Quinn's Word for Word

VIDEO: The Why, What & How

2012-01-15T20:53:00.000-08:00

According to the Digital Buzz Video Blog, YouTube is serving a billion videos a day! The average Internet user watches 182 videos a month. Join us this Tuesday for a free program on using VIDEO IN YOUR MARKETING.
HAPPY 2012! Robin Quinn www.writingandediting.biz

JANUARY JOINT MEETING
of Author’s Corner & Made in the Valley
THIS TUESDAY'S PROGRAM IS ON USING VIDEO IN YOUR MARKETING

Host: GAIL LARA

Location: VEDC, 5121 Van Nuys Blvd., 3rd floor conference room, Van Nuys, CA 91403. Park under the building or on the street (No parking at Burger King; they tow!)

When: Tuesday, January 17th

Time: Networking begins at 6:30 pm. Program runs from 7:00-9:00 pm.

Need to get up to speed with video? Come to this panel to learn why video is becoming so popular. We’ll discuss what video to create and how to use it as a marketing tool. Program includes sample videos.

Moderator/Producer: ROBIN QUINN, Book Coach/Editor/Writer, www.WritingandEditing.Biz

PANELISTS:

RICHARD ALLEN, Videographer, Partner of the digital production company, Hit Me with Your Best Shot
ANITA REINSMA, Producer, Partner of the digital production company, Hit Me with Your Best Shot, Author of Stop Waiting for Prince Charming
RUTH FRECHMAN, Registered Dietitian, Spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, Author of the new book The Food Is My Friend Diet
JUDITH CASSIS, “Bounce Back” Coach, Writing Instructor, and Publisher of Tidbits of Santa Clarita Valley

To RSVP, call Made in the Valley at 818-359-2692
or email lara.unlimitedllc@verizon.net.

ADMISSION IS FREE!

Getting Out There!

2011-11-06T20:27:00.000-08:00

It's a busy time of year, with lots of events before we hit the holidays.

Recently saw client Julie Newmar on a Panel, "From Actress to Author," at the West Hollywood Book Fair. I loved watching how animated Julie is when she presents and talks about her new book, "The Conscious Catwoman Explains Life on Earth."

Here I am (a little sunburned) with Julie after the book-signing at the WEHO Fair.

Julie appears at Vroman's in Pasadena next Saturday at 5 PM. Her event received excellent advance coverage today in the Star News. Visit http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_19258433 to learn more about this famous Catwoman and her book.

Two of my clients (Anita Reinsma / "Stop Waiting for Prince Charming, He's Already Married to Bob") and Lauren Gale ("Confessions of a Recovering Drama Queen") received Irwin Awards on October 20th. In the picture below, I am posing with the two authors like a proud mama just before the Book Publicists of S. California dinner and awards ceremony.

Yesterday, up in Camarillo, I made the rounds at the Ventura County Book & Authors Fair. Met many interesting authors, including Mickey Jones, who wrote "That Would Be Me," his memoir of life on the road as a drummer. Mickey shared with me that when he performed with Trini Lopez, both the then-unknown groups the Beatles and the Rolling Stones acted as warm-up bands for Trini. Author Anita Reinsma spoke at the Fair Saturday on promoting your book, chatting a bit her videos on YouTube. Here she is at her booth with her niece, who's in the state visiting from the Netherlands.

As they say, a rolling stone gathers no moss! If you've got a book, get out there and promote!

Til next time,

Robin Quinn
Editor/Writer/Book Coach
www.writingandediting.biz

March 15th Panel - The Ebook Option

2011-03-08T21:01:00.000-08:00

When: Tuesday, March 15th 2011
Networking begins at 6:30pm.
Program: 7:00-9:00 pm
Cost: FREE

THE E-BOOK OPTION
This is a joint meeting of Author’s Corner & Made in the Valley!

Ebooks are hot! Last July, Amazon announced that its ebook sales for its Kindle ereader had surpassed its hardcover sales for the 1st time ever! Authors and professionals are realizing that producing an ebook is a painless way to create an additional revenue stream. Learn the whys, hows, whats and wheres of ebooks at our March meeting. Topics include what is new at Barnes & Noble on the ebook front. This panel is too valuable to miss!

