Cal Orey's Blog, page 35

Soulmates with Paws is a Timeless Gift Book for the New Year 2024!

 By Cal Orey

Mid-January PAWS #66 Bestseller Ranking on Amazon Hot New Releases -- Animal Pet Care & Essays...   The Healing Powers of Tea (nature's superfood) #1 Bestseller on Kobo bookseller's website... 

Title: Soulmates with Paws: A Collection of Tales & Tails
Author: Cal Orey
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 978-1-6655-7857-8
Pages: 238
Genre: Non-Fiction / Pets
Reviewed by: Beth Adams

Read Book Review

One thing is absolutely clear; that is Cal Orey is a pet lover extraordinaire. She sums up the theme of her book in her final sentence, “Soulmates with Paws is a tribute to the four-leggers in my life, past and present, and throughout the nation and around the globe. It’s the human-companion animal bond that is universal and one that connects us as whole unity on the planet.”

As a renown award-winning author, Cal Orey’s reputation of tackling subjects with an abundance of facts and insights proceeds this book in many ways.  It was my pleasure to enjoy the vast details of her personal accounts, the array of scientific facts, and surprising spiritual aspects of dog and cat relationships within a diverse style of original writing, published article reprints, blogpost excerpts, and a forward by Stanley Coren, Ph.D., author of The Intelligence of Dogs and How to Speak Dog.

As for spiritual relationships, she writes, “After a cat dies, they have a telepathic reunion with their owner, according to telepathic animal communicator Raphaela Pope of Berkeley, Calif. That means cat owners may have direct communication beyond what’s normal with their cats.” Here, I thought it was only me that experienced this when my cat died.

Pet owners who understand their furry-friends all have seen remarkable situations of the animal’s awareness alerting their owner to some impending threat; whether it be a fire, an earthquake, or even the malintent of other people posing danger.  The ability for dogs and cats to “find their way home” after being lost or when traveling tends to hint of high-sensory awareness of sight and smell and beyond, to some perception of the Earth’s magnetic fields, as was discovered in bees and birds, plus other mammals, where their brain cells contain magnetized iron particles which cells act like built-in compasses.

Although peppered with extraordinary facts about dogs and cats, Cal Orey’s main thrust is in her storytelling.  Written in a friendly “fireside” fashion, readers will love each of the many tales throughout this book where she tells of her exploits, her pet loves and losses, and get to know her as a person with a heart, seeking ways to unselfishly help others.  A section about homeless people caring for pets points out an interesting observation by Richard Avanzino, president of the San Francisco SPCA. “Because homeless people have this unique bond and special relationship, in many cases, the animals are better cared for than they take care of themselves. And that’s because the animal has stood by their side when society and the world and human beings have discarded them.”

The book contains a dozen quizzes for readers, each enabling them to determine aspects of their own personality, such as being a dog-person or a cat-person, and which breed of dog best suits their personality.  Each chapter has appropriate quotes from famous people.  And talking about famous people, a chapter is dedicated to many stories of actors, celebrities and authors with their pets.  For example, Doris Day started an animal rescue charity and of course, John Steinbeck’s many books referencing his animal companions.

As a whole, Soulmates with Paws: A Collection of Tales & Tails is a book that should be promoted on all fronts, especially in mental and physical well-being practices, as powerfully illustrated through personal experiences and relatable concepts. It is without doubt one of those texts that beg to be read time and again, to dig up the nuances you may have missed during the first reading. 

Alaska Memory from a Past December (adventure in The Healing Powers of Herbs and Spices Book)

  By Cal Orey

Coming to Seward to find a moose  Did I go to Anchorage? Did I view the Northern Lights and taste Alaskan salmon with fresh thyme?   Find out in the adventurous stories behind that trip (and Dr. Will Clower's tales about sailing around the world and savoring seasonings) in my new book release (December, ready for release). 

I penned this blog post a few years ago. Funny, how things don't always go to plan. I canceled the Alaska trip twice: Once was due to the 100 mph rare storm; second a 7.0 earthquake. So, booked again. I did end up going to Ontario, Canada and it was a bumpy ride which I'll touch on in the new book I'm completing. 
Today, I am home with my family. It's a low-key celebration. Plenty of B-day wishes on FB that make me feel, uh, appreciated.  Baking apple spice scones. Working on book #9 (Healing Powers Series). And cuddling with my beloved Aussie and Siamese makes me happy. I have Alaska to look forward to (a gift from the airline)--and a new book release coming up in December. Gratitude. 

For the past few years, as the Healing Powers series author traveling for research (for new stories to share) to book signings, I've had a love affair with Eastern and Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest. With some flight miles saved I knew I was going to go somewhere in the early fall for a getaway, my birthday, and to celebrate the completion of my book on tea. 
At first, it looked like Cleveland and Ontario, Canada was the destination. But then it just didn't seem to be my fantasy because it would take light years and small aircraft to get across the border.  And I waited...

