Working Titlez

Reprinted from the March 28, 2013 posting on Redpengirl’s Blog:

While writing the great American novel is not easy  - if it were, everyone would do it –  getting published is no longer impossible, as there are a variety of options these days, from traditional to boutique to “self” publishing, from hardback to paperback to ebook. (The pros and cons of these options – and the status of publishing in general – is for another discussion.)

The real difficulty is in figuring out how to get an audience for your great American novel among the plethora of titles out there. How do you spread the word? Schedule book signings? Attend book clubs? Build a website – write a blog? Tweet?

Bestselling author John Grisham posted an idea that I think is pretty cool. Granted, he probably doesn’t need any help getting readers, but still, it says that even well-known writers need to spread the word. He posted the following on his Facebook page:

Grisham fans: Post a picture of you in your favorite reading spot with your favorite Grisham book and tag it as “John Grisham” to put it in the Grisham album. Then we’ll shout out our favorite photos.

Wow.  The reader gets acknowledged and “rewarded” for being a fan, Grisham gets free advertising,  it’s simple … and from
the look of the images posted, it’s fun!

I wish I’d thought of it.

Jami Carpenter, aka Redpengirl, is an editor who works with independent writers as well as traditional and boutique publishers, including Stephens Press, Hardway Press, and Trapdoor Books. She is the co-author of Education in the Neon Shadow and hosted the Vegas PBS talk show, Book Club. Jami can be reached through her website: http://www.redpengirl.com/ and followed on her blog: http://redpengirl.wordpress.com/

… or vice versa? A recent article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal by reporter Laura Carroll features an iconic establishment that was actually used for the cover of one of our newest works of fiction, Vegas Knockout. Perhaps author P Moss sat at this very counter when he wrote his stories …

New market may boost long-time Las Vegas locals cafe

Seven days a week, Teddy Pappas wakes up at 2 a.m.

In the early morning hours he prepares the daily soup, meats and sauces for his restaurant, so they’re fresh and ready to go when customers place their orders. At 73, Pappas has owned Tiffany’s Cafe for 10 years, but he’s worked in the restaurant for more than three decades.

On a Wednesday morning the restaurant’s counter slowly filled to capacity, with hungry customers trickling in off Las Vegas Boulevard. But it’s not that way every day.

“The last two or three years, it’s been very bad,” Pappas says of his restaurant’s business.

He cites the economy as the main reason because he says, as tourists tip less in cabs, bars and casinos, the cabdrivers, bartenders and dealers who eat at his place have less discretionary income to spend.

The closing of the adjoining White Cross Drugs in 2012 also has had its effects.

The "real" cafe

“People don’t know if I’m here or not,” Pappas says. “But I’m here to stay.”

His 10-year lease agrees with him.

The adjacent White Cross Drugs closed last March, but White Cross Market is slated to open soon in the same space at 1700 Las Vegas Blvd. South. The latest incarnation is owned by brothers Jimmy and Naseem Shoshani, who also own the Bells Market convenience store across Las Vegas Boulevard and the Bells Market gas station at Owens Avenue and H Street.

Construction on White Cross Market is mostly finished, and the Shoshanis plan to start ordering product within the next few weeks.

Pappas says he’s hopeful the opening of the market will help boost his business.

Tiffany’s has been open for 65 years, catering to a largely local clientele. Pappas never uses any preservatives or additives in his food, which he says is the reason his customers are loyal and why he’s been able to stay afloat through rough times.

Pappas says the restaurant can be extremely busy sometimes, or not busy at all, depending on the day.

At the 1,200-square-foot Tiffany’s Cafe, breakfast is served any time, with classics such as biscuits and country gravy, hotcakes and corned beef hash and eggs on the menu. Dinner offerings include New York steak, chicken-fried steak and trout. A dessert case holds homemade chocolate cake, pie and cheesecake.

On St. Patrick’s Day, Tiffany’s will serve corned beef and cabbage.

