Your Caregiving Happiness Jar

The idea of keeping a happiness jar has been bouncing around the Internet for months. I first encountered the idea on Facebook. Other posts supported the idea. “I’ll do it,” I said to myself. “Documenting happiness will be fun.” On January 2, 2015 I put my first piece of paper in a wide-mouth Mason jar. It says: “John on zero gravity machine. Looks like his left leg is starting to work.”

The note doesn’t convey the importance of the message. My husband’s aorta dissected in 2013 and he had three emergency operations. During the last one, 13 hours of life-threatening surgery, he suffered a spinal stroke and it paralyzed his legs. After being in the hospital for eight months he was dismissed to my care. A year and a half later he started rehabilitation and the results are stunning.

Thankfully, I have almost 18 years of caregiving experience to draw upon. I was my mother’s family caregiver for nine years and she had dementia. I was my twin grandchildren’s co-guardian and caregiver for seven years. But being my husband’s caregiver is a different story because I’ve never cared for a disabled person before. Still, there are happy moments to document and savor.

So I am keeping two happiness jars, one about my daily life, and the other about caregiving.  You may wish to keep a caregiving happiness jar too, or may be keeping it already. How do you go about it? The idea comes from Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love. She offers some tips in a repost of her article, “Happiness Jar” on the Sacred Folly website. Here is a summary of her instructions.

  • Get a large jar or box.
  • Write your happiest moment of the day on a small piece of paper.
  • Stick the paper in the jar.
  • Do this for a year.
  • When the year ends, empty the jar and review your life.

Gilbert has been doing this for a long time and loves it. She considers her happiness jar “the whole point of this life.” A happiness jar is also a way to document your life. Without the jar, you may forget these small, meaningful moments of the day. Unlike Gilbert, I don’t write down the happiest moment of the day, I write down several happy moments, a sort of gratitude journal in a jar.

My approach helps me see the positives of life and makes me aware of my blessings. Right now, the notes in the caregiving happiness jar fall into these categories: 1) my husband’s health, 2) daily life, and 3) our family. Future notes may generate additional categories, but the categories aren’t as important as writing the notes. Though I’ve only been doing this a short time, I’m amazed at the benefits of such a simple task.

I am reminded, yet again, that I have an amazing life.

What’s in my caregiving jar? A note about my husband’s health says “John had an amazing rehab session – left leg almost working on its own.” The note doesn’t say my husband seems to be a miracle in the making. A note about daily life says “John loved his lunch – chicken salad with dried cranberries and almonds and warm peanut butter cookies.” The note doesn’t say I love to cook and especially love cooking for my husband, the care receiver.

Right now, the caregiving jar is smaller than my other jar, but I expect this to change. In the months to come, I think the reverse will be true, and the caregiving jar will be the larger one. Being my husband’s caregiver defines my life, and I’m documenting this life with words. Your situation may be similar to mine. Have you been thinking about keeping a happiness jar? If so, make it a caregiving happiness jar, written proof of your life, what you do in a day, and most important, that caregiving is love in action. 

 

Keeping a Book Marketing Log

KEEPING A BOOK MARKETING LOG

Publishers want their authors to get involved in marketing. I understand this and do all I can to promote my books. Despite detailed marketing plans, I couldn't keep track of all of the marketing steps I took. Then I had a "light bulb" moment. I could track my steps in a book marketing log. Although my log entries are short, they document my marketing efforts and are paying off. According to my publisher, sales are picking up. Keeping a log is helping me to sustain and vary my marketing efforts. Some days I do more than others and that's okay. The total book marketing picture is what counts.

So far, I have accumulated two months of entries, and they reveal some important truths.

One: Participating in social media is crucial. I post on Facebook and Twitter every day. Most of my posts are about my personal life. When circumstances warrant it, I post about a book in production, a forthcoming book, or a surprising sale. Many authors have responded to my posts with likes, retweets, and follows. I follow some other authors, but not all of the ones who send me tweets.

