2009 Memoir Writing Contest Announced by Words Alive Literary Festival

Words Alive Literary Festival Announces 2009 Memoir Writing Contest

As part of the Words Alive Literary Festival, the organization has announced the 2009 Memoir Writing Contest.

Literary hopefuls are invited to produce an original story or vignette reflecting a meaningful incident, person or object in the first person for a chance to be published on wordsalive.ca and read at the festival in September.

"We really believe in fostering and nurturing the writers' talents," festival organizer Karen Henderson said. "We want to give them space to celebrate their work."

The memoir contest is a first this year, which will be followed by the traditional short story contest.

"Since it is a personal account, it lets writers celebrate themselves," Ms Henderson said. "It is also easier to write about something you know when first starting out."

The contest is open to writers who have not been published through a traditional publisher. Those entering must be at least 16 and submit an entry not exceeding 2,000 words.

Contest judge Allyson Latta describes memoirs as an incredibly flexible genre in which writers have the opportunity to be creative and original.

"It's not just a description of a memory," she cautioned. "The piece has to create an emotional connection with the reader."

Judges will look for mood and a story line in which the writer has an epiphany, large or small.

The opening line should grab the reader into a story that goes beyond the memory and demonstrates a change or development in the writer.

All submissions must be received by June 5 and the winners will be contacted no later than June 27. To submit visit www.wordsalive.ca.

The festival is an event held annually at the Sharon Temple National Historic Site and Museum which brings together writers and readers to celebrate all types of literary works.

For more information visit www.wordsalive.ca.

Call for Proposals: Design Research with RMIT University Press

Our aim is to promote the publication of design research. Design is a core activity in many disciplines, yet there are few publishers who specialise in design-driven research. Research can be conducted through designing, and the process of designing also parallels “traditional” research in interesting ways. Designers have a way of thinking and communicating that is different to traditional researchers, but which is equally robust when applied to its own kind of questions.

This book series is based on the premise that the activity of designing constitutes a crucial mode of research specific to the design disciplines. It primarily aims to publish research embodied within the design of projects, their investigations and outcomes. Accompanying exegeses will contextualise the design research in relation to existing traditional research; these may be text-based, but may also encompass other modes of representation.

RMIT University Press welcomes the submission of project-based design research undertaken through investigation, speculation, and scholarly reflection upon design research methodologies. Also welcome are essays and critiques addressing significant contemporary design practice and problematics, as well as emerging design strategies and practices.

Dr Joseph Gelfer
Editorial Manager - Commissioning
RMIT Publishing
PO Box 12058, A'Beckett Street, Melbourne VIC 8006, Australia
Tel: 03 9925 8249, Mob: 0409 350436, Fax: 03 9925 8196
Email: joseph.gelfer@rmit.edu.au
Visit the website at http://www.rmitpublishing.com.au/books.html

Excellent Thriller in Eastern Block: Conspiracy in Kiev Takes Reader to Ukraine

Conspiracy in Kiev (The Russian Trilogy, Book 1)

“The American president was received at the airport by the president of Ukraine. There were plenty of smiles for the cameras. Ukranian troops and police had secured the airport. The US Secret Service provided the inner ring of protection around the president.” (p. 189).

Conspiracy in Kievby Noel Hynd is one of the best suspense thrillers I’ve read in a long time. It’s an exciting yet disillusioning tale of Special Agent Alexandra LaDuca, expert marksman and shrewd FBI investigator.

Alexandra is assigned to accompany a Secret Service team during an American presidential visit to the Ukraine. She is to personally keep watch on the actions of Yuri Federov, the most feared and notorious gangster in Eastern Europe. Although she senses the American government is not telling her all there is to know about her assignment, she leaves for Europe.

Personal tragedy, horror and manipulation await her in the Ukraine, where Alexandra’s life is inexorably changed. With corruption on all sides, she must not only survive but try to learn the truth about the charming and dangerous man Federov whom she is watching.

