Energizing Marketing &Technical Strategies - by Jeanne Burrows-Johnson

SYNCHRONIZING AN AUTHOR’S IMAGE HELPS ENSURE SUCCESS

It’s summertime, and in Arizona that means finding ways to survive extremely hot weather. If you’re inside on most days, you may not relish the thought of your usual hours spent in research, composition, and editing. Here’s a project that may prove useful in wading through the next couple of months … For regardless of whether you’re a newbie or established author, a single question can effectively measure the potential for success of current and envisioned marketing materials and promotional campaigns: Can your promotional elements be recognized and appreciated by the readers of your genre?

Self-Awareness ~ Market Savvy Readership-Appropriate Promotion 

No one lives in a vacuum. Like any business professional, an author needs to ensure that their target market recognizes their name, art elements, and components of any logo and/or slogan they use! Remember, you ARE where you are BECAUSE of your past. And, considering what you’ve already paid in time, energy, and resources, it’s worth reviewing your life journey periodically! 

REVIEWING OUR PAST

Periodically, I write about reviewing materials in old hardcopy as well as electronic files. This can be especially useful if an author has had a variety of careers. Samples of past bios, job descriptions, and marketing materials we may have created in those jobs can demonstrate interesting insights into our lives. Shifts of focus in one’s life may not seem related to our current work as an author of fiction as well as nonfiction, but this is not true—for reviewing the phases of one’s life should reveal developmental patterns and an expanding flow through the years.

As you work your way through the myriad files that reflect the essence of your life, keep a pen or electronic means of notetaking available, as well as a folder for any gems you may wish to include in new promotional projects. While reveling in past accomplishments that may prove useful again, don’t forget to note past shortcomings that you will want to avoid in the future. The following considerations should help shape your progress to new heights of accomplishment. 

~ Are there key words and phrases that you and others have utilized to describe the dynamism of you and your work?

~ Have you received awards or other forms of recognition that express the essence of your personhood and work? 

~ Is there material that reflects the nature of your genre(s) and/or the work of fellow authors... Remember that you cannot plagiarize another’s writing, but you can draw inspiration from them.

~ Are there statements of desired short- and long-term goals...regardless of whether you have accomplished them? 

~ Are there color or grayscale photos that might be used again? If not, are there poses, garments, accessories, and elements of hair and makeup styling that can be updated?

PUT SYNERGY TO WORK FOR YOU

As you conclude the review of your life’s work, determine whether there are words, phrases, and sentences on which you might base a survey. Some “experts” assert that surveys may not be useful as they can yield unwelcome responses. I propose that even negative responses can fortify one’s sense of purpose and indicate a clear direction in imageenhancing strategies! By effectively surveying members of your support team (readers, editors, publishing staff, family and friends), you may find a fresh perspective on shaping a positive image of yourself, as well as utilizing unexpected ideas for achieving greater success. How you conduct the survey may vary from sending out copies via Email to employing conversations by phone or Zoom. 

WHAT ELEMENTS MIGHT YOU INCLUDE IN A SURVEY?

~ Photos [you will need both color and grayscale in several formats, i.e., TIFF, JPG, PNG, GIFF] Letterhead for hardcopy, Email, and social media communication 

~ Business cards, postcards, posters 

~ Art consistently appearing in your books, website(s), blog [such as logos, banners, folios] 

~ Colors [verify correct numeration for print vs. electronic colors] 

~ Fonts [you may want to check with your fine/graphic artist and publisher

YOUR PROMOTIONAL ROAD MAP

With your notes and folder of samples from your past, you are ready to begin anew, perhaps listing the elements you included in your survey. With elemental choices determined, you can begin shaping new marketing projects—on your own, or by turning to artistic consultants whose talents you have previously utilized. With a firm sense of who and where you have been and where you want to be, your promotional efforts should prove successful and cost-effective!

And so we return to our fundamental question: What will ensure your target market recognizes you in the words and images utilized in your marketing materials and promotional campaigns?

Aloha, Jeanne Burrows-Johnson

author, narrator, motivational speaker, and consultant 

P.S. I invite you to see examples from my own work at:

Author Website: JeanneBurrows-Johnson.com

Author Blog: Blog.JeanneBurrows-Johnson.com

Marketing Website: ImaginingsWordpower.com

Jeanne Burrows-Johnson is an author, narrator, consultant, and motivational speaker who writes works of fiction and nonfiction. She is the author of the award-winning Natalie Seachrist Hawaiian Mysteries, featuring pan-Pacific multiculturalism and history in a classic literary form that is educational as well as entertaining. She was art director, indexer, and a co-author of the anthology Under Sonoran Skies: Prose and Poetry from the High Desert. Drawing on her interdisciplinary experience in the performing arts, education, and marketing, her authored and co-authored articles have appeared in literary, professional, and general readership publications such as Newport This Week, Broker World, the Hawai`i Medical Journal, and The Rotarian.