Two: Paid reviews can be helpful. Most professional reviewing services charge a hefty sum for their efforts. Since I don't have the money for this, I looked for affordable alternatives, and Midwest Book Review was one of them. I followed the submission steps-business letter, two copies of my book, and $50 for the reviewer. To my surprise, two books in my family caregiver series were reviewed. According to Midwest Book Review, I may use these reviews as I wish.

Three: Giving books away is one of the cheapest marketing steps. My husband is disabled and he was recently hospitalized for pneumonia. After three days in the hospital, he was sent home, and a Nurse Practitioner followed up on his case. At the conclusion of her visit I gave her copes of the three books in my family caregiver series. When the Nurse Practitioner checked on my husband the following week, she said she was going to tell people in her department about my books at the daily staff meeting. That's great publicity for three give-away books.

Four: Book marketing isn't a sprint. It can years to achieve name recognition and boost sales. So I'm going to keep up my marketing efforts and continue to make entries in my log. You may wish to keep a book marketing log too if you're an author. Do it for a year, or half a year, or a couple of months. Read your entries and see if any patterns emerge. What is working? What isn't working? Book marketing isn't for wimps, that's for sure. We have to work at marketing as hard as we worked on our books.

Harriet Hodgson, BS MA

Health & Wellness Writer

www.harriethodgson.com http://www.harriethodgson.com/

A Story of a Malfunctioning Smoke Alarm, Huge Fire Truck, and Five Firemen

My husband is disabled and I’m his primary caregiver. I can be gone for a short time, but limit that time to one and a half hours. While I’m gone I worry about my husband constantly. Is he warm enough? Did he change the position of his wheelchair every 30 minutes, as prescribed? Returning home is always a relief.

The other day I went to get a haircut and color touch-up, a welcome break from caregiving.  Before I left, I helped my husband transfer from wheelchair to hospital bed, positioned his over-the-bed table, and handed him a cell phone. I also moved his wheelchair close to the bed in case he needed it.  

When I returned home from the beauty shop I was surprised to see my husband in his wheelchair, watching television. “Did you get out of bed yourself?” I asked.

“No, a fireman helped me,” he replied.

His answer puzzled me. Maybe I had missed a linking sentence, or my hearing aids needed new batteries. “What fireman?” I asked. Then he told me this story.

Shortly after I left the house a smoke alarm suddenly went off. This signal alerted our alarm company, and a representative called. The man asked if my husband was okay. “I don’t smell any smoke,” my husband said, “but I can’t give you any more details because I’m a paraplegic and in bed.”

According to the representative, the local fire company had already been notified, and he asked how they could enter our home. “Well, the front door is locked,” my husband explained. “I’ll give you the garage door code and they can come in that way.”

About 15 minutes lager a huge fire truck pulled up in front of our townhome. Three firemen (two stayed on the truck) came in the back door and entered my husband’s bedroom. They asked him some questions and my husband said he could be more helpful if he was out of bed. “If I try to get up myself that will take a half hour,” he explained. “If you swing my legs to the side, I can be up in a few minutes.”

The lead fireman swung his legs to the side and moved the wheelchair closer for easy access. Meanwhile, the other firemen checked all of the smoke alarms. They tried to disable the blaring alarm and, when that was unsuccessful, removed it from the ceiling. It turned out to be a defective alarm, and we had a new one installed.

Then I did something I needed to do. I drove to the fire station, which is only a half mile from our place, and rang the doorbell. A fireman came to the door. I handed him my business card so he would remember our address, told him the story of the malfunctioning smoke alarm, and asked him to thank the crew. “I didn’t work that shift,” he noted. “That was a different shift and I will thank them for you.”

“Thank you,” I replied, “because helping my disabled husband get out of bed was above and beyond the call of duty.”

The fireman smiled. “We’re here to serve,” he answered. Certainly, the afternoon crew served us. We are grateful to all the firemen who serve their communities day and night. They are caregivers, too, and face a myriad of challenges, many of them life-threatening. My husband and I thank the local firemen for their prompt, caring service. 

