Out of the Shadows and Into the Light: A Book of Shadows

Rituals, spells and accurate information about Wiccan. It contains rituals for: prosperity, love, protection and healing. All the rituals are original. Written by a Wiccan Priestess with over 20 years experience, this ebook has valuable for the novice and well as the experience energy worker.

Direct Marketing to Independent Bookstores

Direct Marketing to Independent Bookstores
By
Theresa Chaze

Active book promotion and marketing is important to every book's success, especially when it comes to the beginning writer. Contacting independent bookstores is a direct marketing method that is not only cost effective but a successful way for the authors to bring their work to the attention of buyers. With the technological advancements of email, fax and unlimited long distance, it is easier and cheaper than ever before for authors to promote their work to brick and mortar stores.

In the past, authors used direct mailings and industry advertisements to gain the attention of independent bookstore owners. It was a costly and slow process. Not only was it expensive to print full color flyers, but the increasing postage rates made snail mail direct marketing cost prohibitive. Placing ad in trade magazines is effective only if the ad is well placed and designed. Yet even then, the message would only reach those stores that subscribed to the magazine or service.

The internet has opened the door to direct marketing to bookstores by making it cheaper, easier and quicker. Most stores have websites, which contain their contact information as well as accurate descriptions of the books they sell. It is an easy way for the author to reach their target audience by approaching only the stores who carry their genre. By searching the net, an author can find stores by state or specialty. However, compiling list of bookstores can be very time consuming and frustrating. There is no master site that lists bookstores. Instead, the search must be done by location or genre.

If an author is wise, she or he will create a list of the bookstores as they are contacted, not only to check back with them but for future use. However, there are short cuts that an author can take. There are sites that do sell lists of bookstores; however, they are very expensive and have been assembled by non writers. Valkyrie Publishing is offering the list it uses to promote their books. This list has contact information for over 2000 independent bookstores. Most of them have not only the contact information, but also details about the store itself. Below are examples of what the list contains.

Auburn University Bookstore
1360 Haley Center, Auburn, AL 36849
Phone: (334)844-1365
Fax: (334)844-1697
Type of Books Sold: Primarily New
Description: Auburn University Bookstore

Alabama Booksmith
2626 19th Place South, Birmingham, AL 35209
Phone: (205)870-4242
Fax: (205)870-4302
Type of Books Sold: Primarily New

Malcolm's Reading Room
404 17th Street, Birmingham, AL 35203
Phone: (205)563-4846
Fax: (205)802-2240

Page & Palette Inc.
32 South Section Street, Fairhope, AL 36532
Phone: (251)928-5295
Fax: (251)928-2550
Type of Books Sold: Primarily New
Description: For over 30 years we have been dedicated to enhancing the quality of life on the Eastern Shore.

Little Professor Book Center
2717 18th Street South, Homewood, AL 35209
Phone: (205)870-7461
Fax: (205)879-7563
Type of Books Sold: Primarily New
Accepts Book Sense Gift Cards
Description: Besides having an impressive assortment of books, we also have a wonderfully delicious cafe and one of the largest selections of magazines in Birmingham!

The stores are organized by state with additional listings for new age and fantasy stores. The list costs $20.00 payable through paypal only. It is found at www.theresachaze.com.

Warm The Globe Through Friendship

Warm The Globe Through Friendship


Here's a new concept, started by fellow blogger, Vic Grace, from British Columbia.

As we are all aware, blogging does give us the opportunity to reach out and yes, "touch someone" by our words, pictures, links in our blogs and by our comments to fellow bloggers as well.

Think about this - in a world today that is too often filled with news of wars all over the world, fears about terrorism, following newspaper and tv news reports about crime, gangs, and you name it of all the bad things we hear about everyday, wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if we, each of us blogging in our own little space, could actually spread the word through friendship and help, through that little bit of effort, to bring people together, united in a common goal of international friendship?

If you like this concept - and who wouldn't, really - then add this badge to your sidebar, along with the link Vic has provided there. Then copy the text below and put this into a post on your blog. Follow that by tagging other bloggers to start sending this message around the world- hopefully, in less than 80 days too!

