NEWS FLASH: Author Tricia Dodson, one of the Featured Authors on Shelfari.com!

Tricia Dodson author of the recently released The Blow Fish and Other Men of the Sea is one of the featured authors on Shelfari: www.shelfari.com/authors.

As someone who is single and in her 40s, Tricia Dodson has experienced a lot of the frustrations of dating. "I wanted a way to have my own Sex and the City group of women to say that I am not alone with my frustrations." Recently, she had the opportunity to appear on The Dr. Phil Show and confront a few of the men I have labeled as “Blowfish”. These are puffed up, arrogant, egotistical, condescending men who have no concern for the women they use for sex and are oblivious to the carnage they leave behind. This led to the revelation that all men could be classified as a type of fish. Dodson explores the types of fish that women seek. Fishing and dating are very similar. They both require patience, skill, the right bait, and the perfect location. Tricia discovered that Internet dating is not the right location for her. In this book, she shares internet stories and over 100 emails that contain the good, the bad and the totally unexplained. This is not a man-bashing book! "I love men!" Dodson exclaims. It is a tongue-in-cheek look at dating for women. It is based in fact, with just a little fiction thrown in. It is about coping with the ever-changing dating life. She told Dr. Phil that she was so frustrated with men that her idea of a perfect date is now soft music, a nice candle and plenty of batteries! Any woman who has ever been frustrated while searching for her Mr. Right will appreciate this book! On a very serious note, the book is about women learning to love and respect themselves. Sex is not always love. Women need to learn that they have the power to throw back that unwanted fish and hold out of their Marlin, he’s one of the good guys!

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Tricia Dodson, a proud spinster raised in Richmond, Virginia now lives in Southern California. Tricia dreamed of writing a book since she was a young girl and although she didn't think she would be writing about being a spinster, her dream of writing a book is finally a reality! Ms. Dodson lives life for the positive and believes that you can find humor in anything--including something as horrendous as dating!

For more highlights on Ms. Dodson, check out these links:

www.drphil.com/shows/show/1085, www.myspace.com/triciadodson,

www.myspace.com/theblowfishtheory, www.strategicbookpublishing.com/blowfish.html

For Appearances and Media Inquiries Contact:

Miranda Spigener
Director of Book Marketing/Sr. Publicist

Strategic Book Marketing- Div. of AEG Publishing Group
pr1@strategicbookmarketing.com
832-452-6068 Direct - 773-482-6068 PR Office Fax
1-800-808-6190 Corporate Office

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More Tips that Greatly Simplify Author Success

* Have Your Book Available at Major Booksellers
Book Clearinghouse is an easy and inexpensive way to get listed with Ingram, the key distributor to getting your books available by request in bookstores. There is a one-time administrative fee of $100 to add your title to the Ingram database. You will receive 31% of the net sales = the list price less returns. The downside is that you will have to keep Book Clearinghouse stocked with your books because they ship directly to buyers.

* Don't Have a Website? Build an online platform.
Create a simple, individual website and/or blog through Wordpress or Blogger.com. Benefits: Search engines, place to recommend people to visit to learn more about you, you may link to your partner sites, link to your book’s order page. These sites enable comments and feedback from web visitors so people keep coming back to check out updates. People can also subscribe to your RSS feeds if you blog from your site.

* Help People Remember You
This sounds old fashioned, but it works. Print up some good quality color business cards with the image of your book cover on the front and an intriguing description of your book on the back along with your website, author name, phone number/email address and any other information you think is relevant. People are much more inclined to buy books from someone they know. When people meet you out in the world, however you meet, have something on hand to give them for when they express interest -a small representation of your book to remind them of the nice author they met. When I first published, aside from friends and family, sales from "chance conversations" out and about were the only sales I was making!

* Create a Social Network:
Using Ning.com you can create a custom community for your book. Create a place where fans of your book (or topic of your book) can go to connect and communicate on the particular topic you've chosen. This is a great place to suggest discussion questions for book clubs and schedule an online discussion with YOU the author!
Using twitter.com - with a twitter account you can give people another opportunity to track what you are doing. You can maintain and post short (140 characters) posts which are delivered via the web or as text messages to people who have chosen to subscribe to you (i.e. add you as a friend or follow you). If you have an existing web site twitter offers a widget which you can add to your own web page (or myspace page, etc.).
Using Razorpages.com – This is a site especially for authors and readers to connect.

* Develop Expert Status by Publishing Articles Online:
Hubpages.com and Ezinearticles.com allow authors and other professionals to post their articles on these well trafficked sites. Web site owners and Ezine publishers need good content to use on their web sites or in their newsletters. When they use your articles, they will include the short author bio which appears with your particular article. Make sure your articles points to a site where they can learn more about you.

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Tips that Greatly Simplify Author Success

(For currently published and still-to-be published authors)

* Plug into Free Teleseminars from Successful Experts

Whether you’re already published or have yet to publish, there’s every reason to listen in on as many free teleseminars as you can find। This is free expert advice delivered directly to your ear!

