TABLE OF CONTENTS

       1.    Writing and Publishing Stuff

       2.    In Search of

       3.    Writing & Publishing Classes 

       4.    Bookmark the Date

       5.    Information to Use

       6.    Awards & Competitions

       7.    Publishing Industry News

       8.    New Book Releases

       9.    Just for Fun

       10. Disclaimer

 

 

NEW EMAIL ADDRESS FOR RITA MILLS

rita@bookconnectiononline.com

 

Soon my old emails address, rmills@ghg.net and books@ghg.net, which I have had for nearly 12 years, will be gone.  It is kind of sad in a way to lose a friend of 12 years, but everyone has told me it is about time I came into the 21st Century with DSL or cable.  Please update your address books.

 

 

WRITING AND PUBLISHING STUFF

 

THE BOOK CONNECTION’S NEW WEBSITE

Hi everyone.  I am finally back with the TBC Newsletter and hope it won’t be quite so sporadic from now own.  The last year seems like a huge blur that was really more like a 10-year period not just 12 months, but many wonderful things are happening now.  One of those new things is my website.  Take a look and let me know what you think at http://www.bookconnectiononline.com

 

TEXAS AUTHORS SPEAKERS CO-OP

If you are interested in joining forces with other Texas authors and speakers who are forming a cooperative, please contact Anne Isham at anne@chocomonkie.com for more information about the meeting September 16, 2006 in the Austin area.  It costs $25 to attend and the deadline to get your name in the hat is August 1, so you had better hurry.

 

SISTERS IN CRIME

Exciting things are happening at the North Houston chapter of Sisters in Crime called The Final Twist.  Check out their website for more information if you are a mystery writer.  http://www.thefinaltwist.com

 

MANUSCRIPT TO MARKET

“Manuscript to Market” is sponsored by Rita Mills of The Book Connection and Sandy Lawrence of Perceptive Marketing.  These ladies are available for presentations and workshops targeted to your writing / publishing needs.  http://www.manuscripttomarket.com

 

MARKETING BRAINSTORM

“Some of the most fun meetings I have had in the last 10 years of packaging projects for independent authors and publishers have been the Brainstorm meetings,” said Rita Mills.  “Everyone loves to attend for two reasons:  1) they walk away with some useful information specific to their books; and 2) they feel good about themselves because they have helped someone else in the process.  If you don’t want input, don’t put this date on your calendar.” 

 

Sunday, August 13 at 1:00 pm

NW Houston at Sandy Lawrence’s House

13202 Dogwood Blossom Trail

(if you need directions please call Sandy’s office at 281-807-1300 or sandylawrence@perceptivemarketing.com

 

FALL MARKETS COMPILATION

The fall is the ideal time of the year to sell your books.  You can build on the momentum to the holiday buying season with the various bazaars and festival that are everywhere in the fall.  I am helping to compile a list of the various venues throughout the state that I will share with anyone who would like the information.  So, if you have attended a venue that you would like to share, or just know of an opportunity that you think might be of interest to the Texas writing/publishing community, please email it to me at rita@bookconnectiononline.com

 

NUTCRACKER EXHIBITORS BOOTH
Houston's Nutcracker Market — November 8-12th, 2006
Texas Authors Group has a booth at the above event. This is a huge market that netted $9.8 million in sales over a 4-day period in 2005. This event benefits the Houston Ballet, and it is required you donate 10% of sales to the ballet.  If you have a book that could be classified "a gift book" or a children's picture book, and are interested in participating in a booth, please email Rita Mills at rita@bluebonnetsbootsandbooks.com for more information.

 

IN SEARCH OF

 

TEXAS SAUSAGE ANYONE?
Last year at a meeting in Houston of the American Book Cooperative at Borders in April I believe, I met and talked to a woman with an interesting book project. She had been working for some time on a title that would showcase the various places throughout Texas that are famous for their sausage recipes. If anyone who knows the project I am talking about would get in contact with me I would appreciate it. I may have a publisher for the project.  rita@bookconnectiononline.com

 

ASIAN AUTHORS NEEDED

A nonprofit in Austin that helps victims of domestic abuse is launching a monthly book/poetry reading event in fall focusing on women's issues, Asian culture, and immigrant experience. For the inaugural event in September, the organization is seeking authors of Asian origin. Interested authors can forward their information to me privately at shailaabdullah@gmail.com. Please include a brief bio, accomplishments, and a list of published works. The event will be held in Austin although the exact venue has not been determined yet. I will post more details about the event as they become available.

LOOKING FOR AN AGENT?

AgentQuery.com is a free searchable database of over 700 reputable literary agents.  Search by literary agent’s name, book title, author, genre represented, AAR membership status, and more.  Each listing offers the most current address, phone number, and email address, along with an agent’s previous publishing experience, education, former agency affiliations, former agency address, titles sold, past and present clients, special interests and more.  http://www.agentquery.com

 

WRITING & PUBLISHING CLASSES

 

THE WOMEN’S INSTITUTE OF HOUSTON

http://www.wih.org

They have fall classes posted now.

