R. Frederick Riddle's Blog, page 15

ALERT Local Punta Gorda Events

Memorial Day 05 31 2021

Have you planned your Memorial Day activities yet?

Here are some local Punta Gorda, Florida events you might want to consider.

Fort Myers Shell Factory & Nature Park

Location: Not in Punta Gorda, but only a short drive.

Time: 12 p.m.

Memorial Day Veterans 10K and 5 K Race

Location: Laishley Park.

Time: 7 a.m.

Vintage Motor Car Club Memorial Day Car Show

Located at Fisherman’s Village

Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

If you are reading this alert, it is being brought to you by T&R Independent Bookstore. We want to be your local bookstore and we are located on the internet at tr-writingservices.com. Drop in and check us out.

The post ALERT Local Punta Gorda Events first appeared on T&R Independent Bookstore.

Riddle Report Memorial Day Sale

05 28 2021

Today is Friday and the Memorial Day weekend is beginning. For us at T&R Independent Bookstore, this is a chance to give back to our community. At 6:00 p.m. today our first ever Memorial Day Sale takes place.

In honor of this even we are going big. As you may know our bookstore only recently opened offers a sizeable discount on all our books. Every book in the store sells for $2.00 less than the retail. That’s $2 off what you pay at Amazon or anywhere else!

Depending on the retail the discount ranges from over 7% to over 25% off. That’s a pretty stout discount. But that is our everyday price. For this weekend we are going to do more.

More about this issue on the other side of this break.

TR-WritingServices.com brings you this blog post or podcast to keep you informed on the issues of today. Authors need to stay informed so that they can relate to their readers facts as well as entertain them with their imagination.

 TR-WritingServices.com is a service dedicated to help authors reach their potential as independent writers. Knowing the world you live and work in is essential to being a good writer, thus the need for the free flow of information.

To discover how we can help you be the writer you want to be, write to us at markting@tr-indbkstore.com. We will respond with a free copy of our Guide to Writing plus a brochure detailing our plans. We won’t ask for your credit card or any money, but we will send you these items for free.

Check us out and get your career moving.

Now back to the article.

I am a veteran. I served for four years in the Vietnam War. A war that saw many returning sailors, marines, soldiers, and airmen return to their home country disliked and often insulted. But they have lived to see that turn around.

This weekend, we take our place beside veterans of other wars, but there are thousands of men and women who died serving their country. Some died in far away and hard to pronounce places while others died in hospitals right here in America.

This coming Monday will be Memorial Day, a day set aside to honor those who didn’t make it back. They went out young, brave, and, sometimes, untrained. But, if they were lucky, they came home in coffins and are buried where loved ones can still honor them.

But others were never found, or their bodies were burned or sank to the bottom of the sea. However, they died, they died defending the American Flag and the ideal of our country.

I know many of you will see a living veteran and thank him for his or her service, but please remember those who died in war. That is what Memorial day is all about.

So, in honor of those who fell in battle, we are discounting all our books by an additional 10%. You still have to pay for shipping and taxes, but the book or books will cost less. Beginning at 6 p.m. you will find a banner on our website providing you a coupon. All you have to do is use that coupon code (the name of the coupon) at checkout and you automatically get the discount.

Use Coupon Code: MD10

As you take advantage of our sale and other business’s specials, please remember that men and women gave their lives so you could do that. Some were white, some were brown or black, and some were red, but all were Americans. They were also divided by faith, ethnicity, sex, and age, but none of that matters. They died for you; celebrate that!

If you are reading this blog or listening to this podcast, it is being brought to you by T&R Independent Bookstore. We want to be your local bookstore and we are located on the internet at tr-writingservices.com. Drop in and check us out.

The post Riddle Report Memorial Day Sale first appeared on T&R Independent Bookstore.

Pamper Your Desire to Write

05 24 2021

You love to read, and you have a desire to write a book. But you don’t have the skill or training to be able to write, much less get published and sold!

Ladies and Gentlemen put those concerns behind you! Instead of worrying about what you don’t control, pamper that desire to write! Your concerns may be appropriate, but they can be addressed and that is what you are doing as you read this blog.

You may not have natural skills, but you can develop what you have. You may not know how to edit, but you can be taught, or you can hire someone to do it for you. You may not know how to get published, but there are people willing to help you do just that.

You have fears and concerns. Fine. Contact TR Writing Services and we’ll talk. Whatever you do, don’t give up on your dream!

More about this issue on the other side of this break.

TR-WritingServices.com brings you this blog post or podcast to keep you informed on the issues of today. Authors need to stay informed so that they can relate to their readers facts as well as entertain them with their imagination.

 TR-WritingServices.com is a service dedicated to help authors reach their potential as independent writers. Knowing the world you live and work in is essential to being a good writer, thus the need for the free flow of information.

To discover how we can help you be the writer you want to be, write to us at markting@tr-indbkstore.com. We will respond with a free copy of our Guide to Writing plus a brochure detailing our plans. We won’t ask for your credit card or any money, but we will send you these items for free.

Check us out and get your career moving.

Now back to the article.

Why do I say don’t quit and give up on your dreams? Because I believe that everyone, and that includes you, has a story to tell. A story that might be based on personal childhood experiences, or personal adult experiences. Nobody can guarantee sales, but we can guarantee getting published. That is why we started T&R Writing Services.

As an example of not giving up, I had a hard road to travel before I got published. But here’s a principle that I followed and still follow: Write what you love. I love history, so my first books were based on history. But since I also love God’s Word, my first books were centered in the Book of Genesis. Up until Moses, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote by direct revelation, plus gathered, organized, and assembled the ‘Writings’ into what we call the Bible there was no written historical records. Evolutionists erroneously believe that men didn’t write back then and only related history by oral stories. In fact, Adam and Eve were geniuses by our standards, but man lost that ability to read and write at the Tower of Babel. But that’s another story in itself. The fact is that my love for history and Biblical history led directly to my basing my first novels in Genesis. Start with what you love!