The Family Caregiver’s Guide – An Interview with Harriet Hodgson

Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing with BooksGoSocial.com about my book The Family Caregiver's Guide. You can view the original blog post over at BooksGoSocial.

Tell us something unexpected about yourself!

I love to cook and decorate. In fact, I read cookbooks the way some people read novels. My interest in decorating may have come about because my husband and I have moved 17 times. A graduate degree in art education also influences my love of decorating and interest in art museums.

What kind of books do you write?

All of my books fall in the self-help category. As much as I appreciate fiction, especially mysteries, I’m a realist at heart, and write non-fiction.

What inspired you to write?

I’ve had many unusual and painful experiences in life, such as the death of my elder daughter. In times of stress I turn to writing. When I research a book I’m helping myself and others at the same time. I believe my greatest talent as a writer is to distill information and present it in an organized, simple way.

What makes your writing stand out from the crowd?

My books connect the dots between research and real life. Readers don’t remember numbers, but they remember stories, which is why I weave real-life stories into research findings. Right now my work focuses on family caregiving, an idea that came from my life. I’ve cared for three generations of family members, my mother (nine years), my orphaned twin grandchildren (seven years), and my husband's disabled years (two years with more to come).

What is the hardest part of writing – for you?

Reliving painful experiences can be difficult and I’ve often found myself in tears. Still, readers can grasp the sincerity of my work. Editors too. As one said, “Thanks for writing so honestly.”

Where do you like to write – what is your routine?

In my last house I had a dedicated office. Today, my husband and I live in a wheelchair-friendly townhome. My office, if it can be called that, is a notch cut out of the laundry room, and my computer desk is really in a hallway. Sometimes I get annoyed with my notch office, but I can’t criticize it because four books about family caregiving have come from the notch.

What do you do when you are not writing – do you have a day job?

I love writing so much I actually write in my sleep. Around three in the morning my mind tells me about an error in the first paragraph on page 37 or helps me revise a sentence. When I get up at five in the morning I’m revved and raring to go. Original work is written in the morning. Business letters, contacts, and social network postings tend to be in the afternoon. For me, every day is a writing day.

Do you work with an outline or just write?

Because I’m a non-fiction writer, I make detailed outlines that include all major points, sub-points, and references that need to be cited.

What advice would you have for other writers?

Whether it’s emails, or letters, or paragraphs, or experimenting with words, I encourage you to write every day.

How important is marketing and social media for you?

Both are very important to me but I’m 80 years old and come from a generation that was taught not to brag. I shared this thought with the owner of my publishing company. Her reply was helpful and wise: “You’re not bragging, you’re citing facts.” One problem I have is that people can’t believe a older person like me can still be productive. In truth, I have so many new ideas I hardly know what to do with them. I’ve written a fifth book in my family caregiver series and want to do one more revision before I submit it to the publisher.

What’s your next step?

 My next step it to revise the marketing outline that I created for my caregiving series, improve my social media skills, and continue to give talks and workshops that extend my books.

The Family Caregiver’s Guide by Harriet Hodgson is available here.

Blessings of Being a Freelance Writer

I've been a freelance writer for 37 years. During this time I've witnessed the growth of the computer age, development of social media marketing, and become aware of the blessings of my writing career. Freelance writing demands discipline and persistence, yet it has distinct advantages.

I'm my own boss. For me, and other freelancers, this is a biggie. We determine our own hours, our own writing schedule, stick to this schedule, or depart from it when necessary. Sometimes I work too long and too hard, and have to force myself to take a break from writing.

I pick my writing projects. Because I am able to do this, I am excited about every article and book I write. In fact, I get so excited I can hardly sleep, am eager to get up in the morning, and start writing again. Some of the topics I've written about have surprised me.

I get to meet interesting people. After I've finished a book, I develop talks and workshops to go with it. Speaking to community groups is fun and I get as much from workshop attendees and they get from me. Writing links me with a broad variety of people, and this makes me feel like a citizen of the world.

