Wednesday, May 30, 2012

1st Customer Review

Your Little Light Shines, a quantum physics look at the bible received its 1st customer review May 27, 2012 on amazon.com and what a review it was!

Whoever you are Joan C. Fullmore, many, many heartfelt thanks!!!

"A must read for fearless Christians," Joan also said, "I was very impressed with this book and its in-depth grasp of language and transliteration and connectivity between quantum physics and various so called 'new age' practices and how they intersect with Biblical teachings. If you only read pages 121-133, this book will change forever the way you approach praise and worship.

BRAVO! to Ms. Williamson and the dedication to research and language she undertook to write this book. I will never read the semi-colon and especially the colon the same!!!"

Joan, I am humbled by your comments. Thank you very much for taking your time to write this review and share it with others. Your words are also a source of encouragement and a bright "light" on this book publishing journey.


Friday, May 25, 2012

My Maya Angelou Angel

When trying to publish your book, you really have to be aware of the add-on costs of e-book/on-demand publishers. They lure you with the promise of publishing your book for a certain package deal, $900, $1,600, $3,500, or more. They list everything that you will get in the particular package, for example, editorial support. The editorial support consists of a cursory review with comments "purposed" to make you feel that you may not have done a good job and perhaps you do need more help. Then they recommend a more comprehensive editorial review for an additional $3,500. The add-ons can increase the total publishing costs to well over $10,000.

It just so happened that Dr. Maya Angelou's call to me came shortly before the e-book/on-demand publisher's editorial review. It was like the good angel was whispering in one ear and the bad angel was whispering in the other. If it had not been for Dr. Angelou's comments, this is the point that I would have faltered on the project because I did not have the $10,000. The battle in my mind had begun. The bad angel was really talking, "Dr. Angelou said that your book was fetching, she didn't say that it was well-written." The e-book/on-demand publisher wanted to know what qualified me to write the book. The bad angel asked, "Yeah, what really does qualify you?" At one point, I had to scream to myself that whether the book was well-written or not (from an editorial perspective), there was something about the book, that first of all, caused Dr. Angelou to pick the book up to read and to continue to read it; to put it down and pick it back up again and again; and, most importantly, to personally call me to tell me that she found the book to be fetching! This "phenomenal" woman is a world renowned accomplished author. Imagine the many books she has read in her life. Imagine the many people who have sent her their manuscripts.

That was more than enough to shut the bad angel's mouth even though I had one final phone conversation with the "editor" for the e-book/on-demand publisher. He questioned whether the call really came from Dr. Angelou because he said there are so many on-line scams. He wanted to know how she even got a copy of the book. (I sent it to her.) I detected some aggression in his voice. What I was really witnessing was "intent." Now, in the process of trying to publish the book, I take a moment to think about "intent" before I make a decision to use a certain vendor or supplier. Doing business on-line can be quite treacherous. The intent of the editor was to sell me the more expensive editorial package. Dr. Angelou's intent was angelically pure. She called to compliment and to encourage—a perfect stranger. Can you imagine a life like that(?)—where you are able to help so many others and the intent of your heart is so pure. wow!

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

My Maya Angelou Dance

When God passed out rhythm, I was at the end of the line. Even in my pre-teen years, enough people laughed at my attempts to dance that I hung up my dancing shoes. I attend a pentecostal church where when the "spirit" hits, some folks break out into a dance. I always look at them in amazement as I have to make an effort to even clap to the beat of the music. So after Dr. Maya Angelou called me on November 16, 2011 to tell me she thought my book "Your Little Light Shines" was fetching, I was so excited—amazed—filled with wonder, something inside of me exploded and caused me to start twirling in my living room. I was stomping as I was turning with such speed. Then suddenly, I would switch directions. My arms were waving in the air. I kept moving, almost uncontrollably. And I was shouting, too! I stomped so much that later I could "feel" my knee joints. I shouted so much that my voice became a little hoarse. I call that wonderful experience my very first praise dance.

When you're writing your (first) book, amidst the challenges, frustrations, and rejections, there will be moments of celebration; moments when your spirit soars; moments when you dance and shout. Capture those moments in your memory, imprint them on your mind because you will need to recall them—often. Whatever you focus your thoughts on, you will attract more of the same. When the moments of frustration and rejections come, and they most assuredly will, you will have a natural response to them. Okay. Those are the times when you need to make a conscious effort to recall your moments of joy. Even though I may not feel like dancing at the time, I am quick to recall that Jack Canfield and his co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series received rejections from over 100 publishers (some sources say 123, 134, 144) before they found a small publisher to take on the project. When those moments come, if you need some help to refocus your thoughts, read the book description on the above Chicken Soup link. It will encourage you. Just keep going!!!

Monday, May 21, 2012

Thank you, Dr. Maya Angelou

Thank you, Dr. Maya Angelou

Writing your first book is quite an adventure. I'm going to use this blog to share my experiences as a first-time writer, in hopes that (in case you want to write a book or you know someone who does) it will help with some of your "challenges" as you begin your journey.

My first advice is to never give up. You never know when your miracle will happen. My book, Your Little Light Shines, a quantum physics look at the bible, took a number of years to write.

Because my background is marketing/advertising/graphic design, I printed 100 advanced copies using my own (commercial) printer (I'll share tips about that later). My intent was to send copies to everyone I quoted in the book, as a courtesy and I also did not want to violate any copyright laws.

Imagine my amazement and astonishment when on November 16, 2011, my telephone rang and the caller id showed Maya Angelou. Because I answered the phone and the call was "live", the only way I could make my friends believe that she really did call was to take a picture of the caller id on my phone. I think I had to make myself believe it also because the experience was so surreal. If you want to know more about the experience right now, you can go to my website, www.yourlittlelightshines.com and it will link to amazon.com where you can peek at the book's forward. Dr. Maya Angelou said she found my book to be FETCHING! After Dr. Angelou's call, I danced and shouted and danced some more.

When I think about Dr. Angelou, I cannot describe what an amazing woman she is. Dr. Angelou did not know me at all—not at all, yet she took time from her very busy schedule to reach down, grab me by my hand and lift me up with her words (in "that voice") of encouragement and advice. Yes, this is the same I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, On the Pulse of Morning, Phenomenal Woman herself www.mayaangelou.com. What kind of person does that? What kind of soul does that? Because that experience doesn't happen very often (to me), I call it a miracle and I think of Dr. Angelou as an angel. I've written her to let her know that without her words of encouragement, I would have faltered on this project. How do you thank someone for being an anchor in a storm? Thank you, Dr. Maya Angelou!