There is another reason we started this business. Because once I was where you are. I wanted to write but didn’t know how. I looked around for help and it was hard to find anyone. I finally found help at a monthly fee. But I was in a low paying job and it strained my budget. I took the chance and began learning.

Unfortunately, I got laid off. End of writing course. So, I spent years learning the craft the hard way. There were times I didn’t even attempt to write a story. Instead, I diverted my efforts to writing computer code (self-taught), but when the software was upgraded, I didn’t have the money to upgrade myself, and upon investigation I found my previous experience didn’t help anyhow! So, I had to stop.

Then I wrote my first book using a Self-Publishing company. It cost me $400, which was a lot of money back then. Today, that same book would undoubtedly cost me $800 or possibly more at that Self-Publisher. But if I was a client of TR Writing Services, I could have my document edited, proofed, and published for only $145. That is a significant difference!

So, I understand the desire and the frustration. All you really want is a chance to write your book and get published. But it seems like the world is conspiring against you. You may not choose to use TR Writing Services, but whatever you do don’t quit on your dream. That dream is worth pursuing. You might find it difficult to pursue but do it anyhow.

Go on the internet and search for the services that will help you get your book print ready and publish your book. Contact them and discover what they have to offer you and the cost. If they are not willing to discus the price upfront, then that is a red flag.

When people contact us, we send them a free brochure that explains our services and we send a pdf of the book, T&R’s Guide to writing. It helps you with the basics of writing so you can start writing with more confidence.

Writing is an exciting occupation. When you get that book printed, and in your hand, there is a special feeling. You’ve done it! Your dream has come true! Take that step and work toward that moment.

And if you happen to be a Christian let me add that the world needs Christian writers. There is a lot of trash out there, but you can add fiction or nonfiction books that provide good content for readers to choose. So, seek God’s wisdom and guidance, then if He gives you the green light, go for it.

If you are listening to this podcast, it is being brought to you by T&R Independent Bookstore. We want to be your local bookstore and we are located on the internet at tr-writingservices.com. Drop in and check us out.

The post Pamper Your Desire to Write first appeared on T&R Independent Bookstore.

INDIE PUBLISHING

The Riddle Report 05 17 2021

These days the author has more responsibility than ever before and more opportunities! Indie Publishing plays a big role.

In days gone by the author wrote a novel, submitted it to a publisher, and once accepted, relaxed. But that is no longer true!

There are all kinds of publishers out there. But here I want to present you with a different perspective. In a previous blog I have mentioned that there is a better way than self-publishing. You are about to see what I was talking about.

First a brief history. I published my first novel in 2003. Since then, I have written a number of books. The first four books were all published by self-publishers. But in 2013, I discovered Smashwords.com and published my first eBook. (My other books are also in the eBook format, but the publisher did this because I paid for it.)

This discovery has changed my life and now I am about to reveal to you what I believe is a better way to publish.

That better way is simply: You are the publisher!

At the time there was almost no information on the subject but today there’s considerable. It is called Indie Publishing which tells you right off the bat that as a publisher you are independent. This is an important distinction.

More about this issue on the other side of this break.

TR-WritingServices.com brings you this blog post or podcast to keep you informed on the issues of today. Authors need to stay informed so that they can relate to their readers facts as well as entertain them with their imagination.

 TR-WritingServices.com is a service dedicated to help authors reach their potential as independent writers. Knowing the world you live and work in is essential to being a good writer, thus the need for the free flow of information.

To discover how we can help you be the writer you want to be, write to us at markting@tr-indbkstore.com. We will respond with a free copy of our Guide to Writing plus a brochure detailing our plans. We won’t ask for your credit card or any money, but we will send you these items for free.

Check us out and get your career moving.

Now back to the article.

Indie Publishing is the author taking ultimate charge. Basically, it means selecting a printer or publisher to print our books. And there are publishers out there willing to be our printer and even our marketer.

The one I am most familiar with is Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). CreateSpace, whom I was with, merged with KDP so now all my print books are with KDP. Plus, I have eBooks with KDP and a few with Smashwords.

I will discuss KDP more in the example. I have also located at least one other printer called Best Value Copy. They are an online printing service that provides quality work at reasonable prices. However, I have not used them or any other publishing platform because KDP has proven to me that they are very capable and affordable.

In looking for a quality printer you can try your own neighborhood. For example, there is a Staples store not far from us that gives business discounts to authors using their printing services. That suggests the possibility that other office supply stores may offer the same services.

But assuming the role of publisher is more than just getting a printer. You literally take on the responsibilities of a publisher. You may have to seek your own ISBN, copyright, and other important items.

In our case, we listed ourselves with the State of Florida with a DBA (Doing Business As) name of T&R Independent Books. Because we use KDP we are able to use their ISBNs which are free, although they also sell other ISBNs for a modest price. Copyrights are free.

It is both exciting and scary. But the rewards can be awesome. For example, a self-publisher may give us anywhere from 8% to 40% royalty depending on volume of books sold. But as our own publisher the percentage jumps up to 60% and more (before costs and taxes).

In addition to that, we have virtual control over every aspect. It is true that with Kindle Direct some control lies with them, but it is also true that such controls are limited.

In establishing our own publishing business, we also took on the marketing of the books, which I may discuss in a future blog.  But in short, we will now be able to use the marketing tools that we used to buy from the publisher. Now we will have the authority to market the books as we see fit without incurring exorbitant costs.