I offer input on cover and layout. Thanks to a gradate degree in art, I can see every book cover in my mind and printed words on a page or computer screen. It has been a joy to work with my current publisher because the publishing team accepts my photo and layout suggestions. 

I can help with book marketing. Some writers may think this is a drag, but I think it's exciting. I get to try new book marketing strategies, appear on television, appear on talk radio, and blog talk radio. At this age and stage of life, I never thought I'd be posting on social media, but do it regularly.

I find joy in every project. Although every book doesn't turn out the way I planned, I find satisfaction in the fact that I researched a topic, write a good outline, and completed the manuscript. Even better, I get to hold each book in my hands.

You understand these blessings if you're a freelance writer. With careful observation, and awareness of our self-talk, and continuing to hone our craft, we can discover more blessings. I am thankful for my writing career and blessed to be a freelancer. Here's to freelancers everywhere

Co-Author’s Collaboration Skills Checklist

When you agree to write a book with another author, you’re agreeing to collaboration and, in some instances, compromise.  Collaboration and compromise are similar, yet they are very different.  When you compromise you may give up or reluctantly agree to changes. 

Though compromise can resolve short-term conflict, it can also be frustrating for an author.  If we’re honest, we admit that we don’t want to give in or up because we believe in ourselves. 

Blake Flannery explains compromise in his Internet article, “Conflict Resolution to Improve Relationships: Compromise and Collaboration.”  He thinks compromise is a process of meeting in the middle.  “You don’t need a good working relationship to compromise,” he comments.

Collaboration is different, according to Flannery.  It takes longer than compromise and builds on diversity.  Nobody gives up and everyone provides input.  “Don’t feel pressured to make a quick decision,” he advises.

James Robertson shares workplace tips in his Internet talk, “Ten tips for Succeeding at Collaboration,” posted on the Slideshow website.  His first tip: Someone needs to take ownership.  Other tips address preconditions, boundaries, relationships, and support.  His last tip; Don’t forget this is all about people.”

Intermediate District 287 in Plymouth, Minnesota developed a Collaboration Checklist for teachers.  The list is posted on its Practical Resources for Education Professionals Center (PREP) website.  ’m a teacher turned writer and read the list with this life experience in mind.  Education professionals are asked to rank their collaboration skills. 

Numeral one means “I have trouble with this.”  Numeral two means “I don this reasonably well.”  Numeral three means “I see this as a strength of mine.”  The ranking system and checklist made me think about the collaboration skills co-authors bring to a project.  Are you good at collaboration?  Use the same ranking system to find out.

Co-Author’s Collaboration Skills Checklist

1   2   3    I understand who owns the book idea.  (Owning is not the same as joint copyrighting.)

1   2   3    I helped to set the ground rules for this project.

1   2   3    I try to keep us on schedule and moving forward.

1   2   3    I listen to my co-author and try not to interrupt.

1   2   3    I ask my co-author to explain if I don’t understand something.

1   2   3    I do all I can to stay focused on the topic.

1   2   3    I am respectful of my co-author’s time.

1   2   3    I often compliment my co-author.

1   2   3    I keep my eyes on the goal: producing a top-notch book.

1   2   3    I find joy in the work and collaboration.

Don’t be discouraged about your low numbers.  Co-authoring a book is a skill that develops as your personal relationship develops and the manuscript progresses.  Establishing work rules and boundaries ahead of time will make collaboration easier.   

Seeing Your Book in Print: Make it Happen!

In the computer age, anyone can become an author, even YOU. There’s a difference between a writer and an author. A writer is someone who is actively writing, whereas an author is someone who has been published. You may have wanted to write a book for years, and never pursued the idea because it was daunting.  Here is a list of steps to follow to transform your book idea into reality.

