Two New Books Added to 4RV Library

                                                      

     

     4RV Publishing announces the release of two new titles in May 2016: Joan's Elder Care Guide, a nonfiction book by Joan Y. Edwards, and Ghostly Visions, a Tweens & Teens Imprint by Penny Lockwood.

       Joan’s Elder Care Guide: Empowering You and Your Elder to
Survive gives  caregivers ways to meet the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social needs of elders to promote healing, well-being, and survival. Based on the author’s research and fourteen years of experience caring for her mother, this book provides many resources to find the right place for elders to live, explains ways to improve communication to help find solutions to problems, and gives organization ideas for medical, financial, insurance, and legal documents. It offers ways for a caregiver to get time away from care giving responsibilities and contains information substitute caregivers must have to keep elders safe.      

     The book explains the signs of the end of life, ways to celebrate an elder’s life, and gives duties of an executor of an estate. It also includes ten useful charts to assist in assessing and recording an elder’s needs and capabilities.

     Ghostly Visions actually contains two novels for tweens and teens. Wendy Wiles attracts ghosts, first in Ghost for Rent, when her parents separate and she, her brother, and mother move into a haunted house. The mystery of who the ghosts are and why they "live" in the Wiles' home brings answers and a reunited family.
       In Ghost for Lunch, new neighbors and their restaurant bring new ghosts into Wendy's life, and she, her brother, and their new friend discover the two cases are connected.

     Both books are found on the 4RV Bookstore, as well as through physical bookstores and other online stores.

A Snippet from a Publisher's Life

     Publishers (and sometimes literary agents) deal with a variety of "writers." My comments will reveal a only three of many examples of what my company has faced dealing with people who have contracts with us and expect us to do their bidding even if we don't know what they expect, who should cause publishers, editors, and agents to run screaming for safety far, far away.

     Don't misunderstand, we have some marvelous authors who want to cooperate and who do not cause trouble. Those people make the job worthwhile. However, some cause my blood pressure and heart rate go as crazy as they seem to try to make my mental condition worse than it already is.

     Let's take the "case" of Miss Sweet 'n Dizzy first.  Editors complained that they would give suggestions for changes needed for clarity and to meet the company policy. She would refuse by returning a revised manuscript with few changes. The editor would email her, stating why she needed to make changes. She would reply that "others" liked how she wrote. Editors quit. Finally an editor stuck to the job and let her do whatever she wanted. The result? Pathetic, unacceptable for publication. The artist doing the cover asked her for the description of a certain thing in the story to be used on the cover. She sent scanned pictures from books. The artist created a lovely cover. The author first said she loved the cover, but a week later said it wasn't what she wanted at all. The artist asked for a description again and received the same non-reply, but another cover was created. I personally edited the manuscript and tried to correct most of the problems. During my edit, I discovered an exact description of the object -- exactly what the artist wanted and needed. Yet, this dizzy-headed author couldn't or wouldn't give the information to the artist.

     The concept of the book would create an interesting book. The way the author wrote created a mediocre book at best. Several of us worked on improving the problems. A designer formatted the manuscript and sent a proof to the author, the imprint editor, the lead editor, and me. We all listed any problems we found -- all except the author. After four proofs, she approved the last one. We printed the book. She complained because of errors she found. I asked her why she hadn't sent those corrections when she edited the proof. She hadn't even read the proof.  Finally, she paid for the redo of the interior of the book, still whining about being treated unfairly. 

     This past weekend, I discovered that another publisher had dropped her because of her sweet and helpless ways and her refusal to do her part of the contract. I wish I had known before I began working with that person.

     Another case concerns someone who also went through editors like fire through an ice cube. Yes, the writing was that bad. An editor took the project and worked for months to make this project better. When the designer sends a proof, at least in this company, a message goes with it stating that this is not the time for major changes, just to find minor problems overlooked before. The designer even stated how hard making charts in the manuscript had been to do, but she had managed to make them usable. The author sent back completely different charts to be used in place of the ones in the proof. I work very hard to try to smooth the ruffled feathers and the ripples in the water, but this time, the attack on a staff member caused me to see lightning flashes. Authors with us do NOT pay for editing, art work, formatting, or anything like that. We are a traditional publishing press, even if small. Therefore, people who believe they can treat staff like personal servants angers me. 