Tip: As a publisher you pay the ISBN, the copyright, and other legal fees.                Tip #2: Indie Publishers can get gross royalties of 60% or more. Even after taxes the profit is excellent.                

Example

I promised to discuss Kindle Direct Publishing and here we go.

When my wife first expressed the desire to start writing her own novels it fitted right in with the idea of T&R Independent Books. So, we immediately began researching what the costs would be to publish.

We searched the internet for both local and online printers. Eventually we settled on KDP because of three primary factors:

We would retain ownership of all rights.Costs were reasonable.KDP would provide us worldwide marketing.

(At this time, we were dealing with CreateSpace but in 2018 they merged with KDP. KDP is virtually the same as CreateSpace and both are owned by Amazon.)

These are career changing factors. Although we have and will do our own expanded local marketing, being in the KDP loop will expand our marketing a thousand times over!

While the KDP name will be on our books, there will be no question of the identity of the real publisher which is T&R Independent Books.

Application

In establishing T&R Independent Books we also took over what was formerly known as RFrederickRiddle’s Bookstore. Initially, we closed down the store and opted to direct all potential buyers to Amazon and Kindle. However, in 2021 we opened a new store called T&R Independent Bookstore. In both cases, we have control over the marketing, including tracking of sales. Our initial relation with Amazon was the familiarity of Amazon for customers and KDP’s powerful tracking tools.

But our association with WordPress and Woo eCommerce has enabled us to set up our store using WordPress’s Storefront theme. It is another game changer and fits right into our Indie persona.

When using KDP, it enabled us to exercise several marketing options, some being free. Does this guarantee sales? Of course not. But it did give us, a relative newcomer maximum control and flexibility. And we still have them by our side with the primary difference that the controls, tools, and products (books) reside in our store while the eBooks are on Amazon.

When we started out in 2014 Indie Publishing was rather new and unknown, at least to us. But now becoming your own publisher is no longer a new idea. It has the potential to change the publishing landscape in years to come.

Not only the publishing landscape, but our future and yours. You should seriously consider this avenue. I can almost guarantee you that your book will be published sooner than traditionally, and it will cost you dramatically less. Quality is another story as it will be up to you to either do the editing or hire a professional.

Getting published doesn’t guarantee sales. But once again being an Indie Publisher involves great responsibility and great rewards. Being an Indie Publisher has great potential! If you are listening to this podcast, it is being brought to you by T&R Independent Bookstore. We want to be your local bookstore and we are located on the internet at tr-writingservices.com. Drop in and check us out.

The post INDIE PUBLISHING first appeared on T&R Independent Bookstore.

Republicans Fight for Democracy

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A New York Times reporter claimed the Republican Party is turning against Democracy. Among several problems with that statement there is at least one that we will examine.

First of all, it was a lie. Worse than that it is impossible. Let me explain.

Democracy is defined as, ‘a government by the people, especially: rule of the majority.’

When our country was founded, and our forefathers wrote the Constitution they purposely decided that Democracy as defined above was not the right way to go. Instead, they chose a radically new idea: Representative Democracy.

Now to be fair, the average liberal or Democrat probably thinks that Democracy and Representative Democracy are the same. They are not. In true or pure Democracy, the majority of the people rule. There are no representatives chosen to speak on their behalf. The people rule.

True Democracy is best found in a mob. There you have a large group of people and usually one or just a few people who control it. The mob decides issues by what appeals to them. Reason and debate generally are absent. One reason is mob rule usually means one thought or direction; dissent is not allowed.

Representative Democracy, which our founders wrote into the Constitution, is totally different. In the United States Constitution, we have a Legislative Branch consisting of a House of Representatives and a Senate. We also have the Executive Branch (President) and the Judicial Branch (Courts). These three branches form a Constitutional Representative Democracy sometimes called a Republic.

But for many years, actually decades, our schools, news media, and the Democratic Party have blurred the distinction. In some cases, this was simply ignorance (never having been taught otherwise), but more and more it has been willful.

Now that we live in a society under the control of the News Media, Social Media, and Liberal political forces, the blending has been largely successful. So, it is possible that the reader of this article believes that Democracy is what we have.

Why is that important?

It is important because believing in Democracy as the rule of law is believing in a Constitution as defined by Nancy Pelosi and friends. Not the written Constitution, such as I own a copy of, but a Constitution that is ever evolving according to the will of the people as led by them. Or, put succinctly, mob rule.

More about this issue on the other side of this break.

TR-WritingServices.com brings you this blog post or podcast to keep you informed on the issues of today. Authors need to stay informed so that they can relate to their readers facts as well as entertain them with their imagination.

 TR-WritingServices.com is a service dedicated to help authors reach their potential as independent writers. Knowing the world you live and work in is essential to being a good writer, thus the need for the free flow of information.

To discover how we can help you be the writer you want to be, write to us at markting@tr-indbkstore.com. We will respond with a free copy of our Guide to Writing plus a brochure detailing our plans. We won’t ask for your credit card or any money, but we will send you these items for free.

Check us out and get your career moving.

Now back to the article.

We now live in a society where words and phrases we grew up knowing are being turned on their respective heads. We no longer have men and women as defined by birth, but now we have people born of one sex and later deciding they are of the other sex. The Bible calls this immoral and confusion. And we are seeing this played out right before our eyes.

But that is not all. We call abortion a right and we deny any rights to the unborn. We call Socialism, which can be termed the government taking away our hard-earned money and property, moral. But hard work, loyalty, and doing your best are considered outdated.

Unfortunately, the News Media and the big Social Media giants encourage this change. And they don’t like dissent. Which brings us to the true nature of Democracy. Namely, that it is a dictatorship. I said earlier that Democracy is like a mob. But there is always a leader of a mob and the mob follows the leader without thinking. So-called thinkers of the mob repeat ad nauseum whatever the leader says.