The book cover

When White Cross Market opens, its owners have said they plan to stock it like a traditional grocery store. The new store will have a deli with Boar’s Head brand products, fresh produce with items from local growers and a craft beer section.

Jimmy Shoshani says he expects to hire 15 to 20 employees for White Cross.

The Shoshanis bought the nearby Bells Market, which had been Mighty Mart, three years ago.

“We took a place that was hurt, businesswise, and remodeled it,” Shoshani says.

The convenience store sees about 600 to 800 people come by every day, and its owners stock about $60,000 in inventory to keep up with the walk-up customers who patronize Bells.

“We have a good feel for what’s needed in the neighborhood,” Shoshani says.

And a 6,400-square-foot grocery store, Shoshani adds, may be just what the doctor ordered. The new White Cross is taking more time and money to open than anticipated, but Shoshani says it should be worth the effort in the long run.

“So far we’ve spent over $400,000 and we haven’t purchased inventory yet,” he adds.

Pappas got into the restaurant business after coming to the United States from Greece. He started out by washing dishes, then transitioned to cooking. He’s owned a dozen restaurants between New York, Arizona and Nevada during 53 years in the restaurant industry. He came to Las Vegas to open a pizza shop with a friend, but decided it wasn’t for him.

Then he found Tiffany’s, which he affectionately calls “my baby.”

“It’s my life. I love it,” Pappas says.

Reposted from - Sue Campbell, the book designer, February 25, 2013:

Stephens Press continues its venture into audiobooks with the publication of their bestseller, My Brother’s Voice by Stephen Nasser. This true story about a young boy surviving the Holocaust has been a perennial favorite since its first printing in 2003. The book debuted in hardcover, followed by trade paperback and there have been numerous reprintings in the intervening 10 years. It came to Kindles and iPads everywhere in 2012. And in all those venues it continues to sell well, and spread its message.

Mr. Nasser is the dynamo behind the lasting impact his story has had on his many audiences of students and adults, alike. He has spoken to groups upwards of 800 times all around the USA, and the world. He continues to do so almost on a weekly basis. Soon, the story will come alive in a stage play.

When Stephens Press first decided to venture into audiobooks, My Brother’s Voice was high on the list of books that publisher, Carolyn Uber, (and myself as the newly dubbed “audiobooks coordinator”) wanted to hear in audio. We knew that this book would need a special voice, to bring the story to life. So I began the audition process on ACX (audiobook creator’s exchange) a division of Audible.com. I knew that I wanted a younger voice and one that could convey the emotion and drama of this story, but without going overboard toward maudlin or melodramatic.

I listened to many sample “reels,” and chose a few narrators and sent requests for a “sample” reading. Most all of them obliged me with a five minute reading from our book. What struck me was how different the interpretations all were. They were all good, in different ways, but the one I knew I wanted stood out for me right from the start. That one was Maxwell Glick.

Max had exactly the right tone, and a balance of drama and matter-of-factness. His clarity and pronunciation, superb. He also portrayed just the right amount of youthful “naiveté” that I felt suited they young “Pista” Nasser of the story. And, Max is an actor—that was also something I felt we needed for this story—because only an actor would “get” how to convey the emotional component. He does and boy did he ever!

I was thrilled when Max agreed to work with us on narrating this book. We’re lucky enough to have an interview with Mr. Glick, and following that an audio sample of his work on My Brother’s Voice. Please read on for your reward!

Would you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m Maxwell Glick from Long Island, NY. Live in Los Angeles, CA, and I’m an actor!
What inspired you to get into audiobook narration?
As an actor you’re constantly on the lookout for as many opportunities to work as possible. I started doing some voiceover work, and then heard about the website ACX, where authors search for narrators for their books. I love books and I love doing voiceover work, so I thought this was something I could do!

How long have you been doing audiobooks?
Since starting over a year ago, I’ve narrated almost 20 books now. It’s been great.

