Writers in the Sky Podcast and Blog

New Author Julia Booker Shares Powerful Story of Survival

2009-11-27T08:00:00.000-06:00

Writers in the Sky welcomes writer Julia Booker to our podcast series today to discuss her new book I'm Still Standing. In this book, Booker tells the story of Jenny and Erin Baker, a mother and daughter who experience every type of abuse imaginable. Jenny has Erin at a young age and falls into a series of destructive relationships. Erin has to make a decision to change when she realizes that she is repeating the painful patterns of her mother. While I'm Still Standing details lives that are filled with heartbreak, it also shares a story of hope and determination.

During the interview, Julia Booker will discuss why I'm Still Standing was such a personal and emotional book for her to write, why she believes women stay in abusive relationships, and what she hopes her readers will take away from reading the novel.

Click here to listen... to the entire interview.

Please visit the Amazon website to purchase I'm Still Standing.

Blast Off! The Surefire Success Plan to Launch Your Dreams into Reality

2009-11-27T06:57:00.000-06:00

I am working with Author Allison Maslan on her January Amazon book launch for her new book Blast Off! The Surefire Success Plan to Launch Your Dreams into Reality. Blast Off is a truly holistic approach to success in life, and I really believe that most writers would resonate with its approach.

Go to http://www.myblastoff.com/booklaunch/ and sign up for the Blast Off launch reminder. That way, you won't miss the chance to receive all the great bonus gifts when you purchase her book.

While you are there, you can learn about the fantastic contest Allison is having. The winner will receive a free 1-on-1 life & career makeover with life and business strategist, Allison Maslan.

Below is her fan page on Facebook. There, you will find a countdown with daily information to help you participate in the contest, the book launch, and in creating the life you want and deserve!

Yvonne M. Perry is a fan of

Blast Off! The Surefire Success Plan To Launch Your Dreams Into Reality

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A Collection of Holistic Stories Explores Spiritual Sensitivity in Children

2009-11-25T08:01:00.000-06:00

Write On! Publishing and Author Yvonne Perry Announce the Release of a Book of Holistic Stories that Help Parents and Teachers Understand Spiritually-gifted Children.

NASHVILLE, TN—November 29, 2009—In time for holiday gift giving, Write On! Publishing releases The Sid Series a new book of holistic stories for spiritually-gifted children of the New Age.

Some of today’s children are showing early signs of a having a deep understanding of spiritual concepts. But not many parents, grandparents, and teachers know how to relate to the spiritually-gifted child, much less how to help him or her develop spiritual intellect and use these mystical gifts properly. Using adorable and entertaining stories, The Sid Series gives examples of how these gifted youngsters experience the paranormal in their everyday lives. From seeing ghosts in his closet at night to healing with herbs infused with the magic of the full moon, Sid and Von-Von explore some of the many ways spiritual children of all ages express their unique and powerful views.

Inspired by adventures Yvonne has had with her first-born grandson named Sidney, each story in The Sid Series (ISBN: 9780982572207) focuses on skills such as overcoming fear, being environmentally conscious, helping others, being true to one’s self, and following inner guidance. This collection of body-mind-spirit stories highlights unique lessons about love, acceptance, self-worth, caring for the body, diversity, facing fears, dealing with change, experiencing the death of a pet, using spiritual gifts, and psychic experiences today’s children exhibit. There’s even a book about recycling that alludes toward organ donation.

“I enjoyed teaching my own children and my class at a mother’s day out program. Those days were filled with religious doctrine that didn’t fit my personal experience as a mystic,” says Yvonne Perry, the author of The Sid Series. “Today, I am the grandmother of a child who has exhibited the very same spiritual gifts for which I was shunned in the church. Now that I have found a metaphysical path that embraces my spiritual experiences, I see things much differently. I wrote The Sid Series to help others understand children who have experiences that may seem out of the ordinary.”

Yvonne holds a Bachelor of Science in Metaphysics from American Institute of Holistic Theology. She is a freelance writer who has specialized in articles and books that guide people on a spiritual path. She is also the publisher and editor at Write On! Publishing and the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services. Yvonne and her team assist people with writing and editing projects, as well as media releases. She has also ghosted, written, or edited more than forty books.

Any parent or teacher with a child who speaks of imaginary friends, reincarnation, or past lives will find guidance and inspiration in The Sid Series. To preview each of the twelve Sid Series stories, and purchase individual e-books or the entire collection, visit http://TheSidSeries.com.

###
Contact
Yvonne Perry
(615) 415-9861
http://writersinthesky.com/contact.php

How to Activate and Listen to the Voice Within

2009-11-24T06:52:00.008-06:00

I attended a lecture by author Janet Conner at Unity Church last week. Not only was Janet entertaining, I learned about soul writing and I’d like to share a few writing tips with you. She instructed us on how to write from theta brain waves that support creativity rather than beta waves associated with stress (where many people live their daily lives).

I’ll have Janet on my podcast in early February, but if you want to get a jumpstart on writing down your soul, get Janet’s book, Writing Down Your Soul: How to Activate and Listen to the Extraordinary Voice Within on Amazon.com.

Try this writing exercise using these seven steps:

Set your intention to connect with the voice inside you
Address the voice directly: Dear ______ (fill in the blank with whatever name you want)
Write by hand
Activate all five senses. Vision, hearing, and touch are automatic in this process, but include a candle, incense, aroma oil, or flowers for smell and water for taste
Ask open-ended questions as you write.
Write fast; don't stop to correct grammar, spelling, punctuation (very hard for me as an editor). Just let the words flow from spirit to paper without the interference of logic or correctness.
Be grateful; say thank you.

Let me know how you fair with this. Leave a comment to let me know you've tried it and what you experienced.

Powerful Book about Survival to Be Featured on Friday's Podcast

2009-11-23T08:00:00.001-06:00

Please plan to join us this Friday as Writers in the Sky welcomes first-time author Julia Booker as she discusses her book I'm Still Standing. This novel tells the story of mother and daughter Jenny and Erin Baker. The two women endure every imaginable type of abuse, including rape, beatings, and emotional cruelty from the men in their lives. The book is filled with heartbreak, but also shows readers that they can survive through even the most difficult circumstances.

Julia Booker does not have a formal background in writing, but felt compelled to publish this very personal story. She shows a great ability to capture her readers' attention with the graphic but realistic depiction of her characters. Julia shares at the beginning of I'm Still Standing that she hopes her work while encourage women to leave their own abusive relationships.

Please visit the Amazon website to purchase I'm Still Standing.

Title of Document: Book Review
Book Title: I’m Still Standing
Author: Julia Booker
ISBN: 978-1-4327-4263-8
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com
Genre and Target Market: memoir, abuse
Publication Date: 2009
Book Length in Pages: 125
Reviewed By: Sarah Moore

Books certainly have the ability to transport you into the lives of their characters, which may be a thrilling adventure, a terrifying experience, or something in between. A period piece can whisk the reader away to the royal courts in Europe or the frontiers of the Wild West. As you turn the pages of a science-fiction novel, you may be able to close your eyes and envision yourself exploring a new galaxy. And then, sometimes, there are those books that just hit you in the gut with raw emotion … plain and simple. You are handed the heartbreak and pain that a supposedly fictional person is living and the feelings could not be more real. Such is the case with the first release by author Julia Booker, entitled I’m Still Standing. The gripping story shared within its pages will affect you long after the final words are read.

