Lou's Tip of the Day

Welcome to Florida Book News

2009-07-12T03:55:00.000-07:00

Florida Book News is a free service. If you have news about a book, a writer's organization, upcoming workshop or conference or any writing or book event, send your news to Florida Book News editor by email to Lou@LouBelcher.com.

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Editor's notes of the week:

Our fellow writer Bob Brown is currently on his trip to cross the Atlantic in a flats book with her brother Ralph Brown. I've been following their progress on their blog. You can too. The address for their blog is http://www.crosstheatlantic.blogspot.com/ There are videos on the main site at http://www.crosstheatlantic.com that will help you appreciate what they are doing.

Books and announcements: If you are a Florida author and have a book you would like to tell the world about send a jpg of the cover and a press release to Lou@LouBelcher.com and I'll be glad to post it on Florida Book News. Also, be sure to let me know what your writing organization has coming up in the near future. I'll announce your events, workshops, conferences, book signings, etc.

Annette Clifford to Speak at Space Coast Writers' Guild on 7/18/09

2009-07-12T03:54:00.001-07:00

Annette Clifford will speak on July 18 at 1:00 p.m.at the main meeting of the Space Coast Writers' Guild at the West Melbourne Public Library.

Annette Clifford is an award-winning journalist and fiction writer. She is an editorial writer at Florida Today, focusing on education, health care and social justice issues. She recently published World's Toughest Job, a collection of some of her best columns.

Kathy Cummings to Speak at the Book Xchg

2009-07-11T14:51:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, August 1st, at 1pm at the Book Xchg, 604 Brevard Avenue,
Cocoa Village, Kathy G. Cummings will discuss her writing.

Kathy G. Cummings, was born Kathy Ann Cummings, in Oswego, New York to
parents Raymond E. and Gertrude Kathryn DeSantis Cummings. Her first novel,
The Wind Whispers War, was self published in 2006. It was soon followed by
several more novels to continue the historical romance series based in the
Vietnam era.

For nearly 20 years, Kathy worked for a contractor to the US
Air Force as a civilian equivalent to an AF X2 computer operator in the
Standard Base Supply System. This experience gave her the opportunity to
become acquainted with many veterans who inspired her novel series. Kathy
currently resides in Florida and continues to write novels and poetry.

The public is invited to this event.

Creative Arts Foundation of Brevard presents Esther Muradov in Concert

2009-07-05T02:50:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars.

The Creative Arts Foundation of Brevard is proud to announce the appearance of 16-year-old accomplished violinist and Suntree resident, Esther Muradov, who will perform a local recital on Sunday, August 16th, at 4 p.m., at the Unitarian Fellowship Hall, 3115 Friendship Pl, Rockledge, Florida, 32955. Refreshments and snacks to follow, including wine and cheese.

Esther was a finalist at the Ibla competition for music in 2007, which led to her performing at Carnegie Hall in April of 2008. This year, she is competing at international music competition in Spain. Those of you who have enjoyed Esther's virtuosity and brilliance in the past will be dazzled by this program of most difficult and beautiful pieces. They will include:

Bach Sonata in G minor -Presto
Ravel's - 'Tzigane'
Sibelius D minor concerto - 1st movement
Wieniawski- Obertass-Mazurka

Also on the program, as a special bonus, two more local and talented young artists will perform during Esther's breaks.

Pianist, Andrew Harn, 16, will play a Chopin sonata, and 10 year-old Emily Deruelle will sing a song from Phantom of the Opera.

Tickets (tax deductible donations) are $25. Seating is limited and expect to be sold out far in advance. Call 321-254-3398 for tickets and/or more information. Or, please respond to this e-mail.

I've attached a 3-minute video segment of Esther playing the "Tzigane"
Click here: Video 6

New Spiritual Nonfiction on the Trinitarian Doctrine

2009-07-01T05:32:00.000-07:00

In his new spiritual nonfiction book, "Understanding" the Trinity: Three Persons vs Three Manifestations: A Revolution in Christian Thought and Philosophy, Will Daniels seeks to dispel the myth of traditional trinitarian training, which proclaims the existence of three persons under one Godhead: The father, the son and the holy spirit.

