Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing Blog

2012 Media & Motorsports Divisions

2012-01-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

We just took a family trip down to San Francisco to celebrate my birthday. It was a great getaway with lots and lots of laughs, and some plans for the future. I've always told Wyatt and MacKenzie, "You can do anything you are interested in for a career. Whatever you love to do." I continue to gently nudge them toward their talent and show them ways they can use it within the company I have built (for them!).

My challenge to them this week was for one small step forward...think about the logos for their own divisions of Wyatt-MacKenzie. So...

MacKenzie Media

Kenzie has been playing with video editing and sound composition. She helped me create this book trailer for one of our authors, and now she has adjusted the soundtrack and added a first draft of her logo to the end!

Wyatt-MacKenzie Motorsports

Wyatt and his dad have been building a Motorsports Division for a few years, racing our Rock Crawler called "The Timber Chicken." Here it is in Wyatt's first draft of his logo -- that's his dad scaling a culvert in a race they took second place.

We're excited to grow our Media Division and Motorsports Division over the next few years. We have a little high-tech, to keep up with the multi-media virtual-reality experience books are headed in, and a little redneck to not lose touch with real-world steel-rubbing adrenalin-pumping fun. That's Wyatt-MacKenzie, Deadwood, Oregon!

Video customers can contact media@wyattmackenzie.com and Racing Sponsors can contact motorsports@wyattmackenzie.com for more information!

* * *

For a laugh...here's video from our trip. A little company team-building in action. (Music by Colt Ford. Segways rented from Segways SF Bay -- ask for Charlie.)

Wyatt-MacKenzie's Phenomenal Fall 2011

2011-11-30T18:43:00.000-08:00

On September 1st we launched "the little financial book that could" — Danny Kofke and A SIMPLE BOOK OF FINANCIAL WISDOM took the media by storm! TV appearances included Atlanta Live, Fox News, Fox Business, The CBS Early Show and The 700 Club, plus dozens of radio interviews and articles each week. "The Secret of Living Well on $40,000 a Year" was one article in US World & News Report which also landed on Yahoo's homepage (and in many water cooler conversations) and collected 5,858 comments!

Here's Danny and his wife Tracy being interviewed by Erica Hill on The Early Show. The segment was incredible, CBS flew a crew down to Georgia and then hosted Danny and his wife in New York City.

What did Danny's hard work, tenacious follow-ups, and sweet southern charm result in? Danny's little book shot to #1 in "Personal Finance" on Amazon, ahead of one of his heroes, Clark Howard. Thrilling!

A little publishing funny... this was my favorite comment on Danny's article. I almost fell off my chair laughing (you know, that crazy high-pitched laugh). Oh, if only...

NEW ACQUISITIONS ~ Our Spring 2012 Roster!

I really enjoyed this article “6 Things Jeff Bezo Knew” — his keys to a company's success align with many of mine: • exhaust all resources • think long-term • it's not okay to be timid • obsess over customers. When I decide to sign an author to Wyatt-MacKenzie's traditional roster it's a big commitment, for both of us. I feel blessed and honored to be given the opportunity to work with talented, smart, energetic writers and I thrive on making dreams come to beautiful, beyond-expectations fulfilling fruition. Truly. Over the summer, after much consideration and many proposals (many big-agency represented), we are excited to have signed these awesome women for release in the Spring of 2012.

Ruth Fett is a successful single mother of eight with a very simple, straight-forward approach to parenting in 10 DAILY QUESTIONS TO BE A BETTER PARENT.

M Dickson is a smart, young, endearing comedian with DEAR DAD, IT'S OVER, a hilarious yet heart-tugging book which will resonate with anyone who has experienced divorce, an absent parent, and/or step-family, and undergone the self-exploration and self-preservation which goes along with handling these relationships.

Tara Masih is an award-winning editor with a collection of talented writers with diverse voices — Native American, African American, Asian, European, White — on delicate topics such as racism, war, self-identity, gender, and societal expectations. We both visualize THE CHALK CIRCLE in classrooms around the world.

Tommie Vaughn has a rockin' 3-book series that intrigued us on so many levels. For every girl who dreamed of becoming a rock star, they can follow Frankie Spencer through her wild ride beginning with THIS ROCK IN MY HEART. We look forward to the enhanced ebook edition which will have the author's music and behind-the-stage videos (the fiction series is loosely based on Tommie's own life.)

I'm beyond excited, getting these four new manuscripts ready for ARCs, the gals have some HUGE endorsers lined up, can't wait to share big news next time!

Hot & Busy Summer

2011-08-31T14:03:00.000-07:00

We've been busy!
A list of 10 HOT THINGS WE DID THIS SUMMER...

1. HOT QR CODE: We put a QR Code on an Imprint book and in her Kindle. (See it here with the rest of this Imprint's branding package.) We were ahead of the publishing world curve thanks to a great partnership with an exemplary author Lela Davidson and BLACKLISTED FROM THE PTA (Jupiter Press). Read her great Amazon reviews. She even received a “heated” review from Publishers Weekly (which is big, and even though not so nice, this title has sold A LOT of copies)!

2. HOT NEW KINDLE: We launched the fully-illustrated Kindle edition of REINDEER WITH KING GUSTAF and were able to facebook with attendees of this year's Nobel events during their travels (500 attendees received copies of the hardcover at last year's ceremony).

3. HOTTEST COVER — WM SUMMER RELEASE #1: Our July release THE BEAUTIFUL ONE HAS COME wins for the summer's hottest cover (sorry Lela!). It features Monet's painting of his wife which we licensed from the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. And, Suzanne's Kamata's beautiful collection wins for the most eloquent reviews: Literary Mama, Being-a-Broad, Chin Music Press, JQ Magazine, Her Circle, Japan Visitor, Asian Review of Books.

4. HOT WM SUMMER RELEASE #2: New author Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau has brought us a simple and straightforward guide SUDDENLY HOMESCHOOLING for anyone who quickly needs to get started.

5. HOT WM SUMMER RELEASE #3: We released a shortened version of Dixie Coskie's emotional story of her son's TBI caretaking, UNTHINKABLE: TIPS. This one only contains the life-changing tips, and it will serve as a tool for Dixie as she expands her speaking career (she was recently hired by a major corporation!).

6. HOT UPCOMING WM RELEASE: We are gearing up for the September release of Danny Kofke's A SIMPLE BOOK OF FINANCIAL WISDOM. Danny will be fun to watch this fall. The Kindle is already topping the “Budgeting” category.

7. HOT WM 2012 ACQUISITION #1: The Girl Scouts turn 100 in 2012 and we jumped at the chance to publish the memoir LITTLE MISS MERIT BADGE by Dr. Ronda Beaman. Check out the Merit Badges we designed! Ronda is an international speaker with some big GSA gigs lined up.

8. HOT WM 2012 ACQUISITION #2: Matt Bellace is a comedian and motivational speaker encouraging kids to pursue natural highs and healthy life choices — love this guy. Our acquisitions editor discovered Matt and we are thrilled to be releasing a new edition of his book A BETTER HIGH next year.

9. HOT INTERVIEW: Carol Lawrence interviewed me for her blog this summer.

10. LOTS OF HOT IMPRINT ACTION — 10 New Titles and 6 New Imprints!

Check out our growing family of Imprints:

Our existing Imprints add to their lists: Next month Lisa Orrell releases her third Imprint book with us, BOOMERS INTO BUSINESS (Intelligent Women Press); we have an upcoming third title from Michele DeKinder-Smith, NOT TONIGHT HONEY, I'VE GOT A BUSINESS TO RUN (Jane Out of The Box Media), a co-authored project with Azriela Jaffe and Dr. Patty Ann Tublin; and Sheri McConnell's fourth with us, SMART WOMEN LIVE THEIR WHY (Smart Women Institute); and Erica Nelson releases an audiobook edition of her second title, HAPPINESS QUOTATIONS (Happy Publishing) later next month. Hot new Imprints include: LILY HATES GOODBYES (Quincy Companion Books) is a powerful children's book for military families we helped Jerilyn Marler get into international distribution. Becky Reese's I'M MARRIED TO A MILLIONAIRE: So Why Am I Still in Therapy? (Copper Leaf Publishing) is better than its title, a lusciously designed hardcover with gorgeous online branding and printed marketing materials. Gerald Meunier's ROGUE PATRIOT (Praxis Publishing, LLC) is a controversial novel, with some awesome branding and marketing items. Award-winning mystery writer Eleanor Sullivan begins her next series with COVER HER BODY (Yesteryear Press), also receiving some great branding and marketing items. And watch for William Cates' fun romp UPON A FINE HORSE (Calavira Publishing) which starts shipping next month.

And a BONUS HOTTIE: Update from our previous blog: Over the summer we received a script for a TV pilot based on one of our books. (So hot.) So far we've learned an Entertainment Management company has packaged it with a beautiful UK actress (who we've seen on CSI!) and a killer director. That's all we can reveal right now. Stay tuned...

See, I told you we were busy.

~ ON THE HOMEFRONT ~

Wyatt becomes a freshman in high school next week, and Kenzie enters middle school. Oh my, how the years fly! Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing begins our 14TH YEAR in October. Wow.

A Nail-Biting TV Pilot - Ours!!

2011-06-28T12:07:00.000-07:00

I have had many I-can't-believe-this-is-my-life moments since I started my publishing company almost 14 years ago. This morning was certainly one of the best. I received the script of a pilot based on our book NATIONAL SECURITY MOM!

I was immediately sucked in. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I'm anxious to hear what author Gina Bennett and her husband think; what a wild experience to read a script that details your day-to-day life! Also anxious to see what the CIA (and their big black sharpie) does when one of their own is being so honestly portrayed. Oh my gosh, what brilliant parallels the screenwriters have woven in -- I got goosebumps realizing how one scene jumps to the next, from Gina stuffing lunches into her kids' backpacks, to different packs, stuffed with bombs, forced on the backs of children in the name of Allah. And Gina "caring" for the safety of both of them. OMG! From bullies in Afghanistan to bullies on the playground, I can "see" the series so clearly.

Here are the "character descriptions" in the script (so great!):

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GINA BENNETT watches. She's 41. If you could see past the intensity, she'd be pretty in her off-the-rack pants suit.

MARK BENNETT, 42, stands reluctantly outside - the product of a torrid tryst between GQ and Good Housekeeping.

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As a long-time fan of any movie in which the main character is seen writing the book the movie is based on, I squealed at the last lines of the pilot:

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INT. BENNETT HOME - GINA'S OFFICE

The blank document on the computer screen awaits Gina's fingers to finally commit to the blinking cursor... they do:

Chapter 1

"Dealing with Bullies"

FADE TO BLACK

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AAAAAAAAAAAHH!!! Kenzie shot this pic of me reading the script. The real nail-biter is the next step, selling the pilot!