New release: Death at Hell’s Canyon Quarry - by Elizabeth Ajamie-Boyer

Find this book on Amazon HERE - in eBook and Paperback

Ash Fork, a sleepy hamlet in northern Arizona, becomes the location of several serial murders as body after body is found in Hell's Canyon Quarry.

Death at Hell's Canyon Quarry—a story about Detective Alan Anderson, late of the Dallas, Texas police force, but now in Ash Fork, Arizona. A woman is found floating in Hell's Canyon Quarry. Her death is deemed accidental, but suspicious. All leads go cold, and the case is filed away. Three years later, a spate of deaths, all similar, occur. Still looking accidental, Detective Anderson has deja' vu, feeling these can't all be accidents. Do we have a serial murderer? How are these people linked together? Why would anyone want them dead? How does his team, including Becky Tsosie, a Navajo college student, figure out who the murderer is? 

An avid reader since childhood, Elizabeth Ajamie-Boyer is from the Phoenix, Arizona. She is married to, and co-writes with TJ Boyer, primary author of The Mirror Gate Chronicles series. As a Christian writer, Elizabeth feels called to write about the accomplishments of other Christians to make the United States of America a great country. Her novella, Memories of War is her first solo project..

How I end up with good book covers - by Vijaya Schartz

 

 

Find my books at amazon - B&N - Smashwords - Kobo 

I write in various genres, and as I am a very visual person, book covers are important to me.

Except for one or two fails with now defunct publishers, I’ve always been blessed with great book covers. Other authors think I’m lucky, but I cultivate an open line of communication with the publisher and designer. I know they did not read the book, so I work very hard to give them the elements I envision for my book covers, to communicate the spirit of the story.

I was often told I have a good eye for color. And if you look at my sci-fi covers, you’ll notice a lot of blue.

For many of my current covers, I went online to the stock photo companies used by my publisher, to look for the perfect cover model to represent my hero and my heroine’s personality and state of mind, as well as the best background. Then I sent these pictures and suggestions to the publisher for the cover designer. I was always thrilled with the resulting cover.

This time, however, as I am polishing my next novel, a new publisher rule emerged that except for Historical Novels in period costumes, the covers would no longer portray people with faces, but instead we should use backgrounds, silhouettes, or other elements to create a mood.

At first, I cringed. I had already picked my heroine for the cover, and I so loved my characters, I had found the perfect cover models with the right faces and personalities among the stock images. But I was up for the challenge. My October release, ANGEL SHIP, Book 1 of a new science fiction series Blue Phantom, is about a ghost ship, an Angel captain, a noble heroine, and of course, a big cat with an attitude. It contains lots of action, evil sorcerers, space battles, and romantic elements.

Here are some of my older BWL covers with people on them. Find them on my author page at: amazon - B&N - Smashwords - Kobo 

  

As I scrolled through thousands of background images, I selected a few representing the best approximation of the inside of my glowing angel ship. Then I found a big cat like my heroine’s bodyguard, and a pair of cool angel wings.

When asked to send my cover suggestions, I almost panicked. How would the artist make a kick-butt cover with the meager elements I had selected? It seemed impossible, so I prepared myself for the worst.

What I didn’t count on, was the immense talent of the artists who create these book covers, their knowledge of the genres (science fiction in this case), their years of experience and their awareness of industry trends. But most of all, I underestimated their ability to visualize what I couldn’t.

The artist made it all come together by using the background in ways I didn’t think of, finding the perfect font, in the perfect spooky glow, to give the impression of a phantom ship. And the result is extraordinary. I absolutely love this cover. And the next books in the series will have the same background and same fonts, but with a different cat. Yay!

My hat’s off to the BWL Publishing team. I love you guys. You are my heroes.

The book comes out in October, but in the meantime, you can catch up with the Azura Universe with these two sister-series, Byzantium, and Azura Chronicles. Hint: Captain Blake Volkov, the hero of ANGEL SHIP, was a secondary character in ANGEL BRAVE. 

amazon - B&N - Smashwords - Kobo

Happy Reading! 

Vijaya Schartz, author

Strong Heroines, Brave Heroes, cats

http://www.vijayaschartz.com

amazon - B&N - Smashwords - Kobo - FB 

New release: My Saddest Pleasures: 50 Years on the Road - by Mark D. Walker

 

Find this book on Amazon HERE, in paperback and in kindle.

