Sunday, January 30, 2011

The Fountain Trailer


If I could ever write a book or script like this I wouldn't care if no one reads it or watches the movie I would be complete just in the doing of it.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

My spin on: Self Publish, Self Publishing | Abbott Press

Self Publish, Self Publishing | Abbott Press

Read Jeanne Veillette Bowerma's Write On Line review of the Writer’s Digest Conference in New York City where Writer’s Digest announced Abbott Press self-publishing in partnership with Author Solutions, Inc.

In the Abbot Press site, drawn by a ‘come in’ guy on a top-right-corner-box that offered free publishing guides, I clicked. Filled in required info followed by what I write, and why. A new page opened with a menu of publishing options, and prices, and a promise that a representative will call me. Yikes, I thought I was just going in for a pamphlet, did not expect to be 'solicited'. Hope I feel forgiving when they call and for sure will ask for my free publishing guide.

About self-publishing: for now, after I send my manuscript I will continue working on another – because what else is there but to write and be accepted or have a pile of rejections? If I decide to look into self-publishing, it will most likely be online or with a local publisher.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

My spin on: JOANNE KAUFMAN's article "How Authors Move Their Own Merchandise"


Writers must now not just write well, have a great story and a burning desire to write it, but it is essential to have the guts of a peddler and soul of a meddler to promote and sell our darlings.

After slaving over whatever media for who knows how long to get that baby out, crouched over a computer, paper, calloused form a pen or seat on the train, or speaking into a recorder or iphone while commuting, and hurrying to write down the diamonds of idea, story and prose in the rough, before… before it stops making sense. Refining, rewriting, not becoming discouraged by rejections and finally getting an agent or publisher, is time to resort to any and all means to sell it.

"It's no longer a top-down media culture," said Paul Bogaards, from Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.

Making donations, running contests, pre-publishing marketing, working Facebook friends, twitting tweets, blogging blogs, and all social networking sites, to provide venues for pushing prose, is light lifting. And God knows that its not easy to keep up with all the logins, updates, replies and oh… is enough to make me just curl up with a good book or stare at the TV or just take up cooking.

Penny Sansevieri, "To get noticed," she said, "you have to throw more at people than just your book."

So, is the writer relying on great technique down the drain of obscurity? Is becoming the Lady Gagas of writing - to be really out-there? Is that the do or perish on the unsought, unread shelves of sweethearts abandoned?

From contest to sex toys, gifts, signed copies, “Particularly for up-and-coming authors, advance purchases "get the attention of publishers, which may get them to put more muscle behind the book," said Anne-Lise Spitzer, the creative marketing director for Knopf.”

To be read one must use You Tube, the stage and even marathons to make a few fans that will (hopefully) make more. If you are thinking, as I am by now, that best I schlep a backpack and go door to door, we are not that far off from reality. So, when does a writer get to write and when does fan chase end and is their life that?

Infectious moods: The happiness injection - health - 19 January 2011 - New Scientist

Infectious moods: The happiness injection - health - 19 January 2011 - New Scientist
Who would have thought that bacteria not only are responsible for some heart attacks and cancers but now mood? Are bacteria advancing to a new level or is this, a finding due to refined, scientific research? I prefer positive thoughts so; I say it is due to new and advanced scientific findings. Soon we are going to have a cure for all that ails us. Whooohoooo!

A niche in the world of writing

In the world of writing, there are heaps of books, processions of teachers, courses, and conferences, but few author-teachers, and since this year, I made a decision to hone in on my story ROLO and revise its seven hundred plus pages I went rooting around said plethora. Was too late in getting some classes right here in my local college, but I kept hope that I would get a new niche, a teacher a guide. So, I went to various sites including UCD’s Certificate Program in Creative Writing, and while checking out instructors found Rosa Martha Villarreal. I looked her up. Villarreal is teaching the upcoming Novel Craft Workshop. Found many sites with her essays, in Red Room her blogs, and on LinkedIn, her profile and a summary of published novels. Villarreal is an award-winning novelist; I eagerly await her class.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Damanhur, film trailer


Congratulations Barry Ware, founder of the Lodi International Film Festival, and all other team members and volunteers. Your 'opening night' was a classy, extremely well organized, friendly and fun event. From the reception to the feature film - first time showing in the world - Dreams of Damanhur - a MUST view!!!