I’m Still Standing tells the story, primarily, of a mother and daughter who find themselves caught in lives of constant abuse. Jenny Baker gives birth to her daughter, Erin, when she is just a young teenager and soon begins to numb the regrets of her life through drugs and alcohol. The men who Jenny brings into her home are abusive in all possible respects to both her and her daughter, as the reader is brought into scenes of beatings, rapes, and emotional cruelty. As Erin develops into a young woman, she is dismayed to find herself in danger of following the same path in life that her mother has chosen.

Julia Booker’s writing is so powerful because each word seems to come at the reader from a place of genuine and enduring pain. The author mentions on the back cover of I’m Still Standing that her book depicts a true story, which makes each episode of abuse and neglect even more compelling. There is no attempt to sugarcoat the harsh reality that exists in the lives of both Jenny and Erin. The scenes of violence are graphic, the language used between those who should be in loving relationships is explicit and hurtful, and all of the shattered pieces of Erin’s life are not brought back together with a shiny bow by the end of the book. Yet, through it all, the reader is also given a sense that there is reason to have hope. After all, as the title points out, Erin remains standing and growing stronger through her ordeals.

If you are looking for a light read to enjoy while on vacation, I’m Still Standing is probably not the right book for you. If, however, you are ready to make an emotional investment in women who are repeatedly told they are not worth the time, you should check out this initial release by new author Julia Booker. I’m Still Standing is a gut-wrenching literary experience that sends an important message to all of its readers, but especially women, about the damage of staying in an abusive situation. Hopefully, as the author encourages in her introductory letter to her readers, the words of I’m Still Standing will result in at least one reader deciding to leave an abusive situation. I cannot imagine a more important impact for a book to have.

The Sid Series Virtual Blog Tour Stops for This Week!

2009-11-22T08:00:00.003-06:00

I hope you are enjoying being part of my virtual blog tour for The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children. Here are the stops for this week. Please stop by and leave a comment on the blogs that you find interesting.

Sunday, November 22 Janet Riehl is hosting a question and answer interview about Yvonne's process for writing, publishing, and marketing The Sid Series http://www.riehlife.com/.

Monday, November 23 Yvonne will be the radio guest of Maxine Thompson on Dr. Maxine Show http://www.maxinethompson.com/.

The Shift Guru Barbara Joye http://www.theshiftguru.com/ will feature part 1 of a 3-part article on how Yvonne shifted from religion to metaphysics when her grandson, Sidney, (for whom The Sid Series was written) started manifesting psychic gifts.

Tuesday, November 24 Yvonne will also be Suzanne Lieurance's radio guest on Book Bites for Kids http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bookbitesforkids

Wednesday, November 25 The Shift Guru Barbara Joye http://www.theshiftguru.com/ will feature part 2 of a 3-part article on how Yvonne shifted from religion to metaphysics when her grandson started manifesting psychic gifts.

Thursday, November 26 Yvonne will be visiting Karen and Robyn - Writing for Children at http://karenandrobyn.blogspot.com/ where Karen Cioffi is the hostess. Yvonne will tell how she self-published The Sid Series.

Friday, November 27 Stephanie Ward will post information about Yvonne’s book on Stark Raving Bibliophile http://starkravingbibliophile.blogspot.com/. The Shift Guru Barbara Joye http://www.theshiftguru.com/ will feature part 2 of a 3-part article on how Yvonne shifted from religion to metaphysics when her grandson started manifesting psychic gifts. We hope to see you on both blogs that day.

Saturday, November 28 Yvonne will post a press/media release about the book's debut. This will go to multiple online sources.

For more information about The Sid Series, please see http://thesidseries.com/. To purchase the book on Amazon.com, please visit http://tinyurl.com/AmazonSidSeries

New Author C. Michael Thompson Discusses His Book Today

2009-11-20T08:00:00.000-06:00

C. Michael Thompson brings his experience as a teacher into his first novel, Twinsational. This book, which is aimed at readers between the ages of ten and thirteen, focuses on one day in the life of twins Mark and Michelle. The brother and sister team encounter the school bully, first crushes, and an episode that has one of them on the run from teachers and the principal for most of the day.

Twinsational shares important messages about friendship, honesty, and the special relationship that exists between siblings.

Mr. Thompson will be discussing how he developed the idea for his book, the person to whom he dedicated this first release and why, and the plans he has for more books in the future.

Click here to listen... to the entire interview.

Please visit the Amazon website to purchase Twinsational.

Are you following me on my blog tour?

2009-11-19T21:29:00.005-06:00

My tour stops will provide interesting and unique information about my book, how and why I wrote it, how I published it, and some little known tidbits about me as a real human (and not just a freelance writer, editor, and marketing guru). It will also be an opportunity for authors to see how a virtual blog tour works and give you some ideas about what to post on your own tour. See the tour schedule at http://tinyurl.com/SidTour.

I encourage you and your friends with children to subscribe to the RSS feed you don't miss any of the stops! Tomorrow I'll be at http://www.bloggingauthors.com/

sharing an article titled “Does Your Child Have An Imaginary Friend?”

Purchase The Sid Series book on Amazon! http://tinyurl.com/AmazonSidSeries or learn more at http://TheSidSeries.com

Yvonne Perry

The Future That Brought Her Here: A Memoir of a Call to Awaken by Deborah DeNicola

2009-11-17T08:00:00.003-06:00

The Future That Brought Her Here: A Memoir of a Call to Awaken by Deborah DeNicola

Today we welcome Deborah DeNicola to our writing blog. She is discussing her book The Future That Brought Her Here; Memoir of a Call to Awaken.

YVONNE: Tell me something about yourself and your writing background.
DEBORAH: I’ve been writing since I was 7, poems, stories at first. I’ve been a free-lancer, so I’ve really written in every genre. I’ve published 5 collections of poetry and have won, among other awards, a National Endowment of the Arts fellowship for my poetry in 1997. I compiled and edited a poetry anthology, Orpehus & Company; an anthology of contemporary poetry on Greek mythology from The University Press of New England. Another collection of my poems, Original Human, is forthcoming from WordTech Press in 2010. None of my books are self-published.

I consider myself foremost a poet; I mean my master degree is in poetry, but currently, in addition to poems, I am putting together a book of essays on Dream Image Work, the technique I use for understanding dreams. I was trained by a Dutch Jungian Analyst, Robert Bosnak, who founded “embodied dreaming.”

I’ve got a short essay on my web site called “Dreaming Aloud” on the correspondences between poetry and dream image work: http://intuitivegateways.com/essays.shtml.

I’ve always written; I get antsy if I’m not working on some piece of writing. For years I spent a month or two at writing colonies. When I was teaching at colleges, I’d get January and August off and often go off to sequester myself and write. It took eight years to write this memoir because of the research in it and the traveling I did, and because I had no idea where I was going.