I sent a message to the Barnes and Noble bookstore manager in Anchorage, Alaska, mentioning my the release of my new book The Healing Powers of Vinegar, 3rd edition. After all, it was my sibling who said: "Why don't you go somewhere cool, different--like Alaska?" I waited for a response. But the days turned into a week, two weeks. I assumed it was a no go. 


Then, one day while retrieving e-mails, there was one message--not the Barnes and Noble from Cleveland (I passed) with the words in the subject title "Anchorage, Alaska." I opened it like a Christmas present. The rest is history. I accepted the invitation for a book signing. I booked a flight. I booked a hotel room. I booked a nature tour. But it tanked due to the superstorm and superquake. 

The bottom line: Third attempt. I am booked again for Alaska this year.  It's one dream ready to come true. But the question remains: Who is going to break the news to my Aussie. 

A Cup of Tea for Pre-Winter

 

Healing Powers of Tea is on Ebook Sale for Late Fall!, it happened. The day after Thanksgiving, The Healing Powers of Tea is on a 1.99 ebook sale! November 11 again number 1... August 1 The Healing Powers of Tea was graced with the bestselling banner on amazon -- and today, it's edging up to #1 again!
It's a perfect read for autumn and winter...days... (Amazon, Kindle Edition special!)
On April 29, The Healing Powers of Tea was attracting readers on a variety of online bookseller websites, including amazon, barnes and noble, walmart, kobo, apple, and google.

This book is #6 in the Healing Powers Series... 

Also, the popular, prestigious Fairmont Hotel in Victoria, B.C., Canada will be carrying both The Healing Powers of Tea and The Healing Powers of Honey in their tearoom gift shop. Foreign rights to Estonia! Publisher's Weekly Review! It's a favorite in the Healing Powers Series.  And I will never forget the wonder teas I tried, including ..

*The Healing Powers of Superfoods, Honey, Coffee, Vinegar, and Chocolate will also soothe you this autumn until   The Healing Powers of Herbs and Spices (pre-order for December!) is released. The only seasonings book infused with TLC of the Mediterranean herbs and spices for your nose and taste buds and imagination as I whisk you away around the globe!

The Healing Powers of Tea Kindle Edition(Amazon)by Cal Orey   (Author)4.9 out of 5 stars    14 customer reviews#1 Best Sellerin Coffee and Tea See all 2 formats and editions
Kindle 
$1.99Earn a 75% creditRead with Our Free App       Paperback 
$10.97 31 Used from $4.4154 New from $10.22

File Size: 1871 KBPrint Length: 321 pagesPublisher: Citadel (December 26, 2017)Publication Date: December 26, 2017Sold by: Penguin Random House Publisher ServicesLanguage: EnglishASIN: B06XZQKD4FText-to-Speech: Enabled X-Ray:Not Enabled Word Wise: EnabledLending: Not EnabledEnhanced Typesetting: Enabled Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #280 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)#1 in Coffee Tea (Books)#1 in Coffee Tea (Kindle Store)#1 in Health Reference

The Healing Powers of Tea--Timeless Book for Holiday Gift

TEA Book Home Cures for Winter!By Cal OreyWarm Up this Winter—Wellness in a Cup—

Discover the Benefits of Tea for Your Body and Mind!

5 Tea Home Cures from Your Kitchen

One autumn day I found myself getting up at 2:30 A.M. to catch a 6:00 A.M. plane to Salt Lake City, then to Atlanta Georgia, to Montreal, Quebec. Waking up without adequate sleep felt odd and it was the wrong hour to brew coffee.  So, I made a cup of my own blend: black and green tea. It gave me enough energy to get on the shuttle bus without acting like a zombie from a sci-fi film. 

But while tea offers home cures, including beating sleepiness, it can also help keep you calmer than java. At the first airport counter café, I ordered a cup of hot water and used my own chamomile tea bag to keep me calm enough for the next fear factor: flying out of the Sierra and into Salt Lake City—two dicey airports known for turbulent flights. And thanks to tea, I survived the flight plan all the way to Canada, my second home...
There is a growing trend of at-home tea cures (like I used to achieve my final destination), that’ll wow you with their potential healing powers. I sprinkled in tea wisdom from tried-and-true folk remedies, scientific studies, medical experts, and my own home tea and tisane cures. It’s tea time! Read on--here's five home cures from more than 50 in The Healing Powers of Tea (Available December 26, 2017).
1. COLDS (Warm Up Baby.) During the fall and winter months, cold season hits more frequently. Also, though, if you are under stress a cold can pay you a visit year-round, especially if traveling or contracting a virus from someone else. If your immune system is under attack—a cold can be prevented or the severity lessened with tea.