MS Focus Magazine reviews WON'T DO STAND-UP IN A WHEELCHAIR by Sandi Selvi

2011-05-22T09:52:00.000-07:00

http://www.msfocus.org

Giving away SOUL TO SOUL PARENTING on Goodreads!

2011-05-11T12:55:00.000-07:00

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Soul to Soul Parenting

by Annie Burnside

Giveaway ends May 23, 2011.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Our first $.99 Kindle - Historic!

2011-05-03T12:14:00.000-07:00

There has been much discussion in the publishing world lately about pricing Kindles at the low, low price of $.99 -- ie. Wall Street Journal, the success of Amanda Hockings, a great author I've been following Joanna Penn (and an interesting article defending $9.99 pricing).

When I heard the news that Osama bin Laden had been caught and killed I ran to my Kindle account with my own reason for the low Kindle pricing.

EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS BOOK!

Now is an even better time than 3 years ago when it was first published in hardcover, and Gina had already been on the frontlines of the search for Bin Laden, which she started in 1993.

I keep hearing, "What happens next?" "Are we safe?" "Is the war on terror over?" With Gina's backstory, amazing perspective, and prescient wisdom -- these questions can be answered.

National Security Mom - Download KINDLE now for $.99!

Download Kindle apps to read on your PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry, or Android Phone.

Learn more at Gina's website NationalSecurityMom.com.

Great downloadables for kids in the NATIONAL SECURITY KID CENTER.

Win an ARC of SUDDENLY HOMESCHOOLING out this summer

2011-04-15T08:01:00.000-07:00

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Suddenly Homeschooling

by Marie-Claire Moreau, Ed.D.

Giveaway ends May 13, 2011.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Re-Kindle: Making eBooks look like Printed Books

2011-04-12T12:21:00.000-07:00

A LITTLE HISTORY

I reveled in the print rooms at RISD. On the graphic design floor we had more metal letterpress printers than computers (yes REAL type-setting!) ... that was the late 80’s.

In the 90’s I fought website design — I hated the ugly html sites. I wanted my websites to look like the brochures I carefully designed and printed.

Déjà vu — Enter eBooks

Back to ugly html? You've got to be kidding me.

My first attempt at Kindles were stripped-down PDFs (removing all headers, footers, page numbers, dividers and other graphics) and uploading to Amazon. Some of them looked better than others, but many were a mess — legible, but not pretty. Since most of our books are image-heavy, and in PDF format, the quotes for third-party conversions were adding up, quickly.

I had enough. I buckled down and learned how to hand-craft HTML and make the Wyatt-MacKenzie Kindles as beautiful as our printed books.

I did it! Downloading samples to my Kindle for Mac here's what I am gleefully getting — Kindles that look like our print books. A peek at a few:

I think I've won this battle, but I know the digital war will wage on. (I'll soon be expected to embed videos and created vooks. Oh dear.) I understand Kindles have a light gray background rather than white — so I simply centered all of the graphics and made sure the cropping looked good. Same goes for when readers choose the "Sepia" as a display option. On white... they're HOT! That's all I'm sayin'.

Kindle is just one format, we'll talk more about eDistribution and the evolving eBook options in an upcoming post.

What's an ARC?

2011-04-09T07:03:00.000-07:00

Here's a precious photo of Imprint Lela Davidson's daughter stuffing ARC packages. I thought I'd post, along with a photo of the package Lela sent me as an example, and talk a little about this stage of the book promotion process.

ARC stands for “Advance Reading Copy” or “Advance Review Copy.” They used to be referred to as “galleys” (and the publishing industry still uses this this term). The ARC is still an important step of the publishing process, even with our instant-digital world -- planning ahead long before the book starts selling is crucial.

What are the ARCs used for?

• Gathering endorsements for the book (to put in marketing materials and print on cover)

• Pitching to print magazines with long turnaround times (6 or more months before the book comes out)

• Submission to industry reviewers (a minimum of 4-5 months before the pub date)

• To provide to the influential people reaching your market and pitch… a campaign, a blog tour, an event, a giveaway contest; or ask them to contribute... a foreword, introduction or chapter

Here's a photo of the package Lela sent, and a list of what goes into a typical ARC mailing.

1. Printed and bound ARC

Industry insiders want to receive perfect-bound copies of the book with all of the publishing details on the cover including: title, subtitle, publisher info, ISBN, LCCN, page count, price, format (hardcover or paperback), distributor/wholesaler, Bisac categories (listed here), and contact info. *While it's also possible to use your Word file, a bound ARC can impress even the biggest celebrity's agent and get your request past the gatekeeper.

Here's how we do ours, with the industry info on the back cover:

2. Cover Letter

The cover letter (on branded letterhead is always good), should specifically ask for what you need from the recipient while still making it beneficial for both of you or for a cause that you are both passionate about. No matter who the pitch is to, or what it is asking for, always think about the recipient and answer, "Why should they care?"

3. Press Release

An all-inclusive "book announcement" press release (dated into the future when the book starts selling and the release would be distributed) – ideally with some relevance to what's going on in the world. Try using a "hook" for your headline that sounds like it would be a great segment introduction on TV.

4. Sell Sheet

A sell sheet is a publishing industry standard -- essentially a one-page flyer with book's cover image, description, pub date, ISBN, LCCN, categories, early endorsements or reviews, author bio, author photo, contact info and distributor information. For major publishing houses these also include pending publicity, which is what bookstore buyers would base their orders on, and also how bestsellers are "made."

5. Reviews

As industry reviews are garnered, they can be added. A page of advance praise or early testimonials is also good.

6. And, depending on the recipient, you may want to add a memorable item – anything from a simple bookmark, to a t-shirt, to Girl Scout Cookies (that's a hint about an upcoming acquisition). See Lela's (and many other Author's) fun marketing items and "s.w.a.g."

Also note the great mailing label Lela used to give the receiver a taste of what's inside.

Here's an excerpt from my 2007 book, where authors talk about getting their printed ARCs.

(Watch for all these 2005-2007 titles out on Kindle soon!)

Receiving… then Sending Out the ARCs

Samantha Gianulis, author of LITTLE GRAPES ON THE VINE

A-R-C Spells Happy Me! My daughter Zoë sits in her Care Bears pajamas on the couch, the baby is taking a nap, and it is past ten o’clock. It is a reasonable time for a package to be on the front porch. I didn’t hear the loud engine of the UPS truck or the sliding metal door of the FedEx van, but the books could be there, nonetheless. How obsessive-compulsive is it to peek through the door and see if my dream has been delivered? Hell, I don’t care, I’ve gotta look.

“Zoë! Come to the front door, hurry!" She picks up the excitement in my voice, and her four-year-old frame comes tearing around the corner. Damn, I hope I didn’t wake up the baby.

“What Mama?” she asks. “My ARCs are here.” Zoë puts her hands over her mouth, jumps up and down and squeals, “This is so exciting, oh my gosh!” I am so happy I get to share this moment with an already exuberant spirit. My son may well have said, “That’s cool, Mom” with a shrug.

Zoë gets the scissors. “No, the big ones!” I say after she hands me her toddler scissors from the craft store. She’s excited she gets to use the big guns on a big box. Together, we cut through the clear tape with black scuffs, and behold–the manifestation of a promise I made myself when I quit my last official job.

Thirty advanced reading copies of my book, Little Grapes on the Vine...Mommy Musings on Food & Family, due out next April. It’s unreal! I drove a copy of my ARC to my aunt’s, and my mom’s (at every red light I opened it up and read until someone honked at me to go). Then showed my girlfriends at my son’s school. The rest of the copies are reserved for the media–it sounds so official, press releases, book signings, newspapers, magazines...here we go!

Until now, I have been intimidated by such things. Holding my advance copy in my hands I am infused with energy and purpose—my work is not over, but I have a shiny ARC to hold as I find the right words to say.

The laundry remains unfolded. The dishes remain unwashed. I am back on the couch with my daughter reading my book. I am ecstatic! I did what I said I was going to do many years ago. So, there’s that. And a whole lot more. It’s me in that book. It’s me and my kitchen and my thought process and all my neuroses!

Christie Glascoe Crowder, author of YOUR BIG SISTER'S GUIDE TO SURVIVING COLLEGE

Happy Birthday to Me! My 34th birthday was a couple of weeks ago and aside from the lovely charm bracelet my husband gave me, I got the best birthday present...the bound advance review copies of my book! No, not the real book but the copies you send out for the media to read and write reviews (if they choose to.) Granted, not completely as exciting as getting the real thing, but for a first time author...very, very close. If I was still in denial about actually publishing a book, receiving these catapulted me into reality. I was beaming from ear to ear. For me, it might as well have been the real book. Imagine how I will feel when the real ones do arrive. Every little step brings us closer to our dreams fulfilled.

Caroline Poser, author of AND THEN CAME ARTHUR

When the ARCs came, I didn’t even have a list of people who I wanted to contact. I started requesting endorsements when I had the ARCs in hand. Talk about behind the eight ball! That’s what happens with three kids and a full time job. But I think it will be okay.

One of my reviewers said “No.” She said that the book lacked substance and that it read like a diary. She realized that this was probably my intention, but she couldn’t endorse it. I understood intellectually what she said, because she is a Ph.D., maybe I was wrong to ask her. My feelings were a little hurt at first, but when I received the blurb for my cover from Mark Victor Hansen I quickly forgot the pain! And then Julie Tilsner, author and contributing editor of Parenting magazine, and Jane Swift, the former Governor of Massachusetts, both sent great advance reviews! I worked hard to get the endorsements in a short time–this is where my sales experience paid off. I had plenty to put on my back cover and inside pages.

Iris Waichler, Author of THE INFERTILITY ROLLER COASTER

I vividly remember when my publisher, Nancy, asked me who was on my wish list of people to endorse my book Riding the Infertility Roller Coaster. I was really caught off guard by that question. I had not even considered it. Why would somebody who didn’t know me consider endorsing my book? The person who came to mind immediately was Christiane Northrup, MD. I had been following her work for years. She was a leading authority on women’s health and was that rare doctor who was also a patient advocate. I wrote her a letter explaining my personal battle with infertility and my wish to help as many people as I could who were engaged in this struggle. I really didn’t expect any kind of response. To my utter surprise and delight I received a letter from her saying she would be happy to receive the ARC, and she did indeed endorse my book!

Pamela Jo Leo, author of CONNECTION PARENTING

I just had to share my most exciting news! The one endorsement I wanted MOST of all for Connection Parenting, was from Joseph Chilton Pearce, author of Magical Child. His exact email words were: “I am happy to endorse anything you care to say, write or do.” WOOO HOOO, I am doing the happy dance tonight!