A good way for a blog to get established is to have backlinks.

All you have to do is copy this post with the list of links below and add your link at the end.

As others do the same we get the word out about a lot of great blogs. Eventually we may circumnavigate the globe.

That’s it, then just sit back, and watch the links grow, over time.


That's it folks! That's all you have to do to take part in the friendliest effort yet in the blogosphere!

Here now are the bloggers I am tagging to help get this movement on its way.

Vic Grace at "Cariboo Ponderer"
Me, my life, my garden
Author blog
A little piece of me
The BiPolar Diaries
Turning the Pages of Life
Debo Blue at "A Blue State of Mind"
Sasha at "A Day in the Life of Sasha Stinerova"
Maddie at "Whitterer on Autism"
Singing Owl at "Pastorette Ponderings"
Barb at "Skittles Place"
Mau at "It's About Time"
Jen at "Creatif"
The Meloncutter at "Meloncutter' s Musings"
Sognatrice in Calabria, Italy at "Bleeding Espresso"
Keith at "10 Years Running Blind"
Dave at "Rather Than Working"
Linda at "Are We There Yet?"
Dorothy at "Overthehill Boomer Chick"
Patois at "Whee! All The Way Home"
Stine at "Mother's Home"
Smalltown RN at "A Place I Call Home"
Shelby at "Time With Shelby"
Any Apples
BoggyWoggy's Cache
Erika Jean
My Dogs Keep Me Sane
Rambling Shan
Random Autumness
The Turtle Parade
Dottie's Place

Michael C at The Wonderful World of Nothing Worthwhile

OzLady’s Ramblings

Tinkerbell -

Chicken's Life-

Echos of Grace

Tales From a Former Michigander

KSHIPPYCHIC
Meeyauw
A Purple Shade of Black

Dare to Get Organized

"And Miles to go Before We Sleep
Beth & Cory's Mom

The Middling Monettes
Twist & Skewer

A Day In The Life of Elle

Tea Time Ramblings

Bubba’s Sis

Akelamalu
Buzzqueen
Josie
Leslie

Jeni at "Down River Drivel"
Theresa Chaze http://theresachaze.blogspot.com/
Now, Everyone, go forth and spread the word!


warm the globe thru friendship

Telecommuting Writing Jobs:

Telecommuting Writing Jobs:

Freelance Writer (rate negotiable)
http://telecommuting-writing-jobs.com/freelancewriter-emergingmarkets.html

Freelance Copywriter (rate not disclosed)
http://telecommuting-writing-jobs.com/freelancecopywriter-xacti.html

Experienced Article Writer NEEDED Using Content Composer ($10 Per
Article)
http://telecommuting-writing-jobs.com/jobroll/articlewritercc.html

Weight Training Writer (rate not disclosed)
http://telecommuting-writing-jobs.com/jobroll/wtwriter.html

Know about technology? Write about technology. (rate not disclosed)
http://telecommuting-writing-jobs.com/jobroll/techwriter.html

Read Books & Write Reviews ($5-$50)
http://telecommuting-writing-jobs.com/jobroll/bookreviews.html

Web content copy writer (rate not disclosed)
http://telecommuting-writing-jobs.com/jobroll/webcontentcopy.html

Blog writer (rate negotiable)
http://telecommuting-writing-jobs.com/jobroll/blogwriterla.html

Write My Bio Please! ($50)
http://telecommuting-writing-jobs.com/jobroll/writebio.html

Manuscript editor needed ($600 flat fee)
http://telecommuting-writing-jobs.com/jobroll/editmanuscript.html

Contributers needed (music writers) (rate not disclosed)
http://telecommuting-writing-jobs.com/jobroll/musicwriters.html

Project Assistant ($15 - 20 per hour)
http://telecommuting-writing-jobs.com/jobroll/projectassistant.html

I Need My Wedding Website Edit Spelling writing & Ideas and articles
(rate negotiable)
http://telecommuting-writing-jobs.com/jobroll/editwedsite.html

Web site copywriters needed (rate not disclosed)
http://telecommuting-writing-jobs.com/jobroll/websitecopywriters.html