This kind of thinking is apparent in the Letters to the Editors where liberal contributors repeat as fact what NBC, CBS, ABC, along with CNN and other networks say. Especially if it came from the DNC. It doesn’t matter if what is being said is the truth or not, what matters is that the agenda is being promoted.

Perhaps you have heard the term ‘pack the court.’ This term is speaking of the Supreme Court and means that you increase the number of justices until you have enough that agree with you. It makes the Supreme Court irrelevant. I believe this scares our so-called conservative justices and explains their inaction in the last election.

The Republican Party is not perfect. It isn’t even close to perfect. But it believes in the sanctity of life, morality as defined by the Bible, a strong work ethic, the resilience of the American people, the Middle Class, and the Constitution of our forefathers.

What does the Democratic Party believe?

It believes it is fine for a person born a male to decide he is a female and then compete in female sports, thus destroying women’s sports. (By the way, the argument that women can compete against men equally is unsupported by biology or history.)

The Democratic Party also believes that stealing is fine as long as it is for a good cause. They talk about ‘fair share’ when in fact they want the rich to pay not just more, which they already do, but at exorbitantly higher tax rates.

In conclusion, it is the Democratic Party that is undermining Representative Democracy. They are in fact, using the tools and power of Representative Democracy to destroy itself and then turn the country into a dictatorship of mob rule whereby they run things.

This is their vision of the great new world.

If you are listening to this podcast it is being brought to you by T&R Independent Bookstore. We want to be your local bookstore and we are located on the internet at tr-writingservices.com. Drop in and check us out.

The post Republicans Fight for Democracy first appeared on T&R Independent Books/Writing Services.

Journalism Debate Misses the Mark

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The Riddle Report 05 04 2021

In today’s newspaper, I came across two articles focusing on trust in the media. Both were through Insidesources.com and both tackled the sad state of trust in the media.

The first article was by Carrie Sheffield and it was a good, well-researched discussion on the lack of “trust” that exists of media. She identified several points of concern and closed by saying, “Progressives in the media these days speak of “equity” and “inclusion,” but the question is whether they’ll include better ideological diversity in their work moving forward.”

In the second article written by Yosef Getachew and Jonathan Walter, the argument centered around the absence of women and people of color in the newsroom. They ended the article by saying, “The challenges to our current media landscape are multilayered that require bold solutions. In order to revive journalism as a pillar of our democracy, we need a vibrant ecosystem with diverse and independent voices, investigative reporting that holds power accountable, and robust reporting that can meet the information needs of our communities today.” (This article sounds more like an ad or perhaps a politician.)

Both of these articles were interesting and both brought up important points. But, in my opinion, the piece by Sheffield came closest to the answer. Just the same, I believe they both missed the mark.

More about this issue on the other side of this break.

TR-WritingServices.com brings you this blog post or podcast to keep you informed on the issues of today. Authors need to stay informed so that they can relate to their readers facts as well as entertain them with their imagination.

 TR-WritingServices.com is a service dedicated to help authors reach their potential as independent writers. Knowing the world you live and work in is essential to being a good writer, thus the need for the free flow of information.

To discover how we can help you be the writer you want to be, write to us at markting@tr-indbkstore.com. We will respond with a free copy of our Guide to Writing plus a brochure detailing our plans. We won’t ask for your credit card or any money, but we will send you these items for free.

Check us out and get your career moving.

Now back to the article.

The solution to the problem with today’s journalism won’t be found in looking at charts and dissecting data. The answer is both simple and complex. Let’s take a closer look.

Yes, the trust in the media is broken! That is a fact. But I believe there is a very simple solution to that problem. Before I tell you what it is, let me be transparent. I hold no degrees in journalism, have never taken a class in journalism, and the only reporting that I have done is in my blog.

I am almost 78 and I have lived long enough to have observed both good and bad journalism. So, what do I think is good journalism?

The best way I can answer that question is to relate how I read the news when I was much younger.

When I was a kid, the local newspaper published news on local news and national news. And just like now they used the AP to publish stories that were primarily national. These stories were not only well-written and researched, but they were also written in a way that left the writer’s personal opinion out of it. That is, they reported just the facts; if they wanted to express their views, they were published elsewhere in the paper.

For all I knew, the writer could have been liberal or conservative. If I wanted their opinion, I could turn to the back pages where there was the Editorial page for the Editor and the Letters to the Editor where the letter writer could express his or her opinion. There were also guest opinion articles. (All of which we still have.) The bias was separated from the article and often was found elsewhere.

In short, the facts were reported without bias. And the bias was easily identifiable in another section of the paper where the reader knew it was an opinion based on their understanding of the facts.

Today that is not so.

In the modern newspaper we find the bias mixed right in alongside the facts. It is not rare to find article after article where this is the case. It is disheartening. But worse still, it is dishonest.

Reporters are supposed to report the facts and leave the opinion making up to the readers. But I am afraid the colleges and universities no longer teach journalism that way. Nowadays, it appears to me that reporters write with an angle or agenda. They insert words, sometimes only one or sometimes several, that are meant to convey certain ideas that the writer wants conveyed.

If you only want the facts, you have to try to filter out all the bias. It takes longer, is not always possible, and it provides a false narrative. I am an author of fiction and it is expected that I will write in a way to create a scene or show a person a certain way. But that is unacceptable for a reporter!

In response to the two articles, it is not what the color of skin the reporter has nor the sex of the reporter. Nor is it whether the reporter is liberal or conservative. It is telling us the facts and letting us form our own opinions. Let’s get back to what we knew when we were youngsters; report the facts on one page and state your opinion on another page!

