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First, about the Writers on Call free teleclass last night.

Some of you may have tried to call in, but could not get through (as I and the moderators could not).

This was due to the fact that Sprint, Cingular and perhaps some other phone providers have been blocking access to certain telephone bridge lines. Here’s what freeconferencecall.com reported in a newsletter the other day:

“For now, we can tell you that a Cingular spokesperson has gone on record and stated that their terms of service gives them the right to block any number they wish and also said that AT&T’s wireless service is ‘between one person and another person, not between one person and many.’ Cingular and Sprint have chosen to block service to our shared customers regardless of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations. Neither carrier has ever directly complained, filed suit or even contacted FreeConferenceCall. The upshot is that carriers are basically telling you that a cell phone is not intended for use on conference calls of any type.” (For more information, check out the freeconferencecall.com blog.)

Does this get you as angry as it does me? I mean, a telephone company to which I pay fees to make phone calls is telling me I can’t call certain numbers? By the way, I’ve had trouble calling in to other conference lines from my land-line phone, so I’m not sure it’s just a mobile phone issue. (I use AT&T, which owns Cingular. I won’t use them for long, though, if this is in fact what they’re doing.)

Even though it’s not my fault, I apologize to whoever had trouble getting on the call I advertised on this blog yesterday. Be assured that Writers on Call will offer another free call soon. If you signed up, you’ll receive an email (maybe. Email is another issue, isn’t it?).

Second apology–I’ve heard from some people saying they can’t get through to the Simpleology book promotion page. All I can say is–keep trying! It’s got to be a good sign for Mark Joyner that his Web server is overloaded.

It’s ready! The new Simpleology book is officially launched!

This particular book interests me for several reasons.

First, the Simpleology book itself interests me. I’ve been using Simpleology for more than a year now, and it has helped me tremendously in every way. I’ve been more focused, gotten more done, learned to manage time, money and energy much better.

Simpleology 101 is a free, multi-media program that’s been around for a while. Can Mark Joyner also make a best-selling book from something that’s been available for free? That’s one question I have.

(Note: I plan to buy the book just to satisfy that curiosity!)

Two, I’m interested in the book launch itself. Is it one of those book launches that offers lots of bonuses if you buy the book today? Does Mark Joyner have a new twist on this strategy?

You’ll have to find out for yourself (as I write this I have not yet previewed it).

After you do that–whether or not you actually buy the book–I invite you to come back here and post a comment on what you think of his book launch. Was it effective? What did you like or dislike about it? Did it persuade you to buy the book? Just click on the “Comments” link below this post and tell me your thoughts.
I will write an article with my own assessment of this book launch next week. Be on the lookout!

In yesterday’s post, I mentioned some things about what I’ve been learning from Simpleology–not only the course itself, but the way Mark Joyner does things. In case you don’t know, Mark Joyner is one of the first true Internet marketing pioneers.

I like to pay attention to people who succeed in areas I want to succeed in. In this case, I’m paying close attention to how Mark Joyner will be promoting his new Simpleology book. Tomorrow is launch day, and I suspect he will have a new twist on how to launch a book.

One thing to notice–for the past couple of weeks he’s offered a preview of the book on his Web site that you can download (once you’ve signed up, that is).

If you already have a book out, you can do the same. There are various ways of doing this. On my Abundant Gifts site, I offer a really cool Digital Web Book that opens up on your computer screen like a real book. In it you can read five sample stories from Abundant Gifts.

Of course, such “previews” work to give people a sample of the book any time, not just before a launch. You always want to invite people to sample what you offer in some way. Many authors offer “first chapter” samples on their sites. Maria Veloso, whose novel, Midwinter Turns to Spring also comes with a music CD, also offers sample audio clips.

No doubt you’ve seen book launches that offer a gazillion bonuses if you order the book on a certain day. I suspect Mark will do something like this too. I’m curious to hear from you: Is this tactic worn out? Are you tired of the gazillion bonuses offer with a book, or do they still lure you in?

Comment now, or wait until you see what Mark Joyner does tomorrow and then decide. But please–I do want to hear from you on this!

(I have my own opinion, which I will write about in next week’s Your Book Publishing Coach newsletter.)

I’ll post tomorrow the details of where you can find out more about the Simpleology book launch (which happens at noon Eastern time). In the meantime, check out the excerpt from Simpleology. If you have an account, just click on Simpleology Book. If you don’t (it’s free, remember), just sign up now –it will take less than a minute.

Sorry about the lateness of this, but I just now found out about it myself.

You’re invited to a free “Writers on Call” teleclass with Suzanne Lieurance TONIGHT at 8 p.m. Eastern, 7 p.m. Central, 6 p.m. Mountain, 5 p.m. Pacific.

This will give you a sampling of what the class offers (normal price is $37 for four classes per month). I’m a member and always get a lot out of not only the classes, but the networking opportunities with other members.

Tonight’s class will be about article writing. This is one of my personal favorite topics, partly because I love to write, and partly because articles have done so much for my business. They bring targeted traffic to my site, help me establish my expertise, and have led to all sorts of interesting connections and relationships with fascinating people.

You can even build a whole business around article writing, as I know several people have.

To get in on tonight’s free class, send your name, email address, and time zone by noon (Central time) today to: suzannelieurance at hotmail.com.

“See” you on the call!

If you’ve been reading this blog, you know I’m a big (though not uncritical) fan of Simpleology.

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the new online version. I also wrote about some of the flaws in their software.

