Friday, December 30, 2011

Two important articles: Marketing Mistakes and Twitter Tips

Authors:

One of my favorite book marketing newsletters that I receive is from Book Marketing Expert. Their newsletter from December 22 titled “The Best of Book Marketing Expert 2011, Part 1” had two article links that I thought were important to share:

1. Top 5 Marketing Mistakes Authors Make, by Shennandoah Diaz

Short and to the point, this article might be a wake up call to new authors. To other authors in the publicity trenches, it should make perfect sense. Yes, we require you to market your book. Authors who understand this, and “help us help them” are the ones who stay on our radar and the ones whose books sell the best.

and

2. Strategic tweeting for authors, by Alan Rinzler

If you have been ignoring Twitter, now’s the time for a 2012 change. Big and small publishers expect their authors to be using social networking for book promotion, Twitter included. There is a helpful list of Twitter tips here. See also my Part 1 and Part 2 posts on the subject.

A Happy New Year to You All.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Playing with the Enemy - 99 cent eBook!

For the next two weeks only (December 24 - January 5) Playing with the Enemy: A Baseball Prodigy, a World at War, and a Field of Broken Dreams by Gary W. Moore will be available for download on your Kindle for ONLY 99 CENTS! View the official ad here.

Act now before the promotion ends. Don't forget to forward this offer to your friends and family, or treat them to this great read!

Playing with the Enemy: A Baseball Prodigy, a World at War, and a Field of Broken Dreams
by Gary W. Moore

Inspired by true events, Playing with the Enemy is the riveting story of a depression-era youth and his brush with destiny. Author Gary Moore, Gene's son, did not learn of his father's remarkable odyssey through World War II and the hardships of minor league baseball until the day before Gene's death. Read more.

Click here to get your copy today.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

New Book ‘National Guard 101’ Debuts for National Guard’s Birthday

PRESS RELEASE: New Book ‘National Guard 101’ Debuts for National Guard’s Birthday


National Guard 101: A Handbook for Spouses
By Mary Corbett (Savas Beatie, 2011)


On December 13, the National Guard will celebrate 375 years of protecting our country. What better way to celebrate than with the release of a book detailing this unique group?

When author Mary Corbett’s husband, a National Guard member, deployed in 2002, she spent a lot of time searching the internet looking for information to help her understand the role of a Guard spouse.

Finding that much of the information available was targeted toward active-duty spouses who lived on military bases with a completely different lifestyle, Corbett saw a need for a book, and went about writing it.

“Although I had family members who had served in the military, I had zero experience with military protocol or culture. The only thing I knew about the National Guard, at that time, was ‘one weekend a month, two weeks in the summer,’” recalls Corbett. “That perception changed for me—and most Guard spouses—immediately after 9/11. For the first time, I realized I was a ‘real’ military wife.”

National Guard 101: A Handbook for Spouses is a book written specifically for the National Guard audience. Corbett’s book covers a broad range of topics, from practical knowledge about the history of the National Guard and understanding rank to softer subjects like social life in the Guard and family programs.

National Guard Association of the United States President MG Gus L. Hargett Jr. (Ret.) said, "National Guard 101 is more than just a handbook for spouses. It's a go-to guide for anyone new to the Guard's portion of the profession of arms, even those in uniform."

Corbett is ready to get the book into the hands of the 162,000 National Guard spouses living in 2,700 civilian communities across the United States and its territories.

“While the Army takes care of Soldiers during deployments and provides resources such as Family Readiness Groups and Family Assistance Centers to connect families with military resources, it is really up to individual families to secure the day-to-day, practical, local support they need,” Corbett says. “I hope my book will do just that.”



About Author Mary Corbett

Mary Corbett is a professional writer and National Guard wife. She has appeared on The Today Show, Fox News Channel, local television affiliates, and nationally syndicated radio. Her first book, The List: 7 Ways to Tell if He’s Going to Marry You in 30 Days or Less was published in 2005. Corbett lives in Alpharetta, Georgia, with her husband Major Jon Roscoe, ARNG, their children Holly and William, and their dog Rumsfeld.