  • State the purpose of your book. You should be able to state the purpose in one sentence. If you can’t state the purpose concisely you may be in writing trouble before you start. You may also “tweak” the purpose as you write the book. I write health and wellness books and state the purpose of the book in the introduction or preface. This helps the reader focus on this purpose as she or he reads.
  • Determine the category. Print and electronic publishers need this early in the game for marketing. Each category can include many sub-categories, so choose the one that fits your book best. For example, I’ve written grief healing books and books for family caregivers. Instead of choosing spirituality or inspiration, at the suggestion of my publisher, I classified them as Self-Help. Visit https://www.bisg.org/complete-bisac-subject-headings-2014-edition for more information on categories.
  •  Identify your target market. Your target market shouldn’t be too broad. I just finished the fourth book in a caregiving series. Caregiving isn’t just a hot topic, it’s a huge topic, one that applies to millions of people. I narrowed my target market by writing books for family caregivers. You may want to write a book just for members of the family, and that’s okay.
  • Brainstorm on titles. Some ideas surface at the same time, and the same is true of titles. To avoid getting into trouble with another author, publisher, or lawyer, make sure your book doesn’t have the same title as another book. Amazon has a comprehensive list of titles and you may search by specific titles or topics. You may come across some books with the same titles, but the sub-title differentiates them. Make your title memorable by choosing one word, or alliterative words, or surprising ones.
  • Think about your cover. All of the books I’ve written in the past decade come from a royalty-free website, www.istockphoto.com. I looked at more than 2,000 before selecting one for a cover. Your publisher and/or graphic designer need to subscribe to this service in order to download photos. Don’t scrimp on your cover because it may well be your best marketing tool. Today, many publishers like their book covers to tell a story. You may find potential cover photos on www.freepik.com and www.gettyimages.com.
  • Scope out the competition. Your book idea may already have competing titles in print. This makes sales more difficult. When you come across a competitive book, jot down the name of the publisher, publication date, number of pages, and cost. Go on Amazon and read some sample pages from these books. Now answer a key question: Should I move forward with my book idea.
  • Write an outline. Professional authors always have an outline. The outline can be a progression of logical points, or the development of a plot and characters. Your outline should be clear and easy to follow. When I’m outlining a non-fiction book, I list every point, every sub-point, every resource I’ve used, and every page number. Writing a good, workable outline can take months.
  • Learn how to format a manuscript. In the current book market, people who used to be acquisitions editors are also doing marketing, and they’re short of time. Handwritten manuscripts often wind up in the slush pile. To avoid this, format your manuscript according to the publisher’s guidelines. Books on this topic are available from local bookstores and the Internet.  
  • Start writing and keep at it. Years ago, a friend approached me about my latest book and said, in a slightly hurt voice, “I was going to write that.” But he didn’t. I researched the topic, wrote the outline, wrote the book, and found a publisher. I believe in hard work and persistence, two qualities that will help you see your book in print. After you’ve finished the book, put it away for a month or so. Then take it out and read it. What changes do you need to make?
  • Find the right publisher. Local publishers welcome work from local authors. Top-notch lay-out and printing companies, such as P. Hansen Marketing, are eager to help you. Many of my book covers have been designed by Jay Highum of Action Graphic Design in Rochester. Submit your book only to publishers in your genre. Don’t submit a mystery to a publisher that prints poetry books, for example.

The publishing industry is changing quickly, and this is creating new options for new authors.  So consider electronic publishing (an ideal entry point for new authors), independent publishers (called Indie), and hybrid publishers, and latest variation in the book industry. You’ll find more information about these options on the Internet. Writing is fun and I hope you enjoy the process. You can see your book in print!

Building Your Author Brand: Action Steps to Try

Yep, I'm still at it--building my author brand. After 37 years of freelancing I thought I had done this. but I was wrong. Although many people in my community recognize my name, I need to widen my readership, and strengthen my brand. You may have a similar goal.

Writing a book can be easier than building your brand. For one thing, building a brand can take years. The goal is to move beyond name recognition. You want people to associate your name with the type of books you write--mystery, romance, travel, cookbooks--whatever your specialty may be.

