I attended a writer’s conference recently where almost every seminar had something to do with building your “brand,” building a “platform,” starting a blog, or the merits of social networking (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.). Now, these were not suggestions or recommendations. They were presented to attendees as the essential tools for every writer in the 21st [...]
A book reviewer needs to find a fine balance in approaching a new work of fiction, although the reviewer is not always going to deliver the product that each reader is seeking. A reviewer should, perform a service by answering the question, “Is this book worth my money or – even more importantly – my [...]
3.8.10: Dear Hoops
Greetings again book people! Can you believe they keep asking me to send in more and more advice to be posted here? I should start by thanking those of you who have written in to dearhoops@gmail.com with questions because you’re the ones who are making this happen! And without further [...]
My grandmother’s name is Imelda. She has been dead for many years now. But not a single day pass by that I do not think of her. I grew up with her. She was one of the first most influential women in my life.
As the perfect wife to my grandfather, Cornelio, who was a lawyer, [...]
Covered, indeed over abundantly, is the debate on the viability and growing popularity of eBooks. Stepping onto the creaking boards of the bandwagon, many large publishers now offer digital literature, whether through retailers or directly via their own websites… and it appears to be paying off.
On December 26, 2009, Amazon.com announced that, for the first [...]
One thing that happens when you are a book reviewer or editor is you get on a lot of email lists. Some voluntarily, some because you’ve reviewed a publicist’s book and they’ve added you to their media contact list.
I find that some companies use email well, others hardly at all, and some create a distaste [...]
As the landscape of publishing has evolved, so have the rules and realities of book publicity. Staying competitive in the literary marketplace in 2010 requires a fresh strategy that utilizes the latest technology and social networking tools. So as you roll out your publicity campaign, take a moment to understand what it means to be [...]
Things are absolutely slammed at work right now, and I’ll admit it: the very last thing I want to do when I get home is cook. If I’m home, that is. I’ve been on the road so much, I’m considering putting a mailbox on the side of my car and trying to convince [...]
In my lifetime, I’ve taken more than a few detours, tried my hand at a dozen or so careers, and moved around the country (and once, to another continent) more often than I care to admit. I get bored with the status quo and need to move on. And while each new adventure is exciting, [...]
Hello book people! You’re friendly neighborhood advice-giver is back again with a whole new set of problems and advice to give. No, no—don’t thank me, saving lives and relationships is just what I do! Enjoy!
Dear hoops,
I know its a fear of rejection but do you ever think there’s a time that’s “too [...]
It’s no secret that Steve Jobs loves Bob Dylan. He said so himself, publicly, a number of times. Also, this fact has been mentioned in some of his unauthorized biographies. And in some of his company’s events (that’s Apple, in case you don’t know), Bob Dylan songs are often piped in [...]
Americans seem to feel renewed interest in literature in the presence of want. Libraries across the nation are reporting a 5%-10% rise in individual attendance. Apparently, folks are not only visiting libraries for the Internet connections, DVD, and periodicals; several city library systems are reporting a marked incline in books being checked out and new [...]
2.24.10: Wait a minute…I have to write more!
It’s a bit of an understatement to say that the publishing world has undergone a recent change. It’s probably more accurate to say that the industry has been turned almost completely upside-down these past five years. The rise of electronic readers and Amazon’s eminence, the [...]
2.23.10 – Living a Life That Matters
I can’t seem to find a way in to the topic for today. I keep writing introductory sentences, let them linger on the computer screen for a few minutes, then highlight them in blue and hit delete. Now, I’m not the type of person to run away from a [...]
2.22.10: I want to be THAT mom
I have a secret: deep down, I want to be THAT mom. I don’t have kids, and I’m not even sure I want to have kids, but the thought still crosses my mind. I have dreams about baking perfect cupcakes for a class full [...]
