The Rogues Gallery Writers gear up each day to get word out about what we do. We write. Yes, one of us is more artist than writer, yet she often out-writes the writers. The book Writing is Easy is already available online and in ebook and Kindle versions as well. In fact, one of the best bargains out there is www.booksonboard.com where Writing is Easy is available for the ridiculous price of $9.98. That's nearly $10.00 off the book price!
The Rogues are also offering a small mini-book titled More Writing is Easy coming out in October. This smaller book contains additional material that was not ready at press time of the larger book, so if you couldn't get enough Writing is Easy, jump on the mini-book as well at www.clearviewpressinc.com
The book release party promises to rock the house, or at least Barbara Jean's restaurant in the European Village in Palm Coast, Florida. We'll be: raffling off a $400 painting by Tracy ($20 per ticket), giving away door prizes, giving prizes (Rogues' books) to winners in three categories in the bunko game, having a silent auction of ALL Rogues' books, putting on a "Guess the Author Quote Contest" where the winner will receive an autographed copy of Writing is Easy, and the Rogues will be reading an excerpt from the book. There'll be a great buffet and fun for everyone!
All this happens on Saturday, October 2, 2010 at 11:00am to 3:00pm. Making a go of it as an author or artist today requires each person to be part insanity, part stupidity and part bravery. Most of all it calls for a passion to pursue a dream that often runs contrary to society. All of us (Rogues) ask for your support in birthing our baby (Writing is Easy) as well as your support in our effort to step out and do something most people would flee.
Support comes in many forms. Positive affirmations are always good, and nice reviews of our work to others as well. I'm going to say it - money is a great form of support as well. Please consider that each book purchased helps us to continue to pursue our dreams AND produce entertainment for people who love to read. Who knows, one day some of our work my make it to the big screen.
Dreams like that do not go anywhere without the backing of wonderful people. Please consider what you would be willing to do to help aspiring writers and artists along the road of their dream. One thing's for sure - the Rogues do not rest. We're still writing. We're still producing. Each new project is an opportunity to grow. Each day we learn more and therefore write more. Join us, won't you, on October 2nd? Just your show of support at the book release party is significant.
You can inspire us to continue our battle cry - Let's Write!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Book Bunko Bash!
Writing is Easy, the collaborative effort of the four Rogues, is now available. In massive celebration, the Rogues Gallery Writers are throwing a book/bunko bash. This event will combine books art and fun with great food and excellent interaction.
Mark Saturday, October 2, 2010 on your calendar. Barbara Jean's restaurant in the European Village is the location. The party will run from 11:00am to 3:00pm. Here's some of what will be happening:
Bunko. Anyone who has not played this crazy, mindless game will be thrilled to learn that there are no strategies, no high-brow thought processes nor dexterity involved. As long as you can roll dice and scream at them, you'll be fine. For those who've played, well, we understand your addiction...
Raffle. Rogue Tracy will raffle off a $400 painting at the end of the party. Her artwork graces the covers of Writing is Easy and Loves Lost and Found as well as having loads of interior paintings in the book Loves Lost and Found.
Door prizes and readings. During the course of the bunko game, breaks are scheduled at specific times. During these breaks, a Rogue will read an excerpt from Writing is Easy and then a door prize will be handed out to a lucky winner. For you die-hard bunko-ers, this intrusion will be brief and you will be able to soon return to your regularly scheduled game addiction.
Food. Barbara Jean's will offer a buffet to anyone wishing to eat during the festivities. This will allow bunko players to graze at their leisure as well as the authors who no doubt will want to stuff their faces between autographs.
Books. The Rogues Gallery Writers are busy little writers. They have five books between them and all will be on display (and for sale) to the right when you walk into Barbara Jean's. The authors will make themselves available to sign autographs or hang out the whole time. Yes, we won't be able to play bunko, but I bet we can sneak away and sub for someone for a few tantalizing rolls of the dice!