What Tea Rx to Use: Drink one 8-ounce cup of black tea (hot or iced) with or without 1 teaspoon honey two to three times per day.

Why You’ll Feel Tea-rrific: Tea researchers believe it’s the compound antigen in black tea that bolsters the body’s immune system and may help guard against colds. Also, the tannins may help to stave off viruses like a cold. I recall one doctor’s story about how he turned to tea for comfort. He was traveling in the Alaskan wilderness. While in a van traveling with a lot of people, one had a cold as he did. The doctor had tea and drank the liquid. And it helped the good doctor heal.

2.  COUGHS (Cease the tickle.) Coping with a cold can be annoying, but coughing which can be caused by seasonal allergies, or linger after a cold, a bout of bronchitis, or other things, can be pesky and make your throat and even chest ache.

What Tea Rx to Use: Opt to brew 1 12-ounce cup of black or white tea. For an extra throat soother, add 1 teaspoon of honey. Repeat as necessary.

Why You’ll Feel Tea-rrific:  Tacking a cough takes a bit of sleuth work to discover why you are coughing—and then it’s time to be proactive and deal with the problem. If allergens are the issue, for instance, it’s time to get an air purifier, vacuum and dust more, and add tea with honey to your diet repertoire—soon you’ll be doing the happy dance without stopping to cough.

3. FLU (Say good-bye to germs.) Catching the flu, which can come on suddenly, drags you down and into bed. Viruses come in all forms and can give you anything from a 24-hour flu bug to a super bug that’ll spook you to the point where images from sci-fi films like Outbreak and Contagion will haunt you as you try and shake it.

What Tea Rx to Use: Take 2 cups of tea and you won’t be calling the doctor in the morning. Mix it up and sip 1 cup of tea (black, green, or white) and 1 cup of your favorite vitamin C-enhanced herbal tea such as hibiscus.

Why You’ll Feel Tea-rrific: It’s no surprise that the functional food tea is chock-full of antioxidants—the good guys that can keep your immune system healthy and stave off germs you could encounter from your local grocery store to a vacation stop. By drinking tea and a vitamin-rich tisane teamed with a nutrient-dense diet, you’ll be keeping your immune system strong.

4. SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER (Blast the blues.)  Feeling down and sluggish with SAD, coined by Dr. Norman Rosenthal, is another monster to face. I have tackled the symptoms with an arsenal of remedies—and tea is on the list come late fall through early spring.

What Tea Rx to Use: Brew 1 cup of hot water and use 1 teaspoon green tea leaves or tea bag. Steep for 3 minutes. Repeat 2 times per day.

Why You’ll Feel Tea-rrific: Green tea has 45 milligrams of caffeine (which can give you a physical and mental burst of energy). But also, green tea contains L-theanine—a compound that enhances brain chemicals including serotonin and that can give you a calming sense of well-being. A bonus: It can rev up your metabolism, fill you up and not out. Read: Lose unwanted pounds and body fat.

5. SORE THROAT (Treat the pain.) Before a cold you can get a telltale sore throat. Not to forget allergies and even talking too much. Rather than run to the doctor for an allergy medication, why not take an alternative route and turn to tea?

What Tea Rx to Use:  Dried oolong leaves combined with rose hips or hibiscus can be a perfect pairing. Put 1 teaspoon of tea leaves and 1 teaspoon of the herbal tea of your choice in 1 cup of hot water. Steep for a few minutes, then strain. Add honey to taste.

Why You’ll Feel Tea—rrific: Oolong tea my reduce swelling and inflammation, due to flavonoids. Also, honey boasts anti-inflammatory benefits, too.

Ginger Lemon Honey Tea

Ginger and lemon go together like salt and pepper—two of nature’s finest superfoods with an immunity booster that can keep you healthy this winter and all year-long.

2 cups water

10 thin slices gingerroot, fresh

1 lemon sliced

3 tablespoons honey

1/3 cup lemon juice

Bring water, gingerroot, and lemon slices to a boil for 1 or 2 minutes. Remove from heat, steep 10 minutes, strain. Stir in honey and lemon juice. You can also add apple peel, a piece of onion, and one or two tablespoons of chamomile.

(Courtesy: Gemma Sanita Sciabica)

Excerpt from The Healing Powers of Tea2018. All right reserved. Reprinted with permission  from Kensingtonwww.kensingtonbooks.com .— Cal Orey, M.A.  is an author and journalist. Her books include the Healing Powers Series (Vinegar, Olive Oil, Chocolate, Honey, Coffee, and Tea) published by Kensington. (The collection has been featured by Good Cook Book Club.)  Her website is www.calorey.com .