Well, the good folks from Simpleology got back to me within just a few days. What happened in the ensuing back and forth with them taught me a whole lot about success, lessons I’d like to share with you. (more…)

The latest Your Book Publishing Coach newsletter article tells of a near miracle that happened to me recently. (You’ll have to read the article to find out what it is. It’s one of the nicest things that can happen to an author.)

The situation got me to thinking about what is perhaps a new trend in book publishing. A welcome trend. An antidote to one of the biggest problem authors have: how to connect with readers.

It used to be, a reader would buy a book, and if he or she really liked it, maybe he or she would write a letter to the author. There being no way to actually track down the author, the reader would write to the author in care of the publisher. Then, eventually, the publisher would forward the letter to the author. The author, touched by the reader’s letter, would eventually write back. (Or intend to.) Reader would be thrilled to get a letter from author. End of story.

Now it’s easier for authors and readers to connect, but the idea is still relatively new. There’s a whole new model of communicating with readers that is slowly evolving. I believe it is good for authors and readers alike. This latest article tells you how to make your book merely the beginning of an ongoing relationship with readers. It also gives examples for fiction and nonfiction authors alike.

If you want to write for children, I know no better resource than Suzanne Lieurance’s The Children’s Writers Coaching Club.

Writing for Children is a definite art, and Suzanne knows just how to help you hone your craft. She has written 13 books for children that are currently on the market, with one more due out next year. Suzanne was a regional advisor for the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, and taught online workshops about children’s writing at www.coffeehouseforwriters.com for several years. Suzanne has also been an instructor with the Institute of Children’s Literature for over 5 years, working with more than 100 students every year. Many of her students have become published–some of them even before they finished her course.

Many of Suzanne’s coaching clients are currently also taking an ICL course or have graduated from the Institute. They join her coaching club to get the kind of additional help not offered by other writing courses or programs, such as live teleclasses and weekly group coaching sessions.

If you sign up for her coaching club now, you will have the opportunity to hear the interview with Children’s Author Janice Levy on March 28. You will also get a chance to ask Ms. Levy your questions about professional background, her books, children’s literary agents, and any aspects about any aspect of writing and publishing a children’s book.

Suzanne also offers some terrific home-study tools about writing for children. If you have a children’s book manuscript sitting in a drawer somewhere, or if you’ve ever aspired to write for children, you’ll want to check out what Suzanne has to offer. (One is a free ebook called “Tricks of the Trade” which contains six great articles on how to write for children–and get published.)

If you know of other great resources for children’s book authors, please post a comment.

In the article I posted on my site last week, “Why You Should Consider Self-Publishing for Your First Book,” I kept trying not to talk about what I consider to be a huge flaw in the whole book publishing industry model.

I hinted I might talk about it on my blog.

Today I feel courageous. Here goes. (more…)

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about the new online version of Simpleology. Since then, I’ve discovered a few other “bugs” in the new software.

I already mentioned how the Desktop Cockpit only works on the highest screen resolution. If you’re fine with that setting, the Desktop Cockpit will work for you. I think it’s useful.

The Wimiki software, which helps you set up work alarms, has a glitch, at least on my computer. I can’t even turn the computer off until I’ve right-clicked and exited Wimiki. Looks like that will have to go, too. It’s too annoying to remember to exit the program (I don’t like alarms anyway), or else find my computer was on all night because it couldn’t shut off.

Another “glitch” is that after I set up my short, medium, and long-term targets online, for some reason they weren’t saved. To prevent this, write your Targets up, then go back to the Daily Target Praxis. Do NOT click “target completed and save to archive.” If you go back to the DTP you will find it’s been saved.

Despite these glitches, I really like the online version. It’s pretty quick, and again I say that Mark Joyner has done a brilliant job of creating a very simple yet powerful way to become very productive and focused. Which is especially needed in this increasingly distracting world.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about when I throw out terms like “Daily Target Praxis”–I encourage you to at least check out Simpleology. The lessons are fun, short, and yet contain profound principles. And remember–it’s free!

If you’ve tried the new Simpleology tools, I’d love to hear your experience. Post a comment!

The second article in the March “Your Book Publishing Coach” newsletter is ready to be viewed.

It’s called, “Two Never-Fail Ways to Overcome Writer’s Block.”

I haven’t experienced writer’s block for something like 25 years–ever since I learned these two techniques.

The first you use when you’re experiencing writer’s block. Or any other kind of block, for that matter.

Master the second, and you’ll not only never experience writer’s block again–you’ll also cut your writing time down a lot.

I use the second technique for just about anything I’m planning, not just my writing.

I shared this technique with someone from my church who is trying to write her memoirs and feeling stuck as to how to start. Within just a couple of minutes, by showing her the second technique, she had overcome the block and started her book!

I mentioned last post that I’m trying a new format for the Your Book Publishing Coach newsletter. I’m building it week by week, so you have time to digest each article. At the end of the month, I will compile all that month’s articles into a downloadable PDF file.

Feel free to print out each week’s article. Or you can wait until the end of the month and print out the downloadable PDF that’s will contain that month’s articles.

You can still read last week’s article, Why You Should Consider Self-Publishing for Your First Book.

To subscribe to the newsletter and receive all the articles, week by week, via email, click here. You will also receive, as a new subscriber, an instant, downloadable MP3 audio of an interview with Goal Guru Jill Koenig, answering frequently asked questions about book publishing. To view past newsletters, click here.