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Books and Services for Authors

Monday, December 31st, 2012

It is that time of year when we find ourselves reflecting and setting goals. If your goals for 2013 include starting or finishing a writing/publishing project, please keep me in mind for your editorial needs. If you have gained knowledge and guidance from this blog, my articles in the magazines and newsletters you read, my free offerings, my presentations and my books, you’ll also benefit from my other products and services.

Your Book Proposal
I can help you create and fine-tune your book proposal. Remember, a book proposal is a business plan for your book. Even if you don’t plan to approach a traditional publisher with your project, you should prepare a book proposal for you!!! Think of it as your business plan for your book. And in this highly competitive publishing climate, you NEED a business plan. Contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com or sign up for my online book proposal course at http://www.matilijapress.com/course_bookproposal.htm

Manuscript Editing
All manuscripts (books, stories and articles) should have an editor before submission. Let me take a look at your next project and give you an estimate, a few suggestions or simply a pat on the back and a “you go,girl/guy,” depending on what it needs. PLFry620@yahoo.com Learn more about me and my services at http://www.patriciafry.com

Publishing Consultation
Most new authors are confused about the many publishing options out there. I may be able to help you with some of your decisions. If you are unsure about which direction to go with your project, start by reading my book, “Publish Your Book.” http://amzn.to/Tze53Z or http://www.matilijapress.com/PublishYourBook.html If you still have questions, email me at PLFry620@yahoo.com

Book Promotion
If you are facing the huge task of book promotion and you don’t know where to turn. Contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com. Remember, I teach an online workshop on book promotion. Also be sure to read my books, “Publish Your Book” and “Talk Up Your Book.” They are at Amazon.com http://amzn.to/ZMJndK and my website http://www.matilijapress.com

Freelance Article-Writing
Do you need help starting or maintaining your freelance article-writing career? Let me help. Sign up for my online article-writing course at http://www.matilijapress.com/course_magarticles.htm

Download my FREE ebook “50 Ways to Prepare for Publishing Success.” http://www.patriciafry.com

I look forward to hearing from you this year and helping you with your amazing project.

Posted in Announcements, Authorship | No Comments »

Books, Books and More Books

Saturday, December 1st, 2012

Talk Up Your Book has a new review at Amazon.com That’s 7 five-star reviews. Those who are reading it see the value in it—especially authors who have “been there/done that.”Check out the reviews and then order your copy from Amazon.com, http://www.matilijapress.com or any other online or downtown bookstore.

I’m gearing up to present a new blog series for you. I don’t have the bugs worked out yet, but I’m planning to provide a step-by-step guide to what you should—need to—do as soon as your book goes to the printer or publisher and how you must proceed once your book is a book. Many authors grasp their newly published book in their hands and say, “I did it!” High fives all around. Maybe they pour the bubbly and celebrate their accomplishment. And then they go to work on the sequel or turn away from writing/publishing altogether and put their energy into their job or take a vacation. Wrong! So wrong! That is if you hope to sell copies of your book.

Most authors don’t know quite what to do once their book is published. Some are well informed about book promotion and marketing, but they don’t know where to start and how to proceed. Many have never even considered life after a published book—they just figured things would fall into place or, as a few authors have actually told me, they expect the book to “sell itself.”

If you are writing a book or plan to write a book and you have every hope and desire of earning your investment back or of making some money—in other words, if you want people to read your book—this is an excellent opportunity for you to learn how to make that happen.

Let me suggest that you start your education by reading “Publish Your Book.” I wrote this book in order to educate and inform hopeful and struggling authors so they understand their options and their responsibilities as a published author and so they can learn how to more successfully navigate the highly competitive publishing industry. This book is considered a must-read for anyone who aspires to be a successful published author. If you are confused about your publishing options, this book offers an explanation of your options and a guide for helping you choose the one that is right for you and for your particularly project. And it is full of anecdotes and resources.

If you are well-informed about publishing, and you have a book or will soon, read “Promote Your Book.” This is your complete guide to what comes after publication. It is an overview of book promotion and a serious guide for anyone with a book to promote.

