First Word

Come out tonight (April 25) to meet author Scott D. Roberts as he celebrates the launch of his creepy new thriller Vengeance is Now ! The general public is invited to enjoy food, fun and pick up this exciting book. Grizzly Rock Cafe and Grill 4905 N. Golden State Blvd. Turlock, CA 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Looking forward to seeing all of you.

Networking and meeting people is essential to business promotion. You never know whose hand you might shake that could profoundly change your business and life. If you own a business, you cannot hide in your office and falsely believe the Field of Dreams tagline, "build it and they will come." In this case, part of building it involves networking and putting in the time to get out and seek your opportunities. It's a kind of "manifest destiny" for entrepreneurs. You have to manifest and create your business, and you have to meet people who can either become clients or lead you to the next client. A piece of insight, too: Don't falsely believe that if you encounter a small networking meeting, it's not worth your time. I can't tell you how many amazing people I have met in small, intimate groups. I've also watched other people walk into those group meeting, turn heel, and walk out. Here is what you might not realize: small groups give you a real ch...

Getting ready for a 45-day day book tour is no small matter. Being away from my office and on the road for that long requires total organization and preparation. Since I've never done 45 days on the road, I had to think it all through. I want to make sure everything is "business as usual." I don't want my clients and authors to be distressed over any apparent perception of "absence." So, for you seasoned business travelers, you may not feel inspired by what I am going to share about organization for a road show. For the rest of you the information may come in handy. Here are some fabulous tips on how to organize a very long promotional book tour! Tip #1: Think ahead and remember the details -- really consider all things required to be functional on the road. Since a laptop is an obvious must, don't forget all the necessary equipment such as battery recharger. You don't want to get stuck in Winnemuca, Nevada and realize you forgot your charger. F...

Every now and then a great film comes out in the off season (meaning Hollywood saves the "popcorn" flicks for Christmas and summer), and Oblivion snuck right in. I'm not sure why Universal didn't save this one for the popcorn fun, but it sure is a great "summer" movie anyway. It's not what you think, and the trailer doesn't give away the slightest hint. At first you think maybe it's like the other great Tom Cruise film Vanilla Sky (loved that title), but I can assure you it's not. It's more twisted and bends your mind a little more, but not quite as deep as Vanilla Sky . Let me say, I love a great mind-bender -- and Oblivion didn't fail my expectations. Right when you think it's one thing, it's another thing altogether -- and you don't connect the dots. I had no idea what was the twist, and it had several great twists. The movie is set 60 years after an attempted alien invasion that involved the aliens destroying ou...

In my tired stupor yesterday, I sat around whining and complaining about the stress of the upcoming book tour to my beloved fiancé Kirk Donnelly, who I think now deserves a gold medal for patience. I should rename this blog "Ode to Kirk's Patience" (and maybe I will LOL). It's not easy organizing a book tour while trying to run a publishing company . I see this cross-country tour as the grand experiment in book promotion. We've tried so many different ways to promote the book, and I wanted to think outside of the proverbial box or more like just think "outside" in general. So next week we hop into a 30-foot RV and across the USA we go. Well, now I have to get my publisher's act together ... or more like my ability to be organized and pack and work! Is my hair pulled out of my head yet? Last I looked in the mirror, the blonde tresses were still in place. Thank goodness! A bald girl really isn't that attractive unless you are Sinead O'Connor wi...

California Girl Chronicles: Brea's Big Break , the second book in the series, releases just in time for summer fun. Many readers of the first book Brea and the City of Plastic wondered what happened to our intrepid screenwriter with a propensity to be distracted by hot men. Below find an excerpt from chapter 2. We will be officially releasing the second book in July and selling it during the upcoming book tour for Vengeance is Now , which hits the road next on April 26th. 2 Later that week, I met Maya at a small café up the street from the office. It was a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf with patio furniture sitting on the terrace outside of the main street. I was sitting in the cool morning sunshine, sipping my hazelnut-flavored coffee when a shadow passed over my table. I looked up to find Curtis standing there. I had not seen him much that week after our initial encounter, but every time I passed him in the hallway, he winked and grinned. He seemed like an affable, flirt...