A Seasoned Ghostwriter Speaks Out on Writing for Someone Else

 

 INVISIBLE INK -- 5 Reasons to Ghostwrite

INVISIBLE INK

By Cal Orey

Ghostwriters might not see their name in print,

but the work is varied and even in demand

I am a ghostwriter. I am often on the job writing books for someone else. For example, writing as a military wife, I dished out heartfelt feelings in a woman’s magazine about my husband’s service in Iraq. Writing as a witty English doctor, I prescribe anti-aging secrets in a self-help book. Writing as my sensitive mixed-breed cat, I dispense advice to pets and humans in a bimonthly horoscope column.

            Sound like fun? For writers who don’t mind losing a byline, ghostwriting is an interesting and potentially lucrative career option. Here are five reasons why you should consider this often-overlooked writing path.

1 Interesting assignments

Ever wish you were someone else? As a ghostwriter, you can live your dream vicariously—without having to get credentials or be reincarnated. Being a “ghost” is like channeling into someone else’s body and mind. For example, I write for my 5-year-old cat, Kerouac, who pens the column “What Do the Stars Hold for Your Pet?” for a pet magazine. Not only is his name on the masthead, each column pays for his premium cat food and toys.

            Eric Neuhaus, a New York ghostwriter, did the writing and more for a book by fitness guru Joe Decker As part of the assignment, Neuhaus and a diet consultant cooked up healthy versions of traditionally unhealthy dishes such and meatloaf and fajitas. “The kitchen in my one-bedroom apartment became the test kitchen,” Neuhaus says. “I bought another book on how to write recipes. All of this was trail by fire. I never thought in m wildest dreams that I’d be testing recipes.”

Ghost Tip: “If you enjoy people, ghostwriting is a way to delve into some of the most unusual people on the planet,” says Marc L. Weber, a former ghostwriter.

2 An occasional credit

When I was assigned the Iraq article for Complete Woman, I collected the very personal first-person narratives of two military wives, using their unique voices to put together their heart-warming tales. I received an “as told to” author credit.

Ghost Tip: If you think the book has potential to be a bestseller, request co-author credit. But if the project is an author’s tool (i.e., selling products), credit isn’t a big deal.

3 Appreciative clients

“One of the most surprising facts I have learned about ghostwriting is that there are some extremely intelligent people out there who cannot put anything onto paper,” Habert says. “For some reason, somewhere between the thought process and the actual movements of their pen or fingers on keyboard, they become babbling fools.”

            In my ghostwritten book on anti-aging, I noticed while the doctor had good command of the English language, his prose tended to be dry. I was hired to “dumb down” his health advice and product information. And the doctor appreciated my ability to do just that.

Ghost Tip: “You have to check your ego at the door,” cautions Deborah Kotz of Silver Spring, Md., who has worked as a ghostwriter on several health books. “Realize that you are the ‘writer’ and not the ‘author.’ There’s a big difference between the two. You are not the authority. So, you have to convey the message that the author wants to convey.”

You have to check your ego

at the door. Realize that you are

the “writer” and not the “author.”

4 Big-money potential

Some book advances can make you smile. Case in point: I just signed a book contract for a five-figure deal, travel expenses and bonuses. For the next five months, I will feel financially secure as I ghostwrite about a fascinating and controversial topic. How rich is that?

Ghost Tip: “If you think the book isn’t going to get that six-figure advance, settle on a fee upfront for your services,” Neuhaus says. “If you think it is going to be a blockbuster project, then negotiate a percentage of the advance and royalties.”

5 Unlimited prospects

The best part of ghostwriting is that it’s like a deep well that never goes dry. Habert understands the glory of ghostwriting. “It is a lucrative source of writing, not only in a monetary manner but also in the volume available,” she says.  Weber adds that a baby boomers age, “that generation becomes interested in holding on to its memories, so there is more work for ghostwriters to do than ever before.”

Ghost Tip: “Network as much as you can,” Weber says. “Make sure people know you have the talent to help them."

            Each in his or her own way, Habert, Weber and Neuhaus have discovered that ghostwriting is a good avenue to a never-ending road of projects. You, too, can arrive at that point. Just put on your mask and go to work.

Getting Started

Look close to home: Offer to be the ghostwriter for your family, friends and co-workers. Don’t rule our your kids or pets, either.

Develop a specialty: “Whether it’s fitness or fashion, write about what you love and have a passion for,” says New York City ghostwriter Eric Neuhaus.

Network with other ‘ghosts’: Often, ghostwriters will be busy with projects and may refer clients to you for a finder’s fee.

Discuss the editing process: If you want to avoid ghoulish re-dos, talk with the author about edits before you begin. Personally, I have incorporated the phrases "No revisions" in the agreement. A dentist to hair stylist may make minor tweaks--but countless changes? Not a chance.