“Talk Up Your Book” teaches and encourages you to use your personality to promote your book through public appearances as well as everyday communication. You’ll learn more about speech-writing, rehearsing presentations, deliveries, how to handle hecklers, the question and answer period, how to sell more books at book festivals, signings and such, radio/TV interviews and more. This is the book that will help you to refine your communication and speaking skills and learn how to use them to your advantage in promoting your book.

All of these books are available at Amazon.com and most other online and downtown bookstores. They can also be ordered at http://www.matilijapress.com

If you are seeking an interesting book for someone special on your gift list, check out some of the other books by Patricia Fry at http://www.matilijapress.com

“Quest for Truth,” a metaphysical memoir—quite an adventure.
“Catscapades, True Cat Tales—Illustrated
“Creative Grandparenting Across the Miles,” how to bond with grandchildren who live far away.

Posted in Announcements, Publishing | No Comments »

CAPTCHA on duty!

Friday, November 30th, 2012

Okay, I’ve gone and done it. I’ve added CAPTCHA to this blog site.

Some of you know that I have periodically turned my “comments” option off because of the amount of SPAM I get. It drives me crazy and takes up a lot of time deleting the SPAM comments from my blog each day AND from my email box, too. I had 206 SPAM comments yesterday and I had deleted comments the day before. If I go away for a few days or try to avoid the computer for a day, they mount up to 300 or 400. This is ridiculous since these are all ads for Uggs, Coach and so forth (probably knock offs). I get ads that are nothing but a series of question marks. Some are 500 words long.

I imagine I have this problem because I have over 1,600 blog posts. That’s a lot of posts for these robots to cling onto and leave their mark.

So yesterday, I asked my web gal if she could add a CAPTCHA to my blog so that only legitimate comments can be left by humans. CAPTCHA stands for “Completely Automated Public Turning Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart.” Interesting, huh? It is a type of challenge-response test used in computing as an attempt to ensure that the response is generated by a human being.

I know, I know, some of you don’t like those little windows with squiggly letters and numbers you have to try to copy in order to leave your comment. They can be a bit of a pain. But here’s how I figure it, better you suffer a smidge of discomfort when you leave me one of your brilliant comments than I spend so much time and experience so much frustration trying to keep SPAM comments away so I can continue to provide useful information and resources for you.

If you want to leave a comment at my blog post—which I encourage you to do—and you don’t get the sequence of letters/numbers correct at first type, it’s okay. You’ll get another set of numbers/letters and can try again. Sometimes it’s tricky. But it isn’t rocket science. You can do it. Thanks for allowing me the luxury of waking up each morning to actual comments and not having to spend several frustrating minutes cleaning out the trash.

Have you noticed? Talk Up Your Book has 6 five-star reviews at Amazon.com now. How cool is that? But it isn’t ranking very high this week. That’s because so many of you don’t realize how important public speaking and communication skills are when it comes to promoting your book.

I plan to start a blog series for authors revealing exactly what you need to do right out of the chute once your book is published. I can tell you what many authors do. They go right back to writing OR they start catching up with the work and obligations they were avoiding and ignoring while they are intently working to produce that book. I have to tell you that’s the wrong approach. Tune in starting Monday.

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Author Activities and Author Interviews

Sunday, November 4th, 2012

I’ve been out of the office more than usual in these last four days. Thursday and Friday, I attended the Cat Writer’s Association Conference in Los Angeles and I’ve been hanging out at the Ventura County Writers Weekend since. I spoke on self-publishing in LA and yesterday, I talked to a group of about 30 on the topic of book promotion.

I have a booth at this event and will return this morning to talk to the Sunday attendees about SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) as well as my books and services.

It always fascinates me to attend an event with so many first-time authors—most of them in the beginning stages of writing their first book. Just when I think the tremendous surge in new authors is waning, I meet dozens and dozens more. And most of them are entering into the huge publishing arena completely clueless. Thankfully, they are out and about attending conferences and asking questions.

Some of them don’t like the answers, though. Publishing and book promotion are hard! And most authors are looking for a respite from the intense task of writing their books. There are a whole lot of people devoted to educating authors as to the challenges ahead. And there’s a lot of information for authors if only they would settle down and study it before rushing to publish.

