Sandra Beckwith puts out a quality newsletter twice per month to help writers promote their books, appropriately titled Build Book Buzz. She also provides potential ideas for books.
A former publicist, Sandra knows the ins and outs of the publishing industry.
The current newsletter features NYT bestselling author John Scalzi, who is also gearing up to build his Big Idea Authors website - opening on my birthday, April 20th. Take a look to see if you're interested in being interviewed or showcased.
"Build Book Buzz is a free e-newsletter published monthly by
Beckwith Communications, www.buildbookbuzz.com. Please forward
this newsletter to anyone. To subscribe, visit
www.buildbookbuzz.com. We do not share our mailing list with any
individual or organization for any reason."
I wouldn't recommend any site that sells, or rents, or distributes, or shares, their mailing list. That's a spammer's network. I won't promote spamming. Ever. (It's akin to my loyalty to Ann Landers - who hated having drop-in company as much as I did - and do.)
Sandra has an interesting survey going on, but it closes on March 1st. If you'd like to take part, time is running out.
Check it out and then drop me an email at linda at lindajhutchinson dot com to let me know what you think. Or leave a comment here.
Are you interested in reading about other sites on my recommended list? Let me know what you're looking for and I'll find it.
February 26, 2009
February 24, 2009
Waiting, waiting, panic?
I'm under contract to produce an article about heavy equipment/major construction every 4th Friday of the year. That's 13 articles per year for one publication. During most of the year, finding interesting projects in the state of Ohio is a snap. I get all the updates from all 12 ODOT districts. I've also gotten to know the media relations folks at most of the major road and bridge-building construction companies.
However... December, January, and February are very tough months. The weather is so bad that not much is going on major-project wise. Except for hubby's projects - which don't fit this magazine's criteria.
Dear Husband just completed a drug store that normally takes 8 months. He did it in 4 1/2 months - during the harshest months of the year.
How? We're from the rainy side of Washington state. He knows how to pour concrete in the rain and snow and freezing temperatures. He knows how to get roofs on in the rain and snow. He knows how to get asphalt laid in miserable weather. The only thing that's slowed him down was getting the 2-inch thick layer of ice to melt so he could have the parking lot striped for parking stalls.
If only I could cover his project I wouldn't be in a panic about Friday's article. I still don't have a subject project. Still waiting for emails to come in from the wonderful people in the public information offices at ODOT. They truly are quite wonderful to work with. And they always come through.
Okay then. Since I'm waiting for emails, I think I'll head back to my little "art corner" to see if I can complete an oil painting that was started yesterday. To hear more about yesterday's fiasco, check out Living With Fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis.
However... December, January, and February are very tough months. The weather is so bad that not much is going on major-project wise. Except for hubby's projects - which don't fit this magazine's criteria.
Dear Husband just completed a drug store that normally takes 8 months. He did it in 4 1/2 months - during the harshest months of the year.
How? We're from the rainy side of Washington state. He knows how to pour concrete in the rain and snow and freezing temperatures. He knows how to get roofs on in the rain and snow. He knows how to get asphalt laid in miserable weather. The only thing that's slowed him down was getting the 2-inch thick layer of ice to melt so he could have the parking lot striped for parking stalls.
If only I could cover his project I wouldn't be in a panic about Friday's article. I still don't have a subject project. Still waiting for emails to come in from the wonderful people in the public information offices at ODOT. They truly are quite wonderful to work with. And they always come through.
Okay then. Since I'm waiting for emails, I think I'll head back to my little "art corner" to see if I can complete an oil painting that was started yesterday. To hear more about yesterday's fiasco, check out Living With Fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis.
February 20, 2009
What have we learned in 2,063 years?
So what have we learned in 2,063 years ?
"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance."
- Cicero - 55 BC
Apparently, not much...
"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance."
- Cicero - 55 BC
Apparently, not much...
February 18, 2009
I've been AWOL
I've been AWOL from blogging and social media for the past week and a half while I catch up on housework, update my website and store, and gear up for next week's writing deadlines.
My paints and canvasses are spread out all over the "art corner" in the guest room - ready for me to get busy getting ready for the Obetz Zucchini Festival in August. I'm hoping to have 50 oil paintings and other artwork available in my booth. We'll see how that goes... Nope. It's on my goal list, so it will happen.
Today is my 2 month post-surgery checkup. If my Very Cool Dude neurosurgeon doesn't reinstate my driving privileges, he will be reduced to just "neurosurgeon". UGH! I so badly want to go somewhere by myself. Almost anywhere. Note that I said "almost". Hubby and son have been wonderful about getting me out of the house, but...
I've dropped 11 pounds since surgery. Not so easy to do while in a neck brace 24/7, but it's getting done. Keeping a food/calorie/fat diary is the ticket for me. Once it's in black and white I can't lie to myself about how much I ingest. It's so much easier these days, now that foods are pre-packaged and calorically categorized for us. Yep. Those preservatives and fat substitutes are just yummy. Great for our innards, too. Uh-huh.