Building your brand takes money. When you set aside funds to build your brand you're investing in yourself. Instead of waiting for something to happen, you can make things happen. These steps will help you build your brand. Although the results can be immediate, they usually aren't and, like baking bread, yo have to wait for the marketing yeast to rise.

Here are some steps to hasten the rising.

Freshen your business card. Hiring a graphic designer is worth the money. My designer chose colors that blend with the covers of my latest books. Under my name, on the second line, it says "Health and Wellness Writer." You may list your genre or a slogan that represents your work.

Contact independent book stores. I signed with a hybrid publisher, also an independent publisher and member of the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association (MIBA). I looked up the addresses of Minnesota MIBA book stores, and wrote them. Even if this doesn't generate a sale, at least the store has me on its radar screen.

Get your name "out there." Are you speaking at an author event or conference? Write a letter to the editor, inviting people to attend the event. The editor of this page forwarded my letter to the articles editor. I hope to see it in the newspaper soon.

Write for free. After I discovered a local magazine, I contacted the owner and offered to write an article for free. She gave me the topic, published the article, and put my photo on the cover. The article received so many comments that the owner asked me to write another. She is going to publish the covers of my latest books with the article.

Post on Twitter. According to my publisher, Twitter is the way to get name recognition these days. I post on Twitter daily and it seems to be working. Dozens of people are following me and I'm following them. There is a numerical component to these followers. Once you get 50 followers something happens, and your name appears on the Internet more often.

Use press kit inserts. After I finished creating a press kit, I posted the inserts on my website. I plan to use the "About the Author" insert as a separate marketing piece. If you don't have an author fact sheet, create one now. You never know when it will come in handy.

Hire an Internet expert. I paid $49 to join a social network marketing service that puts my name on a variety of social media. The subscription lasts a year and has already generated interest in my books. Subscribing to the service saves me time, and I'm using this time to write a new book.

Taking all of these action steps can have an impact on book sales. Writing is fun and, as I'm discovering, building a brand can be fun too.

Stepping Out of Your Book Marketing Comfort Zone

I loved being a Girl Scout, but I didn't love selling Scout cookies. Although I sold some boxes to neighbors and church friends, my total sales weren't impressive. Selling wasn't my strong suit. Memories of Girl Scout cookies came to mind while I was writing a marketing plan for my new book series. Before I started the plan, I researched sales techniques.

Some techniques were familiar to me, and others were way out of my comfort zone.

A hybrid publisher is putting out my series. Under the terms of my contract, I'm supposed to write a marketing plan, help create a press kit, pay for the kits, and other necessary supplies. All of this sounded good, and I was willing to do the work, but I was on a tight budget, a couple of hundred bucks at most.

I tried to spend my money wisely. The steps I took may help you with book marketing.

Update your business card. Your card should include a photo, your publisher's website address, your email address, and social media icons. If you haven't joined any social media, do it right away. Check the Internet for business card deals.

Get bookmarks made. This is an old idea, yet it's still a good one. A surprising amount of information fits on a bookmark. Again, include your publisher's website address, your email address, and social media icons. Your bookmark may include copy from the publisher's press release.

Create a book flyer. You could do this yourself, or hire a professional designer. My flyer was designed by a professional and it was worth the money. He sent me two files, one for the flyer, and one for a large display. Your flyer should have a photo of your book cover, your photo, and explanatory words, such as "An historical mystery."

Create a display. I took the flyer file to a local office supply store, and asked the printing folks to create a huge poster. The poster is on foam board, a mistake, because the corners bend easily. Next time I'll ask for the display to be on heavy cardboard. I bought a $25 folding easel for the poster.

Participate in book blogs. Several days ago I joined a blog for authors and bloggers who review books. Seconds after I posted my first blog, I received an email from another author. Blogs are a way for authors and readers to connect with each other. My publisher uploaded my books to a reviewers' website. Reviews are forwarded to me and I email a thank-you to every person.

