First Word

Rating: **** Another adult film released amidst the usual holiday popcorn flicks worth seeing. I'm just not a fan of the mega popcorn flicks unless they're just so great like Avatar you can't miss it. So with that thought I passed on Hunger Games and went for 12 Years a Slave . This film is like the 20th century version of Roots . It does nothing to glamorize slavery and takes a realistic perspective on the brutal reality of being a "free" man who loses his freedom when he's kidnapped and taken south to New Orleans and forced into slavery. As an educated man, he is self-aware and knows the difference between enslaved and being free. The film realistically walks the viewer through the emotional and physical breakdown of the man forced into degradation. The film is not uplifting. It's brutal and sad. Even at the end, you're not feeling inspired to do much more than hope slavery is ended forever everywhere in the world. The movie addresses the human...

Today's rant is to make fun of myself. I am down in Marina del Rey taking care of a close friend who had surgery on her ankle and is stuck in bed. I have my trusty laptop, and my scattered mind to keep me productive today. First, I woke up this morning thinking about my forthcoming book Body in the Trunk . In my distracted fashion, I was thinking, "Hmmm ... I'm not sure I'm happy with that premise. I think I'll map out a new direction and adjust the manuscript." Then I thought, "Oh, I better write that down or I'll forget my new direction." Of course, I got up and thought, "Oh, I need coffee." My gal pal doesn't drink coffee. So off to the local cafe to grab my "dark roast" and then back. As I escaped outside I looked and around and sighed, "Oh, I forgot how nice the weather is in Marina del Rey." (I used to live here.). Then I trekked back to the apartment, and thought, "Oh, I need to check email." The...

In working on my new book Body in the Trunk due out in Spring 2014, I started using a technique I'll call story layering. When I was working with Scott D. Roberts' critically acclaimed novel Vengeance is Now , which is receiving non-stop praise and making the list of the top fiction books of 2013, I noticed he used story layering. I will describe it the way I do in my book, which is not how Roberts did it. I have a story that is doing a past/present storytelling technique. As the detective in the book unravels the mystery, the reader gets to go back through the eyes of the victim to see what actually happened. Each chapter is a layer to the story that moves seamlessly back and forth between the story-telling methods and "layers" the story together, which is another way of saying "develops," too. But it's not just story development, it's truly a layer on top of layer. Kind of like a layer cake with each layer being glued with the frosting, which is ...

Yesterday I reviewed what to look for to protect your own interests when it comes to self-publishing on the editorial side. Today we're going to address graphic services and production. The funny comments I have heard from misinformed people who don't know what they are talking about goes like this: How hard can it be to push graphics around on a page? My answer: it's harder than you think and it takes education, knowledge and skills. Graphic artist is a true profession not a kindergarten class where you learn to draw squares, which is what that comment suggests. Further, production is a whole other part of the process, and it requires respect for the capabilities of the graphics person. Graphic art is an entire degree program at college. So, the misunderstanding that it's pushing pictures around on a page is very ill informed. When it comes to graphic design, what I'm going to do is share information that will help you as you move through the publishing process...

3L Publishing ( www.3LPublishing.com ) is looking for that next great manuscript to publish under our traditional publishing model. All authors whether professionally published or not are invited to participate.  Here is how to enter and participate: 1. Send your  book summary  and  sample chapter  to 3L Publishing to  info@3LPublishing.com . 2. We will review submissions and narrow down to 16 finalists based on: 1. quality of writing 2. quality of story and 3. market potential Finalists will then be invited to participate in an American Idol type judging that will involve three judges (see bios below). We will hold 3 writer's groups meeting where we will have each author get in front of the group to describe their book and read their sample chapters. Readings will be limited to 15 minutes each. Critique sheets will be distributed to audience participants to evaluate and vote on their favorite manuscripts. The three judges will offer c...

Like any business environment you have those who run nothing more than a racket as publishers. I have more authors show up to meetings to discuss their attempts at self-publishing that were abysmal failures. The common complaint goes like this: "I spent $10,000 at XXX publisher and never received a thin dime in royalties." Now there are some common self-publishers whose famous names could easily be used in place of the XXX's (and if you want to know their names, call me at 916-300-8012). It is sickening to see authors spend that kind of money to have not nothing financially to show for it, but also have some unattractive products. Now I would, of course, love to prevent authors from throwing money literally down the drain, but then these same authors think I have an agenda and may feel my warnings are dubious. Well, of course I'm trying to earn a living as a publisher, and 3L Publishing is doing great; but it really does bother me to hear these shameful stories of ...