YVONNE: What is the title of your book? Give us the basic story line so we’ll know what it’s about.
DEBORAH: The Future That Brought Her Here is about a spiritual awakening. I was dragged kicking and screaming into the occult world by spontaneous events. I’ve been practicing meditation for over twenty years and suddenly my third eye opened. At the same time I became claire-sentient; I could sense spirits’ presence and feel energy. I actually began the book as a novel but one day an inner voice told me I must come out of the spiritual closet.

I was an adjunct college professor at The Massachusetts College of Art, Lesley University’s graduate program in Creative Arts and Learning, and at Massasoit Community college. My colleagues were not open to my experiences. Even poets I knew backed away from me. I had considered myself “intellectual,” I had owned an independent literary bookstore in Portland, Maine and hadn’t been interested in the occult for the major part of my life.

When I look back, I sense that I had a magical childhood with imaginary friends and I wonder how imaginary they were. Those senses shut down for most of my life until a few strange experiences in 1987 and then in 1994 with the publication of my book from Alice James Books, Where Divinity Begins.

I recall the energy being around me but I couldn’t really see it until September of that year. That sent me on a quest for more knowledge about what was happening to me. The book is the story of that quest and the conclusions I come to about it: that humanity is undergoing an evolutionary leap of consciousness. I never expected to be a “New Age” person. Actually the New Age is really just the return of ancient, esoteric knowledge.

At that time I was all about intellect and my reading tastes were biographies, fiction and poetry. I was a skeptic, which is why I’ve done so much research for a memoir.

Although, when I think about it, I did always have strong intuition and very vivid dreams, prescient dreams in a few cases. The book is also about being called to different places and seeing through my third eye visions of what I think are past/parallel lives. (Since there is no time, or rather “linear time” is something we have agreed to construct, these lives all are happening at once in the eternal NOW.)

The book is also about heartbreak and depression and the difficulty of integrating my father’s death when I was an adolescent. Essentially, it’s about healing, Jungian psychotherapy, archetypal psychology, medieval history, and some quantum physics thrown in for grounding.

YVONNE: What inspired you to write this book?
DEBORAH: Some amazing things were happening to me. I suddenly had new senses. I was a writer, so I figured I was destined to write about my experiences. I didn’t want to at first. I wrote half a novel before I started it again as a memoir.

Also I had written twenty poems in a sequence about my father’s death and afterlife that I had published piecemeal in journals, (and it won me the NEA award. At the time I was teaching Dante and that inspired me to think about the afterlife). I wanted to publish the poems altogether. They fit well into the story because it’s also about how imagination heals and creative process heals.

YVONNE: Is this the first book you have written?
DEBORAH: It is my first prose book. Though I’ve written a lot of academic prose. I actually won an essay contest from Packingtown Review this year. http://www.packingtownreview.com/pieces/5

YVONNE: How long did it take to write this book? Any interesting tidbits about your writing method or how the book developed?
DEBORAH: As I said above, it took eight years and probably six rewrites. It developed in pieces although I did brainstorm for the chapters, when I started it I hadn’t yet taken the trip to France. I talk about creative process in the book.

YVONNE: How did you publish your book? Tell me about your publishing experience and what you learned from it. Please go into detail if you wish.
DEBORAH: I sent it to agents at first and got some nice feedback but I think in the New Age genre they wanted a proven author. A lot of them said they thought it was good writing but it wasn’t their subject matter. Then I started sending directly to publishers. Nicholas Hays accepted it for their imprint, Ibis Press. Most of their work is Jungian, and they publish a lot of occult classics.

YVONNE: Did you work with an agent? If so, how did you find the agent? Was it beneficial to you?
DEBORAH: As I said I didn’t get an agent.

YVONNE: Where is your book(s) available? Do you have a Web site or blog where we can learn more about you or your book?
DEBORAH: My book is available through all the major distributors and it is on Amazon.com. bn.com and my publisher’s site. The book’s site is www.thefuturethatbroughtherhere.com. It hit number #1 in Social Science and Psychology categories on September 15th on Amazon when I did an email blast and it stayed there for awhile! I do have a web site with a complete bio, essays, poems, and a new blog page: http://blog.intuitivegateways.com/

YVONNE: As far as marketing, do you do more online publicity or print/radio/TV promotion? Tell me some ways you have promoted your book. Give examples and links to any sites you feel might help other authors.
DEBORAH: I’ve had to do all the promotion myself. Other than the Amazon blast, local readings, conferences, book clubs, some advertising on social media sites and the workshops I give, I haven’t done much else yet. I have promoted it through my own web site that has a brand new blog about dreams. I’ve gotten 11 excellent reviews on Amazons by customers and three journal reviews.

YVONNE: Have you hired a publicist to help promote this book? If so, what was your experience like?
DEBORAH: A publicist cost $20,000 and I couldn’t afford one. I now have a marketing coach who is helping me with my business as a dream workshop facilitator and speaker.

YVONNE: Any other comments or things you would like for us to know?
DEBORAH: The book came out late in June, so it really hasn’t been out that long. I am still planning on it falling into the right hands of someone in the major media. Of course, everyone wants Oprah to read his or her book. But this book is about the Power of Black Madonnas and I think it’s perfect for Oprah. How you get it to her besides sending a copy, I have not yet discovered.

I am just getting my complete press kit together now, so even though I sent out review copies, I will do another big mailing as soon as possible. It is difficult for an author theses days without a publicist.

When Dan Brown published The DaVinci Code, I was a little distraught because we have much of the same information on Mary Magdalen, for example, though mine is more scholarly but also more personal. Later I was grateful he had broken open that story and brought it into the mainstream. My research into the Gnostic gospels had been going on since the early ninety, long before Brown’s books. My book didn’t come out till 2009 and by then Brown’s book was renowned. Still, I think my personal story of my encounter with those themes is enlightening in a different way.

My book actually traces the story of the coming evolution of humankind as far back as the Egyptians, through Israel and the Gnostics, to Gaul or ancient France, to the medieval Catharsis, the Templar Knights, the Rosicrucian’s, The Freemasons to present New Age practices.

I have just finished reading Brown’s new book, The Lost Symbol, which focuses on the Freemasons, and he comes to the exact same conclusion I do in my book, (along with thousands of other people) i.e., we are in for a Golden Age of Peace if we can survive this chaos which is preceding it. In any event, I am focused on that message, living that message, teaching the truths of spiritual laws. I’ve discovered so-called “miracles” are actually quite in keeping with nature, or natural law. I did not have the strange extra-sensory powers I have now until I was 47. I’m living proof something’s going on.

YVONNE: Thank you for giving us the opportunity to get to know you and learn about your book. I wish you well.

Deborah DeNicola is the author of five poetry collections and she edited the anthology Orpheus & Company; Contemporary Poems on Greek Mythology. Among other awards she won a Poetry Fellowship in 1997 from the National Endowment for the Arts. Deborah has been a recipient of many writing colony residencies. Her most recent book is her spiritual memoir published by Nicolas Hays/Ibis Press, The Future That Brought Her Here. Another full collection of poetry Original Human is forthcoming from Custom Word Press in 2010. She teaches dream image work and mentors writers online at her web site www.intuitivegateways.com.