Tap the power of the Net. I never thought I'd join social media networks, but I have, and it's been a learning experience. After giving it some thought, I subscribed to a service that posts information about me on social networks. The results were instantaneous and I'm hearing from people in different parts of the world. Time will tell if this exposure sells books.

Plan a book launch. The county history center is going to host a Book Launch for the first two books in my series. I think the center is willing to do this because I'm giving a free talk at the center two weeks after the launch. Hosting the Book Launch is good for the center and good for me. I'm providing coffee, cookies and handouts.

Stepping out of my book marketing comfort zone has given me the confidence to try new marketing ideas. Even if you couldn't sell Girl Scout cookies, or were good at school fundraisers, don't underestimate yourself. You've worked hard, are proud of your book, and be proud to let others know about it.

Using Book Flyers to Market Your Book

I've been a freelance writer and need to be careful with my budget. In today's publishing world, authors are often asked to pay for some of the marketing. Like many authors, I have to make my marketing dollars go as far as possible. This led me to the idea of a book flyer.

Many flyers are available from the Internet and they come in different sizes. Templates are available, too. I have a graduate degree in art, but I don't have the computer graphics skills, so I turned to a professional designer. He did an amazing job and the flyer contains all the necessary elements I need: eye-catching colors, author photo, book cover(s), explanation, release date, and ordering information.

The information should be brief and clear. "This mystery keeps you wondering." "A heartwarming love story." "A must-have for nurses."

My book launch is several months away, yet I'm using this publicity piece now, and giving it to as many people as possible. If you're artistic, and have the computer skills, you may design your own flyer. How can you use it?

Post it on social media. In today's publishing world, social media are your best marketing tools. You need to be on Facebook, Twitter, Google+,, and other websites. Get some coaching if you don't know how to do this. My grandchildren are my technical support and I'm grateful for their help.

Send it to NetGalley reviewers. Your publisher may have uploaded your book to this website. You will receive notice of who downloaded the book and who took the time to write a review. Send a thank you email to everyone on the list and attach a flyer.

Deliver one to the newspaper. City newspapers are always trolling for stories. Small town newspapers appreciate stories and images. Mail or personally deliver a flyer to the newspaper and include an information sheet about your book. Be sure to include a business card.

Talk with the folks at the public library. Make up a press kit, including the flyer, and deliver it personally. Ask to give a talk about your book. Tell them yo speak for free, that your talk don't be a commercial, and that it will contain new information.

Email it to a local magazine. I email the editor directly, and also attach an information sheet. persistence pays off, so stay in contact with the magazine. I just contacted a city magazine for the second time to remind the editor of my caregiving series, and attached a flyer.

Send it to close friends. You don't have to be pushy. Take a casual approach and say this is your latest writing project. Word of mouth is one of the best marketing tools and you want to generate buzz about your book.

Carry a copy with you. Often, when you're out and about, you meet people you haven't seen for months, or people who know you're a writer. When they ask you what you're working on, you can whip out your flyer and show them.

The Power of Book Revisions and Patience

Sometimes book ideas come to me out of the blue. That's what happened two weeks ago. "Wow, this is a good idea," I thought to myself. Impulsively I emailed a publisher, met with the Director of Publishing, and she was excited about my idea. She tweaked the title a bit and then I was off and writing. I've been in the writing zone or two weeks now, encased in the world of words. In two weeks I created a basic book outline, a detailed outline, a marketing plan, and written 16,000 words. While I'm writing I think of James Michener. Most people don't want to be writers, Michener once said, they want to have been writers. Instead of doing the work these people want to walk into a book store and see a large display of their books. If only writing was that easy!

I've revised my manuscript three times and checked headings to make sure they're helpful and clear. The manuscript pages are piling up and so are the resources in my bibliography. Each revision makes my book better and brings me close to my dream of another published book. Writing is hard, challenging, and exciting work and I love it. Without writing I would be a different person.