Next week, as promised, I’m going to change the pace a bit and introduce five novelists. We’re going to find out how they got started writing fiction and how they approach the process of writing fiction. All but one of them are published; one has some bestselling novels. And you might find it interesting that an English teacher in eighth grade flunked her and told her, “Don’t even think about becoming a writer.”

Here are quotes from a couple of the novelists whose interviews I’ll be posting on this blog staring Monday.

“The test I use to determine if I have a viable scene? Either it moves my character toward his goal or throws a barrier in his way. If it does neither, I trash it or set it aside for revamping. Now I begin arranging the notes in what feels like a logical order, subject to future change, of course.”

“The fun of writing is the suspense of not knowing what’s going to happen next.”

“Naming characters is like naming children. It’s an awesome responsibility.”

Be sure to tune in all next week to learn how other novelists approach their projects. I’ll start with bestselling novelist, Margaret Brownley. Monday, November 5, 2012.

Posted in Announcements, Book Promotion, Writers' Conferences | No Comments »

The Novelist’s Approach to Writing Fiction

Thursday, November 1st, 2012

I have five novelists lined up to talk about their approach to writing fiction, why they write fiction—how they got started and so forth. Next week, November 5-9, I will post an interview with one author per day. I have three of the interviews in and boy are you in for a treat. You’re going to learn how novelists keep track of their characters—the techniques are creative and varied.

Ever wonder what inspires an author to write a novel and where his or her ideas come from? These five novelists will give us a peek into their inspiration and what keeps them going.
How do they name their characters? How do they get to know them? How is the story formed? You will be surprised by some of the methods these novelist use and where their ideas come from. One author tried to write a true story of something that happened in her life. No one was interested in publishing it, so she created a work of fiction and found a publisher.
Some authors design characters after real people.

How do you get the courage to write fiction and then present it to the public? One of my participating novelists wrote fiction rather secretly, entering a chapter here or a story there in contests. She kept winning contests and this gave her the courage and enticement to finally write seriously for publication.

I am new to writing fiction. I wrote my first novel over the summer. It is with a publisher as we speak and I am working on the second one. It wasn’t until after I had written my first few drafts that I began to recognize character traits of real people in some of my characters. I guess we can’t help but be influenced by what we know, have experienced and who we know in our stories. So, perhaps you can learn a lot about someone by reading their fiction.

If you write fiction or are thinking about starting, don’t miss my fascinating interviews with five novelists all next week. You’ll meet quite a variety of authors with a wide range of techniques. The interviews will run Monday through Friday, November 5-9, 2012. Stop in. You are bound to learn something that will inspire you to move forward with your fiction project, that will bolster your confidence in your approach to fiction, that will help you to improve your methods. And you’ll be learning about some wonderful fiction novels along the way.

Good news! My latest book now shows up on your screen at amazon.com when you type in the title—Talk Up Your Book. There is just one book ahead of it and it is called, “The Boy’s Body Book, Everything You Need to Know for Growing Up You.” Hmmm. And this book relates how? Oh well, at least you can easily find the book you are seeking when you are ready to order the book that could change your life as an author. Talk Up Your Book by Patricia Fry (that’s me) is your key to selling more copies of your book through your personality. And personality is the best way to sell books. Order your copy today. This is the official publication date. So Happy Birthday Talk Up Your Book! And many happy sales!

The book is also available at http://www.matilijapress.com

Looking for a good book editor for your manuscript or help with your book proposal? Learn more about Patricia Fry here: http://www.patriciafry.com

Don’t try to publish without hiring an editor to fine-tune your manuscript. Don’t rely on the self-publishing company’s editing package. Hire your own independent editor with experience.

Posted in Announcements, Authorship, Fiction | No Comments »

Coming Soon—Interviews With Novelists

Wednesday, October 31st, 2012

Today is Halloween. It is no trick. I have a treat for you.

Have you ever wondered how other novelists approach their projects? How do they keep track of each character—their descriptions and traits? Do they plot out the story first or let it unfold as they write? What are some of their writing habits?