For a limited time, you can purchase The Future That Brought Her Here from Amazon and receive bonus gifts. Click here for details: http://www.thefuturethatbroughtherhere.com/bonusoffers/ To learn more about this virtual blog tour, please visit: http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2009/10/future-that-brought-her-here-by-deborah.html

Author C. Michael Thompson to Join Podcast on Friday

2009-11-16T08:00:00.000-06:00

Please plan to tune into the WITS podcast this Friday when our guest will be first-time author C. Michael Thompson. He will be discussing his new release Twinsational. This book focuses on eleven-year-old twins Mark and Michelle as they deal with the typical issues that preteens face during a day at school. But, there are also some exciting adventures that challenge their friendships and their good standing at school along the way!

C. Michael Thompson, or "Mike" as he is known, has a background as a teaching of young children and brings this experience to Twinsational. The book has important messages about friendship and honesty. It is intended for readers around the ages of ten to thirteen, but will also be enjoyed by parents who read the book with their children.

Please visit the Amazon website to purchase Twinsational.

Title of Document: Book Review
Book Title: Twinsational
Author: C. Michael Thompson
ISBN: 978-1-4327-3033-8
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com
Genre and Target Market: children’s fiction
Publication Date: 2009
Book Length in Pages: 116

I have been a voracious reader my entire life, spending hours combing the stacks of books in the kids’ section of the library as soon as I was old enough to get my own card. It was not unusual to find me sitting in my favorite tree with a book in hand on a Saturday afternoon. As a child and young teenager, I loved finding stories in which kids my age were involved in adventures into which I could easily transport myself. I had no need for outlandish plots or exaggerated characters. Just give me a great book about average kids and the crazy situations they manage to create. I am now well into my thirties but, through my work in the writing industry, still enjoy the discovery of a book to which kids can really relate and enjoy reading. I have found such a novel in Twinsational, the new release by author C. Michael Thompson.

Twinsational shares one day in the life of Mark and Michelle (known to most as Shelly) Johnson, eleven-year-old brother and sister twins who have each other’s back no matter the situation. The book has all of the elements that most preteens can expect to encounter on a daily basis—the class bully, good friends, demanding teachers, and first crushes. The day begins with the first of many confrontations that the twins have with their nemesis, Bubba, as they walk to school. Once they arrive on campus and meet up with friends, a series of events causes Mark and his friend David to elude the watchful eye of teachers and the new principal, with sister Michelle and her friend Kianna acting as accomplices. As the story unfolds, readers get a real sense of the loyalty shared between the characters in this book and a lesson in making the decision to do the right thing.

For me, the greatest strength of Thompson’s writing is his ability to capture a genuine sense of the way in which preteens interact. Young people who read Twinsational will not feel as if the author is condescending in his depiction of Mark and Michelle, nor will they find the characters written as adults before their time. Instead, you really feel that you are being placed into a typical middle school and I am certain that readers in this demographic will love reading a fun story about such a realistic group of peers. Mr. Thompson spent several years as a teacher, and even though his students were younger than the ones depicted in Twinsational, his ability to capture the language and priorities of the preteen population is obvious.

We all know that when our children read on a regular basis, they are increasing their chances for success in many areas of life. This is why I am so pleased when a new author comes along who offers a book that will get kids excited about the written word. Twinsational by C. Michael Thompson is a wonderful novel that I know will get kids talking about the experiences had by the brother and sister team. With the last page of the book implying that there are more adventures ahead for Mark and Michelle, I hope there will be great “twinsational” conversations among young readers for a long time to come.

Spiritual Writing Workshop in Nashville

2009-11-16T06:11:00.003-06:00

I just got word of this writing workshop/seminar and I plan to attend. I thought some of you writers in Nashville might like to join me, so here are the details.

Writing Down Your Soul
When: Wednesday, November 18
Time: 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Where: First Church Unity Sanctuary, 5125 Franklin Pike, Nashville, TN 37220
Author & keynote speaker: Janet Conner
Cost: Love Offering
More info at http://www.firstchurchunity.org or call 615-333-1323

What would happen if that "Still Small Voice" came in loud and clear? Guess what? That "Still Small Voice" isn't still or small. It can be vibrant, loud, and crystal clear. You just have to know how to activate it. And that's what Janet Conner, author of Writing Down Your Soul is going to share with you.

In this workshop, you'll learn what deep soul writing is and is not (hint, not journaling). You'll hear the astonishing story of what the mystery man said at Janet's first book signing, You'll learn the seven steps to the all-important theta brain wave state, And you'll fall in love with Hafiz, the great Sufi master. When you leave, you'll be on your way to a vibrant, living conversation with the wise and loving Voice of Spirit within.
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Virtual Blog Tour Demonstration

2009-11-15T07:30:00.005-06:00

I will be touring the Internet from November 19 to December 20 to introduce people to my new book The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children. During that time, I will visit 30 places on the Internet where I will present a variety of material to promote my book.

If you are interested in learning more about online book marketing through a viritual book tour, I suggest you sign up for the RSS feed on my blog Online Promotion Made Easy. You will get some great ideas by following me and seeing the different items I post at each stop. For more information about what a virtual blog tour is, see my book marketing blog.

Every blogger on my virtual book tour will have unique material to post. From how and why I wrote and published the book, to informative articles on spirituality, business, grandparenting, and children, all visitors get to read something new each day as they follow me from blog to blog. Audio clips, YouTube video, book previews, media releases, and radio interviews will also be interspersed into the lineup.

Articles on my virtual book tour include:

Children Have Much to Teach Us About Past Lives
Dealing with the Death of a Pet
Does Your Child Have An Imaginary Friend?
Combining Authorship and Free-Lance Writing Business
Having My Book Published by Lightning Source
How I Self-published The Sid Series
How to Skype an Author
Out of the Mouths of Babies! Channeling 101
Part 1 - Shifting from Misfit to Miss Fit
Part 2 - Shifting from Saint to Sinner
Part 3 - Shifting from Grand Mal to Grandma
Reading of a Book for Kids (and Adults) Who Love Fairies
Reading of a Book for Kids Dealing with Pet Death
The Crystal Kid Behind the Inspiration for The Sid Series
The Teenage Artist Who Illustrated The Sid Series
The Writing of a Children’s Book
Why I Wrote The Sid Series
Young Age Grand-parenting

For a complete list of my tour stops and who will be presenting which article, please see http://tinyurl.com/SidTour.

http://tinyurl.com/AmazonSid is the link to purchase The Sid Series on Amazon!

Students and Parents: Today's Podcast is Not One to Miss!

2009-11-13T08:00:00.000-06:00

Joseph Adegboyega-Edun has worked in the education field for more than two decades as both a high school counselor and college advisor in Maryland. He brings his professional expertise to his new book Succeeding in High School: A Handbook for Teens and Parents plus a College Admissions Primer. In this book, Mr. Adegboyega-Edun shares what to expect from each year of high school, how to deal with the academic and social pressures, and what the various options are for post-secondary education and employment.

During his interview with author's assistant Sarah Moore, Joseph Adeboyega-Edun will discuss how students should select classes and manage their time, what parents can do to help their teenage children, and when families should start thinking about what happens after graduation.

Click here to listen... to the entire interview.

To purchase Succeeding in High School, please visit the Amazon website.

