with a writer they like, would be beneficial to the editors as well. I hope Submishmash doesn't add another degree of separation between writers and editors. The less human interaction we have, the less fun this process is. And let's face it: in lieu of the big bucks, fun is all we have. another problem with Submishmash. The only way I know to get into the system to check on the status of my stories or sign up is through an ezine that uses it. As I recall, if you Google it, you can't get to a sign in box or a way to check your work. Another thing I don't like about Submishmash is it lets me see at a glance how many of my stories have been rejected. Not a pretty sight... "
I also learned that Wayne's problem was with the editor and not Submishmash. The editor was supposed to let him know about the acceptance. Writers shouldn't have to check their SMM accounts to find out about acceptances or rejections. It's easy for editors to set up default and alternative letters of all kinds.

Another writer explained,
"When you submit through Submishmash for the first time, they will create an account for you. And writers have the option to specify what they see in their account. Try zooming out on the submishmash homepage -- the sign-in box is in the far upper right corner. (you may need to set your screen to 75%.)"
SS said,
"I set my Submishmash to show only active submissions. I don't want to look at that long list of rejections every time! :) And I resist the urge to click rejections and look at them. As far as logging in, I never go through an ezine. I originally signed up when I was submitting to an ezine that used it. But now I just go to Submishmash.com and click 'login.' I leave it logged in and have my page bookmarked, but when that resets I just login from their homepage."
PSt.P said,
"More and more ezines are using submishmash. Many of the ones I've submitted to prefer that to straight email perhaps because they don't want spam. I usually receive a form email from the editor thanking me for my submission and stating to check with submishmash manager. When I've receive rejections an email is usually sent explaining why my submission wasn't accepted by them. As far as I'm concerned I've had very few acceptances while using them."
AW added,
"Submishmash makes me feel lazy. I rarely submit my stories -- I have a grand total of 3 submissions listed. When I think of what people had to do back in the olden days to submit their work, it makes me wonder why I don't take advantage of technology more."
AW summed it up nicely,
"Submishmash helps writers who help themselves by taking advantage of what Submishmash provides, no charge if you use their free option."
There are different online manager platforms besides Submishmash, but online managers seem to be the direction in which many journals are headed. It's very convenient from the writer's standpoint and statistics show that many editors like Submishmash.

Writers Weekly Publishes Timely Tips About Job Posting Scams


Writers listen up ~~ log into "BEWARE OF SCAMMERS POSTING FAKE JOBS ONLINE!" by Kathy Rembisz Levine, an excellent article with sound advice published by Angela Hoy on WritersWeekly.com.

I heartily recommend subscribing to WritersWeekly.com.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Gallery Books Will Release Ghost On Black Mountain September 13, 2011.


It was Tuesday, January 18, 2011 when I first told you about Ann Hite and her upcoming novel, Ghost On Black Mountain. Ann had share with her peers on Internet Writing Workshop when she sent the following "Yahoo."

"You know you're a novelist when you get a box overnighted to you from New York City, open it, and find advanced copies of your novel staring back." Ann Hite, author.
The long wait is over, and while you're waiting for Gallery Books to release Ghost On Black Mountain September 13, 2011, go to Internet Review of Books to read Sue Ellis' tantalyzing review, published September 7, 2011.

Gallery Books is the imprint of Simon & Schuster.
Leave a comment for Ann Hite at her website.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Authors and Booklovers Tracking Tools


The publishing world is ever changing and awesome in its torturous maneuvers, of which most book readers haven't a clue; and no concept of how those moves affect them. Take for instance what Amazon juggled as it acquired two book-lover ventures, Shelfari, a social network for bibliophiles, and AbeBooks. Shelfari is now an Amazon-owned social network for book lovers.

Shelfari and GoodReads both get high marks for helping you to keep track of the books you own and/or have read as well as those you'd like to read. And there are other uses, as well: Form a book club, answer book trivia, collect your favorite quotes; or get book recommendations from people you know, to name just two.

Another site book lovers and authors gravitate to for various reasons is Easybib, an awesome tool for all kinds of things such as bibliography as well as tracking and inventorying books you've authored, and searching out related books and topics.

I tried the title of my books, Behind These Mountains, vols. 1, 2 & 3 at Easybib and it does do a fantastic bibliography style entry. It also adds information so I didn't have to type everything in. Plus, it quickly located publications of many of my favorite authors, giving me interesting insights into their lives as well. It's my favorite tracking tool.

Give them a try and let the Internet help you, the way it helps those other writers and authors.

Also, Delicious Library 2 was recommended by authors for the Mac to catalog DVDs. You can use the built-in webcam to read bar codes, and it interfaces with the Amazon API to populate the database fields, though you can write information in as well. It also has the ability to track items you've lent out!

Friday, September 2, 2011

Let Duotrope Help You Locate New Markets


Keeping abreast of fiction and poetry markets is an ongoing challenge where Duotrope can help

You get an idea of the opportunities from a comment in Duotrope's August Month-In-Review: "Last month, we added 121 new listings and made 2,704 market listing updates." Bookmark the site and visit weekly.

Read each listing carefully, thinking all the while about unsold manuscripts waiting in your files.  Also, jot ideas on index cards, to ponder and develop later.

Save yourself lots of frustration by scrolling down to check out Fiction Markets that have Temporarily Closed to fee-free submissions.

Don't overlook the wealth of information you'll discover by scrolling to the bottom and reading
New Editor Interviews, and Recent Responses -- you'll need to follow links, but you won't be disappointed, only wishing for more time to become better informed about markets where you strive to be published.