Unless you bring honesty back to reporting and report the facts without the bias you will discover that increasing diversity and creating a vibrant ecosystem with diverse and independent voices won’t change our mistrust. It will just continue to grow and fester. Then we will get our news from blogs like this.

If you are listening to this podcast, it is being brought to you by T&R Independent Bookstore. We want to be your local bookstore and we are located on the internet at tr-writingservices.com. Drop in and check us out.

The post Journalism Debate Misses the Mark first appeared on T&R Independent Books/Writing Services.

Statehood for District of Columbia?

The following is a copy of an article by Rob Natelson.

Why the District of Columbia Should Not Be a State?

Commentary

In June 1783, the Confederation Congress was meeting in what is now Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Continental soldiers surrounded the building demanding back pay. They were peaceful, but the intimidation was plain.

Congress asked Pennsylvania authorities to clear away the demonstrators. Pennsylvania authorities refused to do so. Congress accordingly left Philadelphia for Princeton, New Jersey, thereby making that town the national capital for a short time.

This incident confirmed the American Founders in their opinion that the national capital should not be at the mercy of any state. The Founders also knew that in European countries, national office holders could be held hostage by mobs that local authorities were unwilling, or unable, to control.

In July 1783, therefore, Congress began to lay plans for a capital district outside of any state, and under direct federal authority. An independent capital district became a top congressional priority.

When the Constitution’s framers met in convention in 1787, they accomplished this by adding the Enclave Clause to the document. The Enclave Clause reads in part as follows:

“The Congress shall have Power … To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States …”

Securing the national capital from capture was one reason for locating it outside the boundaries of any state. But there were other reasons as well. The founding generation believed that for republican government to survive, decision makers (including voters) should be free from the undue influence of others. They had to be able to make decisions freely, based on full consideration of the evidence. Decisions made by people heavily dependent on others would reflect merely the will of the masters. It was like giving the masters extra votes.

Many participants in the debate over the Constitution expressed concern that residents of the capital district, who would consist largely of government employees and their families, would reflect solely the interests of the government upon which they were dependent. They did not want dependents of the federal government unduly influencing state or national elections.

The Founders also recognized that denying the vote to residents of the capital district would not leave them without influence. On the contrary, prior history showed that those residents would have an outsize influence—partly by reason of their proximity to federal institutions and partly because many would be government officials or employees. Allowing them to participate in national elections would unfairly magnify their power further.

The Constitution reflected all these concerns by making no provision for the capital district having seats in Congress or participating in presidential elections.

In 1788, the Maryland legislature formally offered to cede to the federal government jurisdiction over land for a capital district. Virginia did so the following year. In 1791, Congress accepted Maryland’s and Virginia’s offers. The District of Columbia was established formally 10 years later. The federal government later returned Virginia’s portion to that state, so all of what is now the District of Columbia is former Maryland territory.

In 1960, Congress proposed the 23rd Amendment, which the states ratified the following year. It permitted residents of the District of Columbia to choose three presidential electors. In 1973, Congress passed the Home Rule Act, permitting local self-government for the District.

As currently proposed, the new state would consist of all of D.C. except tiny strips of territory remaining under federal control. It would be called “Washington, Douglas Commonwealth”—presumably meaning the City of Washington in the Commonwealth of Douglas. Many of the arguments over this proposal center on such questions as whether the District is large or self-sustaining enough to be a state.

But those arguments are unnecessary. The history I’ve just recited and the modern implications should be enough to squash the idea.

As demonstrated by the 1783 incident in Philadelphia, D.C. statehood would put the federal government at the mercy of local state officials. “Douglas Commonwealth” officials could refuse to restrain rioters threatening federal institutions. They could threaten or intimidate federal officials to obtain political ends. One obvious tactic might be for Douglas police to harass members of Congress with traffic tickets until Congress passed a particular law or granted the Commonwealth more federal aid.

More about this issue on the other side of this break.

TR-WritingServices.com brings you this blog post or podcast to keep you informed on the issues of today. Authors need to stay informed so that they can relate to their readers facts as well as entertain them with their imagination.

 TR-WritingServices.com is a service dedicated to help authors reach their potential as independent writers. Knowing the world you live and work in is essential to being a good writer, thus the need for the free flow of information.

To discover how we can help you be the writer you want to be, write to us at markting@tr-indbkstore.com. We will respond with a free copy of our Guide to Writing plus a brochure detailing our plans. We won’t ask for your credit card or any money, but we will send you these items for free.

Check us out and get your career moving.

Now back to the article.

The terms of Maryland’s 1788 offer of cession also present objections to D.C. statehood. The Constitution authorizes Congress to assume jurisdiction over a portion of a state only if the state cedes it. As another part of the Enclave Clause makes clear, cession represents the consent of the state to loss of some of its territory.

But Maryland’s consent to cession, as well as Congress’s acceptance, was clearly based on the land being used as a national capital. The 1788 Maryland law provides that cession is to be of a “district in this State not exceeding ten miles square, which Congress may fix upon and accept for the seat of Government of the United States.” Maryland did not consent to the creation of another state out of its territory. Doing so would have required action under an entirely different part of the Constitution (Article IV, Section 3).

In other words, Maryland’s consent was effective for creating a federal “enclave” to be used as a national capital, but not effective for creating a new state. Turning all or part of D.C. into a state would require either a new agreement with Maryland, or a constitutional amendment.

Another objection arises from the results of the 23rd Amendment. Those results have vindicated fully the Founders’ concerns about allowing District residents to vote in federal elections. As the record shows, in presidential contests D.C. voters do not seriously weigh the merits or demerits of presidential candidates. The District is a dependency of the federal government, and its electorate invariably votes for the party that offers more government—the Democrats. D.C. residents have cast ballots in 15 presidential elections. They have voted the same way each time, and by huge margins: In 2020, Joe Biden took 92 percent of their vote.