Note: Barnes & Noble’s Nook will be on display and for sale at this event.

Moderator: Robin Quinn, Book Coach/Editor/BookWriter, www.WritingandEditing.Biz

Panelists

Ellen Violette, The eBook Coach, www.TheEbookCoach.com

Alex Zabala, Merchandise Manager and Digital Sales Specialist, Barnes & Noble

Linnaea Mallette, Author – Read My Lips Tips for Success, Radio Show Host, Professional Speaker, http://ReadMyLipsTips.com/

Helaine Z. Harris, MA, MFT, Therapist, Teacher, Author – Are You In Love with a Vampire? Healing the Relationship Drain Game, plus The Feminine Warrior: A Guide to Balancing Love and Power, http://www.hzharris.com/

Zoë Archer, Award-winning Romance Author – The Blades of the Rose series, plus new sci-fi romance novel Collision Course (start of new series) to be released this April by Carina Press, the e-only imprint of Harlequin, http://www.zoearcherbooks.com/

RSVP for this event today and invite a friend:
@ info@madeinthevalley.net

Location: Valley Economic Development Center (VEDC)
5121 Van Nuys Blvd
3rd Floor Conference Room
Van Nuys
CA, 91403

** Park under the building or on the street but not in Burger King; they tow! **

July 27th - Options in Book Publishing

2010-06-24T08:22:00.000-07:00

Authors’ Corner* July Program
sponsored by Made in the Valley

Options in Book Publishing:
If you’re thinking about becoming an author,
this program is for you!
Tuesday, July 27, 6 pm to 8 pm.
Cost: FREE! Just show up!

Have you ever thought about becoming an author or are you finishing your manuscript now? A lot has changed in the book publishing world, giving you more options than ever. Come hear a panel of authors discuss the publishing routes they chose and why. We’ll discuss traditional book publishing and the many alternatives for self-published authors, from printing with an offset printer, Print-on-Demand, Internet publishing companies such as Lulu, and eBooks. Today, there is definitely more than one way!

Our panelists will include:
Marilyn Anderson, author of Never Kiss a Frog
Susan Moss, author of Keep Your Breasts! and Survive Cancer!
Marianne Emma Jeff, author of 100 Days of 100%

Book coach/editor Robin Quinn (www.writingandediting.biz), a veteran who has worked in book publishing for over 20 years, will moderate.

Location: The Valley Economic Development Center, 5121 Van Nuys Blvd., 3rd floor conference room,
Van Nuys, CA 91403. Parking under building and on street.

*Authors’ Corner is a new ongoing series of panels on book publishing!

More info: Write to quinnrobin@aol.com.

Thinking of Trying the Raw Foods Lifestyle? Figure Skating Star Debbie Merrill Leads the Way in Revised Edition of Her New Book

2010-06-09T08:54:00.000-07:00

by Robin Quinn

Note: This is the first of a series of blogs on New & Noteworthy books.

Merrillism: “Raw living food is extraordinarily ordinary.”
~ Debbie Merrill

Vibrant and joyful … These are words that truly captured the energy of skating fitness expert Debbie Merrill, as I watched her mingle. The event was a recent book-signing/fundraiser at the 5th Street Whole Foods in Santa Monica. Years ago, I interviewed Debbie about her work in training celebrities to skate on screen (think Steve Martin gliding through MOCA in L.A. Story). Now I learned that Debbie was just releasing a revised edition of her August 2009 book on raw foods, The Raw Truth to the Fountain of Youth. I also discovered that she had hosted a TV show on the raw foods lifestyle for two years since we had last met, featuring guests in the forefront of raw living such as David Wolfe (The Sunfood Diet Success System), Gabriel Cousens, MD (Rainbow Green Live Food Cuisine), and Juliano (of Juliana’s Raw Restaurant). Cousens wrote her Foreword, and the other two gave her endorsements. Other book blurbs come from Martin, Melanie Griffith, Patricia Bragg (apple cider vinegar proponent), and newswoman Jane Velez-Mitchell.