Book prizes. The Rogues will give away books as the bunko prizes for Most Wins (Writing is Easy), Travels (Flight From Fear), and Bunkos (Loves Lost and Found). These books will be autographed not only by one Rogue, but ALL the Rogues!
This will be a gala event, loads of fun, books, prizes, raffles, food and great people. Evites will be sent out soon. Please sign up as we are targeting 100 guests and need to know how many will be attending so that Barbara Jean's can prepare the requisite amount of food.
And buy a book! The Rogues will be thrilled to autograph it for you!
Mark Saturday, October 2, 2010 on your calendar. Barbara Jean's restaurant in the European Village is the location. The party will run from 11:00am to 3:00pm. Here's some of what will be happening:
Bunko. Anyone who has not played this crazy, mindless game will be thrilled to learn that there are no strategies, no high-brow thought processes nor dexterity involved. As long as you can roll dice and scream at them, you'll be fine. For those who've played, well, we understand your addiction...
Raffle. Rogue Tracy will raffle off a $400 painting at the end of the party. Her artwork graces the covers of Writing is Easy and Loves Lost and Found as well as having loads of interior paintings in the book Loves Lost and Found.
Door prizes and readings. During the course of the bunko game, breaks are scheduled at specific times. During these breaks, a Rogue will read an excerpt from Writing is Easy and then a door prize will be handed out to a lucky winner. For you die-hard bunko-ers, this intrusion will be brief and you will be able to soon return to your regularly scheduled game addiction.
Food. Barbara Jean's will offer a buffet to anyone wishing to eat during the festivities. This will allow bunko players to graze at their leisure as well as the authors who no doubt will want to stuff their faces between autographs.
Books. The Rogues Gallery Writers are busy little writers. They have five books between them and all will be on display (and for sale) to the right when you walk into Barbara Jean's. The authors will make themselves available to sign autographs or hang out the whole time. Yes, we won't be able to play bunko, but I bet we can sneak away and sub for someone for a few tantalizing rolls of the dice!
Book prizes. The Rogues will give away books as the bunko prizes for Most Wins (Writing is Easy), Travels (Flight From Fear), and Bunkos (Loves Lost and Found). These books will be autographed not only by one Rogue, but ALL the Rogues!
This will be a gala event, loads of fun, books, prizes, raffles, food and great people. Evites will be sent out soon. Please sign up as we are targeting 100 guests and need to know how many will be attending so that Barbara Jean's can prepare the requisite amount of food.
And buy a book! The Rogues will be thrilled to autograph it for you!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
The Rogues They Are A Rollin'
Crunch time. The Rogues Gallery Writers have seen this day coming for years. Now, the day soon becomes reality. With the release of Writing is Easy Rebekah, Tracy, Jeff and Mike have a lot of things to handle.
One of the largest is the book release party. The plan to have a Book Bunko Bash party now moves to the fore. October 2, 2010, one day after the official release of the book, the Rogues will gather at Barbara Jean's in the European Village in Palm Coast for their big kickoff shindig. There will be buffet style food, a raucous bunko game with prizes as well as the four authors selling and signing books.
Invitations will be sent out through online media. Only the first 100 will be able to get in, so a list will be kept on a first come, first served basis.
The Rogues are also scheduling speaking engagements. Once they get the first couple under their belt, they will soon be touring schools and organizations with their knowledge of writing and publishing as well as their humor.
Ok, writing all this in third person is really beginning to irritate me. We do plan to get out to schools with the intention of inspiring young writers to get diligent about their dreams and aspirations.
We are motivated. We are great writers. We have spunk. We have moxie. We will be heard and we will leave our mark. My sincere hope is that we have a positive effect and that we encourage and inspire those who need such intangibles. We know there are many who need this as we ourselves have simply needed someone to believe in us and inspire us as well.
The Rogues Gallery Writers - on a mission to inspire writers. We're rollin'!
One of the largest is the book release party. The plan to have a Book Bunko Bash party now moves to the fore. October 2, 2010, one day after the official release of the book, the Rogues will gather at Barbara Jean's in the European Village in Palm Coast for their big kickoff shindig. There will be buffet style food, a raucous bunko game with prizes as well as the four authors selling and signing books.
