Starting Over – Fingers on the Keyboard

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Linda Barrett

HARD COVERS and SOFT COVERS and E-BOOKS, OH MY!

Gutenberg invented the printing press in approximately 1439 and changed the world forever. Gone was the dependency on hand written manuscripts as the mass production of printed books became a reality. His movable press became more efficient over time due to improved materials and tweaks, but nothing much changed for hundreds of years.

Enter the electronic revolution.

In today’s world, not only are books accessible to us, but readers have choices. What type of book do you prefer to hold in your hands? A compact well designed eReader such as a Kindle or Nook? Or a “real” book made of paper pages sporting a rich cover? Most book lovers I speak with enjoy a combination of both, depending on the type of book. But let’s not kid ourselves, Electronic books are here to stay. The entire publishing industry has changed because of them. And authors have led the way.

Authors?. That’s right. I said authors. But they write the books. They don’t publish the books. That’s what companies like Random House or Simon & Schuster do. Well, my friends, while that may still be true, those businesses now have new competition.

Enter the “indie” author.

The independent author has emerged as a powerful player in today’s book scene. An independent author contracts with a freelance editor, a copy editor, and a cover designer to help her produce–or continue to produce–stories that readers love. The independent author has become her own publisher.

I am one of them. After writing a dozen or so novels for a traditional publisher, I’ve decided to go out on my own.

You might have a few questions….? Ah-h…I see a some hands up in the back of the room. Yes, Mary?

Q. Why did you change to indie publishing?

A. Several reasons. First, I could write more books than my publisher could schedule for release because they had other contracted authors to satisfy. Second, they sometimes turned down projects that I liked a lot and thought my readers would like too. Now I have a chance to make those stories available. And third, It was time for me to grow as a writer with bigger projects. Ergo, Family Interrupted.

Q. But don’t you have to pay those editors to help you?

A. Yes, I do. But it’s worth every cent. I would never release a book that hasn’t been thoroughly edited by professionals. It’s very difficult for me–or any author– to do a good job editing her own work because after re-reading the story a million times, you just don’t see the mistakes.

Any other questions? I see another hand. Susie?

Q. So let’s talk about money. Doesn’t a big publisher pay you lots of money to write your books?

A. Only the biggest names — authors who make the lists such as The New York Times or USA Today — earn “big” money. Authors who publish regularly but have a smaller following earn far less. For most of my writing life, I’ve also worked a day job in order to pay the bills. I taught GED prep classes to homeless adults. Another challenging profession! Frankly, I loved that career, too.

Q. So, is it easier being an indie author?

A. There is no difference in the creativity and effort that goes into writing the story. It is neither easier nor harder to produce the best book possible. The extra effort for the indie author involves promoting the book. The responsibility is all mine, and I so appreciate any help I can get. If readers don’t know me or if they can’t find my books, then all my work will have been in vain. Without a reader, the art is unfinished. The circle is not closed. If I were a painter, I could hang my pictures on the walls of my house. I can’t hang a manuscript. Books are to share between writer and reader and among friends.

Q. How does a reader know if an author is indie or traditional?

A. When you pick up a book, the publisher’s name will be in it. In my book, Family Interrupted, only my name is in it as both the copyright holder and the “permission giver” for reproducing any part of the work. Some indie authors might have incorporated themselves, and that corporate name would be on the copyright page.

Q. Are printed books available from an indie author?

A. The author decides whether to publish her book in print. Because of the number of electronic readers out there, they often choose not to. Family Interrupted, however, is available as a trade paperback. There is no difference in the physical quality of the printed book offered by an indie author vs. a large publishing company. When I hold a copy of Family Interrupted in my hands, the cover is strong, the colors are true, and the pages are formatted correctly. The book has weight and substance. It’s a real book! And it makes me smile.

Q.. This promo thing….if I really like an indie author, how can I help promote her?

A. Same as you’ve always done. Tell your friends! Use Facebook, Twitter or your telephone. Post a review on the etail sites like Amazon. Your recommendation is still the very best way to spread the word. Thanks so much for asking 🙂

Any other questions out there? Just ask and I’ll answer right here in the comments section.

LEAVE A COMMENT and your name will be entered for this month’s drawing for a fabulous package of books. Five authors from OnFireFiction have put together five stories in LOVE ME SOME COWBOY. Each is a full novel from Jean Brashear, Ginger Chambers, Day Leclaire, Barbara McMahon, and Lisa Mondello.

