Get Known Before the Book Deal

ORDER MY FORMER STUDENTS' BOOKS FRESH OFF THE PRESSES!

 

  

MORE BOOKS BY FORMER STUDENTS COMING SOON!

Two Terrific Books

Please support Cindy and Kristin by ordering a copy of their books!

Kristin Bair O'Keeffe's debut novel, Thirsty, will be published by Swallow Press on October 1, 2009. A family saga that explores domestic abuse, race, class, and Pittsburgh's mighty steel industry, Thirsty tells the story of Klara Bozic, a Croatian immigrant who seeks the strength-through love and friendship-to leave an abusive husband.

Can Klara rise above her circumstances and lay claim to her own peaceful spot in the world? To find out, buy Thirsty today as part of Kristin's Amazon Spike Day!


CINDY HUDSON'S first  book is nonfiction. Book By Book, The Complete Guide to Creating Mother-Daughter Book Clubs is coming on October 1st from Seal Press. (Yes, that's right, Kristin and Cindy's books share the same publication date.)

I recently interviewed Cindy about her nonfiction book pitching and writing process over at The Writer Mama Riffs blog. You can read the complete interview here.

Even if you don't have a daughter yourself, Book By Book makes a great gift for a mom who does.

What I'd love more than anything is for folks to read their books and recommend them to others.

These are two great women, who have worked long and hard to create excellent-quality books for readers. Thanks in advance for your support today or any day!

Today is Wendy Burt-Thomas' Amazon Spike Day!

Happy Monday, writers! I'm very pleased to share information about Wendy Burt Thomas' Amazon Spike Day news with you. If you've been reading Writers on the Rise for any length of time, then you are already familiar with the reliable, helpful advice that Wendy Burt Thomas has been sharing over the years as part of her "Ask Wendy" Column.

I hope you will join me in purchasing Wendy's new book, The Writer's Digest Guide to Query Letters on Monday, December 1st. I've already made my purchase and I'm encouraging everyone I know to join me.

I've taken the liberty of pasting Wendy's letter here:

Dear Friends,

Have you ever thought of making money from your writing? Perhaps you've got an idea for a novel or nonfiction book. Or maybe you've got some magazine articles swirling around in your head. If you (or someone you know) would like to know how to sell your work, I invite you to buy my new book, The Writer's Digest Guide to Query Letters on December 1.

The 30+ samples of good and bad queries walk writers through the "must-have" and "don't-even-think-about-it" points with a balance of clear instruction, examples and humor. Where similar query books just tell you to write a hook - it gives insight into what makes a good opening paragraph for an article, novel or nonfiction query. There are special considerations for book queries by genre (from Romance and Mystery to Speculative and Thriller - plus everything in between) and the FAQs come straight from the author's experience as a writer, author, magazine editor and book copyeditor. The "what editors / agents / publishers like" and "what editors / agents / publishers don't like" are incredible resources, offering a look into water coolers throughout the publishing industry. Plus, it's funny.

Why December 1? It's my official "Amazon Spike Day," where I attempt to bump my book up the rankings. The better my book sells before its December 5 release date, the more often Amazon will recommend it to shoppers and the more likely bookstores will order extra copies.

Here's a link to check out the book: http://www.GuideToQueryLetters.com

So what's in it for you (besides knowing you helped an old friend!)? Everyone who orders The Writer's Digest Guide to Query Letters from Amazon on December 1 receives:

1.  My free e-book, "3 Years of Ask Wendy; Your Freelance Writing Questions Answered" (a $9.95 value!) - featuring Q & As on everything from how to sell greeting card copy and fillers to making money from personal essays and short stories. (This e-book is compiled from my "Ask Wendy" column for Writers On The Rise, one of Writer's Digest Magazine's Top 100 Web sites for Writers.)

    
PLUS....
2. A chance to win one of 6 books:
     o Get Known Before the Book Deal by Christina Katz (author of Writer Mama and founder of Writers On The Rise, www.getknownbeforethebookdeal.com)
     o Writer Mama, How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids by Christina Katz (www.thewritermama.com)
     o Work It, Girl! 101 Tips for the Hip Working Chick by Wendy Burt and Erin Kindberg (our second book in the Hip Chick series)
     o A Christmas Dozen; Christmas Stories to Warm the Heart by Steve Burt  (award-winning writer and author of 12 books)**
     o Odd Lot; Stories to Chill the Heart by Steve Burt (winner of the Benjamin Franklin Award; winner of 6 Honorable Mentions for Year's Best Fantasy & Horror; Honorable Mention Best Horror Book by ForeWord Magazine and Honorable Mention Best Genre Fiction from Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards)**
     o Oddest Yet; Even More Stores to Chill the Heart (Bram Stoker Winner!)**
**Steve Burt is not only my dad and mentor, but also an award-winning author. In fact, he won the Bram Stoker Award, the highest honor in horror writing!

PLUS...
3. One winner will receive a free email or phone consultation and editorial feedback on the topic of their choice: writing for magazines, novel queries, greeting cards, nonfiction book proposals, freelancing for a living, etc.

Just order the book from Amazon (there's a link to Amazon through http://www.GuideToQueryLetters.com) on Monday, December 1 and email me your receipt. I'll email you the e-book and enter your name in the drawing!

Please don't feel obligated to buy the book. But if you choose to, let me say "thank you" in advance!
  
All my best,

Wendy Burt-Thomas

www.GuideToQueryLetters.com