November 17, 2008
Dear WriteStuff Writers:
How often would you like to be able to mingle with other writers in a classroom environment? How often do you find yourself wondering if what you’ve been writing is on the right track? How often have you inquired about a writers’ group that offers supportive feedback and a creative development atmosphere? Would you like to meet with a professional editor/author/literary agent for a review of your work face-to-face?
If you’ve asked any of these questions, then you might be interested in contacting me directly at andymurphy@sbcglobal.net as we are in the process of forming a new branch of WriteStuff dedicated to the supportive issues of writing and publishing.
We are on track to offer the following classes and lectures with a weekly and monthly interactive classroom instruction covering the following subjects:
- The Building Blocks of Fiction Writing
- Crafting a Nonfiction Story
- Writing with Humor
- Developing Self-Editing Techinques that Work
- How to Develop Storyline Guidelines that Keep You on Track
- Getting Started with a Personal or Family Memoir
- Understanding the Gray Areas of Traditional and Self-Publishing
- Guidelines for Finding an Agent or Publisher
- Composing Professional Query Letters and Book Proposal that Get Attention
- Understanding Copyrights and other Legal Issues
- Personal, One-on-One Manuscript/Story Reviews with Professional Editor/Author Actively Working in Publishing
- Finding Review Sources for Your Self-Published Book
- How to Develop a Free Website
I’m excited about our new venture and hope to hear from you as we will start our classroom instructions in the Spring.
Don’t be lonely. Join our Group!
J. Andy Murphy
PS: Check out my latest photo from my new book “Caddy Caddy Ways of Women in the Workplace.”
We Thank You for Attending the First Annual Indy BookTalk Conference
10 Aug
Posted by admin as welcome
Once again, The WriteStuff Writers’ reaffirmed the interest of aspiring Indiana writers as they helped to make BookTalk a solid success. The morning “in conversation” author to author sessions were entertaining and as always informative. Many thanks to WIBC’s Morning Talk Show Host, Terri Stacy, for the outstanding job of serving as the event moderator. Terri adds enthusiasm and warmth and is so valued by her many fans!
We also wish to thank the Mayor of Indianapolis, Greg Ballard and his lovely wife, Winnie Ballard for stopping by to help us support the cause of literacy. Mayor Ballard is a published author and his insightful words demonstrated his understanding of the writing journey and his strong ties to the arts community.
A Hats Off to WISH-TV news personality and author, Dick Wolfsie, as he led our celebrity panel, which included the Honorable Paul Ricketts, Mayor of Lawrence, Terri Stacy (WIBC), Deborah Stephens (author) and Tom Britt (atGeist.com) in the hilarious, Wait! I Know the Answer Game Show, which closed the morning program.
We salute the appearance of our contributing authors and workshop presenters: Susan Crandall, Norbert Krapf, James Alexander Thom, Dark Rain, Ray Boomhower, Reid Duffy, Jean Deeds, Brenda Hiatt Barber, Marcia Ellett, Rabbi Sandy Sasso, Joani Rothenberger, Kate Jones, Julie Shore, Debra Kemp, Marie Kennedy, Heidi Newman, Andi Simmons and Jane Lommel.
The WriteStuff BookTalk event was made possible by the generous support of our community sponsors: The City of Lawrence, Partnership for Lawrence, Community Hospital Health Network, The Indianapolis Monthly Magazine, Delp Printing & Mailing, Old National Bank, Fine Line Printing and The Olive Garden at Castleton.
To all the volunteers who gave of their time and their expertise, we thank you!
J. Andy Murphy is a published author and a nationally requested conference presenter for her fun and interactive creative writing courses. Murphy is currently offering classroom writing courses through MSD Lawrence Township Community Education Programs (www.learningforyou.com ). Murphy spent 20 years working in the fields of public relations, special events and marketing. In 1996, Murphy left the corporate world to open her own creative agency, First Star to the Right. This successful agency soon developed a high profile base of Midwest writers seeking to realize their personal passion of becoming published authors. A sampling of her agency’s client list includes: Former Indy 500 racecar driver, Lyn St. James (The Ride of Your Life/Hyperion); Former CEO of Eli Lilly, Randall Tobias (Let’ Put the Moose on the Table/Indiana University Press); Deborah Paul, Editorial Director, Emmis Communications, which includes the LA Monthly, Atlanta Monthly, Texas Monthly, Indianapolis Monthly and Cincinnati Monthly magazines. (From Here to Maturity/Emmis Books); Dick Wolfsie, Morning News Personality, WISH-TV, a CBS Affiliate (Indiana Curiosities/Globe Pequot) and Chris Wright, the very popular Chief Meteorologist with WTHR-TV (Rockabye Baby/Guild Press). Due to the volume of requests for literary representation, Murphy now limits her agency clients to writers who participate in the WriteStuff Writer’s Conferences.