Did You Know?

- The National Guard is the oldest component of the U.S. military. It began in Massachusetts when it was established that able-bodied men between the ages of 16-60 were required to join the militia.

- The Army Guard and Army Reserves make up more than half of the total Army.

- Since 9/11, virtually every unit of the National Guard—a force the size of the entire active Army—has served on active duty for one or more of the deployments at home or abroad. The last time that the entire National Guard had been mobilized was for World War II.

- There are 3,000 National Guard armories in the U.S.

- Currently, there are nearly 50,000 Guardsman serving on active duty in support of the Global War on Terrorism.


National Guard 101: A Handbook for Spouses
By Mary Corbett
List $18.95
ISBN: 978-1-611210-68-2
Published November 2011 by Savas Beatie LLC
Available at bookstores nationwide and online.

For more information, visit www.marycorbett.com

Media review copies, ebook, high resolution photographs and interviews available upon request. Contact: Sarah Keeney, 916-941-6896, sarahs@savasbeatie.com.


For more information, visit Savas Beatie or the National Guard 101 page.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Robert J. Wynstra Wins the 2011 Bachelder-Coddington Literary Award for The Rashness of That Hour

PRESS RELEASE: The Rashness of That Hour by author Robert J. Wynstra was selected as the 2011 winner of the Bachelder-Coddington Literary Award for the most original outstanding work on the Gettysburg Campaign.

The Rashness of That Hour: Politics, Gettysburg, and the Downfall of Confederate Brigadier General
Alfred Iverson
By Robert J. Wynstra (Savas Beatie, 2010)


The Bachelder-Coddington Literary Award is presented annually by the Robert E. Lee Civil War Round Table of Central New Jersey to the most original outstanding work on the Gettysburg Campaign.

"Robert Wynstra's seminal The Rashness of That Hour is well deserving of this prestigious award, and we are pleased that his efforts are being recognized by the historical community," explained Managing Director Theodore P. Savas, "We are looking forward to publishing Robert's future books."

The Rashness of That Hour is a deeply-researched brigade and battle history about the defeat of Iverson's brigade at Gettysburg on Day 1, one of the most popular topics Gettysburg students and readers discuss.

Drawing on a wealth of newly discovered and previously unpublished sources, the book explores the story behind one of the Civil War’s most notorious blunders. An in-depth analysis of the events at Gettysburg is balanced with an insider’s examination of a brigade that was in turmoil long before its final rendezvous with its July 1, 1863 destiny.

"I am pleased and gratified to receive such a prestigious award. I would like to thank the award committee and the Robert E. Lee Civil War Round Table for selecting my book. Best of all is the confirmation that others find the story behind the demise of Alfred Iverson just as fascinating and informative as I do,” said Robert J. Wynstra.

Organized in 1990, the Robert E. Lee Civil War Round Table is dedicated to the study, preservation, and discussion of the events and people that were part of this period in our nation's history. As the largest Round Table in New Jersey, the 200 members are presented with interesting and informative presentations and tours of the sites at which the war's events took place.

The Rashness of That Hour also recently won the 2010 Dr. James I. Robertson Literary Prize for Confederate History.


About Author Robert J. Wynstra

Robert J. Wynstra recently retired as a senior writer for the News and Public Affairs Office in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history and a master’s degree in journalism, all from the University of Illinois.

Rob has been researching Alfred Iverson’s role in the Civil War for more than ten years. He is finishing work on a study of Robert Rodes’ Division in the Gettysburg Campaign.


The Rashness of That Hour: Politics, Gettysburg, and the Downfall of Confederate Brigadier General Alfred Iverson

By Robert J. Wynstra

List $32.95
ISBN: 978-1-932714-88-3
Published September 2010 by Savas Beatie LLC

Available at bookstores nationwide and online.

For more information, visit Savas Beatie or the The Rashness of That Hour page.