|
Burning the Midnight Oil Book Zine Archives Index
|
Subscribe
|
|
| << April02, 2006 - Burning the Midnight Oil Book Zine -- Issue Twenty |
July01, 2006 - Burning the Midnight Oil Book Zine -- Issue Twenty-Two >> |
|
Burning the Midnight Oil Book Zine - a FR*E*E monthly ezine for writing parents. ************************************************************** You are receiving this e-zine because you subscribed through e-mail. Unsubscribe information is below. ************************************************************** TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. WELCOME NOTES 2. QUOTES FOR THE MONTH 3. EDITOR'S ARTICLE: THE FIVE “A’S” FOR A SUCCESSFUL WRITING CAREER By DAWN COLCLASURE 4. CONTEST CORNER 5. ADVERTISEMENTS 6. GUEST ARTICLE: I’M OUT OF MY MIND! BE BACK IN FIVE MINUTES By KAREN PUTZ 7. BOOK EXCERPT 8. BOOK GIVEAWAY 9. WHAT’S UP WITH THE BOOK’S WRITERS 10. BOOK NEWS 11. SITES SITED 12. FREEBIE CORNER 13. WRITING PARENT TIPS FOR JUNE 14. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES 15. UNSUBSCRIBE INSTRUCTIONS ************************************************************** WELCOME NOTES Hello, Everyone! Welcome to another issue of the Burning the Midnight Oil Book Zine! As always, feel free to send me any email at BurningMidnightOil@myway.com with comments, suggestions or just to plain chat. Our “birthday month” came and went without so much as a “hoorah.” Forgive me, readers, for missing out on last month's issue. Life has a way of knocking us off our feet yet what matters is that we find a way to get back up again and keep on going. That’s my plan and I’m sticking with it! In this issue, you’ll find a “quickie” article from me on five important “a” ingredients every writing career should have. Whether you’re an aspiring writer or a seasoned professional, this “A-list” is an important reminder of what you need to be doing in order to keep your writing success going strong. You’ll also get to read a great article by writing mom Karen Putz. Whether you’re trying to keep your house clean, read a book or write an article, the whirlwind of active children tends to make us forget the true rewards of why we’re parents in the first place. Karen’s article draws us back to this reason, reminding us that we just sometimes need to refocus our view to see the precious love we have at the ready from our children. Enjoy this issue! Hugs, Dawn Colclasure Editor and Publisher http://dmcwriter.tripod.com/ ************************************************************** QUOTES FOR THE MONTH “All words are pegs to hang ideas on.”—Henry Ward Beecher “The faster I write the better my output. If I'm going slow I'm in trouble. It means I'm pushing the words instead of being pulled by them.”—Raymond Chandler “The beautiful part of writing is that you don't have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon.”—Robert Cromier “Writing is turning one's worst moments into money.”—J. P. Donleavy “You don't write because you want to say something; you write because you've got something to say.”—F. Scott Fitzgerald “A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.”—Thomas Mann “Looking back, I imagine I was always writing. Twaddle it was too. But better far write twaddle or anything, anything, than nothing at all.”—Katherine Mansfield “I always do the first line well, but have trouble doing the others.”—Moli?re “The wastepaper basket is the writer's best friend.”—Isaac B. Singer “Writing is pretty crummy on the nerves.”—Paul Theroux “The moment at hand is the only thing we really own.”—John Denver “If I don't write to empty my mind, I go mad.”—Lord Byron “The best time for planning a book is while you're doing the dishes.”—Agatha Christie “There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.”—Walter Wellesley "Red" Smith “You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.”—Ray Bradbury ************************************************************** EDITOR’S ARTICLE The Five “A’s” For a Successful Writing Career By: Dawn Colclasure Writers can do many things to make their careers more successful. From selling on the Internet to constantly making television appearances, a writer can develop their own plan for getting their name known and their work sold. The following are five “A’S” a writer can use to ensure their careers are successful and more of their work will get published. ACCURACY— Ensure that whatever you write is correct. Any data must be correct, statements included must be verbatim and not misquoted. Readers start reading your work believing every word. If, however, we’re talking about fiction, then