Snippets Issue 8

Quote for the Week

Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.”  –Kurt Vonnegut

Focusing on one person when writing is useful because you can imagine yourself sitting across from him or her as you tell your story or describe your expertise. This person is often described as an “avatar.” According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, an avatar is “someone who represents a type of person, idea or quality.”

Whether you write fiction of nonfiction, keep your avatar at the forefront of your mind when creating your book.

Featured Realization Press Release on Tuesday, March 1
You Can Keep Your Parents at Home, Keep your Job and Life, Save Your Fortune and Sanity

You Can Keep Your Parents At Home by Margo Arrowsmith is a critical resource for those with aging parents. Relating her story of taking care of both aging parents, Margo shares strategies and vital information about how she moved through the experience and came out whole.

The book has been released as an e-book and re-released as a paperback by Realization Press.

 

Snippets Issue 7

Quote for the Week

“Writing is easy.  All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.”
–Mark Twain

The importance of editing cannot be overstated. Once you have written your draft, you will want to check it for errors and then have a copy editor review the entire manuscript. You also will want to hire a proofreader to check for formatting and other design errors after the book has been prepared to go to print or formatted for e-book.

Even then, most authors find one or more mistakes once the book has been published, but that is usually much better than before the proof reading.

New Realization Press Release

You Can Keep Your Parents at Home, Keep your Job and Life, Save Your Fortune and Sanity

You Can Keep Your Parents At Home by Margo Arrowsmith is a critical resource for those with aging parents. Relating her story of taking care of both aging parents, Margo shares strategies and vital information about how she moved through the experience and came out whole.

The book has been released as an e-book and re-released as a paperback by Realization Press.

 

Triangle Book & Writers Conference comes in September each year.

Early Bird Tickets go on sale several months in advance. 

Details about speakers and panelists will be shared on the website as arrangements are made. To learn more go to the website at  TriangleBWC.com.

 

Snippets Issue 6

Quote for the Week

“Dance above the surface of the world. Let your thoughts lift you into creativity that is not hampered by opinion.”  ―Red Haircrow

The cleanest writing I have done is rooted in something that all readers can relate to and is free of my personal biases. When I express what is more universal, I reach more readers.

I know it is nearly impossible to remove the ego from our writing, but it can cloud the clarity of thought. This does not mean removing the passion from the writing; instead it means removing the filters of our narrowed views and seeing again with the innocence of a child.

 

Realization Press Readies to Release 12 books in 2016

Coming in February

You Can Keep Your Parents At Home

You Can Keep Your Parents at Home, Keep your Job and Life, Save Your Fortune and Sanity by Margo Arrowsmith is due for release in February as an ebook and as a paperback.

The author helps you make important decisions for your parent’s future. She explains the basics of parent care and reveals how to make a team that will empower you to keep your parents at home, saving a fortune, ensuring the best care for your parents, and maintaining your job, your friends and your sanity.

Current Publications

Life Turned Inside Out

Life Turned Inside Out by Regina Orraca was released in January. This romance is a fictional journey through recovery from divorce. Read this to follow Maria and Rafael as they rebuild their separate lives.

NEWS: The paperback edition will be out soon!

“I discovered that the book is not chic lit; not even close…It’s the story of two lives spinning in and out of control,” writes A.M. Henry in the Forward.

Check it out on Amazon here.

Grandfather Poplar 

Grandfather Poplar is a wonderful young adult novel by Diana Henderson.

Imagine the forest you roamed throughout childhood was threatened and a development company was going to chop down all the trees. Wouldn’t you be compelled to save all the inhabitants of those woods? Join Melissa as she and her companions rally to try to preserve this pristine forest.

This e-book is available on Amazon here.

Casey’s Christmas

Casey’s Christmas is a children’s story for all ages. Written and Illustrated by W.R. Heustis, this charming story will become a Christmas classic. The story of an orphan left during Christmas break at a boarding school expands our sensitivity to those around us and their hidden stories.

This book is available on Amazon here.

 

Snippets Issue 5

Quote for the Week

“Exercise the writing muscle every day, even if it is only a letter, notes, a title list, a character sketch, a journal entry. Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.” –Jane Yolen

Many writers find it challenging to keep writing. The trick is to keep the skill sharp. No matter what else is on the agenda, finding time to write regularly exercises your skills.

Even seasoned writers can get out of the habit. The ability never leaves you but it may become rusty, so a little writing each day is always a welcome way to stay practiced.

To get your book finished, arrange your schedule to write multiple times a week.

 

Featured Realization Press Release in 2016

Life Turned Inside Out

Life Turned Inside Out by Regina Orraca is more than a romance story.  You won’t find any ripped bodices, but you will read some significant insights into life after marriage.

After more than ten years together, Rafael and Maria’s marriage is in crisis. Circumstances escalate the problem and the marriage dies. This is the story of the rebirth of these two people as individuals told from their separate points of view. Find out how they manage to rise from the ashes of their marriage.

Check it out on Amazon here.

 

Great Reads from 2015

Grandfather Poplar 

Grandfather Poplar is a wonderful young adult novel by Diana Henderson.

Imagine the forest you roamed throughout childhood was threatened and a development company was going to chop down all the trees. Wouldn’t you be compelled to save all the inhabitants of those woods? Join Melissa as she and her companions rally to try to preserve this pristine forest.