Author Abe Rosa Joins the Podcast Today

2009-11-12T08:00:00.001-06:00

Today, in a special Thursday broadcast of our podcast, author's assistant Sarah Moore sits down with first-time author Abe Rosa to discuss his new release The Drummer. This book features superstar drummer Angela who is recruited by an underground group that advocates Christianity. With religion now banned by the federal government, Angela's mother has been kidnapped by authorities after distributing Christian literature. With her special skills and strong personality, Angela is the only one who can save her mother. Along the way, Angela encounters people who bring her to reflect on her own beliefs.

During the interview, Abe Rosa will discuss how he came up with the idea for The Drummer, what message he hopes to get across with his book, and how the story is being received.

Click here to listen... to the entire interview.

Please visit the Amazon website to purchase The Drummer.

This Friday's Podcast Will Feature Tips for High School Success

2009-11-10T08:00:00.000-06:00

Please plan to join the WITS podcast this Friday when our featured guest will be Joseph Adegboyega-Edun. He will be discussing his new release Succeeding in High School--A Handbook for Teens and Parents Plus a College Admissions Primer. Mr. Adeboyega-Edun has worked in the field of education for two decades and currently holds a position as a high school counselor. He brings his extensive experience to this handbook, which takes readers through each year of the high school experience and shares how to survive the many stresses that students can face.

Students and their parents will want to hear our interview with Joseph Adegboyega-Edun and learn ways to make their education more fulfilling and less stressful!

To purchase Succeeding in High School, please visit the Amazon website.

Book Title: Succeeding in High School—A Handbook for Teens and Parents plus a College Admissions Primer
Author: Joseph Adegboyega-Edun
ISBN: 978-1-4327-1229-7
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com
Genre and Target Market: reference; education
Publication Date: 2009
Book Length in Pages: 137

I spent nearly a decade of my professional life working on either a high school or college campus. I was a high school teacher of government and history for three years and the rest of my tenure in education was spent as an academic advisor for several large universities. I have seen first-hand the difference that good information and thoughtful advice can mean to a student who is eager to succeed in the classroom. It always was disheartening to encounter students who would not reach their potential due not to lack of intelligence or interest, but because they could not figure out how to operate within the system that is found in any high school. In his new book, Succeeding in High School, author and educator Joseph Adegboyega-Edun helps both high school students and their parents prepare for the four difficult years of high school as well as the educational and career plans that may follow.

Adegboyega-Edun is an experienced counselor and college advisor who uses this new book to combine his obvious wealth of knowledge concerning education with his ability to capture important points in a way that is neither condescending nor simplistic even though the material is geared to a younger audience. Instead, Succeeding in High School is a wonderful primer that covers just about any topic that may be going through the minds of high school students or their parents. I imagine that these concerns will sound familiar to you. Should I pack on as many Advanced Placement courses as possible in order to impress college admissions counselors? When should I plan on taking the SAT? How do best organize a busy schedule that includes studying, sports, and family responsibilities? What do college admission counselors really look at when reviewing my application? Succeeding in High School tackles these questions and so many more.

One of the greatest strengths of Adegboyega-Edun’s writing is his ability to make the material apply to every person who is reading the book. The chapters are written with clear language and divided into subtopics with appropriate headings, making it easy for readers to find the specific advice they may be seeking. Also, as an educator myself, I particularly appreciated how the author chose to end each chapter. In each instance, he includes “Questions for Students,” “Things to Do,” and “For Parents,” which challenge the readers to apply the information to their own situations. Adegboyega-Edun also strengthens the content of his book by introducing each chapter with a quote from an actual high school student. Teenagers who read the book will recognize themselves in these students and hopefully will find greater focus in their reading as a result.

As someone who has worked extensively with students who are in the target demographic for this book, I strongly recommend Succeeding in High School for any young person who is about to enter high school. Being aware of how grades are calculated, the amount of homework to expect, and how each year should be used towards college preparation will be reassuring to students who are entering this new stage of their schooling. Also, parents who are wondering how to work with their kids to get the most out of their education should grab a copy of this book right away. Moms and dads certainly will appreciate the critical information needed to move through the college admissions process and likely will learn a few tips for making the home environment more conducive for learning. Even though I am no longer directly in an academic setting, I still have a passion for education and seeing young people make the most out of opportunities. For this reason, I am excited to find a book such as Succeeding in High School, a handbook that I believe holds information for any high school student who desires to have a great academic experience.

Author Abe Rosa Will Join Podcast on Thursday

2009-11-09T08:00:00.001-06:00

Author Abe Rosa will be featured on a special Thursday edition of the Writers in the Sky podcast to discuss his new release The Drummer. In this short novel, lead character Angela is a superstar drummer in a rock band who is recruited by an underground organization. Her mother has been kidnapped for distributing Christian materials by a United States government that has outlawed religion and Angela is the only one who can find her and save her. Will "the drummer" be able to reach her mom in time, and will her convictions be changed along the way?

Abe Rosa is a first-time author who has always shared his faith through unconventional methods, including his tattoos. He sees this book as another opportunity for outreach.

To purchase The Drummer, please visit the Amazon website.

Book Title: The Drummer
Author: Abe Rosa
ISBN: 978-1-4327-4509-7
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com
Genre and Target Market: fiction; Christian; thriller
Publication Date: 2009
Book Review by: Sarah Moore

There is a variety of ways through which an author can present a message through his work. In some instances, the lesson being taught is a blatant one that is plainly on display as the primary focus on the book. Other times, the important theme may be more subtle and only strike the reader after the book is closed and reflected on in its entirety. With the third approach, the author can make his message an imperative component of the story but integrate it with an accompanying plot that is compelling on its own merits. The last approach was the one taken by author Abe Rosa in his new release The Drummer. Rosa creates an action-packed sequence of events as the backdrop for sharing his faith with his readers, and certainly leaves people with some serious questions to ponder.

The Drummer was created as one avenue through which author Abe Rosa could share his Christian beliefs with others. However, this is far from your typical “how and why you should get saved” book. Rosa paints a picture of a time in America in which Christianity is banned by the government under the threat of death. Angela Reyes is a superstar drummer with the band MUDROCKET who learns that her mother has been arrested for distributing Christian materials. While not a believer in Christ herself, Angela answers the call when recruited by the United Movement to Advance Christianity (UMAC) to save her mother’s life. As the mission progresses and her own life is threatened, Angela’s long-held cynicism towards the faith of her parents is tested.

Author Abe Rosa does a great job of creating a fast-paced plot that brings the reader into the lives and fears of his characters. While a compact work at only forty-six pages, The Drummer feels like a lengthier novel as there is so much action on every page. The pace that Rosa takes with the story mimics the speed with which Angela and the others at UMAC must work to save her mother’s life and this compels the reader to move forward until reaching the end. The high-energy nature of the novel, as well as its inclusion of a rock band and a young heroine who displays a relatable attitude toward religion, will be particularly appealing to adolescent and collegiate readers.

There is no doubt that The Drummer is a controversial book that is perfect for sparking discussion. Abe Rosa describes a country that some in the United States believe could become a frightening reality as the debates over religious liberties and the role of government in our lives are increasingly finding their way into our evening news. However, to promote the idea that the president in the novel should be eliminated along with other government officials who support the ban on Christianity will be quite shocking to some readers. This book almost requires time for a group debriefing, as I am sure the opinions on its content will be strong and varied.