In his new book, Mark Walker reflects on his fifty years of travel miscalculations and disasters. As a young Peace Corps volunteer with no overseas travel experience, the world was his oyster, and he figured he could go anywhere if he set his mind to it—with little or no money. Then he married a Guatemalan lady and had to think more about “our” needs; then, three children meant additional requirements and responsibilities. 

 Later, as a professional fundraiser, he would set up donor visits to program areas where the organizations he represented needed funds, which meant considering the needs of up to fifteen individuals of all ages, including children and some donors in their 70s and 80s. 

 He’s become a savvier trekker, although he is still prone to the occasional snafu. This book is part of the “Yin & Yang of Travel” series of ten essays. It’s an invaluable portal into the world of timeless travel and what can go wrong.

Walker was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala and spent over forty years helping disadvantaged people in the developing world. He came to Phoenix as a Senior Director for Food for the Hungry, worked with other groups like Make-A-Wish International, and was the CEO of Hagar USA. This Christian-based organization supports survivors of human trafficking.
Learn more at www.MillionMileWalker.com and follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/millionmilewalker.

Turn up the Heat! by Kathleen Cook

 Now that summer is here and the weather is sizzling, how about turning up the heat in your writing? There are many ways to add more drama, suspense, intrigue, emotion, and danger. I'll list just a few here:

Word Choice:

This is a no brainer. Let's take the sentence, "Ginger faced her son's killer." The temperature of the sentence is tepid. How do we turn up the dial to scorching? How about, "Ginger tingled in both fear and triumph as she spied the monster’s shadow on the brownstone. She'd lured him there, the spot where her brightest lodestone, her lifelong comfort, her paraplegic son, legs useless in fight or flight, watched this man wield a hammer like a whisk and make an omelet out of his brains. He was screaming when he died, the cops said, screams unheard or unheeded. Without effort or detection, she unlatched the safety on the Beretta in her pocket before turning toward that hideous face, with its cavernous scar above the right eye and a constant smirk on its lips." It takes longer to add rich color to your story, but the results add vibrant detail that heat up your novel!

Hints: 

Dropping hints to the reader little by little can add heat and spice to your story. For example, if you tell a reader early on, "Sheri's childhood nightmares always centered on drowning, but courage and time sparked her love for the ocean." Well, if you're writing an ocean saga, your readers will take it to the bank that Sheri's childhood nightmare will resurface at some point in the story. Even if it takes a few chapters, it adds the heat of expectation by throwing in the detail early.

Of course, if you don't intend to create a water mishap, then don't use such a device. You have to be honest with your readers; if you add such a tidbit and then don't deliver the expected danger, readers will throw down your book in disgust and never buy another. 

Pile it on!

Think your character has had too much tragedy for one book? Nope. If she falls in a lake, add some piranhas. If she’s tied to the train tracks with an oncoming train, add a scorpion crawling up her leg as her lover rushes to save her. If she flees a killer in the woods, add a mountain lion blocking the escape route. If you want to add heat, add it. You can always take it out later if there really is too much. Editing out sections of a thrilling first draft is a whole lot easier than shoring up a novel thin on action to begin with. Besides, it gives you material for a later book, one with even more drama, spills and thrills than this one.

Summer is the best time to sit down in your air-conditioned office, spare room, or dining room table, and write that sizzling bestseller. No need to experience the heat outside when you’ve got it right there in front of you! 

Kathleen Cook is a retired editor and the author of more than twenty books. A former copy writer/editor for Demand Studios, she also served as the Fictional Religion Editor for the ODP (Open Directory Project) in the late 90s. She is currently the Arizona Authors Association Editor as well as its website administrator. 

Dynamic Media Relations - by Jeanne Burrows-Johnson

 

Successful branding rests on myriad strategies…including positive media relations

In reaching out to media, know that you’re moving into the realm of commercial writing, requiring concise verbiage directly addressing the needs of a specific audience. The bottom line is to follow the rules set down by each media outlet…

KNOW YOUR MEDIA

Consider which media outlets [print, broadcast, and online] are appropriate for shining a spotlight on you. Regardless of choice, you’ll need concise data. You can pay for a subscription to detailed media lists or build your own. Even with annual subscriptions, the information becomes outdated, so you must verify data periodically. If creating your own media list, gather the following information: Names of media outlets and key personnel [including linked organizations such as radio, television, magazine, and on-line products within a single company]; mailing and street addresses [for drop-offs]; phone and fax numbers [used by government and media]; and departmental email addresses. You’ll glean additional information as staff become acquainted with you.