I’m a proud member of OnFireFiction and happy to provide this prize as well as an electronic copy of FAMILY INTERRUPTED, my recently released novel of women’s fiction. NOW AVAILABLE IN PRINT FROM CreateSpace!!!

As always, thank you so much for stopping by. I hope to see you for the next edition of Starting Over.

Linda

Starting Over ~ The Pink Ribbon Sisterhood

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Linda Barrett

FACING OUR RISKS–

She is stunningly beautiful. Amazingly talented. And emotionally brave. Last week, Angelina Jolie shared her personal decision to stave off breast cancer by revealing she had undergone a bi-lateral mastectomy of her healthy breasts. Privacy is paramount to this actress, and she could have kept silent. No one forced her to say anything to the public, and she had no obligation to do so. But she did.

Breast cancer shakes the soul. Shakes the sleep from our eyes, When the probability of forming a cancerous tumor is a shocking 87 percent, everything else takes second place. Suddenly, what could have been kept a secret became a secret to be shared. And that’s the point. Spreading the word about the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations will encourage at-risk women to be tested for them. We know that knowledge is power – the more, the better. With the information we have today, women at risk have choices.

No one said they are easy choices. In fact, they are tough choices. Discussions abound. Criticisms abound. Even among caring physicians. Sure, the probability of cancer is high if you carry the gene mutation, but it’s not a guarantee. So why not wait? Why not get screened often? Maybe every six months. Or every three months. Or maybe monthly? MRI’s. Mammos. Alternate them. Screening makes sense medically. Absolutely. And if you also remove the ovaries…? Maybe that would be enough.

A hundred people will have a hundred opinions. That’s why in the end, each woman must decide for herself. She must weigh the risks and benefits. In my own experience and in my conversation with others, the decision is usually psychologically based. If you multiply a healthy woman’s anxiety while waiting for the results of her yearly mammogram by the factor of a thousand, you’ll understand why some at-risk women say they can’t live with the stress of monthly or quarterly screenings. The worry shadows them, affecting their emotional health. Will they find something this time? Next time? The time after that? Every high risk woman struggles to figure out the route she needs to take in order to live as “normal” a life as possible.

I developed a tumor before I knew I was a BRCA1 carrier. So my psychological decision was between a lumpectomy and mastectomy. The risks of recurrence were the same regardless of the surgery. In the end, I chose the lumpectomy in the hopes of continuing to look like my natural everyday self. Hear that? My natural self. So I understand the enormity of choosing preventive mastectomies. Of how upsetting and unnatural that would be. But reducing the risk of cancer from 87% to less than 5% is enormous, too. In fact, from where I sit after two bouts of breast cancer, I think that’s a good deal. I vote for a natural life span 🙂

So, thank you, Ms. Jolie for spreading the word about hereditary cancer. Thank you for raising the awareness of choices.

A celebrity’s voice, especially a celebrity of Angelina Jolie’s stature, carries far, wide and deep. When Michael J. Fox revealed his Parkinsons disease, he raised national awareness of this condition. He established a foundation, raised funds for research, testified at congressional hearings, and kept on working, too.

Celebrities are a wonderful resource in grabbing the public’s attention. But we can’t sit around waiting for a famous person to get sick! Behind the scenes, day by day, and year by year, are professionals and volunteers who maintain the public’s awareness of medical progress. I’m very proud of one such organization which was mentioned in the press last week because of Ms. Jolie’s revelations. That organization is called Facing Our Risks of Cancer Empowered, aka, FORCE.

According to their website (www.facingourrisk.org): FORCE was founded on the principle that no one should have to face hereditary breast and ovarian cancer alone. We are the only national non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.

FORCE is laser-focused on hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. The founder of this organization is Sue Friedman, DVM. She and two others wrote a book called, Confronting Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer, published by Johns Hopkins Press. I own a copy and find it an excellent resource when I want clarification about these issues.

As always, I encourage conversation here. If you have a story to share about today’s topic or have questions, please post them and we’ll talk!