Three of my dreams for this book are: 1) an endorsement from Joseph Chilton Pearce; 2) to have it translated into other languages; 3) to have it on Oprah. So far we have Joseph; a Spanish translation in progress, foreign rights sales to Korea, Russia so far (2011 update: Turkish was released yesterday! And Japan, Israel and China have been in the works); Oprah…?

Deborah Hurley, author of FRAGMENTS OF HOPE

On September 24, 2007, I received an email from London that had me literally floating on air. It all began with a simple Google search on “depression.” There was one particular article that left an impression on me, written by Lewis Wolpert, and I decided to research more about him. I was impressed to find that Dr. Wolpert is a Professor of Biology at the University College in London, the author of ten books, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. His book Malignant Sadness was the basis for three television programs in London called “A Living Hell;” he has presented science on both radio and television for five years; and he himself has suffered with severe depression.

The more I read, the more intrigued I became, and the more I realized that although he is a literary and scientific expert, his suffering and pain was as real and as horrific as mine. I eagerly looked up the University College in London and quickly made my way to The Department of Anatomy and found Dr. Wolpert’s email address. I composed a short email asking if I could send an ARC. Within an hour there was a reply in my mailbox and with my heart pounding out of my chest I opened it. The reply was from London and it read: “Please send, Lewis”

On October 9, 2006, I received my third email from London. This was the one I had been waiting for. As I lay next to my husband in bed, we eagerly opened the email and he read it to me aloud. It said: “Have read your book: very moving and hope you are doing well. If you want a quote, this may be OK: ‘A most moving account of a terrible depression and a recovery.’” Regards, Lewis.

I closed my eyes and thought about who I was and what I had just done. At that moment I couldn’t help but reflect upon the many years I had struggled to become whole inside. That particular email evoked emotions in me that will never be forgotten. My eyes welled with up with tears as I realized that my voice had been heard. It absolutely blew my mind to think that me—a homemaker, a stay-at-home mom, an average everyday woman who had suffered with depression for so long—was receiving emails from Dr. Lewis Wolpert in London. I couldn’t believe that one simple Google search had been transformed into an endorsement for my book from someone like Wolpert. I remained in bed for an hour with my comforter pulled right up to my chin. I read his email over and over aloud. Dr. Wolpert would never know how his one little email had changed my world, and how his acknowledgement of me and my work had helped me to believe in myself. I had spent so many years thinking that I wasn’t capable, that I couldn’t, and that I wouldn’t, but there I was, a 37 year-old woman in Long Island, snuggled beneath her covers, who wanted to, who could, and who actually did.

(P.S. You can download my book when you "Like" us on Facebook.)

Win an ARC of new title by Suzanne Kamata

2011-04-07T05:33:00.000-07:00

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Beautiful One Has Come

by Suzanne Kamata

&n bsp;
Giveaway ends April 30, 2011.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Facebook Page vs. Profile...What I Learned

2011-04-06T16:15:00.000-07:00

For the last few years I have only used facebook to post pictures of the kids for Nana back east to see. A few weeks ago I finally launched a page for the company. I know, I'm behind, it's becoming more important than ever to switch to a Page from a Personal Profile so the public can see what you have to say, even if they aren't your friend or "like" you.

I feel like I've let the public peek into the everyday conversations I have with my authors. We've shared a video with our gal in Japan so she could see her new ARCs the moment they arrived (amid updates about the disaster), had a book cover design critique, and I'm having a blast cross-promoting our author's books, kindles, ideas and offerings.

WHAT STARTED IT

The way facebook creates "ghost pages" based on what you write as your "Work" was driving me crazy. When one of our authors mentioned she "liked" my business page I thought, "What page?"

I decided I had to figure out how to get a real one set up. Here's a little of what I learned as a non-techie...

1. Start here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php

You will log in to your existing personal page and then be able to switch from one to the other.

By the way, I found interesting articles about automating the switch from a personal page to a business page with a warning: http://tinyurl.com/FBprofileTOpage , http://tinyurl.com/FBprofileTOpageWARNING

2. I used a square 200 pixel x 200 pixel jpg with lots of white space around the image, after many failed attempts at getting our logo to crop correctly. Here's a template.

Wyatt-MacKenzie authors and imprints who'd like a custom 180 pixel wide x 540 pixel high branded image, just let me know! I'm so excited to add this to our branding packages. An old post with size and examples of largest image: http://tinyurl.com/sizeofprofilepicture

3. Facebook then has a list of steps that allow you to suggest your new page to existing friends; get a code to add a "Like" box to your website; etc. (you'll see). By clicking "Edit Page" these are listed under "Marketing." I removed the extra links I hadn't setup yet, and I used an "Edit FBML" to simply embed a youtube link (copy, paste).

4. I found a free app http://tinyurl.com/appforwelcomepage to create a basic Welcome Page - which essentially is two images, one for those who have not "liked" you yet, and one for those who have. Here's the one I was playing with to try it: http://tinyurl.com/LikeUsGetOurBook Here's a cool professional example: http://www.facebook.com/redbull

5. Once you have 25 "likes" you can create a custom username here: http://www.Facebook.com/username It's surprising how many companies haven't switched from the longer code to a shorter custom name. I noticed this link just as Lisa Orrell @promotuguru mentioned this important distinction. Think about what you want - you can't change it.

6. Linking to twitter, so your facebook updates are automatically streamed there and vice-versa, can kill two birds with one stone... especially the little blue one! Lisa Orrell advises against linking the two, and I have just turned mine off. My personal tip -- if you link them, keep the main text in the first 31 characters of your facebook post, so your tweets won't be incoherent (Guilty! A fb.me link takes the rest of the spaces).

7. Then be sure to relink your "Work" on your personal page to your new business page so the link is top and center.

8. More tips in this great video by Lisa Orrell "6 Ways to Improve Fan Page Posts" http://tinyurl.com/6waystoimprovefanpage

BLACKLISTED review copy giveaway

2011-03-25T05:11:00.000-07:00

Enter to win a free advance review copy of BLACKLISTED FROM THE PTA, out this Summer!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Blacklisted from the PTA

by Lela Davidson

Giveaway ends April 24, 2011.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

A Publishing Implosion

2011-03-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

The big publishing world is imploding, while independent publishing is exploding.

Major-Publishing-House Authors are turning down $500,000 advances and deciding to self-publish while Big Publishers are scrambling to launch self-publishing divisions.

The Emperors’ New Imprints

A few weeks ago Berrett-Koehler got in line with Writer's Digest, Hay House, Harlequin, and Thomas Nelson and began using megalith pay-for-publishing service machine Author Solutions to start their own "Self-Publishing Imprint." The reality is, like with all of the other middleman companies, it's not true self-publishing, and not very transparent. Much on their "services" charts seems over-priced and preying on the false hopes of writers while padding their own pockets. I'm sure AS is a fine company (they also recently purchased AuthorHouse, iUniverse, Trafford, Xlibrius, and Wordclay) but I think this new hybrid of major-publisher-self-pub-division is giving writers one more confusing option.

True Transparent Self Publishing

Putting your company's name and logo on the spine, getting paid directly by the distributor, ordering books direct from the printer at cost, having your own eBook accounts with Kindle, Nook, and Smashwords -- that's transparent, going straight to the source.

This week M.J.Rose wrote, "Self-publishing still entails many things many of us aren’t interested in. We would rather not run a business. Don’t want to be entrepreneurs. We want the best that a publisher offers."

I thought, Wow, that’s the Wyatt-MacKenzie Imprint Program...

An Imprint of Your OWN

I agree completely with Ms. Rose, she succinctly gave the reason for launching my Imprint Program four years ago. After consulting with authors for a decade, and traditionally publishing authors myself -- my Imprint Program was the perfect synthesis of the two and embodied transparency.

No, we don't have a fancy chart comparing our "packages" (which I seem to be asked a lot about lately, "Where's your chart?"). We include it all and more. We're we'll-do-it-for-you consultants, not middlemen. We love helping writers make beautiful books, and we use our hard-won experience as an independent publisher to teach them the best way to do...everything.

Our Program helps you establish an imprint of your very own. You are only under our umbrella, but still have complete control, forever. We help you launch your own independent press without all the "hassles" of the "publishing stuff."

Barry Eisler: (recently turned down a half-million dollar publishing deal to self-publish) "And that the question -- “Should I self-publish?” -- was going to be asked by more and more authors going forward. And that, over time, more and more of them were going to be answering the question, “Yes.”

YES! You can publish yourself...

But, here are 12 important items (in my worn-out-publisher opinion) you should have (even if you go straight to eBook!):

1. Your Own Account with Distributors. LightningSource for on-demand international distribution of printed books to all online retailers and special-order through brick-and-mortar bookstores. (This empowers you to get paid 100% of sales directly, check sales anytime, and order books at cost.) Kindle, Nook and even Smashwords for eBooks. (And understand what is required for formatting and selling eBooks, including Apple iBooks, as well as audiobooks through Audible.com).

2. YOUR publishing company name and logo on the spine and title page not a paid-service company or division.

3. Professional Editing, Copy-Editing and Proofreading (at whatever level is needed).

4. Professional Cover Design -- that can compete in the market and builds your author brand, including a savvy back cover and compelling spine.

5. Professional Interior Layout -- with brand positioning in mind, and assistance with all necessary registrations and copyright page inclusions (ISBN, LCCN, BIP, CIP) plus organization of frontmatter, backmatter, and indexing.

6. A Marketing Plan that starts with setting the publication date (and knowing what considerations that entails) and includes advance review copies for endorsements, industry reviews (know which can be paid for, and the actual cost), and to fulfill the media schedule month to month. Including the creation and distribution of a press release to a massive audience through PRWeb at cost, and listings in catalogs at cost.

7. Book Industry Cliff-Notes -- an understanding of how the book industry works, distribution, what it means to be on a bookstore shelf, how to interact with booksellers, and a general knowledge of purchase orders and the ease of personal order fulfillment using LightningSource.

8. A Publicity Education -- how to pitch, what to pitch, when to pitch, why to pitch, and how to find who to pitch -- to get yourself in the media. (Before wasting thousands of dollars on a publicist or a conference, know how to get it for free, the way publicity is meant to be.)

9. A Media Kit -- to back-up pitches (both online and print), complete with a press release, sell sheet, author Q and A, speaking points, author bio and photo, book cover and back cover art, excerpts, and video.