Murphy is the Founder of the successful WriteStuff Writers National Educational Workshops, which have been supported by the prestigious Writer’s Digest Magazine, Emmis Publishing (The Indianapolis Monthly), The Indianapolis and St. Louis Woman’s Magazines, Indiana University and AuthorHouse, the largest POD publisher in the United States.
Enjoying the craft that she teaches, Murphy is a published author of three books: Bloodless (Glenbridge Publishing), If You Believe, (Brzamo Publishing, LLC) and The WriteStuff Writers Little Guide Book (Author House). Look for her latest book, The Catty, Catty Ways of Women in the Workplace, co-authored with Marcia Ellett. The book, The Catty, Catty Ways of Women in the Workplace is a delicious look at the gene trait of Female Cattiness and told through the eyes of feline characters. A funny, tongue-in-cheek story about a serious subject matter is already getting rave reviews! The duo has just finished their first original screenplay, One Small Lie. Andy has now added the art of screenplay writing to her conference curriculum and writing courses.
Murphy’s journey to writing was indeed unique. At the age of 38, Murphy suffered a life-changing illness that destroyed a large part of her memory. She had to learn to read and write all over again. She stands as an example that writers can acheive even when the odds are heavily against them.
Murphy, married for 44 years to her husband Jim, a retired newspaper executive. They have two sons: Ryan Murphy, television producer, director and creative writer and a 2005 Golden Globe winner for Best Dramatic Television Series (Nip/Tuck). Ryan also adapted, produced and directed Augustus Burroughs best selling book, Running with Scissors. Ryan is a graduate of Indiana University (School of Journalism).
Darren, her youngest son, is a successful attorney and a former Army Ranger who was injured in the 1989 Panama Invasion. Darren was recognized by former President, George Bush and his wife, Barbara (who included Darren in her autobiography) with a personal bedside visit and medal pinning ceremony at Brooke Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. Darren graduated from Indiana University at Indianapolis School of Law and is busy raising three children, Brooke, Zachary and Morgan. Murphy’s last children’s book (If You Believe, A Christmas Story/Brzamo Publishing, LLC) was written with her grandchildren after the death of their mother, Penny, who lost a courageous battle to a rare cancer on February 24, 2002. It is for sale at WriteStuff’s Books for Sale on main menu.
Murphy has also created the “Small Voices” workshops, which are dedicated to helping minorities achieve their dream of becoming a published author. This program is accepting applications for sponsorships. If interested in sponsoring a Small Voices Workshop, contact us by email.
Someone once told me when I asked how did you gain the confidence to write your first novel. And he answered, “when you are hungry you don’t ask permission to eat.”
But the very thing I loved writing was frozen in time due to a trauma that hit me to the core. My brilliant sister in the 60’s was misdiagnosed as a schizophrenic and was sent to a hospital when she was in 11th grade. She read the NYTimes at 2 yrs and at 4th grade was already reading at college level. Today they probably would have said she had Asberger’s Syndrome but in the 60’s there was no such thing.
At 11yrs old I asked to visit her this brilliant, funny, ecentric soul. I brought here a valentine’s card saying I hope you get on the 2nd floor where the doors are not locked. And I was carrying a cheese sandwich that got all melted. I remember the perfect manicured hilles and walking a long walk. And arriving where a nurse with bright orange lipstick brought out my sister Karen and helped her walk as she was a little shakey. She tried to talk but you couldn’t understand a word. And she was wearing this grey dress that she kept in the back of her closet because she hated it. She looked so pale and drugged all the magic and the miracle of who she was as a human being was gone.