How journalists are using Facebook, Twitter to write mini serial narratives | Poynter.

How journalists are using Facebook, Twitter to write mini serial narratives | Poynter.
From a series on writing for Twitter and Facebook: "Before I knew it, my advice was featured in that newspaper’s special section for June weddings. Several readers have encouraged me to gather and expand these posts into a book, a possibility that has my agent and editor curious." by Roy Peter Clark

Thursday, January 13, 2011

I will stay a Leo

I refuse to change my Leo even if Astronomers agree that the earth's alignment is different now from three thousand years ago and Astronomers like Parke Kunkle are going public with their evidence and a 13th sign called Ophiuchus.

New Zodiac signs: what are you now?

New Zodiac Signs

Capricorn: Jan. 20 – Feb. 16
Aquarius: Feb. 16 – March 11
Pisces: March 11- April 18
Aries: April 18 – May 13
Taurus: May 13 – June 21
Gemini: June 21 – July 20
Cancer: July 20 – Aug. 10
Leo: Aug. 10 – Sept. 16
Virgo: Sept. 16 – Oct. 30
Libra: Oct. 30 – Nov. 23
Scorpio: Nov. 23 – Nov. 29
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29 – Dec. 17
Sagittarius: Dec. 17 – Jan. 20


Read more: New Zodiac Signs: Zodiac Change Introduces 13th Sign, Ophiuchus 

The Cosmic Heart: What is the Connection between Ophiuchus - The Thirteenth Constellation and 2012?

The Cosmic Heart: What is the Connection between Ophiuchus - The Thirteenth Constellation and 2012?

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

To self-publish or not: my thoughts.


Most of us, I think, write because we have no choice. Something always makes our hands go to paper or keyboard, put words together and sometimes even create well-written sentences, and grammatically correct paragraphs. Some of us do not even care, we just need to get it out, impassioned by an event, dream, feeling, hope or a stream from another author. Anything can spark a short, poem, novel, or screenplay.

Most of us will never be signing at the local bookstore or on a best seller list but is that the true measure of a good author, poet, columnist; maybe. Yet, we will continue to write and amass pages that one day might pile forgotten or kept by a loved ones, somewhere, until the space they take is unclaimed.

Payment for our art is great. We feel acknowledged and appreciated because someone put dollars on our words. I have copies of checks received for a few poems and articles. But, don’t want to print and peddle my own stuff other then on my own blog or social media, not yet. Even though, I know self published authors who to me have said more and are better writers then many “popular” best sellers.  I also know good writers who might never publish.

I will continue to write, grateful for the buck but not solely for it. I do want the eyes of others to feast on my words and pages but I will write because I must, or I will…do what else?

Albeit, I love family, friends, dates, fun, travel, books, TV, movies, dancing and more but to write is my best space. Even now when still in my pjs, the news on TV, my husband walk in…and I say, “I just had to write this…” I accept his kiss and his “I know.” And I promise some eggs and toast, but glance at the time and its past three! “As soon as I’m done…” and we will join friends on a short trip and do many things…and he knows that my hands long for the pen or keyboard, and oh my God now I have an IPod!

1-11-11 shout out: No death panels!


Wildly publicized death sentences to people denied organ transplants In Arizona. Is the right to live only for the well to do? People denied healthcares are not just minorities or immigrants. Middle-class families and individuals – now the working poor - cannot afford healthcare or pay exorbitant amounts for employer provided coverage and deductibles.
Some say that most opposed to healthcare for all are folks already on the government dole such as politicians, government workers, Medicare, disability and or Medicaid recipients.
A couple on television, said - she with her Jersey or Floridian accent: “What if there is universal care and people like us cannot get in to see a doctor. Or get surgery or into a hospital because the wait is too long.” Are they echoing the sentiments of the newly elected officials the government reformist?
Maybe is time to say for ALL or for NONE.
Those on Medicare, Social Security, Medical, government-founded programs need to go and get private insurance – make more healthcare for profit millionaires. That will change the pull the plug demographics.
From their own words, most who want to defeat healthcare reform just want to defeat the Democrats, not just president Obama. Look what happened to Clinton set up with Monica, Kennedy shot, Martin Luther King, the shooting in Arizona? Need I go on?
Common sense must prevail for the sake of all who cannot afford huge premiums, cobras, and deductibles.