I am working on a new self-help book titled In the Footsteps of Greatness by Josh Mathe. In the book talks about the power of visualization. It reminded me how important it is to visualize your dreams and goals.  He remarked that when he did it and then actually experienced the results and they were the same as his vision it often even spooked him (my words no his). It got me thinking. I have not been using visualization as often I used to do. So today I decided to visualize a few things I want to draw into my life. He also mentioned doing a morning ritual of gratitude, which I believe is important, too. So for those of you who would like some assistance on how to visualize and draw in what you want vs. what you don't want, here are my tips to how I do it. When I first wake up I like lay in bed a little longer. I'm relaxed and warm, and this time of day is a great opportunity to visualize. I often also meditate upon waking too. I think the morning is the ideal time to do ...

I read this statement in a recent review of the 3L Publishing book Vengeance is Now , which to paraphrase went something like this: strictly bad and good characters are boring. Author Scott D. Roberts and I have discussed flawed characters practically from the first time we met each other. We both have a propensity to enjoy the flaws the most -- and it's those flaws that prevent boring. In real life do you know anyone who is perfectly "white" or perfectly "black"? I know people who are overall good people, and I know people who I question their morals and ethics. Truth is most of us have our good points and our "messier" points. So when you're writing a novel or a story, it's always more interesting and provocative to make characters "gray" and then fill in the greater or lesser color of white or black. Let me give an example: In my forthcoming novel  Body in the Trunk , I've written the ex-husband as a real jerk. Yet our heroi...

Social media is becoming a hotter and hotter way to market your company. As a business owner, I appreciate the value of being able to reach right to individuals in my audience. There are all sorts of tricks to leveraging your social media presence and increasing visibility. Since Facebook really doesn't come with a manual, some of its capabilities and features are trial-by-error to find and use. I only randomly learn things from other social media users who will mention something in passing. My usual response is, "Oh really?" A few things I've recently picked up. The more you post the more you're viewed . To move up to the top of the news feed, post frequently enough to move up. Also, some people who like your posts will tag you as a favorite, which can be done by hitting the star next to the person's name. People you mark as favorites will post at the top of the newsfeed, too. Aforementioned star tags are useful to weed out those posts you don't care...

I always see this self-help advise that suggests women, in particular, need to learn to say "no" more often. We say "yes" and over book our lives. The funny thing is that many women probably say "yes" to things that affect their personal lives, but they do not say "yes" often enough to professional opportunities. In fact, I would suggest the opposite. They say "no" way more often than they should when it comes to seizing opportunities. The reasons usually have to do with fear: fear of failure, fear of change, fear of even success (yes, some people are subconsciously afraid of success). When asked to "leap" fear holds them back. Opportunities show up daily if you look for them. Opportunities to take risks and try something new with great potential. So, my challenge is not to tell women to learn to say "no" more often, but rather than to "yes" and take those risks. Try new things. I'm always experimenting...

I run into two kinds of writers. Writers who are absolutely, totally in love with the craft. And writers who are either infatuated with the idea and glamour of being a writer and do nothing to back their declaration: I am a writer. These "writers" are the ones who will ask stupid questions like, "Are you a real writer?" I remember once I was getting a massage and the masseuse asked, "Are you a real writer?" I muse over that question. I've been asked the other silly question, "Are you a real publisher?" To answer both questions: I don't think that writing is like imitation lemonade, artificial or sweeten with Sweet 'n Low. Can you be a "juice drink"? How about on my website (www.3LPublishing.com) I post one of those warning labels: writing and publishing sweeten by an artificial talent that involves a lot of hot air and misleading information and is bad for your business . Maybe next time I'm asked, "Are you a rea...