Whether you are a Christian who echoes the sentiment of the author, someone who is curious about faith and the possible future it faces, or just a reader who enjoys a good thriller, you will take away something from reading The Drummer. Author Abe Rosa has written a book that is sure to be discussed and remembered by all who encounter it.

Learn to Do Your Own Virtual Book Tour by Following Yvonne Perry on Hers

2009-11-09T07:00:00.001-06:00

Author teaches other authors as she tours the Internet from November 20 to December 20.

Nashville, TN—Yvonne Perry is doing more than promote her new book as she travels from blog to blog during her virtual book tour for The Sid Series. She is taking along 2,650 Twitter followers and those who are subscribed to her RSS feed (http://feeds.feedburner.com/OnlinePromotionMadeEasy) for her blog, Online Promotion Made Easy, in order to demonstrate how a virtual book tour works.

She began by posting an article to her blog and inviting her Twitter followers to come and see what her new book is all about. Each book in her children’s book of holistic (body, mind, spirit) stories teaches skills such as following inner guidance, being true to one’s self, or overcoming fear. Modeled after the lessons Yvonne's grandson, Sidney, is teaching her, these stories are great for the classroom, young readers, or toddlers being nurtured at home. But they are also great for kids who are showing spiritual intellect and psychic gifts. http://thesidseries.com

Then, she began posting information about what a blog tour is and asking people to participate as host “homes” for her progressive “dinner-type” book tour where she would be providing the meal: an article, interview, video clip, or other free content-rich material for readers to enjoy.

“I began the tour thinking I would only ride the virtual circuit for two weeks,” says Ms. Perry, “but the response I got was so positive that I extended it two more weeks to accommodate all the people who were offering their blogs as stops for my tour.”

There are nineteen blogs, three radio show interviews, and a stop on Youtube to see an audio/video presentation about The Sid Series. Each of the bloggers participating in Yvonne’s book tour from November 20 to December 20, will post unique material they received from the author. Articles will deal with children and past lives, the death of a pet, spirit channeling, imaginary friends, fairies, crystal kids, grand-parenting, and how the author shifted from her staunch Christian views to a metaphysical path. The tour will also share information about the teenage artist who illustrated parts of The Sid Series, and include discussions about how Yvonne wrote and published her book while maintaining her free-lance writing business.

The tour is also being used to teach authors how to conduct a successful virtual book tour. Perry keeps her blog updated with information to help authors learn how to use the Internet and social marketing to create a credible online presence and reach their reader markets.

“Authors are sometimes clueless as to how to promote their books once they’ve published them. I started my book marketing blog in 2008 when I published my e-book Book Marketing in the Digital Age, Online Promotion Made Easy,” says Perry, the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services based in Nashville, Tennessee. “Rather than doing an in-person tour at bookstores where only your friends and a few other people show up, authors are taking to the virtual road to let others know about their work.”

Perry has found a way to incorporate her love for teaching. She has six blogs on various topics such as writing, publishing, book marketing, death and dying, stem cell research, and spirituality. Many of the blogs showcase the books she has written; therefore, all of them cross-promote one another. Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services offers many types of book promotional services for authors http://writersinthesky.com.

Yvonne invites you to join in the fun, learn about her book, and learn how to do your own online blog tour. For more information, please visit www.OnlinePromotionMadeEasy.com

Author Charles Toftoy Joins Podcast Today

2009-11-06T08:00:00.000-06:00

Dr. Charles Toftoy joins the podcast today to discuss his new release, It's in the Eyes, with WITS author's assistant Sarah Moore. This novel focuses on the murders of young coeds in Washington, D.C. and the efforts of a group of private citizens who call themselves the Alpha Team to solve the crimes. Each member of the group brings a unique background and set of skills to the detective work and are led by Professor Lars Nielsen. The killer they are tracking models his killings on the Thuggees of several centuries ago who terrorized India.

Charles Toftoy will be discussing the integration of the Thuggees into the storyline, the meaning behind the title of the novel, and how Washington, D.C. provides the perfect backdrop for his story.

Click here to listen... to the entire interview.

Please visit the Amazon website to purchase It's in the Eyes.

Lillian Cauldwell and Carolyn Howard-Johnson Partner To Offer Fiction Reading Opportunity

2009-11-05T11:37:00.001-06:00

Lillian Cauldwell and Carolyn Howard-Johnson invite authors to participate in a frugal and fabulous reading and cross-promotion adventure

Starting March, 2010.Passionate Internet Voices Talk Radio will feature authors of published books of fiction to join in the first-ever serial weekly literary festival where authors read brief excerpts from their books over PIVTR’s radio network.
(Nonfiction and Poetry Weeks will come later in 2010.)

Authors may book a reading on what may be a first-of-its-kind event:It is only $10 for 10 minutes. Authors may contact lillian.cauldwell@gmail.com before January 15, 2010. The special will air March 21 thru March 28, 10 to 11 p.m. (New York time) except Wednesday evening when the show starts 10:30 and ends at 11:30 p.m.

Text Lillian at 734-277-2733 Or E-mail: LSaraCauldwell@gmail.com for details!
The planned program also includes:

§ Authors book reviews will be posted on Carolyn's The New Book Review blog: http://thenewbookreview.blogspot.com. That blog was recently named to Online Universities 101 Best Blogs for Readers list.
§ A special authors' page will be created on Passionate Internet Voices Talk Radio (www.pivtr.com) Web page.
§ Lillian will make MP3 streams (html codes) of participating authors' presentations available for $3 each plus shipping. Proceeds from the MP3 streams will go to Mission Socorro and Capuchin Soup Kitchen to help the homeless, migrant workers and recently released prisoners get back on their feet.

Passionate Voices Radio is based on three principles: to market and promote published mid-list and unknown authors to the media; to provide a conduit for voices not otherwise heard in this noisy world; and to provide quality educational and informative content to listeners so they can use it immediately in their spiritual, personal and business lives.

Lillian Cauldwell is an author of one award-winning nonfiction book, "Teenagers! A Bewildered Parent's Guide." She writes multi-cultural paranormal mysteries for mid teens (9 to 14 years) and mentors junior and senior high school students to write their first books. http://lilliancauldwell.com and http://internetvoicesradio.com.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson is an award-winning novelist and poet. She is also the author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. www.howtodoitfrugally.com.

The pair plans future reading festivals for poets and writers of nonfiction.

####

Media material available on request

Carolyn Howard-Johnson

Website: http://www.HowToDoItFrugally.com
E-mail: HoJoNews@aol.com

November Issue of Writers in the Sky E-zine is Now Available!

2009-11-04T19:15:00.001-06:00

The November issue of Writers in the Sky E-zine is now available at
http://writersinthesky.com/ezine/news-nov09.html. Enjoy articles about writing, publishing, and book marketing, find networking opportunities, read poetry and book reviews, and find out who will be the guests on our podcast.

Archived issues for the past four years may be read at http://writersinthesky.com/writing-newsletter.html.