10. A Social Media Presence -- with consistent visuals, and a comprehensive strategy for using twitter, creating a facebook author page, use of blogging, a video youtube channel, and book-community sites. This should extend to a dynamic Amazon listing with an author central page and killer Amazon reviews and a "Search Inside" option if you so choose.

11. Marketing Items -- all custom to match everything else you are doing: bookmarks, business cards and/or postcards emblazon with your social media links; (the printing of which can be done for $15-$30 for 1000 items, don’t let those author services charts fool you.); posters and big banners for events and visibility; plus creative s.w.a.g. (t-shirts, hats, mugs) and strategies to use effectively; as well as beautifully designed print and banner ads along with where to successfully run them.

12. Alternative Editions -- understanding the options and opportunities, including eBooks and audiobooks, alternative formats, licensing, private-labeling, large quantity sales, catalogs, book clubs, foreign rights, translations.

* * *

All of the above is included, with special care and attention to our authors, in our Imprint Program with the exception of editing and indexing (our team members will provide direct quotes), or the cost of paid reviews, ads, or printing of marketing items (but we'll get you all set up directly, and save you hundreds of dollars.)

There are many publishing options facing writers -- some will feel more comfortable with a large corporation acting as a middleman forever, while others will want to take control with true self-publishing and position themselves safely for the future of this publishing explosion.

Send us your questions about publishing on our brand new Facebook Page!

I'll leave you with two webinars I listened to this month:

DigitalBookWorld.com presented "The Evolution of Self-Publishing"
Writer's Digest presented "The Borders Dilemma, What the New World Order of Bookselling Means for Writers" [click to download]

I personally liked this comment I heard from Publisher's Weekly:

“[In the past] we drew lines in the sand of the hierarchy of publishing. The lines have blurred. Self-published books are getting better-looking, it's hard to tell. How do we deal with self-published authors? We adapt.”

Then the new PW Select was plugged --- where independent and self-publishing authors can pay to list their title, and then 25 out of the list are chosen for review. (Like one of our Imprints!) Very cool.

Eating Publishing Pie

2011-02-21T08:14:00.000-08:00

Authors will love this...

I finally got a chance over the weekend to watch this video of Margaret Atwood speaking at the O'Reilly Publishing Conference. It's so great -- I ate it up. Yup, a publisher eating the publishing pie, just as Ms. Atwood suggested *smile*. Her hand-drawn cartoons and brilliant perspective made me laugh out loud.

Here are some of my thoughts on how her talk relates to Wyatt-MacKenzie...

On publishers...

Ms. Atwood was asked to describe the ideal relationship between a publisher and an author. Here are her five ingredients of a good publisher:

Have a good editor who provides encouragement (along with great editing). Check! Thanks to Lisa Pliscou, editor extraordinaire who came to Wyatt-MacKenzie from Viking Penguin, as well as Karen Kibler our impeccable proofreader.
A publisher with a reputable name. Check! Well, in the indie world I strongly believe Wyatt-MacKenzie has grown a great publishing brand with very happy authors. We've had on-going publicity since 1999 building the Wyatt-MacKenzie name.
Gives guidance. Check! I love that we've become known for helping our authors beyond their book sales to build a career. Designing author branding materials that make our authors memorable to media and book buyers is one of the parts I enjoy most. Brainstorming how to use s.w.a.g. in contests, posters in libraries, banners at events, bookmarks in bookstores, and an online presence that reflects the author and attracts her big-picture goals. Teaching authors "publicity 101" is fulfilling when they go out and reach a national audience with my encouragement.
Publicizes. Check! As Ms. Atwood explains, the publicity lies on the author's shoulders -- which is why we advise and support our authors as much as possible learning: how to pitch, who to pitch, when to pitch, what to pitch, and how to be ready when the pitch works. Social media has removed lots of gates -- we provide a foundation of platform-building, a cohesive visual author brand, media preparation, and on-going creative input to publicize, document, and parlay media success. If an author wants a personal publicity assistant and social media strategist, we have Lisa Orrell, the Promote U Guru on staff too.
Tell you you're wonderful every day. Check! (with a giggle) Okay, I loved this one. While I may not do it every single day for every single author, I do try! I feel like much of my time spent over the last 13 years as a publisher (working with over 100 authors) was as... a cheerleader, a counselor, a media coach, and a business advisor. And, I believe, I provide validation for the women writers I meet (which is a way to say "you're wonderful" every day!) who work hard -- on their manuscripts, their careers, and their families -- and I believe with a great team they can all enjoy (and thrive through) the publishing and promotion process.

On self-publishing... make your own damn pie!

(That's my quote, not hers)

Ms. Atwood spoke about an uprise of authors -- I agree whole-heartedly, having the only publishing program in the industry which puts authors in complete control (plus receive the five items above from an ideal umbrella publisher).

The Wyatt-MacKenzie Imprint Program teaches authors who decide to self-publish how to make their own great-looking, professionally packaged, delicious "publishing pie" and not only eat it all, but feel full and satisfied afterwards, inspired to make more pies, share the slices, even teach pie-making classes and give "enjoying-the-pie" lectures.

This comment of Ms. Atwood's made me laugh: "It's delusional to think an author can self-publish, get on twitter, and everyone will buy a book." In my opinion, for non-fiction that "pie" is just dessert after a great meal, or, career! It's... the closer, the upsell, the voice of your brand whispering in the ear of those you give it to until they hire you. (I know this from personal experience... email me about publishing and I'll send you a free digital copy of my book.)

On eBooks and eReaders...

Atwood made me smile again when she said, "When the lights go out you'll still be able to read a print book by candle." This said though, she owns two eReaders and uses them when traveling, and she likes having the choice. (I wish someone asked her how she feels about the format -- does she order Kindles which can be read on every device? Or, does she buy a format for each of her two eReaders, and why two? Which two?) Ms. Atwood's "solar flare" or "electromagnetic pulse" theory is right on in my eyes -- something could happen to render all these eBooks out-of-service (instead of out-of-print, haha).

* * *

Anyway, enjoy the video!

"Class Dismissed" - The Rise of Homeschooling

2011-01-12T07:44:00.000-08:00

We recently signed SUDDENLY HOMESCHOOLING: A Quick-Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in 2 Weeks (Summer 2011) and author Marie-Claire Moreau sent an exciting email about a new documentary "Class Dismissed: Education and the Rise of Homeschooling in America." They just released this trailer:

We'll have Advance Review Copies of SUDDENLY HOMESCHOOLING available in February. The book will be released by summer, when many parents may be faced with the reality that — due to school closures, bullying and/or school violence, or special disabilities or requirements of their children — they are suddenly homeschooling, and need to know the basic steps of how to get started.

Learn more at the author's website http://www.quickstarthomeschool.com. Follow the author on her new twitter to get updates http://twitter.com/mcmoreau

My O.W.N. Behind the Scenes - Being on Oprah

2011-01-08T12:28:00.000-08:00

As Anderson Cooper admitted last weekend, I'm lovin' O.W.N., Oprah's network. I confess, "Season 25" with the behind-the-scenes is awesome. I wish all authors would watch to see what goes into making a show, so they wouldn't feel so disappointed that their "Oprah dream" (and EVERY author has one) didn't come to fruition -- because it does not come easy.

And, truth be told (if the truth is to be told here), having had an author "on the Oprah show" revealed what this publisher never, ever could have imagined. The Contract. The one guests sign with Harpo that says they will not use their appearance in any marketing or product packaging. I get it. But it didn't really sink in until I realized the "Wyatt-MacKenzie Author on Oprah" press release I had been writing in my head for the last 12 years (after dozens and dozens and dozens of attempts) was not going to be sent out after all. Even adding a link on the media page made us nervous. We really wanted to stay in Harpo's good graces for a future appearance in the event, for example, my author finds Osama bin Laden. I'm not joking. She was the one who first warned about him in 1993 (see the declassified documents on her website). But since Oprah is lifting the curtain, I thought I could too.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

How I got Gina on Oprah...

Gina Bennett's NATIONAL SECURITY MOM: HOW GOING SOFT CAN MAKE AMERICA STRONG (NOV 2008) was our 74th book selling mainstream. Peter Bergen (CNN national security expert) called it simply, "Brilliant." As profoundly important as Gina's book is, it still wasn't enough to get the attention of Oprah producers. So, shortly after I finished her website I pitched Gina, like I do all of my authors, for a query on Oprah.com's "upcoming shows." This one was: Do you know a "superwoman"?
Is there a "superwoman" in your life that you find amazing and inspiring? The Oprah Winfrey Show is looking for remarkable women who are doing it all. Tell us who are the "superwomen" in your life. Do you know someone with a successful career that still manages to raise a large family? Is there a superstar activist in your community who juggles it all? Do you have a prestigious or demanding job that you excel at? Or maybe you know someone who's survived something difficult or achieved the impossible. Please attach 2 photos for example, if you're a teacher and a mother of 6, please take a photo with your children in a classroom. If you're a pilot, snap a photo in the plane's cockpit. We want to see a superwoman in action! We may use your photo on an upcoming show. Please only send in photos you are willing to have published on-air.

My pitch on August 28:
Superwoman Gina Bennett weaves her day-to-day counterterrorism career for the CIA with her life as a mom of five—intertwining baseball games and President briefings, dance class and declassifications, peace among the teenagers with peace around the world.

If you are looking for a superstar activist, Gina was inspired to join the frontlines of the “war on terror” 20 years ago, and has written some of the most important intelligence of our time including the 1993 warning of Bin Laden! CNN’s terrorism analyst Peter Bergen calls her work “brilliant” and refers to it in his bestseller, THE OSAMA BIN LADEN I KNOW, as does most major media whenever the reports she has written are declassified (one as recently as 8/20/08, another in 2005 deemed “prescient” and “genius” by the New York Times).

I have never met a woman like Gina. Her philosophy that “going soft” will make America strong—just as President Clinton said at the DNC this week: “lead by the power of our example, not the example of our power”—and her compassionate, energetic, steadfast search for the truth, the threats, and the security of the future for our children, inspires me and is sure to engage others.

I attached 3 photos from this animation -- Gina in a Helicopter over Iraq, Gina on a camel in Giza, and one of her family on vacation.

Scratched in huge letters across my journal on September 9th: "OPRAH CALLED!" An assistant producer asked me to send more high resolution photos. They were interested in including Gina in a show that would feature Alicia Keys performing her new song "Superwoman." I could barely breathe. The war-torn publishing angel on my shoulder cautioned me, "it doesn't mean anything."