the only accuracy you need to worry about is your facts regarding real-life objects (such as handguns) and your story itself. ACCESSIBILITY— There must always be something you can write with: a small notebook to keep in your pocket or purse, a computer, a laptop or even a cocktail napkin. Keep a pen with you in case you end up with a great idea for a story but with nothing to write it down. ACCEPTABILITY— You must accept that there will be good days and bad days. Things may seem to be going slow but what’s more important is that you are still on your path to success. You must also accept that whatever you may write, no matter how small or poorly written, still counts as your output for the day. ASSOCIATING— You must network with other writers and editors. Talk with other writers about writing and trends in writing. Don’t feel intimidated or nervous about contacting big names in the book world; chances are they’ll be flattered that you took the time to write to them and tell them what you think. This “A” also applies to sending out queries for possible assignments. ALWAYS— You must consistently work at your writing, writing every day and never giving up on your goal to have an article published, a book written/published, or an essay published. You must believe that these things WILL happen and always work at making it happen. It will not happen if you don’t always, ALWAYS work at it. Writing must always be a prominent part of your life. The more you keep writing and submitting, the more success you will find. *** Dawn Colclasure edits and publishes the Burning the Midnight Oil Book Zine, which is a product of her book: BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL: How We Survive as Writing Parents (Booklocker). She also writes for the newspaper SIGNews and the Web site, The Shadowlands. She’s been published both on and off the Web, in magazines such as Mothering, American Fitness, Home Education Magazine and HOMEspirations, and Web sites such as Absolute Write, Writing Etc. and Writing World. Visit her on the Web at http://dmcwriter.tripod.com/. ************************************************************** CONTEST CORNER ReadingWriters.com Funniest Family Member Contest DEADLINE July 31, 2006 (Midnight, PT) Summer is here, and you know what that means: graduations, weddings, vacations or some other event that's going to bring you face-to-face with ... your family! Sounds like the perfect time to share a laugh. Who's the funniest person in your tribe? Tell us about one specific occasion, in story form, when she or he had you howling. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GRAND PRIZE ~ $100 ~ Three months website publication ~ Autographed copy of Tim Bete's book In The Beginning ... There Were No Diapers ENTRY FEE $5 Prefer to pay by check or money order? Request mailing instructions. OPEN to writers all over the world. ENTRIES must be original and unpublished. LENGTH up to 1,000 words. WINNER will be announced August 14, 2006! JUDGE for this contest is Elizabeth Guy. Read her bio on The Readers page. WINNING entry will be published on this website August-October, 2006. As always, author retains ALL rights. Period. Contest Submission Guidelines: http://www.readingwriters.com/guide.htm ************************************************************** ADVERTISEMENTS New Message Board for Writers, Writing Parents and Booklovers!!! The Write Stuff is a new message board created by Dawn Colclasure, a disabled writing parent who loves books! The board offers anyone of similar situations a chance to discuss being a disabled writer, a writing parent or a booklover! The write Stuff offers registered members a chance to swap books, talk shop or discuss Dawn’s books, as well! All writers and booklovers of any age or stage are welcome to participate! Check the new board out here: http://p105.ezboard.com/bthewritestuff66370 *** Pop artist BRANDON is back! Brandon who gave us the Top 100 Billboard HITS like “Kisses in the night”, “Destiny” and the classic dance tune “Moves” is ready to do it again! Bal Harbour Records Inc. is proud to present our featured artist Brandon with his new single "Don't Go Away". Available now for purchase at our website at: http://www.balharbourrecords.com Go ahead and surf into our website and listen before you buy. Let Brandon take you on a freestyle journey into a whole new dimension. A Portion of the proceeds from the sale of this CD will go to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF) The foundation provides college scholarship grants, along with financial aid and educational