NETWORKING WITH MEDIA

Having compiled details about each media outlet (including demographics of their clientele) you need to establish relationships with key journalists and editors. After all, there’s no telling what a person’s next job may be...Is there a journalist or editor for whom your work will be of particular interest? As an author, it’s easy to rely on effective writing. But personal visits with media professionals will broaden your skill set through the genteel art of verbal communication. Unable to meet with media representatives personally? Organizations like Chambers of Commerce and book fairs often have booths with local media. Also make calls to introduce yourself and learn about an individual’s normal and seasonal interests.

TIMELY & APPROPRIATE MEDIA RELEASES

What constitutes a newsworthy media release? Topics must be appropriate to media outlets. For example, you wouldn’t send notice of an elementary school program to a Seniors’ magazine—unless that demographic is notably involved in the program. And, when there’s an element of time involved (such as a holiday event), media outlets are more likely to give you attention IF you contact them with sufficient lead time. 

Consider the following scenarios when communicating with local, regional, national, Internet, and even international media outlets:

WIN A CONTEST, AWARD, SCHOLARSHIP, OR CONTRACT?

The Media is always interested in stories of success, especially when addressing their niche market. In your releases, make sure you indicate the stature of an individual, business, or organization that is recognizing your work. If there’s a prolonged timeline, send out updated announcements. Be sure to mention other newsworthy persons involved in the project or event...such as the person slated to be the voice for your audio book or an event’s MC. By the way, this includes political, religious, or volunteer activities which are often appealing to the media.

PARTICIPATING IN A SPECIAL EVENT?

You may already have a plan for participating in viral or in-person events. Also consider non-profit organizations who’d find your work beneficial to their cause. You could donate books, address students or staff about effective writing principles, or volunteer as an event’s MC. Even if they’re sending out media releases, send your own tasteful release focusing on the event in a distinctive format highlighting your involvement. An event benefitting your community makes you an ideal guest for an early morning drive time radio talk show—excellent for promoting a worthy cause and drawing free media attention! 

The most popular topics for garnering media attention relate to children, elders, and non-profit organizations. That’s why it’s beneficial to team up with such groups...Remember, Such associations attract loyal followers. And, word-of-mouth promotion is the most beneficial and cost-effective form of advertising!

You may wonder if there’s a way to ensure your release will be acted upon as you desire. The simple answer is no. Admittedly, it helps to get your message published if you have developed a positive relationship with the media outlet...and are prominent in your field. For most of us, the main concern is avoiding being perceived as wasting a media professional’s time. If your release seems irrelevant, it will minimize the possibility of promoting current work and decrease the likelihood of your next outreach being greeted with joy. 

A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION

Regardless of your valuation of your message, consider how the media will judge its value to their clientele. Many writers and artists view their work as having ultimate significance. They begin nearly every communication by lauding themselves. Rather than opening your cover note of a media release with I, begin with words that will appeal to their patrons, thereby encouraging a desire to learn more about you and your work. Present facts in a way that builds interest in your topic. 

~ As __________’s youth face another summer of seeking entertaining activities…

~ The enclosed image shows local author _____ donating her time at…

~ Jane Smith, winner of the 2022 _____ Award is named presiding judge in the forthcoming spelling bee for elementary school children in the _____ School District.

Remember that if you’re involved in an event benefiting your community, you might be the ideal guest for an early morning drive time radio talk show—a great way promote your event...while providing you with free media coverage.

SHAPING STRONG MEDIA RELEASES

Try not to bore your recipient. A majority of media releases are one or more pages of single-spaced paragraphs.” They often lack sectioning, titling, or bold or underscored text. If the opening of a long document is not auspicious, the recipient probably won’t finish reading it...especially when more appealing materials are available! Even if a plodding release is read, it may only be published because there’s a slow news day (with a large “news hole”)

Short-circuit these problems by opening with the classic Ws of Who, What, When, and Where. After that, utilize the journalist’s inverted pyramid placing relevant facts at the beginning of narrative text. Editors like material they can drop into small spots in their layout.

