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Monthly Archives: November 2013
“Red Clay and Roses”: Paperback Progress
Got my latest proof in the mail from CreateSpace.
I think the brighter book cover image looks much better.
I am going ahead and accepting this proof and proceeding with the process. I have been over every word. I am not totally 100% satisfied with it.
- There is a place in the book, secondary to a revision, where the pronoun “he” was used, instead of the proper noun “Nathan”.
- There is a place where quotation marks were used around an enclosed, handwritten letter erroneously.
- The preposition “to” is missing from a sentence.
- My chapters were long and I opted to put the chapter titles in the header on the left side. I know it isn’t customary, but I thought it best, now I am not so sure.
None of the issues are the fault of anyone but me. I would submit another manuscript and make the changes, but each time I have done that in the past, CreateSpace has screwed up something else, and I don’t want to risk it. It takes too many days/weeks back and forth to get any changes accomplished. I do understand now why it takes so long for traditional publishers to get anything accomplished. It seems the more steps and people involved in the process; the more likely it is to be a lengthier process.
Disordered Personality Blog Picks a New Theme: Branding be Damned
My husband calls me his, “Multi-faceted, sparkling diamond.”
He’s nice that way. What he really means to say is, “You’re scattered all over the map, but I think you’re beautiful, and I love you anyway.”
He would also say, “You’re putting words in my mouth.” And I am. I like to think I am loved, and I like to think I am beautiful, in my own way, and I am certain that I am, but I am also definitely scattered all over the map. Continue reading Disordered Personality Blog Picks a New Theme: Branding be Damned
Thankful For Passing Traditions
This is the first time, since I can’t remember when, that I have not had the Thanksgiving Holiday dinner at my home for family and friends. The kids came home when they could, and home was where mama was. Sometimes, the kids couldn’t come, or one or two would be missing, I still made the Holiday dinner at my house. Even when I ate alone, I made the traditional dinner. As they matured, especially my daughter, they began to contribute to the meal. Once, my daughter made the entire dinner, but brought it to my home.
Tomorrow we are doing something different. My daughter is making and serving dinner at her house. That’s new. At first, I was a bit unsure. It was like a part of me was missing. Tonight, as I relax and think about tomorrow, I find that nothing is missing. This is something that I could easily get comfortable with. There has been no busy preparation on my part. I’ll go over tomorrow at dinnertime and I’ll come home whenever. My husband will be out of town with his son, so I’ll bring them a plate. No stress.
Gratitude is something that I feel every morning when I wake up. I usually go out on the porch to have my coffee and meditate over breakfast. I thank God every day for all the many blessings that we have received. Tonight, I am thankful for passing on traditions, and creating new ones. I am thankful I have a daughter and I am thankful that she has a family. I am thankful to be a part of her family.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
For my friends who don’t celebrate,
Have a Happy Day!
The Seed – Promotional Video!!!
Promotional video from lulu.com for Helen Valentina’s “The Seed”.
Tell us what you think. She would like to know.
Hi Everyone
Lulu.com have finished the youtube/ promotional video for The Seed– so to celebrate I’m posting it for your viewing pleasure!
This is now on Youtube, and will be soon emailed out to the lulu.com database (that will be the interesting stage of the process to see if it has an impact on sales).
But in the meantime, hope you enjoy, and please feel free to reblog, I’d definitely appreciate the support!
Also, let me know what you think of the video. 🙂
Cheers
Helen V
Cover Reveal: Allure of the Gypsies by Charles Yallowitz
Legends of Windemere:
Allure of the Gypsies
The epic adventures of Luke Callindor and Nyx continue after their journey down the L’Dandrin River in Legends of Windemere: Prodigy of Rainbow Tower.
Reeling from his failures in their previous adventure, Luke leads his surviving friends to his hometown. With his mind frayed and his confidence fractured, Luke must face the family and fiancée he left behind. It is a brief homecoming when the vampire Kalam attacks the village, forcing Luke and Nyx to break into his lair for the key to resurrecting a fallen warrior. It is a quest that will force both young heroes to reach new heights of strength and power that they never knew they had.
Can Luke and Nyx escape the lair of Kalam? And, what role will the orphaned gypsy Sari play in their looming destiny?
