First Word

I like to inspire others. Life is a journey loaded with lessons. If we don't learn the lessons, we get to repeat them until we learn. So many people don't understand that basic concept, and I have certainly fouled up enough to express understanding. I am writing this blog today though to say to others that the journey is beautiful even when it's wrought with challenge and sometimes pain. But you have to sit back and figure it out: am I going to repeat the same mistake over and over again or am I going to learn, reflect and change course? In a sense this is also a love letter to the man that I have compromised my own value system and repeatedly made the same mistake -- always with the same outcome. Love is not enough. And sometimes you have to sit back and realize that doing the same thing over and over again will always give you the same outcome. So today I did something painful. I decided to change the outcome. Doing what I had done over and over again; forgiving the m...

Whenever I network, I swear I always have some tale to tell about someone who says something so darned inappropriate it blows my hair back and curls it, too. What is wrong with people? Didn't their mothers teach them the old adage, "if you don't have something nice to say don't say it all?" Today's offense comes from a writer who had zero capability to put a censor between her brain and mouth. We're having a perfectly nice meeting with my group, and she suddenly says how she investigated the group, and thought "what a greedy lady" to bring in business by forming a writers' group. She got the "Michelle stare" for sure. This after I specifically launched the meeting by telling the group our mission: t o educate writers about the competitive publishing business so they can make informed choices, and to give first and share always" (which is an eWomen mantra). Our meetings are either led by myself or by a speaker who we invite in ...

Are you a writer in the greater Sacramento area? I run a monthly writers' group titled Writers Who Mean Business . I wanted to blog about the group today. We have a meeting tonight that starts at 7pm at the Raley's on San Juan. I like to educate writers not just about craft, which is truly only 50 percent of the effort. The other 50 percent is the business side. Many writers are artists. They don't understand or "want" to understand that to publish a book requires a concerted business effort that involves public relations and marketing. The inner artist in them gets a little befuddled and offended to focus on business. The reality is that publishing is a business, period. It is a fun business, and I'm passionate about it; but it requires a business head. I started my writers' group to promote the business aspects of writing and help writers navigate the publishing world, which is diverse. If you would like to attend a meeting, it's free. All writers ar...

I love the sight A child chasing a butterfly fingers fluttering wings out of grasp I want to chase butterflies A woman skipping, butterfly in sight Leaping in the air Hand open and almost ... almost touching I want to capture the butterfly In my open hand Cup it in the cave of my heart Gaze through like a peep hole to beauty But the butterfly will get away Maybe I won't capture the butterfly Maybe I will open my hand instead Hold it up to the sky And wait for my butterfly Yes, wait for my butterfly ... ~ Michelle Gamble

Decided to have some mindless fun and visited this place in the Palladio called Painted . I'm trying to decide if the painting looks good or like my 4th-grader painted it. I naturally don't care. It was really relaxing mindlessly painting it. For you wine lovers, Painted also serves a glass of wine with your artistic efforts. I don't drink very often so I didn't imbibe, but I did enjoy the relaxation. Apparently, few painters visit the studio on a Friday afternoon. I visited at lunch time. My companion in tow decided to stroll the Palladio and eventually draw ... out of boredom. I wasn't bored. I was happy and relaxed. I liked the distraction away from my daily stressors. Hobbies are like that -- they provide wonderful distractions. So while my "work of art" may be comparable to my 4th-grader's efforts, I'm still happy about it.

Want to stir the media and fanfare for a show? Have a prominent and popular actor show his junk to America and beyond. Alexander Skarsgård aka Eric Northman on True Blood put it all out on display for the viewing public on the season finale. I have Google Alerts set to his name (I'm a fan), and bam! The press and fans went crazy. What is it about a guy showing off nature's blessing (yes, he's blessed), and we just can't stop talking about it. A woman shows her breasts. Who cares. A guy shows his junk, and here we go. Male nudity has always been this strange forbidden thing. We can look at naked women all we want -- and that's okay and business as usual. But a man shows us what's in the pants, and we just lose it. OMG! He's got a ... no! Penis! Who knew! Oh no wait! Did I say penis? The very word just causes an uproar. In other countries, nudity is no big deal. We come into the world in our birthday suits and guess what else? We leave this world in birthday ...

