First Word

THE dress :). Friday is like the throw-away day when it comes to blogging. I can't be too serious -- it's Friday. I am actually sitting in my office with the coffee machine singing its siren song to me to come get another cup! Will she do it? Yes! Yes! More caffeine ;). Every morning here in publishing land consists of my favorite friend "Joe". In fact, Joe visits me more than my real boyfriend (just kidding). Yes, I am having a love affair with Joe. And here I am waxing on about my love of the cup. All you coffee drinkers out there totally get my point, I know it. So, just to continue on my useless discussion let's move on to party dresses. Yep, guys you can go away now ... party dresses. I have several parties coming up, so what's a girl to do? Buy a new party dress. Now I have to plug White House Black Market . They sell what I like to call "sexy chic" at higher-end prices, but comparatively speaking not as expensive as most quality boutique...

The movie Disconnect is coming out soon. It is about true disconnect -- our ability to disconnect with technology from each other and desensitize ourselves from true human interaction. The Smart Phone and email and texts take us away from human interaction. The computer and Smart Phone make work ubiquitous so we can't ever truly escape the office. My fiancé Kirk Donnelly said employers love it when employees have home offices where the lines between work and private life blur. He's right. I'm never but a room away from my work. I am reachable 24 x 7, which is not good for work-life balance. You have to make a concerted effort to turn off your phone or leave it behind if you want true downtime. At the same time, the Internet and email have given rise to a generation of haters -- people who hide behind the computer screen and feel no social consequence from being completely devoid of good manners or sensitivity to other's feelings. What consequence is there to mean-spi...

Getting ready for a major road show is no easy feat. We are all hands on deck with the upcoming Vengeance is Now book tour scheduled to begin April 26. We will be reporting from the road for sure and blogging our daily escapades. We will share our lessons learned in the most humorous way. Those authors interested in doing everything possible to make their books a best-seller, should pay attention to what we're doing, how we're executing it, and our results. As you begin working with any publisher or marketing professional on your book promotion, here are some key considerations: What kind of collateral material will I need? Media Kit for publicity purposes, which should include: About the Book Book Specifications Press Release Frequently Asked Questions Author Bio Sample Chapter Insertion Bookmarks with URL to your book website and contact information Book posters for parties, launches and author signings Speaker's sheets (for business books) for presenta...

Many new writers need assistance and guidance on their books. A book coach is an ideal choice to help make your book idea a reality. Why would you invest in a book coach? Because you lose objectivity in your own work or you need guidance and expertise to produce a book worthy of publishing. What should you look for if you decide to seek assistance from a book coach? Expertise, knowledge and skills -- your book coach cannot be some academic person who has only taught literature. The biggest complaint I had about English professors is that they were in the business of teaching something they never actually did. How can you teach or understand a process you've never done? Nothing is more meaningful and educational than the real thing. A coach should have not only the education but most importantly the experience. He or she should have written his or her own books or scripts. He or she should understand the process, and because he or she has done the process, he or she should have r...

Over the years, I've seen some pretty funny stuff. I am a road-preneur and travel quite a bit. I recently saw a company name that reminded me of all of the other funny businesses I've seen. I thought I would take this opportunity to make you laugh about them. Here we go ... Areola's -- Yes, while driving home from a business meeting I drove behind a truck that had a big sign that read: Areola's ... huh? Is that spelled right , I thought. Upon a closer inspection, yep! Spelled perfectly and rightly. With the realization that this person named their company after a private area on the body, I burst out laughing. How does one position that tagline? Right on target ... see the target ... it's under the bra? LOL ... and then I wondered, What does Areola's sell ? No idea. My guess was Areola covers ... you know for those cold days. The Infamous Burrito Truck -- I once drove behind a beat-up old Toyota pick-up that had a bed cover made of slat board. On the back ...

Date: April 13, 2013 Location: Bar West Address: 2724 J Street, Sacramento, CA Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Open to the Public Scott D. Roberts, new author of the thriller  Vengeance is Now , debuts his novel to the Sacramento market at this fabulous launch party. Please join us for food and celebration at Bar West. Members will enjoy as Roberts reads from the book and gives a brief presentation on "Anatomy of Storytelling". A 3L Publishing book coach and editor, Roberts can share his experience as a first-time author and regale the group with stories of his years working in Hollywood as a screenwriter and producer. He will also sign pre-release copies of the book, which releases nationally into major bookstores and Amazon in May. Vengeance is Now  -- A down-and-out and disgraced former police detective and P.I., Tate Holloway has turned to a life of soaking his sorrows in a bottle of Tequila, smoking weed, and turning tricks with high-class wealthy women ...

Up at the crack of dawn with my fiancé Kirk Donnelly, who (e-gads) has a corporate job. I am quickly reminded how glad I am that I don't have to get in my car and drive anywhere. My morning routine consists of "button pressing" (on my instant coffee machine) and a walk to the computer in the next room. Although I am super excited I got patio furniture that is perfect for working on the laptop outside come warmer weather. And, and we got wind chimes and particularly glass wind chimes to listen to the glass "tinkle" with the sway of the wind. Are you all wondering yet, "Is she going to tell us something useful or not?" Okay, okay, I'll tell you something useful (unless of course you got the subtext of this blog) ... carve out your life the way you like it! Yes, it IS possible. I am constantly trying to get people to understand they don't have to be a "slave" to anything other than their own senses of slavery. I wrote about titled Secon...