 

SPECTRUM CENTER WRITERS GUILD OF HOUSTON — has a marvelous line up of classes for the fall ranging from poetry to memoirs.  For more information contact Rosa at 713-840-8757 Ext# 1 or rosa235@earthlink.net

 

THE TEXAS WRITERS LEAGUE — a statewide organization with the headquarters in Austin also has ongoing writing classes.  Questions? Comments? Please call the Writers' League office at 512-499-8914 or visit the website at http://www.writersleague.org

 

 

BOOKMARK THE DATE

 

SPECTACULAR SCHOOL VISITS PROGRAM — SCBWI-Houston monthly meeting — Monday, August 7, 2006, 7pm — Houston Community College, Eagle Room, Town & Country Campus 1010 W. Sam Houston Parkway — Kim Morris and Dottie Enderle will show us how to shine when presenting for kids. http://www.scbwi-houston.com

 

WEST TEXAS BOOK & MUSIC FESTIVAL — September 19-23, 2006 — Abilene Civic Center — For more information, http://www.abilenetx.com/apl

 

SCBWI BRAZOS VALLEY CHAPTER — November 18, 2006, College Station — Workshop focuses of children’s picture books Contact Janet Fox at jfoxtx@aol.com

 

MARKETING BRAINSTORM MEETINGS — Please put these dates on your calendar if you are interesting in participating with the Marketing Brainstorm sessions.  They are all free and everyone is welcome to attend, but we do need for you to make reservations.  For reservations, please email karyn@perceptivemarkerting.com or call 281-807-1300.  All brainstorms are held at 13202 Dogwood Blossom Trail in Northwest Houston.

 

Sunday, August 13, 2006 at 1pm

NONE IN SEPTEMBER

Saturday, October 14, 2006 at 1pm

Saturday, November, 4, 2006 at 1pm

Sunday, January 14, 2007 at 1pm

INFORMATION TO USE

 

SWAPPING BOOKS — If you are a voracious reader, and your habit is getting more expensive than gas these days, you might want to try out one of the websites below:

http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php

http://www.frugalreader.com/index.php

 

POETRY NEWSLETTER — If you are into poetry, then you need to be subscribing to Daniel Rice’s newsletter.  Here is his email address to see about getting on his distribution list poetsunleashed@hotmail.com

 

 

AWARDS AND COMPETITIONS

 

THE LACAPA SPIRIT PRIZE

Announcing a new literary prize for children's books to honor the memory and legacy of Michael Lacapa.  The Lacapa Spirit Prize will be given annually to the best illustrated children's book that focuses on the spirit of the peoples, culture and natural landscape of the Southwest. Books published in the two years prior to the award are eligible for consideration.  Deadline October 31, 2006.  More info call 928-380-8682, http://www.nazbookfestival.org or email lacapaspiritprize@nazfestival.org

 

 

PUBLISHING INDUSTRY NEWS

 

NUMBER OF BOOKS IN PRINT DROPS IN 2005

According to R.R. Bowker, the number of new books released in 2005 dropped to 172,000 — the first decline since 1999:  http://www.bowker.com/press/bowker/2006_0509_bowker.htm

Experts speculate that this may indicate that the boom in POD publishing, responsible for at least 50,000 new titles annually in recent years, may have reached its peak.

 

LIBRARIES WANT AUTHOR APPEARANCES

See https://cs.ala.org/publicprograms/authorlibrary/liblist.cfm for a list of more than 700 libraries that sponsor appearances by authors.  Many cover expenses; some pay an honorarium to the

author.

 

This information comes to us from the Dan’s, Poynter and Snow.  You can get more information or sign up for their publishing newsletter http://www.u-publish.com

 

 

NEW BOOK RELEASES

 

This will be an ongoing column in the TBC Newsletter so if you have a new book coming out, please send your information in a similar format as these two postings to rita@bookconnectiononline.com

 

The Only Way…Through

and

Journaling Your Way…Through

by Angela Harris Coughlin — Houston

 

In The Only Way…Through, Angela Caughlin, therapist, author and mother of three children shares her heart-felt story of the resiliency of one’s human spirit.  Drawing on her own experiences, she shares her walk through the “valley of death” and out to the other side.

Understanding the powerful healing effects of journaling, Caughlin created Journaling Your Way …Through.  In a series of thought provoking questions, the reader is led to journal as a way to process their deepest feelings of loss. For information on upcoming book signings or to purchase these books go to http://www.angelacaughlin.com

 

 

Happy Birthday To Whooo? A Baby Animal Riddle Book

by Doris Fisher — Kingwood

 

Guess which animal has just been born by the wordplay in each baby animal birth announcement. Turn the page to see if your guess was correct!  Twelve animal babies are included in the text. An educational section in the back discusses the animals.  Fill in a birth announcement in the back for your own baby, pet or human!  For ages 2-8, this book is also a perfect gift for newborns and a great birthday present for kids of all ages.  Contact info:  abcdoris@dorisfisher.com or http://www.dorisfisher.com

 

 

JUST FOR FUN

 

Once again, The Washington Post has published the winning submissions to its yearly contest, in which readers are asked to supply alternate meanings for common words. The winning definitions are:

1. Coffee (n.), the person upon whom one coughs.
2. Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained
3. Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach .
4. Esplanade (v.), to attempt an explanation whilst drunk.
5. Willy-nilly (adj.), impotent.
6. Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in which you absent-mindedly answer the door in your nightgown.
7. Lymph (v.), to walk with a lisp.
8. Gargoyle (n.), olive-flavored mouthwash.
9. Flatulence (n.) emergency vehicle that picks you up after you are run over by a steamroller.
10. Balderdash (n.), a rapidly receding hairline.
11. Testicle (n.), a humorous question in an exam.
12. Rectitude (n.), the formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.
13. Pokemon (n), a Rastafarian proctologist.
14. Oyster (n.), a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.
15. Frisbeetarianism (n.), the belief that, when you die, your soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.
16. Circumvent (n.), an opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by Jewish men.

 

 

DISCLAIMER

 

The Book Connection makes no recommendation or endorsement on information listed in this newsletter.  As always, you should thoroughly research any contacts you make in the writing/publishing industry. It is sad to say, but the industry is fraught with scams and half-truths.

We make every effort to verify the legitimacy of the information we include in our market listings. However, we assume no responsibility for any damage or loss caused or allegedly caused by or in connection with the information in this newsletter.

If you would like to be taken from this email database, please email your request to rita@bookconnectiononline.com