     A third example concerns an author who wanted to micro-manage the illustrator. IF an author pays an illustrator, he may have the right to be demanding, but most publishers who pay the piper gets to choose the music. Most publishers won't even let the author see anything at all until the cover is finished, until a proof goes out. This author did nothing but whine about the illustrations not what she saw in her head. *shakes head* For other problems we had, I don't know what she had in her mind.

     My message to writers is to avoid being one of those described above. My message to other publishers, agents, or editors, try to research authors before you offer them a contract, try to discover problems they may have caused others. You might want to run or at least add a clause or two to any contract.

     The  examples above make me appreciate the authors who bend over backwards to cooperate with editors, who want their book to be the best it can be. God bless each and every one of the "good" ones.

    

Which is More Important the Sales Copy or the Product?

By Karen Cioffi

There are two basic elements to marketing a product, the product itself and the sales copy. One though is more important than the other.

In a webinar hosted by Daniel Hall, Jason Fladlien discussed creating irresistible offers. Jason is a high paid ‘offerwriter,’ as he puts it, rather than copywriter.

Listening in on the webinar, I tried to envision what ‘marketing’ is.

We know content is KING, and that still holds true. But, then what can the offer be considered? Well, in my vision, the ‘offer’ can be thought of as the land ‘content’ rules over. What does this mean though?

It means you need a quality product or service, in other words, a great offer. The product/service must have a higher perceived value to the potential customer than its perceived cost. This will give the King something to boast about.

So, there are two basic elements to marketing, or at least the promotion end of marketing: the offer and the content. But, if content is King and the offer is the land it rules over, which is more important?

Which is More Important?

If there were no land, the King would have nothing to rule over. And, if there were no King, there would be no order in the land. So, again, which is more important?

According to Fladlien, it’s the offer. It’s the high quality and high value perception of the offer that will make or break the sale.

One scenario to help understand why this is so is that of a resort owner.

Suppose an owner has a high class, gorgeous resort that sits on a swamp. Guess what? No one will want to visit or vacation there - it’s of no value.

Now, suppose the owner created a marketing campaign that highlighted just the luxurious hotel.

If vacationers only take note of the building (the copy) and decide to venture there, they’ll be sorely disappointed and most likely complain to the owner and everyone else who will listen.

The higher perceived value over cost would be false. The owner of that resort will lose all trust and customer confidence. His business would inevitably fail.

But, if that resort owner has a low-end, simple resort sitting on a plush and gorgeous piece of land with fishing, swimming, horseback riding, tennis, and lots of other enmities, loads of people will be visiting. The vacation sells itself.

The offer (the product) is so much more important that Fladlien said its “80 percent of your success,” whereas the “writing part is 10-20 percent.”

If you think about it, it makes sense.

Let’s go back to the resort owner. A great area (the offer), with all the enmities will sell itself. The copy or content only needs to bring the details to the viewer or reader’s attention. It doesn’t have to be a hard sell or overkill, it just needs to be stated.

Bottom line, you need to have a high-quality, ‘higher perceived value than cost’ product as the foundation of your sales copy or sales letter.

A great product will not only sell itself, it will usually write its own copy. And, recommendations from customers will further promote the product.

Karen Cioffi is a content writing and inbound marketing instructor. To check out how she can help you take your marketing to the next level, visit:

Blogging Made Easy
Simple Steps to Building Your Online Platform and Authority
Through WOW! Women on Writing

Writing a Sharp 1st Draft

by: Stephanie Burkhart

Getting ready to write your novel or short story? I’m sharing some tips on how to write a “sharp” first draft. Mind you, your manuscript will need an edit, but if you keep these tips in mind, you’ll save yourself a serious content edit once you’re ready to tackle the editing process.

#1 – Research! You maybe very familiar with your topic, but you can never research enough. From the setting, to the characters, to the season, the more you know, the more you can write with authenticity. For example, say your character rides a train/subway to work every day. Ride a train for the experience. If your story is set in a foreign country you’ve never been to and you have no opportunity to go there, use the internet, your library, and magazines to explore.