The petite, attractive blonde athlete has been “eating and living” the vegan way for 27 years, she told me, the last 17 years as 100% pure raw vegan. She described herself as a “person who transitioned to live foods and the fountain of youth one inch at a time.” Her 450+ page book offers Debbie’s knowledge and wisdom, along with the tools that work for her. In addition, as Cousens explains in the Foreword, we get Debbie’s life story which she “so elegantly shares as a narrative for her teachings.” Cousens also notes that Debbie encourages you to “live a full joyful, loving, healthy life with every bite,” but you don’t feel forced.

The book’s sections are cleverly laid out like a meal, starting with “Section 1. Appetizers: Awakening” and ending with “Section 5: Final Course” (the nuts and bolts of her program, including 40 “rawkin’ raw recipes” which Cousens calls “excellent”). Debbie has delivered 40 chapters, and here are some highlights:

Ch. 1, Create Your Own Treasure Map: Before embarking on an exploration of raw foods, Debbie asks you to become aware of what you want to get out of life. Her tools are a “Treasure Map” (similar to a vision board) and a “Treasure Box” (where you put your written goals). “What you can visualize, vocalize and physicalize, you can manifest in your life,” she tells us.

Ch. 3, Peeling the Onion: Here Debbie quotes Mae West: “Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly.” She offers the insight that success comes from mastering one part of your goal, and then moving on. The author promotes moving forward one small step at a time toward our goals for a healthy lifestyle, and insists that bad habits will then become easier and easier to shed.

Ch. 5, Move It or Lose It: Of course, a professional figure skater who has performed around the globe will share her wisdom about exercise. “Health should be a verb,” Debbie writes. “… health is action.” The reader is asked to sign a contract with themselves to commit to get moving.

Ch. 8, The Road to Raw: Here Debbie admits that she went to raw foods because years ago she saw that she was “falling apart” and “eating more crap than vegetables” as a vegetarian. She reveals the changes she made and the benefits she gained. “This is not about deprivation,” she notes, “this is about moderation, rejuvenation, inspiration and innovation.”

Ch. 12, Paralysis of Perfectionism: Debbie jokes that perfectionism seems in some ways to be part of her DNA. This has helped her as an athlete, but also hurt when she saw an error as a personal defect. She’s learned along the way that sometimes it’s better to do something imperfectly than to wait til you can do it flawlessly.

Ch. 16, The Carrot and the Rabbit: Chapter 16 highlights the reasons for giving up being a meat eater. The author urges the reader to become informed with such films as Eating, Diet for a New America, and Super Size Me, and/or to even visit a slaughterhouse. (That visit did it for her, she said.) To Debbie, the most compelling reason came down to one word, compassion (for the animals).

Ch. 36, The Essential Raw Kitchen: Debbie learned to love cooking from her mother, who was a fabulous Italian cook. Here the author provides tips on the practical side to preparing to “raw-mble” in your own kitchen. She recommends a Vita-Mix blender, a food processor, a dehydrator, a juicer/wheatgrass juicer, and more. And, of course, a ready supply of fresh veggies and fruit.

Ch. 38, The Raw Truth to the Fountain of Youth Food-for-Life Plan: Here you’ll find Debbie’s food plan. She writes that you can do it in its entirety, or slowly move toward 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% raw foods. You’ll find lists of foods for fruit, veggies, protein, fats, and grains, along with recommended daily amounts. Her “Additional Suggestions” include this reminder: “What you don’t eat is as important as what you do.”

Ch. 39, Rawsome Recipes: During our interview, Debbie told me that she has included simple raw recipes, as well as those that more die-hard raw foodists would enjoy. Ones that caught my eye include “Debbie’s Raw Pizza Pizzazz” (made with raw crackers, homemade tomato sauce, sundried tomatoes, black olives, nuts, plus), raw enchiladas, “Debbie’s Sprouted Lentil Salad” (gets raves at holiday pot luck parties, she said proudly), mango smoothie, “Nano Banana on a Stick” (named after her dad, and includes banana, nuts, carob powder, and more), and raw cracker recipes. “Mother Earth is the best chef in the Universe,” she notes.