I recently was (once more) surprised and a little shocked when a woman connected to me who sells swimsuits posted two different pictures from her "line" that looked like they belonged in Playboy . One was a shot of her behind in a G-string suit and another was of her rather large bust in the same suit. First, I am not a guy, and I am not gay. Second, it's one thing to suggest sex sells ... but borderline pornography is a whole other thing altogether. You have to walk a fine line when you're peddling sexual-related items. I don't happen to think a swimsuit line needs to look like a Victoria Secret catalog. I will buy a swimsuit based on the suit. And I certainly don't want someone to post on my Facebook wall, which is highly personal since it's MY wall, some T&A shots of the suit. It's not necessary ... I'm a woman. Maybe in a Sports Illustrated world where your audience is mostly men that tactic might work, but in a social media world where y...

OK, that is a funny headline for the blog. I have sworn to blog daily, but I sometimes can't think of a single thing to say so I start writing and see what "blah's" out my fingers. Did I mention I am going to the RT Book Lovers convention on the 30th in Kansas City? Yes, I am going, and this will be my second year in a row. We had a good time in Chicago, but Kansas City is all midwest fun! I'm thinking more about their BBQ than the event LOL. Last time I was in Kansas City, I had the best BBQ EVER. I had this tin of ribs placed in front of me, and I just started eating without much thought ... and another ... and another ... and another! From a slight woman who doesn't eat piles of food this was remarkable. Let me share: it's the "rub"! They don't douse their meat in sauce. They rub it with some incredible blend of spices -- and all I can say is yummy! I will report back. 3L author and one of my closest friends Scott D. Roberts will be p...

Yours truly and author Scott D. Roberts. It's official! We launched Vengeance is Now by Scott D. Roberts at Bar West in Sacramento. It was a very nice party, and we had a decent-sized crowd show up to celebrate. Next up we head to Turlock on April 25 to launch in Scott's hometown. Information is as follows: Book Launch Party -- April 25 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Grizzly Rock Cafe and Grill 4905 No. Golden State Blvd. Turlock, CA Please come out if you live in the Central Valley and join the celebration. We will enjoy food, fun and frolic (lol ... I just liked the alliteration so I added the word "frolic"). The book received some press on KFBK on the Kitty O'Neal show, and Scott and I were interviewed on Central Valley Talk. We have another radio spot coming up on the 20th on Straight Talk Express . Then on April 26th, we hit the road for a 45-day book tour across the United States with our first stop Kansas City for the RT Book Lovers Convention on Apr...

Driving three hours to Fresno with author Scott D. Roberts to promote his book Vengeance is Now , he says this is a long drive just for an appearance. I said, "I will go anywhere for press. All good press is valuable." Public relations gives your company, product or service exposure. It doesn't matter is the audience is 10 or 270,000, as was the case for Central Valley Talk . You never know who is going to be watching the show. It could be potential buyers of your product or a potential client or even just someone who is going to change your life somehow. You can't sell a product or service without exposure to your audience. If people don't know your product or service or book exist, they don't know to buy it. The biggest mistake I see people commonly make is to write a book and then not invest in the public relations and marketing programs. They mistakenly believe if they post it on Amazon, "they will come." Well Amazon is nothing more than an onli...

Here I am with my second cup of coffee in me (I try to drink only one cup, but lately I keep sipping a second), and I'm contemplating what I will share with you. Today ... hmmm ... let's go personal inspiration. Here is a piece of information: it took me 20 years to finally get my professional AND personal life right . I now have my company 3L Publishing on track. At the same time, I have my personal life working at an optimal level. I cannot really talk about the "what-went-wrong" part in my personal life, as my divorce agreement stipulates that I cannot publicly discuss it. I can, however, generally say that reducing one's expectations is the first step toward unhappiness. I used to say, "Expect nothing and be happy with what you get." My fiancé Kirk Donnelly heard that and groaned, "How sad." Yes, I was living a life of "sub-zero expectations." Are you living like that? Do you expect nothing from your partner, and then you're ...

The latest 3L Publishing title Vengeance is Now came off press, and author Scott D. Roberts worked with his LA contacts to write and produce this book trailer ( click here ). If you like this amazing trailer, it gives you only a small taste of this well-written book that releases nationally May 1, 2013. Readers of this blog have an opportunity to buy the book before it releases to the general public on Amazon and in bookstores. You can buy your advanced copy at the 3L Publishing website ( click here ). To find out more about Vengeance is Now, visit the website at www.vengeanceisnow.com. If you buy your copy on the 3L website or Vengeance website, you will receive an author-signed copy. At the rate this book is selling, you will want that author-signed version. If the pre-sales are a pre-cursor for anything, this book is expected to become a best-seller.