At that age I was in 6th grade and my writing began to stand out. The teacher would read them in class nearly every week and then I stopped. Because I thought I would go to one of those places that karen when to because I was different. It wasn’t logic, it was how I felt. And so I wrote in private like a Jewish person hiding from the Nazi’s.
And I want to come out but I lost so much time. But no more I am giving it all I got. And I am expect to fail but that won’t bother me. Its never have tried to persue the one thing I love most in this world.
Melinda Khan
WriteStuff Writers LLC, an Indiana-based writers’ services company, is now offering online marketing for published authors. Utilizing the latest in web marketing technologies, WriteStuff Internet Public Relations (“WriteStuff iPR”) puts you, your book, and your thoughts online. Once your online identity is created, WriteStuff iPR creates an online marketing campaign, search engine placement strategy, blogging platform, and most importantly guaranteed traffic to your website.
Here is what WriteStuff iPR can do for you:
- Customized blog development: WriteStuff iPR will create a custom blog website and train you how to use it. Each blog website comes with the following:
- Your own domain name (www.yourname.com)
- Up to 5 email accounts
- Upcoming events calendar to promote your appearances
- User administration, know who is blogging on your website
- Search engine optimization
- Built-in blog link exchanges
- Virtual book signing video: You can’t get into every bookstore, but you can get into every computer. WriteStuff iPR will shoot and edit a 2-minute video trailer for your book(s) giving potential buyers an opportunity to see and hear you talk about your work.
- Audio podcast interview: Through the WriteStuff Radio Show, you will be interviewed via phone or in person and available for podcast download on the WriteStuffWriters.com and your website blog. Interviews are limited to 10 minutes in length per book.
- E-commerce store: Books can be sold through your website for self-fulfillment or be linked to a 3rd party retailer (i.e. your publisher’s website or amazon.com). All moneys are managed by you directly; WriteStuff iPR takes no commissions on sales.
- Search engine marketing: We will market your website singularly and collectively with other WriteStuff iPR publishing clients. Using proven pay per click programs through Google.com, Yahoo Search Marketing, and other paid placement venues, we will bid on search phrases relevant to your website/book(s).
- E-mail newsletter development: When applicable, WriteStuff iPR will create an e-mail newsletter campaign and manage your opt-in contacts for you.
WriteStuff iPR Pricing Guidelines
Every book is different, every author is different, and every campaign is also different. Therefore, pricing for the WriteStuff iPR services varies depending on the scope of the author’s needs. WriteStuff iPR must pre-approve each new client prior to engagement of services. Each project will be quoted separately, but each will follow this general format:
First month set-up: Includes blog development and set-up, domain registration,
e-mail set-up, content development for blog, link development, search engine optimization and submission, pay per click (“PPC”) strategy and set-up, web analytic set-up, video book signing(s), audio podcast interview, e-commerce set-up including PayPal or other online merchant accounts, and two hours of blog training. Variables include number of books, genre of book, and author’s existing web knowledge.
Six-month start-up retainer: Includes weekly blog postings to build traffic, higher than normal PPC budget, affiliate program development and implementation, and one hour of coaching/training per month. Variables include depth of affiliate development, PPC budget, and nature of blog content for postings.
On-going retainer: Includes web hosting, maintenance, PPC and other online marketing fees, one hour of coaching/training/support per month.
Estimated first year annualized fees: $4,500-$8,500
WriteStuff iPR will be very selective about which clients they will/won’t take for this all-inclusive service. Please fill out the form below with as much information as you can.
AuthorHouse’s Director of Author Development and WriteStuff Faculty member Tom Britt was interviewed this week by Sharon Gamble of WFYI Radio in Indianapolis, Indiana. They discussed Tom’s involvement with WriteStuff, who attends these conferences, and what to look for with this year’s 2007 WriteStuff Writers’ Tour.
You’re invited to join Tom Britt’s Book Marketing Group on Google.com! Simply enter your email in the form below and you’ll be joining an online discussion group centered on book marketing. Our topics are designed primarily for those of you interested in leveraging the Internet to market, promote, and sell books.