Based solely on evidence derived from the King James Version of the Bible, "Understanding" the Trinity takes readers from the passages of Genesis to Revelation, in its quest to prove the absolute nature of God, "Understanding" the Trinity encourages readers to undergo a paradigm shift in their thinking, challenging previously held beliefs, doctrine and practice to reach a better understanding of God and the mystery of the gospel.

"Understanding" the Trinity seeks to clarify the inconsistencies of the trinitarian doctrine, which are imperative for readers’ understanding of God and salvation, and an enlightened step in the right direction for anyone wanting to understand the oneness of God and the revelation of Christ.

Will Daniels his wife, Dorothy, have three adult children. He graduated from Youngstown State University and is a Vietnam veteran. He retired as an industrial engineer.

For more information, please visit: http://www.understandingthetrinity.com/.

Understanding the Trinity can be ordered worldwide by phone or by Internet. You can order by the following methods:

1. www.understandingthetrinity.com
2. Authorhouse Publishing 1-888-280-7715
3. www.Barnesandnoble.com and www.Amazon.com In the search box, Put Understanding the Trinity Will Daniels
4. Go to any book store of your choice and ask for Understanding the Trinity by Will Daniels. The book will be ordered and sent you.

The Art of Grandparenting

2009-06-27T13:54:00.000-07:00

Rose Padrick and Judy Mammay writers from Brevard county will have 'letters' to new grandparents published in The ART of Grandparenting, which will be coming out in September.

Here is the information about the book...

Grandparenting is a tough job for new grandparents. It is an awe-inspiring experience and in many ways baffling. The ART of Grandparenting (ISBN978-1-933449-79-1 $19.95) is an anthology of witty, wise and wonder-filled stories by professional writers from all over the USA and as far away as Israel. Insight abounds in these stories and are re-capped in short lists of advice in the Tips & Tricks after each essay.

New grandparents will find helpful, humor-filled guidance in this book, due to release in time for Grandparent's Day 2009 on September 13, 2009. Go to http://www.nightengalepress.com/ and enter the New and Forthcoming Titles section of the STORE to pre-order yours.

The book's website: http://www.grandparentingbook.com/ is currently under construction, but will go live in the next couple of weeks. As a social and video networking site, this will be a place for grandparents to gather to talk about their role in the lives of their families, share their own tips and tricks, brag about their grandkids, enter photo contests, and much more. Of course, the book will be for sale at http://www.grandparentingbook.com/ , http://www.nightengalepress.com/ , http://www.amazon.com/ , http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ , and the websites of all the contributing authors.

How far would you go to right a wrong?

2009-06-26T00:14:00.000-07:00

For Michael Sykora, killing started as blind rage. Then it became something he's good at. To most of those who know him, Michael is a softwaredesigner, a smart but average guy with a workaholic nature. To a chosen few, Michael is a part-time hit man whose specialty is eliminating hard-core criminals.

Michael has managed to keep his two personas separate. Until now. When Nicki, a close friend, gets into trouble, Michael steps in to help. Having lost his fiance to a brutal crime, Michael will do whatever necessary to keep from losing another woman in his life.

At one time or another, don't we all wish we could do the things our Justice system cannot or will not? What would it take to push you over theedge?

-----Darcía Helle is a native of Massachusetts. She now lives in the Tampa Bay area of Florida with her husband, teenage son, and a house full of spoiled animals. No Justice is the first in a mystery/suspense series starring MichaelSykora. This book, as well as others by Darcía Helle, is available on Amazon as a trade paperback or in digital form for your Kindle reader.

All of Darcía Helle's novels are also available for purchase on herwebsite: http://www.quietfurybooks.com/. There you will find excerpts, contests, Guilty As Charged - a montly newsletter, her blog, and much more. Visit soon. The characters await you.

Fabric Collage Artist Offers “Personal Workshop” Ebooks

2009-06-22T10:46:00.000-07:00

For over a year, Melbourne artist Ellen Lindner has been successfully offering her classes online. She has found this format to be easy and lucrative for her, as well as inexpensive and convenient for her students.