I was told there would be a meeting the following day. That afternoon the phone rang, it was Julie at Harpo. They needed pictures of Gina at work -- the CIA headquarters! -- by tomorrow. It was late in the day so I called Gina's husband on his cell phone. He was at a baseball game with the boys, Gina was at ballet with the girls. He couldn't believe when I told him what Harpo wanted. Everyone went into action. Gina broke through all colors of tape to get clearance from work, she passed Harpo's stringent background-check, she lined up the CIA's photographer, and the next day her husband got the 5 kids picked up from 3 different schools and brought everyone to the office. It was September 11, the highest level of security on this day than any other, and we were taking family photos on the CIA seal for Oprah's show. Unbelievable.

And here's that photo, on the big screen on Oprah's stage, behind Alicia Keys singing "Superwoman" on October 2, 2008...

And... my OWN behind the scenes, here's an archived video from that day.

*WARNING: TURN VOLUME DOWN, my squeals can be deafening.*

“…all the mothers fighting for better days to come.” Here here!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
THE AFTERMATH ... A wonderful turn of events landed our "Oprah story" in two amazing venues. The CIA posted a fantastic article on their website in January of 2009. (And the CIA gave me credit for getting their officer on the show -- which made me, and probably my dad in heaven, dance.) And, one of my heroes from the past, Susan Harrow, included our story in her "How to Get on Oprah" series -- a product I wanted to buy for many years when I was starting out, but could never afford. Sweet.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FAST FORWARD TO TODAY ... I am beyond excited about the launch of O.W.N. -- now publishers and authors have an entire network full of opportunities to fulfill their Oprah dream. My personal favorite is the upcoming Rosie O'Donnell show. We had a Wyatt-MacKenzie gal open her show in 2001 with a catalog I created of work-at-home mom products on every seat of the audience (including the 2 existing Wyatt-MacKenzie books). I'm anxious for a chance to be in front of Rosie again -- 10 years, and 140 books, later!

Review from ForeWord Magazine!

2011-01-06T10:17:00.000-08:00

MEMOIR

All the Pretty Shoes

Marika Roth

40 black-and-white photographs

Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing

Softcover $15.00 (254pp)

978-1-936214-27-3

There are many memoirs about World War II, each with its own story of atrocities, devastation, and triumph. Memoirs help make history real; names, dates, and events are important, but it's the personal suffering of the people involved that cause readers to feel the human pain woven into nearly every story.

Marika Roth knows about suffering. As a child, she was subjected to negligent relatives and abusive boarding schools while her mother spent time in a sanatorium, dying of tuberculosis. At twelve years old, she and her father were separated forever when the Nazis ordered men and boys to march from the housing in which they thought they were safe. A few days later, she was shot at, along with a crowd of other Jews; only by pretending to be dead did she escape the soldiers. A day later, hiding in the bushes at a park, she witnessed the murder of hundreds of Jews along the banks of the Danube River. Alone, starving, her hair infested with lice and feet protected from the snow and cold with only newspaper, Roth relied on her fierce spirit and keen resourcefulness to rise above her miserable existence and survive until the next heartache. For even as she found her way out of one horror, another waited for her on a different shore.

One of Roth's many strengths as a writer is her ability to tease the details of her experience to the surface to greater reflect the suffe ring at the core of her experiences. For example, a few days before her father is taken away by Nazis, Roth gets her first menstrual cramp: “Once back in our quarter, I discovered blood in my underwear which I learned was the reason for my pain...Although I was embarrassed to tell Father, I cuddled up to him, promising that I would love him forever.” In the next paragraph, she gets her last glimpse of her father as he is marched off with all the other males. Roth, formerly a fashion model and now an artist and writer, makes no attempt to hide her own fallibility as she reveals the cruelty of others. She does not come across as an innocent in her tale of trial and woe but fully admits to her own mistakes and acts of ignorance. Readers will be attracted to this inherently human character.

Though there are plenty of memoirs on the market, replete with new details of human suffering, there is always space for one that combines good writing with a compelling, applicable story. All the Pretty Shoes will help make the Hungarian experience of WWII a more familiar one, and inspire resilience in those who read about Roth's journey to well-being.

(January) Andi Diehn

The Wyatt-MacKenzie crew wishes you well!

2011-01-01T06:36:00.000-08:00

The staff at Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing circa 1911.

We’ve had an amazing 2010 here in Deadwood! We want to wish all of our backlists, newbies, and future authors the true fulfillment of their book’s potential in 2011.

Cheers... here’s to us!

A 3-Wow Week

2010-12-30T08:24:00.000-08:00

I've been working on a few special projects over the holidays. Gotta love the responses I've been getting...

We're releasing a new edition of our rapidly-selling "spiritual parenting" book SOUL TO SOUL PARENTING. Annie Burnside has been getting great reviews, and, most importantly, parents are implementing Annie's ideas and infusing spirituality into everyday lessons. The new Kindle edition will be available in January! When I sent Annie the cover sketch, her response, first wow: "I LOVE the new cover!!!!! WOW—a big YES:)"

We're answering numerous requests to extract the excellent "Trauma Tips" from Dixie Coskie's heart-wrenching book UNTHINKABLE. Parents have told us the tips are invaluable, and wished they could have them in a tip booklet on their own. Wishes granted! Dixie has also been hired by a major corporation to do a series of speaking gigs and the new UNTHINKABLE: TRAUMA TIPS, out in January, will be one of her speaking tools and giveaways to conference attendees. Dixie's response, second wow: "RE: Tip Booklet attached! WOW!"

And we're jazzed about the newest release from Maria Bailey. I think I have hit on a great typographic cover for this "little black book of mom mavens." Maria's response, third wow: "Wow!!!! It's awesome!!! That's a kick ass cover!"

Woohoo!

Today is where your book begins...

2010-12-24T07:59:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas Eve!! A celebratory song... I love Natasha Bedingfield's brand new song "S trip Me" ... but "Unwritten" has always been a bit of a publishing anthem in my mind.

Sing along with me for 2011... Today is where your book begins...!

I am unwritten,
Can't read my mind
I'm undefined
I'm just beginning
The pen's in my hand
Ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words
That you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your innovation

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten, yeah

Oh, oh

I break tradition
Sometimes my tries
Are outside the lines, oh yeah yeah
We've been conditioned
To not make mistakes
But I can't live that way oh, oh

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words
That you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
drench yourself in words unspoken
live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
the rest still unwritten

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words
That you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open *****
Today is where your book begins

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open *****
Today is where your book begins

The rest is still unwritten

The rest is still unwritten

* * *

New Kindle Ad

2010-12-22T10:25:00.000-08:00

I've been advocating for Kindle with my authors, which can be read on all mobile devices... iPhones, Windows PCs, Macs, Blackberry, Android, and the iPad using free apps: http://tinyurl.com/readkindles

This commercial made me smile, "Buy once. Read everywhere."

Admittedly, as a graphic designer with a passion for unique book design, I do not like what happens to books when turned into eBook format and have struggled to make the transition. I am waiting eagerly for the ability to view the pages as they appear in print. While we've signed with Apple for iBooks, the conversions for my creative designs are proving difficult — for now, buy our Kindles!

Signing a Publishing Deal is like Dating

2010-12-13T08:40:00.000-08:00

It's a love affair between an author and a publisher — an intimate long-term relationship with a paperback child in the middle!

Just like Dating...

You get... an email, a voicemail, a tweet... and your heart pounds. The "potential" races through your head of a wonderful relationship and the smile does not leave your face. You schedule a call or meeting and you talk. You hit it off. You appreciate what each other brings to the table. All and all you resonate with each other's energy and it feels like a "great fit." You walk on clouds for days, keeping this amazing collaboration to yourself for fear of jinxing the yet-to-be-signed going-steady deal.

Then... time passes after the "date." You realize you're just one of the many players on the field, and the others are all, well, a lot bigger, richer, and more powerful than you (albeit less loving!). So you tell yourself — whatever is meant to be, I want the best for them, I want them to be happy and reap the most rewards.

Then... you get the flowers. An absolutely gorgeous bouquet. And your heart is warmed when you listen to the "break-up voicemail" and hear the incredible news — they met the match of their dreams! And, just as great — you now have a new friend, and a phenomenal matchmaking-agent with lots of other wonderful suitors. Thank you to everyone involved... it was a very magical date!

P.S. I googled "publishing is like dating" and found the funniest piece from author Kit Whitfield. The whole article is a must-read, here are few of my favorite ways she suggests publishing is like dating with the advice she gives to writers:

* * * * * * * * *

Imagine that the editor or literary agent is a woman standing on her own in a bar...

You say: 'I know you don't usually accept unsolicited manuscripts, but please, just have a look at this.'

Dating equivalent: 'I know you're married, but please, just go out with me once.'

You say: 'I've been turned down by all the agencies I've tried, so I've decided to approach publishers directly.'

Dating equivalent: 'All my ex-girlfriends/boyfriends have taken out restraining orders against me, so I thought I'd ask you instead.'

You say: 'I'd like this book to get publication and a movie deal.'

Dating equivalent: 'Hello, I'd like a lover who's willing to die for me.'

You say: 'I self-publish/post on the internet, and I've had some good feedback.'

Dating equivalent: 'The prostitutes I sleep with tell me I'm good in bed.'

* * * * * * * * *

Okay, that last one is a little harsh, and I completely disagree, but it made me laugh out loud.

What Would Fran Lebowitz Think?

2010-12-05T07:40:00.000-08:00

I just watched "Public Speaking" -- Martin Scorsese's documentary about Fran Lebowitz. Fascinating!

She quickly and comedically disagrees with Toni Morrison's words, "Write the book you want to read...." and in that second I felt like she was curtly dismissing what I see as... well... the entire Wyatt-MacKenzie roster! I started to wonder, What would Fran Lebowitz think of some of our books and authors?

A few of her famous disses:

"Your life story would not make a good book. Don’t even try." — Fran Lebowitz

"Having been unpopular in high school is not just cause for book publications. " — Fran Lebowitz

AND THEN she shared the story of attending the Nobel Dinner when Toni Morrison received her award. Her voice was over video footage of King Gustaf walking Toni Morrison into the big Nobel banquet hall. I squealed, "He endorsed our book!"

THEN Ms. Lebowitz says, "And they have a seating plan..." and goes on to tell the story of being seated at the children's table. When a young man asked her what the meat on his plate was she quickly responds, "Steak." Then she whispers to the camera, "It was reindeer!" I screeched.

So, I believe Fran Lebowitz would think that Wyatt-MacKenzie and all of our authors -- writing the books they wanted to read who may be small in the big-world of publishing are big in their own worlds (and careers) after having the guts to publish their work -- is cool and she'd get a big kick out of REINDEER WITH KING GUSTAF by Anita Laughlin.

Did I mention all the Nobel Laureates were gifted a copy of our book at last year's ceremony? (I know, too many times, but hearing a cultural icon like Fran Lebowitz talk about the Nobel experience made me even prouder of us!)