Get it in writing: “If you’re going to collaborate, you’re going to need a written contract or agreement that spells out show does what and how much you get—and when,” Neuhaus says.

Tackle Tasks:   Outlines, restructuring and crafting, developing characters, writing prologues, cliffhanger chapters, and WOW endings, settings, description, dialogue -- and much more!

Remember, everyone has at least one book in them:  It’s your job to connect mentally and emotionally with someone who want to hire a ghost—namely, you.

Published in The Writer (since 1933, RIP)

BIO: CAL OREY, M.A. Meet a super versatile author-journalist, columnist & ghostwriter (fiction: crime, romance, sci-fi, adventure, psychological thrillers, memoir & most genres) and a known on-air personality...  I'm a born and raised Californian  who keeps it real. I hold two degrees in English (Creative Writing) from SFSU, and pen the "hugely successful" Healing Powers Series, available at all fine bookstores --all 9 books have been graced with online bookstore website Bestseller banners; (translated in 25+ languages), many featured by Good Cook and Literary Guild book clubs to Newsmax media.   NEW BOOK RELEASE:  The Healing Powers of Herbs & Spices: Timeless Treasures #9 published in 2021 by Kensington   It has made its way to being a pick in Woman's World Magazine Book Club, and covered by Booklist, American Global News, GlobalInformerNews, NYC Daily Post, New York Daily, City Buzz News, Huffington Post, on board with Newsmax, and in more than 75 libraries worldwide (multiple branches, many copies), articles in hard copy and online magazines... noted on C2CAM, KSFO...

Herbs and Spices for the Holidays

  By Cal Orey

During the holiday season, pumpkin is still a favorite. A pumpkin spice combo seasoning is warming, which is perfect for autumn dishes, such as pumpkin fudge, muffins, scones, and pie. These favorite comfort foods take us back to fond memories of family and festive holiday meals. It is comforting because of its familiar aroma and spicy flavors give us a feel-good jolt.

            The fact is, pumpkin spice – the spice you use in baking and cooking -- includes cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, clove and allspice.  Pumpkin (it is a fruit not a vegetable) is a fall favorite – especially when sprinkled with a dash of pumpkin spice. Speaking of spices…

Shortly after I began my book research for The Healing Powers of Herbs and Spices, I found a big cardboard box on my doorstop—a gift. When I opened the package I was greeted by a strong wave of different aromas. The box was filled with dozens of individual packets containing a variety of herbs and spices.  It was if they were all are saying, “Look at me! Choose me!” I took out each cellophane wrapped and labeled packet. There were rows of small packages on my dining room table. Each one was filled with powders, pods, seeds and stems--some familiar, some not.

I brought out a kit of glass bottles with stick-on labels which I had ordered online and went to work filling each container with a dried herb or spice. Foolishly, I did not wear a mask. My eyes began to water, and sniffles started. I sneezed several times. I was experiencing the potent compounds in the botanical plants. But I persevered!

Within a few hours, all my seasonings were inside the glass bottles and labeled. I was ready to arrange them in racks. It was time to start my personal journey into the world of herbs and spices. Little did I know these timeless treasures would make a huge comeback during a pandemic stay-at-home lifestyle.

 Egg custard spiced up with pumpkin and spices gives it a festive deliciousness to it. Pumpkin spice is a must and extra spices are even nicer. This recipe is inspired by my childhood but I gave it a 21st century spice kick for the flavor.

Pumpkin Spice Custard Tarts

2 ½ cups organic half and half

¼ - ½ cup granulated white sugar or brown sugar

4 large egg yolks, beaten, room temperature

½ cup pumpkin puree

½ teaspoon pumpkin spice

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon nutmeg, ground

1 teaspoon cinnamon or ginger, ground

Fresh thyme sprigs for garnish

Whipped cream

* I used MeCormick spices

In a bowl combine half and half.  Add sugar, egg yolks, and pumpkin slowly into half and half, stir well. Add pumpkin spice and vanilla. Pour custard mixture into ramekins. Sprinkle tops with nutmeg. Place into baking dish, add half with water. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 to 40 minutes or until custard is firm to touch. Do not over bake.  Serve warm or cold. Garnish with whipped cream, a dash of cinnamon or ginger, and sprigs of thyme. *You can you lemon grass or even saffron and nutmeg with an egg custard. (Recipe in the Healing Powers of Herbs and Spices.

Serves 4.

During the colder days, a warming and healthful dessert like the creamy custard is a must-have. It’s sort of a hybrid of pumpkin pie and a pumpkin latte with whipped cream. Stores to cafes bring on pumpkin spice-flavored items because it’s comfort food and warms up the body and soul.