These results—disturbing to any but the most rabid Democrat partisan—suggest that rather than admitting the District as a state, we should be discussing repeal of the 23rd Amendment.

Nor has the 1973 D.C. Home Rule Act been a success. In 2012, the Washington Post published a column by a long-time D.C. journalist. Its title tells you all you need to know about government there: “How D.C. became a District of Corruption.” America does not need more corruption in its national councils.

Robert G. Natelson, a former constitutional law professor, is senior fellow in constitutional jurisprudence at the Independence Institute in Denver. He is the author of “The Original Constitution: What It Actually Said and Meant“ (3rd ed., 2014).

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author of the piece and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times from which it was copied. While I find the article informative, I had no prior knowledge of the subject nor was I involved in the research or the discovery of facts pertaining to it.

Find out the difference between Traditional Publishing, Self-Publishing, and Indie Publishing. I’ve written about this subject in the past. And remember this, Indie Publishing means you have more responsibility, better royalties, and, of course, more work to do. Why not be an Indie?

The blog has been made possible by WordPress where we have our site located.

If you are listening to this podcast, it has been brought to you by T&R Independent Bookstore. We want to be your local bookstore and we are located on the internet at tr-writingservices.com. Drop in and check us out.

The post Statehood for District of Columbia? first appeared on T&R Independent Books/Writing Services.

What Are Six Steps to Writing?

The Riddle Report 04 20 2021

This blog is written to help new authors or those contemplating the idea of writing a book.

If you are thinking about whether to write a book or not, don’t be afraid to step out. While there are thousands of writers out there, there is no one quite like you. And we need to see your work.

What follows are six steps to help you get started. These are not in-depth, and they are not all that difficult. But I believe that you should take them to heart.

#1 – The Concept

The Basics of the Story

A story has to start somewhere and that is usually in the mind of the author. Perhaps it is a childhood memory, college years, military service, or simply a job. All of these are potential sources of plots.

You may only know a ‘what if?’ concept or perhaps a specific event in your own life that has triggered an idea for a story. While I am primarily talking about a fictional story, you could also want to write a nonfiction account of your experience.

#2 – The Research

Beginning Research

I call it Beginning Research because research is something you will need to do a lot of throughout your writing. But here you are performing some basic research to get you off on the right foot.

Some of the research you will do is as follows:

What is the uniqueness of the subject?Has someone else already written on the subject?What genres will it be in?Is it fictional or nonfiction?

You get the idea. These are areas that you should consider, and you will probably come up with other areas. And none of the above will probably ever get in your book. But they will help you formulate your ideas.

Other areas of research may cover location of the story (i.e., Florida, Maine, etc.), type of industry in area, manner of speech and dress in the area, and so forth. The answers to these questions will have a direct impact upon your story.

In short, research is a valuable tool that you can use to help you throughout writing your book and, indeed, throughout your writing career.

#3 – First Draft

Your initial Work

New authors often fall in love with their first drafts because they poured their hearts into it. But you should always consider the first draft as a rough draft not meant for publication. No matter how much effort you put in this first draft it is going to require work.

I have never met an author who wrote a first draft and successfully published it. Someone out there may claim they have done so, but I can almost guarantee you that the draft is full of errors.

#4 – Review and Edit

Edit or not?

Some writers don’t edit until they have finished the first draft, others like to edit every page. Neither approach is wrong. But I would suggest that making use of your built-in grammar checker can be a help. But it is critical to remember that the grammar checker does not know whether you are writing an academic paper, which requires very stringent grammar, or a novel, which is not that stringent.

The other thing to remember about grammar programs is that they know the rules, but those rules are aimed at the academic level. Plus, the program does not know you are writing a novel, does not know your plot, does not know the education level of your characters, and so forth. So, use the grammar checker as a tool and interpret its concerns accordingly.

That said, I recommend that you strike a balance between constant editing and waiting until the end. Edit is necessary, but too much of a good thing can disrupt your flow of thoughts. In this first draft your story’s development is the most important thing going on. And when you finish your first draft you will find it necessary to go back over the entire book and check out your spelling, grammar, and other issues that may pop up. You find these issues by reading your draft. It is called reviewing.

What you are doing for each draft is reviewing and editing. And it may take several drafts before your book is ready to be published.

#5 – Get Help

Professional Help

After you have finished the first draft and done your review & edit, you can then write your next draft. But after you third or fourth or fifth draft you may realize that you need help.

The temptation is too do it all by yourself. And the hard truth is that even your very best authors don’t publish error free books. I know, I’ve read some of the best and still found errors. Sometimes minor and sometimes major. When you are talking about thousands of words, the likelihood of errors increases even when you use professional help.

But you don’t necessarily need professional help. Consider relatives or friends. But make sure they understand that you need honest reviews. It is not helpful if they tell you what they think you want to hear. What you need are another pair of eyes.

Even so, if you are on a tight budget, you may not be able to do that because if someone helps you out like that you should do something for them. If you are on a tight budget you may have to do it yourself, in which case, I would suggest that you take a breather after finishing a draft and do something else. Then go back and reread your story. You might consider reading with a view for spelling errors, such as ‘their’ instead of ‘there’. Then, reread the story and look at the grammar.

But if you go the do-it-yourself-approach, remember that you are the author and know what you think you wrote. Your mind might trick your eyes into seeing the words that you thought you wrote instead of the words you really wrote.

More about this issue on the other side of this break. TR-WritingServices.com brings you this blog post or podcast to help you be your absolute best as a writer.

The problems associated with self-editing are why there are professional editors out there. We exist to help you prepare your book for publishing. We read your book thoroughly looking for errors in grammar, spelling, etc. Then we work with you to improve the story.

