Eight years ago, I sat down for the first time ever and tried my hand at writing. I had no idea what I was doing, and I didn't know whether or not this was something I could do. To be honest, I didn't expect much to come of it. Writers have a special talent that can't be made; it's something they're born with. That's my belief. Who was I to think I could write a book? But that didn't matter. All I wanted to do was try. So, try, I did, and it turned out that writing was something I could do, and I loved it! I write murder mystery fiction, and in this atmosphere, you can be anybody, do anything, go anywhere in a world of made-up stories. It also gave me the opportunity to tell folks that I kill people for a living—when asked what kind of work I was in... immediately following up with "in my books". In the beginning,  people laughed. What an icebreaker! I thought I was so cool with that line. Then, I said it to a woman at a party, who gasped and backed away.... before I could follow-up. The outcome wasn't pretty. The lady left abruptly, and the next day, I received a few phone calls, inquiring about my sanity. So... now I just tell folks the truth. I'm a writer. Sometimes, less is more. And if they want more details, they'll ask.

I hate to say it, but it just goes to show that with the right presentation, people will believe almost anything, whether it's in real life or on the internet. In real life, facial expressions convince you to believe a statement, story, or sales pitch. On the internet, liars, hackers, and basic no-good-thieves can rob you blind with their facial expressions. It's called a website. So, how does one know which website to trust? Can you believe what they say? After you've wasted your time and your money, what does it matter? It's too late then. Research. Ask questions before you spend your money. Ask people about me. Hopefully, you can find someone who has read my books, or who has met me. If not, go to my web page... and read the testimonials. 

Enough about me. Let's get to the reason of why you're here. If you're thinking about writing a book, here's the best advice, and hopefully, encouragement, I can give you: First, think about what you want to write. Whether it's true-life, fiction, poetry, etc., you have to know what you want to write about, to be able to do it. Open up Microsoft Word, and then sit down and just start writing. Let the words flow from your heart, and don't worry about how it sounds... for now. The next day, re-read what you wrote and make changes if you don't like the way it's going. DELETE and COPY & PASTE are powerful tools. At least, you're doing what you've been wanting to do. What have you got to lose?

Note: Hand-written manuscripts are not accepted by any publisher. But not to worry. If you must hand-write your book, and your handwriting is legible, there are people who can put your words into the proper software program that will be presentable to a major publisher. I have someone on staff who can do that for you, and the price is very reasonable. Or, if you know someone who will do it for free, that's the way to go.

Once you have a grip on your story and at least three chapters written, you'll want to start thinking about what you're going to do with your book when it's finished. You'll need at least the first three chapters and a (good) cover letter (called query letter in the publishing industry) to be able to submit to a major publisher. [This process is fast-tracking. I waited until my book was finished before moving on to the next step.] Next, purchase The 2012 Writer's Market. It'll be the best investment you'll make if you're serious about getting your book published. It's the most trusted guide to getting published. It details everything you'll need to know, including listings for book publishers (contact and submission information), literary agents, and so forth. It even includes examples of query letters—something you'll need to include with your submission. The Writer's Market is a like a telephone book, only much, much better. If you can't afford to buy the book, you can find the newest edition at your local library. However, since it's considered a reference book, you can't remove it from the library. You may also access the book online at www.writersmarket.com. There is a small fee that can be paid monthly or yearly.

A writer's goal is to write a book, and then have it published by a major, big-time, publisher. That's about as easy as becoming a movie star. Not to dampen your spirits, but it's the truth. I've been there. I submitted my first book to every major publisher and was turned down by all of them. But I didn't let that stop me. Once I had written a book, I wanted to be able to hold a copy of it in my hands. I was determined to get my book published. I knew there were other ways to make it happen. So... I did my research.

                                            There are four types of Publishers:

Commercial Publisher (also referred to as a Traditional Publisher): Buys the rights to publish the author’s manuscript. After the book sales exceed the initial royalty advance, the author is paid royalties on sales (typically 5 to 10%). There are no costs to the author. *Every writer wants to be the next John Grisham or Nora Roberts, but let's face it, that's going to be a hard nut to crack. This may sound harsh, but it's a cutthroat business. Book sales are the bottom line. It's all about the money. But Traditional Publishers are the ones you want to submit your work to first. *See The Writer's Market to find out how, what, and when to submit.

Subsidy Publisher: Publish the author’s manuscript. Author retains certain rights and ownership of the work. No royalty advance. Pays from the sale of very first book. Royalties are typically 20 to 40%. They fund the advertising, promotion, production and distribution.

Self-Publisher: The author handles and funds everything (including marketing, distribution, promotion, etc.) You do it all—but you also retain full ownership and rights in addition to all proceeds from sales.

Vanity Publisher: Basically, you pay them to publish your book. Bookstores will not stock vanity produced books.
                                                                    ~~~~

Now that you know a little more about the process, let's talk about my role as publishing consultant and my fees. My job is to work with you and explain how I can assist with all of your book publishing needs, and to ensure you have a complete understanding of how I can help you achieve your goals. As I mentioned above, there are four avenues to getting your novel into print. Self-publishing is my specialty. I've managed to survive in the publishing industry for eight years, and I know all the pitfalls from personal experience. I can help you meet your needs if you are in a position to self-publish. If you choose other forms of publishing, I can guide you through the process.

Note: I do not publish the work of others.

Fees:  Package 1: $35—Read, critique, and offer my opinion of your work (short story or first five chapters of your novel), and any tidbits that I think will help improve your work. Please understand that my evaluation of your work is entirely subjective. It's just my opinion.   Package 2: $150—Retainer. My goal is to help you—not take advantage of you.

All fees are non-refundable and to be paid upfront using Visa, MasterCard, or Discover.