SENDING OUT RELEASES

Follow each media outlet’s instructions. To increase the number of people who see my releases, I end emails stating hardcopy will follow. With few people bothering with anything but emails, there’s a chance several people will read your copy when sent in more than one form. Of course, you can’t be certain of how your copy will be treated. Contrary to what many media specialists assert, I’ve found providing minimal text gives an editor less to delete, re-sequence, or rewrite. Remember, they’ll contact you if they’re interested in learning more. And, remember to send out follow-up releases on the results of your project. Highlight the event’s outcome, mentioning any noteworthy person or historical context which will distinguish the activity as being of general interest in your community

Despite enhanced connectivity with media, at some point you may need to invest in advertising. To maximize the results, your branded message must be consistent and memorable. From your words to their accompanying colors and shapes, you must strike an accord with your target market. To achieve your long-term goals, you’ll need to look beyond traditional ads and commercials. Appropriate saturation of social media outlets, YouTube videos, and even infomercials have been used effectively by authors seeking improved community relations. As you contemplate your options, evaluate whether you have the skill set to design and implement a branding program without professional assistance. 

Wishing you the best in your creative endeavors,

Jeanne Burrows-Johnson author, narrator, consultant, and motivational speaker 

For examples of media release layouts with sample text for print and broadcast media please visit:
 https://www.imaginingswordpower.com/media/media_release_samples.html 

For more ideas to maximize the results of your branding program, visit my marketing website or blog: Imaginings Wordpower & Design Consultation.com, Blog.JeanneBurrows-Johnson.com. You are also welcome to send me an email at info@JeanneBurrows-Johnson.com

The Impact of Sleep on Your Writing - by Dr. Diane Holloway Cheney

Without enough rest, no writer can create a true masterpiece. Authors tend to have a variety of different tasks to do, in addition to writing. They're busy, so they snatch moments of time when they can. Sleep is often a neglected commodity, relegated to the sidelines of a full life. The proper amount of sleep, however, allows brains to operate at optimal efficiency. Creativity, imagination, intellect—all of these form the core of wonderful prose. If you want to write well, you must give your brain what it needs … proper nutrition, stimulation, and above all, rest and refreshment. 

The following tips are from Arizona Authors Association member Dr. Diane Holloway Cheney. They are taken from her book, Sleep Problems: Food Solutions. The Impact of Sleep Problems on Society. Follow these guidelines to improve your writing: 

1. Most people with insomnia say they can’t sleep because they have too much on their mind. Clear your mind by jotting down what’s bothering you and what to do tomorrow. 

2. Keep a pen by your bed and if you wake up with an idea, jot it down to explore later. 

3. Don’t go to bed till you’re tired! Let eyelids get heavy. Try to keep a regular bedtime. 

4. Don’t use the bed for anything but sleep and fooling around. Watch TV or read elsewhere. 

5. Don’t listen to music or TV when you go to bed. They interrupt sleep. 

6. Have no light in your bedroom. The sleep hormone is triggered by complete darkness. If there is any light, let it be red rather than blue or green. Throw a red paper over the lights. 

7. Make your bed warm enough but slightly cool because it’s better than too hot. 

8. If you snore, buy and use a chin strap (or a CPAP device if you have obstructive apnea). 

9. Sleep is easier with knees bent slightly toward the chest. Satisfy noticeable sexual needs and then get comfy. 

10. Don’t nap during the day or if you do, make it only a short refresher nap. 

11. Exercise at least a half hour a day, even if it's only walking or exercising inside the home, but not just before bedtime. 

12. Eat your last meal at least 3 hours before bedtime, unless it’s a small snack or beverage. Have a bit of something sweet about 30 minutes before getting in bed for the night. See below. 

13. Avoid caffeine six or more hours before you sleep. Also, alcohol in the evening sends glucose into your cardiovascular system. It turns to pure glucose in the middle of the night and may wake you up in a hyperactive state. So have your wine with dinner and no later. 

14. Don’t do anything exciting or watch a scary movie an hour before bedtime. Enjoy relaxing activities or watch comedy, romance or musical things on TV in your last 30 minutes. 

15. Eat a half banana, or a little cereal in milk, or cheese on crackers, or a bit of ice cream or walnuts or some snack described in this book 30 minutes before bedtime. 

16. Drink some tart cherry juice or warm herbal tea or warm water in which you’ve soaked celery or lettuce leaves for a few minutes before imbibing. 

17. Bath or shower with essential oils described in this book (rose oil, lettuce oil, etc.) 

18. If you can’t sleep, set your bedtime one hour later than usual to see if that helps. 

19. Once in bed, sense whether you’re too awake after 30 minutes, jot down what you’re thinking about, and perhaps get up and do something boring (read the dictionary) and see if it helps. 

20. Be safe with a security alarm, a sign of it in your yard, lock all doors, and when travelling stay on upper floors away from traffic and bad people who usually burgle lower floors. Safety is important for sleeping well. 