This mysterious and suspenseful tale takes Alexandra from Washington to Kiev, Kiev to New York, and even to the jungles of South America. It also takes her through life changing discoveries about herself and her faith. This beautiful and courageous heroin rockets the reader through this fast-paced espionage thriller as only Noel Hynd can do. If you are ready for an exciting, historically informative thriller that you will not be able to put down, then Conspiracy in Kievis the book for your. I’m already reading Book Two of this Russian trilogy, and eagerly awaiting the release of Book Three.

Get a copy of Conspiracy in Kiev now!

Soft Sell - A Marketing Evolution for Big and Small Companies

Authors Judith Sherven and Jim Sniechowski talk about their new book The Heart of Marketing: Love Your Customers and They Will Love You Backand why it is revolutionizing marketing across the board.

Soft Sell — A Marketing Evolution for Big and Small Companies

The soft sell marketing style, for which we have become the leading voice, arose in the United States and has become increasingly popular across the country and around the globe.

Both sellers and buyers are hungry for an approach to marketing and selling that stops focusing exclusively on the bottom line and views human beings as far more than just financial objects in a transaction. That's where soft sell marketing provides exactly the necessary approach ---- establishing customers and potential customers as partners in the commercial exchange, people with whom the emotional connection serves as the basis for doing business.

This fundamentally personal approach may sound a bit like what happened when mom and pop owned the corner store and knew all of their neighborhood customers—bottom-up, grass-roots, person-to-person. And we’ve been asked whether soft sell marketing and selling can work with large companies, particularly if they do most of their business online.

The answer is definitely yes. Several significant companies including Whole Foods, Postnet, Southwest Airlines, Office Max, Sounds True Catalogue, Smith and Hawkin, and many many more rely specifically on the human-to-human connection to support the growth and sustainability of their businesses.

Why? Because soft sell marketing and selling recognize the basic interdependence and interconnectedness of life on Earth and how we all co-create our individual and planetary lives together. Therefore it is both consistent and essential that we treat each other with the respect that a valued commercial partnership warrants.

John Mackey, co-founder and CEO of Whole Foods began in 1978 with $45,000 in capital. He was dedicated to a business model based on holistic interdependence. Whole Foods demonstrates the myth that the ultimate purpose of a company is to maximize profits.

Quoting Mackey: “Management helps team members (employees) experience happiness, team members help customers achieve happiness, the customers help investors achieve happiness. When some of the profits from the investors are reinvested in the business you end up with a virtuous circle.”

To use a term like “virtuous” and relate it to a major business endeavor illustrates the very heart, soul and mindset of a soft sell marketer.

It's no wonder then that the term “conscious capitalism” has emerged to identify this soft sell, human-to-human approach to doing business.

Several other companies are worth mentioning whose “more human vs strictly bottom line” approach has generated significant success. SAS Institute --- a North Carolina software company has developed policies and a work environment that supports employee well-being on all levels (sas.com). First Tennessee National Corporation, a consistently profitable bank according to Forbes, enjoys a 97% customer retention rate because of the quality of service delivered by its well cared for employees.

Our book, The Heart of Marketing: Love Your Customers and They Will Love You Back(Morgan James Publishing) goes to the center of soft sell marketing—the personal, emotionally-based relationship between seller and buyer that makes them co-creative partners in the commercial exchange. As the voice of soft sell marketing we stand behind the idea that the most profitable marketing is practiced with consciousness and conscience.

Soft sell commerce is all about authenticity and connection. The seller has authentic care for their customer and passion for the product or service being sold. And the buyer sincerely values being cared for through the solution to their need.

When done well, soft sell marketing is the dance of life lived out on the stage of commercial exchange. The giving and the taking are equally fine expressions of all that it means to be human. And the needs on both sides of the exchange never end. They remain with us, each and every day. Year after year.