counseling, to the children of Special Operations personnel who were killed in an operational mission or training accident. www.specialops.org Thank you for all your support Now lets get this party started! Bal Harbour Record Staff *** For Immediate Release Mindy Lawrence Publicist River Road Press 614 Wal Mart Drive #114 Farmington, MO 63640 573-330-4015 Heart of America Chapter of Ex-POWs Release Book Laguna Vista, TX: February 13, 2006 The Heart of America Chapter of Ex-POWs in Kansas City, MO recently released a new book titled Ex-Prisoners of War: Stories of Faith, Integrity and Courage. Its ninety-seven stories cover soldiers in all branches of the service in both the European and Pacific Theaters of World War II. It also covers a civilian detainee in the Philippines and two men who were Korean War prisoners. Since many of the prisoners of war mentioned are in their eighties, we are privileged to have them share their stories with us. These prisoners faced emotions and conditions totally beyond their understanding, and ours. Some saw torture, forced marches, slave labor and solitary confinement. Most experienced malnutrition, dehydration and disease. All dealt with loneliness, lack of cleanliness, the victimization that comes with hatred and the degradation of captivity. Ex-POW Albert Rapp, WWII — European Theater said, “I can never forget the faces of my buddies I had to watch die such horrid deaths. They were my age...and I wonder what their lives would have been like.” “Most of us got sick with dysentery, beriberi malaria, malnutrition, and so on,” says Federico N. “Fred” Madayag, US Army, WWII — Pacific Theater. “We did not have water to bathe ourselves for the duration of our incarceration.” Ex-Prisoners of War begins with a special forward by Col. Jim Coy (Retired), author of A Gathering of Eagles. Ed Slater completed the cover art. The book also includes a poem written by John Romine, National Chaplain of the American Ex-Prisoners of War Organization. The Heart of America Chapter of the American Ex-Prisoners of War is one of 300 chapters in the United States. There are twenty-seven thousand members nationwide, all with stories to tell. This book is the sole fund raiser for The Heart of America Chapter of the Ex-POWs in Kansas City, Missouri for the year. All proceeds go to support the organization and individual veterans in need. To get your copy of the book, send $30.00 plus $4 for shipping to: Pat McGrath-Avery River Road Press 13 Torrey Pines Drive Laguna Vista, TX 78578 417-230-5555 Or you can go to: www.expowsthebook.com to purchase your copy online. Ex-Prisoners of War: Stories of Faith, Integrity and Courage Heart of America Chapter of Ex-POWs, Kansas City, MO, 2006 ISBN 10: 0-9743758-7-X ISBN 13: 978-0-9743758-7-8 LCCN: 2005934991 *** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mindy Lawrence Publicist River Road Press 614 Wal Mart Drive #114 Farmington, MO 63640 Over one-hundred guests celebrate author Eddie's Beesley's launch of "Lucky Enough." Edmond, Oklahoma: February 9, 2006 Over one-hundred supporters gathered to see retired Marine Corps Corporal Eddie R. Beesley sign his new book, Lucky Enough. The book launch party was held at the Downtown Community Center at 28 East Main Street in Edmond, OK on Saturday, February 4, 2006 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. At least fifty autographed, dated copies left the festivities with happy new owners. Lucky Enough is the story of Beesley’s tour of duty in Vietnam and serious wounding near Chu Lai. Far from negative, Lucky Enough is a story of hope. The book juxtaposes Beesley’s experiences in Vietnam with his first visit to the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Washington, D.C. thirty years after he left the service. Eddie Beesley excelled in sports in high school and reveled in the physical challenges of the Marines Corps. He loved being a part of Delta Company, First Battalion, Fourth Marines living and training in Hawaii in the early 1960s. When Delta Company waded ashore at Chu Lai in May 1965, they spent their days on patrol and their nights on guard duty wondering why they were not being allowed to fight and win. They were assigned to protect the Chu Lai Airstrip during Operation Starlite. On August 31, 1965, Delta Company went on patrol in force. On that day, Corporal Eddie Beesley's life changed forever. Several Vietnam veterans were at Beesley’s book signing. Eddie Paulus, who was mentioned in the book, was there from California. Buster Toland came from Houston, TX and was with Beesley in Vietnam. Former Marine and