186!

2010-11-18T06:11:00.000-08:00

I heard Martha Stewart the other day say her company had 36,000 SKUs (or products). Proportionally... I was so thrilled to see Wyatt-MacKenzie has 186 titles listed on Amazon! This is a combination of books, ebooks, and audios. Blows my mind. I remember when there were 4. And, I'm even prouder of the fact that the authors of all of these books had a great experience with Wyatt-MacKenzie.

This is a website where you can search for authors or publishers and view their list (on the day I checked it was counting ebooks and audios separately, it usually puts alternative editions under the paperback!): http://www.salesrankexpress.com. Our first page....

How To Get Your Book Into Bookstores - NOT!

2010-11-17T09:32:00.000-08:00

I love Penny Sansevieri, she endorsed my book years ago and contributed to an author promotion CD Wyatt-MacKenzie produced. But, I just listened to this show "Getting Your Book into Bookstores":

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thepublishinginsiders/2010/11/17/getting-your-book-into-bookstores

As an indie publisher -- this show MAKES MY HEAD EXPLODE!!!

I just wish the focus was: any store BESIDES a bookstore is good for your book! An important point should be made too -- the guest, Elaine Wilke's book "Nature's Secret Messages," is a very relevant “green” topic, which in itself is “evergreen” (a book that keeps selling) and, it looks gorgeous.

Here are my thoughts on the show... forgive me if I sound bitter, I'm usually a very positive person. If I had listened to this 13 years ago I would have believed it, but having the experience of looking back over a decade from the other side of the desk, and how the numbers REALLY pan out... well, it makes me a bit bitter. =)

Calls to the publisher (me) saying, "My book isn't in such-n-such bookstore," drive me NUTS. Do authors realize how many books it would take to "blanket" ALL of the bookstores, and what it would take to move bodies into those bookstores to buy the book in the short time it will stay there? Years ago, when we were with a major distributor, we "pushed" 15,000 books out (ordered 6 months ahead by our distributor’s book buyers because of our great publicity plan) and that was a SMALL push. We even paid B&N $1500 for “end-of-rack displays” in 110 stores (just a few). I still got emails from the author that relatives in some town “couldn't find the book anywhere.” With a “successful sell through” and major media we still had 70% returns, leaving us in the red over -$35,000. WHY WOULD YOU WANT YOUR BOOK “IN” BOOKSTORES!? Without major publicity and droves of people looking for it, they will be returned if not sold in 2 short months.

So, so many authors don't realize bookstores work on consignment, at a huge cost and detriment to the publisher. When I hear someone say, “They (a buyer, distributor, or store chain) ordered 3000 books!” -- that does not mean they have sold. That means they are in limbo. Publishers pay to print the books at the printer at one location, pay to ship them to the distributor, they send out to the bookstores, in 2 months the bookstores then ship returns back to the distributor, then the distributor will often ship backlisted titles back to the publisher. All of that waste, leaving a huge carbon footprint, and at a major cost to only the publisher. There is NO risk to the store or the distributor -- distributors take their commission on books they push to the stores but they do not give back their 15% when those books are returned.

Imagine this scenario when contacting a “list of bookstores”... So, you’ve called all the stores in the area and told them you’re getting publicity and you’ll mention their store on air. Ten stores agree to order 6 copies each. You’re on local TV, 50 or so people jump on Amazon and buy (Yea!). A few dozen buy it at a bookstore (Woohoo!). Three months later (or sooner) those at the stores that did not sell come trickling back in. You are now at negative 40 books returned (plus return shipping costs) and 50 books sold online -- so you are at ZERO for all of your efforts and your successful TV appearance. If you want to up this equation to national TV and a national bookstore push, see the example in the second paragraph above.

A few other notes: An autographed book does not stay in a store any longer, and in fact, is considered “damaged” when returned and is destroyed. This broke my heart when I realized an author we had touring Texas grocery stores, where they order 6000 books, and she signed as many as she could. We never saw those books again, on our statement from the distributor next to the huge negative number it read "HURT" (their term for damaged). And, on the subject of “reorders” -- bookstores often reorder after they have returned what did not sell the previous quarter. Yes, you read that right. An on-going cycle of the same book being returned and reordered, doesn't make much sense does it? But, so they do not have to pay for what has not sold, stores can avoid the bill by returning and then reordering thus giving the store 90 more days, and so on, and so on, for a well-promoted book all year. Over the months, returns negate the sales and shipping adds to the negative distributor statement.

My advice to authors: Spend your time selling to the actual end customers! Bookstores are great for visibility, but unless the book is very special (like Elaine’s) your efforts to get into bookstores should be viewed as a promotion cost. Major publishing houses work hand-in-hand with bookstores and the media in a very precarious balance that involves hundreds of thousands of books and advertising dollars.

Bottomline: have your book with Ingram’s LightningSource for international distribution online and to bookstores if you make it Returnable and at a 55% Wholesale Discount . The returns in this “reactive” model are not as bad as pushing into stores proactively. Energy spent pursuing bookstores is a tragic waste; re-route that time and pre-returned copies into review copies, because that's what the returns will end up as! Here are the returns we got yesterday (timed so well with the radio show). Not so bad, 64 copies of a dozen different titles, about a $500 loss (ouch!).

ANY other stores besides bookstores though is brilliant, and I bet Elaine’s product (http://www.getyourbookintostores.com) has some great tips on that!

Licensing Monet...

2010-11-06T11:59:00.000-07:00

I'm jumping out of my Uggs excited. We just licensed a Monet for the cover of a Spring 2011 book! It was the author's fantasy to use Monet's La Japonaise... and... we were just granted the license from The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Here's my cover sketch...

The Beautiful One Has Come: Stories by Suzanne Kamata (Wyatt-MacKenzie, June 2011) is a collection of twelve stories about expatriates in Japan, Cuba, France and Australia. Stories from this collection have been previously published in literary journals and magazines such as Calyx, Kyoto Journal, Crab Orchard Review and Wingspan (All Nippon Airway's inflight magazine). The autobiographical story "You're So Lucky” was nominated for a Pushcart Prize and “Polishing the Halo” about an expatriate mother in Japan who discovers that her daughter is deaf, was a prize-winner in the ANA/Wingspan Fiction Contest. Another story in this collection, “Driving,” was selected by renowned poet/playwright/novelist Nzotake Shange for inclusion in The Beacon Best anthology. An earlier combination of Suzanne's stories was runner-up for the Tupelo Book Prize, and a semi-finalist for the Iowa Fiction Prize.

Suzanne Kamata is an expat living in Japan. She's the author of the novel Losing Kei and editor of the anthologies Love You to Pieces: Creative Writers on Raising a Child with Special Needs, The Broken Bridge: Fiction from Expatriates in Literary Japan and the award-winning Call Me Okaasan: Adventures in Multicultural Mothering (Wyatt-MacKenzie, 2009). Suzanne has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize five times, and she is a two-time prize winner in the All Nippon Airways/Wingspan Fiction contest.

***

Smart Women Unite!

2010-11-04T08:13:00.000-07:00

Sheri McConnell's amazing event is going on in LA: http://www.smartwomenevent.com/ A powerful gathering of smart, incredible women.

Want to be inspired? Watch these videos of the opening night speakers, the "Smart Women of the Year" Award Winners, on Sheri's facebook:

Kris Carr, Author of Crazy, Sexy Cancer:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1667388443140

Rhonda Britten:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1667390563193

Amilya Antonetti:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1667394283286

* * *

Sheri and Wyatt-MacKenzie have partnered to offer her network the smartest way to publish: http://www.sherimcconnell.com/publishimprint/

* * *

Thrilled to see Amilya Antonetti there. I just LOVED her presentation on opening night. Here she is promoting The Broken Cookie Syndrome which Wyatt-MacKenzie produced for her a few years back!

Spring/Summer 2011 Roster Filling Quickly!

2010-10-31T10:12:00.000-07:00

Exciting couple of weeks here at Wyatt-MacKenzie! Our 2011 roster is filling quickly with AMAZING books and authors.

For many it was, “You had me at Hello!” -- current Wyatt-MacKenzie authors coming back to us with their next books. This is extremely satisfying for me, to know that we gave these authors a great experience and they want to do it again! Plus a high-profile “parent-digm” shifter, and a well-researched much-needed homeschooling resource.

Media maven Maria Bailey brings us her next cutting-edge business book, Suzanne Kamata has another wonderful collection for expats (her award-winning 4th book published by us was named one of the best books of 2009 by The Japan Times), and multi-award-winner Joel Schwartzberg, are all on deck to release new books in Spring 2011.

New to our family is a smart first-time author who watched Wyatt-MacKenzie for a year before pitching her fantastic new tool for parents. SUDDENLY HOMESCHOOLING by Marie-Claire Moreau is a “quick start homeschooling guide” -- comprehensive step-by-step instructions to help today's families legally start homeschooling within two weeks.

Also new to Wyatt-MacKenzie's roster, and someone I am bubbling over to work with, is Lu Hanessian, parent educator and national speaker. Lu will be releasing her new book with us in the Spring. Her first book was the much-acclaimed LET THE BABY DRIVE (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2005). Lu founded parent2parentu.com -- a fantastic self-growth resource for parents -- and was included in our PARENTING THE FUTURE app last year. She also created WYSH, Wear Your Spirit For Humanity -- the most awesome line of inspirational (and funny) clothing. And, to top off her brilliant writing and entrepreneurial brain, Lu is an award-winning journalist, a former NBC anchor/host of “Real Life” and “Unsolved Mysteries,” the host of “Make Room for Baby” on the Discovery Health Channel, and for five years she hosted “The Science Show” which was syndicated in 110 countries.

And, most important of all, my daughter MacKenzie turned 12 last week... which means the publishing company officially begins it’s 13th year of empowering authors! Let me get a big "Hell Yeah" for the redneck gal in Deadwood!!!

*Some background in case you're new around here... I became a redneck through nurture not nature. *smile* Yes, I grew up a book-nerd in Boston, and have a BFA from RISD. When I relocated to Deadwood, Oregon in 1992 (from Del Mar, CA after a stint in corporate USA) I launched my own graphic design studio and... I also met Wyatt and MacKenzie's dad. I love this song, and my life.

Video Promo - Wyatt-MacKenzie Radio Gig

2010-10-27T13:55:00.000-07:00

Also read the article I wrote for the show: Mission: Publish

.