 

-- Cal Orey, M.A. Is an author and journalist. Her books include the Healing Powers Series (Vinegar, Olive Oil, Chocolate, Honey, Coffee, Tea, Superfoods, Essential Oils, Herbs and Spices) published by Kensington. (The collection has been featured by the Good Cook Book Club.) Her website is http://www.calorey.com  

Confessions of a Health Author

 The Writer (March 2003)

A Healthy Opportunity10 ways to tap into health and fitness marketsBy Cal Orey Author of Healing Powers series (2000-2024)
While I am a health nut, I didn’t plan on becoming a health writer. But for over a decade (despite my goal to be a romance novelist), it’s the health-related projects that have kept my busy. And there’s plenty of work to go around.            Welcome to the wide, wide world of medical, health and fitness consumers. The trend is for people to get well and stay well. And it’s this kind of attitude that opens up doors to a variety of departments such as health, diet and nutrition, diseases and conditions, fitness and exercise, family health and sexual health.            Looking back, it would have helped to know the potential pitfalls-and practical pointers to help meet the challenges of writing magazines articles and health books. Here are 10 tips, gleaned from my experience, that you can use to crack the health market.1. Find cutting-edge news. Think like a consumer. Find a timely topic in the health world, and you can get one step closer to landing an assignment. I learned fast that catchy spin on a weight loss or disease idea grabs the attention of editors big time. For example, my article “Lose 12 pounds in one week!” turned into the cover story of Woman’s World. Later, American Media Mini Mags, Inc., assigned me a mini-project to expand on the diet article, which led to several quickie diet books (1,750 to 25,000 words, with payment ranging from $1,500 to $4,000 or more).How you can do it: Make old topics newsworthy. That means thinking like a consumer: “I would love to read a story on an anti-aging trend or miracle sex drug.” To stay informed, check out news stories.2. Target your audience. If your heart isn’t into your subject, you’ll get the big chill from an editor. Devin Alexander, Muscle & Fitness editorial assistant, advises, “Know our magazine and the kinds of stories we do so you’re not pitching off-the-wall topics. For example, don’t send an idea on beauty make overs. It’s clear you don’t know what we’re about.” In other words, you’ve got to brainstorm and put your creativity to work.How you can do it: Ask yourself, “Do I really have the right slant and format to fit the publication?” A super-fitness magazine, for example, publishes articles like “Six-Week Killer Workout,” but that would be a poor fit for a mainstream family magazine. Try to sculpt your idea to fit your audience. Pick up a copy of the health publication-and read it.3. Add statistics and facts. The numbers game can also hook an editor. In Doctors’ Orders, I wrote, “Breast cancer: the statistics are sobering. One in eight women will contract this disease.” It’s a startling statistic that shows no woman is immune-and dishes out instant and wide audience appeal.How you can do it: You can use statistics in the lead paragraph to lure an editor. If you have several interesting facts, put them in a sidebar for oomph. Get up-to-date numbers from a nationwide organization such as the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org). Sources like these often provide fact sheets on their Web sites.4. Team up with experts. Several years ago, I wrote a column on diet and nutrition for Woman’s World. I paired up with registered dietitians and interviewed medical doctors. The pros fed me their knowledge, and I wrote credible articles without having to get a health credential.How you can do it: You, too, will find that collaboration has its perks. While dietitians may charge a fee (e.g., to devise a diet plan), you’ll be more apt to get an assignment if you work with one on a nutrition article. And note: High-profile doctors are busy, so cater to their schedule. Bonus tip: Doctors are always looking for ghostwriters.5. Lose the medical-ESE. You’ll discover that doctors and academics may use a five-syllable vocabulary full of technical words. And if you don’t stay alert, you’ll wake up dazed and confused when writing your article or book.How you can do it: To avoid a too-heady interview, take control. Try saying, “Pretend I am 5 years old, and please repeat what you said.” Or rephrase their words out loud and get the experts’ blessings. Always tape your interview. If you don’t understand a word or doubt a meaning during transcription, go back to the expert and double-check the quote.6. Devour great quotes. Good health articles come with good quotes. Get colorful and concise language straight from your sources to paint a picture. The best quotes are ones that leave you thinking, “Wow!” In my book The Healing Powers of Vinegar: A Complete Guide to Nature’s Most Remarkable Remedy, one doctor struggled with weight loss. (In 2015 VINEGAR received the #1 Best Seller banner! on amazon.com and kobo.com (in many health-related categories).The 3rd edition will be released in the summer of 2016.)

Ghostwriter for Hire

 Sunday, November 19

INVISIBLE INK -- 5 Reasons to Ghostwrite 

INVISIBLE INK

By Cal Orey

Ghostwriters might not see their name in print,

but the work is varied and even in demand

I  am often on the job writing books for someone else. For example, writing as a military wife, I dished out heartfelt feelings in a woman’s magazine about my husband’s service in Iraq. Writing as a witty English doctor, I prescribe anti-aging secrets in a self-help book. Writing as my sensitive mixed-breed cat, I dispense advice to pets and humans in a bimonthly horoscope column.