The Heart of Marketing: Love Your Customers and They Will Love You Back

Creative Screenwriting Magazine Seeks Regular Contributors and Writers

Company: Creative Screenwriting Magazine
Position: Freelance Reporters/Writers Sought
Location: Los Angeles, California
Job Status: Freelance

Description:
Creative Screenwriting Magazine seeks freelance writers for a number of regular and occasional assignments. We've written up our needs, our terms, and how to pitch article and regular feature ideas to us in a web page, which also shows you how to pitch: http://creativescreenwriting.com/pitch.an.article.idea.html

Our highest priorities sought right now are:

• A regular reporter/writer for our "Know Your Show" series on how to break into and write for TV series. Each article covers how to write spec scripts for a single TV series.
• "People And News" Articles: "The Buzz" Articles: news on people and events in screenwriting
• Reporting On/Analyzing The Niche Scriptwriting Markets. Aside from the major studios, there are many market niches screenwriters can sell to. We want to cover the most important of them, with an overview and then a series of articles drilling down into who's how and how-to for each niche.
• What Producers Are Currently Looking For And Talking About. You will need to know who's who and how to reach them. What scripts are hot and what kinds of scripts producers are looking for.
• What Bankable Actors And Directors Are Looking For. A script has a far greater chance of being sold and made if it's packaged with a known actor and director. So reach one of them and tell us what he/she and his/her production company are seeking in the way of scripts.
• An Advice Column Responding To Reader Scriptwriting Inquiries. We already carry advice columns in which the writer selects the subject. We seek an "Advice To The Scriptlorn" writer who will dig up the answers to reader questions and report back.

The page above lists a number of other subjects we will consider...interviews with known writers (we're overstocked at the moment, but there's always room at the top), advice (also overstocked), profiles of the writers of influential foreign films, and more.

To pitch an article idea or series of articles: GO TO THE WEB PAGE AND USE THE FORM. Above all, please DO NOT write to the editors. Our approach allows our entire editorial board to see and share views on all pitches at once. And, by using the form, you will be providing all the information we need, and you will be receiving full information on our rates and terms. Again, that page is: http://creativescreenwriting.com/pitch.an.article.idea.html

Interview with Author Brian Sandell: Author of The Wager and The Christmas Rose

Welcome to the site Brian, I’m really excited about having you with us today.

Peter it is such a pleasure, to be chatting with you on your blog today. I think we’ll have lots of fun today.

Your second book recently came out, can you give us a bit of a background on it? What is its central message?

I wanted to write a Christmas story, because all the great writers: Dickens, Grisham, Mary Higgins Clark, and others have all written a classic Christmas story. I thought to myself, why write a Christmas story, and join that club. I also really wanted to write a story that could be made into a movie where Tim Allen could play Santa Claus, and Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed could play a couple who realizes how wonderful life is. But, I realized that may not be a possibility. The central message of The Christmas Rose is how do we deal with pain and tragedy when it occurs. I wrote this book, because tragedy is something we all deal with, struggle with, or know someone who is currently struggling with.

Tell us more about Jasmine Reese? Is she based on anyone you know in real life?

I think that would be quite a surprise, to have someone read this blog interview and surprisingly exclaim, “What! Brian based Jasmine Reese on me!” But, sadly I did not personally base Jasmine solely on one person. She has different qualities of different women I know. Jasmine is an ordinary woman who has to make some tough decisions about the pain and tragedy in her life. Jasmine is a lady who is very recognizable and many readers will be able to identify with what she has to deal with.

Sounds like a lot of tragedy is encountered in your book, but it is an uplifting story in the end correct?

Well, Peter if gave you a descriptive answer to this question I might give away the ending and people may not buy my book. But, I can honestly the question is good. Tragedy does abound in The Christmas Rose, two main incidents primarily, but I will say this, the book does leave the reader very satisfied in the end. Nothing irks me more when I am reading a book or watching a movie and the ending does not make sense or is very unsettling and disappointing. This type of ending does not occur in The Christmas Rose.

Both of your books center around tragedy and the power of faith. Can you tell us more about this?

Tragedy is something every person has to deal with at some point in their life. People may experience tragedy in the death of a loved one, through a broken relationship, a missed expectation, or a broken promise, tragedy is something that no one escapes in life. However, one of the biggest messages in my books and more importantly through my life is faith is something that allows and pushes to overcome tragedy. If my readers get nothing else out of my writing, I want them to get this: that faith in a God greater than themselves is what gives us the perseverance and courage to continue when life produces nothing but pain, when someone searches for answers and only gets more questions, and when it seems impossible to go on for another day. Faith is important and I believe the medium of novels is a great way to teach and instruct people about faith’s applicability, benefits, and meaning in my life.