#2 – Establish a hook. Do this on the first page. Usually action serves as a good hook. You could also use dialogue to draw your readers in. Example: Sophia Windsor landed flat on her rump.

#3 – No info dumps in the first 5 pages! We know our main character has a back story, but piece it out slowly. This helps to build anticipation and keeps the reader turning the pages.

#4 – Show, don’t tell. Look for “was” verbs. That’s usually an indication of telling.  Example 1A: Sophia was pale. Example #1B: The color drained from Sophia’s face.

#5 – Use a 1^st or 3^rd person narration. 1^st person is the narrator telling the story using “I.” A great 1^st person narration is the Stephanie Plum cozy mysteries by Janet Evanovich. 3^rd person involves “he” or “she.” In 3^rd person, it is important to keep the scene in one perspective. You can switch perspectives with a minimum of a line break. In “The DaVinci Code,” the author switches perspective with each new chapter.

#6 – Watch out for repeated words. Scan the page and see if you’ve used the same word often. Take a thesaurus and look up the word to see what other choices it gives you.

Question: I’d love to hear from you! What tips do you have for writing a “sharp” first draft?

Happy Easter to my 4RV family and 4RV readers! I hope you enjoy the day with your family.

Author Bio: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She first started writing when she was a little girl, making comics at the kitchen table. She enjoys coffee, adores chocolate, and likes taking long walks. Her books with 4RV Publishing include: The Giving Meadow, First Flag of New Hampshire, Brady’s Lost Blanket, and Joseph’s Cradle.

The Giving Meadow: Caterpillar makes his way through a meadow learning about caring and sharing. A great story to help children understand the mystery of Easter. 

Buy Link: http://www.4rvpublishingcatalog.com/burkhart.php

Welcome back - Bubba and Giganto

 

Bullying has no target age. This book takes a different viewpoint into the lives of three boys: a toughie, the bullied boy, and the bully. How they resolve the issues, and why bullying became an issue all comes together when a secret that places one of their lives at risk, comes out.

“Lea is a skilled storyteller weaving `new boy in town' with the `town secret'. The book grips you with the teen struggles that everyone can identify with.”

“She has an uncanny way of getting into the head of the protagonist and letting you know exactly what he's thinking and feeling.”

http://amzn.to/25kputG

      One can order Bubba and Giganto from 4RV Publishing Catalog, too.

 

Introducing new 4RV children's book - Concepcion's New Look

     Concepcion's New Look, by Rebecca O. Hayes and illustrated by Jessica McClure, will be officially released March 15, but it can be pre-ordered from the 4RV Bookstore starting March 8. 

     Now, a bit about a young girl who has trouble seeing and reading:

     Concepción loves TV, but she has to sit close to see the screen. She holds her books close to her face to read. Her teacher seats her in the front row to copy her spelling words from the blackboard.
When she gets a chance to look through her Papa’s glasses, she  decides that must be the answer. She wants to get glasses so she can see better.

     But first her eyes need to be tested, a new experience to be faced.

 

Spotlight on Hello, Wigwam by L. John Lawrence

     So many 4RV books have slipped through the promotion cracks. Therefore, let's begin a series to give notice to our outstanding books. 

      First is Hello, Wigwam by L. John Lawrence, which earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval. Literary Classics reviewer L.J. Bryant posted the following review of the book on November 20, 2015:

Hello, Wigwam is the story of Albert, a young private fresh out of high school who, through a series of miscommunications, finds himself in the heart of a critical top secret mission during the Vietnam war.  Author L. John Lawrence's depiction of the absurdities of combat and its impact on the occasional unwitting pawn is an introspective study of humanity vs. war.

L. John Lawrence exhibits a true gift of the pen in his depiction of a young man who is swept into a world of blood and battle which is not without its ironically funny moments.  This riveting story is superbly written, displaying poignant moments interspersed with a healthy dose of satire.  Hello, Wigwam is recommended for a mature young adult audience and has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.

     The book is now entered in the 2016 Literary Classics Awards.

     Hello, Wigwam can be purchased through the 4RV Bookstore, any brick and mortar bookstore, and any other online bookstore.

     Learn more about John from his website:    ljohnlawrence.com