First Word

I am going through so many different changes in my life -- and if there is one thing I am learning: control is an illusion. I have so many different balls in the air with 3L Publishing . I have the process under way for the California Girl Chronicles script. And my personal relationships are evolving all over the place. I kept trying to box everything into a square. Put this here; put that over there; put this in here. You know what life is not like that. You cannot control everything. You can take action. You can make changes. You can do what you need to do. BUT ultimately you put on a positive attitude and then just "let it ride." It's like get in the car, start it, and then put in cruise control, and let her go. And here I am ... happily letting it ride!

Chapter 4 Self Publishing, Vanity Press or Do-It-Yourself-ers “ Vanity is my favorite sin .” ~ Al Pacino Self publishing, publish on demand, traditional, and now the New Publishing. Publishers everywhere and so many choices what’s a writer to do? Before you get all quivering and quaking with fear and a need to pop a Xanax to calm your nerves, keep reading. We want to help alleviate a quick trip to the pharmacy to consume anti-depressants to manage your publishing anxiety. First, like the warning label on any good prescription bottle or Diet Coke can, we want to not just warn you, but beg you to educate yourself before you sign on the line on any contracts you may have placed in front of you. And this may be hard to control yourself too. Any time a so-called publisher or someone with the title of publisher calls and says they want to publish your manuscript refrain from the happy dance just yet. Our sad cautionary tale comes from a 95-year-old World War II veteran we’ll call...

It's the shocker of the decade ... I actually missed last Sunday's episode of True Blood and didn't see it until last night. A day before the next episode. I was traveling without access to HBO! Oh man! Total withdrawal ;). All right so let's get down to business here. What did I think of episode 7? Well, I am loving the vampire storyline for sure. The "V" trip on Lilith's blood was excellent. The vampire feeding frenzy in the New Orleans club where the betrothed sang "You Light Up My Life" absolutely priceless. Just hearing that awful song -- perfect -- and then Russell Edgington jumping on stage just rocked it. The rest of the episode I have to sadly say whatever. Sookie realizing she can deplete her magic to be human ... whatever. Sam chasing criminals ... whatever. Werewolf wars ... whatever. I did like Tara's humanity showing with her relationship with her mother, and Pam's coaxing that in 100 years she wouldn't even remember th...

I drink one cup of coffee a day, period and that's it. My Italian author and friend Michael Perrotta, who just released Under the Sycamores (fantastic book and highly recommended) encourages me not to drink coffee at all. He says and I quote, "It's bad for you," in this thick and wonderful Italian accent. Yes, Michael it probably is ... but if I only have one vice and that's coffee then oh well. I am up in Northern California combining play time with work and networking. I decided to return to where 3L Publishing has the strongest base to focus on business development. You know I personally moved about six months ago, but 3L is headquartered here in Sacramento. Our storage facilities are here, and my wizard of an operations manager runs everything from here. I really don't see myself in the long term in LA (too many people), but I am not sure when I'll return up here on a permanent basis. I am going to be flying back and forth more often in the coming mon...

For the most part, writing is not a group activity. Most writers write alone and sometimes even in their basements (not me, though). When you write your best friend is often your computer or laptop. I have two best friends -- a desktop and laptop. Human beings are social creatures. We need interaction with more than our daily digital date with our computers. We need to get out and meet people. Writing also is supposed to be done for other people to read (even though some writers hide their work), so even if all you're doing is showing a few friends, it's still an audience. By joining a writer's group you are getting out and showing other people your work. You are able to talk about the experience. You can share that experience and get feedback. You can get fresh perspectives and ideas. You can commiserate on the experience and the like-minded journey. As artists, we have a collective unconscious about the experience and why we do what we do. I personally enjoy discussing an...

Do you know what is information-based marketing? It is pretty much what it sounds like. The power of providing loads of great information to market and promote your business. I get asked all of the time, "Why are you willing to share so much of your expertise for free?" Because most business people and authors cannot do what I do. Giving and sharing information doesn't take away from my business, it gives me business. Once prospective clients understand the value of the information I am giving away, they typically are sold on my knowledge and expertise. Once sold on what I know, they are more open to hire my company to work with them. Blogging is a tool to provide information on a daily basis (yes, except Sunday) and build a following. Followers may not directly do business with your company, but if they're impressed enough with you they will refer you to friends. Prospective clients also research those they work with, and your blog becomes part of what they research ...

I am back in Northern California this week to focus on my core business base and rebuild. I am focused on relationship building and business development. Relationship building is critical and core to business success in today's environment. In LA I am one of thousands. Here in Northern California, I have a strong base of associates and people who know me. It is a great base to work on and rebuild toward further success. I have not been able to effectively network for sometime. I will be focused on networking, meeting new clients, and focus on getting to know them to find out how I can help. If you would like to work with me, please send me an email to Michelle@3LPublishing.com.