I want to be who I am now Not who I was yesterday Now who I am tomorrow I just want to be In the swirl and pull In the mass and whine In the imperfection of the truth In the end of the moon I want to be who I am now I want to find freedom I want to be accepted I want love When I look to the river When I step inside I want to release the tension And then just lay back I want to be I want to let go I want to rest I want to let current take hold I have no answers I have no ideas I don't even have a suggestion I just want my mind to be blank I only want to flow I only want to go along I want to finally close my eyes I want the current to pull ~ Michelle Gamble

My future view :). It's Friday again, and I bet you all think I'm going to say something profound -- something to move you into action and do something amazing. Do I sound grandiose? Yep! It's Friday. It's grand and fun Friday. Every day I wake up to the bird's singing their sweet spring songs. I think I am lucky. I don't have to drive into an office. If I'm super tired, I sleep in and work late. I've carved out a life of freedom. Have you? Do you serve the "man" as my fiancé Kirk Donnelly refers to it. Do you want to quit being a servant and own your own business and enjoy the rewards that go with it. Why aren't you getting started? Do you want to get started? Then let me help you by mapping out what to do: Step 1 : Identify the life you would prefer to be living. Step 2 : Identify your passion by asking yourself, "If I had a million dollars, what would I do for a living? Step 3 : Form an "exit strategy," and by an e...

Please join us on Friday at 5pm (PST) as  Sonja Fisher  and I interview author  Scott D Roberts  about his brand new book Vengeance is Now and the intriguing subject of soccer moms and erotica! He will also discuss the adventure of writing the book: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/firstword/2013/04/06/first-word-radio

Author Scott D. Roberts signs advanced pre-sale copies of Vengeance is Now. I didn't keep close count or track of the pre-sales for the advanced copies of the erotic-thriller Vengeance is Now by Scott D. Roberts . So when the advanced copies arrived and Scott began the signing process, I was thrilled to realize we had a wealth of pre-sales. I had assumed, the author who is popular among his friends in the Central Valley had "friend support," so I was further pleased to realize it was general reader support, as Scott did not know many of the names. We even had an order from Oslo, Norway! Scott's amazing new book is off to one of the strongest starts in pre-sales in 3L Publishing's history. I am predicting the best-seller we have been going for all along. It was exciting to see the number of books signed and ready to be shipped this week. So, for all of you fiction authors interested to know what we're doing right, here are some tips: Social Media -- ...

I had the strangest dream last night. I was going through what seemed like the See's Candy factory. Some of the candy was ready and made, and I was eating it. And then another room had candy middles uncoated in chocolate, and I could help apply the chocolate. And then someone handed me this slice of cake, and I neatly put it in a plastic bag and took it with me. Okay, and there you have it -- my weird dream. I'm sure if I look up cake and candy in the dream dictionary, it's probably all good. Do you ever write down your dreams? I don't write them down, but the dreams are often memorable. What I find interesting is that when I look up the symbols in the dream dictionary, these items typically turn out to represent where I am at in my life. Isn't it amazing how our brains work? I've also been told that highly creative people dream in color. I dream in color. Guess I'm highly creative LOL. Now many of you are scratching your head and asking, "What is t...

The exercise of the day: be Zen when your workload is ridiculous . We are such a society of worriers. I am guilty, too. My workload right now is huge, which is great on one hand and stressful on the other hand. How to keep up with the wheel that is turning faster than I can run? The art of not pulling your hair out when your need to pay your bills is more important than sleep? (I'm kidding ... sort of ...) First and foremost -- surrender ! You will not get it done in one day, so don't keep that as a goal (that is crazy and unreasonable). Quit fretting and thinking about it. Just let it go. Think of blowing a dandelion to the breeze. Second, think of it like biting an elephant one at a time . You can't swallow the whole elephant, right? Just get into what I like to call "task-orientation" -- one task, one step at a time. Then walk through each task, finish one, and move on. Daily, weekly and monthly goals work great . Don't look at the entire GOAL, but ra...