Sunday, November 14, 2010

E-book Self Publishing Explained

To get the latest excellent information don't miss David Conroy's November 9th article How to self publish an e-book at cnet reviews, http://reviews.cnet.com/how-to-self-publish-an-e-book.

Conroy explains not only the nuts and bolts, but also gives price and profit comparisons for the most popular, well-known e-publishing venues.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Rockford: A History

(c) 2010 Mona Leeson Vanek


If I were forced to choose a one-word description for Rockford: A History, impressive is an apt overview for this recently released regional history about the Palouse in southeast Washington State.

Compiled by Ardis Dashiell, who has lived in the Palouse for sixty-five years, took upon herself the daunting task of preserving its past.

The Rockford Historical Society funded publication of the 344-page hardback book. It includes interviews, her personal knowledge and previously published works.

Two thirds of the original print run of 300 copies sold out within days, demonstrating that Rockford: A History has an audience.

Ardis, the white-haired wife of a rancher always has a ready smile, She says of herself,
"I'm a quilter, genealogist, and now a historian I guess. Being a longtime resident of the area helped tremendously."
Her ability to piece together a masterpiece isn't limited to fabric. Stories and documentation in Rockford: A History clearly paint colorful pictures of homesteading and development in the area comprised of rolling plains cleft by deep basalt canyons and surrounded by low mountain ranges.

Like many regional histories, Ardis' well-done book is a labor of love. Uncounted hours of devotion transpired before this valuable record of bygone days made it to a printer and bookbinder.
"I learned more than I anticipated," she says of the research and tasks involved in writing a local history book. "It took me twenty years."
Profiles of the town's founding fathers (*) businesses, schools, churches and families create the saga of a growing community. Like scores of other early towns, hardy settlers battled and conquered the challenges of devastating fires and floods.

Photographs from numerous private collections, maps, land plats complete with names, add depth and meaning to the settlers part in American history.

Creation of the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation is among the many biographical sketches contained in the book. The photograph on page 127 is meaningful beyond words. It captured the mien of thirteen tribal members just after "they had been to Coey's Bank to receive the first major payment of one half million dollars which was paid to individual Indians..." Twelve of the recipients of the distribution of Federal money are named.

Almost inevitably, the photographs, which include images in local historical society files, do not identify the photographer. Also omitted are addresses for early-day schools, churches, and of far too many businesses that no longer exist. Nevertheless, the old images convey a priceless intimacy to Rockford: A History, and include a wealth of remarkable insights into the past.

Gaining a wider audience for the hefty volume will take time. But sooner or later some readers will tweet or post on Facebook or another social network about Dashielle's book. Then, like the windstorms that frequent the Palouse and waft its topsoil to distant regions, word of this impressive saga of the olden days will spread.

One caveat, however, is that the publication lacks a ISBN, which means this valuable book will be available in only a few libraries.

Sadly, the ongoing research, planning, and marketing it takes to sell a book in today's world is expensive and time-consuming, even when the book is worthwhile. But as publishers of regional histories attest: each new generation searches for its past, thus regional history keeps on selling and selling and selling.

This is Dashiell's third book. Her first, a tribute to her mother was limited to copies only for her immediate family. Her earlier major book is a large hardbound history of Mount Hope, Washington. Once a thriving nearby town of over 800 souls, time and circumstances have reduced it to a wee hamlet comprised of a few buildings.

Expect Rockford: A History, first edition to quickly become a collector's item. Ardis, who is co-vice president of Rockford Historical Society says,
"I imagine a second edition will be ordered before long."
Send $30 + $5 shipping and handling to Rockford Historical Society, P.O. Box 107 Rockford, WA 99030 to order what is certain to become a rare collector edition.
END

Rockford Historical Society, http://www.rockfordhistoricalsociety.org/.
(*) Founding fathers, http://tinyurl.com/23mmd2d.
Read the latest about this author and her award-winning husband, Tom, http://www.hereford.org/node/6953.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Ghost On Black Mountain

Ann Hite's novel, Ghost On Black Mountain, won't be available until the fall of 2011, published by Gallery Books (imprint of Simon & Schuster), but the book's cover went live on her site today. See it here, http://www.annhite.com/32505.html.) Meanwhile, continue to enjoy the stories Ann has posted on her web wite, http://www.annhite.com/.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Help give Eva a chance to live

This post diverges from writing, but the importance is high priority, so please read and help if you can.

Eva, an eighteen month old baby, needs surgery. Born May 4, 2009, in Minsk, Belarus, Eva has liver cirrhosis and is suspected to suffer from Alagille Syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects the liver, heart, kidney, and other functions. She needs a liver transplant as early as possible and her mother will be a liver donor. Her parents need help raising the money required to give Eva a chance to live.

Please visit http://www.healthybabyeva.org/ and help if you can. Please consider Linking this page to help with fund raising efforts. Some of the documentation is in Russian, but you can copy it for translation here, http://www.freetranslation.com/

If you have doubts that this may be a spam, there are links to relevant information about Eva on the website: her medical reports; a full list of every dollar received for Eva until now, the website of the hospital where her surgery will be performed, and coverage of Eva on Belarus TV.

Also, please consider visiting the Help Save Baby Eva Facebook Page: #/home.php?#!/pages/Help-Save-Baby-Eva/164910873531500 and clicking on the Like button.

This request came to me via Niranjana Iyer, http://niranjana.wordpress.com/. Email: Niranjana (dot) Iyer (at) gmail (dot) com.

Thanks for helping to give Eva a chance.
Mona

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Guest Blog at Beyond The Elements of Style

I'm thrilled to announce that my guest blog went live today at Beyond The Elements of Style, http://beyond.customline.com/. (Permanent link: http://beyond.customline.com/2010/11/09/epublishing-just-another-challenge/.)

At 05:29 AM 11/9/2010 owner, Jeannette Angell Cezanne wrote, "Thank you very much! I appreciate you visiting with me!

Because of this opportunity I discovered that a great many writers today use their web site primarily to promote the sale of their books and offer services for a fee. They also offer "freebies" to attract visitors to their web site. A "guest blog" is a free gift to visitors. Newsletters are also marvelous freebies.

Both are excellent ways to provide valuable insights into the business of writing. The guest blog is written pro bono, and it helps promote not only the guest's website, but also web sites the guest mentions.

Thus, guest blogs become marvelous, free advertising venues that spread exponentially, because more web site owners also have blogs and use social networks such as Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, etc.

Watch for my guest blog to be linked ~~ and do let me know where you find it!! My ego loves to be stroked!

Watching my tracking stats increase weekly is heart warming, because then I know more writers ARE finding excellent, free training as I intended.