Book Review – A New Resource for Self-Publishers
Posted on January 28, 2015 Leave a Comment
I spent one Sunday afternoon going through what may become the standard resource guide for self-publishers, particularly of e-books. The Self Publisher’s Ultimate Resource Guide, Every Indie Author’s Essential Directory to Help You Prepare, Publish, and Promote Professional Looking Books by Joel Friedlander and Betty Kelly Sargeant provides essential information for writers wanting to self-publish.
Between them, the two writers have over 50 years of experience in the publishing business. Sargeant is the founder of BookWorks, the Self-Publisher’s Association. She also writes a monthly column on self-publishing for Publishers Weekly. Friedlander is a book designer and blogger. He is the creator of Book Design Templates.
The book is divided into three sections, Prepare, Publish, and Promote. Each section comprehensively provides chapters that cover detailed sources for each area. Sources are provided in alphabetical order and include name, phone number, e-mail address, web-site address, and a brief description of services offered.
Among the listings under Prepare are content and development editors, proofreaders, indexers, covers and designers. Services offered include writing software and associations. Writer’s conferences for 2015 includes conferences large and small in states and cities throughout the country, including my home Alaska.
In Publish writers will find companies from India to Ohio, and websites that provide information on eBook conversion, print on demand, and subsidy publishing. The Promote section covers every aspect of book promotion from website design, to book blog tours, marketing and publicity, and sites to list books.
This directory will be of particular benefit to self-publishers with deep-pocket budgets. But, for boot-strap self-publishers most of the professional services are priced beyond their budgets. However, even writers with small publishing budgets will find some helpful information.
For example, in the e-Book conversion section is a link to James Calbraith’s two blogs, “Formatting an eBook in 10 Easy Steps.” Associations provides information about many writer’s groups new writers may not know even exist. Some of these groups, such as BookWorks provide a free membership and offer many valuable services, such as listing writer’s published books with no cost involved.
On the whole the resource is a good book. But, I hope the next edition makes two major changes. The book opens with over five pages of book endorsements that become redundant and distract from the purpose of the book, to provide useful information for self-publishers.
And one would expect a book written by a book designer to have some elements of design to make it appealing and easy to read. Unfortunately, design is lacking in this directory. Everything is printed in the same font and style, with the same amount of spacing. This lack of differentiation between the title or name of a professional service, and no space between an e-mail address or website diminishes the ease of using the book.
For example, when trying to click onto a website, my e-mail compose page opened. Bolding the titles of services, providing space between websites and e-mail addresses and highlighting them in blue, and putting information about services in italics would make reading the directory easier and more pleasing to the eye.
But, even with the lack of good design, this resource does earn it’s name as the ultimate resource guide. Each annual publication should show improvement in design, new and updated resources to benefit self-publishers. This first edition, is a good beginning and a valuable resource for any self-publisher.
Gratitude Practice Cures Winter Blues
Posted on January 27, 2015 2 Comments
Living in Alaska, winter darkness descends with overwhelming longevity. And when days are marked by more grey clouds and rain than snow, the bleakness is devastating. Yet, I wake up, snuggling under my covers and think, “I’m grateful for this warm bed.” When I get up, I’m grateful to be able to turn on heat and to shower in hot water knowing many are without these benefits.
I jumped into Gratitude 100 the same way I’ve begun many projects, with enthusiasm and little initial research. After all, gratitude has been central to my life since I was a child. So, from a personal gratitude list came the idea to create 100 questions to stimulate a gratitude practice I call Gratitude 100 – A Simple Practice for Fulfillment, Balance, and Happiness.
When I finally did research blogs about gratitude, I pleasantly found my ideas shared by others. From the suggestion to write down one’s gratitude in the morning while drinking a cup of tea to recognizing that we can lose the blessings we have when we aren’t grateful. So, as winter cold envelopes most of the nation, this is a good time to answer some of the questions about beginning a simple gratitude practice. Let’s look at some reasons for a gratitude practice, who practices gratitude, and methods of a gratitude practice.
Why Do a Gratitude Practice?
Scientists and doctors have studied gratitude practice and proven its health benefits. Studies show that practicing gratitude helps reduce stress, a large cause of many diseases. People who are grateful are also more optimistic than people who aren’t grateful.
