Month: September 2024

Leaving a Legacy in Writing

I am reflecting on the fact that two of my clients are no longer here; one was very young and died of disease. Another was a grandmother, mother and wife and she left here suddenly. Here’s a picture of her book; the topic is very ironic:

As I think of their scenarios, I am also thinking about my oldest client, who is now 81; her book was published last year (2023). With amazing photos and a chronological timeline, she told her unique, riveting story. Her family will be grateful forever, for generations to come. Here is a picture of her book:

Telling your story helps everyone know what you saw, felt, heard, and thought. Your perspective about life, your relationships, your thought process, and so on, helps to connect generations together. Your voice is preserved as you tell your story, your way.

Although we can bequeath homes, trust accounts, IRAs, stocks, and other material items, your written prose or poetry can be passed down as well. Learning who you were will mean something special to someone else who will be related to you in the future.

So – let me know what’s stopping you from telling your story. Is it the fear that it’s no different than the next person’s book? Is it too much to tell? Too little to share? Let me know about your objections. Don’t give up on sharing what you know and what you’ve learned. Your lessons will help someone else!

My client’s first book signing

Check out photos from a recent book signing for one of my clients!

I had quite a time recently at my client’s first book signing at Barnes & Noble.

Rick Rogers’ first book – “Father Away From Me” has been taking his local circle by storm! Check out his book HERE on Amazon. Read the reviews!

His first book signing was a success, and he’s getting ready to host another one soon. They (he and Cathy) are creating an accompanying workbook to help readers address their own situations from growing up without an active father.

I cannot forget the faces of some of the people who stopped by; some were strangers, but his book caught their eye and they had to speak with him. Sometimes people came up with tears in their eyes. I was very moved by what I saw….imagine, an editor/book publisher watching in person how a book they’ve worked on is impacting people from different walks of life – in real time!

I had a chance to meet some of them in person as Rick introduced us. They had my business cards too, so I am looking forward to hearing from them soon!

Rick and Cathy at Rick's first book signing at Barnes & Noble in Charlotte, NC.

Cathy and Rick – an amazing couple

Cathy and Rick
Proud editor/publisher!
This young man poured out his heart…
The Time is Write author group
The Time is Write author group

Birthday Tribute to My Mom

Hello!

If you’ve known me for some time, you have heard my story of my mom’s inspiration and influence that led me to the path that I am now on as an editor, author and book strategist.

Her birthday was September 12, and I shared a heartfelt tribute to her life and her legacy.

Click on the link below to view my video tribute to Mrs E. Cameron, my first best friend on her birthday – September 12, 2024:

I love and miss you so much!

So…there’s this debate…

Hi!

I’ve tried to stay away from this debate that I’ve seen in writers’ spaces, but I decided to stop by and share my thoughts on this question: Should anyone pay to publish a book?

There are different ways to handle this question, but I will start here: You absolutely CAN publish a book without paying one dime, but everyone is not skilled or patient enough to do it. Some may have the skills but may not want to do it.

If someone wins a publishing contract to publish traditionally, they do not pay to publish (unless they hire editors or beta readers). If someone decides to self-publish (there are different reasons why authors choose this route), there’s the daunting task of figuring out how to self-edit, how to create a book cover, how to ensure that everything is formatted and lined up just right for the publishing platform to approve the files, and how to set everything up on the platform to ensure that all the moving parts fit correctly to produce the book of your dreams.

This is where the hybrid publisher comes on the scene. Authors will pay for certain packages to get their books completed without surrendering their rights. (Traditional publishers purchase the author’s rights when a contract is signed.)

Over time (since 2015) I’ve evolved from one-on-one writing coaching, manuscript editing, to publishing – mainly because clients have asked (and asked….) and I decided to give it a try. To be honest, it was not very difficult because I have 5 books listed, but it was different doing this for someone else. Now with several clients on my publisher’s list, I am preparing to get more into this space. This means becoming more educated on the finer details and preparing to offer clients high-quality service as needed in a timely manner.

So, do you have any questions about hybrid publishing? Do you believe it’s a necessary service, like several of my clients believe?