Tell Me a Story

Thursday, 14 October 2010

Best Selling Author, Bill Bryson

Tell Me A Story
For all you lucky people out there who live in the right place.
MASON CITY — New York Times best selling writer Bill Bryson will be attending the North Iowa Community Auditorium at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, as part of the 2010-2011 NIACC Performing Arts and Leadership Series.
Tickets are $25 if you purchase them in advance, or $30 at the door.
His appearance is sponsored by Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa, Winnebago Industries, Principal Financial Group and the Globe Gazette Elizabeth Muse Norris Foundation.
Bryson, author of “A Walk in the Woods” and “A Short History of Nearly Everything,” was born in Des Moines, the son of William and Mary Bryson.
He was educated at Drake University but dropped out in 1972, deciding to backpack around Europe for four months where he found his calling as a writer.

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Monday, 11 October 2010

American Scandals

Tell Me A Story - Books

It is human nature to revel in scandal — as long as the scandal isn’t our own.

Laura Kipnis, professor in Northwestern University’s department of radio/TV/film, has examined four of the juiciest and most layered American scandals for her entertaining and erudite book How to Become a Scandal: Adventures in Bad Behavior.

It includes insightful examinations of lives that have gone publicly awry. Kipnis attempts to tell not only how and where, but also why infamous scandalizers put their well-being and reputations at risk.

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The Jalón Valley, Costa Blanca
How to Increase Traffic to Your Article
Eating Garlic is Good For Sex
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Without Reproach -a romantic mystery - try it.
Short Moments - 'Feel good' short stories

Friday, 17 September 2010

Ending A Story - Climax And Endings In Creative Writing

Tell Me a Story

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The Jalón Valley, Costa Blanca
How to Increase Traffic to Your Article
Eating Garlic is Good For Sex
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Getting the end of a story right is extremely important. Make a mess and you might never have a reader again. Make it right and you could have readers waiting with bated breat for your next book.

For more read my new article: Ending A Story - Climax And Endings In Creative Writing

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Without Reproach -a romantic mystery - try it.
Short Moments - 'Feel good' short stories

Friday, 10 September 2010

Finding Author Appeal

Publishing a Novel - Finding Author Appeal
If you’re endeavouring to find a publisher for your first novel, it’s reasonable to assume you’re not already a best-selling author. That is unfortunate. Mostly, publishers prefer best-selling authors.
Much as they’d like to, publishers can’t solely publish best-selling authors, so second choice for them is an author who has the makings of a bestseller.

For more read Publishing a Novel - Author Appeal

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Without Reproach -a romantic mystery - try it.
Short Moments - 'Feel good' short stories

Tuesday, 7 September 2010

Part Time Writer, Full Time Writer

Tell Me a Story

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The Jalón Valley, Costa Blanca
How to Increase Traffic to Your Bukisa Article
Eating Garlic is Good For Sex
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Are You A Part Time Writer?

"There are no dull subjects. There are only dull writers." - H.L. Mencken

Being a part time writer has a lot going for it - yet at some time you might consider going full time. Take care. Writing full time isn't necessarily as glamorous as it might seem...

Read more:

Part Time Writer, Full Time Writer - That Is The Question....

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Without Reproach -a romantic mystery - try it.
Short Moments - 'Feel good' short stories

Tuesday, 24 August 2010

Improving Self Confidence

I've just published an article on Bukisa about confidence and how to increase it. I'd love you to take a look and let me know what you think about it.

Improving Confidence

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Without Reproach -a romantic mystery - try it.
Short Moments - 'Feel good' short stories

Tuesday, 17 August 2010

The Damage Done By Free Radicals

I've just posted a new article on Bukisa called Reduce Free Radical Damage - Free Radicals And Antioxidants.

Hope you can take a look - tell me what you think if you do.

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Saturday, 14 August 2010

Ten Ways To Stay Happy

"How to stay happy,

Tell me how to stay happy,

How to stay happy when life is so crappy"

How to stay happy when the going is rough? One of the most difficult things to do is stay optimistic when life is bumpy.

Nevertheless, maintaining a buoyant outlook is essential for every facet of our lives. A positive stance enhances our attitude towards jobs, family, and life. Yet what can be when things become difficult.

Read more: How to Stay Happy - 10 Cool Ways to Stay Happy

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Thursday, 12 August 2010

The Herb, Sage

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The Jalón Valley, Costa Blanca
Writing Dialogue In A Story - 12 Cool Secrets
Eating Garlic is Good For Sex
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Okay, so I've just published a new article on Bukisa - Sage Herb Uses - Sage Supplements

I didn't even realise the damn thing was in my garden. I thought it was just another a pretty plant. If you've ever wondered just what all this herb Malarkey is about, try reading further.

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Without Reproach -a romantic mystery - try it.
Short Moments - 'Feel good' short stories

Wednesday, 11 August 2010

Heartwarming stories - Short Moments

Tell Me a Story

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The Jalón Valley, Costa Blanca
Writing Dialogue In A Story - 12 Cool Secrets
Eating Garlic is Good For Sex
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I've just published a new HubPage called Heartwarming Stories - Short Moments if you'd like to take a peep. It's a run-down on all the stories included in the Amazon Kindle edition of 'SHORT MOMENTS'.

All ten stories are award winners that have either been published in glossy magazines or been placed and published in international competitions, so 'they've passed the test'. They're also tear-jerkers in one way or another, so be prepared....