Optimism boosts the immune system to help prevent illness and disease. People who regularly practice gratitude also have higher energy levels and stronger hearts. Feeling grateful stimulates the release of dopamine into the brain preventing depression and creating feelings of happiness.
According to A Network for Grateful Living, the practice of gratefulness fosters personal transformation, cross-cultural understanding, interfaith dialogue, intergenerational respect, nonviolent conflict resolution, and ecological sustainability. And the number one reason for doing a gratitude practice is being grateful puts a smile on the face.
Who Needs A Gratitude Practice?
Helen Russell, a spiritual creative writer and photographer from New Zealand, began a gratitude practice when she felt her life problems and the separation from her lover became too much to bear. She remembered someone telling her, “Be grateful for small mercies.” Establishing a daily gratitude practice did turn her life around.
James Altucher, a New York trader, investor, writer, and entrepreneur realized he needed to renew his gratitude practice when he found himself totally broke again. He admitted, “I wasn’t grateful for what I had.”
Hailey Batholomew, an Australian film-maker and photographer, suffered from depression until she began to find reasons to be grateful. In addition to overcoming her depression, her relationships improved. So she, with her husband Andrew, began 365grateful.com. People are encouraged to make gratitude photos or videos. The Bartholomews share the video and photographic stories on their site and have also produced a 365 Grateful documentary.
Thousands of people from more than 240 countries daily visit the website, A Network for Grateful Living. This site grew from the work of Brother David Steindl Rast, a Benedictine monk who also studied Zen Buddhism. The site supports the practice of grateful living as a global ethic.
What is a Gratitude Practice?
Simply, a gratitude practice is any practice a person develops to express gratitude daily. Russell offers a nine step process. Among her suggestions is to commit to begin a practice, write gratitude down at a set time of day, and to practice present moment gratitude
She also suggests that we share our gratitude practice with those close to us. Russell stresses that a gratitude practice does not mean the end of bad days but it also should not be set up as a means of attaining goals and then dropped when the goals are accomplished. The purpose of a gratitude practice is to make gratitude an integral part of our daily lives.
For those more results oriented, Altuscher describes how to exercise the “gratitude muscle.” He suggests we begin by writing a list of all the negative situations in our lives and then list all of the good in our lives. Once we can see we do have reasons to be grateful, no matter how negative our current situation may be, we can begin to practice gratitude.
Altuscher suggests three approaches to implement a gratitude practice. We can be grateful all day for everything we see or encounter. Or we can write five e-mails a day to people and tell them why we are thankful for knowing them. And we can keep a gratitude journal, to write down our lists of gratitude.
My current gratitude practice is The Gratitude 100 – A Simple Practice for Fulfillment, Balance, and Happiness. This practice incorporates some of the elements of the two above. But, I created a free downloadable journal and a simple daily catalyst to express at least one reason to be grateful. Every day a gratitude question arrives by e-mail for reflection and response. The Gratitude 100 consists of 20 questions each under the topics physical, spiritual, emotional, mental, and financial.
Now, is the best time to start a gratitude practice to experience how being grateful brings sunshine to cloudy, cold winter days. And yes, I’d be most grateful to you when you join me and practice The Gratitude 100 too.
#25 OF 52 GIRLS
Posted on January 21, 2015 Leave a Comment
This week’s collaboration of art and haiku. Enjoy.
Five Reasons Grateful for M. L. King, Jr. Day
Posted on January 19, 2015 7 Comments
Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr., saw that still in the second half of the 20th century the descendants of slaves, on whose backs this country’s wealth was built, were still unable to enjoy the promised freedoms, equality, and pursuit of happiness written into the American constitution and law. He accepted the charge to work for the achievement of those promises for everyone. Doctor King is one of the few national American leaders to knowingly place his life in jeopardy for freedom, justice, and peace.
But, he did not begin the Civil Rights Movement. The courage and commitment to non-violence of thousands of black men, women, and children, and hundreds of people from other races and backgrounds, empowered Dr. King to emerge as the spokesperson and symbol of the movement.
Sadly, we have not achieved Doctor King’s ultimate goals – a country free from racism and bigotry and a world at peace. The lives of young black men still remain of less value than other citizens. But, we cannot deny that racial and social progress has been made. So here are five reasons to be grateful to observe M.L. King, Jr. Day.