“I’ve lived through every type of diet that there is,” Debbie writes in her book. “I’ve gone from red meat to chicken to fish, from vegetarian to macrobiotics to lacto-ovo to vegan to raw vegan, and it is certainly not for me to say where you should end up … [but] if there is the slightest twinge in your soul that you are not where you want to be, then I invite you to take this wonderful journey with me.”

The Raw Truth to the Fountain of Youth is available at
www.debbiemerrillshow.com.

Debbie Merrill’s Instructor to the Stars website is www.skategreat.com.

Location, Location, Location Revisited

2010-03-21T16:47:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe that nearly a year has gone by since I wrote about David Ulin's panel addressing location as part of your novel or memoir, and how the author's job is to get past the stereotypes to the place's real identity.

Since there is such richness in the panelists' insights, I thought I'd celebrate my anniversary with this Santa Monica Library event by running my coverage of it again in my blog. Because the talk was in Santa Monica, LA was central to the discussion.

To your writing! Enjoy!

Robin
Book Editor/Book Coach -- Los Angeles

***

03-23-09

Yesterday I headed out to attend a panel discussion on “Los Angeles as Literature” at Santa Monica’s beautifully designed modern main library. I was particularly interested in this panel because I have always fallen in love with places. Also, when we write, our setting is so important for flavoring what we get down on the page. After soaking up some sun for a precious five-minute break in the library’s courtyard, I wandered inside to meet a fellow writer at the MLK Jr. Auditorium entrance.

David L. Ulin, The Los Angeles Times Book Editor, served as the discussion’s adept moderator. The authors were a fittingly diverse trio. Cecil Castellucci is a Young Adult writer and the author of Beige. Nina Revoyr is a Japanese-American novelist (The Age of Dreaming). Gary Phillips is the Black writer/creator of the Ivan Monk mystery series (Bangers).

The panelists addressed the author’s job of breaking through the stereotypes of a place to find its real identity. Typical depictions of Los Angeles they identified included the world of Hollywood and an urban gangland. Nina Revoyr pointed out that beyond the stereotypes are so many untold stories. Gary Phillips shared that he was inspired to write about our city because the Los Angeles described in the many mysteries set here was not the place he knew.

Nina noted that one way stereotypes get established is that writers use “shorthand” to tell about a place. One of the favorite LA neighborhoods she has written about is Crenshaw, and this writer wanted to bring out its racial diversity as it is often thought of as a Black neighborhood.

The panelists also brought out another reason a place get inaccurately depicted; that is when outsiders take a quick take on a newsstory, and are influenced by the misinformed ideas of the place that they bring with them.

Cecil talked about how her home neighborhood of Silverlake influences her writing, with its spirit as a creative space. This line of thought was reflected in a comment by Gary that a writer must immerse him- or herself in a place and among its people to get an accurate picture. It is not enough to just read about it.

The speakers, including David Ulin, explored LA’s real identity. They noted that since Los Angeles is constantly evolving (like many other places), we must make it a point to re-learn our city if we are to write accurately about it. One aspect that brings about change here is the steady influx of outsiders streaming in to LA. Nina pointed out that this is a young city, still finding its identity. David mentioned how LA finds itself always compared with New York and San Francisco (it seems these comparisons can make us defensive at times as Angelenos).

Perhaps our strength is an identity that was spoken of by Nina (which I believe is often true), that this is a place where things happen first … a trend-setting city.

I was left with the impression of a place that is like a mosaic. So many slices of life that themselves have smaller parts and stories within. I was reminded of my early days in Los Angeles when I traveled all over the city to write pieces for the Los Angeles Reader. This served as a good foundation, and enriched my understanding of LA. I wanted to make a point of continuing to move through many sections of LA, and not be isolated in one neighborhood.

A note of hope for our city that came out of the panel is that a more expansive mass transit system may make us less neighborhood-centric and more open to the many diverse places and people who make up our great city.

Robin / Book Editor-BookCoach
www.writingandediting.biz

Pioneer in Bio-Energetic Healing Debuts New Book

2010-02-13T09:50:00.000-08:00

This weekend at the Conscious Life Expo, my client Meg Benedicte will introduce her new book "Soul Realized: Unlocking the Sacred Keys to Becoming a Divine Human." Benedicte is the founder of a transformational technique called Unified Field Therapy, and her book lays the foundation for understanding her process. Tonight (2-13-10) at 7 pm, she is giving a free lecture, including a sample of her powerful Vortex Meditations. Visit her at booth 410 or come to the lecture at the Los Angeles Hilton. The Expo continues through to Sunday night. Learn more about Benedicte and UFT at www.soulfulservices.com.

