Saturday, March 24, 2012

Is this one of the reasons we write, or what?

"Hi Melissa,
You book literally "popped" out at me in our used book section in our Huntington Beach Library. I was with my 7th grade daughter, that I home school and we are always looking for meaningful nice reads. We read half of the book together, and then put it down for a week , just been living life. This morning I decided to to finish it, couldn't wait. It is a nice rainy morning here, unusual and make my heart sing, since I am originally from Long Island , New York...Anyway, I finished it, riveted to every word, every thought, know that this book came to me to answer my lifelong question and fear about death. I know it is not a coincidence because my husband has cancer. I have never had the religious faith that my own Mother wanted me to have and believe in things that others did in afterlife, it just did not resonate with me. I have been knowing that somehow I would get this answer or at least a vision that would make sense for me to prepare my children that would feel good and comprehensible. I will finish the book with Maggie and let it absorb and know when and if her dad's life comes to an end sooner or even if he lives a long life, she will be more prepared that I was and of course go through the nature of grief but have the memory of your beautiful story to hold on to..Another book came to me simultaneously called Dying to be Me, which just came out, which is a true story of a woman who had the choose to come back to life in her near death experience. I KNOW that I attracted these books with love and now have no fear..I thank you for this type of writing. 

One of your chaters reminded me of homeschooling, which was Yehidah, we don't always plan and every day is an adventure that you choose. I am so grateful for our life and the path that led me there... I also have many books in my head, and feel All Things That Matter Press may be what my light needs to explore next.. The is an authors festival every year at The Huntington Beach Public Library.Have you ever been?? I will also make sure your book is available there, if it is not already. Thank You"
Nancy Keller



 http://www.amazon.com/Six-Weeks-Yehidah-Melissa-Studdard/dp/0984651705/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1332615463&sr=1-1

Friday, March 16, 2012

Monday, March 12, 2012

THE WHITE BRIDGE

Authored by Robert Rubenstein 



The sequel to GHOST RUNNERS, THE WHITE BRIDGE is a dark historical tale, a much needed parody of the pathology of racism and its deadly consequences as the world marched to war-as vital as today's headlines, an anthem for change and a new radicalism. Ginger Lee is a smashing news reporter who chases down the architect of a murder and implicates the American ideal. Powerful fiction!

 About the author:
With his second novel, The White Bridge, Robert has staked his claim to historical psychiatric literary fiction. Using the weapon of parody, fantasy, and the dream-scape of psychological horror, "Robert" investigates history, especially the roots of racism and prejudice in America. A friend to "Rocky and Bullwinkle," the author recognizes what role fractured fairy tales had on his arrested development. A former special educator in the New York Public Schools," Bob" raised two children as a single parent. "Reuven" is proud that his first novel, Ghost Runners, was included in the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Currently, he teaches a college course for graduating seniors in advanced topics: the psychology of racism, "Bobby" hopes to complete a trilogy in the near future. A retired teacher and evaluator of children with special needs, "Ruby" swims three or four times a week. He travels frequently to the Southwest and likes being a minority among the Native-Americans. Companion pieces-Ghost Runners, historical fiction about two Jewish runners not allowed to compete in the 1936 Olympics and The White Bridge, about the evils of racism and American capitalism, eugenics and Hitler, baby farms and the culture of lynching; the current novel tests the courage of athlete/soldier heroes, and a journalist in the Jazz Age who must pit her strength against the evil of her times to save the dignity of a lost child. A man of many names, 'Rob' welcomes comments at RJRubenstein12@yahoo.com.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Annie's World: Jake's Legacy


Authored by Daniel Lance Wright THE YEAR IS 2208 AND THE WORLD IS IN NEED OF A SAVIOR.
Two centuries have passed since global economies collapsed with little hope of resurrection. Jake Henderson wanders the former State of Texas foraging for food, and witnesses the murder of a young woman. The ten-year-old girl traveling with her is traumatized and left speechless, orphaned by the violent act. From that day, she begins changing Jake's life in ways he could never have imagined. Annabelle, as he chooses to call her, is descended from failed genetically manufactured prototypes of the early Twenty-first Century. The delicate-appearing child is anything but, and is destined to become the salvation of a world out of control.

 About the author:
A lifelong Texan, Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright is a freelance fiction writer and novelist. A multi-published author, Danny has been recognized for his writing skills by The Oklahoma Writers Federation, Art Affair, Writer's Digest, and others.

Monday, March 5, 2012

ODDITIES & ENTITIES

NEW RELEASE



Authored by Roland Allnach 


"THERE'S MORE TO THIS WORLD THAN FLESH AND BONE."
Set in the mysterious space between the everyday world and an existence just beyond reach, "Oddities & Entities" traces a path through the supernatural, the paranormal, and the speculative. With moments of horror, dark humor, and philosophical transcendence, these tales explore a definition of life beyond the fragile vessel of the human body.

About the author:
Roland Allnach, after working twenty years on the night shift in a hospital, has witnessed life from a slightly different angle. He has been working to develop his writing career, drawing creatively from literary classics, history, and mythology. His short stories, one of which was nominated for the Pushcart Prize, have appeared in several publications. His first anthology, 'Remnant', saw publication in 2010. It has since gone on to critical acclaim and placed as a Finalist/Science Fiction in the 2011 National Indie Excellence Awards. 'Oddities & Entities' marks his second stand alone publication.

When not immersed in his imagination, he can be found at his website, www.rolandallnach.com, along with his published stories. Writing aside, his joy in life is the time he spends with his family.