Publisher & Author on WomensRadio

2010-10-20T06:26:00.000-07:00

Press release from the show's host Jennifer Wilkov…

Nancy Cleary, founder and publisher at Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing, and author Iris Waichler of Riding the Infertility Roller Coaster: A Guide to Educate and Inspire, appear as guests on the Your Book Is Your Hook! Show on WomensRadio.com. Ms Cleary talked about why she formed her company, what type of author she looks to work with and how she provides unprecedented support for authors she chooses to publish. Ms. Waichler, a Wyatt-MacKenzie author, discussed why she wrote her book, her publishing experience and how she’s using her book as her hook to help others with infertility challenges.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nancy Cleary, founder and publisher at Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing, and author Iris Waichler of Riding the Infertility Roller Coaster, appeared as guests on the Your Book Is Your Hook! Show Tuesday, October 19th, 2010 at 9:00am on WomensRadio.com

NEW YORK, NY (October 20, 2010): Nancy Cleary, founder and publisher of Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing, spoke with radio personality and host Jennifer S. Wilkov about her award-winning independent press and how she selects the authors that she chooses to work with.

Ms. Cleary also discussed how she works with authors throughout their publishing process and encourages their entrepreneurial approaches. She shared her insights and perspectives of the future of the book publishing industry.

Author Iris Waichler discussed with host Jennifer S. Wilkov why she wrote her book, Riding the Infertility Roller Coaster: A Guide to Educate & Inspire, and why she chose to publish it through Wyatt-Mackenzie Publishing.

Ms. Waichler also talked about how she’s using her book as her hook including her funny story about how she sat in the audience of a bookseller before she was a published author and then, 18 months later as published author herself, she was booked as the speaker at the very same bookseller with an audience of her own.

Host Jennifer S. Wilkov talked about why picking and pitching the right publisher and agent is essential to your publishing success during her Education Corner segment during the show.

# # #

The “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Radio Show airs weekly on Tuesdays at 9:00am on the WomensRadio Network at WomensRadio.com and is syndicated on Live365.com. The “Your Book Is Your Hook!” show was created to provide the opportunity to go behind the books and discover the process from thought to sales of how other authors have succeeded in getting published and how they use their book as their hook with someone who is successful in this field and experiencing the same journey herself. Listeners also find out about industry professionals and resources to help them as a writer and author with their book projects so they can write, market, publish and make money with their books.

Ms. Wilkov is a best-selling, award-winning author, an award-winning freelance writer, a speaker and trainer, the creator of the trademarked “From Thought to Sales In 90 Days” book process and a book business consultant for other authors and writers. Her experience and knowledge of the book business and the people in it as well as her understanding of the author’s experience from conceiving the idea to getting published are vital parts of the experience of the show. The show has left guests wanting to come back for more.

Some of Ms. Wilkov’s most prominent guests include Dominique Raccah (Publisher of Sourcebooks & Co-Chair of the Book Industry Study Group), Larry Goldbetter (President of the National Writers Union), Julia Cameron (International Bestselling Author), Victoria Moran (Oprah-featured Author of ten books including an international bestseller), Suzy Welch (3-time NY Times Bestselling Author & Keynote Speaker at the WBENC 2010 Annual Conference), Deborah Brody (Executive Editor of Harlequin’s Nonfiction Program), Katharine Sands (Literary Agent with Sarah Jane Freymann Agency & Author), Peter Rubie (CEO & Literary Agent of Fine Print Literary Management & Author), Jennifer DeChiara (Literary Agent & President of Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency), Beth Werner (Director of Sales & Marketing at Kirkus Media including Kirkus Reviews and Kirkus Discoveries), Joel Comm (4-time NY Times Bestselling Author and new media innovator), Mari Smith (former President of the International Social Media Association, author and dubbed “The Pied Piper of Online Media” by FastCompany.com), Brunonia Barry (NY Times Bestselling Multiple Award-Winning Fiction Novelist), Ken Corday (Author and Executive Producer of NBC’s Daytime Drama “Days of Our Lives”), Kathy Kinney (Co-Author, Actress well-known as Mimi Bobeck from the “The Drew Carey Show”), Jill Shure (2002 Ben Franklin Award winner for Popular Fiction and the Publisher of Syntax Books), Jan McInnis (comedienne, author, professional speaker & humor writer who has written for the Tonight Show monologues) and other industry professionals including a Hollywood producer, a TV news producer turned publicist, a ghostwriter, social media experts, authors in various genres and many more. Photos and more information www.yourbookisyourhook.com.

Women’s Online Media and Education Network (W.O.M.E.N.) began with a very large mission: to give women (and other lesser hear voices) the opportunity to have a much larger voice over a great geographic area. Today, W.O.M.E.N. publishes WomensRadio.com, a rich streaming content site; WomensCalendar.org, the largest listing of women’s events internationally and nationally; the WR Channel; WRMusicReview.com, and AudioAcrobat.com, a sensational tool anyone can use to produce and/or publish streaming audio, video and podcasts anywhere on the web.

We Love Our Ducks! #3

2010-10-04T07:02:00.000-07:00

Woohoo... Ducks Beat Stanford this weekend. (Sorry to all my crew at Stanford... haha!)

Speaking of the crew at Stanford!!!!!!!! REINDEER WITH KING GUSTAF featured on Stanford's Book Haven as Nobel Week begins.

I love my life. *huge smile*

All our "Dubyas"

2010-09-05T08:08:00.000-07:00

First, I've never been a cat person. "Book," as you all know, is my chocolate Lab and office assistant. MacKenzie's new kitten is spending a lot of time in the office though... and I loved this photo of her on my "pride shelf" above my desk. These are all signed copies of our books from the authors we've published. I remember ten years ago, when we had a handful of books, I used to visualize a long bookshelf with the Wyatt-MacKenzie logo on every spine. Tadaa!

On this wall are some of the awards and media I've received. The frame with my favorite local articles are always a hoot to friends and family that stop by the office. They don't realize there are two huge bins hidden behind them of international media Wyatt-MacKenzie books and authors have received... from the NY Times to the Wall St. Journal and every magazine known to women and moms to newspapers of every author's local city, copies of awards, and most recently a bound book from the Nobel Laureate Ceremonies which our author inserted notes with each Laureate's comments on our book... utterly wonderfully fulfilling. I wish my dad could have been alive to see that one, and my bookshelf, sans cat. He despised cats.

For the Love of Publishing

2010-09-04T08:49:00.000-07:00

I often joke with people that the best ROI on a book we've published... ever... was when a young mom who wrote a book about single motherhood gave a reading at a bookstore... and fell in love with the bookstore owner, and vice versa. They were married not long after (in one of the most breath-taking weddings it was featured in the pages of Essence Magazine!)

This week I witnessed another magical moment in a new author's journey. The moment a writer has when someone they've written about in a memoir is the first to get an advance review copy and sends a response like this...

"Sorry, but I just couldn't wait to finish before getting back to you. It's a fascinating read to say the least. Congratulations on a job beautifully done! And not for a moment do I think that my bias has colored my judgment; I am certain that other readers will find All the Pretty Shoes equally compelling.

I hope that you can forgive me one personal indulgence: From the first week or two that we met, I was fascinated by you and the story that I thought you should tell the world. By reading your book I feel charged and invigorated knowing that my judgment about you was spot-on. For that, I am quietly grateful—more, I think, than you are ever likely to imagine.

Over the course of my life, moving about as often as I did, I have had the opportunity to meet many interesting people. Some even had a book inside them. But only you had the courage, perseverance and skill to let it out. I cannot overstate my respect and pride in you."

When Marika forwarded snippets of these emails, from her many-years-past beau, I couldn't help but bubble over with happiness, and with my love of publishing.

Be sure to check out Marika's site I finished last week AllthePrettyShoes.com and read the compelling first chapter. View the photos which made it through the Holocaust and onto my scanner... Man, I love what I do.

Review of SOUL TO SOUL PARENTING

2010-08-25T10:50:00.000-07:00

We're so thankful to ForeWord Magazine for such a thoughtful review!

FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS

Soul To Soul Parenting: A Guide to Raising a Spiritually Conscious Family

Annie Burnside

Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing

The over-abundance of books about spirituality speaks to the need many people feel for a more authentic, connected life; the best of these books can open doors without indulging in judgment or condescension. Soul to Soul Parenting earns its place among the best with its honesty, humor, and authenticity.

Through a combination of stories about her personal journey, ideas borrowed from the teachings of other spiritual leaders, and old-fashioned common sense, mom, educator, and soul-nurturer Annie Burnside invites her readers to strive for a deeper family experience. There are lots of distractions in the day-to-day lives of families: work, school, sports, entertainment, and vacations. By approaching each element of family life with an attitude of openness and an eye for spiritual potential, parents and children can infuse daily activities with a deeper communion.

A clear structure and vibrant text make her book ultimately readable. The first third of the book focuses on what Burnside calls Parenting Vehicles, which are practical, tangible things families can do to get in touch with their spiritual nature. The second part of the book looks more deeply into what these practices teach us, what she calls Soul to Soul Parenting Spiritual Themes. After every chapter she includes book, movie, and music suggestions that reflect and deepen the lesson. Burnside has a Masters in Education and a family with which she has developed this approach to spirituality.

Her own family serves as her most frequent example. She shares her family's special rituals, their spiritual sign, and some of their Soul to Soul Reminders—quotes about spirituality that are posted around their home and car to offer gentle reminders to remain connected to their souls. Her willingness to open her own home and family to the eyes of readers speaks to her inherent strength.

Burnside's text feels honest, authentic, friendly, and nonjudgmental. “One individual may feel God kneeling in prayer on the pew of a beautiful old church. That is absolute perfection. Another individual may find God riding on his Harley through the countryside watching the sunrise. That is absolute perfection.” She makes it clear throughout her book that she is not writing from within the confines of one specific religion, that her viewpoint is inclusive as opposed to exclusive, and that her way of parenting from the spirit may not be the same path other parents will take.

With modesty, infectious excitement, and great writing, Burnside offers families an alternative to the fast-paced, materialistic grind in which they often find themselves caught. (June 2010) Andi Diehn

Review date: August 2010.

The Cracker Factory ....a movie clip and more

2010-08-22T08:42:00.000-07:00

The other video I had linked to was removed unfortunately, but I just found this Spanish version -- shows how powerful the story is, it translates well in any language! Seeing our author's name, Joyce Rebeta-Burditt, on the opening credits gives me goosebumps. Any ideas who could star in the Natalie Wood's role... 40 years later?!

Here's Cassie having a breakdown at the grocery store, then confronting her husband, Charlie, about it… and then, trying to overdose... before she is brought to the hospital and gets locked in the psyche ward, or "the cracker factory" as she calls it.