Dr. Holloway Cheney belongs to the American Psychological Association, International Association of Police Chiefs, Intelligence National Security Alliance, American Society for Industrial Security, National Association of Social Workers, American Nursing Association, American Medical Writers Association, International Social Science Review, American Film Institute, Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, and Sundance Institute. She served as Drug Czar under Dallas mayor Annette Straus. Among her many works she has written three books on the Kennedy assassination. 

Editing a book, like editing a movie - by Vijaya Schartz

 

I recently watched a documentary on film editing that got me thinking. The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing is a 2004 documentary film directed by filmmaker Wendy Apple. The film is about the art of film editing. Clips are shown from many groundbreaking films with innovative editing styles. It’s available on several streaming services, and you can also find it here: 

https://www.amazon.com/Cutting-Edge-Magic-Movie-Editing/dp/B0009PVZEG

When I watched this documentary, I couldn’t help making comparisons. To me, it was exactly like editing a book. Action and reaction, how to handle dialogue, what to cut and what to keep, what to enhance and what to gloss over, closeup vs. wide lens, seamless transitions, when to speed up and when to slow down, pace and rhythm, focus, and using all these elements together or one by one, to enhance emotions. 

I’m often told my books are fast paced and read like movies, and maybe that’s the reason. I think like a movie editor. I’m very visual, and in my head, when I write I see the scene on a big screen in full action and color. After all, no matter the medium, writers like film makers are first and foremost storytellers. 

From this documentary, I also learned that film editors in the early stages were women and remained anonymous. Later, when it became clear that editing was an important part of the creative process, more men joined the teams. Only recently did film editors get recognized by the movie industry and received well deserved awards. 

Bad editing can ruin a good movie, and brilliant editing can save a mediocre one. So, it also is in book editing. 

That’s why I like to take time to thoroughly rewrite and edit my books like a movie, cutting, pacing, enhancing, and moving paragraphs around, breaking up descriptions and sprinkling them as dialogue tags, removing the fat, then looking for inconsistencies. Editing a book is not just looking for typos or grammar mistakes, although I hunt for them relentlessly. 

After I’ve done my very best and I like the final result, I send my new baby to my publisher… then I pray they like it, and hope my publisher’s editor will catch what I didn’t. 

I’m currently working on ANGEL SHIP, the first book in a new science fiction fantasy series (BLUE PHANTOM) set in the Azura Universe, and scheduled for release in October. 

In the meantime, you can read the two other series in the Azura Universe: Byzantium and Azura Chronicles. Available on amazon - B&N - Smashwords - Kobo

Vijaya Schartz, author

Strong Heroines, Brave Heroes, cats

http://www.vijayaschartz.com

amazon - B&N - Smashwords - Kobo - FB

Live Your Adventure! - by Kathleen Cook

When I was younger, it seemed as if I was always too busy to find adventure in day-to-day life. I counted the many tasks I had to slog through until I could sit down, relax, write, sleep, and do it all over again the next day. I didn’t see the adventure in making peanut butter sandwiches, washing clothes, running errands, and other tasks. I dreamed longingly of retirement, when I could go on safaris, climb mountains, and take white-water rafting trips.

Now that I’m retired and doing at least some of that, I wonder how many adventures I actually missed while young. That peanut butter sandwich that fell on the floor to the dog’s delight, and my adventure in bathing him when he wound up with brown goo all over him (that dog hated baths!) is remembered fondly now with a laugh as well as an exaggeration or two. At the time, though, it seemed such a routine, mundane incident.

What about the time I washed clothes and the machine broke down and started spewing soapy water all over the laundry room floor and into the carpet in the next room, where it squish-squish-squished for the next two days? Yes, that was an adventure! And what about the time I had a simple, ordinary checkup with the doctor? That certainly turned into an adventure of bald-faced lies that had to be ashamedly backtracked. It went sort of like this:

“Kathleen, you’ll have to come in next week for your routine mammogram.” (Do I want to get a mammogram? Heck no! What kind of excuse can I give?)

“Um … I can’t. I’m going to visit relatives next week.” 

“Oh, you’re going to Illinois? What a coincidence! I’ll be there too next week! I’m visiting my sister; maybe we can get together for lunch. Where will you be staying?”

(Oh DANG! She knows all my relatives are in Illinois! What do I do NOW????)

“Um … Er … actually we’re not visiting my relatives in Illinois; we’re visiting other relatives.”

“Oh, you’re going to GERMANY?”

(Oh DANG! She knows my husband’s from Germany! I TALK TOO MUCH!!!)

“Um …. Er … Ummm.”

“Hey Clara!” (Clara looks up from her books.) “Guess where Kathleen is going? She’s visiting GERMANY next week! You know that country well, don’t you?”