A prospective client mentioned she blogged but quit because it was too confessional. I started wondering why the confessional nature of her blog made her quit? I thought she should just quit "confessing" on it and shift the content if she had an audience. Then I wondered, should a business owner or entrepreneur "confess" anything on a blog at all. Here is my conclusion: It depends on the nature of your business . Let's begin with that premise. Are you a counselor? Well, most counselors are not supposed to delve into their own lives so perhaps direct confessions are a no, no. Do you sell products and services? You might want to stick to the product and service world you live in. Do you write self-help or inspirational books? Ah, now we're getting into an area where a little "confession" helps your product and adds credibility to what you're talking about. When I "confess" anything on this blog it typically is with the idea that like ...

This strange change started happening with the book sales. We used to rarely get book sales through the 3L Publishing website vs. Amazon. Out of nowhere, sales for all books began to spike and add up. In order to give you a benchmark, we used to get 3L sales about once every two months when a major book wasn't in release. In the last two months, we get near-daily if not daily sales. Not just of one book in particular but across the board with the new books. What are we doing differently with marketing and sales? I actually can't say any one thing in particular. We do continual and habitual marketing through book promotion and PR. We blog, send out a weekly newsletter, and update social media on a regular basis. I haven't been out networking as often as in the past, but I'm finding that social media has replaced the need to network as habitually as I used to do. I will just say one thing: persistence. Make sure you keep your marketing activities persistent. I believe th...

3L Publishing's graphic artist Erin Molina used to say that to me. Over the years if there is one thing I've learned in publishing where you're dealing with deadlines is "don't bake the cake before it comes out of the oven." What does that really mean? Worrying, panicking and generally having heart failure over something that hasn't even happened is a true waste of perfectly good energy. The point is that whatever you're worrying or fretting over may never even happen -- and look at all the energy you expended in something that didn't come to fruition. As a project manager, the key tactic I've learned is to stay cool, use your head (know your stuff), problem solve, and then fix whatever is going on. A few useful tips for managers: Always get out ahead of the problem --this means if you see something brewing or you suspect something could happen, just take measures to ensure it either doesn't happen or make a preemptive strike so it never...

Like relationships, sometimes book success is dependent upon hitting the mood of the readers at just that right moment. I get asked all of the time how to create a best-selling book. I don't have a formula. I've come to the point where I simply admit it's a crapshoot, do you want to play or not? Many factors can influence or derail a book's success. The mood of the readers is one of them. Perhaps you've written an amazing action-adventure but everyone is reading fantasy and action-adventure literally overnight became passé. You're about to release your book and its publicity and potential success is suddenly eclipsed by the release of a mega-seller that everyone wants to buy, and your book has absolutely no relationship to that subject matter. Maybe the cover is off-beat somehow. We had one book where it's about vacations, and everyone thought it looked like summer and it was released for the Christmas holiday vacation season. This misconstrued thought about...

Slate showers with cobblestone shower pans were part of the eco-friendly design. Rating: ****1/2 The recently remodeled Hotel Paradox in Santa Cruz, CA is a major winner. Before I get into the review, I want to say that overall I've always found the city of Santa Cruz to be slightly grungy and prefer Capitola just a few miles up the road. Santa Cruz has a rundown quality that can't quite match up to its sister coastal cities like Capitola, Monterey or Carmel. At the same time, it offers a fun shopping area in the downtown and is center to many activities. Wanting to try something different than tried-and-true favorites, I spotted Hotel Paradox online on Expedia that had a great offer for $180 a night, which is not the standard rate, which is closer to $250 to $450 per night. Taking the last-minute offer, I booked a room based on the room pictures that showed an enticing, clean and well-decorated room. The gamble paid off. The redone 1950's-style hotel had been reno...

It's Friday morning. I have my coffee, and I've got my Mac and my thoughts for you. A friend of mine was talking and said, "I love it that when you say you're going to do it, you do it." This statement begged the question, "Are you a doer or a talker?" And this leads to my cute story of the day. I've known what I wanted to do almost my entire life. When I was in high school, I toted around a shoebox loaded with stories I wrote (OMG) in ink pen. A little side note: Remember those Bic ink pens with the clear-plastic on the outside so you could see the ink? They probably still sell them. When I wrote my stories, I wrote on unlined paper and I wrote in ink pen. About once every two weeks I had to toss my Bic pen because it was clean of ink. Friends marveled at the empty pen because they had never seen one before. The little tale should give you a good idea of how much writing was going on. Anyway, I had these "friends" (I use the term loosely...