publishing

Of Vipassana, Abandoned Dreams, and “The Map of True Places” …

I ended my last blog asking readers, “Are you a Tiger Mom? Cheetah Mom? A fierce feline mother of great prowess? If so, what is your story?
What hopes and dreams do you hold for your daughters and/or sons?
What are your passions?
Are and if so, how are you living them out?”

On reading the last three questions I realized that I had segued into new territory.

The hopes and dreams we hold for our children lie

Of Vipassana, Abandoned Dreams, and “The Map of True Places” … Read More »

Of Elisabeth Badinter, Slavery, and The Choice to Work Full-time as a Wife and Mother …

Perhaps the eleven Secret Service Agents and nine military personnel who engaged in unbecoming behavior down in Cartagena, Colombia, that put themselves in danger, not to mention others under their care, felt exploited, and most unconsciously.

We’re often told of the great service these agents provide our Presidents.

We’re also led to believe that the tasks they carry out involve much bravado and that the work is exciting, nothing short of glamorous.

Their recent behaviors speak otherwise, actions I am certain

Of Elisabeth Badinter, Slavery, and The Choice to Work Full-time as a Wife and Mother … Read More »

Of Ponzi Schemes, Bernie Madoff, and Honesty …

Practice To Deceive, a photo by Supremecourtjester on Flickr. Practice To Deceive “Oh What a tangled web we weave When first we practice to deceive.” ~ This is a melon skin overcolorized. ~   Scott Pratt in his blog roll The Writer’s Predicament, explains in exquisite, but simple and heart-felt detail the financial side of

Of Ponzi Schemes, Bernie Madoff, and Honesty … Read More »

Radio Show & Guest Interview | Tyora Moody

Internet Marketer and Promoter of fiction turned published fiction writer, Tyora Moody, discusses her debut release, “When Rain Falls.” Listen to her interview at Book Talk, Creativity and Family Matters. _____________________________________________________________________ Here’s what Tyora shared in her guest blog interview. I write about…

Radio Show & Guest Interview | Tyora Moody Read More »

Of Writing, Time, and The Realities of Publishing…

The reality of publishing is that it is difficult to make a profit in this business.

And why does one want to make a profit?

Because editors need to be paid, it takes money to print copies of a book, and most importantly, authors need food, shelter, and health insurance, none of which are cheap, if we are to write entertaining stories.

When publishing companies agree to print book, the writer must deliver and on time, lest the publisher demands

Of Writing, Time, and The Realities of Publishing… Read More »

Of “Mausam,” Einstein’s Theory of Relativity and Creating for the Ages…

I recently saw the movie, Mausam, written and directed by Pankaj Kapur, and starring the beautiful Sonam Kapoor opposite the wonderful and delightfully handsome, Shahid Kapoor.

Like most Bollywood movies of its genre, historical dramatic romance, the movie move along taking its time to tell what I experienced as a beautiful love story.

Critics on both sides of the ocean suggest that the pacing could be increased by eliminating various scenes that do not contribute to the overall plot of the story.

I disagree.

The director could have deleted certain scenes and decreased the run time and perhaps maintained the high level of enjoyment I experienced.

But why fix what is not broken?

As an American moviegoer that has grown tired of movies aiming to tell a story with what often appears an ultimate goal of relaying the narrative, in movie format, in the shortest amount of time possible,

Of “Mausam,” Einstein’s Theory of Relativity and Creating for the Ages… Read More »

Of Supply, Demand, and The Woeful Truth About Publishing and Authors…

Author and publisher, Zetta Brown’s recent blog, “Authors! Can’t find your book in a bookstore? You may be luckier than you think!”, got me to thinking–no pun intended–about the old law of economics, that of supply and demand.

With bookstores and sellers tightly adhering to what seems to me, an outdated mode of purchasing books from publishers, and authors who choose to self-publish–that of retaining, if not demanding, the opportunity to return unsold books they have received from us–I wonder what would happen if publishers and authors began to print less books.

A blog post, “A Woeful Truth About Publishing,” at Champagne Books explains this paradoxical phenomenon in detail.

In short what I’m really saying is, “How would economic market respond if publishers did not make books so readily accessible?”

Of Supply, Demand, and The Woeful Truth About Publishing and Authors… Read More »