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| Book Marketing Group |
| Visit this group |
“A Caribbean Tale” is a well-written haunting memoir that introduces you to a family held together by quiet dignity and powerful secrets. The story unfolds in flashback sequences allowing a reader to physically feel the depth of the young boy’s difficult journey, all set in motion by the mysterious abandonment of his mother and father. The discovery on a rainy afternoon of an old leather trunk that contained a book sporting the picture of a middle-aged white man on on its cover would change Rudy Gurley’s life forever. This true story demonstrates the author’s quest to make something of his own life far removed from the extreme conditions he would endure as a child.
Purchase on Amazon.com >>
“If You Believe” is a timeless story that families everywhere can enjoy reading together. Family values, the wonder of imagination, the importance of faith and tradition are at the core of this story. It begins when a special wish is made for a little boy, Zachary, who has lost his belief in the wonder of Santa Claus. He is also experiencing a certain sadness after the loss of his beloved grandmother and the approaching holiday season will be his first without her loving presence.
Zachary finds himself sharing time and space with miniature toy figures that have come to life via Mr. Maple, the carriage driver, who has long been a cherished figure in the family’s Christmas tree village. The story speaks to all the elements of life and the reasons for believing. In a touching reunion, Zachary’s grandmother shares a few moments with her grandson as she gently guides him to a meaningful explanation of Santa Claus and the wonders of believing. The grandmother also shares with her precious grandson a much-needed answer concerning the mystery of death in a gentle explanation that a child can embrace without fear. The ending will give the reader a surprise and a long held secret that connects the boy with his father is revealed. A quick read that will warm your heart and renew your spirit!
A NEW BOOK IS NOW AVAILABLE!
The Catty, Catty Ways of Women in the Workplace ! Written by Marcia Ellett, J. Andy Murphy and Terri LaForest. Catty is a humorous look at a serious subject. Catty explores the way women treat one another in the workplace, focusing on gossip, backstabbing, manipulation and other situations that cause the claws to come out and the fur to fly. MEOW! Now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Borders. To order direct: Call Cardinal Publishing Group @ 317-879-0871 or tdoherty@cardinalpub.com - Price: $12.95 - ISBN: 9780790613567. Published by LifePress Publishing
Purchase in the WriteStuff Store >>
The WriteStuff Writers’ Boot Camp crew of agents, editors, publishers, and authors is coming to a city near you in 2007! In addition to the 8 cities we are visiting this year, ask us about having a Boot Camp in your backyard!
While each authors’ goals are different, their questions are generally the same. Our one-day Boot Camps cover both the business and art of publishing, giving authors information and the inspiration to continue their writing journey.
Here is an example of a typical days’ sessions at a WriteStuff Writers’ Boot Camp:
- Registration-Attendees arrive early to receive their free promotional materials, meet with sponsors, and drink a lot of coffee!
- “Introducing WriteStuff” A WriteStuff Writer Senior Faculty Member will give you an overview of the day’s workshops and sessions.
- “Welcome” message from Andy Murphy, author and Founder of WriteStuff Writers’
- Keynote Author will give all attendees a first-hand look at their own publishing journey, making themselves available for questions, book signings, and personal interaction. Past authors have included Jean Deeds, William Sinunu, Lynn St. James, Angelo Pizzo, and others!
- “Are You Ready?” A professional book editor and WriteStuff founder & literary agent Andy Murphy discuss the the proper way to prepare and participate in writing contests.
- “Wordsmiths: Working with a professional book editor!” Presented by a professional copy editor and proofreader.
- “Marketing Basics: What every author needs to know” Presented by a former special events director with Barnes & Noble, marketing specialist with Brzamo Publishing and faculty member, WriteStuff Writers’.
- “Leveraging the Internet: How to Market Your Book on the Internet!” Presented by the Internet Marketing Director of the world’s largest publishing company.
- “Two Minds-One Story!” Presented by a Professional book editor and marketing specialist who have been long-time writing partners.
- “Six Things You Need To Know Before Approaching an Agent or a Publisher!” Presented by a literary agent, this session is a must-attend workshop on the proper path, technique, and etique every author should know before approaching an agent or publisher.
- “Question and Answer Session with WriteStuff Presenters”. A chance to compare notes, ask questions, and share takeaways.
WriteStuff Writers’ has been sponsored and endorsed by Writer’s Digest Magazine, AuthorHouse, Google, Amazon, Sony E-Books, and several publishing companies.
If your writers’ group is interested in having a WriteStuff Writers’ Boot Camp in your town, contact us!