Invitations will be sent out through online media. Only the first 100 will be able to get in, so a list will be kept on a first come, first served basis.
The Rogues are also scheduling speaking engagements. Once they get the first couple under their belt, they will soon be touring schools and organizations with their knowledge of writing and publishing as well as their humor.
Ok, writing all this in third person is really beginning to irritate me. We do plan to get out to schools with the intention of inspiring young writers to get diligent about their dreams and aspirations.
We are motivated. We are great writers. We have spunk. We have moxie. We will be heard and we will leave our mark. My sincere hope is that we have a positive effect and that we encourage and inspire those who need such intangibles. We know there are many who need this as we ourselves have simply needed someone to believe in us and inspire us as well.
The Rogues Gallery Writers - on a mission to inspire writers. We're rollin'!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Writing is Easy
Yes, writing may be easy, but the time spent promoting can be overwhelming. Our new book - Writing is Easy is now at the printer. We are waiting on the proofs, then we go to print and a whole new Rogues Gallery Writer needs to emerge.
We have websites to develop and update. We have blogs to write, interviews to schedule, reviews to seek out and potential buyers to find. This is an arduous task that requires dedication to our book, our craft and our vision.
All of us desire to get "out there" and make this happen. Desire is a critical ingredient to getting a book to take off. But desire is nothing without action. Action comes in the guise of hours normally spent elsewhere being put to use in doing the above actions that create a 'buzz'.
A book without buzz is a doorstop. As Rebekah is learning with her excellent, excellent book - Motherhood is Easy, constant promoting is the way to success. Even minimal success. The first 100 to 200 book sales come easy. Friends, family and acquaintances buy either out of love, support, curiosity or simple kindness.
The public at large is a different animal. They don't give a shit about our book. We must do something to create excitement or interest. The reading public has no vested interest in us. They couldn't care less whether we sell s single copy.
We feel strongly that our book is viable, interesting and helpful to writers. We also feel the book is viable, interesting and entertaining to fiction readers. Just because we feel this way does not mean anyone else does. We must transfer our feelings by infusing the book buying public with our enthusiasm.
The prospect of hours building websites and creating content can be viewed drudgery or investment. Obviously one view contains much more oomph than the other. These are the Renaissance Days of publishing. We're breaking out of the Dark Ages of publisher domination and exploitation and entering a brave new world.
Marketing and business savvy are critical if writers wish to take advantage of their new found freedom. Look for the Rogues Gallery Writers to step up and make things happen. We will be looking for anyone who will listen to our message. We will be looking for every writer who dreams of publication but has been stonewalled.
Writing IS easy. The rest is just plain ol' fun!
We have websites to develop and update. We have blogs to write, interviews to schedule, reviews to seek out and potential buyers to find. This is an arduous task that requires dedication to our book, our craft and our vision.
All of us desire to get "out there" and make this happen. Desire is a critical ingredient to getting a book to take off. But desire is nothing without action. Action comes in the guise of hours normally spent elsewhere being put to use in doing the above actions that create a 'buzz'.
A book without buzz is a doorstop. As Rebekah is learning with her excellent, excellent book - Motherhood is Easy, constant promoting is the way to success. Even minimal success. The first 100 to 200 book sales come easy. Friends, family and acquaintances buy either out of love, support, curiosity or simple kindness.
The public at large is a different animal. They don't give a shit about our book. We must do something to create excitement or interest. The reading public has no vested interest in us. They couldn't care less whether we sell s single copy.
We feel strongly that our book is viable, interesting and helpful to writers. We also feel the book is viable, interesting and entertaining to fiction readers. Just because we feel this way does not mean anyone else does. We must transfer our feelings by infusing the book buying public with our enthusiasm.
The prospect of hours building websites and creating content can be viewed drudgery or investment. Obviously one view contains much more oomph than the other. These are the Renaissance Days of publishing. We're breaking out of the Dark Ages of publisher domination and exploitation and entering a brave new world.
