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This is a monthly e-mail update for subscribers only, sent from
U-Publish.com, the web site named for the revolutionary guide
to new methods for publishing and promoting books by Dan Poynter
and Danny O. Snow. Get the paperback, now available to order
from all major bookstores and online booksellers. Or order direct
from us at http://www.u-publish.com/order.htm at a discount.
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*** Books Just Books Seeks Horror Stories
Veteran print broker Ron Pramschufer is writing a book about
publishing scams. He writes:
"Please send me details on any publishing scam that you would
like to have incorporated in the book including stories on vanity
presses, publicists, writing contests, distribution companies or
any other facet of self-publishing where you felt scammed."
Thanks
ron@rjcom.com
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*** Federal Anti-Spam Law Enacted
The United States House of Representatives and Senate have agreed
on a new federal "anti-spam" law and the President signed it in
December: http://www.ivanhoffman.com/federalspam.html
Co-author Dan Snow quips: "According to NPR, the new law requires
businesses to 'obtain permission from consumers before sending
unsolicited commercial e-mail.' What I want to know is: if they
have permission, how can it be unsolicited? And how do they
obtain permission -- by carrier pigeon?"
But seriously: if you use e-mail to promote books, be sure to
comply with all applicable laws, which are growing more strict.
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*** Live Interview January 20
Co-author Dan Snow will be interviewed by "On the Same Page" host
Maxine Thompson on January 20 at 9 AM eastern in a live webcast
covering e-books, POD and advice for authors:
http://www.voiceamerica.com
Please tune in! If you miss the program, please check next
month's newsletter for excerpts, sound bytes, etc.
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Please feel free to forward copies of this bulletin to your
fellow authors and publishers. This is a free service that is
available to anyone in the book world upon request. We don't
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*** Writing Contests
In her highly recommended newsletter, Rita Mills of The Book
Connection (http://www.thebookconnection.com) writes:
*** FICTION CONTEST HIGHLIGHTS FOR CHILDREN - All entries must
be postmarked between Jan. 1 and Feb. 29, 2004. 803 - Church
Street, Honesdale, PA 18431. No entry form or fee required.
Category: Stories that begin with the words "I have a problem."
Prizes: Three prizes of $1,000 each. Stories may be any length
up to 800 words. Stories for beginning readers should not
exceed 500 words. Indicate the word count in the upper right-
hand corner of the first page of your manuscript. No crime,
violence, or derogatory humor. Manuscripts or envelopes
should be clearly marked: FICTION CONTEST. Those not marked
in this way will be considered as regular submissions to
Highlights. Enclose a SASE.
*** THE 2004 WILLA AWARDS - Women Writing the West underwrites
and presents this nationally recognized award annually.
Deadline: February 1, 2004. Award for works published and
copyrighted during 2003 that represent the best in literature
for women’s stories set in the West. The submission fee is
$50 per book. Information on past winners and finalists, as
well as the application and guidelines, can be obtained from
the web site:
http://www.womenwritingthewest.org.
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*** Numbers Don't Lie -- Again!
In previous newsletters, we've shown how reading the fine print
can cut through marketing hype and demonstrate how poor sales
of vanity press books can be.
See the following article from Books Just Books for yet another
example why numbers don't lie:
http://www.publishingbasics.com/newsletter/dec2003/askron.html
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*** Reminder: Possible NPR Interviews
Co-author Dan Poynter writes:
RELATIONSHIPS AUTHORS WANTED FOR INTERVIEW.
Syndicated columnist Dr. Barton Goldsmith is looking for authors
to interview on his NPR radio show. If you have a book with a
personal relationship or emotional/psychological slant please
send a copy and press kit to him to be considered for the show:
P.O. Box 4502, Thousand Oaks, CA 91359
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*** Reminder: IPPY Awards for 2003 Now Open
The eighth annual "IPPY" Awards, conducted annually to honor the
year's best independently published titles, are now accepting
entries for books with 2003 copyrights or that were released
in 2003:
http://www.independentpublisher.com/ipaward.lasso
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Inside tip from Poynter & Snow:
ALWAYS READ THE FINE PRINT!
Here's ours:
This is a free e-mail bulletin from U-Publish.com, the web site
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