When potential students missed her classes due to scheduling conflicts, they often asked “Do you have a book?” This made her think and she got busy converting two of her classes to ebooks. Ebooks are not printed. Instead, they come to the buyer as a digital file, easily downloaded from Ellen’s website.

Most of Ellen’s classes and ebooks are geared toward traditional quilters who’d like to become more artistic. However, her classes on color and design have a much broader appeal.

Ellen has written her ebooks as though they’re one-on-one workshops. Thus the series title, “Personal Workshop.” Thus far, she has written “Personal Workshop: Adventures in Color,” which is appropriate for artists in all media, and “Personal Workshop: Double Reverse Appliqué™,” which is an easy and accurate raw edge appliqué technique for quilters and sewers.

Ellen Lindner’s work can be seen on her website http://www.adventurequilter.com/. A directory of her ebooks, classes, and free articles can be found at
http://www.adventurequilter.com/e-Learning/main_page.html

Photographer & Painter/Poet Joint Exhibition

2009-06-19T05:59:00.000-07:00

A new and exciting exhibition will be available at East Coast Coffee and Tea Company at Eau Gallie and South Patrick Drive (next to Publix) beginning June 26th. Photographer and digital artist Dawn Currie and watercolor painter Joyce Athey have collaborated to share their vision, faith, and passion. Don’t miss the opening reception and book signing will be held on Saturday, June 27th, 6:30-8:30 PM!

Dawn Currie’s photographic image is constantly evolving. Utilizing knowledge of diverse art media and styles along with computer savvy and a keen eye, she is transforming photographs into works of art. With today’s technology the possibilities are limitless. Dawn loves experimenting with color, texture, and composition. Check out her website at http://www.dcreproductions.com/

Joyce Athey began her adventure with transparent watercolor in 1995, several years after moving to Florida. Her interest was ignited through Brevard’s welcoming art community. Joyce’s unique abstract style emerged. Poetry soon joined this visible form of personal expression Her newest book, Cathedrals of the Heart, leads the reader on an incredible faith journey through poetry and paintings. One can see and learn more of her artistry at http://www.mjoyceathey.com/

Enemies and Playmates by Darcia Helle

2009-06-18T10:45:00.000-07:00

When the abused decide to fight back, the abuser’s world might just shatter. Lauren Covington's family maintains a grand facade that belies the life they live behind closed doors. Alex Covington, Lauren's father, keeps a tight hold on his family through dominance, abuse, and obsessive control. Consequently, Lauren doesn't believe she could ever trust a man, much less fall in love with one.

When Lauren meets Jesse Ryder, her carefully constructed protective wall shatters. She falls hopelessly and completely in love. It's only fitting that Jesse is a private detective who had once worked for her father, had defied him, and was now the subject of Alex Covington's wrath.

Amidst devastating loss, betrayal, and her father's destructive pursuit of Jesse, Lauren finds the trust and love she had always longed for.---

Darcía Helle lives in the Tampa Bay area of Florida with her husband, son,and a house full of spoiled animals. She has three published novels, all in the mystery/suspense genre. Enemies and Playmates is her first novel, which has recently been revised and given a brand new look. All of her novels are available on http://www.amazon.com/, as well as Darcía's website http://www.quietfurybooks.com/.

The website is the creation and domain of Darcía Helle. All of Darcia's novels, as well as contests, monthly newsletters, and more, are available on her website. Visit soon. The characters await you.

Florida Book Awards Update

2009-06-18T09:55:00.000-07:00

A note to keep you all in the loop. The Florida Book Awards competition is revving up for another cycle. The plans are to open it in July. I will issue an official statement on Florida Book News when I'm notified.

For now, stay tuned to floridabookawards.lib.fsu.edu and twitter.com/Flbookawards for updates. If you have questions that just can't wait for the official announcment, email floridabookawards@gmail.com

Florida Book News Announces : Writing Below Sea Level

2009-06-17T08:24:00.000-07:00

Writing Below Sea Level: Full Immersion Workshops for Serious Writers (www.writingbelowsealevel.com) will hold three-day conferences in beautiful, historic Cedar Key, Florida, on October 1-4, 2009, and again on November 5-8, 2009.