* Sharpen the Look of your Brand and your Book

If you spend money on anything, let it be to hire experts who will develop an eye-catching book cover, choose fitting colors for your web page or platform, and print sleek business cards. All of this contributes to your brand recognition. In everything that represents you, make it reflect quality. You can be the best writer in the world, but without the right "look," few will look!

*Get Endorsed

Search Google for your favorite bestselling author(s) in your book’s genre and find a way to contact them directly to request a review. My goal was to get endorsed by Dr. Elaine Aron, a psychologist and bestselling author of The Highly Sensitive Person, but I could only track down the contact information for her husband (or who I thought might be her husband.) Thankfully, he put me in touch with his wife, Dr. Aron. She not only reviewed and endorsed my book but has since become a partner in promotions for the memoir. Having her name associated with my book has helped me establish credibility with my target audience.

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Don Sutton author of Understanding Meth: The Epidemic is Officially on Coast to Coast Nat'l Tour! EPK IS LIVE

Don Sutton is Officially on his Coast to Coast and through the American Heartland "Taking it to the Streets Tour in the Say No to Meth Mobile. Please view his EPK!

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Understanding ISBN and Copyright

Here's an interesting trivia fact: It's not possible to copyright the title of your book. Copyright only applies to the entirety of a work. I learned that when I found out the title Help Is On Its Way was already taken as the name of a children's book and I was still able to use the title for my own book. Now that I have, neither author of Help Is On Its Way owns the title, but through copyrighting via the U.S. copyright office, we have both legally protected the content of our books from another party who might want to reprint the material in part or in full under another name.

Because copyright is assumed when books first go to print, many authors decide against copyrighting their books. However, no author can skip the step of purchasing an ISBN.

An ISBN is a number assigned to a publisher by a government ISBN Agency. The number is used like a serial number or an ordering number to identify a specific product. It's also used to contact the publisher when it comes time for placing orders.

If they are not assigned by your publisher, ISBN numbers can be bought online individually or in bulk. Buying ISBN's in bulk allows authors who plan to write several books to own a series of successive ISBN numbers so that all of their books can ultimately be listed together. Buying ISBN's in bulk is also more affordable in the long run for career writers. They can be used for audio books, and any other publishing-related products that are listed for sale.

Sometimes people get ISBNs and copyright confused, especially when there is discussion of who holds the publishing rights. Copyright and publishing rights are not the same thing. It is possible for a publisher to have “publishing rights” (the right to print the work and sell it) but they do not necessarily own the work. It is the copyright that determines the proper owner of the content of the book itself.

Because I wanted to keep publishing rights to Help Is On Its Way, I bought my own ISBN numbers and ISBN barcode from Bowkerlink.com. This enabled me to change publishers and keep the same ISBN number so that I didn't have to re-publish under a different number. With my ISBN and barcode already printed as part of my book cover design, all I had to do was find a self-publisher who would print the book, distribute it, and list it on Amazon.com, paying me a royalty.

In summary, applying for an ISBN and securing copyright protection require two different actions. ISBNs are assigned by the ISBN agency, and copyright (in the US) is registered with the Library of Congress. The ISBN Agency and the Library of Congress are not affiliated. I hope this helps prepare you for your successful writing career.

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How To Be A HOT Radio Guest

A Fast Way to Reach Millions With Your Message

Tips from Annie Jennigs PR (a pay-for-placement agency)

Annie shares: “Radio interviews offer a power strategy for launching your new book or sharing your message as you can share your message with millions effortlessly." She continues, “Here are some must know tips for making your interviews pay off BIG for you!”

1. Radio Producers Love Controversial Topic & Hot Topics In The News. Producers and radio show hosts are always on the lookout for guests who can discuss the hottest and most current news of the day topics.

2. Follow The News Stories That Fall Within Your Area Of Expertise And Create Your Talking Points For Each Story. Do this even if you are not booked on the topic (yet) as you will be developing a strong skill set of being able to apply your education, credentials, experience and wisdom to the socially relevant issues of the day.

3. Create A List Of Intriguing Questions To Offer To Your Producer Or Host. Develop questions that are hard-hitting and benefit-loaded for your listening audience. Producers and hosts want to ask you questions that will intrigue their audience and captures their attention.

4. Avoid Questions Such As "Why Did You Write Your Book?” However, be ready to answer that question with a strong, powerful, benefit packed 20 – 25 second answer. If you are a great guest with high energy, enthusiasm and outstanding information, the host will be more than happy to give you a chance to mention your website or how listeners can find out more info. Be ready with a several points of developed content.

5. Responsibly Promote Your Book During The Interview. Radio producers and hosts love to interview authors and experts who are responsible in the promotion of their book while on the show. Remember, you are a guest on the show and primarily booked to entertain, inform and converse with the audience and the host (keep in mind you are not booked for an infomercial).

6. Avoid Phrases Such As "In My Book". It is better to use the name of your book as if it were a living entity, this way you can be promotional but in a way that makes sense to the conversation you are having. Invest in media training specifically for radio interviews so you can become a top notch, professional guest and make the most of the outstanding ability of radio to reach millions with your message.

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