            Sound like fun? For writers who don’t mind losing a byline, ghostwriting is an interesting and potentially lucrative career option. Here are five reasons why you should consider this often-overlooked writing path.

1 Interesting assignments

Ever wish you were someone else? As a ghostwriter, you can live your dream vicariously—without having to get credentials or be reincarnated. Being a “ghost” is like channeling into someone else’s body and mind. For example, I write for my 5-year-old cat, Kerouac, who pens the column “What Do the Stars Hold for Your Pet?” for a pet magazine. Not only is his name on the masthead, each column pays for his premium cat food and toys.

            Eric Neuhaus, a New York ghostwriter, did the writing and more for a book by fitness guru Joe Decker As part of the assignment, Neuhaus and a diet consultant cooked up healthy versions of traditionally unhealthy dishes such and meatloaf and fajitas. “The kitchen in my one-bedroom apartment became the test kitchen,” Neuhaus says. “I bought another book on how to write recipes. All of this was trail by fire. I never thought in m wildest dreams that I’d be testing recipes.”

Ghost Tip: “If you enjoy people, ghostwriting is a way to delve into some of the most unusual people on the planet,” says Marc L. Weber, a former ghostwriter.

2 An occasional credit

When I was assigned the Iraq article for Complete Woman, I collected the very personal first-person narratives of two military wives, using their unique voices to put together their heart-warming tales. I received an “as told to” author credit.

Ghost Tip: If you think the book has potential to be a bestseller, request co-author credit. But if the project is an author’s tool (i.e., selling products), credit isn’t a big deal.

3 Appreciative clients

“One of the most surprising facts I have learned about ghostwriting is that there are some extremely intelligent people out there who cannot put anything onto paper,” Habert says. “For some reason, somewhere between the thought process and the actual movements of their pen or fingers on keyboard, they become babbling fools.”

            In my ghostwritten book on anti-aging, I noticed while the doctor had good command of the English language, his prose tended to be dry. I was hired to “dumb down” his health advice and product information. And the doctor appreciated my ability to do just that.

Ghost Tip: “You have to check your ego at the door,” cautions Deborah Kotz of Silver Spring, Md., who has worked as a ghostwriter on several health books. “Realize that you are the ‘writer’ and not the ‘author.’ There’s a big difference between the two. You are not the authority. So, you have to convey the message that the author wants to convey.”

You have to check your ego

at the door. Realize that you are

the “writer” and not the “author.”

4 Big-money potential

Some book advances can make you smile. Case in point: I just signed a book contract for a five-figure deal, travel expenses and bonuses. For the next five months, I will feel financially secure as I ghostwrite about a fascinating and controversial topic. How rich is that?

Ghost Tip: “If you think the book isn’t going to get that six-figure advance, settle on a fee upfront for your services,” Neuhaus says. “If you think it is going to be a blockbuster project, then negotiate a percentage of the advance and royalties.”

5 Unlimited prospects

The best part of ghostwriting is that it’s like a deep well that never goes dry. Habert understands the glory of ghostwriting. “It is a lucrative source of writing, not only in a monetary manner but also in the volume available,” she says.  Weber adds that a baby boomers age, “that generation becomes interested in holding on to its memories, so there is more work for ghostwriters to do than ever before.”

Ghost Tip: “Network as much as you can,” Weber says. “Make sure people know you have the talent to help them."

            Each in his or her own way, Habert, Weber and Neuhaus have discovered that ghostwriting is a good avenue to a never-ending road of projects. You, too, can arrive at that point. Just put on your mask and go to work.

Getting Started

Look close to home: Offer to be the ghostwriter for your family, friends and co-workers. Don’t rule our your kids or pets, either.

Develop a specialty: “Whether it’s fitness or fashion, write about what you love and have a passion for,” says New York City ghostwriter Eric Neuhaus.

Network with other ‘ghosts’: Often, ghostwriters will be busy with projects and may refer clients to you for a finder’s fee.

Discuss the editing process: If you want to avoid ghoulish re-dos, talk with the author about edits before you begin. Personally, I have incorporated the phrases "No revisions" in the agreement. A dentist to hair stylist may make minor tweaks--but countless changes? Not a chance.

Get it in writing: “If you’re going to collaborate, you’re going to need a written contract or agreement that spells out show does what and how much you get—and when,” Neuhaus says.

Tackle Tasks:   Outlines, restructuring and crafting, developing characters, writing prologues, cliffhanger chapters, and WOW endings, settings, description, dialogue -- and much more!

Remember, everyone has at least one book in them:  It’s your job to connect mentally and emotionally with someone who want to hire a ghost—namely, you.

