Everybody (especially writers) should have a strong grip on grammar. However, illiteracy is increasing more and more every day. A strong knowledge of grammar will contribute not only to someone’s personal life, but their professional life as well.
If you’re reading this you’re probably a writer or published author and already know the importance of having strong grammar skills. When was the last time you really thought about it though?
Let’s find out just how strong our knowledge of grammar is.
Click this link for a Grammar Test and feel free to post your scores!
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/grammar-test-1/
Lisa Mason, an Emmy award-winning host and writer, has published her new book with Infinity Publishing. As a host for the QVC Shopping network, Lisa is seen in nearly 90 million homes across the nation and has interviewed such celebrities as Barbara Walters and Hugh Downs.
Lisa began her career in Oklahoma in 1987. She received her BA from the University of Central Oklahoma before joining FOX as a news anchor. Two years later Lisa joined PBS where she anchored and hosted a weekly talk show. During her five years at PBS, Lisa also wrote and produced several award-winning documentaries- including Faces of Aids for which she received an Emmy.
Lisa was hired by QVC shopping network in 1995.
Lisa’s book, Big Life Lesson from the Still, Small Voice, chronicles the way God speaks to us. Combining present-day observations with stories of the past, her tale takes readers on an honest, sometimes heartbreaking, journey. The book was one of Infinity’s top sellers for February 2011.
“As to the success of the little book, I think a big part of it is social media,” Lisa said in an interview for the Author’s Advocate, Infinity’s monthly newsletter. “I posted my book on Facebook and on my website. Additionally, all of my friends have ‘tweeted’ about it and posted it on their websites as well. One can never, never underestimate the power of the new technologically-advanced age in which we live.”
Meet Lisa at her upcoming events in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Maryland!
For more information visit: www.lisamason.org
This past Saturday the Pearl S. Buck Writer’s Conference was held at
the House of Buck Writing Center. The event hosted three speakers as well Infinity authors!
The first speaker was Chris Stanley, a content specialist for the Journal Register Company. Chris, who was the first online editor for The Reporter in 2007, used his techno-savvy skills to explain the art of social networking. In his talk he explained how to set up and use social networking sites like Facebook and twitter.
The next speaker was Suzanne Zoglio,Ph.D., a psychologist, author, and motivational speaker. Suzanne took Chris’s speech to the next level by explaining how authors can utilize these social media networking sites to promote their books.
The third speaker, Arthur Gutch, CEO of Infinity Publishing spoke about how author originated publishing movement has taken off. Author originated publishing puts the author in control of their book and how they want to promote it.
Also in attendance were Infinity Publishing authors Bob O’Connor and Dave Wilson. Both authors spoke about the journey of publishing their books and how they go about promoting them.
Bob O’Connor, (The Life of Abraham Lincoln as President, The Perfect Steel Trap: Harper’s Ferry 1859), promotes his books at numerous events, supermarkets, and librairies.
“Anything you can do to promote your book- do it!” O’Connor says.
Dave Wilson, (Sirroco), was once traditionally published but he prefers the control he now has through author originated publishing.
“The response from the attendees was really positive,” says Gutch, who gave away a first editon of “The Good Earth” by Pearl Buck to end the conference.
Pearl S. Buck International is a nonprofit organization continuing the legacy and dreams of our founder, author, activist, and humanitarian, Pearl S. Buck. For more information, visit our website at www.pearlsbuck.org/event
Once again we have a variety of books achieving Top Selling status in March with the authors employing a variety of promotional efforts to generate interest in their book.
Eldon Irving - top selling March 2011 author of Personalities in the Pews (Stories of Inspiration and Humor) with illustrations by Gloria Irving.
How I Have Been Promoting My Book:
"Much of what I am doing I learned at the last Infinity's Gathering of Authors Conference in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
First, I developed a five page website (www.eldonirving.com) with a picture and a blurb about the book along with what others are saying about the book, my biography, a sample chapter, an announcement page of newspaper articles and book signings, and a contact page. On this website is a link that goes straight to my book page on the Infinity website, where people can order the book.
I have joined the Dallas Area Writers Group and have networked and made several contacts for speaking engagements. I also contact churches that are looking for speakers, and I make presentations and do book signings. I seek out and participate in book fairs.
I contacted the local Suburban newspaper, the Dallas Morning News, and a regional magazine, Southwest Now, and each wrote articles and took pictures. I take these articles and put them on my table at book fairs.
I sold copies of my book to the local Christian bookstore and the bookstore at University Christian Church.
I always carry business cards with a picture of the book and my website address. As I meet with people, I look for an opportunity in the conversation to say something like, "Let me share something with you. I just published a book. Take this card, go to the website and you can read a sample chapter."
Leonard Renier - top selling March 2011 author of Learning to Avoid Unintended Consequences.
"I have been in the financial services industry for many years. It is my belief that traditional financial thinking fails to achieve its desired goals. Much of this failure is centered on the lack of knowledge and understanding of how money works in people's lives. Knowledge is something you learn, wisdom is the ability to apply that knowledge to your everyday life. I believe with more knowledge and wisdom you will be able to make better life decisions.
The intent of all the books that I have written is that professionals in the financial services industry can use them as a tool to enhance their business.
Investment people, CPAs, accountants, financial companies, financial planners and the insurance industry find the books very effective in helping their clients. The books are designed to create questions in the reader's mind when it comes to traditional financial thinking. The professional then can have an informed conversation and answer the questions that the books have raised."