Freelance ad copywriters needed (rate not disclosed)
http://telecommuting-writing-jobs.com/jobroll/adcopywriters.html

Need articles for my site. Ready to pay! (rate negotiable)
http://telecommuting-writing-jobs.com/jobroll/articles913.html

Need writer for website text (rate negotiable)
http://telecommuting-writing-jobs.com/jobroll/websitetext.html

For previously posted jobs, visit us online at:
http://dailyjoblist.telecommuting-writing-jobs.com

Valkyrie Publishing--a new e-publishing house

Valkyrie Publishing--a new e-publishing house
By
Theresa Chaze
Valkyrie Publishing provides a formatting conversion service, which translates word documents into PDF files and creates unique graphis fro those who are time and technically challenged. Not only for ebooks, PDF files can be usesful for newletters, ezines, or any document that will be needed to be easily opened by many computers.


An advantage electronic publishing has over print is that graphic can be added through out the text without much additional cost. A nearly unlimited amount of elaborate graphics can be added giving each book a unique visual experience. No longer are authors limited to what can be printed on the page. Instead, they are only restrainted by the length and depth of their imagination.


As many have already realized using the free online service to convert their document into a PDF file doesn't always happen easily. Sometimes the formatting process moves paragraphs and chapters so they no longer properly aligned on the page. Valkyrie Publishing checks the placement before returning it to the author for formatting errors. In addition, the documents are ad free. Since the author is hiring a service, all rights are retained by the author. This service will provide a way for more authors to publish their work while maintaining total control over the distribution and sales.


Graphics will be composed using Photoshop by using of both royalty free components as well as original art. The image will be returned in a jpeg format in the best quality possible. From ebook covers to ezines, Valkyrie Publishing will provide unique art that will make your project look professional. I also have the capability of adding your graphics as is or I could modify them to your specifications

There are also other uses for PDF files. Newsletters and ezines are becoming more technically advanced as they become more popular. By converting to a PDF file, the publisher has the option of either sending the file out in the body of an email or uploading the file onto their server and sending out the address. By doing the later, it increases readership possibilities as it makes the smaller email and removes the need for an attachment. It's a simple and easy way of distributing newsletters and press releases. However, any documents that are going to shared or read on many different computers will benefit from being converted. Employers are now accepting job applications online and require the resumes to be submitted in as a PDF file. On my site, instead of having pages and pages of pictures of my kids and gardens, I created PDF files of each category and posted the link on my site. It makes the site load faster and gives a more quality look to the presentation.

The costs:

Small projects: 1-10 pages $5.00

Ebooks: The first 100 pages 40.00 and 10.00 for every 50 additional pages.

newsletter and ezines under 100 pages: flat rate of $25.00 each issue.

Graphics: It will depend on how complex the image.


Referral fee: I will pay ten percent for all referrals once payment has been received.

Storm
by
Joyce Anthony


What do a prostitute, an abused child, a disillusioned minister, a Vietnam Vet and a homosexual have in common? These and many others find their lives changed when they meet Storm and his companion, an amethyst-eyed dog named Maggie.

As you follow Storm on his journey to discover his true identity, you will meet many of society’s forgotten people. You will laugh, cry and get angry—whatever the emotion, you will feel deeply.

When Storm realizes who he is and why he is here, the world is completely changed and not one soul remains untouched. Upon closing the covers of this book, you will see the world around you in a far different light and find yourself wondering—is it really fiction?


Author Bio

Joyce Anthony shares her PA home with her teenaged son and mini-zoo. She has written numerous articles and has published one short story. She is one of the founders of WINGS, an advocacy group. When not writing, Joyce spends time homeschooling her son and working on her photography. She is currently working on her next book, Spirit of the Stallion. A portion of all royalties from this book will be donated to StopItNow.

