To Capitalize or Not?

I sometimes have problems with the title of articles I write for publications. Should I capitalize each word in the title, or use lower case for prepositions only? The answer can be found in today's posting at: Daily Writing Tips.

Want To Write Book Reviews?

For more than a year now I have been writing book reviews for the NYJB. They are seeking more reviewers. If you are interested please read the information below.

NEW YORK JOURNAL OF BOOKS, adding reviewers with your expertise. Aim to become premier source—bar none—for professional, respected book reviews. Recently profiled in Publishers Weekly. (nyjb.net)

NYJB has recently been profiled by Publishers Weekly because it is the one existing online review that has captured the attention of the publishing world. The New Yorker also recently cited NYJB. Our reviewers are both published authors and others able to write compelling reviews of books covering areas of their professional or equivalent expertise.

Currently 135+ reviewers.
Our reviewers have written:
500+ traditionally published books
500+ published short stories and poems
24+ plays
12+ screenplays/teleplays
20,000 articles (our reviewers with long careers add substantially to these numbers)
3,800 reviews of books (about 600 for New York Journal of Books)
Our reviewers are also winners of more than 75 literary and professional awards.

Visit us at nyjournalofbooks.com or nyjb.net to see the future of book reviewing. This should help you decide if you’d like to review or perhaps just introduce you to a highly professional online book review.

We are increasingly quoted, traffic to the site has grown dramatically, feedback is 100% positive, and we are swamped with requests for reviews. We generally publish reviews at 12:01 A.M. on date of release so that we are the first review of any new book we critique.

The Journal reviews both mainstream releases as well as many books in niche or non-mainstream genres and books by first-time authors than are infrequently covered by the current major review publications.

Our permanent website after months on beta is up. We are deep into the remaining administrative tech work that introduces new state-of–the-art function to the publishing world.
Reviewers all set their own pace for submitting reviews and are never asked to review books they prefer not to read.

We do not anticipate any material profit until we are able to focus singularly on commercializing, once the tech build is complete. And so, we are unable to pay reviewers for the reviews they contribute. However, we believe that most writers are underpaid for their work. It is our sincere hope and plan that the success of the New York Journal of Books will become a material source of supplementary income for all reviewers.

If interested in reviewing, please visit: http://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/reviewer-application or send the same info to:
reply@nyjournalofbooks.com
Only COMPLETE applications can be considered.

While you will be asked to note frequency of reviews, we understand that circumstances change and you will always set your own pace.

Thank you.
The editors of New York Journal of Books

Win Philip Carlo's last book he wrote before he died, The Killer Within. http://ping.fm/k9oDS

I head the list of endorsements for this great new book! http://ping.fm/3wXYK

Win A Free Book

A BOOK GIVEAWAY YOU CAN'T REFUSE. PHILIP CARLO'S LAST THRILLER "THE KILLER WITHIN" -- ENTER TO WIN

NYJB has published the first authorized in depth review of this book, a month ahead of release in early January 2011. John Wills, in a poignant review praises both Philip Carlo's body of work and final book, published posthumously. "He was shot in the head during a gang fight when he was only 15 years old. Whether surviving that incident gave him a penchant for writing about death and those who cause it, we will never know. What we do know is that Mr. Carlo “walks the walk, not just talks the talk, which enables him to write true stories that many may find too frightening to read." which

Go to http://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/ for details.

Short story competition here: http://ping.fm/rp0kQ

Short Story Competition

It's the Christmas season, a time when our hearts gravitate toward people we cherish, and yes, even the pets we love. Some of our pets we've lost. If you had a pet that was like a member of the family (I did), why not share that love and write a short story? Authonomy, a division of HarperCollins, is sponsoring a short story competition. All you need to do is write a short story (up to 1500 words) about a loved pet or animal and send it off to authonomy@harpercollins.co.uk, with 'Christmas Competition' in the subject header.

For more information, go here: Authonomy

Register at www.peroozal.com to get ITW’s Watchlist free. Written by 22 authors incl Jeffrey Deaver, Lee Child, Lisa Scottoline +more

Mileage from a review

A recent review I wrote for the New York Journal of Books regarding Philip Carlo's last book (he passed away last month) has made it to the popular website: JacketFlap. It's interesting, since the book will not be released until January 6th, 2011. However, Carlo was a best-selling author whose books will probably make the big screen. One is in production now. Read the review here: http://www.jacketflap.com/megablog/index.asp?tagid=172122&tag=new+york+journal+of+books

The Gift of Kindle Books

Just in time for the holidays--it is now possible to give Kindle books as gifts.