During the week of November 5-9, I’ll post an interview from a different novelist each day. I’ll introduce novelist in many categories, each using varied styles and approaches. While some are just starting out, others have been writing novels for a while. A few of them have been writing nonfiction for years, and have only recently produced a novel. And, at least one of them has bestsellers under her belt.

Be sure to check in here Monday. Tell your friends to read this blog next week. If you write novels or are thinking about doing so, this is the place to be next week.

More good news. My latest book has moved up in the Amazon list. Now, instead of having to scroll down to number 65 on the list when you typed in the title, Talk Up Your Book, it is number eight. If you haven’t checked out my new must-have book at Amazon.com, do so today. Type in Talk Up Your Book and scroll down a tad. Click on the book cover to read the reviews and the book description.

If you have a book in the works or one that you are struggling to promote, order and read Talk Up Your Book. Along with 24 experts and professionals, I have compiled the resources, information and techniques to help you to sell more books through the most successful avenue of all—by using your personality. Learn how to line up speaking gigs where your particular audience gathers, find out how to plan a talk, how to rehearse it and present it. I also include trouble-shooting tips. Ever run into an attention hog or a heckler? We cover book signings with a new, more successful, twist; book festivals; podcasts/webinars and even casual conversation with prospective customers. Learn how to do necessary publicity for your presentations and so much more. Talk Up Your Book, How to Sell Your Book Through Public Speaking, Interviews, Signings, Festivals, Conferences and More. (Allworth Press, Nov. 1, 2012), $19.95. (Of course, Amazon is already discounting it.)

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This Blog Deemed One of the Best!

Friday, October 26th, 2012

Interesting things are happening here at the Matilija Press offices. For one thing, my new book, Talk Up Your Book, is now showcased at my website. At least that is what I’m told. I can’t see the changes, yet. I think I have to click the refresh button and I can’t remember where it is. Perhaps you can see the new book at http://www.matilijapress.com

Order your copy of Talk Up Your Book, How to Sell Your Book Through Public Speaking, Interviews, Signings, Festivals, Conferences and More. The thing is, personality sells books and this book is designed to help you more successfully use your personality as well as your public speaking and communication skills to engage your potential readers and sell more books. It helps you to locate speaking and communication opportunities and offers clear guidance in how to handle a variety of situations when giving live presentations, giving interviews, appearing on webinars and more.

You’ll also find a new free ebooklet at PatriciaFry.com. I am now offering 50 Ways to Prepare for Publishing Success. Download it here: http://www.patriciafry.com

If you want to read either of my other ebooklets, they are now $3.95 each at http://www.matilijapress.com

Look for: 50 Reasons Why You Should Write That Book and 50 Ways to Promote Your Ebook.

Here’s something else that has occurred this week. I received notice this morning that my blog has been accepted by the Best of the Web Blogs site. You’ll find it here:
http://blogs.botw.org/Arts/Writers_Resources

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New Book for Authors Because Personality Sells Books

Thursday, October 18th, 2012

I have some interesting blog posts lined up for you. But today, I decided to tell you more about my latest book:

Talk Up Your Book
How to Sell Your Book Through Public Speaking, Interviews, Signings, Festivals, Conferences and More.

The thing is that personality sells books. The most powerful tool in an author’s book promotion toolkit is his or her personality. More now than ever before, readers want a relationship with authors of the books they read. Customers will purchase books by someone they know or have met. With this in mind I produced this 300-page book designed to prepare you for those public speaking engagements and casual conversations that could lead to book sales.

As new authors, few of us are comfortable speaking in public. We don’t know how to pitch our books and ask for the sale. This book is designed to help you become a stronger presenter and a more effective communicator whether you are speaking to a large group or one-on-one, whether you are in a hall, at a book festival or on the radio.

Through this book, you’ll learn how to:

• Find and create speaking opportunities at appropriate venues.
• Land speaking gigs at conferences (before dozens or hundreds of your readers).
• Handle yourself more skillfully in front of an audience.
• Improve and protect your speaking voice.
• Improve your speaking and communication skills.
• Eliminate noodle knees.
• Organize and present workshops.
• Create better handouts and use them more effectively.
• Come up with speech topics for fiction and nonfiction books.
• Attract more people to your book signings and other events.
• Form a bond with audience members.
• Write pitch letters and press releases.
• Sell more books at book festivals and other venues.