Do you also do other kinds of voiceover or narration?
I’ve done many voiceovers for all different kinds of things. I’ve done a bunch of commercials, cartoons, and e-learning guides. I’m currently working on a new cartoon where I’ve become the voice of a blue elephant named Bubbles. We’ll be hearing more about that soon once the show really gets underway. (Sue: Max is too modest. He’s also guested TV shows since he came to L.A., including appearances on The Office and, more recently, on Castle.)
What attracted you to My Brother’s Voice?
Stories from the Holocaust are so important for everyone to read and listen to. Holocaust survivors are some of the most brave and inspirational people this world has known. Their stories need to live on forever, and getting the opportunity to tell Stephen’s story was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had.
What was the experience of recording this book like for you?
This was such an incredible experience for me. It definitely was not easy at times. Throughout the recording process, I’d have to pause and regroup because some of the scenes are so emotional that I’d get choked up during the reading. When I finished the recording, I just wanted to tell everyone all about it because it was the best audiobook experience I’ve ever had. I just want the world to hear Stephen’s story. It really was an honor to get to tell it.
Tell us a little bit about the process of narration?
Audiobook narration is a very unique gig! It takes a long time and you need to keep your voice in good shape for the duration of the book.
Where do you record, how long does it take, etc.
It depends on the length of the book how long it takes me to record. I can usually finish it in 1-2 weeks. I record from my home! I have a home studio literally in my walk in closet. I’ve transformed it into a space where I can work!
Do you do any sort of preparation to get yourself ready for it?
My preparation for a book is to read it, and look up anything I don’t know the meaning of. For this, I got to talk to Stephen and actually have him pronounce all of the Hungarian words I didn’t know which made my life much easier going into the book.
Is it just like acting?
Audiobook narration is like acting, but a very different kind of acting. You’re all the voices!

(You can follow more about Max’s career on www.maxwellglick.com and follow his twitter feed @maxwellglick. He also has his own YouTube Channel and is a regular on the popular Lizzy Bennett Diaries on YouTube. What a busy guy!)
Listen to a sample of My Brother’s Voice. The audiobook is available at Audible.com; iTunes; and Amazon.com. We expect the book to soon be available on Amazon’s Whispersync which will let you listen or read on your Kindle device and it will sync your place in both formats! Even if you’re read the book before hearing it narrated by a consummate performer like Max is a totally new experience, and one you won’t want to miss.

Sue Campbell’s novella, “Shadows of Dreams” can be found in Witch Hunt: Of the Blood. She designs award-winning books and jump-off-the-shelf covers from her Colorado studio, assisted by her standard poodles, Pepper and Bella.

The following is reposted from the Redpengirl’s blog of February 23, 2013:

~

Good writing doesn’t always have to be serious!

A paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a phrase or sentence surprises the reader (or listener) to rethink the beginning of the phrase/sentence. It can be used for humorous or dramatic effect.  Stand-up comedians call ‘em punchlines, political pundits know them as zingers, mystery writers might use them for a “twist.”

Regardless, they keep our readers (or listeners) on their toes. A  few examples …

• Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
• Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.
• There’s a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can’t get away.
• Always borrow money from a pessimist. He won’t expect it back.
• The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas!
• Why do Americans choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America?
• I didn’t say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.
• The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it’s still on the list.
• If I agreed with you, we’d both be wrong.

Got any of your own?

Jami Carpenter is an editor who works with independent writers as well as traditional and boutique publishers, including Stephens Press, Hardway Press, and Trapdoor Books. She is the co-author of Education in the Neon Shadow and hosted the Vegas PBS talk show, Book Club. Jami can be reached through her website: http://www.redpengirl.com/ and followed on her blog: http://redpengirl.wordpress.com/

Reprinted from the Redpengirl’s February 3, 2013 Blog:

Writers often ask how long their novel should be … if there is a magic number of words or pages -

Unfortunately, there is no set “rule”; a classic work of literature can run an astounding 1424 pages (War and Peace)  or can be told in 96 pages (The Old Man and the Sea). So it’s not the page – or word – count that counts. 