Frequently Asked Questions about Giving Kindle Books

• Do I have to own a Kindle to give or receive a Kindle book as a gift? No. Kindle books can be given and received by anyone with an e-mail address. Kindle books can be read either on Kindle or on your PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry, or Android Phone using one our our free reading apps.

• What if the recipient doesn't like or want their gift? Kindle books received as gifts can be exchanged for Amazon.com gift cards.

• Are all Kindle books eligible to be given as gifts? All Kindle books available for purchase in the Amazon.com Kindle Store can be given as gifts.

Great gifts, reasonably priced!

Get Published

Getting published is a struggle. Negotiating the intricacies and idiosyncrasies of the publishing world can be a nightmare. If you've all but given up on getting your work into the hands of readers, allow me to offer an alternative--self publish through Kindle (I have just purchased my second Kindle). It's a relatively simple process through Amazon. The link at the end of this post will explain the process from creating an account, to formatting the manuscript, uploading the document, and finally, marketing your product. Give it a try . . . what do you have to lose?

http://blogkindle.com/2010/11/how-to-publish-a-kindle-ebook/

Give An eBook Gift

Amazon has introduced a new way to give the gift of books (just in time for Christmas). It is now possible to purchase an eBook title on Amazon and have it delivered electronically to anyone with an email address. Check it out here:

http://www.mediabistro.com/ebooknewser/amazon-introduces-kindle-book-giving_b3710

Free For You

For those of you with Kindle readers, or if you have the free Kindle App for your iPhone, you can download a free book: Writing Fiction For Dummies. Here's the link to get you started: http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Fiction-For-Dummies-ebook/dp/B002XGICAO

Enjoy!

Don't Procrastinate

I travel a lot, maybe too much. One thing I'm noticing each time I fly, is that more people are reading books with eReaders--Kindles, Nooks, Sony--people like the convenience of using this technology. If you have a book that you've had published, either with a publisher or published yourself, you should get it on Amazon's Kindle Reader. It's a great way to get your work out to people who are not inclined to buy traditional books. Or . . . make your own eBook and sell it on Amazon.

Disaster and Novelists

I'm posting a link to an article by Kris Saknussemm, one that I think is concise and helpful regarding how to avoid Total Disaster as a Novelist. I'll leave the meat and potatoes for you to read for yourself, but two important things I gleaned from the article are:

1. Don't Experiment. Check to see what section your novel will be found in the bookstore, what author your work resembles, and be able to describe your book in three sentences or less.
2. Read your work aloud. If I've learned anything from the Borders critique group, it's the importance of reading your work to others. Not only do you pick up on things you missed when you wrote it, but you can then determine if your story flows and makes sense.

Here's the link: Five Tips

Looking For An Editor?

I've employed a new editor, Adele Brinkley. She just returned the manuscript for my third novel, Targeted, and I am extremely pleased with her work. She is thorough and efficient. Moreover, her fee is very reasonable. I highly recommend her work for those of you who have the need for an editor to review your novel, query letter, etc. If you're interested, contact her through her website: With Pen In Hand.

Getting Stalled On Page 100

I'm linking to an article written by an editor who addresses a couple of important topics concerning writers who run into a wall halfway through their work. She also addresses the difference between manuscripts that are written to sell versus those written to read. I hope you enjoy this piece:

http://ramonadef.wordpress.com/2010/10/04/first-draft-teachers-edition-interview/

(Image by Stik)

Great New Book Out Soon

As part of its Battlefields & Blessings series, AMG will release Cops On The Street this fall. I have several stories in this wonderful collection of true stories.

"It's a groundbreaking devotional book that demonstrates the vital difference men and women of faith make in law enforcement. As this is a date-specific daily devotional, stories that relate to a specific date or event (9/11/2001, major weather catastrophes, “line of duty” deaths, etc.) are strategically placed on or near the date the event occurred. This Battlefields and Blessings devotional book serves two purposes:
• It offers a glimpse into what it’s really like to be in law enforcement while demonstrating the spiritual side of the law enforcement community
• It presents law enforcement in a positive light as a career path filled with men and women who
care deeply for the communities they serve. "

Today I'm a guest on author, Susan Whitfield's blog. Check it out here: http://ping.fm/E9n7o

Check out my review on the New York Journal of Books: Stalling for Time, My Life as a FBI Hostage Negotiator. http://ping.fm/rJ0L6