I ache to make bread from honest-to-goodness quality, natural, whole, substances. Problem is, I don't know how to make less than 5 loaves at a time. I use molasses to help cut the fat, but it adds calories. The kneading part might be a bit tricky too.
Maybe I'll wait a couple of weeks before testing those new parts in my neck.
My paints and canvasses are spread out all over the "art corner" in the guest room - ready for me to get busy getting ready for the Obetz Zucchini Festival in August. I'm hoping to have 50 oil paintings and other artwork available in my booth. We'll see how that goes... Nope. It's on my goal list, so it will happen.
Today is my 2 month post-surgery checkup. If my Very Cool Dude neurosurgeon doesn't reinstate my driving privileges, he will be reduced to just "neurosurgeon". UGH! I so badly want to go somewhere by myself. Almost anywhere. Note that I said "almost". Hubby and son have been wonderful about getting me out of the house, but...
I've dropped 11 pounds since surgery. Not so easy to do while in a neck brace 24/7, but it's getting done. Keeping a food/calorie/fat diary is the ticket for me. Once it's in black and white I can't lie to myself about how much I ingest. It's so much easier these days, now that foods are pre-packaged and calorically categorized for us. Yep. Those preservatives and fat substitutes are just yummy. Great for our innards, too. Uh-huh.
I ache to make bread from honest-to-goodness quality, natural, whole, substances. Problem is, I don't know how to make less than 5 loaves at a time. I use molasses to help cut the fat, but it adds calories. The kneading part might be a bit tricky too.
Maybe I'll wait a couple of weeks before testing those new parts in my neck.
February 09, 2009
Almost Great-Grandparents...
Our oldest granddaughter has posted a new entry at MySpace. She, hubby Brad (and her dad), are at the hospital in Seattle awaiting the birth of their first baby - SIL's first grandchild, our first great-grandchild. Whew! I'm here in Ohio meditating, and sending positive thought waves across the continent reminding her to breathe.
Before trying the math on this, one must remember that my family has been blended, stirred, and whirled through a cyclone. We've been blessed with several ready-made miracles as grandchildren. Tosh is our oldest grandchild, but wasn't our first.
Meanwhile, our daughter in KY has survived the ice and snow storm that according to Kentucky's governor was "the worst natural disaster to hit Kentucky in its recorded history". With 5 kids. They lost power for over a week at their home. They lost everything in the refrigerator and freezer. They had water coming into the house. Thankfully no pipes burst...
They were fortunate(?) in that their rental house was empty and it only lost power for a few hours. They hauled the microwave, mattresses, and shampoo/toothbrushes/toothpaste down the hill to it, where they stayed for a week. Schools were closed. Daycare was closed. Obviously, daughter missed a week of work.
Daughter is hoping our new baby enters the world soon so her hubby, the expectant new grandpa, will fly home. Their kidlets, besides the one giving birth, are 20, 14, 8, 5, and 2. She has her hands full.
There are always two sides to the story. I understand both.
Before trying the math on this, one must remember that my family has been blended, stirred, and whirled through a cyclone. We've been blessed with several ready-made miracles as grandchildren. Tosh is our oldest grandchild, but wasn't our first.
Meanwhile, our daughter in KY has survived the ice and snow storm that according to Kentucky's governor was "the worst natural disaster to hit Kentucky in its recorded history". With 5 kids. They lost power for over a week at their home. They lost everything in the refrigerator and freezer. They had water coming into the house. Thankfully no pipes burst...
They were fortunate(?) in that their rental house was empty and it only lost power for a few hours. They hauled the microwave, mattresses, and shampoo/toothbrushes/toothpaste down the hill to it, where they stayed for a week. Schools were closed. Daycare was closed. Obviously, daughter missed a week of work.
Daughter is hoping our new baby enters the world soon so her hubby, the expectant new grandpa, will fly home. Their kidlets, besides the one giving birth, are 20, 14, 8, 5, and 2. She has her hands full.
There are always two sides to the story. I understand both.
February 08, 2009
The Little RED Hen, Revisited
"Who will help me plant the wheat"? asked the Little Red Hen.
"Not I," said the cow.
"Not I," said the duck.
"Not I," said the pig.
"Not I," said the goose.
"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen, and so she did. The wheat grew very tall and ripened into golden grain.
"Who will help me reap my wheat?" asked the little red hen.
"Not I," said the duck..
"Out of my classification," said the pig.
"I'd lose my seniority," said the cow.
"I'd lose my unemployment compensation," said the goose.
"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen, and so she did.
At last it came time to bake the bread. "Who will help me bake the bread?" asked the little red hen.
"That would be overtime for me," said the cow.
"I'd lose my welfare benefits," said the duck.
"I'm a dropout and never learned how," said the pig.
"If I'm to be the only helper, that's discrimination," said the goose.
"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen. She baked five loaves and held them up for all of her neighbors to see. They wanted some and, in fact, demanded a share. But the little red hen said, "No, I shall eat all five loaves."
"Excess profits!" cried the cow. (Nancy Pelosi?)
"Capitalist leech!" screamed the duck. (Barbara Boxer?)
"I demand equal rights!" yelled the goose. (Jesse Jackson?)