What really matters is that the words chosen tell the story the writer wants to tell. I ran across an exercise a while ago that helps us strip away all the excess verbiage and get to the heart of our stories. The goal is to tell a story in six words – no more, no less.

A great example is:“For Sale. Baby shoes. Never worn.” (Often attributed to Hemingway, this most likely originated from a  a 1921 newspaper column in which Roy K. Moulton reprinted a note from “Jerry” about  an ad in the BrooklynHome Talk that read, “Baby carriage for sale, never used.”)

But that’s beside the point. The concept – six words and only six words – is not as easy as it sounds, and much more telling than you might think. Here is another one that came out of one of my writing workshops: Fat. Thin. Fat. Thin. Fat. Thin.

Your turn.

Jami Carpenter is an editor who works with independent writers as well as traditional and boutique publishers, including Stephens Press, Hardway Press, and Trapdoor Books. She is the co-author of Education in the Neon Shadow and hosted the Vegas PBS talk show, Book Club. Jami can be reached through her website: http://www.redpengirl.com/ and followed on her blog: http://redpengirl.wordpress.com/

You’ve written the great American novel and have sent it off to one publisher after another, getting rejection letters again and again. Well … you’re in good company.

From guest blogger Jami Carpenter (aka Redpengirl):

The following list of works (from ReadnSurf.com) just might make you feel better:

1. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Alfred A. Knopf Inc. turned down the English-language rights to a Dutch manuscript in 1950 after receiving a particularly harsh reader’s report. The work was “very dull,” the reader insisted, “a dreary record of typical family bickering, petty annoyances and adolescent emotions.” Sales would be small because the main characters were neither familiar to Americans nor especially appealing. Knopf wasn’t alone. The Diary of a Young Girl was rejected by 15 others before Doubleday published it in 1952. More than 30 million copies are currently in print, making it one of the best-selling books in history.

2. Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach
When he sent out the story, Bach received 18 rejection letters. Nobody thought a story about a seagull that flew not for survival but for the joy of flying itself would have an audience. Macmillan Publishers finally picked up Jonathan Livingston Seagull in around 1972, and that year the book sold more than a million copies. The book contained fewer than 10,000 words, yet it broke all hardcover sales records since Gone with the Wind.

3. Chicken Soup for the Soul by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
This book was turned down 33 consecutive times. Publishers claimed that “anthologies don’t sell” and the book was “too positive.” Total number of rejections? 140. Then, in 1993, the president of Health Communications, a small publication that was going bankrupt at the time, took a chance on the collection of poems, stories, and tidbits of encouragement. Today, the 65-title series has sold more than 80 million copies in 37 languages.

4. Notes to Myself by Hugh Prather
Hugh Prather sent novels, stories, articles, and poems to publishers but was repeatedly rejected. Finally, he sent in a collection of his thoughts, which was initially accepted by a small publishing house who didn’t even have a wide distribution reach. But slowly, through word-of-mouth publicity, it became a bestseller.

5. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig
This book was rejected by a record 121 publishers before being published. It has sold millions of copies in twenty-seven languages and still continues its winning march. The editor who finally published Pirsig’s book said, “It forced me to decide what I was in publishing for.”

6. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
The first title of Catch-22 was Catch-18, but Simon and Schuster planned to publish it during the same season that Doubleday was bringing out Mila 18 by Leon Uris. When Doubleday complained, Joseph Heller chose ‘22,’ because Simon and Schuster was the twenty-secondnd publisher to read it. Catch-22 has sold more than 10 million copies.

7. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
The book was rejected by twelve publishers, before a young editor, Archibald Ogden, at the Bobbs-Merrill Company publishing house wired to the head office, “If this is not the book for you, then I am not the editor for you.” Despite generally negative reviews initially from the contemporary media, the book gained a following by word of mouth and gained a foothold.

8. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Due to its subject matter, Vladimir Nabokov was unable to find an American publisher for Lolita.  First published in 1955, it was a runaway bestseller, the first book since Gone with the Wind to sell 100,000 copies in the first three weeks of publication. Today, it is considered as one of the finest novels written in the 20th century and in 1998, it was named the fourth greatest English language novel of the 20th century.