The critique-intensive conferences are open to fiction and creative non-fiction writers. Each workshop is limited to six students.

Award-winning novelist Connie May Fowler will lead the fiction group. Zilpha Underwood, a magazine and newspaper editor with twenty-five years of experience, will lead the creative non-fiction workshop. In addition to manuscript critiques, participants will take part in writing and publishing colloquies, enjoy evening studio sessions where they read from their work, and will be led in a book-in-common discussion by former Appalachian State Professor of Literature Eileen Burt Carbia.

The application deadline for both conferences is July 15. For more details, visit the WBSL website.

Florida Book News - Annette Clifford Wins Humor Category in 59th Annual Green Eyeshade Awards

2009-06-16T05:54:00.000-07:00

59TH ANNUAL GREEN EYESHADE AWARDS

Lane DeGregory of the St. Petersburg Times took top honors in the 59th Annual Green Eyeshade Awards, a journalism contest that recognizes excellence in 11 Southern states. DeGregory won “Best of Show” for her feature story, “The Girl in the Window.” DeGregory also won first place in the daily division of the annual Green Eyeshade Awards contest, which drew more than 500 entries from media outlets in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Humorous Commentary...

1st Place: "Parenting” Annette Clifford, Florida Today

2nd Place: "Internet puts some in ticklish situations, Burgers and fries?, VP Palin?” Geoff Calkins, The Commercial Appeal

3rd Place: "Kelly Kazek's Columns” Kelly Kazek, The News Courier25.

Congratulations Annette.

Annette is the author of World's Toughest Job.

Upcoming Workshop Anhinga Writers' Studio Summer Workshops

2009-06-13T16:50:00.000-07:00

The Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Writing the Region Conference is well known for quality information for writers. It has been renamed the Anhinga Writers' Studio Summer Workshops,

It's the 13th year for the conference. It is hosted in Gainesville "where nature and culture meet, and where summer creates postcard-perfect beauty and adventure. Year after year, writers return with friends and families to share the fun of a truly memorable working vacation."

They offer in-depth courses in five different genres: mainstream fiction, mystery, romance, poetry, or narrative nonfiction. There will also be opportunities to meet with literary agents and editors.

The dates for the conference are July 29 - August1, 2009. It will be held at the Hilton Conference Center in Gainesville.

For complete information visit: http://www.anhingawriters.org/

The Contact is Beverly Browning. contact her at bbrowning@anhingawriters.org.

Cindy Rella from Carmen Beecher

2009-06-07T04:33:00.000-07:00

When the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery had their Hopes and Dreams show to benefit Genesis House, artists were asked to submit, along with a painting, a board book of their own creation. Carmen Beecher did a little storybook with cartoon illustrations titled The Story of Cindy Rella. It is a tongue-in-cheek version of the old fairy tale, with a different variation on the message.

Several people wanted to buy the handmade original book, so Carmen published it on Lulu.com. Lulu submitted The Story of Cindy Rella as part of a pilot program with Amazon.com. The book may be purchased by going to Amazon.com and Googling Carmen

Author Profile - Darcia Helle

2009-06-07T04:04:00.000-07:00

Would you trade your sanity in order to forget? Sanity is not something you lose, like your car keys or that elusive sock in the dryer. That's what Ian believed before his mother stepped over the edge from sane to crazy.

No one is able to give Ian a reasonable explanation. Corinne suffers from severe memory loss, odd behavior, and paranoid delusions. Or at least Ian had been told they were delusions. After all, who would be hiding outside watching his mother? And why?

Ian hires private investigator Lucianna Martel to retrace the events of his mother's last sane day. During Lucianna's investigation, she and Ian learn that Corinne may not be so crazy after all.

About the author...

A native of Massachusetts, Darcia Helle now lives in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. She is married, with two grown sons and a house full of spoiled animals. Hit List is Darcia's third novel. She is currently working on a sequel to her second novel, No Justice.

All of her novels are available on her website: http://www.quietfurybooks.com/. Hit List is now available on Amazon.com! Quiet Fury Books is an independent book publisher for fiction by DarciaHelle. The website is the creation and domain of Darcia Helle.

