Art And Publicity

Art Hosts Wanted

I am looking for a few blog-hosts that would be interested in featuring, spotlighting, interviewing, showcasing an artist. If you are interested please email: authorspromotingauthors@gmail.com with "Art" in the subject heading.

New Book Publicity Packages-20% off all packages until September 1st.

I take each book on an individual basis, I don't necessary believe that one method fits all and I spend a bit of time trying to get to know the author to help build up the marketing plan I would create.
The "packages" I have put together are below but usually, they are tailor made and I have tried my best to keep rates low.  I try to fill in the blanks-and that comes from the author- What more do you want to do with your book? Where do you think prior marketing efforts have fallen short?
 Please contact for a full price list.
apasuggestions@gmail.com

Another Story Behind the Book with Jo Ramsey

Today's author on Story behind the Book is Jo Ramsey and she is here to talk about her Young Adult novel Connections.



Where did the idea for this story come from?


In 2005, I became friends with a man who practiced energy healing, channeling, and yoga. We bonded over talking about writing, since he wrote science fiction and nonfiction relating to the metaphysical practices he did and I wrote young adult urban fantasy. As our friendship progressed, he began teaching me some of the skills he had. We also talked a lot about things I'd experienced in my life, which I won't go into except to say there were a lot of negative events. He firmly believed in demons, angels, beings of light, and so forth, so we talked a good bit about those as well. Over time, we talked about things and I saw and experienced things that really didn't seem to have a logical explanation, though they definitely could be explained by metaphysical means.

Those things, plus my negative experiences and my friend's help in finally working through them, formed the framework for Connection and the rest of the Reality Shift series. Although I was in my mid-30s at the time and my friend was in his late 20s, I chose to make the characters teenagers because I hoped that kids might recognize themselves in Shanna's struggles and seek help if they're living in an abusive home, experiencing bullying, and so forth, rather than living with it for decades as I did.

Connection and the rest of the series is in equal parts a story about Shanna and Jonah dealing with demons, malevolent dead spirits, and an entity that might vaporize our Universe; and about Shanna, with Jonah's help and support, dealing with her own personal demons as a victim of physical and emotional abuse at home and bullying at school. The story in Connection continues through what's potentially a ten-book series (book 2 is due out in October 2010, and book 3 in March 2011), and focuses as much on Shanna's personal journey as on the demon-banishing and so forth that she and Jonah do together.



How did your characters come to life?

They pretty much came to me fully formed and alive. Shanna Bailey, the narrator of Connection, is heavily autobiographical, though I've hopefully made her more likeable than I was at age 14 and I mercifully didn't go through as much as Shanna does. As I worked on the first drafts of Connection and the rest of the series, I learned more about Shanna and about myself, and that made it into the books.

Jonah Leighton is based almost entirely on the friend I mentioned, though I did change some aspects of his personality to make him more accessible to readers. I had a better grasp on his character than on Shanna's at first, because I was emotionally a little too close to Shanna and had to give myself some distance. Jonah became a composite of my friend as he was and of the friend/partner I wanted.

Thoughtful Thursday: Call for Donations To Help Luciana

Please Repost And Share It!

From Author Michelle M. Birkenstock:



The event is for a 2 and a half year old little girl named Luciana Nicolosi.  She was born with a rare, and sometimes fatal heart condition called Critical Pulmonary Arterial Branch Stenosis.  In short, many of the vessels carrying the oxygen rich blood away from the heart are closed.  Options to keep her alive are two: a series of 5 surgeries to open the vessels, or a heart and lung transplant.  She has completed the first surgery and is about to have the second one at the end of October.  The procedure is risky and relatively new, limiting viable doctors and facilities that can perform it.  the family travels from the Hudson Valley to the children's Hospital in Boston, outside of the family's insurance network.  Between uncovered portions of the surgeries and after-care, with the family's travel, lodging and meals, money falls short.
On October 15, 2010, I am chairing a fundraiser for the family at AS&G Inflatables and Indoor Playground, Route 32, Newburgh, NY.  The owner, Alex, has been remarkably generous with her facility and connections, in order to benefit this child.  We are looking to enhance the Family Fun Event with vendors, prizes, a local clown superstar, dresses character appearances and more.  This morning, I posted a request to Author Friends on Facebook.  I am asking that any authors willing, send along autographed books or merchandise for us to use as raffle prizes.  Any children's author, in particular, who is local to the Mid Hudson Valley Region are welcomed to contact me for a "Story Time" with them at the Event!