In fact, if we are doing the editing, we do so with your story in mind. And not only your story, but your writing style. It is unique to you and we believe it should be preserved. So, we edit and proof the book, then we make sure you are happy with the results. Only when you are happy, and it meets the requirements of KDP is the book published.

And you haven’t spent a fortune to have it done.

Now back to the article.

#6 – Getting Published

Kindle Direct Publishing

At TR Writing Services we use KDP because they:

Allow the author to have total control except for a few technical issuesAllow you to determine your royalties, which range from 35% to 70%Pay directly to an account you indicateProvide you a large potential readershipand much more.

There are self-publishing companies out there that you should learn about. Don’t be confused by the term self-publishing. It does not mean that you have control over the publishing process. They do. And if you want them to edit your book, you may be giving up any control you have there as well.

But there are publishing criteria that you need to check out. One is the book cover.

It is important that after all the work you have put in to the book that your cover be good. And you have some options.

KDP gallery, which provides templates and picturesProfessional designers who will design a book cover for you

The KDP gallery should not be ignored. They have a small amount of pictures that may fit your need. I wish they would expand that gallery. However, they also have preset templates for book covers which allows you to upload your own pictures, such as designed for you or you purchased off the internet. Some designers will design the back cover for you but unless these people are KDP certified it could prove difficult. So, take the time and find out if they have worked with KDP, because KDP has criteria that must be met.

Professional designers offer their services at varying prices. Just because someone offers their services at a high cost does not mean that their services are better than anyone else’s. Check out their work.

Here’s thought. Why not make use of istock, pexels, pixabay, or others. Then upload to KDP the picture you bought or downloaded. Then let KDP do the rest.

I’ve done it. They also let you upload of bio picture of yourself along with a short biography and a description of the book. Then they let you know if you need to do more work on any of those items. When done, you have a quality book cover.

There you have it. Six basic steps to help you get started. There are several more items we didn’t discuss, such as ISBN, color vs. B&W, and more. But KDP will work with you on that as will just about any publisher that exists.

Find out the difference between Traditional Publishing, Self-Publishing, and Indie Publishing. I’ve written about this subject in the past. And remember this, Indie Publishing means you have more responsibility, better royalties, and, of course, more work to do. Why not be an Indie?

If you are listening to this podcast, it has been brought to you by T&R Independent Bookstore. We want to be your local bookstore and we are located on the internet at tr-writingservices.com. Drop in and check us out.

The post What Are Six Steps to Writing? first appeared on T&R Independent Books/Writing Services.

What About Gov. DeSantis vs. the Big Lie?

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The Riddle Report 04 16 2021

There is a narrative out there which I call the Big Lie. The narrative is that Covid-19 can best be controlled by ‘locking down’ the country. It requires businesses to shut down and people to stay in their homes. It further causes Americans to live in fear.

But facts keep popping up and exposing the Big Lie for what it is.

#1 – The Beginning

Back in early 2020 about this time the Big Lie was already getting pushed hard. Dr. Fauci and the CDC pushed it as the right way to fight the virus. President Trump trusted him, as did a host of governors and legislators around the country. But it soon became apparent to the President and to Governor DeSantis that shutting down was not working.

#2 – The Shutdown

President Trump took a cautious approach and encouraged governors to shutdown their states. Governor DeSantis did with an initial 15-day shutdown which was followed by a 30-day shutdown.

Now, looking back, he admits it was a “huge mistake.” In a recent interview with Epoch Times, he talked at length about that and his actions since then.

#3 – Phased Reopening

Both President Trump and Governor DeSantis of Florida began pushing for the reopening of our states. Governor DeSantis was widely criticized by the media, the medical establishment, and by fellow Floridians.

Perhaps you remember, I know I do, the numerous Letters to the Editor that lambasted the Governor. It was vicious and coming from the Left.

But the Governor stood his ground, and we can be thankful that he did. While the liberals preached doom and gloom, the gradual reopening of our state not only brought business back, but the doom and gloom never appeared except in the southeast part of Florida where lockdowns remained.

The phased reopening of Florida and 5 other states, along with 8 other states that never shutdown, has proven the wisdom of reopening. Moreover, we have seen over time that the lockdown didn’t and doesn’t work. Blue state after blue state has stuck to the lockdown and their citizens have paid dearly. The State of New York, the poster state of Covid-19, was placed in lockdown by their governor the poster boy of Covid-19 with disastrous results. We all saw the body bags on national television. (A side note is that President Trump sent at least one hospital ship to New York only to see it barely used.)

New York remains the #1 in worst handling, although the media lionized the New York governor.

#4 – Doom and Gloom

Remember I said people were predicting doom and gloom. Governor DeSantis was getting blasted for his decisions. Well, those decisions led to a booming economy here in Florida. Children are back in school and the media still gets excited if one child gets Covid, but that has never become the problem that the teachers union and others said it would become.

You want doom and gloom you will have to visit some of the northern states, such as New York, Michigan, and others.

#5 – DeSantis’ Closing Remarks

If you listen to the media, the pandemic is still raging. Now they are talking about variants. But the truth is that the pandemic is winding down where the lockdowns have been lifted. That is not what the media wants to hear; nor is it what the liberal politicians want to hear.

The CDC appears to be backing away from some of its harshest advice, but it is going about it very slowly. Why? Listen to the Governor.

“But I don’t know that they’re willing to accept that reality. I think they’re going to try to have no cases at all, which would basically mean there would never be a full end to these policies, which is scary.”

And why is that probably true? Because these same people (governors, legislators, media, and some in the medical field, are heavily invested in the narrative they are pushing. Retreating in the face of mounting evidence doesn’t fit their agenda.

