Wow Buzz
February 2007 
 WOW! Women On Writing
 Issue #6: Small Presses Create Buzz
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Greetings!

Love is in the air! And the presses are buzzing...

This issue we take a close look at small presses and find out just what makes them who they are. A few words come to mind: independent, close-knit, spirited, cozy, and supportive. Among the many things that they share are a love for their authors as individuals and writers. We broke it down for you in an easy-to-understand definition that you can read on the Editor’s Desk, and we’ve included a Small Press Hot List, just for you writers.

A Warm "Welcome to the WOW! family," goes out to new freelancers: Misti Sandefur, Allie Boniface, Diana J. Ewing, Carolyn Howard-Johnson, as well as C. Hope Clark whose column is officially part of our monthly issue. Great job ladies! Check out there articles below.

Last month to enter the flash fiction contest!

Don't wait until the last minute. We can't stress this enough. Check out the Contest Page for details, and read what our contestants had to say on the WOW BLOG. We interviewed the top 10 finalists of the Fall 2006 contest, and each one of these ladies has something interesting to share. Learning about their motivations behind their stories can be as interesting as reading the stories themselves. Pick up some good tips from these creative writers!

Want to be published on WOW? Share your inspiration for writing:

Scroll down to the bottom of the newsletter for details.

Now, onto the issue. Enjoy!

 Honna Swenson of Fairwood Press
 Versatile, Focused & Dedicated

Honna Swenson Just how much can a woman pack into her diversified life and still be creative? Honna Swenson, publisher of Fairwood Press with her husband, leads an industrious life and helps us see how we can juggle being a mom, a writer, a publisher... and still find time to dribble a soccer ball!

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 Author Cherie Rohn takes on a THIEF!
 and comes up ACES

Cherie Rohn Cherie didn’t know what she was getting into when she first met William ‘Slick’ Hanner, an ex-con artist with mob ties, but quickly found out that she had to have the voice of a man, learn how to write, and get her facts straight.

Cherie shares her inspiring story of how she made her way from scratch to publication! Plus, she gives us her tips on editing, research, and book promotion; and why she ultimately went with a small press.

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 Storyteller Uses a Different Pen
 Mona Shafer Edwards

Mona Shafer Edwards What do 20/20, A&E Biography, ABC, CNN, Entertainment Tonight, as well as numerous publications, including Entertainment Weekly, Los Angeles Times, and Newsweek have in common? They have all featured the illustrations of Mona Shafer-Edwards, a courtroom artist. Meet the woman who captured the O.J. trial, Courtney Love, Winona Ryder and much more!

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 Carole Stuart of Barricade Books
 20 Questions Column

Carole and Lyle Stuart Thinking outside the box? Carole Stuart was married to a man who proudly called himself a “First Amendment fanatic,” and is the publisher of the controversial Indie press, Barricade Books. Learn why no one needs the First Amendment to write about how cute newborn babies are or to publish a recipe for strawberry shortcake, but they might need it to publish the material that Barricade is known for. Meet Carole Stuart, a publishing legend, and learn just what makes Barricade Books so special!

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 Character Trouble? Try Man's Best Friend
 Freelancer's Corner by Allie Boniface

Allie Boniface Allie Boniface knows the golden rule of showing, not telling. Here, Allie shares her new technique for getting those characters to pop off the page by introducing a furry, feathered, or scaled friend! This innovative solution to building character traits and moving the plot forward is one not to miss.

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 Your Art's Commission Wants You!
 C. Hope Clark's Funds for Writers

C. Hope Clark Did you know that the government has an agency in every state that provides money for the arts? C. Hope Clark does! And she’s here to show you how to find out about these resources and what you need to do to get those greenbacks.

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 How To Keep Track of Your Research
 By Misti Sandefur

How 2 Misti Sandefur shares with us her simple method for keeping track of research, and provides pre-made downloadable templates for WOW! readers! This is an invaluable article for any writer who needs to show her editor what she has done. The more organized you are, the more professional you will be. Included with Misti's article are word (.doc) templates for:
  • Interviews
  • Mileage
  • Research
  • Phone Calls
She's created these to make it easier for you, so if you happen to use one and find it valuable, be sure to let Misti know by dropping her a kind e-mail. (Scroll down to the bottom of her article and visit her site)

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 Inspiration: Life Begins at Sixty
 By Carolyn Howard-Johnson

Carolyn Howard-Johnson Carolyn Howard-Johnson grew up in a time where women put their careers on the back burner. It wasn’t until later on in life, after her children had grown up, that she realized she needed to write. Carolyn, an award-winning author, is proof that it is never too late to start or revive a dream! She's an inspiration to women of all ages!