Anything that can be offered is greatly appreciated!
For more information, I can be reached via:
Email at authoredbymichelle@verizon.net  or
Facebook page at HARRY THE CATERPILLAR
Donations can be mailed to:
Michelle M. Birkenstock
PO Box 144
Marlboro, NY 12542

To Learn More About Luciana Nicolosi please see: http://www.examiner.com/family-in-new-york/families-unite-for-luciana-s-cause-orange-county

Sarah Ballance Contest Winner is....

Carlene Rae Dater



Congratulations Carlene!! Sarah will be in touch with you with your prize.
 
Thank you to everyone who came out and posted to Sarah's Story Behind the Book.
 
Shiela Stewart
http://www.shielasbooks.ca/

Another Story Behind the Book with Sarah Ballance

It's me again, Shiela Stewart, bringing you another Story Behind the Book. Today's guest author is Sarah Ballance and you are going to love her explanation of her novel, Down in Flames. It's not often you hear an author say their work stinks. Honesty is so nice.
She is also holding a contest. The information is at the end of the post.

I give you now, Sarah Ballance.

Down in Flames:
Buy link: https://www.nobleromance.com/ItemDisplay.aspx?i=136  

My links: http://sarahballance.com/ , http://sarahballance.wordpress.com/




BLURB:
When Jack Gellar returns to Jefferson Heights after five long years and an unforgettable betrayal, is his appearance the last thing Molly Coleman needs in her tragedy-stricken life . . . or the first?

Molly just lost her entire family, and now her home and business are both on the line. An unexpected encounter with the one man who can put the pieces back together leaves her reeling, for he can just as easily destroy what little she has left. Jack has a lot to prove to win her back, but when a lapse in judgment turns into an ultimatum he can’t refuse, will his choice bring them together or tear them apart for good?


Where did the idea for this story come from?

The original plot for Down in Flames came out of thin air and it stunk! The conflict was weak and would have had most readers rolling their eyes and yelling "get over it!" The turning point came when my crit partner noticed a detail – a photo on a desk – and commented about the trouble that individual in the photo could cause. Well, she was right, and the story bloomed from there. And I mean took off.
A lot of the details come from real life, with many of them taking me back to my own childhood. There's a strong sense of family in this story – of standing up for the people you believe in and having faith even when it hurts – and that's important to me. These characters grew up together so there's a strong foundation, and even after so much goes wrong (boy does it ever!) they're still fighting to be together. That's very real and, at times, very raw.
As for the conflict, trust is something many folks have wondered or worried about at some point in a relationship. Almost anyone can sympathize with Molly after what happens, but this story is unique in that most readers will also be able to sympathize with Jack, and that's saying something! His mistake really does come down to an error in judgment, but that little vixen in the photo sees to it that it's one he won't soon forget.

How did your characters come to life?

In many ways, they are me. I've never experienced the kind of betrayal they struggle with, but I believe we've all been there to some degree, trying to put the past in the past so we can move on with the future. Sometimes we find the tiniest faults in people or situations and we hold on to them, not even sure why, and those feelings can erode at a good thing before we even realize it. These characters almost face the opposite - a big, potentially explosive scandal which threatens to take away that foundation they share - and there's no sidestepping here. They either move past it or they don't, and one of the most powerful pieces of this story to me is that Molly never does learn the whole truth. Jack can't give it to her. But even with the unanswered question – and it's a big one - she is able to put her doubts behind her as she realizes the future matters far more than a past they can't change. I don't know if I have that strength inside of me, but it's something I deeply admire in my character. And, frankly, I like the way she redefines "forgive and forget" by exacting a little bit of revenge on him in the final scene. If you don't like the shmaltzy ending of a typical romance, you'll love the last word of Down in Flames!

Could you forgive someone without knowing the whole truth? Leave a comment with your answer and you'll be automatically entered to win a $10 e-gift card to Amazon.com! A winner will be chosen Tuesday, August 22nd, so be sure to check back here for the lucky name. The winner MUST provide an e-mail address to receive the prize.