How do you get your stories or ideas? Are they based on your own life?

The amazing part about this question is you could ask forty different authors this, and you would probably get forty different responses. For, me personally there is no real method I use to adapt my ideas and thoughts into a novel. I will say this though when I do get an idea for a novel it is always very obvious and apparent. After I get a great idea I usually think to myself, “Wow, this is a great idea! This idea would make a wonderful novel.” Usually, after I get a thought like this, the novel writing begins shortly after. A few characters are loosely based on people in my own life, but for the most part my life is not nearly as crazy or intense as my writing is, I am very thankful for this fact.

You’re such a young writer. How have you accomplished so much at such an age?

When I tell people I have published twice at the age of twenty-two, I have received a lot of, “Are you serious!?” statements and a few dropped jaws. I have accomplished so much primarily because of these three reasons: the love and support of my family and friends, I can type really fast, and I have been so blessed by God to have been given such a great gift and ability to write and tell stories. My mom has been one of my biggest fans she constantly tells me I’m great, and that is such a huge encouragement. I do believe, though, she would tell me I am great at women’s figure skating, curling, and just about anything you can think of. But, that is one of the best parts about having a mother. I will admit it has not always been easy, but I am so thankful for the journey that has brought me to where I am today.

What are you working on now? Does it follow along with your previous work?

My preferred genre in fiction is suspense/thriller. I think that these books keep the reader excited, on the edge of their, and wanting to turn the page. The two books I have published, The Wager and The Christmas Rose are categorized as suspense/thriller and inspirational fiction. Currently, I have another suspense/thriller being looked at by a few publishing houses and literary agencies. But, in the immediate future I am switching gears and going to tackle about three non-fiction projects. These three projects all fall under the genre of Christian living. The two biggest reasons for the switch are the following: non-fiction writing lends itself to more speaking engagements and non-fiction allows more of a direct message to be conveyed to its readers.

You have a real drive to not only to entertain, but to allow people to learn from the characters and your stories. How do you try and do that?

The Wager is a suspense/thriller designed to teach, instruct, and show the reader when we base our happiness and joy in things, in a career, or on ourselves, in the end more times than not we will end up unsatisfied, discontented, and unhappy. The Christmas Rose is a inspirational story about how one woman learns to deal with and overcome tragedy and pain in her own life. She learns the hard way that her life and decisions impact not just herself, but her decisions impact her friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family. I desire to instruct in writing, by basing my story on one main theme or lesson I want to drive home. Once, I have chosen the theme the story starts out and builds the theme up slowly from the beginning, the characters display different good or bad aspects of what I am trying to convey, and in the end I display the message of what the story was built around. One message is that we need to base our happiness in relationships and not things, and another message in another book is value, build, grow, and work at your relationship with your mother and father. As I continue to write one theme that is prominent constantly is that our decisions have consequences. These consequences affect ourselves, our friends, our neighbors, our family, and even our health. So, hopefully I have enlightened as to how I entertain and teach while I write.

I really like what you are doing with your latest book. Can you tell us why you chose to donate 1/3 of your royalties to the Children’s Leukemia and Lymphoma Society?

We are so blessed in the United States. I have been so blessed to have had a great childhood, many friends, many memories, and wonderful health. Children suffering from leukemia sadly don’t often get all these luxuries, and I chose to give something back so these wonderful kids can have a chance to graduate from high school, play basketball, make a model airplane, call and chat on their cell phones for two hours a night, and just so these awesome kids can have a chance to live and hopefully give something back which I desire to do.

What else should we know about you?