Clara comes over and asks, “Oh wow, what part? Munich is beautiful this time of year. If you stop there, you can say hi to my cousin, Klaus. He works lunches at the Banhof Café near the train station.”

(I check my watch nervously.)

“Oh, I’m so sorry guys; I’m late for the dentist! I’ll talk to you next time!”

“Have a great trip! We’ll want to see ALL the pictures of Germany when you get back!” 

On an emotional-stress-adrenaline scale, if that wasn’t an adventure, I don’t know what is. And it didn’t end there. My stomach went skydiving the next day, when I called up to say, “I lied.”

A prolonged giggle on the other end was followed by, “Monday, 9:00. No excuses.”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Monday morning saw a new round of giggles the moment I walked in. Talk about adventure! Disney’s Matterhorn couldn’t have done worse!

As of this writing, I am preparing to take a trip into the wilds of Maine, where moose and black bear abound and my grown kids will be sharing the adventure with me. I can’t wait! But when you consider my previous, ordinary, run-of-the-mill adventures, I’d say this one will be rather tame. No stomach skydives. No heart palpitations. Easy breezy lemon squeezy. 

If you’re in the midst of your “ordinary” life and dreaming of “someday,” look around you. You may find plenty of action right where you are. So start writing that new adventure tale!

Kathleen Cook is a retired editor and the author of more than twenty books. A former copy writer/editor for Demand Studios, she also served as the Fictional Religion Editor for the ODP (Open Directory Project) in the internet’s early days. She is currently the Arizona Authors Association’s editor as well as its website developer.

New Release: Red Romeo - by Peter Bernhardt

 

Find it on Amazon  HERE

The summer of 1977 finds divided Germany locked in a fierce espionage battle. West Germany’s premier spy hunter, ambitious SABINE MAIER, faces off against ruthless Stasi General WERNER HEINRICH. Sabine has filled half a prison with her prodigious arrests of communist spies. Heinrich is the mastermind behind a small army of spy gigolos who prey on lonely women working in the West German government’s most secret divisions. Caught in the middle is ladies’ man STEFAN MALIK, a reluctant Romeo, forced to do the general’s bidding or rot in a Stasi prison.

Just as she thinks she’s gaining the upper hand, Sabine’s worst fears are realized. The Stasi has infiltrated the highest ranks of West German intelligence and Heinrich’s well-placed mole is watching her every move. With the number of women spying for love growing by the day, Sabine risks everything on a cutting-edge technology that promises to identify traitors.

The ingenious system soon picks up the scent of Stefan, who is targeting the Chief of the Chancellery’s secretary. But when Sabine discovers that Stefan has an agenda of his own, she lays a risky trap. With the security of the West at stake and Stefan’s life hanging by a thread, she gives her all to unmask the mole and outwit the Stasi spymaster.

German Edition: Roter Romeo – Stasi Gigolos und die Spionjägerin von Deutschland (Inspiriert durch tatsächlich zugetragene Ereignisse)

What Bernie Silver, author of Nathan in Spite of Himself, says about Red Romeo:

You’ve heard it all before but in Red Romeo’s case it’s true. The novel is fast-paced, suspenseful and features plenty of intrigue, to say nothing of intriguing characters. Plus it offers copious romance (though of a somewhat duplicitous nature). Suggestion: wear gloves so you don’t bite your nails off.

New Release: OSS TOP SECRET OPERATIONS. Volume 1: COVERT MISSIONS WW 2 - by Mike Rothmiller

 

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These are the true stories of OSS covert operations during World War 2.

There are three volumes.

They were written at the end of WW 2 and cut to the chase. There is no flowery narration, just hard-hitting facts of their successes, difficulties, and failures. This is the most accurate assessment of intelligence operations from the war.

Before World War II, intelligence activities in the United States were mostly carried out by the Department of State, the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), and the War Department's Military Intelligence Division (MID). Hoping for greater coordination of intelligence activities and a more strategic approach to intelligence gathering and operations, on July 11, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt appointed William J. Donovan to head a new civilian office attached to the White House, the Coordinator of Information (COI). The COI was charged with collecting and analyzing information that may have had bearing upon national security, correlating such information and data, and making this information available to the President, authorized departments, and government officials. The COI operations duplicated but did not necessarily replace functions carried out by the State Department, ONI, and MID.