Vietnam veteran Mike LeBlanc and author and veteran Lloyd A. King, both from Louisiana, were also in attendance. Beesley’s wife Connie, his daughter Teresa Rosser, their four grandchildren Dillon, Brittnee, Keith and Jace plus fellow classmate Vicki Withers Phillips originally from Beggs, OK who now lives in Stillwater, were at the community center as well. Karlee Wright sang a lovely rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless the USA” while the participants feasted on a cake from Red Velvet Bakery in Edmond, OK which sported a replica of Beesley’s book cover on top. Beesley’s daughter Teresa Rosser along with Dana Davis, Lindsey Davis, John and Mary Beth Emery and Sherrie Weedon from the Side Street Salon provided additional refreshments. To meet Eddie Beesley and get a signed copy of Lucky Enough, you can catch up with him at on of these upcoming events: To book a speaking engagement with Mr. Beesley, contact Connie Beesley at ebeesley@sbcglobal.net. More information about Eddie Beesley and Lucky Enough is available at: http://www.luckyenoughthebook.com *** Dear Dawn, Over the summer I'll be talking about unschooling, John Holt, and the explosive growth of homeschooling in a variety of places in the US and abroad. Please post and share this information with anyone you think might be interested. Best wishes, Pat Farenga Co-author, TEACH YOUR OWN: The John Holt Book of Homeschooling WHEN: June 8-11, 2006 WHERE: The LINK Conference, Warner Center Marriott, Woodland Hills, CA CONTACT: link.art@verizon.net for more information. TOPICS: Teach Your Own Seminars: Beginner and Advanced; participant in panel discussions. WHEN: July 1-2, 2006 WHERE: The Alternative Education Resource Organization (AERO), Russell Sage College, Troy, New York CONTACT: isaacgraves@gmail.com. If you just want to come to hear my talk, Issac is offering a special rate for unschoolers. Email Isaac for details. TOPIC: School, living room, library, or club?: Exploring social learning structures for the 21st century. How to "be me and also us" is at the heart of most educational debates, with homeschoolers often considered to be only about "me." This stereotype of homeschoolers often shuts down exploration of a very real issue that homeschoolers have been grappling with for decades: kids are social learners who thrive in various mixtures of independent and group activities. By exploring actual examples of alternatives that people outside of school are creating for children, both for profit and non-profit, virtual and real, in homes and in communities, we can see ways of supporting learning and social interaction that are genuine alternatives to compulsory schooling. The pros and cons of learning co-ops, learning resource centers, and other structures will be explored. WHEN: September 8 - 10, 2006 WHERE: The Home Education Network of Ireland at the International Hostel in Glendalough, Ireland CONTACT: pcronnelly@eircom.net TOPICS: TBA *** If you are a busy person who enjoys short stories, this is for you: First Book Release for Raymond Grant – Flashes in the Pan, Fifty Short Stories for the Impatient Flashes in the Pan, Fifty Short Stories for the Impatient, by Raymond Gogolewski writing as Raymond Grant was released by Double Dragon Publishing in May, 2006. Ann Durand, author of A Promise to Keep, describes Flashes in the Pan as “fun and pithy. It’s perfect for those circumstances when you need something enjoyable for a few minutes to entertain yourself. No one should ever be waiting in a long, slow line without a copy!” Esther Schrader, editor of Twisted Cat Tales, author of Desparate Straits and The Shadow People, writes, “Flashes in the Pan serves up fifty tasty stories for busy readers on the go. Raymond Grant has organized his brief stories into categories to whet your appetite… Grant obviously takes pleasure in writing …There is something here for every reader.” Lea Schizas, founder of the award winning MuseItUp Club and Muse Marquee writes, “Flashes in the Pan has to be the quickest and funniest read I’ve come across in awhile. Grant has demonstrated with his book that there is no need for an extensive amount of wordage in order to delight, to touch, and to transmit an enjoyable experience to a reader. …If you are searching for an antidote for boredom, then Flashes in the Pan is your prescription.” Raymond Grant, a retired Program Manager and Consultant, writes short stories and poetry full-time. He says, “I enjoy the challenge of creating laconic stories that stimulate the imaginations of my readers.” He is a Tri-Studio author and a member of the