Marketing and business savvy are critical if writers wish to take advantage of their new found freedom. Look for the Rogues Gallery Writers to step up and make things happen. We will be looking for anyone who will listen to our message. We will be looking for every writer who dreams of publication but has been stonewalled.
Writing IS easy. The rest is just plain ol' fun!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Writing is Easy
Anyone who's had to put a book together knows how exasperating the last stages can be. The Rogues' new book, Writing is Easy is no exception. As we head into the final stretch, there are loose ends all over the place that must be taken tied up.
As a group, we've been working on this project for over two years. It doesn't seem worthwhile to look at time spent but more at future time committed to the project. Wrapping a book up takes patience and a lot of effort. Then the real fun begins.
The Rogues are planning a promotional agenda that will involve many fronts and will no doubt challenge us to step up to larger issues in our writing careers. The only way to do this is to jump in and make things happen. A lot of people can't handle making things happen. They want everything handed to them.
Fortunately, we've been in this business long enough to know it takes work, dedication and commitment. Will we step up? Are we stubborn enough to keep plodding along even when we don't feel it? Stick around and see.
Writing truly is easy. It's the stuff that comes after the writing that tests the gut. The Rogues plan on persevering...
As a group, we've been working on this project for over two years. It doesn't seem worthwhile to look at time spent but more at future time committed to the project. Wrapping a book up takes patience and a lot of effort. Then the real fun begins.
The Rogues are planning a promotional agenda that will involve many fronts and will no doubt challenge us to step up to larger issues in our writing careers. The only way to do this is to jump in and make things happen. A lot of people can't handle making things happen. They want everything handed to them.
Fortunately, we've been in this business long enough to know it takes work, dedication and commitment. Will we step up? Are we stubborn enough to keep plodding along even when we don't feel it? Stick around and see.
Writing truly is easy. It's the stuff that comes after the writing that tests the gut. The Rogues plan on persevering...
Monday, May 24, 2010
Motherhood is Easy
Fellow Rogue Rebekah is hot on the trail of stardom. I know I've posted about her book recently, but I think it's important to note that she is continuing to market and promote. This is the way of the author. You slave over a book for months, sometimes years and then you find the bulk of the work is yet to be done.
Most new writers have no clue. Intellectually you can possess this information and then get your book published only to find you had no real idea what it takes to be successful in the writing world. Success once your book is out is all about persistence. It's a number's game, folks!
Writers tend to hate that. Writers tend to be idealistic. Writers tend to see the world in their creative minds rather than the cold, calculating world view. If you have a good book and do not market and promote, it will go nowhere. If your book fairly sucks and you market and promote well, your book can actually make some noise.
This REALLY pisses writers off. There is a wrongness there. Something is amiss.
Then, if you have a GREAT book like Motherhood is Easy and you market and promote, all it takes is one person in a strategic position to read it and it will go viral. Viral is the key these days to huge success. In order to get there, you must produce quality and you must market and promote - with passion.
Rebekah found that she loves to market and promote. This is one of the two areas writers fall flat on their face usually. To create a GREAT book AND love to market and promote stands as the simplest road to success in writing.
The other area writers fail is that they're willing to sell their souls to get published. If writers would take the time to gain some business savvy, they would tell the publishing machine this - "Hey! I'm the one creating content. Without me you would have no movies, no books, no magazines, etc. Pay me what I'm worth and stop hogging all the money!"
Unfortunately most writers will either take next to nothing to get published or they will pay through the nose with no real way to recoup their money. Rebekah has made some very smart decisions and is on her way. She will go as far as she is willing to push, and she has the opportunity to make money as well.
Motherhood is Easy is an excellent example of a book done right in these crazy days in the publishing industry. My sincere hope is that Rebekah continues to push it and one day finds those numbers that show all her hard work was worth it. Check the book out. I guarantee you will laugh. Then think about how you might be the next person to create a successful product.
The Rogues Gallery Writers are looking to do just that!
