The Making of a YA Novel: Meeting Lizzy by SarahBeth Carter

I've recently had my taste in movies called into question. This led me to dissect my movie preferences to try to define why I like what I like. It's more difficult than you'd imagine! The result (after much thought, mental arguing, and talking to myself) was that I now know that I am obsessed with people.

I don't get obsessed with story lines near as much as I get attached to great characters. And they're not always likable. I love characters that are honest depictions. I love characters that are so real that I feel like I know them. I love characters that are so normal that when they do "normal" things it doesn't seem ridiculous. I love characters that are ordinary in every way except one (this is my explanation for my obsession with all movies "superhero"). I love to see ordinary people act extraordinary when the situation demands it and I believe this is a reflection of real life. (That last is an argument for my husband; apparently he doesn't think ordinary people are capable of acting extraordinary. This is his definition of unrealistic. I find that line of reasoning depressing and sad. But we've agreed to disagree).

I'm not saying that I don't love a good story. But ever since I started thinking about this I've realized how much it changes my perspective on things. If someone I know is relating an event in their life instead of finding myself asking questions along the lines of, "What happened next?" I find myself asking questions like, "How did you feel? Were you terrified?"
Some will question my sanity, but to those I say...it's been done and will be done again so feel free! I think characters are more important to a good movie than a good story. And I'll go so far as to take that same theory and say that it can be applied directly to books; at least that's a quality I find in my favorite books. And it's the method behind my madness when it comes to writing.

The initial idea for my latest project (Meeting Lizzy releasing September 19, 2008) came while I was driving home from a late night class on a deserted freeway in the rain. It wasn't a quick, barely there sprinkling typical of Arizona, but one of the rare, but intense downpours that always happen as soon as the sun has dried out and cracked your windshield wipers so visibility is pretty low. I remember the frequent overpasses blocked out the rain intermittently supplying me with bursts of silence amidst the sound of the pelting rain.

Realizing my radio wasn't on I tuned it in to one of my favorite stations and caught the end of a feisty, intense song about finding a reason to change who you are. When it was over I switched channels and ran into another song that happened to be right in the middle of a verse I recognized telling the story of someone who wanted to step in to help a stranger. That's all it took. The mixture of feelings created a character in my head. I immediately placed that character in an intense scenario and I pondered just what he would do all the way home. I started writing that night. The very beginning of Meeting Lizzy features the same character I envisioned in the very same scenario I had originally placed him in; it's intense, often uncomfortable, sometimes funny, and very honest.

Writing to me is capturing the essence of people on paper. What do they feel? What do they do? And why do they feel and do these things? I theorize that honest, believable characters carry the story, and I hope when you pick up Meeting Lizzy... you'll see just what I mean!

A Positive Voice Amongst the Mob of Negativity Surrounding New Home Builders

LJW Publishing’s upcoming release, 21st Century Advertising for New Home Builders by Preston John, will be on shelves July 18, 2008. The book is a timely addition to an industry that is currently being overwhelmed by the negative effects of a changing economy. The upcoming release may be described by some as a “survival guide” for those in the new home building industry, but Preston John would describe it as a guide to thriving in an industry of change.

The Book: 21st Century Advertising for New Home Builders
Publisher: LJW Publishing
Distributor: Atlas Books
Author: Preston John
ISBN 13: 978-0-9761986-5-9
Publication Date: July 18, 2008
Price: $12.95
Binding: paperback, perfect binding
Page Count: 196
Book Category: Business/General; Business/Construction; Business/Advertising

The Author: Preston John
The author, Preston John, is the C.E.O. of the nation’s largest Sales & Marketing firm specializing in New Home Builders. He is aware of the necessary steps to take during industry climate changes to ensure that his clients outlast their less prepared competitors. He has dedicated his career to sales & marketing in the real estate industry and continues to thrive on the never ending growth that completing the job successfully requires.

The Publisher: LJW Publishing
LJW Publishing is a division of LJW, Inc., founded 23 years ago and still experiencing new and exciting possibilities. LJW Publishing’s main offices are located in Mesa, Arizona just outside of Phoenix. The company is excited to publish this particular work as it is so applicable to current economic issues in the nation and in the new home building industry specifically.

For More Information:
For more information on the book, the author, or the publishing company contact Sarah Carter at sarah@larryjohnwright.com

Do You Belong to a Book Club?

by GauchoTexts (contact the author for info on book clubs!)

A book discussion club is a group of people who meet to discuss a book or books that they have read and express their opinions, likes, dislikes, etc. It is more often called simply a book club. Traditionally, a book club consists of several members who meet in person each month to talk about a specific book or literature.