Marketing to a Message and Other People's People
"Much of the training that I do across the country to members of the financial services industry is centered on Marketing to a Message instead of marketing a company and their products. In marketing my books, the first layer of marketing would be demonstrating to the financial professional how the books would impact their careers and their relationship with their clients. The books are written for the public to increase their knowledge and wisdom. Professionals now buy the books to distribute to their clients and potential clients. This process is the second layer of marketing.
Using organizations and industries to market my books has been very productive. It has led to public speaking opportunities, writing magazine articles, and radio and TV interviews which are book marketing activities.
Infinity Publishing has worked with me and has provided the support to make our marketing a successful venture. Visit my website at: www.wealthandwisdominc.com."
Mark Hammerschmidt - top selling March 2011 author of, Notes on ICU Nursing: FAQ Files from the MICU: Second Edition
Visit Mark's book page at: http://www.buybooksontheweb.com/product.aspx?ISBN=0-7414-1705-7
The internet has created a virtual reality where things are not always as they appear to be. Infinity author Gordon DePottie oncedid an internet search by his pseudonym, Gordon Barr, to see what would pop up on the googled-web. Much to his surprise, he found his Infinity published novels, The Ghost Platoon and Death Lost Death Found, listed on several website virtual book-stores, such as: alibris.com, BUY.com, and TEXTBOOKX.com. What was most disturbing was that the virtual bookstores showed several copies of his books, both new and used, available for sale on the internet at deeply discounted prices. This was especially alarming to Gordon since his monthly royalty statements from Infinity Publishing didn’t reflect these wholesale orders for his books.
The reason for this accounting difference is because many online bookstore sites never actually purchase any of the books they show in their virtual inventory which shows how many copies of a book are available for their customers to purchase. What happens is when they receive an order for a book they have listed on their site, they place an order for a single copy of the book from Ingram, and then Lightning Source prints the book. It’s then shipped to the online bookstore, and they, in turn, send it to the customer. The customer pays the online bookstore, the bookstore pays Ingram, Ingram pays Lightning Source, Lightning Source pays Infinity Publishing for the right to produce the book, and then we pay the royalty on the selling price of the book to the author.
Many of the online bookstores only have a virtual inventory of books which greatly reduces their overhead. Their lack of a significant capital investment in an on-shelf inventory allows them to offer titles at dis-counted prices. The bulk of their listed inventory is virtually available from Ingram and produced by Lightning Source when a customer orders the book.
The used books they offer for sale aren’t really used; in fact, they’re often new books that have been discounted a dollar or so as another inducement to entice the customer to order – like free shipping on all orders over a certain dollar amount. This is a variation of what is known in retail marketing as a “loss-leader.”
These virtual inventories differ greatly from Infinity’s on-shelf inventory that we maintain for all of our titles using our unique Just-in-Time book publishing system to replenish the stock as needed. We literally have printed books on the shelves at our West Conshohocken facility ready to ship out within 24 to 48 hours from when an order is received. We regularly ship to the major online bookstores such as Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble’s bn.com.
We have no way of controlling when or if an author’s book is added to any of these online bookstores. Infinity authors are encouraged to direct customers to our official online bookstore at www.buybooksontheweb.com. Most orders are shipped directly to customers the same business day the order is received and authors earn the greatest percentage of royalties on these direct retail sales placed through our online bookstore.
by Catharine C. Brooks
After the initial selling of “Didn’t Know We Were Poor,” my second book, during Mathews Market days, I did the usual bookings for signings in a store in the town of Mathews and the bookstore in our adjoining county of Gloucester. Since I live in a semi-rural county, conditions are naturally different from one’s city. Though I was surprised the enthusiasm the newer young married couples showed in my books about life in Mathews County, Virginia. However, I don’t just book signings but also make “Meet the Author” 8 ½” by 11” posters with a picture of the book cover in center below the title, date and time below the picture and last the place.
After signings in the stores selling my books are completed or booked for a convenient date, I begin going to the local restaurants for lunch. I lay two books where everyone passing me has to see them. I always make sales of one to six books. Before I leave, I contact the owner or manager to see if he/she is interested in stocking the book or wants a copy to carry home. I have one restaurant in the town Mathews that stocks my books and does well with them.
In the outlying areas, I contact the postmasters to see if they’d like me to sign books once in a corner of the lobby of their post office for a free book. Then get press releases out in time that the public knows about it and my posters in the window. One postmaster does this event the last of November or the first part of December and invites the nursery nearby to display the various colors in poinsettias they have for sale, sisters who make glycerin based natural-scented soaps to display them and leave orders on a pad for one to write item, address and phone number and a few other people who do cottage work from their homes. I have been surprised at how far people will drive to buy this way rather than the usual bookstore.
I’ve only had one church group to sell my book to raise money for a special project. They purchase the books from me with a 20% discount with the understanding I’ll refund money for any unsold books in salable condition. However, a man from another county told me he sold most of his books through church fundraisers in different denominations in another part of Virginia.
All writers should join a local writer’s group if there is one and attend Open Mike sessions. I was sponsored by an acquaintance I hardly knew. However, I’ve found intermingling with others who write has enhanced my writing and given me opportunities to sell my books in regular meetings and at one or more Expo each fall. I have a page with bio and synopsis of my books on Chesapeake Bay Writers web site from which, I’ve received orders for books.