I have so many authors who show up and consider my company 3L Publishing (www.3LPublishing.com) who are also considering self-publishing. First, I want to be direct that a self-published book can be really well-done if an author has experience in publishing and understands the requirements. The only problem is most authors do not understand publishing. They may understand the basic fundamentals of writing and editing, but production is often a question mark. And one thing I have found that nine out of 10 new authors definitely don't understand is the proofing process. Here is a common conversation: "I am a professional writer, and I hired an editor," says author. "You still need a professional proofreader," I reply. "No, I am also an English professor and I'm POSITIVE there are no mistakes!" I could actually send you to a few of my clients who made that kind of statement early in the process. They have now experienced the process, and they wi...

It's that time of year -- publishing sale time! We have marked down our book-publishing package prices for authors to get "cool" deals of the fall season. Package prices are as follows: PACKAGE #1 -- UP TO 150 PAGES (6 X 9 FORMAT PAGE COUNT) $3,000 Editorial and Graphic One draft edit and final proof Back cover copy (marketing copy) Cover design* Interior design for 6 x 9 book size Back-cover design Pre-press preparation with the printer** *Illustrations and photo costs not included **Costs don't include printing fees PACKAGE #2 -- UP TO 250 PAGES (6 X 9 FORMAT PAGE COUNT) $4,000 Editorial One draft edit and final proof Back cover copy (marketing copy) Cover design* Interior design for 6 x 9 book size Back-cover design Pre-press preparation with the printer** *Illustrations and photo costs not included **Costs don't include printing fees PACKAGE #3 -- UP TO 350 PAGES (6 X 9 FORMAT PAGE COUNT) $4,500 Editori...

Blogging makes a great tool to market your business. Many free and paid services are available. I'm going to weigh in on my opinion based on observation and use of the tools. Blogger -- I obviously prefer Blogger. I use it for this blog, and I have been satisfied with its capabilities for what I do. And that is key to the process. What are you going to do with it? Now video blogging has become a big deal, and many marketers have promoted its use as popular. I see many sites now use video blogging, too. For what I do, video blogging isn't key. So my use of the video feature isn't as critical. Most sites now offer that feature (more or less in capability). Blogger allows you to insert a video. The problem I found is that my iPhone capabilities make it nearly impossible to send a video to my computer (too much bandwidth is required). So if you do intend to video blog, it's more dependent on whether or not you have the video-making capabilities. Additionally, some blogs ...

Spoiler alert : some people hate spoilers so don't read this if you haven't seen the True Blood Season 6 Finale. Now I don't usually write spoilers, but hey! They made my favorite character Eric Northman catch fire in Sweden while he sunbathed. Many of you maybe wondering if he really died or not since we didn't actually see his demise into a pile of goo. I'm thinking our show's writers kept that window of possibility open that they did not kill off this immensely popular character played by the sexy Alexander Skarsgård. As for the rest of the finale ... sorry fan boys and girls! Ugh, it was absolutely terrible. The six-month later shift felt wrong. It was more like what? What? And what? Sookie and Alcide? Really ? When did that happen again? And I thought Eric had glamoured Alcide (season 5) into zero romantic interest in Sookie. Now Sam is mayor and Arlene owns Merlotts? What? Huh? And the most important question, why? Oh, and now we have a rapidly spreadi...

Rating: ***1/2 Avid readers of my blog know I have a "thing" for Alexander Skarsgard of True Blood fame. So, pretty much any movie he stars in catches my attention. So I did a little research and looked up when What Maisie Knew was coming out (it passed right through the movie theaters). It got great reviews, so I figured putting down the $13 for the DVD would make a great evening of movie-watching. Down my money went and the DVD was popped into my trusty player. I already knew the storyline might be depressing, so I wasn't revved-up for some humorous foray into laughter land. Yes, readers this movie was a downer, but a really good downer (does that count?). Our small child Maisie is trapped in the tug-of-war between her two extremely damaged parents. The movie is told from her point-of-view, which gives the sadness a greater palpability. The squabbling adults don't seem to notice this child or regard her like any normal parent should. But the "moment...

Up with the chick-a-dees and the Facebook in-box where I receive these messages from hapless guys who can't spell. What's up with the inability to spell? Now I realize there are those who shorten phrases in text. U know ... and then there is R U ... makes me think of Toys'R'Us. Yet there are those out there who literally cannot spell. I'm not talking sort'a can't spell. I'm talking barely using the alphabet. First, if you're a guy who messages a "publisher" who is also a writer, give this some consideration. Do you think someone who is all about spelling (I'm an editor, too) will appreciate the failure to attend spelling class. What does the ability to spell project? Think about it? In our digital-ease world, you realize that spelling and punctuation take center stage more than ever. You are projecting quite a bit of your "learned" ability in writing. A guy who can't spell the word "beautiful" (thank you for call...