This e-book is available on Amazon here.

Casey’s Christmas

Casey’s Christmas is a children’s story for all ages. Written and Illustrated by W.R.Heustis, this charming story could become a Christmas classic. The tale of an orphan left during Christmas break at a boarding school expands our sensitivity to those around us and their hidden stories.
This book is available on Amazon here.

 

Snippets Issue 4

Quote for the Week

“The true alchemists do not change lead into gold; they change the world into words.” —William H. Gass

In the creation of a book or story, some kinds of magic take place. The writer brings about story and characters or instructions or memoirs or poems out of thin air using the mind and imagination to fuel the process. Although he or she learns the techniques of the craft, another element in creation comes from something that must be nurtured but cannot be taught.

Next time you read something someone else has written, relish the shared experience of tasting that something that is real yet not readily visible. Take a moment and acknowledge the miracle you are sharing.

And, writers, recognize how lucky we are that we can offer this gift to others.

 

Realization Releases in 2015

Grandfather Poplar

Grandfather Poplar is a wonderful young adult novel by Diana Henderson.

Imagine the forest you roamed throughout childhood was threatened and a development company was going to chop down all the trees. Wouldn’t you be compelled to save all the inhabitants of those woods? Join Melissa as she and her companions rally to try to preserve this pristine forest.

This e-book is available on Amazon here.

Casey’s Christmas

Casey’s Christmas is a children’s story for all ages. Written and Illustrated by W.R.Heustis, this charming story could become a Christmas classic. The tale of an orphan left during Christmas break at a boarding school expands our sensitivity to those around us and their hidden stories.

This book is available on Amazon here.

Snippets Issue 3

Quote for the Week

“The writer’s duty is to keep on writing” —William Styron

As most writers will agree, the most daunting challenge to completing a manuscript is writing the first draft without looking back. The temptation is to go back and re-write before finishing the first run through.

There’s no telling how many half-written books are abandoned because the writer stops and goes back to polish. The lure to re-read and re-write is strong but must be ignored to write the book.

For most writers, especially new ones, write the first draft before re-working. Hemingway said that all first drafts are crap. Once the whole is in front of you, you can edit to your heart’s content.

Keep going, and write on a schedule to get the work done. Good luck and hope to see your book soon.

Grandfather Poplar Releases Today

Grandfather Poplar, a wonderful young adult novel, is being released today on Amazon Kindle! Melissa Kincaid has a secret that she shares with no one—something that makes her different from everyone else in her life. She communicates with trees and with one elder poplar whom she calls Grandfather. The spirit of her ancestor, a Cherokee medicine man, watches over her and takes her into another realm in her dreams. A world exists beyond this one, and she keeps this truth completely to herself—until the day she meets Arthur, a Cherokee boy who has seen her in his own dreams. Together they fight to save the forest that is home to her dearest companions, the trees, and to her own heart.

See Amazon book site .

Snippets Issue 2

“The poet’s, the writer’s, duty is … to help man endure by lifting his heart.”
—William Faulkner

Reading enriches our lives by showing us our better side and what we can achieve. Who hasn’t at one time read a book, a poem, an article, a quote that spoke to him or her at exactly the right time. Whether it was fiction or nonfiction, someone’s written word has made the journey a little easier, expanded our vision, helped us realize our potential.

Writing a book is a noble endeavor (and takes some effort) and when you are finished, your words could change lives. After I wrote my poetry book in the 1970s, a reader contacted me to tell me that one of the poems she read helped her to see that we shared a feeling she didn’t think anyone else had experienced and that she realized she was not alone. That letter showed me how important my effort was.

Realization Press is proud to announce the upcoming release of Grandfather Poplar by Diana Henderson. This young adult novel is for all who love a great story. Melissa Kincaid has a secret that she shares with no one—something that makes her different from everyone else in her life. She communicates with trees and with one elder poplar whom she calls Grandfather. Grandfather Poplar is available as of December 16, 2015. Click here to order Grandfather Poplar on Amazon.com.

Remember that Casey’s Christmas is also available from Amazon at http://amzn.to/1WRkgng.

Snippets Issue 1

“The problem with a piece of writing often clarifies itself if you go for a long walk.” –Helen Dunmore

Creating some space between you and a snag often gives a new perspective and allows us to see something we didn’t notice before. A long walk may solve writing quandaries and perhaps even shine light on other circumstances that stump us.

In writing it is especially important to get up and walk away, then revisit. Remember to take a break and come back to anything you are writing before releasing it.

Grandfather Poplar Release in December

A wonderful young adult novel, Grandfather Poplar, by Diana Henderson is available on Amazon Kindle.

Melissa Kincaid has a secret that she shares with no one—something that makes her different from everyone else in her life. She communicates with trees and with one elder poplar whom she calls Grandfather. The spirit of her ancestor, a Cherokee medicine man, watches over her and takes her into another realm in her dreams. A world exists beyond this one, and she keeps this truth completely to herself—until the day she meets Arthur, a Cherokee boy who has seen her in his own dreams. Together they fight to save the forest that is home to her dearest companions, the trees, and to her own heart.

Click here to buy Grandfather Poplar on Amazon.com!