The pig just grunted in disdain. (Ted Kennedy?)
And they all painted 'Unfair!'picket signs and marched around and around the little red hen, shouting obscenities.
Then the farmer (Obama) came. He said to the little red hen, "You must not be so greedy."
"But I earned the bread," said the little red hen.
"Exactly," said Barack the farmer. "That is what makes our free enterprise system so wonderful. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants. But under our modern government regulations, the productive workers must divide the fruits of their labor with those who are lazy and idle."
And they all lived happily ever after, including the little red hen, who smiled and clucked, "I am grateful, for now I truly understand."
But her neighbors became quite disappointed in her. She never again baked bread because she joined the 'party' and got her bread free. And all the Democrats smiled.
'Fairness' had been established.
Individual initiative had died, but nobody noticed; perhaps no one cared, so long as there was free bread that 'the rich' were paying for.
EPILOGUE:
Bill Clinton got $12 million for his memoirs.
Hillary got $8 million for hers.
That's $20 million for the memories from two people, who for eight years, repeatedly testified, under oath, that they couldn't remember anything.
IS THIS A GREAT BARNYARD OR WHAT?
(I didn't write this, but sure wish I had. It's a great history lesson. If you know who wrote this parody/parable, please have them contact me for proper attribution.)
"Not I," said the cow.
"Not I," said the duck.
"Not I," said the pig.
"Not I," said the goose.
"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen, and so she did. The wheat grew very tall and ripened into golden grain.
"Who will help me reap my wheat?" asked the little red hen.
"Not I," said the duck..
"Out of my classification," said the pig.
"I'd lose my seniority," said the cow.
"I'd lose my unemployment compensation," said the goose.
"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen, and so she did.
At last it came time to bake the bread. "Who will help me bake the bread?" asked the little red hen.
"That would be overtime for me," said the cow.
"I'd lose my welfare benefits," said the duck.
"I'm a dropout and never learned how," said the pig.
"If I'm to be the only helper, that's discrimination," said the goose.
"Then I will do it by myself," said the little red hen. She baked five loaves and held them up for all of her neighbors to see. They wanted some and, in fact, demanded a share. But the little red hen said, "No, I shall eat all five loaves."
"Excess profits!" cried the cow. (Nancy Pelosi?)
"Capitalist leech!" screamed the duck. (Barbara Boxer?)
"I demand equal rights!" yelled the goose. (Jesse Jackson?)
The pig just grunted in disdain. (Ted Kennedy?)
And they all painted 'Unfair!'picket signs and marched around and around the little red hen, shouting obscenities.
Then the farmer (Obama) came. He said to the little red hen, "You must not be so greedy."
"But I earned the bread," said the little red hen.
"Exactly," said Barack the farmer. "That is what makes our free enterprise system so wonderful. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants. But under our modern government regulations, the productive workers must divide the fruits of their labor with those who are lazy and idle."
And they all lived happily ever after, including the little red hen, who smiled and clucked, "I am grateful, for now I truly understand."
But her neighbors became quite disappointed in her. She never again baked bread because she joined the 'party' and got her bread free. And all the Democrats smiled.
'Fairness' had been established.
Individual initiative had died, but nobody noticed; perhaps no one cared, so long as there was free bread that 'the rich' were paying for.
EPILOGUE:
Bill Clinton got $12 million for his memoirs.
Hillary got $8 million for hers.
That's $20 million for the memories from two people, who for eight years, repeatedly testified, under oath, that they couldn't remember anything.
IS THIS A GREAT BARNYARD OR WHAT?
(I didn't write this, but sure wish I had. It's a great history lesson. If you know who wrote this parody/parable, please have them contact me for proper attribution.)
February 05, 2009
Getting My News Fix
Getting the news via Twitter is fabulous! Not only do you get great feeds, but you get the poster's opinion. Follow me there. http://www.twitter.com/lindajhutchinso
I'm needing to spend some time at Face Book and MySpace. Honestly, one could spend half their days following the social media sites. I haven't been to Savor the Success since having spine surgery in early December. Also haven't received notice of any posts at the Non-Fiction Writers Nook, so I'm thinking others in my group haven't been there either.
Just discovered that I've been missing the live CBS feeds via youtube for the last two years. My excuse is Fibro fog caused by Fibromyalgia. Oy.
I'm needing to spend some time at Face Book and MySpace. Honestly, one could spend half their days following the social media sites. I haven't been to Savor the Success since having spine surgery in early December. Also haven't received notice of any posts at the Non-Fiction Writers Nook, so I'm thinking others in my group haven't been there either.
Just discovered that I've been missing the live CBS feeds via youtube for the last two years. My excuse is Fibro fog caused by Fibromyalgia. Oy.
February 02, 2009
Taken a Spelling Test Lately?
Until I took this test, I was feeling pretty good about my spelling abilities. HA! The 25 Most Commonly Misspelled Words. Try it.
And, no, you can't use your dictionary to skew the odds.
http://www.businesswriting.com/tests/commonmisspelled.html
And, no, you can't use your dictionary to skew the odds.
http://www.businesswriting.com/tests/commonmisspelled.html
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