When World War II started, Donovan worked with the newly created Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) to place the COI under JCS control; while preserving COI autonomy and gaining access to military support and resources. On June 13, 1942, the COI became the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). The OSS gathered intelligence information about practically every country in existence but was not allowed to conduct operations in the Pacific Theater, which General Douglas MacArthur claimed as his own. J. Edgar Hoover of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Nelson Rockefeller, the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs, insisted that the OSS should not operate in the Western hemisphere. For these reasons, the records of OSS covert operations were primarily confined to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The OSS established more than 40 overseas offices during World War II, extending from Casablanca to Shanghai and Stockholm to Pretoria.

Most records were transferred to two federal agencies after the OSS was eliminated on September 20, 1945. Approximately 1,700 cubic feet of Research and Analysis Branch records ended up at the Department of State. In comparison, more than 6,000 cubic feet of operational records were transferred to what was to become the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Note that the CIA was not created until July 26, 1947.

After World War II, OSS veterans in the Strategic Services Unit (SSU) arranged most OSS operational records according to OSS locations, offices, and file categories. For a list of these categories, see the Arrangement of OSS Records.

In 1946, the State Department began releasing records to the National Archives, which had taken over the bulk of Research and Analysis Branch files after the war. The most extensive series consists of intelligence reports relating to political, economic, military, and morale. The information covers nearly all nations. Each series is arranged by document number. The office would assign the next consecutive number to the accounts and correspondence sent to the R & A Branch.

As a historian and bestselling author, I edited various passages for clarity, punctuation, and ease of reading. However, it did not change the information or story in any fashion.

Where do science fiction authors find their inspiration? - from mythology, of course - Part 2 - by Vijaya Schartz

  

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“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Arthur C. Clarke

Last month, we covered the mythology of Asia as a source of inspiration, and Indian mythology that could be interpreted as advanced technology. But this is not unique to that part of the world.

In the Norse legends, Odin possessed two magical raven who flew over the world and showed him everything that happened in real time. These black birds often represented inside a clear globe would now be called “camera drones.” There is mention of a rainbow bridge, which, according to Albert Einstein, could have been a wormhole (or Rosen bridge). Also, Thor, God of Thunder, did have the power to harness lightning and thunder and used them as a weapon.

Similarly, in Greece, Zeus wielded weapons of lightning and thunder capable of great destruction… not unlike our war missiles.

The god Apollo flew north each year in a golden chariot… in other words a shiny metal craft.

The Anunnaki (meaning: they who from the heavens came) claimed to have come to Earth to harvest gold, a commodity they needed to save their own planet. In the process, they genetically improved, educated, and enslaved humans to provide a labor force to work and mine the gold for them. In doing so, they may have started the Sumerian civilization.

The Egyptian pharaohs claimed to be descended from the gods who came from Orion in barges. They were embalmed to make the trip back. The pyramids are aligned on Orion’s belt.

Ezekiel - St. Augustine Church - Paris France

The Old Testament says Ezekiel saw a chariot coming down to Earth with wheels turning inside wheels… not unlike the modern representations of UFOs.

Jacob witnessed angels climbing a ladder into a luminous craft.

And the Book of Enoch, one of the oldest manuscripts banned from the bible, describes in simple words his trip into space with angels, aboard a spacecraft, where he saw the Earth from space, then went to another planet and studied in their company. The elaborate details of his trip make a lot of sense to a modern mind familiar with space travel, but couldn’t have been fabricated by someone who didn’t understand advanced technology. Yet, this witness account was penned millennia ago.

This happened all over the world. In the Americas, many Native American tribes relate that sky people came as teachers (Kachinas) to educate their ancestors. The Thunderbird can also be interpreted as a vehicle transporting sky people.

The Incas, the Mayas, the Aztec, all had similar stories, about beings coming down in crafts from the Pleiades, sometimes demanding blood sacrifices, and strongly influencing their culture.

Several African tribes also spoke for centuries about being visited by space travelers from the Sirius II system. No one knew Sirius II existed until quite recently, as it is hidden by Sirius I.

So, you see, one doesn’t have to go far to find inspiration about science fiction stories. Space travel and alien visitation are old recurring themes even on our little planet.

This month, Congress reviewed undeniable footage of UAP (Unexplained Aerial Phenomena) taken by the US military, to discuss the implications for National Security.

Soon we will explore space on our own, search for new planets and encounter new civilizations, some more advanced, and others in infancy, and we, too, will become the powerful beings who encourage the pursuit of knowledge and accidentally start new myths and new religions… like in the Star Trek movie, where Captain Kirk inadvertently starts a new cult when the natives witness the Enterprise rising from the depths of the ocean and taking flight.

In the meantime, you can dream and imagine other worlds by reading science fiction, my favorite genre.

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 Happy Reading!

Vijaya Schartz, author

Strong Heroines, Brave Heroes, cats

http://www.vijayaschartz.com

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