A 3-Wow Week

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...

It's Christmas Eve!! A celebratory song... I love Natasha Bedingfield's brand new song "Strip 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

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

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?

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!)