A Life in Motion: Julie Newmar

2009-11-08T22:24:00.000-08:00

A fabulous actress and wonderful writer (someone I have been blessed to work with as an editor) had a gallery opening today: the amazing Julie Newmar (aka Catwoman). The show at the David Streets Gallery (9407 and 9411 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills) features selected photographs from her career. Wow! Julie is so animated in her photographs, and I got to see her produce the same wonderful energy and variety of poses for an impromptu photo session that occurred near the end of the reception.

Being the purr-fect model, Julie has posed for some of the biggest names in photography: (Bruno) Bernard of Hollywood, Bert Stern, John Engstead, Peter Basch, and others. The David Streets exhibit includes shots of Julie from the beginning of her career up to the present day.

A companion show at the Paley Center for Media (465 North Beverly Drive) will remain on view until December 6th.

Congratulations Julie!

Rumors Are that Apple May Acquire www.Twitter.com

2009-05-05T09:04:00.000-07:00

Since I joined Twitter a few weeks ago [www.twitter.com/RobinQuinninLA], I've found it to be a great way to network, meet new folks with similar interests, and share knowledge.

Rumors are that Apple may pay cash ($700 million) to acquire Twitter. This social networking service, which features mini-blogs, reportedly has 25 million Tweeters.

Celebrities, such as Britney Spears, are using the service to stay in touch with fans. Business people are signing up to network within their fields.

I've been sending tweets to inspire book people and inform them of publishing news and writing tips.

Learn more about the rumors at:
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/05/05/rumors_surface_of_apple_showing_interest_in_acquiring_twitter.html

Turn BEA into B-E-Yea!

2009-04-20T12:18:00.000-07:00

Learn how to work the major book events coming up in LA and NYC. Come to this Wednesday's Book Publicists of Southern California (BPSC) meeting where we'll be talking about the LA Times Festival of Books and Book Expo America (BEA).

Publicist Flo Selfman will be discussing this weekend's LA Times Book Fair. Then I'll be offering tips on BEA (May 29-May 31) -- how to benefit from it, whether or not you go! I've been to BEA over 10 times, so I can tell you what to avoid and what to do right.

The Book Publicists meetings are a great place to network and learn. Enjoy a buffet dinner and meet new people from the book biz before the program.

Event details: Wednesday, April 22, at the Sportmen's Lodge Hotel, Studio City. Networking/cocktails: 5:30; Buffet Dinner: 7 PM; Meeting 8:15; Out by 10 PM

More info at www.bookpublicists.org.

Time to Craft Your Elevator Pitch

2009-04-16T08:52:00.001-07:00

Learn more about working an event at my talk in Los Angeles April 22.

Right now, many book folks are getting ready for the LA Times Book Festival at UCLA (April 25-26) as well as Book Expo America in NYC (May 29-31). Therefore this is the perfect time of year to work on your elevator speech.

An elevator speech is a quick take on what you, your book, your publishing company or your service is all about. The basic idea is to pitch it as if you only had 30 seconds with a key person as they share an elevator ride with you. As you travel between floors, you can only use less than 150 words (time yourself!).

What do you want to cover? First, what is it that you’re pitching? Second, why should this person care (what problem will it solve? how will it help them?). Third, why should they choose you over others (brief sketch of your experience and past successes).

If you get ready now, you have over a week to practice before you hit the ground running at UCLA. Have fun! And come by the Book Publicists of Southern Calfiornia Booth and say hi! (I will be there on Sunday from 3:00 to 4:00 PM).

Also, I will be giving a talk on how to work Book Expo America at the Book Publicists of Southern California meeting next Wednesday (April 22). The first speaker will cover how to network at the UCLA Book Fair. Visit http://www.bookpublicists.org/pages/events.asp to learn more.

Robin Twitters!