If you would like to contribute an article, announcement, poem, or other material to our free monthly e-zine, please see the submission guidelines at http://writersinthesky.com/writing-newsletter.html#guidelines

Yvonne Perry,
Owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services
http://writersinthesky.com

Organizing, Putting Together, and Writing a Non-Fiction Book

2009-11-04T08:00:00.001-06:00

A non-fiction book is built, then written. The key to finishing a book is having a plan that organizes the steps from start to finish. Learn how this ghostwriter puts a book together.

There are several key components to writing a non-fiction book and you really need a plan. Sure, you can sit down and start typing or writing and just see where things go, but you may find that you get stuck after the first few chapters. You may even be tempted to give up when you find the task overwhelming. I have used this plan to write about twenty books.

1. Decide on a working title. This may change later, but you need a title when referring to the book in any of the preliminary stages. Your title should be short and easy to remember. Include keywords that people might use to search for a book on your subject. The subtitle needs to further explain what the book is about. If someone reads your title and subtitle and still has to ask what the book is about, you need to rethink your titles.

2. Get the domain name for your book title. Get several versions (.com, .net, .org, .info) and purchase domains that have keywords that refer to your book. For example, if your book is titled Super Soccer: Training Young Girls to Play Soccer, you might want these domains: SuperSoccer.com (.net, .org), YoungGirlsSoccer.com, GirlsPlaySocccer.net, SoccerTraning.info, GirlsSoccerTraining.net, and so on. These domains can be forwarded to the site that actually contains your Web content.

3. Write your query letter. Even if you don’t plan to use a conventional publisher, write a query letter anyway. You will need an elevator speech for your book anyway. This concise one-page document that is normally part of the process of asking a publisher to accept your book and offer you a lucrative contract is a great way to get an overview of what your book is going to be about. You can use part of this query as your back cover blurb—a very important part of your book marketing. But mainly this query will bring clarity to the overall scope of the project.

4. Write your book proposal. This requires you to do your marketing research, see what your competition is doing, determine what the book will do for the reader, and outline every chapter that will be in your book. By the time you are finished with the proposal, you will have a clear picture of how your book is going to be organized. All you have to do is flesh it out.

5. Begin to structure your book. Use the chapter outlines from your book proposal to create a skeleton structure of your book. Make chapter headings and bullet point anything you want to cover in that chapter. This is when I assign styles to my headings. This allows me to create a hyperlinked table of contents, which makes it easier to move around in the document once it gets larger.

6. Research the topic more fully, conduct interviews, ask people for stories that will help illustrate your points, and use this information to fill in the bullet points on your outline. Get contributors to sign a release form that gives you permission to use their stories in your book. As you come across experts, contact them and ask if you may send them the part of your book that mentions their topic of expertise and have them critique it.

7. Document your sources as you go! You may not remember where you found certain information a month or so after the fact. If I am using text or a quote, I will copy the URL of the site where I found it and put it in a comment bubble (using MS Word) or as part of the text. I can go back later and get the article title, author’s name, etc. and put it into proper format for the bibliography. If I copy and paste text directly from the Web or an e-book, I will highlight that section in yellow until I can get back to it. The yellow highlight reminds me that I must cite or rewrite this material to avoid plagiarism.

8. Round one edit. You have a rough draft and it is called rough for a reason. It hasn’t been edited. It is jumbled and needs more organization. In your first round of edits, you may move part of one chapter into another place in the book. As you rewrite the copied text, you will begin to see where you need to do more research and flesh out certain weak parts. You may add or remove an entire chapter!

9. Send pertinent sections of your revised rough draft to the experts you’ve contacted. Make revisions using the feedback they give you.

10. Add your front and back matter. This includes the introduction (which is a summary of what the book is going to be about). Pull this from the proposal you created in step 3.

11. Round two edit. At this point, you should have a cohesive manuscript that flows well and contains the material you want to include. Start correcting grammar, punctuation, spelling, and other mechanical errors.

12. Ask your friends to read your manuscript and give feedback. You are still perfecting the manuscript so it’s not too late to make changes.

13. Ask the experts you have worked with along the way to give you an endorsement or write
the foreword for your book. You may use their endorsements on the back cover, inside the book’s front flap, or as part of your marketing material. If the expert is pressed for time, write the foreword for them and ask them to make changes or sign off on it. Make it easy for them to say yes to you.

14. Hire a copyeditor. The book is now ready for the eyes of a qualified editor who will mark your every error in red ink. Yikes! This is the part we all hate, but I can’t tell you how much I have learned from seeing red ink on my pages! Not only will your book be better, all your future writing will benefit from the effort.

I wish you well in writing your book. If you get stuck, you can always contact me for help.

Yvonne Perry, is the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services—a team of highly qualified writers and editors with many years of experience in writing for articles, books, ad copy, media releases, PR kits, Web text, biographical sketches, and newsletters. Editing, proofreading, book review, and book evaluation services offered individually and as packages. Find us online at http://www.writersinthesky.com

Follow WITS on Twitter: http://twitter.com/writersinthesky

If you liked this article, please share it on del.icio.us, StumbleUpon or Digg. I’d appreciate it.

Test-Market with Self-Publishing: Get Your Ideas Reader Ready

2009-11-03T08:00:00.004-06:00

Notes from “Test-Market with Self-Publishing: Get Your Ideas Reader Ready”

Kati Neville is co-author of Fix, Freeze, Feast (Storey Publishing, 2007) and an expert on self-publishing. She was quite successful with self-publishing, and was a great resource for those interested in publishing their own works.

Kati Neville asked some key questions for writers to explore when thinking self-publishing:

1.) How is your idea unique? What resources are similar/different from it? Make the business case for your project without emotion.
2.) Who is your market?
3.) Who will sell it?
4.) Competition?
5.) Think about timing, try to tie into key events.

Read more here.. http://tinyurl.com/yjx9zrq

Author Charles Toftoy to Join Podcast This Friday

2009-11-02T08:00:00.000-06:00

Be sure to tune into the Writers in the Sky podcast this Friday as our author's assistant Sarah Moore sits down with Charles Toftoy to discuss his new release It's in the Eyes. This book tells the story of a team of private citizens, known as the Alpha Team, who use their diverse set of talents to investigate crimes. Led by a professor named Lars Nielsen, the team is now hoping to solve the recent murders of coeds in Washington, D.C. These murders, inspired by the Thuggees of several centuries ago who terrorized India, have the entire region gripped by fear.

Dr. Toftoy brings a rich background in academics, business, and the military to his plot and the characters found on the pages of It's in the Eyes.

Please visit the Amazon website to purchase It's in the Eyes.

Title of Document: Book Review
Book Title: It’s in the Eyes
Author: Charles Toftoy
ISBN: 978-1-4327-1196-2
Publisher: OutskirtsPress.com
Genre and Target Market: thriller; fiction; criminal psychology
Publication Date: 2009
Book Length in Pages: 312

Book Review by Sarah Moore

You know that you’ve hit the literary jackpot when you find a novel that combines several of your interests into one great story. For example, someone who enjoys reading about both sports and romance may be intrigued by a book that features the long-distance relationship between a football star and his girlfriend. Or, perhaps you prefer a book with a science-fiction focus that also includes military confrontations. For me, I found a great synthesis of setting and plot in the new release It’s in the Eyes by Dr. Charles Toftoy. This thriller is set in my hometown of Washington, D.C. and features academia, action, and suspense. Knowing this information gave me high expectations before I even read the first page, and I was not disappointed.