9. Books for Children by Dr. Seuss
Suess’ first book And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street was rejected 27 times before being published by Vanguard Press. The sales of Dr. Seuss’ children’s books have soared to more than 100 million now.

10. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
This international bestseller was first published in 1988 and is the most famous work of author Paulo Coelho. It sold only 800 or so copies in its first release and was dropped by its first publisher as a result. It has now been translated into more than 60 languages, and has sold more than 75 million copies in more than 150 countries, and is one of the best-selling books in history.

We love when our books get great reviews! One of our CityLife books, Blue Vegas, gets the thumbs up from The Nevada Review …

From The Nevada Review Vol. 4 Fall 2012 No.2
Caleb Cage

Not surprisingly, Las Vegas author P Moss’s collection of short fictions, Blue Vegas, is at least in part about people who live sad lives in Nevada’s famous southern city. Men and women from all walks of life who were born there or just settled, surviving away from the glamour, living lives that are never quite what they wanted them to be. The characters of Blue Vegas represent a lot of the reality of the city, the reality that many of the area’s native and transplanted authors have been trying to capture in recent works.

There is a refrain that is repeated throughout the subtext of Blue Vegas, though never quite written explicitly. It is that common phrase that “life is not fair.” While some may say this to mean that one has to accept the good with the bad, Moss seems to write it with an indignant sense of injustice. Life isn’t fair, you can read between the lines, but it should be. Or at least we should acknowledge that fact when we are in a position to judge others, their shortcomings, or their trials.

“Performance Art” tells the story of a convicted murderer who is executed in front of an electrified Las Vegas crowd that cannot understand how ignored he was his whole life. “Snatched” tells of Ben, who has waited for the police to help him when he needed them most, but when he is wrongly arrested, they seem to have more than enough resources at their disposal. And there is Danny in the story “Peace” who contemplates how his life might have been different if he had gone to college moments after being robbed and moments before being killed.

There are many more such examples in Blue Vegas, a short book with too many stories to list here – seventeen in all. In them, he captures Vegas in the same light from many angles. The stories show Vegas as a place where chance brings equal parts hope and guaranteed failure. There is the father who is a successful businessman and gambling addict who has to borrow money from his daughter at the strip club where she dances in order to cover his debts. There is the retired bookie who can’t scrape a meager amount of money to participate in a sure thing scheme that would bring him back into the good life. And there is the past-her-prime showgirl who holds onto her old stories and her faith to help her make it through the lonely nights.

These stories and others capture a gritty side of Las Vegas, which is no doubt Moss’s point. As a writer, gambler, bar owner in Las Vegas, he has an intimate knowledge of many of the things he writes – most of which revolves around gambling, glamour, money, sex trades, and some of the mysteries that tie them together. Set against the backdrop of Las Vegas, many of these themes are reasonably portrayed and believable, often avoiding the clichés that seem to accompany the city’s literature.

The best stories in Blue Vegas – “Performance Art,” “Career Moves,” and “Peace” – are great because of the mystery that Moss builds early on. Nearly every story has an opening line that captures the scene and the reader’s imagination and goes a long way towards building this mystery. “Danny’s shirt was damp with sweat as he sat in a creaky straw-bottom chair, counting to see who had the most chips in a hanging velvet tapestry of Jesus shooting craps with Elvis,” for example.

All in all, this award-winning book represents aspects of Las Vegas that are seldom covered in mainstream literature. Moss is an able storyteller with extensive knowledge of the culture he examines. Blue Vegas is an interesting read, and a worthwhile contribution to the literature of Las Vegas.

… e-Books!

Did you know that Stephens Press doesn’t just print traditional printed books? Now you can enjoy many of our titles – and many more to come – on that new e-Reader that Santa brought you for Christmas!

From biographies to fiction to memoirs to …. well, you’ll just have to see for yourself! Click here for all our titles.

You were good this year, weren’t you?