MuseItUp Club, Zoetrope Virtual Studio, and Publishers and Writers of San Diego from which he was commended as an Outstanding Member in 2005. His poem, The Ship, and his flash story, A Strange Feeling each received a top ten award in the 2005 Preditors & Editors Readers Poll. Samples of his short stories and poetry can be viewed at http://tri-studio.com/RaymondGrant.html. TRI Studio Members include Raymond Grant, Ann Durand, author of A Promise to Keep, a Romantic Suspense published by Double Dragon Publishing at http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com, and Kathe Gogolewski, author of TATO, a middle grade fantasy adventure published by Wings Press at http://www.Wings-press.com Flashes in the Pan, Fifty Short Stories for the Impatient, by Raymond Grant Available now from Double Dragon Publishing at http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/single.asp?ISBN=1-55404-357-3 TRI Studio Authors LLC http://www.TRI-Studio.com Kathe Gogolewski http://www.TRI-Studio.com A PROMISE TO KEEP/romantic suspense by Ann Durand Available now from Double Dragon Publishing at http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/single.asp?isbn=1-55404-215-1&genre= TATO/fantasy adventure for readers ages 8 to 13 Available now from Wings Press at http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/netcart.asp?MerchantID=19895&ProductID=2571398 ************************************************************** GUEST ARTICLE I’m Out of My Mind! Be Back in Five Minutes By Karen Putz It’s 8:30 p.m. and I’m plopped on the couch watching my 2-year old fiddle with the video he’s watching. He has recently learned how to master the buttons on the VCR and is staring at “Baby Songs” in fast forward mode. I sit there mesmerized, because it all looks so familiar. Then I realize why—the video is reminiscent of my current life as a mom. I feel like I’ve been placed on a treadmill and someone keeps turning the speed up and raising the incline. Becoming a mom has been the greatest, most challenging role of my life. It’s a role that I have waited most of my life to take on. Three kids later, I’ve discovered that a few of my brain cells have been slightly fried, yet I can maintain a 32-item grocery list in my head. Not only that, I’ve learned how to cook a four course dinner with a baby on the hip, the four-year-old having a meltdown and the six-year-old signing/chattering non-stop. By all outward appearances, it seems that mommyhood has rearranged my brain circuits so that I occasionally look like I don’t know what I’m doing, but I can multi-task to the envy of any CEO. David, my oldest son, is my most spirited child. I’m always thankful that he was my first, because I had the energy back then to deal with his antics. He’s the original Energizer bunny—keeps going, going, going, long after the two adults in the house have collapsed from exhaustion. He springs out of bed in the morning, with a smile on his face, and asks, “So, where are we going today? What are we doing?” All this, before I’ve even gotten my glasses anywhere near eye level. Heaven forbid a crayon being left out when he was younger. I remember coming out of the bathroom one day, after a mere 3.3 minute disappearance, and discovering the flat paint of my kitchen walls beautifully decorated in various shades of persimmon and periwinkle blue. He coerced his younger sister in the crime, and was delighted with the artwork they created. Needless to say, Mom was not amused. As anyone knows, NOTHING washes off flat paint. Oh well, one of these days, the hubby will actually crank open a can of semi-gloss and solve that problem. As a mom, I’ve learned that one dropped teaspoon of Ovaltine covers approximately 300 square feet of the kitchen floor. It travels a good distance under the stove and refrigerator, requiring spring cleaning to happen sooner than I’d like. But of course, I’m the Queen of Procrastination—I’d much rather play with my kids than clean under the stove. Besides, with three kids in the house, I’d end up spring cleaning every other day. One of my dreams is to someday have enough money so that I can hire a cleaning service and just play, play, play. Maybe it’s time for me to set up www.donate-a-maid.com. About two years ago, I began reading the book Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff. I was maybe halfway through this book and having one of those days where everything went wrong and the kids were on their second wind after dinner. My spirited child was on Hurricane cycle, and I was trying to round them all up for a bath. The next thing I