- Personal – Our rainbow families are the realization of Dr. King’s words. I have a dream . . .that little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as brothers and sisters. His dream led to the ending of laws against inter-racial marriage. That legal legacy continues with the Supreme Court now facing the question for the right of people of the same sex to marry.
- Spiritual – Without the sea-change in racial relations, caused by the civil rights movement, many black people would not have the opportunity to explore a world of different spiritual traditions, once only available to white people. In these words, Dr. King speaks the universal wisdom of spiritual teachers throughout time. But the end is reconciliation; the end is redemption; the end is the creation of the beloved community. It is this type of spirit and this type of love that can transform opposers into friends.
- Political – We would not have a black president and black first lady and thousands of elected black representatives in school boards, state and federal government, Cabinet members, and judges without the forces that Doctor King galvanized. Yet, again, the battle continues to protect black people’s right to vote and to energize more black people to enter public office.
- Social Change – People born after 1970 have no idea of the pervasiveness and limitations imposed on black Americans due to segregation. Every aspect of life from birth, education, employment, travel, housing, and health were limited and below standard. Black people were disrespected, threatened, harassed, and killed without any justice or outcry. Although problems continue, now not only black people, but others here and around the world write, speak out, demonstrate for continued change and justice for black Americans.
- Peace – Unfortunately, this is the one area, we have yet to heed the words of Dr. King. I want to say one other challenge that we face is simply that we must find an alternative to war and bloodshed. Anyone who feels, and there are still a lot of people who feel that way, that war can solve the social problems facing mankind is sleeping through a great revolution. Yet, individuals and organizations opposed to ongoing wars and violence follow in his footsteps.
The above reasons are just a snapshot of what the leadership of Dr. King and the courage of the civil rights movement achieved. Yet, just as this country’s democracy is still a work in progress, so we are still engaged in achieving full equality, justice, and rights for all black people in this country. To keep everyone aware of the continued racism and bigotry in this country and to press for some type of national racial reconciliation are other reasons to observe the Doctor King holiday.
I am grateful to be a black woman in the 21st century able to observe this holiday. As a minister, Doctor King often expressed gratitude in his own poetic way. One of his most well-known statement of thanks, though also a sad prophecy, reminds us to be grateful for what has been accomplished and like a beacon lights the way to carry on his charge.
Because I’ve been to the mountain top. And I don’t mind. Like any man, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.
So, today, in honor of the work Dr. King began and to continue his legacy, I offer, a free gift to you, Gratitude 100, A Simple Practice for Fulfillment, Balance, and Happiness. To join me in this gratitude journey, Click Here.
Original King photo from www.biography.com, background phot and haiku by Skywalker Storyteller
Resources: 10 Famous Quotes; The Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute
Practice Gratitude with the Avaaz Community
Posted on January 15, 2015 1 Comment
Avaaz Photo
I have participated in Avaaz internet actions for years. For those who do not know, in the words of the Avaaz team, Avaaz is an extraordinary community of hopeful, practically idealistic people who choose to sign a petition or donate money when no one is looking.
This organization has successfully delivered petitions, with millions of signatures on issues from political prisoners to environmental issues, to decision makers. Many of these petitions have succeeded in achieving the change sought. This year Avaaz invited members to vote on values to focus on for themselves.
We’ve come together as a community hundreds of times in campaigns, and created magic. At this most reflective time of a new year, let’s come together around this, most important campaign of all – the campaign for ourselves, to “be the change we wish to see” – for us, and for all the people we love and the planet we call home.
The three principles receiving 97% of the community support are:
Show Kindness and Respect
Strive for Wisdom
Practice Gratitude
The synchronicity of the third value with my declaration of this as my year of gratitude, Gratitude the Ubiquitous Key, lets me know I am on the right path.
So, why don’t we all begin this year, and join Avaaz, by committing to live these values. Because when 500,000 people make the pledge, Avaaz will personally invite world leaders to make the same pledge.
Signing this pledge not only helps us to individually move toward personal fulfillment, balance, and happiness. It is also another step, simple and symbolic, that leads to the creation of a world of peace, justice, and compassion.
To sign up, click this link – Avaaz – Three Principles
Skywalker Storyteller Works 