LEAVE A COMMENT and your name will be added to this month’s drawing for a fabulous package of books. Five authors from OnFireFiction are offering five stories in LOVE ME SOME COWBOY. Each is a full novel from Jean Brashear, Ginger Chambers, Day Leclaire, Barbara McMahon and Lisa Mondello. I’m a proud member of OFF and happy to provide this prize in addition to a copy of FAMILY INTERRUPTED, my recently released novel of women’s fiction. (Now also in paperback!)

YES, YES…FAMILY INTERRUPTED IS AVAILABLE NOW IN PAPERBACK AT CREATESPACE. WHEE…I’M VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT!!

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope to see you for the next edition of Starting Over.

Linda

Starting Over – In the Day Camp

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Linda Barrett

HIT OR MISS–

It’s been hit or miss around here lately. Talking about a bat and a ball.as in softball. My golfer guy has now rediscovered his inner Sandy Koufax, his baseball playing younger self that he left in Brooklyn more years ago than he can remember. Not that he ever stopped following the Dodgers despite Walter O’Malley moving the team to L.A. and Ebbetts Field becoming a memory. My practical, business oriented golfer guy sighed in resignation and loyally followed Dodger games on television. He still does. When we lived in Houston, Mike made a good friend, originally from L.A., and the two of them enjoyed reminiscing about Dodger history. They even attended a few Houston-L.A. games together.

Growing up in Brooklyn, Mike’s favorite pastime was baseball and later, softball. He was an excellent baseball pitcher and outfielder with a strong arm and a few no-hitters to his credit. He even once pitched against Joe Torre. Mr. Torre went on to fame and fortune, and my husband went on to our day camp for adults. Along the way, a broken elbow, a torn labrum (somewhere in the shoulder) and the responsibilities of growing up required a different path.

In time, Mike moved onto softball only and played for many years until finally, he ran out of people his age to play with. For the next 25 years, he engaged in other sports. But our day camp has a softball team. This was a chance for my golfer guy to get in touch with his inner child. He couldn’t wait to step out onto the ball field again.

Sometimes, however, it’s better to live in the past. Softballs that used to be easily caught, now dropped in front of him or went over his head. The instincts for playing the outfield had eroded, and as bad as that was, his batting was even worse. Flailing at the ball or hitting weak grounders was a big departure from past success. And because I’d seen him play many times during long ago summers, I can testify to the fact that he once was highly talented.

Needless to say, a former pleasure was now tinged with disappointment and frustration. Although he’d expected a drop off in skills, limited competency was unanticipated.

Despite his frustrations, Mike kept showing up for practice and games, and kept hoping his skills would improve. Being second oldest on the team didn’t help either. But, he never stopped trying. When other more skillful people were absent, Mike was given a chance to play.

Somewhere along the line, his teammates suggested that a pair of distance glasses might make a difference. Off he went to the eye doctor, hoping for a quick fix. Not to be.The quick fix turned out to be a cataract operation. It seems that catching fly balls requires depth perception, and with only one eye working…well, you get the picture. Around here, cataract operations are as common as age spots. If you haven’t had one, it’s only a matter of time until you do.

The surgery was successful. His eyesight improved, and so did his ability to play the outfield. Unfortunately, hitting a ball is a little more precise than catching one, and that’s still a work in progress. Occasionally, there are flashes of what used to be. But, in fact, we are not fifteen years old anymore.

Recently, my man-child began playing in a league where many of the people are older than he is. Isn’t it amazing how being one of the team’s younger players makes you one of the better players without any improvement in skills?

And now a man who also enjoys chasing little white balls across swaths of green grass also chases larger yellow ones in his field of dreams.

In the day camp, we can enjoy the pleasures of our youth as long as we temper expectations with the wisdom of experience. We’re still learning, still growing. Still playing the greatest game of all–the game called Life.

Have you returned to something that once gave you pleasure but dropped it because you’re not as good as you used to be? Or have you continued to find pleasure in your activities despite some disappointment? Let’s keep the conversation going. Post a comment below.

LEAVE A COMMENT and your name will be part of a drawing for a fabulous package of books. Five authors from OnFireFiction, of which I’m a part, have written five novels under the umbrella name of Love Me Some Cowboy. Each story is a full novel from Jean Brashear, Ginger Chambers, Day Leclaire, Barbara McMahon and Lisa Mondello. I’m happy to provide this terrific prize in addition to my own novel, Family Interrupted – also terrific, by the way 🙂

As always, thanks so much for stopping by. I hope to see you again for the next edition of Starting Over.

Linda