I don't feel like blogging today. Yep, not in the mood. I'm trying to be in the mood ... can't you tell. Here I am in my office chair. I'm typing away to see what spills out of my brain. Well, let's see ... I have to admit something ... I'm depressed LOL ... yep depressed and I am forcing myself to write and do what I do best. I keep looking at the second book of the California Girl Chronicles: Brea's Big Break , and it goes unreleased. I've been in perpetual limbo with this project. The following for book one is still in build mode, and my resources are in limbo too, so book two goes unreleased ... and there you go. It's better than book one (so I've been told). Sometimes I look at the books and feel utter detachment. Did I write those? Yes, I wrote them in a different space. I've not been in a creative space, so I've focused on other people's books, which is good. We have several new books in the pipeline that I'm editing away a...

Chapter 3 The Book as Platform – A Winning Outlook on Publishing By Michelle Gamble-Risley, CEO, 3L Publishing ( www.3LPublishing.com ) “The free-lance writer is the person who is paid per piece or per word or perhaps.” ~ Robert Benchley There is one thing we consistently see across the board. We constantly educate our authors on how their book is  not  a singular passive revenue stream; but we inform them how their book can become a business with multiple revenue streams. When our clients come to us with such tunnel vision we educate about the “business-in-a-box” business model and slowly light up the tunnel until, “ta-da,” the realization of a business opportunity hits them smack on the side of the head. They finally understand the concept and then they run with it. When you write a book, it is a platform and opportunity to do many other things such as speaking engagements, workshops, and increase your current business activities. Smart Girls “The answer...

Every time you shift and change your life, you create what I call the new normal. I feel really fantastic today. I am in the middle of my new normal. I'm adjusting to my life as a single parent. My kids are here. My eldest climbed in my spare walk-in closet and organized all of the boxes. We have a new bed being delivered today for him to sleep on, which completes the office/spare bedroom. Why does this matter? It's really about finally settling in and accepting and adjusting to my life as it is. I have so much to look forward to at this point, too. California Girl Chronicles script polish wrapped up yesterday (pretty much), and this process coming to an end with an important step forward. The script is why I'm here. I am moving it forward with my producer to pitch to TV executives. The experience of working with someone of his experience and caliber has been rewarding. He's teaching me a lot even if he doesn't know it yet. I've been watching with a keen eye ...

How is it I missed the chance to comment on my favorite show's last episode? First, I have a lot on my mind. Second, I just forgot LOL. OK, back to Bon Tempe and the myriad story lines going forward in a season that got off to a fantastic start and veered a little and then for some reason kind of started losing me a bit. Now as a publisher and writer, I try to review the show from the writing and storytelling angles. I have enjoyed the Bill and Eric storyline and the romp with the Authority. I especially appreciated that finally they showed Eric still wants Sookie when he glamoured our resident werewolf Alcide into not having romantic feelings for her. Go Eric! And I must say, the "heat" between Sookie and Alcide ... not there! Sorry! The other favorite storyline is Tara's rising into her vampiric skin. She's going to come round just you wait and see. We've had hints of her settling in, so to speak. Then we have poor Hoyt's personal self-desctruction. What...

When writing novels, I get asked about how many characters should populate your story? I don't have a huge cast of characters in California Girl Chronicles . I didn't create a huge cast of characters of purpose. The best way to explain why it's important to limit what I call the characters on the canvas is from the reader's point-of-view. Have you ever read a book where you have to continually flip back and forth to remember a character's name and his or her role in the story? Doesn't that just frustrate you? It also makes it difficult to track what is going on when you confuse your characters and sub-plots, because if you have confused the characters you probably aren't tracking the sub-plots either. I had a recent conversation with an author where we explored the problems associated with a plethora of different people populating his pages. He had reasons to justify all of his "peeps" but I pointed out that once you lose the reader what really hap...

Many authors come to 3L Publishing with their great dreams to write a NY Times best seller. The truth about publishing is that you're selling books with a small profit margin. So you have to sell a lot of books to make a huge profit. I try to encourage authors to keep their budgets conservative. The chances of writing and selling a NY Times best seller are minimal and could be compared to winning Lotto. When you compare the thousands of newly released titles to the number that actually make the list, well, you can imagine why I came up with the comparison to winning Lotto. With the odds not on the side of being the next Harry Potter, I try to get authors to look at their motives for publishing their books. The best motive is either to get your work out there and read or to use your book for business promotion and development. Authors who got into the book business with an understanding that anything outside of getting their books published or the personal satisfaction or the opp...

My blog has in a sense become a bit of a "vague" journal ... LOL :). Yesterday something monumental came to an end. I also went to Tre Bella Spa in Auburn and had a Rain-Drop Treatment (essential oils) with Cheryl Mullick. She was so concerned about my thin frame, she practically dumped whole bottles of oils LOL. And a very funny story: the oils are a combination that includes oregano. A very cute waiter at Elephant Bar looks at me and says, "It smells like pizza. I'm hungry." I started laughing and said, "It's me." Yes, I always smell like pizza afterward. My daughter calls me "pizza mommy." Did you know that men when asked what "turned them on" smell-wise, they liked the pizza smell. Go figure ... apparently the way to a man's heart is definitely through this his stomach. Here is what you absolutely must know about essential oils. They put my RA in remission. They boost the immune systems ... I have not had a cold or flu i...