I took a meeting yesterday with a newbie freelance writer who picked my brain. She wanted to know what she should do to build her career. As I went through the marketing "requirements," I literally stumbled on what is the No. #1 business-building technique. Can you guess what it is? Networking . As I explained the key components to building a marketing platform, I kept emphasizing networking. And within that context, I emphasized relationship building vs. tossing a card at someone and then talking non-stop about your company. Here are two critical components to relationship-building: Listening -- don't talk non-stop about your company. The best thing you can do is become a great listener. People love to talk about themselves. When you meet a potential customer or client, open your ears, listen and respond appropriately. The person will tell you all you need to know and then look for ... How can I be of service ? Once you establish a rapport with a prospect, ask for...

So now I have to make fun of the "aging" ads on Facebook . Can you believe she's 80? How you can look 42... blah, blah, blah. I looked at today's picture and thought, "Yes, I do believe she's 80! With a really plastic-looking facelift." Now here is what is really bugging me about these ads. Facebook somewhere in my profile has determined these ads would work for me. So even though I have no interest in getting plastic surgery, every day I am subjected to various cosmetic enhancements advertisements along with the latest ones of the "men" who are "seniors" who would date me. Great! So even though I am nowhere near "senior" status, I apparently need plastic surgery and to date these great looking old guys. Is that all I'm supposed to care about on social media? Cosmetic surgery and dating old guys? I assume Facebook has assumed I'm single since my status is blocked and no one knows if I'm single or in a relations...

Ever thought of writing or having someone ghost write a book to support your business? Did you know a book is better than a brochure? Here are reasons why a book is better for business to create opportunities than any other tool you can develop: A book makes you an expert Experts earn credibility Experts get asked to speak in front of groups Experts even get PAID to speak in front of groups Experts get asked to speak to the media Media exposure gives you and your business exposure Experts can do back-of-the-room sales with their book AND make MORE money Audience members who see you speak will ask to meet and do potential business People who see you in the media will contact you for business A book is part of your marketing platform People throw away brochures; they do NOT throw away a book. In fact, they will pass on your book versus throw it away Do you want to know about my company 3L Publishing's Business Book in a Box package deal? For a flat fee based on th...

Coffee meetings on Monday ... yes, got up early and actually got an early start to my day. Why is it we all resort to coffee meetings these days? It is as if Starbuck's was built just to provide a place for coffee meetings. No one ever suggest we meet at Denny's. Well, I take that back. I've had older clients actually suggest Denny's. The coffee and food at Denny's is awful. Thank goodness I do business with an older demographic. My next question is, of course, why coffee meetings? I do have a theory. Want to hear it? Of course you do (wink). I think it's because coffee is cheaper than lunch or the old martini meeting standby. (Remember when people actually smoked and drank alcohol to do business?) Lunch meetings can get pricey. Coffee, though, isn't cheap these days. I can get a flavored coffee and maybe a scone -- all for $10. Wow! Wait! Did you say $10? Yes, just for coffee and a scone. Isn't that ridiculous? Next it's going to be $20 for a gum ba...

Rating: **1/2 Set in 2154, the movie Elysium is another future doom's day movie where the Earth is over-populated, trashed, and in ruins. Only the very rich get to live in luxury on a space station aka a "habitat" called Elysium. The movie takes an extreme look at a world full of have-nots whose populace gazes upon another world full of the "haves" who have abandoned them. Not only does Elysium offer its "citizens" nothing but the very best, but also they have the best medical technology that saves lives -- and here is where the plot falls apart for me. It made zero sense that Elysium politicians would not share this revolutionary technology with the rest of the planet below. But it then again, without this plot device the movie would simply become, "I want to live there not here." And who wouldn't want to live in paradise compared to what Earth has become. I kept wondering, where did they find such great sets? The squalor was well d...