I love to cook. People often pronounce my last name as sandal even though it is san-dell. I have a twin brother who is one sweet dude, in fact, we have roomed together for the last four years in college I like him that much. Another cool fact about me is I learned all the US Presidents when I was five years old. One area where my heart really goes out to is children from broken families. In response to that I wrote a book called Maximizing Your Family’s Potential to address lots of problems I have seen in today’s American family. The book is not published at this time.

Any lessons you want to impart on other aspiring writers?

Writing is like dating it can be at times both so rewarding and so frustrating. Whatever, you do keep dreaming, keep writing, keep learning, and keep improving. Write a story that leaves the reader begging for more, turning each page, and surprised at the end. I would recommend have someone you trust read your work and critique it. Take the improvements they suggest, and look to make your work the best it can be!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It was a pleasure. To finish up, where can we find out more about you and your books?

Peter, I cannot thank you enough for this incredible opportunity. My website is: www.christianthrillernovels.com. My books can be ordered by following these links: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Wager/Brian-D-Sandell/e/9781424168392/?itm=2 and http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Christmas-Rose/Brian-D-Sandell/e/9781607037989/?itm=1. You can also type in Brian D. Sandell in Barnes and Noble, Amazon, or Borders.com and find these books as well. If you want to email me at brianwrites15@yahoo.com we can work something out, send you an autographed copy of my books, and it will be a discounted price. If anyone reading this wants a radio interview I have a blog talk radio show called Before Bedtime, contact me at my email address and we can set something up! Thanks once again, Peter!

Get a copy of Brian's books The Wagerand The Christmas Rose now!

A Must Have Book For Writers, Publishers, and Authors: A Book Inside

A Book Inside, How to Write, Publish, and Sell Your Story

I consider myself to be fairly involved in the publishing world. I’m a writer, publisher, and book marketing expert. I make my living by either being published, or through publishing myself. As a result, I have a really good grasp on the ins and outs of the publishing world. One of the more frequent questions asked from writers or those interested in becoming an author is how to get published. What is involved? How does the publishing process work? Are agents involved, or does one go the route of self-publishing these days?

The questions are many, and there is no one way to answer them all. It really depends on what you – the author or writer – is looking for and expecting to get out of the publishing process that will dictate the answers to these questions. Therefore, I was quite thrilled when I got a copy of Carol Denbow’s book, A Book Inside, How to Write, Publish, and Sell Your Storyin the mail for review. Could this book help answer all of the questions I get on a regular basis. It would be much easier, and more beneficial for everyone involved, if I could point them in the direction of a really honest, comprehensive, and useful resource. Although not perfect, I’m glad to say that Carol’s book is one of the best I’ve seen on introducing the writer to the publishing process.

Composed of eight solid chapters, A Book Insidestarts at the beginning and walks you through the entire process. Beginning with writing your story, the book covers the basics of book writing – from copyright law to research, cover art, and professional editing – and delves into the differences between self-publishing and traditional publishing. Although these sections are well done, and important for any writer or book author to understand, what I really liked about A Book Insideis that two other chapters were also included: Book Promotion and Selling Your Book.

Often overlooked by most writers and authors, the process of actually getting your book into the hands of readers is almost more important then the actual writing of the book was. If no one is reading your book, what was the point of writing it? Carol offers up a series of sage advice on getting your book into the hands of readers, publicists, bookstores, libraries, and online outlets. Finally, A Book Insidealso includes a ton of resources for successfully navigating the writing and publishing process.

Although not exhaustive, A Book Insideis a good place to start for those who are interested in becoming authors. Alternatively, if you are simply looking for a comprehensive book on how to publish your family history or memoirs, or to self-publish your own story, A Book Insidetakes you through each step. Either way, along with Dan Poynter's Self-Publishing Manual, 16th Edition: How to Write, Print and Sell Your Own Book (Self Publishing Manual),Aaron Shepard's Aiming at Amazon: The NEW Business of Self Publishing, or How to Publish Your Books with Print on Demand and Online Book Marketing on Amazon.com, and the annual Writer's Market,Carol’s book should be on most writers and authors shelves. I’ve been in the publishing business for over a decade – as both an author and a publisher – and I’m keeping my copy of A Book Insideon my shelf for easy reference. You should too.