As you may know, I (Patricia Fry) am the author of nearly forty published books. Most of them relate to publishing and book promotion. I’m also a public speaker, conference workshop leader, teacher and organization leader. I’ve earned my Advanced Silver level in Toastmasters. And I typically travel throughout the US several times each year in order to speak to my readers—mainly authors.

This book also includes comments and tips from experts and professionals such as, C. Hope Clark; Brian Jud; Sandra Beckwith; Peter Bowerman; literary publicist and media coach, Kim Dower and New York Times bestselling author, Margaret Brownley, are a few.

Order Talk Up Your Book today at Amazon.com. Use quotation marks around the title when you do a search for this book at the Amazon website or use my name along with the title.

“Talk Up Your Book” or Talk Up Your Book, Patricia Fry.

It’s $19.95—but Amazon has it discounted already.

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Need Readers for Novel

Sunday, October 7th, 2012

I’m working on my new free ebook—50 Ways to Prepare for Publishing Success. I’m also preparing to welcome my newest book into the fold—book number 36, Talk Up Your Book, How to Sell Your Book Through Public Speaking, Interviews, Signings, Festivals, Conferences and More. It will be available in paperback and digital—Kindle, Nook, etc.

The book is actually finished. I haven’t received copies yet and I see that the publisher (Allworth Press) hasn’t dotted all of its “i’s” in the process.

I wanted to share the cover with you, but I see that the new cover image is nowhere to be displayed. Amazon.com and the publishers’ website still have the original cover, which I vetoed. They designed a whole new cover for me and I really like it. As soon as they correct that situation, I’ll let you know so you can take a look at it.

I’m busy planning my promo and contacting my 24 contributors about getting a copy of the book to them. I’ve ordered two cases of books so far.

In the meantime, I am soliciting readers for the novel I wrote over the summer. Is there anyone who would like to read The Klepto Cat Mystery and give me feedback before I move forward with it? I know we all have different opinions about what we like to read, how we would write that story, etc. But I also believe that, as writers—especially of fiction—we can become blinded to the flaws in our stories or characters. Don’t you find, as a writer, that it is difficult to stand back from your work and view it objectively?

So—if you want to read this 115-page novel and give me some feedback, please let me know: PLFry620@yahoo.com.

Something I did has sure garnered a lot of attention. I believe it was my guest blog at BookBaby, but I’m not sure. After this month’s blog post appeared, I had over a hundred (to date) requests for my free ebook, 50 Ways to Promote Your Ebook. How cool is that?

Would love to hear about some of your writing/publishing accomplishments this summer or little surprises, invitations to speak, etc. PLFry620@yahoo.com

http://www.matilijapress.com
http://www.patriciafry.com

Posted in Announcements, Fiction | No Comments »

Information for Authors

Thursday, August 30th, 2012

Good morning. Did you miss me yesterday? I had jury duty. While I was off doing my civic duty (I didn’t get chosen to sit on a jury), a lot was going on in the Matilija Press and SPAWN office.
My guest blog was posted at Book Baby. Here it is:
http://blog.bookbaby.com/2012/08/personality-sells-ebooks

Also, Pubslush is featuring SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) at their site. Check it out here:
http://blog.pubslush.com/post/30452945180/workshop-wednesday-spawn

Here’s one of my thoughts as I work on my first ever novel. I can see that there will be a whole lot of back tracking to make sure I’ve been consistent and that everything works. For someone who has spent a good portion of her life writing nonfiction, it is an interesting process working with lies (fiction)—making things up. You know how someone who lies has trouble maintaining his/her story. It seems to be that way when writing fiction. You have to remember what you lied about so you don’t get crossed up. But you still have to make it believable. I think what I’ll struggle with most is devising this story so it isn’t predictable.

I’m really enjoying the process. I’ve always enjoyed my work. But I think I sit at my computer with a smile on my face more, lately.

I still have time to edit your manuscript. Bring it to me when you are ready.
http://www.patriciafry.com

I still have books to sell—many of them useful to your writing and publishing projects.
http://www.matilijapress.com

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