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I am going to be doing a Virtual Book Tour interviewing Jim Cyr, author of The Cracked Pot: Finding Grace in the Cracks of Childhood Abuse.

I believe anyone who has suffered any kind of abuse, or a painful childhood of any kind for that matter, will benefit greatly from listening to this interview.

Jim’s story is powerfully told, and of course I highly recommend the book. It moved me deeply.

I warn you, though–it is shocking. Jim tells his story powerfully, painfully, not to shock but to point to the grace.

The light of grace and hope shines all the brighter when you come out of the extreme darkness and horror of what he experienced.

You will have the opportunity to hear some of Jim’s story if you attend the upcoming live event in which I will ask Jim not only my own questions, but questions people have submitted ahead of time.

You also may ask your question now. It may be one of the ones Jim will answer on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. Pacific, 9 p.m. Eastern. (Mark your calendar!) You’ll get all the details when you sign up.

Also when you sign up, you’ll get to listen to Jim, who is a professional storyteller, tell the story of “The Cracked Pot”–the story that so helped him, and motivated him to write the book.

I hope to “see” you on Tuesday evening!

I write often about the more commercial aspects of writing and publishing.

That’s because I want authors to be able to make a living from their message.

I don’t want you to think, however, that I don’t care about the “soul” aspect of writing.

By this I mean:

• we write to express our deepest convictions and perceptions of the world
• we write to communicate–to touch the lives of others through words, to make a difference in the lives of other people who read our words.
• we write, too, to know what we think.
• we write because we love to play with words, to revel in the sound and feel and interplay of meaning and sound.

Art in general is a “soulish” activity. It points us to the transcendent. It often stirs up longings that cannot be satisfied fully by “ordinary” experience.

This week on the national radio call-in show, Midday Connection, hosts Anita Lustrea and Melinda Schmidt explore the various aspects of art and art-making, including the spiritual element.

I really enjoyed Ken Gire talking about his marvelous book, Windows of the Soul, on Monday.

Yesterday Kim and Jim Thomas explored art’s different forms and answered some insightful questions and comments.

Today classical guitarist Christopher Parkening talked about why His devotion to this art form is important in the kingdom of God. (I missed that myself, as I was teaching my class. Have to catch the podcast!)

Tomorrow Janice Elsheimer will enourage all of us to find or rediscover our own artistic gifts. I’m looking forward to that! And Friday will be a time of interacting with listeners about the impact of art and these broadcasts on their lives.Focus on the ArtsFocus on the Arts

If you missed any of these broadcasts, you can subscribe to the podcast or listen to the audios with audio streaming.

If the spiritual aspects of art interest you in any way, I invite you to listen in or catch the audio archives.

    Question: Why is this the best time in history for authors to make a living from their message?

Answer: Because the Internet and technology provide almost limitless ways to reach one’s audience in a meaningful way. The Internet allows for electronic marketing, and if you’re not using it to the fullest, you’re leaving a lot of money on the table! (more…)

Traditionally, fiction authors have found it very difficult to get publicity outside of media that reviews books. That’s because they’ve been focusing on their book, rather than the topic.

The way novelists can get publicity is to highlight their expertise on a topic related to their book in a way that will interest the media.

Here are three ways to do this. Read more …

If you’re an author, I hope you’re prepared to make the Internet your best friend.

The reason comes from something I heard Michael Cader say awhile back. Cader is founder and editor of PublishersMarketplace and PublishersLunch, which together are widely considered the most informed daily source for information on the world of book publishing.

Here’s what Cader said in an interview with Beyond the Book’s Christopher Kenneally:

“If publishers had sat down 10 years ago and tried to figure out something that could connect them to their customers, share their information, allow them to develop deep, targeted, meaningful, individual relationships, and sell product with less friction all at the same time, they couldn’t have invented anything better than the Internet, (more…)

Choosing a best-selling book title has been the topic of the past many articles, and you can get everything in a very readable, formatted PDF document in the latest Your Book Publishing Coach newsletter.

You’ll find information here you won’t find anywhere else about choosing an irresistible title….

Lynn asked a question recently that I think a lot of authors face and need to think through carefully. (Remember, you can always ask your question, too.)

“I have a small publisher that would like to publish my book. After looking at the preliminary contract, I would have to come up with $5000 and receive a 15% royalty on the net (I estimate 50 cents a book). The book is estimated at a selling price of $15.00. I am considering self publishing at this point…any opinions?”

This “small publisher” doesn’t sound like a “real” publisher in that they are making you pay for part of the cost of producing a book, PLUS offering you a rather small royalty. What are they going to do for you for that $5000, besides get the book printed? (more…)

Just a quick reminder that the half-price anniversary sale of both the “Jump Start Your Book: 12 Questions You Must Answer to Write a Book that Sells” Tool Kit and the “How to Choose Your Best-Selling Title” Telecourse is about to end.

At 5 p.m. today, October 3, the prices will go back to normal.

I will not run this special ever again, so if you have been considering either of these, now is the best time for you to invest in your book.

Knowledge can do a lot for you. From the knowledge I share, you will drastically reduce time it takes to write your book. You will also enjoy exponentially greater success because your book will have all the ingredients necessary to make it a best seller: irresistible title, right positioning in the market, the publishing plan that’s right for you.

If you’re ready to start your book, find out more about Jump Start Tool Kit.

It’s not too late to get in on the “Choosing Your Best-Selling Title” 5 module TeleCourse, either. The first class was today and the replay of the class, plus the study guide and handouts, are available once you sign up.

As you read this message, please seriously consider whether this is the right opportunity for you now. If it is, I look forward to learning more about your project and speeding you on to success with it.

In my preparation for my “How to Choose Your Best-Selling Title” Telecourse, I’ve come across some fun links.

Here’s one about titles that range from weird to hilarious.

And another that lists a whole lot of simply funny book titles.

Enjoy!

By the way, the first class starts at 11 a.m. Central on Wednesday–and the half-price special goes away at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

I just realized something–today marks my anniversary date of when I started my first job in publishing, some 29 years ago!

Strange how things work out. My first job was helping to produce a radio program in which I interviewed authors. Very soon, I will start a book review podcast that is quite similar. One aspect of my life coming full circle.!

To celebrate my anniversary, I want to offer you something special.

You know I’m passionate about equipping authors to start their book right, and to write and market it so as many people can be exposed to your unique message as possible.

Writing a book can be a hard, lonely road. Trying to get it published can be confusing, exhausting, and discouraging.

I’m committed to lightening the load and smoothing the path wherever possible.

The two products I want to offer you to celebrate my almost three decades in publishing will equip you to write your best book, in such a way that it will appeal to the most people. (more…)