First Word

(L-R) Bo Bradley, operations manager, Michael Perrotta, author, and Michelle Gamble-Risley, CEO Michael Perrotta, author of Under the Sycamores published by 3L Publishing , spoke at last night's Writers Who Mean Business meeting. The key discussion involved the use of a book coach to mold and shape your manuscript into a valuable final product that will entice readers -- but most importantly publishers to want to work with you. If you are considering using a book coach, here are three valuable reasons why you should: You will receive customized feedback and guidance to improve the story, characters and writing. You will be guided to strengthen to strong points and eliminate the weak points. You will receive unbiased and necessary critical feedback to help you write a five-star book. If you are interested in book coaching services, please call us at 916-300-8012. We respond to all requests and queries within 24 hours. 

Michael Perrotta, author of Under the Sycamores, Michelle Gamble-Risley, and Jeff Cohen Nothing generates initial sales for a new book like Under the Sycamores (available on the 3L website at www.3LPublishing.com and Amazon) like a fabulous book launch party. Friends, family and supporters will come out and make that initial investment in the book, and the author enjoys the sales. And what the heck? It's a party ... you can't lose there.

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...

My curly-haired sweetheart just wandered in my office at 6:00 a.m. I was surprised she was up at the crack of dawn. What little kid wants to see the sunrise? Most kids -- and most especially -- teenagers don't crawl out of bed this early. Ah, remember the good ole pre-insomnia days when you could party till midnight and sleep till noon? When I was in college, I timed all my classes around the ability to sleep in and watch Days of Our Lives LOL. Years later, I would end up with a client whose husband was on the show, interview one of the actors for a story, and then meet Deidre Hall who plays Marlena. The strange world I live in. I always have this weird disconnect from the reality of the entertainment business and watching my favorite shows. I also have another weird disconnect, which has always been true, from the books and articles I write and the readers being touched. Writing itself is this internal, personal experience. So when it goes out into the world, and I get the read...

The new book Under the Sycamores , written by first-time novelist Michael Perrotta, asks many deep, spiritual questions about love, fidelity, and the choices we make when we come to a fork in the road and have to decide which direction would best serve us. Sometimes we choose the obvious right choice that will take us deeper and into the next level of our lives, and sometimes we stay the course and may wonder if that was the right one. Now during 2012, which is considered a major transition year, many people are taking hard looks at their lives and making these choices — so this book is very timely and will resonate with many people who stand at similar forks. Under the Sycamores is the deeply personal heartfelt love story about Emilia, a married woman, who meets her “anima gemella” or “twin soul” Nicholas, and over a long weekend they form an inexplicable, unforgettable bond. Emilia must deal with morals, obligations and responsibilities as she fights her true desire to be with...