Flash Fiction Contest

2009-06-07T04:03:00.000-07:00

Editor Unleashed and Smashwords have teamed up for a flash fiction contest. Cash prizes will go to 40 writers, including a $500 Grand Prize and publication in the Editor Unleashed/Smashwords Floash Fiction 40 anthology.

Go to http://editorunleashed.com/contest/ for details about the contest.

Annette Clifford Spoke at the Book Xchg

2009-06-07T04:00:00.000-07:00

Annette Clifford spoke at the June 6 gathering at the Book Xchg in Cocoa Village. She is the author of World's Toughest Job and a columnist for Florida Today. She read from various columns and shared prize-winning poetry. In addition, she shared the importance of taking risks. For information about her book, go to http://www.world/.

There will be no author's gathering at the BookXchg on July 4, 2009 due to the Fourth of July holiday. Watch for information about the August meeting.

Cross the Atlantic for Wounded Warriors

2009-06-07T03:59:00.000-07:00

No, Cross the Atlantic for Wounded Warriors is not a book title... It's real life. Fellow author Bob Brown and his brother, Ralph Brown, are embarking on another daring adventure. They are launching their flat boat for another big voyage.

Last time, 2007, they made it into the Guinness Book of World Records with their trip from the coast of North Carolina to Bermuda and back. This time they are crossing the Atlantic. Bob wrote about their first adventure in his book pictured here. (The photo on the cover will give you an idea of the size of the boat they use for these challenges.)

Go to http://crosstheatlantic.com to see for yourself.

Usually we think as writers that the written word is pretty special, but this time pictures really bring home what they will be doing. Watch the videos on the site and see what they have challenged themselves to do. In addition to their sailing goal, they have set another monumental goal: to raise $3,000,000 for scholarships for the children of fallen soldiers and for their families.

There is information on the site for potential sponsors, too. Buy a t-shirt to help.

I'll keep you up to date on their progress, so check back to hear how they are doing.

Go look at the short video... at http://crosstheatlantic.com and I'm sure you'll be coming back to see how they are doing. Thanks.

Charlie Love

2009-06-01T09:49:00.000-07:00

Charlie Love's book Trilogy in Fear has been selected to be among this week's Book of the Week selections. Click here to see it... http://www.publishamerica.com/alltop10.htm.

Charlie is also the author of 243 and Other Short Stories. It is a combination of four different genres: mystery thriller, sci-fi, horror, and a young adult story.

Congratulations to Charlie.

Richard Goodman Memoir-Writing Workshop

2009-05-29T05:07:00.000-07:00

Many Central Florida writers enjoyed meeting and learning from Richard Goodman http://www.RichardGoodman.org at literary events at Urban Think! Bookstore, Rollins College, and Kerouac House this past March.

This fall, the author of The Soul of Creative Writing and the cult favorite French Dirt: The Story of a Garden in the South of France returns to the Orlando area to offer From Memory to Story: Writing Your Life, an all-day workshop, sponsored by MAD about Words. http://www.madaboutwords.com

We all have a story we want to tell. The real challenge is: how do we turn our own personal drama into something that will captivate complete strangers? This workshop will turn to fiction for answers. It will teach some of the techniques of fine fiction, such as character development, dialogue, sentence structure, setting the scene, word choice, and the use of time. These are the bulwarks of great fiction and what keeps the reader turning the pages. The good news is that they can be learned.

In this one-day writing workshop, Richard Goodman will take participants through a series of writing exercises geared toward making use of fictional techniques in creative nonfiction. If you have ever wanted to write essays, memoir, or tell your life story in words, this workshop will provide an excellent start.

Class size is limited. Register early. For more information visit the MAD about Words website http://www.madaboutwords.com/ or contact Mary Ann de Stefano at 407.963.4450

The Dyodyne Experiment awarded a Gold Medal

2009-05-29T03:42:00.000-07:00

The Dyodyne Experiment, by James Doulgeris and V. Michael Santoro is a Gold Medalist in the 2009 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Award) for the Popular Fiction Category! http://www.dyodyneexperiment.com/

The Dyodyne Experiment is a fiction thriller that personifies the collision of conflicting ideologies and unproven scientific advancement with the insatiable greed for money and power. The issue of guarding civil liberties at all costs or temporarily relinquishing a portion of those rights for protection against terrorism is a difficult one. Concerns of pushing the envelope on genetic research run deep as well. Should scientists alter the human genetic blueprint to achieve unproven scientific advancements?