I know there are many other social media experts out there who have better information on the subject. But the tips I am going to provide come from hands-on experience and a marketing background. You might argue that my approaches and philosophies about it are not the best or the latest intelligence, but these techniques are learned from real-world experience. My Facebook page has over 3,000 connections all organically made without any effort on my part (well, no direct effort). You might wonder how those organic connections were made with only 200 "friends" to start. Well, this is where the real-world marketing and public relations experience comes into play. If you would like to build up your social media, follow my tips. If you don't like my tips ... don't follow them LOL. It's sort'a simple that way. General marketing and public relations = increased visibility and awareness How do you create a personal or business brand unless people know you exist. Y...

I woke up this morning. Sun shining ... check! Birds chirping ... check. Time to "check" social media. What do I find on my Facebook Wall at this beautiful dawn hour? A weird, illiterate poem professing love from a "friend" connection. Love? Who is in love with me? Well, it's certainly not my fiancé Kirk Donnelly. It's some strange guy I agreed to "friend" who goes by some odd name. Now I am constantly ranting and raving about appropriate Facebook aka social media behavior. BUT given that many people also use online dating as a means to meet their mates, I thought I would extol the virtues of "acting appropriately". Now I am being rather facetious here, and kind'a making fun of a guy who writes me a love poem -- or more specifically a guy I've never met who writes me a love poem. Perhaps we ought to start with the definition of love. Ladies, we all know that romantic love is traditionally shared among two people who actually (and ...

Simplicity -- ah, sweet simplicity ... I'm always saying it's the simple things. I'm a simple girl and simple things bring a smile to my face. This tree outside of my office window regales me with its full bloom. All the trees are snow white right now, and the very sight makes me smile. I bought a bouquet of spring flowers for my coffee table. They made me so happy! The flowers were bright and purple fun. I can sit in my sweet home and enjoy its beauty. My home is small and lovely -- and decorated in a comfortable feel -- that makes me happy. I can sit on the sofa and talk for hours with my fiance Kirk Donnelly -- and that makes me really happy, too. Last night, a friend of mine asked me to dinner, and Kirk and I went and gave her counsel on her decision to divorce. I was leaning quietly against my man, and I thought how far I've come. Last year at this time, I had just walked away from a 20-year marriage. Life looked rather bleak. I was tired and sad. A full year lat...

It's Friday morning ... coffee time. I decided this morning to pour my Joe into a "love" cup made by my nine-year-old daughter. A little morning jumpstart with some love ... works for me. So business here at 3L Publishing is booming. Now I am super, super happy and over the moon about the business. Now I have to deliver. You can't sell without delivering what you sell, right? With so much work coming in so fast, we're in a rapid growth curve. Now I could 1. panic 2. fret or 3. get organized. I choose #3. How do you manage a lot of work at once? I have some great tips to share with all you busy managers and executives. Here is why people ask me, "How do you get so much done?" Step 1 : Get real ! Yes, get real about what you CAN actually manage. Don't look at the moon, realize it's really thousands of stars, and then panic. Get real with your responsibilities and work load. Don't shirk those things that MUST be done to grow your company (i...

Business lesson numeral uno: Always focus on marketing and sales -- especially when sales go down. Take a lesson straight out of The Secret . If you're struggling for any reason in business, DO NOT FOCUS ON DEBT! Focus exclusively on HOW TO MAKE MONEY. If you focus on making money vs not making money, you will succeed!

I am constantly telling authors that a book is like having an entire business -- that is, if you're treating it right. As you begin the marketing and publicity phase for your book launch, you should have some key marketing pieces in your arsenal. Are you wondering what are the necessary pieces? Here is a good starting point: Author Website -- you absolutely must have an author website. Well, any business these days cannot get away without having a website. At a bare minimum your website should feature: About the Author/Book, a dynamic page or blog that can be updated with event information, and a method to buy the book via a shopping cart system. Media Kit -- 3L Publishing is widely known in the industry for having some of the most beautiful media kits. Media kits go to the book buyers and regional and national broadcast and print media. They are used to attract attention and sales in the book stores without having to necessarily send a sample, which bookstores like Barnes a...

I love the spring time, and spring is summer release book season. We're having a busy winter at 3L Publishing preparing for the production of the late spring and summer releases. We have quite an interesting array of projects under way and I thought I would share our "what's next" in spring and summer releases. Spring and Summer Releases -- Fiction Vengeance is Now by Scott D. Roberts -- finally! The release of the much-anticipated Vengeance aka as VIN. This erotic-thriller takes readers on a dark adventure with down-and-out former police detective and private investigator turned gigolo Tate Holloway who finds himself framed murder by an infamous serial killer whose moniker is "The Eye". VIN is book one of the Tate Holloway series, and introduces readers to the roguish and sarcastic Holloway, whose brutal flaws run deep, but his humor, devotion to his former partner, and sense of justice redeem him. 3L Publishing expects this book to be the big winner ...