I know, I know, I vow to blog every day ... some days the distractions are just too great! I am not feeling clever or funny ... how can that be? Okay, that made me crack a smile. I have to make myself laugh. If you can't laugh, you got nothing! I woke up today and focused on my projects that look great. We did a mock movie poster for the promotion of California Girl Chronicles . We also did sales projection spreadsheet. I see incremental, slow progress. It's quite thrilling. See ... focus somewhere else. Go take a cruise to nowhere. Drink frothy, fun drinks for an entire week. Eat pizza! Once when I was in Hawaii, I drank like a fish and ate pizza for a week -- came home 10 pounds heavier. I need to gain 10 pounds or better. I think since the financial outlook isn't look quite as (let's find a positive word) "up" as today, I am going to fly up and back up north, sign some legal documents, and come home. And then I am going to be happy ... with myself! Major, m...

Do you all know what is energy work? Now for spiritual purists who don't believe in that sort of thing ... well, move on LOL. We're going to discuss energy work on a Sunday morning. I went to bed early last night and now I'm up early getting caught up before I go out this afternoon. Yes, I actually do get out and have a life. I'm going to meet a friend, sit out overlooking the ocean, and talk about absolutely nothing important other than, "Look the sunset looks marvelous!" or "Cheers! Here's to a great day!" The only goal is to laugh. You should make life's goal about laughing. Laugh at the world; laugh at each other; and don't forget to laugh at yourself ... humanity is funny after all. We're all so wonderfully flawed in our individual richness. So energy work. I have a lot of energy work I'm doing. Something snapped in me yesterday big time. I immediately set to work on the energy work to make some energetic shifts. I began to...

“ The Guru has shattered the shackles on my feet, and has set me free .” ~ Sir Guru Ganth Sahib You’re amped up and finished with what you genuinely believe is going to be a best-selling masterpiece sure to receive rave reviews in the New York Times . The only hesitation is you’re a little uncertain about chapter one, “Hey it’s not my best chapter in the book,” you will eventually say to your prospective publisher should you be blessed enough to get him or her on the phone. Want to know what the acquisition manager or reader thinks but probably won’t say either on the phone or in writing, “What! Are you crazy?” Smart Girls Carrie: What? Now? What about last night, all those concerns? Big: Fuck it. You'll need material for the sequel. ~ Sex and the City Rule number one when submitting a manuscript always make chapter one the very best chapter in the book not the weakest. Why? Because the reader won’t get past page one or even the end of the first cha...

Santa Monica, California Yesterday, our nation's national holiday, and I was intent on spending the day solo ... me, my computer, and my work. I have several books moving forward through 3L Publishing , so the idea of a clearly focused day sounded quite fine. It drifts on ... I'm getting depressed instead. I'm missing my daughter big time (she left for the next couple of weeks). My old screenwriting partner posts about the Patanque games out in Santa Monica. Now I have to be frank. I didn't want to go anywhere. I tend to be reclusive when I'm down ... you know just nurse your wounds in private. I also know that when I do go out and laugh with friends I feel better. OK then ... get out the door ... scoot, scoot! I even made an effort with my appearance and dressed nice enough. Scoot I went -- and you know what I realized? It is sometimes good to go with the current. Fly by the seat of your pants a little and have fun. I had an amazing afternoon. I sat in the sun ...

I don't know maybe it's continuous sleep for over a week now. Maybe it's energies colliding. Maybe it's the shifts in my life. Maybe it's my love who set me free to finish an ugly process. Maybe it's all of these things colliding, mixing and becoming my reinvented, refreshed and renewed self. I am feeling ready to conquer the world! I feel alive again. It started last March and while there were some great "gifts" that came through, the difficulties dog piled on me with non-stop and painful drops of rain. This revelry is reflection and return and poetry ... ode to the conscious part of self. I've always guarded my private world pretty well, but in the last few moments, readers have become aware of my life more and more. The specifics still heavily vaulted. The darkness rises. The light comes in as barely cracks through the shudders -- and then the window opens in half and onto completeness. I'm at half with forward motion toward full. I did some...

Ah, it's Monday which means Sunday night has come and gone with a healthy dose of True Blood . I usually watch the episode twice in one night to get a really good recap for you. Last night, I was tired and only watched one. So, this might not be as "enthusiastic" as it could be if I paid closer attention. OK, I thought that at least Sookie got some better time, but the whole drunken make-out session with Alcide with her two great loves Bill and Eric watching, and their decided lack of interest in it ... not ringing true. It was less than a week ago in show time that Sookie and Eric declared their undying love. What happened here? Both have forgotten their strong feelings? This whole season love story wise with Sookie and Eric is a total numb void of non-reactions and non-reflection. I can tell you from experience (especially since I have my own love life in action and this is a not-so-subtle message to my guy), love doesn't die like that ... not real, true, connected,...