Copyright--A Writers Self Defense
By
Theresa Chaze

Some where along the way someone started the rumor that by simply writing a piece a writer automatically has the copyright--that US Copyrights are unnecessary to protect your work. I have also heard that the process is very complicated. All three are untrue. Mailing a copy to yourself and leaving it unopened to keep the postal stamp valid is call the poor man's copyright. It is a good temporary way of protecting your work, however it is only temporary. Accidents do happen and once the seal is broken, the protection has been invalidated. The only truly safe way to legal protect your work is to get a US copyright.
First, what is a copyright? It is legal proof of when and who created an original work. Whether it literary, dramatic, musical or artistic it falls under copyright protection. Owning the copyright means you have the legal right of deciding who and when the work may be distributed, copied, or performed publicly. This doesn’t mean if you are singing to the radio or if you loan your copy of a book to someone that you will be sued. However, if you start making copies of a Harry Potter books and selling them as your own, legal representatives of JR Rowlings who will take great issue with you. Any time you represent another’s efforts as your own you are stealing from them and cheating yourself. Everyone has a creative voice--something inside them that only they can share--if you usurp someone else’s creativity, you deny yourself and cheat the world of your special perspective.
However, there are ways to refer to another’s work without violating the copyright. Always make sure you give full credit to the creator of the work. It’s usually best to keep it enclosed within quotes or only used as a reference. But footnotes are also acceptable as long as they are clearly marked and easily accessible. In one article, I compared the lyrics of a song to the spiritual journey of a generation. I immediately opened the piece by giving credit to the author. Not only did it protect me, but it gave the reader a reference point. Quotes need the proper punctuation as well as the source information. To do other would only reflect badly on you.
I don't know who started it and really don't care. The fact is that writing a piece guarantees you nothing. It can be fun. It can be healing. It can be exciting. However, putting ink to paper doesn’t give you any legal standing. Even if your work is read by others before it is sent out, doesn’t mean it will not be challenged. On the opposite site, it doesn’t mean it will be either. What it does mean is that you aren’t protected. As of September 2006, it cost 45.00 to register a literary piece. If you are the sole author and the piece hasn't been previously copyrighted you can use Short Form TX. It is a single sheet that will probably take you longer to print up than to fill out. If there are multiple authors or other copyrights involved you will need to use Form TX. It is a longer form, but just as simple to fill out. The US Copyright site address is http://www.copyright.gov/
For smaller pieces, such as short stories or articles, I don’t individually copyright; instead, I tack them on to larger pieces and make a notation on the application. However, when you get over ten thousands words you are approaching a novella and that can be worth it to spend the money for an official copyright. Most smaller pieces are written to be published either online or in a magazine format. Once they are published, you have some protection. The publication date is evidence of your claim of ownership, but it is not proof. However, most smaller works are safe. The cost to fight for them is usually greater than they are worth. In addition, once you have a track record, your style will help protect you from someone else claiming your work. Everyone has their own voice, which is very difficult to imitate. Word usage and sentence structure are individual; it what makes every writer unique.
Before sending out any larger than a novella, I send out the paperwork and wait two weeks. Once the paper work reaches the Copyright offices, it is valid; however, receiving the paperwork can take up to four months. If you send it certified return receipt, the returned postcard can temporarily valid your claim of copyright. In this way, I can start approaching publishers, agents or movie producers and honestly say I have a copyright on the piece. In another place, I will describe the dark side of publishing; not everyone in the business is ethical or honest. By protecting my work ahead of time, I insure it will be protected from the beginning. In addition, there are some places that will not even look at work without proof of copyright. People in the film industry have been burned so many times that it is necessary to either have a US Copyright or to have the work registered with the Writers Guild.
Another way to protect your work is to register it with the Writers Guild. There are offices on both the east and west coasts of the United States. As far as I know, the Guild registration only offers protection in the USA. However, the length of the protection is shorter than a US Copyright. The Guild registration is valid for five years and can be renewed for an additional fee. As of September 2006, the fee is 20.00 for non-members and 10.00 for members. They also offer the option of filing online, which is quicker than a US Copyright and offers just as much protection. Their site address is http://www.wga.org.
There are some writers who register their work with both. With screenplays and stage plays that is a good idea. The Guild is part of the industries, which makes your work more accessible. The US Copyright gives it additional protection for a longer span of time. Either path is acceptable. But to send out a large project, without protection, is just playing Russian Roulette with you hard work.