2009-04-02T15:13:00.000-07:00

Hi Folks,

I signed up recently for Twitter, after visiting the tweets for a couple clients (www.twitter.com/DanPoynter) and (http://twitter.com/SoulFullEating).

Right now, I am posting inspirational quotes on my Twitter page.

Come visit me there, and see what the tweeting is all about! Become a follower of mine and be inspired!

See you at www.twitter.com/RobinQuinninLA!!

Write on!

Robin
Quinn's Word for Word / Brainstorm Editorial
Professional writing and editing services, publishing and writing coaching
(310) 838-7098

Location, Location, Location

2009-03-23T09:33:00.000-07:00

Santa Monica Library Panel explores Los Angeles as backdrop for story

Yesterday I headed out to attend a panel discussion on “Los Angeles as Literature” at Santa Monica’s beautifully designed modern main library. I was particularly interested in this panel because I have always fallen in love with places. Also, when we write, our setting is so important for flavoring what we get down on the page. After soaking up some sun for a precious five minutes in the library’s courtyard, I wandered inside to meet a fellow writer at the MLK Jr. Auditorium entrance.

David L. Ulin, The Los Angeles Times Book Editor, served as the discussion’s adept moderator. The authors were a fittingly diverse trio. Cecil Castellucci is a young adult writer and the author of Beige. Nina Revoyr is a Japanese-American novelist (The Age of Dreaming). Gary Phillips is the Black writer/creator of the Ivan Monk mystery series (Bangers).

The panelists addressed the author’s job of breaking through the stereotypes of a place to find its real identity. Typical depictions of Los Angeles they identified included the world of Hollywood and an urban gangland. Nina Revoyr pointed out that beyond the stereotypes are so many untold stories. Gary Phillips shared that he was inspired to write about our city because the Los Angeles described in the many mysteries set here was not the place he knew.

Nina noted that one way stereotypes get established is that writers use “shorthand” to tell about a place. One of the favorite LA neighborhoods she has written about is Crenshaw, and this writer wanted to bring out its racial diversity as it is often thought of as a Black neighborhood. The panelists also brought out another reason a place get inaccurately depicted; that is when outsiders take a quick take on a newsstory, and are influenced by the misinformed ideas of the place that they bring with them.

Cecil talked about how her home neighborhood of Silverlake influences her writing, with its spirit as a creative space. This line of thought was reflected in a comment by Gary that a writer must immerse him- or herself in a place and among its people to get an accurate picture. It is not enough to just read about it.

The speakers, including David Ulin, explored LA’s real identity. They noted that since Los Angeles is constantly evolving (like many other places), we must make it a point to re-learn our city if we are to write accurately about it. One aspect that brings about change here is the steady influx of outsiders streaming in to LA. Nina pointed out that this is a young city, still finding its identity. David mentioned how LA finds itself always compared with New York and San Francisco (it seems these comparisons can make us defensive at times as Angelenos). Perhaps our strength is an identity that was spoken of by Nina (which I believe is often true), that this is a place where things happen first… a trend-setting city.

I was left with the impression of a place that is like a mosaic. So many slices of life that themselves have smaller parts and stories within. I was reminded of my early days in Los Angeles when I traveled all over the city to write pieces for the Los Angeles Reader. This served as a good foundation, and enriched me. I want to make a point of continuing to move through many sections of LA. A note of hope for our city that came out of the panel is that a more expansive mass transit system here may make us less neighborhood-centric and more open to the many diverse neighborhoods and people who make up our great city.

P.S. By the way, David Ulin mentioned that most of letters people write about the book pieces in The Los Angeles Times are complaints. If you love books and read The Los Angeles Times, please send positive and appreciative letters about its book coverage to the paper and its book editor.

Best regards,

Robin Quinn
Senior editor/writer
Quinn's Word for Word / Brainstorm Editorial - Los Angeles
Specialists in alternative health, nutrition, psychology, spirituality and self-help books

An Update... Plus Learning the Difference between "i.e." and "e.g."

2008-07-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

Hi folks,

This summer has been very good to me, with lots of business and exciting new clients.