Most new writers have no clue. Intellectually you can possess this information and then get your book published only to find you had no real idea what it takes to be successful in the writing world. Success once your book is out is all about persistence. It's a number's game, folks!
Writers tend to hate that. Writers tend to be idealistic. Writers tend to see the world in their creative minds rather than the cold, calculating world view. If you have a good book and do not market and promote, it will go nowhere. If your book fairly sucks and you market and promote well, your book can actually make some noise.
This REALLY pisses writers off. There is a wrongness there. Something is amiss.
Then, if you have a GREAT book like Motherhood is Easy and you market and promote, all it takes is one person in a strategic position to read it and it will go viral. Viral is the key these days to huge success. In order to get there, you must produce quality and you must market and promote - with passion.
Rebekah found that she loves to market and promote. This is one of the two areas writers fall flat on their face usually. To create a GREAT book AND love to market and promote stands as the simplest road to success in writing.
The other area writers fail is that they're willing to sell their souls to get published. If writers would take the time to gain some business savvy, they would tell the publishing machine this - "Hey! I'm the one creating content. Without me you would have no movies, no books, no magazines, etc. Pay me what I'm worth and stop hogging all the money!"
Unfortunately most writers will either take next to nothing to get published or they will pay through the nose with no real way to recoup their money. Rebekah has made some very smart decisions and is on her way. She will go as far as she is willing to push, and she has the opportunity to make money as well.
Motherhood is Easy is an excellent example of a book done right in these crazy days in the publishing industry. My sincere hope is that Rebekah continues to push it and one day finds those numbers that show all her hard work was worth it. Check the book out. I guarantee you will laugh. Then think about how you might be the next person to create a successful product.
The Rogues Gallery Writers are looking to do just that!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Writing is Easy is on the Way!!!
The Rogues Gallery Writers meet this week to discuss marketing ideas for our first book, Writing is Easy. This book is actually a number of years in the making. It's been through the edit phase with final re-writes being completed as I key this. This book's primary purpose is to challenge other writers to get out there and make things happen with their craft.
The days of write-and-hope are over for those willing to listen. We have a message we want the writing community to seize upon - you can get your writing into print in front of as many people as you are willing to work for. Once your book is published, the real work begins, so whether you sell 5 books or 5,000 will depend mostly upon you the author.
There is no reason for you to be at some publisher's mercy though. You can get your book published, the only question is do you have the desire and fortitude to see it through, and if you do, do you again have the desire and fortitude to market and promote.
Marketing and promoting are what makes or breaks a book. I'd love to write that it's content that makes or breaks a book, but alas, that is not true in this day and age. A great marketer can sell a shitty book, and a pathetic marketer can ruin a classic. That's the world we live in folks. Rage against the machine all you like, but remember, this machine is what feeds writers money. If you want to make a go of writing, you need to learn how books are sold today.
All that said, the Rogues Gallery Writers have some work to do Thursday. We have to plan a marketing campaign and assign tasks that will implement the plan. This can be tedious, but fun as well. I'll let you know what we come up with...
The days of write-and-hope are over for those willing to listen. We have a message we want the writing community to seize upon - you can get your writing into print in front of as many people as you are willing to work for. Once your book is published, the real work begins, so whether you sell 5 books or 5,000 will depend mostly upon you the author.
There is no reason for you to be at some publisher's mercy though. You can get your book published, the only question is do you have the desire and fortitude to see it through, and if you do, do you again have the desire and fortitude to market and promote.
Marketing and promoting are what makes or breaks a book. I'd love to write that it's content that makes or breaks a book, but alas, that is not true in this day and age. A great marketer can sell a shitty book, and a pathetic marketer can ruin a classic. That's the world we live in folks. Rage against the machine all you like, but remember, this machine is what feeds writers money. If you want to make a go of writing, you need to learn how books are sold today.
All that said, the Rogues Gallery Writers have some work to do Thursday. We have to plan a marketing campaign and assign tasks that will implement the plan. This can be tedious, but fun as well. I'll let you know what we come up with...
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