By Guest Blogger Jami Carpenter, aka Redpengirl

For an author, there is probably no greater compliment than having someone read your book – and then, without asking or paying for it – having it reviewed.

Even better, I believe, is a review that is thoughtful and honest, critical as well as complimentary.

Such is the case with the most recent issue of The Nevada Review, which features reviews of six Stephens Press books – one, in fact, that I was lucky enough to edit – and whose co-editors, Caleb S. Cage and Joe McCoy, acknowledge that the Stephens Press publishing house is “… a press that we believe should get more statewide attention.”

The reviews will be available in their entirety on each book’s website shortly, but here’s a sneak peek:

From The Nevada Review – Vol. 4 Fall 2012 No.2

Blue Vegas: Stories
“All in all, this award-winning book represents aspects of Las Vegas that are seldom covered in mainstream literature.”

Fade, Sag, Crumble: Ten Las Vegas Writers Confront Decay
“Each author clearly sees decay in her or his own way, through his or her own narrative, but there is plenty of overlap and tension to make the collection interesting as well.”

Helen J. Stewart: First Lady of Las Vegas
“… a carefully researched, meticulously documented, and imminently readable tribute to Helen J. Stewart …”

High Heels and Headdresses: Memoir of a Vintage Vegas Showgirl
“She gathers memories like she is herding cats—the little varmints keep runnin’ every which way. Don’t try to keep a chronology; your head will spin, but enjoy the ride.”

The Perpetual Engine of Hope: Short Stories Inspired by Iconic Las Vegas Photographs
“A unique aspect … is that they are a catalyst for creating more works set in Vegas, as well as for bringing forth more writers that we may have never read together otherwise.”

Vegas Rag Doll: A True Story of Terror and Survival as the Wife of a Mob Hitman
“It is an unsettling and terrifying story that leaves more questions than answers…
will leave you uneasy and watchful.”
Jami Carpenter is an editor who works with independent writers as well as traditional and boutique publishers, including Stephens Press, Hardway Press, and Trapdoor Books. She is the co-author of Education in the Neon Shadow and hosted the Vegas PBS talk show, Book Club. Jami can be reached through her website: http://www.redpengirl.com/ and followed on her blog: http://redpengirl.wordpress.com/

When I was seven, I asked Santa Claus for a typewriter. A REAL typewriter, not a toy — on that point, I was very specific.

I remember feeling sure I needed a typewriter. I had no plan as to what I’d do with it. Oh, I’d “play secretary” and type letters or maybe write stories. Somehow, I had the notion, if I had a typewriter, that the words would just flow, unlike the laborious process of penciling block letters on lined newsprint or the faux-cursive I was experimenting with (real handwriting was not in the curriculum until the third grade).

My parents repeatedly asked me if a typewriter was what I REALLY wanted? I matter-of-factly assured them a typewriter was EXACTLY what I wanted and while Santa more commonly brought toys to good little boys and girls, I was confident he’d deliver on my request and was pretty sure I was on the “good” list.

Christmas morning, I awakened first. Tiptoeing down the hallway, my excitement bursting, I rounded the corner and there, under the tree, it sat. Atop its own black leather case was a REAL typewriter. Years later, I would learn that it was a military surplus training typewriter. The keys were different colors to teach learning typists which fingers to use. It also typed only capital letters. My dad paid $5 for it. He’d had quite a challenge finding an affordable real typewriter, just days before Christmas.

I sank to my knees and ran my fingers over the machine, holding my breath. A sheet of paper protruded. MERRY CHRISTMAS, CAROLYN. ENJOY YOUR TYPEWRITER. LOVE, SANTA. This was more than I could keep to myself. Rushing back down the hall, I shouted out, “Santa brought me a typewriter AND HE WROTE ME A LETTER!”

Later that morning, after presents had been opened, pictures taken and breakfast eaten, Mom showed me how to roll a fresh sheet in my beloved typewriter and I was ready to begin. I stared at the white sheet of paper. Frozen. I could not think of a single thing to type.

Writer’s block at seven.