Survivors of a thermal war battle aliens who ...

HUMAN TRIAL has been called “frightening...” "… a look at the psychology of survival, and a timely cautionary tale.”

Saturday, March 3, 2012

THE EDIT

  At ATTMP, the process listed below is quite similar, some books requiring more of certain stages than others. No two edits are alike, but the process is somewhat the same.

 The Editorial Process

by Steve Laube
 http://stevelaube.com/the-editorial-process/


It is important to understand the process through which a book takes under the umbrella called “The Edit.” I meet many first timers who think it is just a one-time pass over their words and that is all that will ever happen. And many who self-publish think that hiring a high school English teacher to check for grammar is enough of an edit.
There are four major stages to the Editorial Process. Unfortunately they are called by various names depending on which publisher you are working with, which can create confusion. I will try to list the various terms but keep them under the four categories.
Rewrites / Revisions/Substantive Edit
These can happen multiple times. You could get input from your agent or an editor who suggests you rewrite or revise those sample chapters of the full manuscript. Last year I suggested that one of my non-fiction clients cut the book in half and change its focus. We sold this first time author. But the writer had to do a lot of work to get it ready for the proposal stage.
There are some publishers that will do this stage after a book has already been contracted because they saw the potential in the proposal. And note that this stage isn’t always necessary. It all depends on the quality of that final draft you turned in to your publisher. Few get it perfect the first time.
Line Edit / Substantive Edit/Content Edit
Already you can see a descriptive term repeated. This stage is where the editor, usually a senior editor, or an editor is hired by the publisher to look at the book closely. This stage can morph into a rewrite (see above) if there are substantive changes. In some ways it is like a mechanic pulling apart an engine and inspecting the parts, and then putting it all back together again.
Sometimes this stage is very light sometimes it can feel heavy handed. Neither is wrong. Trust the editor to have the desire to make your book better.
Remember that this stage can be a form of negotiation. Ultimately it is your name on the finished book. An editor should not dictate but should facilitate. It is ultimately a partnership. And if you find that perfect partner…do what you can to work with them over and over. But also do not blind yourself into thinking that you are always right.
Copyedit
This can be done in-house or with a freelancer. One friend of mine calls this stage “The Grammar Police.” The copyeditor’s job is to check grammar, punctuation, spelling, and consistency. If your book has unusual spellings (like characters with Czechoslovakian names) consider creating a separate document called a style sheet which should be submitted with your manuscript so the copyeditor will know you meant to spell a word that way. Consistency is the key.
This edit takes a special skill. The editor is technically not reading for content. They are looking at each word for accuracy in communication.
It can be a stage fraught with humor. Like the time a copy editor changed the phrase “woulda, coulda, shoulda” to “would have, could have, should have” because the first was grammatically incorrect.
Unfortunately this stage can also be fraught with danger if the copyeditor suddenly takes the role of substantive editor, after that stage has already passed. I’ve heard stories of character names being changed, entire scenes rewritten, etc. If you have trouble at this stage, appeal to your senior (or acquisitions) editor and see if the changes had been approved before being sent to you.
Again, remember that this can be a place for negotiation. But if you are breaking the rules of grammar or spelling be prepared to defend yourself. But please, “Never Burn a Bridge.”
Proofreading
If the line editor is looking at the paragraph for content, and the copy editor is looking at every word for accuracy, the proofreader is looking at every letter and punctuation mark for perfection.
Again, this takes a special skill. I once sat on a plane next to an amazing freelance proofreader. I proudly showed her an article I was writing. She found ten mistakes per page. Every one of them was my fault for being sloppy. I ate humble pie with my bag of peanuts.
This proofreader is the last protection you have before the book is tossed into the market.
Error Free Publishing!
With all these eyes on your book you are guaranteed to have a product with no typos or errors of any kind….oops…that isn’t true.
Despite every effort and a lot of smart people working on your book, an error is bound to slip through. I remember one book where we had the author, three of his students, myself, a copy editor, and two proofreaders go through a book. Eight people. The book was published and the author’s critics found a dozen errors within the first week. Sigh.
Do your publishers a favor. If you find an error? Make a note of it (page number, line number, and error) and write a quick note to the editorial department of that publisher respectfully pointing it out. A file is usually kept of every book and when it is time to reprint the book they can go in and correct the error. And in the ebook world the digital file can be corrected fairly easy.

DANCING ON MARS

NEW RELEASE!

 

Authored by Lucinda Shirley

This is EveryWoman's book - every age, every experience. You will laugh, cry and learn through this fascinating, honest and courageous journey to one woman's truth - but you won't put it down. Dancing on Mars is a feast, not an appetizer. Like a memorable meal, Dancing on Mars is deeply satisfying and leaves you wanting to experience it all over again. A lively mix of memoir and exploration of love, relationship, and lifestyle. There's even a handful of original poems.

About the author:
Lucinda Shirley lives on a Lowcountry lake in her native South Carolina, surrounded by ancient oaks and amazing wildlife.
A member of the South Carolina Writers Workshop and the Southeastern Writers Association, Lucinda is a freelance writer, poet, and writing coach. Her work can be found in magazines, literary journals, and online blogs. When she was named first and second place winner in a SCWW poetry competition, she was relieved to learn there had been other entries. Dancing on Mars is her first book.
You can reach Lucinda at dancingonmars@ yahoo.com or visit her at lucindashirleydancingonmars.blogspot.com and poetrypeddler.blogspot.com.

http://allthingsthatmatterpress.com