Release Date- December 1st, 2013
Previous Books-
Cover Artist Info-
Author Bio-
Charles Yallowitz was born and raised on Long Island, NY, but he has spent most of his life wandering his own imagination in a blissful haze. Occasionally, he would return from this world for the necessities such as food, showers, and Saturday morning cartoons. One day he returned from his imagination and decided he would share his stories with the world. After his wife decided that she was tired of hearing the same stories repeatedly, she convinced him that it would make more sense to follow his dream of being a fantasy author. So, locked within the house under orders to shut up and get to work, Charles brings you Legends of Windemere. He looks forward to sharing all of his stories with you and his wife is happy he finally has someone else to play with.
Author Website-
Sunday Synopsis
I have been in a funk all week. Really, it has been about a month and while I know the two primary causes for most of this lowness in my life, I haven’t been able to resolve them to my satisfaction, so I remain in a funk.
This week, I am going into a saltwater sensory deprivation chamber. Not because of the funk…with that, I am sort of already there. There is a company called Total Zen Float here in Orlando. From what I have learned, “floating” is the “in” thing. Now, I know what’s “in” is “out”, so they say, but this is new to me, so it’s “in”. I know that sensory deprivation doesn’t sound exciting, but it is relaxing and as busy as I have been this past month (mostly spinning my wheels, I’ll add) I need relaxing. My daughter wanted to give me an interesting and different birthday present so she is giving me hours “floating”. It’s right up there with Migun bed, hot yoga, and salt cave. Not as mundane as massage, pedicure and manicure. So I have this new experience to look forward to enjoying.
I have always been a, “Try anything once,” thrill seeker…I have just gotten too old for some of the more actively exciting stuff. I used to float on my back and gaze at the stars for hours in the pool at Cypress Cove. The pool guy would come by and check on me every thirty minutes, or so, just to make sure I was okay because I floated still (and nude) on my back for hours staring at the stars, and contemplating the greater aspects of the universe. Here, there are not even any stars:
I am no longer doing Sunday Summations, because it was becoming a chore and I hate chores. Life is too short. I want it all to be fun. That’s why I retired early, to have fun while I still could.
I love writing, and I have been doing a lot of writing but not on my blog or the CSB. Also, I have put my WIP on hold. I am not abandoning it. I have this story that has been in my head a very long many years. I want to execute it properly, but first, I need to pound it out…just rough out the story and stop trying to make it fit into a box. That’s the only way I can explain it. I’ll do it at my own pace, even if it takes me years. No pressure.
I hope you had a terrific weekend and your work week is even finer if you work, and is as productive or nonproductive as you desire if you don’t.
Turning Pro: Taking Indie Authorship to the Next Level
Do you have/know children who could benefit from writing and/or math workbooks? Chris McMullen and his colleagues have advanced review copies for FREE coming in December and January.
You would like to start out looking like a pro.
Many wise authors strive for this:
- Searching for similar titles to see what may be highly marketable.
- Asking experienced authors, editors, publicists, and small publishers for advice.
- Doing research on writing, formatting, publishing, and marketing.
- Trying to build a following before publishing.
- Joining a writing group to improve as a writer.
- Receiving ample feedback from the target audience.
- Hiring a cover designer and editor.
- Building buzz prior to a book’s release.
- Writing a press release and distributing it to the media.
These are great things to do, and they can help immensely.
Yet, no matter how hard you try to nail your first book, you always improve and grow as an author:
- After establishing yourself as an author, you have a fan base to work with and toward.
- You find yourself reading a book, wondering why you didn’t think of…
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Legends of Windemere Goodreads Giveaway!
Three paperback fantasy series Legend’s of Windemere Giveaway on Goodreads! Yes! All three in one giveaway, by Charles Yallowitz
To celebrate the December 1st debut of Legends of Windemere: Allure of the Gypsies, I’m running a Goodreads Giveaway for the USA Territory!
(I’d do more, but foreign mail is not in my current price range.)
One winner will get the following paperbacks:
- Legends of Windemere: Beginning of a Hero
- Legends of Windemere: Prodigy of Rainbow Tower
- Legends of Windemere: Allure of the Gypsies
That’s 3 paperbacks in one Giveaway! Good luck to everyone who enters!
A Special Sales Event for Book Lovers on December 10
Time to shop for gifts. Time to buy more books!
S.K. Nicholls 