The two-book set -- the re-release of the 1977 book this movie is based on, THE CRACKER FACTORY, and our brand new sequel THE CRACKER FACTORY 2 -- will be available as a set on Amazon next month. Our distributor just started offering this option of multi-volume sets and I am beyond excited to see this COLLECTOR'S SET packaged together.

Fans are coming out of the woodworks (actually, the internet) -- "Do you know Cassie Barrett?"seems to be a question many recovered alcoholics, and those still on the path, resoundingly respond, "YES!" And everyone is excited to learn what Cassie (Natalie Wood's character) has been doing over the last four decades. I keep being asked, "Is it fiction?" And I laugh, "It's a thinly veiled semi-autobiographical novel. Both books are fiction... but you have to read Book #2 to see the unveiling of the author's real world in Book #1.

To complement the one-of-a-kind structure of the writing, I've taken my creative license on the interior of this one. Literally, and visually, it is a screenplay within the screenwriter's memoir. I have a personal affinity to books in which the author discusses their writing career, reflecting on the actual publishing of their work, and oh-my-gosh the making of their book into a movie!

The author's wild Hollywood career since the release of her first book is mind-blowing... even though there is a generation not familiar with her work, (She wrote and produced Matlock starring Andy Griffith, Perry Mason starring Raymond Burr, and Father Dowling Mysteries starring Tom Bosley and Tracy Nelson. She then created Diagnosis Murder starring Dick Van Dyke) there's a bridge between the books, and the audience, because of the timelessness of the story, and of alcoholism and addiction. The character from the 70's movie played by Shelley Long could have easily been depicting a current-day Lindsay Lohan, and the author's memoir of big-network politics and extra-curricular affairs could be lifted from a current script of Entourage!

Turkish, Chinese, Korean and Russian Editions!

2010-08-21T07:13:00.000-07:00

We are signing the Turkish and Chinese Rights for CONNECTION PARENTING by Pam Leo! It's already available in Korean and Russian. Here's one of the covers I found...

It is Pam's dream for her book to be available in every language, all over the world. CONNECTION PARENTING is currently being represented by Evelyn Kagey Lee, Amer-Asia Books, Inc. EvelynKageyLee@gmail.com

CONNECTION PARENTING was also made available this year as an Audible Audiobook!

An Excerpt... on Twitter!

2010-08-14T11:23:00.000-07:00

Read an excerpt from our upcoming book THE CRACKER FACTORY 2: WELCOME TO WOMEN'S GROUP on Twitter:

Welcome 2 Women’s Group!

Follow the women's group meeting, and read the excerpt,

on this Twitter List:

http://twitter.com/W2WG/welcome2womensgroup

Have you, friends, or family suffered from alcoholism?

Join us for our next meeting! Follow http://twitter.com/w2wg for updates and meeting announcements.

Take a seat and tweet... everyone is welcome 2 women’s group.

(Since this is our second fiction, we are having a bit of fun! I'm sure big publishing houses have been doing this for years, but we are excited to invite readers into a twitter-world of the novel's characters.)

* * *

PROLOGUE of THE CRACKER FACTORY 2: WELCOME TO WOMEN’S GROUP from author Joyce Rebeta-Burditt

I’d like to welcome you to the Tuesday Night Women’s Group. But first I need to tell you how I got here!

The Cracker Factory was an autobiographical novel that told my story of alcoholism and finding sobriety. In the novel, Cassie Barrett was me, and Charlie was my husband, George.

Here’s a little background, in case you haven’t met Cassie yet…

Cassie is a twenty-something housewife, married at eighteen, three times a mom by twenty-two. Having gone straight from her father’s house yippie-skippy to her husband’s house, she’d lost something in the quick daughter-to-wife transition. Herself.

Overwhelmed by her responsibilities and frightened by her increasing anger and frustration, she’d taken to sipping, then nipping from the one-drink-before-dinner scotch until occa-sional blackouts and empty bottles hidden in the laundry hamper finally made her admit to herself that she might have a drinking problem.

Her husband thought she was too young to have a drinking problem. All the drunks he knew were over forty. Her mother advised her to learn to drink like a lady “but don’t quit because you’ll be no fun at parties.”

Cassie, who was becoming sicker and sicker, thought she might die from drinking before she was old enough.

With nowhere to turn, and in those days no treatment programs for alcoholism, Cassie Barrett had only one option. She signed herself into a pyschiatric ward she lovingly deemed “The Cracker Factory.”

In this book, The Cracker Factory 2: Welcome to Women’s Group, we pick up where The Cracker Factory left off. Cassie has embraced Alcoholics Anonymous and is a long-time member of a Women’s AA Group. Cassie and her fellow AA members help each other to live sober the lives that had become unmanageable while they were drinking. The issues they discuss—the husbands, lovers, kids, careers and emotions that sometimes threaten to go out of control—are the heartaches, triumphs and love stories shared by women everywhere, not only by those with a drinking problem.

What else, besides staying sober, has Cassie been doing for forty-plus years? I’d like to tell you that my alter ego formulated a brilliant plan and then followed it meticulously. But, I had no plan. Things happened, followed by other things, leaving me in a constant state of astonishment.

First surprise: The Cracker Factory became a bestseller, and it was made into an ABC-TV movie starring Natalie Wood! Then, things really started happening. The Eighties, Nineties, and up to the present have been a whirlwind of the Unplanned Life which could be subtitled “Little Alice from Cleveland Falls Down the Rabbit Hole and Lands in Wonderland (Hollywood).”

In alternating memoir chapters of The Cracker Factory 2, I’ll take you with me through years of Hollywood life as a network executive, writer, producer, and boggle-eyed witness to celebrities, chauvinism, big producers, studios, epidemic cocaine use, and actors (both sweet and sour), all seen through my (and Cassie’s) unrelentingly sober eyes.

Opposite these memoir chapters, Women’s Group invites you to sit at the table, pick up a script and play a part along with Cassie and her friends.

Why stay sober? Because sober is better. Richer. More fun. Always. Relax. Listen in. Women’s Group might just help you, too.

* * *

Annie Burnside on the Cover!

2010-07-28T07:11:00.000-07:00

http://www.makeitbetter.net/better-you/books/1679-the-august-issue-of-make-it-better-is-here

Our own Annie Burnside, author of SOUL TO SOUL PARENTING, graces a beautiful cover of Chicago's make it better magazine. She's featured in the article "The Write Stuff: Celebrating Women Authors" with a gorgeous full-page photo.

Here's a fun video behind the scenes of the cover photo shoot. I love seeing this. Great job Annie!

Wyatt-MacKenzie Lands 1977 Bestseller/Movie

2010-07-27T07:08:00.000-07:00

Okay... I can't contain my excitement! For the last year we have been working on our September release WOMEN'S GROUP which is the bookend to the author's 1977 novel. We have now signed the re-release of the first book THE CRACKER FACTORY (New York Times bestseller, turned into a made-for-TV movie)!

We have retitled the new September book THE CRACKER FACTORY 2: Welcome to Women's Group and designed the two as a very cool collector's set...

THE CRACKER FACTORY 1977 RE-RELEASE

The New York Times called it "A cross between 'Lost Weekend' and "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'… with a touch of 'Fear of Flying' thrown in."

Chicago Tribune reviewed, "Picture TV's Rhoda with a drinking problem, put her into a female version of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest', and you have 'The Cracker Factory' in a barrel."

Los Angeles Times wrote, "A frankly autobiographical and hilarious novel … Comparisons are bound to be made with 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' but I found Rebeta-Burditt's book much more effective than Kesey's because its insights are not those of an interested spectator but of a walking wounded, a hurting actor in the hospital's ongoing drama… A novel that will shake you, delight you and lift you high, as only fine writing can."

THE CRACKER FACTORY 2: Welcome to Women's Group (2010)

Reviewed by Marcy Carsey, Co-creator of Carsey-Warner, producers of The Cosby Show, Roseanne, Grace Under Fire, A Different World, Cybill, Third Rock from the Sun, Grounded for Life, and That 70s Show:

“Joyce Rebeta-Burditt has written a wonderful gift of a book that reaches out and grabs you by the heart. It’s like a deeply felt conversation with the best friend you ever had. If you’re an alcoholic, or if you love one, or if you’re any sort of living, breathing, feeling human being, let this book into your life... in one way or another, it will change you.”

Stay tuned for more big news on these titles…!

Mature Media Award for SECOND BLOOMING!

2010-07-19T08:47:00.000-07:00

SECOND BLOOMING: Growing a Life That Matters After Fifty wins merit in national Mature Media Awards!

The largest awards program of its kind to recognize the nation’s best advertising, marketing and educational materials produced for older adults. The awards program is open to all those involved in the production of materials for adults age 50 and over. It is presented by the Mature Market Resource Center, a national clearinghouse for older adult programs.

Congrats to Betsy Smith and Kathleen Logan! Learn more at secondbloomingforwomen.com

What Would You Do All Day, Every Day, For Free?

2010-07-19T08:45:00.000-07:00

I heard this on a video and smiled.

Well, I'm an indie publisher, so... I'm doing it!

My dream for as long as I can remember was to be a graphic designer. My first published job -- with my name on the colophon (see above) -- was a book design for my hometown in 1988, while I was still in college. I typeset the book on a Linotron and made mechanicals for the printer. I was so proud. (I still am -- I did a great job!) That's all I wanted to do, every day.

When I began working with entrepreneurs and authors I realized this thing I loved to do had an intrinsic value -- I could make the smallest entrepreneur look like the biggest corporation with a professional, compelling branding package (or "identity" as we called it a few decades ago!). For many years I ran a lucrative graphic design studio, and along the way met many incredible women entrepreneurs and writers.

I remember the day I sat with my journal, imagining how I could "give" what I had to these women who needed it. I wasn't sure at that time the way this would evolve, but looking back now, I see clearly -- the creation of my independent press gave me the opportunity to pour every ounce of passion, and talent, into women and projects I believed in.

* * *

This past weekend I got to watch Bravo's "Work of Art" reality show and the assignment was a book cover design. (Loved it!) It sent me right back to crits at RISD. I loved art school. I was in heaven. I was doing exactly what I wanted to do, all day, every day. I worked hard, and my critiques were amazing.

Hearing the contestant's excitement over designing a book cover that could be published by Penguin was full-circle-fulfilling. Those very thoughts -- imagining my design on the cover of a book that sold in real bookstores -- drove me to get where I am today, not only the book cover designer, but the publisher of over 100 titles currently being sold around the world!

* * *

It hasn't been easy, I've had to learn a great deal about the publishing industry, and about publicity, and distribution (which is changing daily). And, without an amazing consulting program I wouldn't be able to finance my passion. It's actually not free, but rather costs quite a bit -- the role of publisher is "do everything and pay for everything, all day, every day" but I love it.