Saturday, February 23, 2013

Ramona Forest's Persistence Results in First BPublished Book, "Stranger on the Tonto,"


Ramona Forrest kept busy after retiring from her career as an Registered Nurse. Having written a few stories while in college, she knew her writing was interesting. However, her English and grammar usage were poor at best, she said.

"It was not unusual to receive an "A" for content and a "C-" for my grammar."

Nevertheless, she determined to become an author. Undeterred when her first book, a real fantasy love story, and her next, Hannah, about a young girl who went West to marry a rancher, and altogether eight manuscripts didn't yet have a publisher.

"Jaded, and without hope," Ramona said, "I was delighted when Black Opal Books offered to publish my book, Stranger on the Tonto, a western set in 1893 Arizona."

One of the publisher's requirements was that Ramona join the internet writing, and critiquing group workshop at the University of Pennsylvania,
Internet Writing Workshop.

"A positive experience it has been for me," she says. "They [members] are helpful, and for the most part, very kind. Black Opal Books saw enough improvement in my work, that they have taken all eight of my manuscripts thus far. Stranger on the Tonto is my first published work. Am I excited . . Yes!"

Stranger on the Tonto is available now at
Black Opal Books, and will be available on e-books, Nook, at Amazon on Kindle.

"Maybe even in other places since it will be in Ingram's system and could be ordered by libraries, stores and such," Ramona said.

Ramona Forest's interesting background provides a wealth of experiences for her to draw on. She retired from a very active life of working in foreign countries, and in Arizona, plus extensive travel. She was lost in Kenya and rescued by Maasai tribesmen, and danced with an astronaut who walked on the moon.

She currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona, and enjoys family and friends.



 

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

How To Become The Expert Everyone Goes To


Decide on the topic for which you'll become the expert everyone seeks. Then follow these steps, and expect to devote more time than you anticipate. Do your homework first!

Interviewing:
People LOVE to be interviewed, but keep it 10 minutes or less.
Do your homework first. You'll get five questions asked -- if you're lucky.
!!! Have them ready before you dial the number !!!
 
Interview the experts - the ones who know about the subject you want to write about. A journalist is known by his/her Rolodex of contacts.
  • Ask, "Who KNOWS?" "Who is the expert?"
  • Systemize your questions; entry level soft. Prime the pump.
  • Expect to talk to the EXPERT 5-10 minutes on the phone. Don't be caught unprepared!
  • Ask fast, effective questions only.
  • If you're going for pertinent information that is only available from this one person, try for a personal interview.

A good guide for asking questions in their order of importance in an interview session is ranked by the amount of time you'll have:
  1. "Quickie" = #1, #2, #3. (Five to 10 minutes.)
  2. "Leisurely" = #3, #4, #1, #2, #5. (Fifteen to 30 minutes.)
  3. "Unlimited" = #7, #8, #5, #6, #4, #3, #1, #2, #9, #10. (Thirty minutes, upward.)
  4. If you have lots of time - Save the hardest and most controversial questions for last.
Ø If you write a letter, be READY for a phone call in return.

Researching:
Look up books on the subject, in the library and online. To learn who are the EXPERTS, read the bibliography (generally in the back of the book)

Ø Make lateral researches to related fields.

Ø Target the TOP LIST OF EXPERTS in their FIELD. Then contact them with a prepared list of questions.

Ø Create a BRANCH of who knows what about your topic.

Ø To get an interview with the expert, ask the potential publisher of your piece to put you in touch with "..........." (who you've found in the bibliographies).

Ø Gain wisdom about EXPERTS by beginning with the least expert you know. Paul Garfinkel says, "I raise my level of intelligence exponentially."

Ø Bounce your questions from one expert after the other. Example, "So and so says... what do you think?"

Ø Get point and counterpoint so your story can reflect it..."Dr. so and so says.. (otherwise)."

You, the writer, become a chameleon, glomming onto gathered wisdom, and assimilating each scrap of knowledge you learn from each expert.

BUILD ON THE KNOWLEDGE BASE YOU'RE BUILDING... to the next higher-level expert until you, then, are The Expert!


Sunday, February 3, 2013

View The Dragon's Call Trailer Won by Kareen McCabe


Kareen McCabe said, "I'm a regular poster and engager on Google + and had the opportunity to win a contest for a free book trailer from Tim at Crunchreel.com.

"The trailer was created by a four step process that included description of key scenes in the book, descriptions of the type of images I wanted, screening the trailer draft and then approving the finished product.

The Dragon's Call Trailer by Crunchreel.com.



"I'm very pleased with the finished product!"
Kareen/K.W. McCabe

The  Dragon's Call , by K.W. McCabe, is available now in both paperback and Kindle at Amazon   (The Dragon's Throne on  Kindle. )
  

Don't miss McCabe's other books on Kindle, Dreams Both Real and Strange, and Dreams Both Real and Strange II.