It’s in the Eyes grabs the readers immediately by placing us at a crime scene that is central to the entire plot and whose victim returns posthumously throughout the book to motivate the self-proclaimed detectives to solve her murder. Readers quickly learn that there is a series of murders of young women who attend universities in the Washington, D.C. area. These crimes have created uneasiness among the population and a sense of urgency in the Arlington Police Department. Lars Neilsen, a college professor with very personal reasons for wanting to catch the predator responsible for these gruesome deaths, assembles his “Alpha Team” of experts to piece together clues and hopefully end the violence.

One of Dr. Toftoy’s greatest strengths in his writing is his ability to select language that creates a sense of tension in the readers. While the murderer remains anonymous for most of the novel, we are let into his mind periodically as the story unfolds. His narcissism and lack of emotion for any of the pain he has caused is quite disturbing. As he ponders the fate of his next victim, you want to find the woman yourself and warn her before it is too late. The author maintains this sense of discomfort by revealing just a little more about the criminal and his motivations with every chapter. With such a well-developed mystery, I often found myself nervous as I turned the page because the next event was either so shocking or revealing. And, I will simply say that I did not see the ending coming at all. It’s in the Eyes is a suspense novel from beginning to end.

For those who have not been to Washington, D.C., Dr. Toftoy does a wonderful job of illustrating everyday life in that world capital. By providing details like the traffic reporter of the local news station, favorite eateries, and the feel of the diverse neighborhoods, you really get a sense of the environment in which the characters live. And, the decision to include what Lars Neilsen and the other members of his Alpha Team prefer to eat at the local Silver Diner or drink at the Capitol City Brewing Company drives home the idea that these are ordinary private citizens with whom all of us can relate. It just so happens that they are choosing to put themselves in extraordinary circumstances.

The author of It’s in the Eyes, Dr. Charles Toftoy, brings a wealth of academic and business experience to his writing. I hope that he finds the opportunity to put this great background into another novel soon. It’s in the Eyes is a complex thriller that combines history, action, strong character development, believable dialogue, and a plot that will keep you guessing. If you enjoy curling up with a compelling mystery, this is most certainly a book for you.

The Sid Series ~ A Collection of Holistic Stories for Children

2009-10-30T00:00:00.001-05:00

Writers in the Sky Podcast interviews a very special guest today and he's the youngest guest we've ever had on the show. Sidney McCurley is Yvonne's 8-year-old grandson, and he's the inspiration behind the series of children’s books written by Writers in the Sky owner Yvonne Perry.

The two of them enjoyed adventures which led to the writing of The Sid Series of holistic stories. Through these stories children can learn wonderful lessons about love, acceptance, using spiritual gifts, and much more.

The individual stories were published as separate e-books and sell for $3 each on Yvonne's Web site. Now, the print version containing all twelve stories is available. Please visit The Sid Series Web page to learn more.

Inspired by adventures Yvonne has had with her first-born grandson named Sidney, each story in The Sid Series (ISBN:9780982572207) focuses on skills such as overcoming fear, being environmentally conscious, helping others, being true to one’s self, and following inner guidance.

This collection of body-mind-spirit stories highlights unique lessons about love, acceptance, self-worth, caring for the body, diversity, facing fears, dealing with change, experiencing the death of a pet, using spiritual gifts, and psychic experiences today’s children exhibit. There’s even a book about recycling that alludes toward organ donation.

On our show today, Sidney will discuss how he served as Yvonne’s muse, the spiritual gifts that he shares with his grandmother, and what other children can get from reading these stories that bear his name.

Click the arrow to listen to the interview

Titles in The Sid Series include the following:

Sid’s Fairy ~ Learning about Inner Guidance
A Stormy Adventure ~ Facing the Fear of Storms
The Pirate’s Treasure ~ Finding Treasure Within
You Can Be! ~ Understanding Destiny and Making Choices
Ask Your Body ~ Understanding the Body’s Needs
A Ghost in My Closet ~ Communicating with Angels
A Powerful Potion ~ The Power of Imagination
My Friend’s Skin ~ Accepting and Appreciating Diversity
Puppy Love ~ Dealing with the Death of a Pet
Old Things New ~ Learning About Recycling
Always Be Honest ~ Learning to Tell the Truth
Making Room for Brother ~ Coping with Family Changes

Purchase on Amazon.com.

Podcast Schedule for November

2009-10-29T08:00:00.004-05:00

November 6

Charles Toftoy will be joining the podcast to discuss his new book It’s in the Eyes. This novel, set in Washington, D.C., focuses on the murders of four university co-eds whose killer uses the rituals practiced by a gang in India several centuries ago. Lars Nielsen, a college professor, brings together his Alpha Team of private citizens to solve the crime. Mr. Toftoy will be discussing how he developed his characters, why he incorporated the idea of ritualistic killing, and whether or not readers can expect more books involving the Alpha Team.

November 12

Abe Rosa joins the podcast to share his new release entitled The Drummer. Mr. Rosa wrote this book as an extension of his Christian faith, hoping to share with readers an example of strength in courage in convictions. The book focuses on a young woman who is the greatest drummer in the world and who now faces the greatest challenge. Her mother has been captured by the government. Abe Rosa will tell the audience why he chose a drummer as his voice in the book, what he hopes readers will take away from reading his work, and how he is marketing this new release.

November 13

Our younger listeners and their parents will want to tune in when Joseph Adegboyega-Edun talks about his new book Succeeding in High School. This new release takes readers through each step of the high school experience and offers practical advice for getting the most out of the academic opportunities. Mr. Adegboyega-Edun also provides a helpful guide to the college admissions process as the second half of this handbook. He is an experienced advisor at both the high school and college level who speaks as someone who knows what works.

November 20

Author Mike Thompson shares another offering for our younger readers with his new book Twinsational. This work of children’s fiction shares one day in the life of eleven-year-old twins Mark and Michelle Johnson. Young people will relate to the concepts of class bullies, demanding teachers, and first crushes. Through every moment, the close relationship between the siblings is evident and heartwarming. Mr. Thompson will share how he developed the idea of Twinsational, what he believes children can learn from his book, and if he has future plans for Mark and Michelle.

November 27

Julia Booker joins the podcast to discuss her book I’m Still Standing. This novel tells the story of a mother and daughter who are caught in a cycle of constant abuse, including beatings, rape, and emotional cruelty. The mother uses drugs and alcohol to numb the pain, while the daughter fears that her life is headed for the same fate. The book is based on a true story, which makes the abuse even more gripping. Ms. Booker and WITS author’s assistant Sarah Moore will discuss the difficulty in writing such a painful and personal book, how the characters were developed from real individuals, and what lessons she hopes readers, particularly women, will take away from her work.

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Listening to Writers in the Sky Podcast on a computer is easy. Just click this link: http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com and go to my blog.On the right sidebar there is a list of archived shows. Click on the interview you would like to hear and it will open a post that has a link to the audio file.