When your room sucks, leave! We ended up playing games at Squaw Valley. Let me qualify my little review of this grimy hotel. First, I do believe you get what you pay for. However, if I pay $60 then I feel I invited a fleabag hotel experience. If I pay $110 my feelings change in proportion to the dollars invested. Most hotels that charge over $100 usually offer a decent experience. I (unfortunately) booked my room at the Quality Inn on south shore Lake Tahoe (3838 Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe) via Hotels.com (which is not good because they don't have a good cancellation policy). The exterior looked fine, and the rooms appeared nice. Upon arrival, I was still satisfied. The exterior looked good. The lobby was nice with a granite fireplace. All good. Then we went to our room. Uh-oh! The rooms were not remodeled or updated and the wallpaper looked circa 1980. Dated wallpaper isn't a problem unless it's smudged in dirt. Okay, and then the bedspreads were also dingy a...

Do you ever feel like all you ever do is wait for things to happen? Wait for your life to change. Wait for your personal or professional life to fall into place. This last year, I feel like all I keep doing is waiting and waiting for change. I keep waiting for my business 3L Publishing to go to the next level of success.  I keep waiting for my lover to be with me. I keep waiting and waiting. The frustration mounting each day as only trickles of success happen. It's time to stop waiting and start doing ! Change is about taking action and making changes not waiting, wondering and hoping. In my book Second Bloom , I emphasize the need to take action. Action is the cornerstone to success. Establish your vision! What is your vision? Do you know? Stop and really visualize it. Meditate on that vision. You have to first know what you're heading toward (both personally and professionally). Vision #1 : To exceed my gross income and make first $10K a month followed by incremental in...

As many of my followers know, I love the HBO series  True Blood ; but many of you may have noticed I am not doing episode reviews this season. A friend of mine was watching an episode with me and made a comment that completely cemented why the show hasn't captivated my interest as much this season -- Sookie. He said, "Isn't the show supposed to revolve around her? It's all about vampires." I affirmed, "Yes, it's supposed to center on her." In the beginning, the show did, in fact, center on Sookie. After about the fourth season, it lost its focus. This season's storyline with Warlow was intriguing with the fairy/vampire hybrid and ability to walk in the sun. The Sookie/Warlow romance became just about 1/4 of the show and took a backseat to the Vampire "Internment Camp" story line that became the primary story that affected everything else. In fact, we saw more of Bill and the internment camp scenarios than anything else. When Sookie a...

I see a lot of women both personally and professionally devalue their skills or worth. I am guilty, too. We project our value through our self-confidence -- and this goes to our personal and professional lives. Over the years, I've seen women entrepreneurs act pleased to essentially make a small income. I remember one woman glowed over the idea she had grossed $500 in one month -- and this was her full-time business. I remember marveling over the idea that $500 would maybe pay my SMUD bill. Yet she felt validated to make so little money and literally work for pennies on the dollar. Why do we value so little about ourselves? I know that professionally I value myself. I have always put up high standards. I know our products at 3L Publishing stand head and shoulders above the rest. Where I have failed to value myself is in my personal life. My former boyfriend constantly encourages me to value who I am. Of course, we're still very close. He values me. He once told me (and I tho...

It's Friday and time to go skipping through the long grass aka I am not serious. When I don't feel serious I don't want to be all vanilla and ramble about business. But alas one must stick to topic and write something at least remotely useful. I need to network more. If I networked more I would get more business, which equals BONUS. And the best part, my observations of human behavior would produce many amusing yarns to spin. Of course, my only goal is to make you laugh. The general population always produces humor. People watching is a great source of entertainment. So onward ... here is an entertaining reality. Do you know people will line up for free ice cream but if you give away free books  people will actually turn it down. Yes, it's true. Free ice cream works. Free books fails. Here is the truth about free. People assume that if something is free it must be junk (of course free ice cream couldn't be junk ... ice cream on a hot summer day is always good ). If ...

Booth duty :). So, I'm sitting in my booth space at the Northwest Book Festival , and I'm with my friend Kirk who volunteered to help that day. People walk up to the booth and walk away. Kirk, who is new to sitting in a booth space, made some keen observations that I found amusing. First, we had many folks walk up the booth who clearly suffered from poverty -- and this is a political statement. What we found actually kind of strange when the say through their (how shall we say) "dental challenged" teeth that we should have the festival on the 1st of the month when they get "paid." It was Kirk who said, "Welfare pays at the beginning of the month." Paid? I thought paid meant you earned a "paycheck" ... you get "paid" for working (that is my fiscal conservative viewpoint). The other observation bemused Kirk. He said, "Why do people stand back, avoid eye contact, and look at the books?" I said, "Because it's ...