Not long ago a supporter of lockdowns cried out, “It’s science, stupid!” But they were wrong. It was and is bad science!

More about this issue on the other side of this break. TR Bookstore, located at TR-WritingServices.com, brings you this podcast to help you get the truth and to understand the issues we face. Visit our store where we sell books, we’ve written that entertain. If you like adventure, mystery, history, and a touch of romance, check us out.

Now back to the podcast.

#6 – President Biden

There have been disturbing signs that the President’s mental capacity isn’t that great. There have been signs before, during, and after the election. That is scary.

But of even greater concern is that this once sharp politician doesn’t have the mental acumen nor the moral backbone to stand for what he once supported. Now he is pushing an agenda more closely aligned with his Vice President than his own past. Now he is pushing the vaccines.

#7 – Vaccines

President Trump’s Operation Warp Speed brought us the vaccines in record time. And that is fantastic. Not wanting to be outdone and laughed at for taking credit for the vaccines, President Biden is now pushing hard for everyone getting vaccinated. Despite rising occurrences of side effects, some fatal.

There is a time to rush and a time to evaluate. These vaccines need to be tested, analyzed, and tweaked so that these side effects are minimized.

One vaccine is now being “paused” and evaluated around the world. Two others should be watched carefully as well. Personally, I think they will resolve these issues if given time. But I don’t want to get vaccinated by an unproven model.

#8 – My Dad’s Advice

When I was a teenager, my dad gave me advice about buying a car. It went something like this, “Never buy a new model. Wait a couple of years for them to get the problems fixed.” That’s good advice for cars and it is good advice for vaccines. I am not saying wait 2 years, but I am saying let’s slow down and make sure these vaccines not only work but are safe!

#9 – Family Doctors

The medical community is no longer united on this issue. Some are pushing the idea of getting vaccinated, but some are more concerned about their patients than they are any benefits they might receive. Our doctors know our health and are taking a wait and see attitude about the vaccinations. And I am thankful for that. My wife is recovering from Cancer and I am a recovering heart attack patient (2014). Combined with the fact that we are both Type “O”, believed to be naturally resistant to the virus, we are advised not to get vaccinated. But we do practice social distancing and wearing the mask where required.

#10 – Conclusion

History has proven that “lockdowns” don’t work. Instead, they tend to excoriate the problem. Sometimes, plain old common sense is better than the most scientific responses. Science is often wrong; history is replete with erroneous scientific beliefs. And when everyone seems to be on the bandwagon for a supposed cure and won’t allow public dissent, it is a time to back away. My wife and I will be watching and may never get vaccinated. But one thing is for sure, as long as our doctors don’t push it on us, we aren’t volunteering.

I am glad that Florida has a Governor who has backbone. He saw the data and knew what the right thing was to do. And he did it! That same data was available to others and they ignored it or explained it away. And their people suffered for it.

This podcast has been brought to you by TR Bookstore. We want to be your local bookstore and we are located on the internet at tr-writingservices.com. Drop in and check us out.

The post What About Gov. DeSantis vs. the Big Lie? first appeared on T&R Independent Books/Writing Services.

TR Bookstore Now Open!

The Riddle Report 04 13 2021

I recently blogged about our bookstore opening soon. Well, it is now open. It is more of a Soft Opening with the Grand Opening scheduled for May 3, 2021. We are using the Soft Opening to allow for testing, so if you come to our store now you will be part of the testing. I did some testing already and it appears that everything is working fine.

So, come on in and check us out.

#1 – PayPal

In my blog showing the steps in building a bookstore, I mentioned PayPal. I have tested this from my computer, but not from someone else’s computer yet. It looks good and working, so there should not be any problems. So, if you are curious and want to try out our new system, then go ahead.

#2 – Website

The best way to find us is just typing in tr-writingservices.com. If that doesn’t work try htpps://tr-writingservices.com.

A direct link to our bookstore is: https://rfrederickriddleblog.com/shop/ which will take you to our store’s TR Bookstore page.

#3 – Tour

I have prepared a video that will give you an idea of our store. Scroll down and you will see our products or you can click on a category (genre) and go to those books. We have tried to make your journey as easy as possible, so enjoy and look around.

#4 – Appearance

One of the things I, as the programmer, am interested in is your view of the store. Is it easy to navigate? How do the pictures display on your computer? Are you comfortable and can you find everything easily?

I would appreciate your comments.

#5 –Products

Our products are displayed in a manner that would enable you to see all that we have in an easily discerned format. Again, we are interested in feedback from you, so take a moment and tell us what you think. Don’t worry about my feelings; I will cry and then get over it.

#6 – Product Pictures

I have included pictures of our books plus links to Amazon and to our cart. Any comments are welcome, but I really prefer words like “Wow”, “Great”, and so forth.

#7 – Cart

We have provided a PayPal cart that enables you to buy one or more books at one time. You will notice that tax is charged as that is what the state of Florida wants. The rate is 7% (6% state and 1% county).

#8 – Testing

As mentioned before, we are in a testing mode. If you have any problems whatsoever, we want to hear from you! Hopefully you won’t find anything wrong. But if you do, we’ll be most appreciative.

#9 – Grand Opening

The Grand Opening is scheduled for May 3, 2021. That is not very far away and we are excited. We hope you like it well enough to tell your friends and anyone else who likes to read.

#10 – Directions

I like to say that we are located on Internet Hwy at tr-writingservices.com. When people come there, they will find our bookstore and our writing services where we edit, proof, and publish the book within.

TR Bookstore provides a clean, virus free environment. We don’t require masks or social distancing, but you may practice either or both if you like. But whatever else you do, enjoy yourself while you explore the store.

The post TR Bookstore Now Open! first appeared on T&R Independent Books/Writing Services.