One of my favorite out-of-state clients was even here in LA for a book-signing at the Many Paths bookstore recently. That was Maureen Whitehouse, author of "Soul-Full Eating." My bet is that you're going to be hearing a lot more about Maureen Whitehouse in the year ahead. Read about Maureen's book-signing at another one of my client's (Lauren Gale/author of "From Breakup to Breakthrough") blogs. You'll even see a picture of the three of us together!

http://frombreakuptobreakthrough.com/blog/?cat=26

When I was at the Book Expo in LA earlier this year, I was chatting with an author about my editing and writing firm. Out popped the sentence, "I've been in business for 18 years." Wow! Time flies! One of the fun things about being an editor for so long (beside my wonderful clients, of course) is that you pick up lots of tricks of the trade along the way. You learn about obscure rules and publishing terms like "Epigraph" (that quote in the front matter of your book that suggests its theme).

For those of you who also enjoy splitting hairs when it comes to correcting your manuscript, I thought I'd share this insightful explanation from Grammar Girl on the difference between "i.e." and "e.g."

Check it out at: http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/ie-eg-oh-my.aspx

Have you been using it correctly?

Best regards,

Robin Quinn
Senior editor/writer
Quinn's Word for Word / Brainstorm Editorial
Specialists in alternative health, nutrition, psychology, spirituality and self-help books

Book Expo America Has Arrived! Come on by and say "hi!"

2008-05-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

This is a busy time of year in the book business. Seems like the LA Times Festival of Books has just ended, and then we have Book Expo America -- the annual book trade show for the US -- suddenly already starting. Today is Day One.

I went to an associated event last night, with my author Lauren Gale (From Breakup to Breakthrough: Confessions of a Recovering Drama Queen) <http://www.frombreakuptobreakthrough.com/>. We had a great time circulating with book people, and plan to do more this weekend.

I will be featured at BEA from 2:00 to 3:30 pm tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday at Booth 5740 in Writer's Row. That's the booth for the Book Publicists of Southern California. Come on by to say "hello," to ask your editing or publishing questions, or to see a friendly face in this amazing crowd of book lovers.

See you soon!

Robin
Lead writer / editor
Quinn's Word for Word - Brainstorm Editorial
Professional writing and editing services from ghostwriting to editing to proofreading
Specialists in self-help, alternative health, spirituality and psychology

See you at the Los Angeles Times Book Fair this Sunday?

2008-04-23T20:29:00.000-07:00

This weekend in Los Angeles will be all about books, as the LA Times sponsors its 13th annual Festival of Books at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles).

I will be appearing there at the Book Publicists of Southern California booth from 11 am til noon on Sunday. The booth number is 106, right near the cooking stage.

Come by to say "hello!" or to ask any questions you might have about the editing or writing of your books. You can also ask your nutrition or weight loss questions (see the P.S.).

Looking forward to meeting some of you!

Namaste!

Robin Quinn, CNHP
Health writer, editor and educator

P.S. To learn about the health education side of my life, visit my other website www.dietandlifestyleed.com.

Why Hire a Ghostwriter?

2008-04-20T11:46:00.000-07:00

by Robin Quinn

Part One of Robin Quinn’s Ghostwriting Series

Have a concept for a book that’s been running through your mind, but somehow it never gets written? Maybe it’s time to consider hiring a ghost.

I’m not taking about those spirits who haunt mansions in the countryside. I’m talking about a professional writer who will get your ideas down on paper so you can take your book out into the marketplace. Because your ideas serve as the foundation of the book, you are the author, not the ghostwriter.

Why do people hire a ghostwriter? Here are the reasons my clients have hired me in the past.

1. A ghost hires a ghost. For my first project, I was hired by a ghostwriter who had become busy with a web writing job and couldn’t get to the book project.

2. Busy expert doesn’t have time. Like that ghost, many subject experts don’t have time to write their books. My second client was a health and nutrition expert who was too busy with her practice to fine-tune a very rough draft of the book.

3. Want to replace your current ghost. My third client was looking for a writer to replace the ghostwriter who wrote his first book. A health coach, he was referred to me by my second client.

4. Repeat performance. The health coach was so pleased with my work on his second book, that he hired me to write two more manuscripts (one on health and one on nutrition).