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 Getting into HOT WATER with Kathryn Jordan
 By Diana J. Ewing

Kathryn Jordan Diana J. Ewing reviews the Orange County Writers Meetup Group event with guest speaker Kathryn Jordan, author of the steamy new book Hot Water. As you can see from the photo, Kathryn is a blast! And Diana captures Kathryn's spirit in this fun and informative article. Learn about Kathryn's innovative marketing techniques, and find out why Hot Water is a must-read.

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 Markets: Get Published in 2007!
 Magazines that Focus on the Craft of Writing

Magazine Markets Guide This month we bring you something a little different! We have magazine markets courtesy of Writer's Insitute Publications. They put out one of the most comprehensive guides I've ever read, and we're getting a sneak preview of their latest guide: The Best of the Magazine Markets for Writers 2007.

Here's a sample listing:

INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER ONLINE

1129 Woodmere Avenue, Suite B
Traverse City, MI 49686

Editor: Jim Barnes

Description and Interests
Published monthly, this free e-zine provides marketing advice for independent authors and publishers. Its articles focus on the marketing, promotion, and production of independently published books and cover the technical aspects of publishing. It also contains profiles of successful authors and publishers. Hits per month: 7,500.

Website: www.independentpublisher.com

Freelance Potential
10% written by non-staff writers. Publishes 5 freelance submissions yearly; 50% by authors who are new to the magazine, 5% by experts. Receives 2 queries monthly.

Submissions & Payment
Sample copy and guidelines available at website. Query with synopsis. Accepts email queries to jimb@bookpublishing.com. Responds in 2 weeks. Electronic rights. Articles, 1,000-3,000; $40-$100 Kill fee, 10%. Pays on publication.

If you're a freelancer, this guide is for you. It's a hefty 750 pages, and features 1,730 of the best magazine markets. That means, these listings were hand-picked because of their openness to new writers and their payments to freelancers.

Check out our Markets Page for more listings...

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 Organize and Revitalize!
 Must-Haves

Organize With the New Year behind us and Spring on its way, it’s time to organize your life, take care of your soul, and clean your closet! Here's some of our picks to help you do just that.

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 Articles by Christina Katz
 Fun & informative articles for writers

Christina Katz Christina Katz is the author of Writer Mama, How To Raise A Writing Career Alongside Your Kids (February, 2007, Writer's Digest Books). She's been doing just that for the past five years and has published over 200 articles in magazines, newspapers, and online publications. She teaches eight nonfiction-writing classes a year and is the publisher and editor of the monthly zine, Writers on the Rise, voted WD's 101 best sites for writers. Check out her fabulous and informative articles in our ARTICLES SECTION.

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Call for Submissions:

Join the fun! Let your opinion be heard, and get your byline out there. We asked you last month, but maybe you weren't feeling inspired at the time? If you do find yourself inspired, your writing will be featured in the March issue's "Inspiration" column, all about you.

Simply write a paragraph or two (up to 500 words) about something that inspires you to write. It could be a book that you've read, a coffee cup with a funny saying, a troll doll with purple hair, a walk in the park, rollerskating, or stick-pinning a voodoo doll... whatever it is, we want to hear about it!

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: FEBRUARY 24TH

Please send us:

  • A paragraph or two (up to 500 words) on your writing inspiration
  • Attach as a word (.doc) file or type in the body of your e-mail
  • Send us a picture of your muse/inspiration, you, or both
  • Attach your Bio
  • E-mail us before February 24, 2007
  • See your work in lights, coming this March!
Mail to: editors@wow-womenonwriting.com

The top entries will be published on WOW! Please include all information/links etc. that you'd like to promote.

We hope you enjoy reading this issue. As always, we're open to feedback, letters, and suggestions. Drop us a line, we'd love to hear from you! Together, we'll acheive all of our writing goals.

Warmly,


Angela & Beryl
Editors of WOW! Women On Writing

 
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Save 25%

That's right! For a limited time you can save 25% on any purchase at the WOW! Boutique. We're making way for more inventory, so shop now before it's too late!

Enter the code: love4writing upon checkout to redeem your savings. Pass it along to a friend, but hurry for it expires March 5, 2007.
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Offer Expires: March 5, 2007
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