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Without Reproach -a romantic mystery - try it.
Short Moments - 'Feel good' short stories

Monday, 9 August 2010

The Great E-Book Debate

Tell Me a Story

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Moraira, Costa Blanca, Spain - My Local Resort
Writing Dialogue In A Story - 12 Cool Secrets
Eating Garlic is Good For Sex
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The great ebook debate continues, I suppose it will go on forever now. It's nice to see the perspective from another author though. I have my own ideas, I've already committed some of my work to ebook format on Kindle and have already had a few sales.

Mid-list author, Simon Wood has written an article voicing his opinions on the matter.

Simon Wood has had over 150 stories and articles published. Read his article now Ebooks From An Author's Point of View

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Without Reproach -a romantic mystery - try it.
Short Moments - 'Feel good' short stories

Wednesday, 4 August 2010

Moraira, Costa Blanca, Spain.wmv

Tuesday, 27 July 2010

Which author do you write like?

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Moraira, Costa Blanca, Spain - My Local Resort
Writing Dialogue In A Story - 12 Cool Secrets
Eating Garlic is Good For Sex
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Just been to a site that has a new gizmo.

The site claims to detect which author, your style of writing is most similar to.

Apparently the first chapter of my novel, WITHOUT REPROACH, follows the style of William Gibson (author of Pattern Recognition, Neuromancer, Zero History, and Mona Lisa Overdrive)

Okay, I wish I had his fame and fortune as well - still, you never know.....

At any rate, give it a try and see what you turn out like, but treat it as a bit of fun rather than a serious project. Who Do I Write Like?

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Without Reproach -a romantic mystery - try it.
Short Moments - 'Feel good' short stories

Monday, 26 July 2010

Describing Texture

Sunday, 25 July 2010

Starchild

Tell Me A Story - Articles
.
You gaze at the stars on a warm balmy evening.
There is silence, not a thing to be heard. You fill with wonder. Astronomy, stars, double stars, universe, what's it all about?
It’s so huge up there. You feel insignificant, a speck, nothing. Astronomy makes us small. Surely we're not alone, there must be life out there?
.

Read more: You Are Starchild

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Friday, 16 July 2010

Knopf Doubleday say ebooks are here to stay

I've just returned from two weeks in the UK, to attend my daughter's wedding. All went fine - hated making the speach though, but there again that's just me. I just don't like being the centre of attention.

I've been checking through the web and found a little snippet some of you might be interested in.

Apparently the book publisher Knopf Doubleday recently made a comment regarding their latest venture into eBooks:

“The ebook is here to stay. Publishers everywhere are in the process of expanding the number of new titles they plan to make available electronically, and in addition, are making available for the first time older titles that have previously existed only in traditional formats.”

I think it's another brilliant endorsement to ebooks - especially when you consider that not too long ago most of the publishing industry were knocking ebooks as just a 'fad'. Ah well, I'm on the bandwagon myself now, so I've made the committment.

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Friday, 25 June 2010

Pitching to a publisher

A really useful post here - definitely worth a look. We all need a hand in getting our pitch right, so who better than an insider.

Practical Hints and Tips on Pitching to Publishers from an Insider - http://bit.ly/9dtW8x

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Good news for eBook writers

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Short Moments: Heartwarming Short Stories
Writing Dialogue In A Story - 12 Cool Secrets
All About Write - 10 Top Writing tips
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Tell Me a Story
.

In June, the esteemed AAP (Association of American Publishers) published the April 2010 book statistics, which thankfully indicates not only an increase in sales, but in the sale of eBooks.
Good news, especially in the light of my recent jump into eBooks.... Is this a light at the end of the tunnel?
.

“E-book sales jumped up 127.4 percent for the month ($27.4 million), reflecting an increase of 217.3 percent for the year-to-date.” (Statistics courtesy of www.publishers.org Press Center)

.

The figures back-up the March 2010 eBooks stats, which jumped up 184.8 percent ($28.5 million). Idpf.org delivers a useful U.S. eBook Sales Chart every quarter, which displays the digital book increase in popularity:
.

So it could finally be a glimmer of good news for the publishing industry - but too late for my publisher.......

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Thursday, 24 June 2010

All Rights Reverted

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Short Moments: Heartwarming Short Stories
Writing Dialogue In A Story - 12 Cool Secrets
All About Write - 10 Top Writing tips
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Tell Me a Story

Well, it's finally happened.

The financial problems facing the Western World have crippled a lot of publishers. Book sales are down, bricks and mortar stores are closing, publishing houses are in trouble, my own publishers being no exception - they have had to shut operations for six months and to be quite honest with little hope of recovering.

I hate kicking anyone when they're down, but you really have to cover your own backside.... so after a lot of deliberation, I sent a polite request to the publisher asking for full rights to revert to me - and the CEO has agreed.

It's a shame when any business goes under, but when it's one that you're connected to, you really feel for them

At any rate - the upshot is that I shall do a small rewrite of WITHOUT REPROACH then perhaps release it on Kindle... unless that is, some enterprising traditional publishing house jumps in with an offer...

I suppose I can take some small comfort in the knowledge that the novel was professionally edited and accepted by a publishing house - so it is up to commercial standard.

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Thursday, 17 June 2010

Writing Dialogue In A Story - 12 Cool Secrets For Writing Better Story Dialogue

Tell Me a Story

If you want to improve or understand dialogue in a story then look no further. This is the article for you.

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