5. Weak writing skills. My fifth ghostwriting client had a fun idea for a self-help book but writing wasn’t his thing.

6. Can’t get beyond writer’s block. My sixth client was a smart professional who had great ideas but a mental block that kept him from writing.

For all of these books, I used the clients’ ideas to create the book. Once again, that’s why their name, not mine, appears on the cover. Right now I am in the process of collaborating on a psychology book with a therapist. This time, I will get a co-authoring credit. But I would ghostwrite again because I love writing, working with new ideas, and engaging in the creative process with experts.

In the Part Two of this ghostwriting series, I’ll discuss the advantages of hiring a ghostwriter with subject expertise in your area of interest. For example, my specialties are health, psychology, spirituality, self-help and book publishing.

Ciao for now!

Robin Quinn
Senior writer and editor of
http://www.writingandediting.biz/

Tracking a Forgery - That book was written by... me?

2008-02-10T07:56:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I heard an amazing and amusing story on NPR that I just have to share with you. It's the tale of how British Middle Eastern correspondent Robert Fisk used his journalistic talents to track down the culprit who forged his name on a new biography of no less than Saddam Hussein. This journey took Fisk all the way to Cairo, and in the end, the journalist believes he found his man.

To hear the "Weekend Edition" story and Scott Simon's charming chuckling, visit:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18842047

Book Biz News: Amazon to Buy Audible, Leading Online Provider of Audio Books

2008-02-04T19:50:00.000-08:00

The news of the Amazon/Audible deal broke last Thursday. The story was picked up by Publishers Weekly and the wire services, and it generated significant interest by the financial news outlets.

Audible Inc. specializes in providing audio editions of books, as well as magazines and newspapers, TV and radio subscriptions, and other programming. According to Audible’s website, most of its customers download the audio content from http://www.audible.com/ directly to their computers and then transfer it to MP3 players, personal digital assistants (PDAs), or smart mobile devises (SMDs). Content can also be delivered wirelessly directly to SMDs.

Speculation is that Amazon.com wishes to expand its audio content. The purchase price for Audible is a reported $300 million. Audible has about 80,000 audio programs in its current catalog, including the books The Secret, Skinny Bitch and Sex and the Brain. Categories run from fiction, to self-development, to business, to memoirs.

The acquisition will go through customary regulatory approvals, and it is expected to close within the second quarter of 2008.

Interestingly, within the last year, Amazon has made changes in its handling of digital content, including introducing its Kindle interface. The Kindle, an Amazon product, is a new wireless reading device that has a screen that “looks and reads like real paper” (according to Amazon). As of this writing, the Amazon device had become so popular that it was temporarily sold out.

Amazon also purchased Brilliance Audio last year.

Commenting on the Audible deal, Steve Kessel, Amazon’s Senior Vice President, said: “Working together, we can introduce more innovations and bring this format to an even wider audience.”

I’m thinking that it might just be time to sign up for a digital subscription to The New York Times. Look, Ma, no messy newspapers stacking up! Unfortunately, as of this writing, The Los Angeles Times is not yet available via Kindle. Both are great papers!... or should I say both would be great digital reads?

We're Back!

2008-01-29T20:43:00.000-08:00

Hello folks!

After my initial excitement about the http://www.writingandediting.biz/ site back in 2006, I got busy with writing and editing for my clients and didn't keep up my blog.

However, I am now committed to posting something for you on a regular basis.

So look for my editorial posts in 2008... and enjoy! They're truly coming soon!

And in the meantime, my posts on health and nutrition will be on a new site http://www.dietandlifestyleed.com/. I've already been posting there for the last month or so. Stop on by!

Ciao for now!

Robin
Quinn's Word for Word / Brainstorm Editorial
Los Angeles

Also visit "Quintessences: On the Writing Life"

2006-10-14T10:40:00.000-07:00

While you're here, also visit my "Quintessences: On the Writing Life" blog for inspiration. Just click on "view my complete profile." Happy writing!

Welcome to my blog!

2006-10-14T05:38:00.000-07:00

Stay tuned and keep coming back. My blog will offer helpful hints, tips and wonderful insights into the world of book writing, editing and publishing. You'll also find "news you can use" in the areas of health, spirituality, psychology and self-help.

Thank you very much for visiting my site!