knew, Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff was floating in the water. I let out a blood-curdling scream and fished it out. I started to yell at my son, and then looked down at the title of the book, sat down on the toilet and had one of those exhausted Mommy moments. My son, all of four years old, came up and out of the blue—gave me a strong hug and said, “I love you, Mommy.” Suddenly, the wet book didn’t matter. It’s moments like those that make Mommyhood so endearingly worth it. All the gouged holes in the walls, all the spilled milk, all the I-want-to-tear-my-hair-out days, those simply melt away during Mommy moments.. Now, if only someone could tell me how to adjust the speed on that treadmill… BIO: Karen Putz is a deaf mom to three deaf and hard of hearing children. She works in early intervention and is chairperson of the Illinois Hands & Voices. Karen has published articles in Club Mom, Epinions, and Midwifery Today. ************************************************************** BOOK EXCERPT This section will return in the next issue. ************************************************************** BOOK GIVEAWAY No book giveaway this month. ************************************************************** WHAT'S UP WITH THE BOOK'S WRITERS? The following is news of writers you can read interviews with in Volume One of the MIDNIGHT OIL book. Got this from ALISON LAKE, interviewed in Volume One as Alison Burke: “I am very thrilled to announce that Colonial Rosary: The Spanish and Indian Missions of California by Alison Lake has been printed and is making its way around the country! It is available for purchase at: http://oupress.admsrv.ohio.edu/index.cfmview=book_info&;book_id=0804010846 Thank you for your interest.” ************************************************************** BOOK NEWS What's the latest with the first volume of BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL: How We Survive as Writing Parents? No book news this month. ************************************************************** FREEBIE CORNER Get the free e-book anthology of speculative poetry WHISPERING WORLDS http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Shadowlands/4464/ Sign up for free newsletters at the Small Business Administration site http://web.sba.gov/list/ Create your own banners for FREE at ABC Banners! http://www.abcbanners.com/ ************************************************************** SITES SITED The following are interesting, helpful sites that I’d like to pass on. Poet Express: http://www.poetexpress.com/ Treats for Troops!: http://treatsfortroops.com/ Artnet: http://www.artnet.com/index.asp Fact Monster: http://www.factmonster.com/ Busy Moms Online: http://www.busy-moms-online.com/ ************************************************************** WRITING PARENT TIPS FOR JUNE: TIP: Grab those "writing parent moments" when they strike! Writing parents are known for getting ideas while in the chaos of shuttling kids to school or overseeing playdates. The minute you get an idea to write something, note it on any scrap of paper you can find! Otherwise, the busyness will make you easily forget that idea for your next article or essay. ************************************************************** WANNA SUBMIT TO THIS E-ZINE?? I am always open to submissions for the E-zine!! Feel free to submit any of the following: 1. An article. Any style and length. Articles must relate to writing, being a writing parent or successful business/marketing ideas. If the article is a reprint, you must own the reprint rights. 2. Tips for writing parents. 3. Advertising info, a freebie link, fan mail or, if you are included in the book, news and updates on what’s going on in your writing life! PLEASE NOTE: Payment for submissions has been restored to $5 per article, payable on publication. And, please, be sure to include your bio with submissions. It gets everything moving a little faster. :) ************************************************************** You are subscribed to this E-zine because you requested a subscription or signed yourself up on your own. To unsubscribe, send a blank e-mail to: 59308-unsubscribe@zinester.com |
|
| << April02, 2006 - Burning the Midnight Oil Book Zine -- Issue Twenty |
July01, 2006 - Burning the Midnight Oil Book Zine -- Issue Twenty-Two >> |
|
Burning the Midnight Oil Book Zine Archives Index
|
Subscribe
|
|
|
Archives powered by Zinester's Mailing List Service
Details on Burning the Midnight Oil Book Zine |
Browse for more newsletters at Zinester's Ezine Directory
Managed by Zinester's Mailing List Management |