The Dyodyne Experiment captures life in the early 21st century – a time of hope and achievement that is challenged and complicated by greed, radical idealism and self-serving political ambition. Although the book is a work of fiction, the foundation of information that comprises the book was found freely on the Internet. During their research, the authors found
some of this information fascinating because of the scientific possibilities; and much of it could pose a deep and dangerous threat to society and humanity as a whole.

The authors' goal for writing "The Dyodyne Experiment" is to encourage our global community to put common sense before radical ideology. This novel is apolitical, but with a powerful point - that with freedom comes responsibility and accountability.

Book Summary: A research team at Dyodyne Labs has developed a remarkable new technology: a microscopic computer system with the ability to secretly track people with pinpoint accuracy. The system, code-named DaNA, is transmitted as a benign virus that passes the tracking system to all who come in contact with its host. The government sees the system as the perfect way to track down a criminal's accomplices, making it invaluable in bringing down the drug cartel. But when the biggest terrorist attack in U.S. history devastates New York City, the Department of Homeland Security orders the team to launch the untested system to find those responsible. What they uncover is unthinkable - six nuclear bombs hidden in six major cities. And the bombs, controlled by a powerful underground alliance, are part of a much larger global conspiracy. As the team at Dyodyne rushes to track down the terrorists holding the country hostage, they discover yet another threat: DaNA is mutating and may be impossible to control…

2009 Florida Writer's Conference

2009-05-25T05:12:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars. The 2009 Florida Writer's Conference is not far away. Follow news about it at http://www.floridawriters.wordpress.com.

The 2009 Florida Writer’s Conference will be held from October 23-25 at the Lake Mary Marriott, in Lake Mary, Florida (just east of Orlando). In the past, conferences have attracted more than 300 attendees, as well as a wide variety of published authors, agents, publishers, and other experts to help you with the craft and business of writing.

This year's conference includes keynote addresses by Florida author James O. Born and Mundania Publishing founder Bob Sanders. It will also include agents and editors including representatives from Harlequin Romance, the Wylie-Merrick Literary Agency, Ravenous Romance, Howard Morheim Literary, and independent publisher Peppertree Press.

The conference will also include sessions by noted writing coach Margie Lawson and a wide range of other sessions on the business and craft of writing. For more information, see the conference blog.(URL: floridawriters.wordpress.com)

Book Tour - Rabbi Ed Weinsberg

2009-05-25T05:05:00.000-07:00

Acclaimed African-American off-Broadway actor, Kevin Byrd, 28, will join award-winning author Rabbi Ed Weinsberg, 65, on a nation-wide interdenominational tour advocating early prostate screening for men age 40 and above. They plan to visit twelve urban centers from New York City to Los Angeles, where they will speak to audiences at community centers, churches and synagogues. Other proposed cities include Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Miami, Sarasota, Birmingham, Houston, Milwaukee, Chicago and Phoenix.

During the tour Mr. Byrd will portray a man with prostate cancer, - one of six characters in his one-man play, “Release”. Rabbi Weinsberg will join him in commenting on the play and will present his views based on his award-winning book, Conquer Prostate Cancer: How Medicine, Faith, Love and Sex Can Renew Your Life. Their tour will start in June, - National Men’s Health Awareness Month, proclaimed by Congress, through the end of September, - National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, proclaimed by the White House. Further information about the tour and book is available at http://www.conquerprostatecaner.com/ or by email to Rabbi-Ed@ConquerProststeCancer.com.

Do you translate into French?

2009-05-24T06:51:00.000-07:00

Bob Brown is looking for someone to translate his book into French. He wants to do it right away. There are only 40 days left before his trip. On their boat trip, they will be going to both Canada and France.

If you know of anyone or have an idea for him, email him.

Thanks. His email is: bobbrown1408@aol.com

Also, check out the information about the trip at: http://crosstheatlantic.com.