You know, I think I will fancy myself a little "Orah-esque" this morning and blog about my favorite things except you all won't be pulling any cars from under your desks LOL. You might like some of my favorite things and pass it on and maybe even help the businesses, too. Sacramento's Best Breakfast Have you all been to Bernardo's downtown? In my house, Sunday morning isn't complete without a trek downtown to enjoy a Sunday morning bite of authentic buttermilk pancakes and red potatoes. My fiance says, it's a carb-lovers breakfast ... for sure. The buttermilk (they serve buckwheat, too) actually taste like real buttermilk was poured into the batter. I don't even pour syrup on them. I spread the provided butter and away I go. The potatoes are beyond tender and awesome, and I add Cholula sauce to it, which gives the potatoes the perfect vinegar zing! They have a diverse American menu loaded with breakfast goodies. I've been going to Bernardo's...

Well, the great, fantastic, I'm-over-the-moon news is: 3L Publishing is on fire. We are picking up new contracts and publishing agreements almost every day. I don't know what the recent turning point has been. I hope it's that the economy is picking up (for the collective hope of us all). Maybe it's all these scintillating blog posts attracting business in by the droves ;). Maybe it's all the ;) winks and smiles :). Maybe it's because my keyboard broke again ... hmm ... probably not that one. Or maybe it's because I use and combined my social media with over 3,000 connections to my blog to my website to my newsletter and back again. Maybe it's also because I'm on Facebook connecting, chatting and meeting new people every day. Maybe it's because I spend 40 percent of my day doing marketing and focusing on relationship building aka as networking. Maybe it's because I strive for excellence in all of the 3L products and services. Maybe it's ...

The reality of traditional publishing today is that you either have to have a name or a great platform that you can prove a following to get published. New and emerging authors who have no track records or credibility typically get ignored by the big publishing houses. Many of these authors turn to my company 3L Publishing for help to get their feet in the door. Why do you want to work with a company like 3L Publishing if you're seeking a "home" for your book and you're a new author? Here is why: A hybrid like 3L that only publishes high-quality books and discerns between good and poorly written manuscripts (we act as a gatekeeper) doesn't carry the stigma of self-published outfits. With our reputation for only publishing often award-winning books, we give your book the necessary credibility with the book reviewers to receive fair and equitable reviews. A relationship with 3L gives the author the much-needed opportunity to build that platform and foundati...

I love this photograph. I took it at Pebble Beach a couple of weeks ago. I love the beach, and you can never go wrong with a view of the ocean -- that is, in my oh-so-humble opinion. So, we're in the middle of planning a major promotional tour for the forthcoming 3L Publishing book Vengeance is Now by Scott D. Roberts . Last night, I finally finished the final proof of the book! It took a lot of long nights plugging away at the proof. I have to stick to billable work by day -- and this book was one of 3L Publishing's few acquisitions we do each year. I get asked how I distinguish between titles I will acquire versus titles I recommend use the hybrid publishing services. I will explain how I make that determination. First, I typically receive a title that is somehow just extraordinary. A Feast at the Beach came to me from my old friend William Widmaier. I knew William was talented from having worked with him on screenplays. Even though the early version of the book had ...

My fiancé Kirk Donnelly is new to the publishing world and the business of promotion. So he constantly marvels over the details of it all. Every now and then he makes observations that makes me chuckle. Well, yesterday was my "forever 35th birthday," and I received some 200+ birthday comments and well wishes on Facebook. He looks at all of the cards and best wishes, and says, "You just get all your thrills on social media." I started laughing. Then he says, "Why don't you post your book information and sell it via Facebook?" to which I didn't laugh and said I had done so. Then I thought, "Wow! I wish all of my followers had bought a copy of California Girl Chronicles ." I could have sold 3,000 + copies on social media alone. I am still learning the magic of social media for sure. It is definitely an important marketing and promotional tools, but the trick is to understand how to properly leverage the connections and "likes...

(L) Anita Smithson, author of chapter 1 of the 10 Powerful Women, and Michelle Gamble, CEO, 3L Publishing (www.3LPublishing.com) Last night we held yet another fabulous launch party of the latest 3L Publishing tome 10 Powerful Women, 10 Strategic Insights into Successful Business . The book launch was held at the elegant Terraces in Roseville, which donated food and wine. They also had an interesting concept with a meal in a glass aka as mashed potatoes with the fixings in a martini glass. I liked it because it was like eating an ice cream sundae while talking. You could easily hold your food and mingle (novel concept for sure). I always hate juggling cheese squares and crackers LOL. The turnout for the six author was amazing. I recognized many, many women entrepreneurs from the region who turned out to support these very savvy business women. We want to thank the Terraces for hosting this incredible event, and we want to thank Tamara Williams , author of chapter 5, who used her ...