However, the advent of web forums and email has made it possible for book clubs to exist online. Nowadays book discussion clubs may meet in private homes, libraries, bookstores, online forums, pubs, and in cafes or restaurants over meals or drinks. While both traditional and online book clubs offer readers the opportunity to participate in spirited discussions, each type has its own set of advantages.

In person meeting book clubs offer the benefit of having all members in the same room face to face, which makes for a much more personal and intimate experience. Since most in person meeting book clubs are somewhat small in size, each member typically has more control over what books are selected to read (often members will vote on a list of suggested titles that have been submitted or take turns selecting).

At the same time, it is often difficult to organize and maintain a book club that meets face to face regularly. In addition to the challenge of recruiting quality members for a book club, a regular meeting time and place may be difficult to establish, especially if members have busy schedules. A responsible and experienced moderator is also very difficult to find while maintaining such a book club. Also, the small size of the traditional book club typically limits the diversity of views and perspectives that enter into the discussion. There is less number of people and so limited ideas are shared among themselves.

Online book clubs offer several advantages over the in person meeting group model. Due to the availability of the internet anywhere and everywhere and the variety of book clubs available, readers who turn to the Internet to find a book club enjoy a much wider selection of clubs, including many dedicated to a specialized interest or genre. In addition, online book clubs can be more convenient, as many of them are available at any time of day.

Of course, there are also disadvantages associated with online book clubs. For instance, the intimacy of a personal discussion is lost, along with the social interaction that is often a part of the traditional book club experience. Few of the non-serious members are added who tend to destroy the ambience of serious and long lasting discussions. There is also a need of a strong and a responsible moderator, who regularly eyes upon the activities of the members and if the need arise, may take an action on the defaulters.

In addition to discussion-oriented book clubs, a book club can also be a place to compare prices, writing previews and reviews and purchasing books. These book clubs offer lot of features like book searching, creating your own space and login id, having a specialized shopping cart, price comparison from various vendors and special discount coupons In addition to this they offer great deal for readers who wish to purchase several books each year.

Many of these are available online, where readers can use the book club's website to choose their books. One of the America’s most wanted online book club is www.gauchotexts.com. It has all the features you could wish in a book club for comparing prices and ordering books. You will come to know why it’s most wanted only after you login www.gauchotexts.com and give it a try!

Frequently Asked Questions About Book Publishing

by: Dee Power


How long does it take to get a book published?

On the average about a year. Six months to write a nonfiction book or revise a novel after a publishing contract has been signed and six months for production from editing the manuscript to finding your book in a bookstore.

Why does production take six months?

The actual production process of revising and editing, copyediting and proofing the galleys could be quicker. But enough time has to be allowed for obtaining endorsements, distributing ARCs (advanced reading copy) and bound galleys to reviewers and promoting the book to booksellers, libraries and such. Many major review publications like Publishers Weekly, insist that they receive the review copy at least four months prior to publication. Many newspapers will not review a book currently available.

What is the typical advance and royalty?

There isn’t one. The advance can range from $0 to over six figures. Royalties can range from 5% to 15%, based on the net price the publisher receives to retail. The percentage can also be on a sliding scale based on how many books have been sold, the more books, the higher the royalty percentage.

Do I have to pay the advance back?

In most cases, no, only if you don’t deliver an acceptable manuscript by your deadline. If the actual sales of your book don’t reach the amount that was advanced, and 90% of books don’t, you don’t have to pay the difference back.

Which is easier to get published fiction or nonfiction?

Nonfiction. Of the 150,000 books less than 10% were fiction.

What category of fiction is the largest.

Romance, 55% of all mass market paperback books sold are romances.

What is backlist, mid list and front list?

Backlist books are those written in the prior year(s) but still selling and still being published. Publishers select a small percentage, probably less than 5% of the books published in a season and actively promote those books in the front of their catalogues with full page descriptions including national promotion, book tours dates, advertising budgets, first print runs, as their front list. 95% of books published are mid list, in the middle of the catalogue, no ad budget, no promotions, no book tours.

What is the difference between mass market, trade paperback and hard cover?

The way the books are produced and consequently how they’re priced. Mass market are the smallest in size usually 4” by 6”, they are the least expensive from $4.99 to $9.99, the binding is perfect which means the pages are glued in. The cover is paper. Trade paperback is 5” by 7”, mostly nonfiction titles, the prices range from $9.99 to $24.99. The cover is paper and the binding is perfect. Hardcover or hard back comes in various sizes, the pages are stitched to the binding, and the cover is cloth covered over cardboard. The price ranges from $19.99 upward.

About The Author

Brian Hill and Dee Power are the authors of "The Making of a Bestseller: Success Stories from Authors and the Editors, Agents, and Booksellers Behind Them," and the novel, "Over Time," Money, love, and football: All the important things in life: www.BrianHillAndDeePower.com.