Published in The Writer (since 1933, RIP)

CONSULTATION? 

CONTACT COrey39184@aol.com ... Genre? Word Count?  Timeframe? 

BIO: CAL OREY, M.A. Meet a super versatile author-journalist, columnist & ghostwriter (fiction: crime, romance, sci-fi, adventure, psychological thrillers, memoir & most genres) and a known on-air personality...  I'm a born and raised Californian  who keeps it real. I hold two degrees in English (Creative Writing) from SFSU, and pen the "hugely successful" Healing Powers Series, available at all fine bookstores --all 9 books have been graced with online bookstore website Bestseller banners; (translated in 25+ languages), many featured by Good Cook and Literary Guild book clubs to Newsmax media.  

Author's Leash to John Steinbeck (and his dogs)

Soulmates with Paws’ Author’s Leash to John Steinbeck

By Cal Orey

As seasoned author living at South Lake Tahoe, Igive credit to author John Steinbeck who lived and wrote here before I did. Itwas his adventurous lifestyle and love for dogs that paved the road for me…

 We both were closeto many Golden State regions (including Gilroy, Monterey, Santa Cruz, and thesierras). Enter Gilroy: It is a city in Northern California’s Santa ClaraCounty, south of Morgan Hill, and has decades of flashbacks for me.

In the eighties, I tooka bus out of San Jose and performed hours of research in the John SteinbeckLibrary in Salinas; later writing a story about the author and his love forcanines, published in Dog World Magazine. And I chose Steinbeck whowas born in Salinas and lived in Carmel as one of my three authors to study forthe oral exams in graduate school at San Francisco State University.

 

Not to forget, as a fan of Steinbeck’s Travelswith Charley, inspired, I hitched and hiked with my dog, a black Lab,across the U.S., and ended up on the South Shore.

 

Secluded in the Sierraswith Soulmates with Paws

 

These days, I continue to write books andnon-fiction novels in my cabin. Like Steinbeck, I have a loyal canine bymy side--and during the epic and surreal California superstorms of 2023.Surrounded by heavy wet snow, road closures, and power outages on the SouthShore of Lake Tahoe, while SF Bay Area and Central CA was flooded--it was worstof times. But I had my dog named Skye, a warmhearted Australian shepherd (andcat) to comfort me. 

 In 1925, Steinbeck left Stanford without adegree, traveled to New York City, and worked. Soon he returned to Californiaand accepted a job in 1927 as a caretaker for an isolated estate on Fallen LeafLake in the high Sierras near Lake Tahoe. In Steinbeck: A Life inLetters, edited by Elaine Steinbeck and Robert Wallsten, a letter is datedDecember 5, 1929, and addressed to A. Grove Day, a former classmate: “…Well, Iwent to the mountains and stayed two years. I was snowed in eight months of theyear and saw no one except my two Airedales…”  However, the noveliststruggling with his first work exaggerated a bit, because he did indeed have a fewvisitors, according to his detailed letters to other friends. In fact, onevisitor was a game warden who owned “Otto,” a six-foot long dog (but not aDachshund) noted Steinbeck). John’s dog Omar, a big, friendly Airedale (laterhe got two to combat loneliness) had attacked the warden’s dog. In a letter toan old girlfriend Steinbeck added some graphic points: “…It was while he wasjoyfully eating off Otto’s right leg that I threw a bucket of water on him.”Unfortunately, he forgot to take the fish he illegally caught out of thebucket!

 When he was 60years old, John Steinbeck traveled across the U.S. accompanied by Charley, aStandard Poodle. He drove a truck named for Don Quixote’s horse, Rocinate.Steinbeck wrote feelingly about the country that he and Charley met, butfrankly, without the dog his book Travels with Charley: In Search ofAmerica would have lost much of its gusto and charm.

On December 20, 1968,John Steinbeck died with his dog Angel, a Bull Terrier, at his side. He was 66.Steinbeck researcher Pauline Pearson stated with conviction: “He had always hada dog, always had a garden and always wanted to live by the sea.” Indeed, theauthor had enjoyed a good many dogs throughout most of his lifetime, most ofthem characters.

 Perhaps too, whencolumnist and personal friend Ed Sheehan made the following observation in hisarticle “Sensitive Writer in a Man-Shell of Gruffness” he was seeing the truecolors of John Steinbeck: “…He saw the nobility in a hobo, felt the sadness ofseasons and believed dogs could smile…”

 (Excerptfrom Soulmates with Paws: A Collection of Tales & Tails byCal Orey, published by AuthorHouse. Available at online bookstores. Back instock on Amazon all 3 formats! 

SOULMATES WITH PAWS IS HEARTWARMING

 Touched By an Angel 

Guiding, guarding, warning, comforting and

teaching—are these cat angels?

 By Cal Orey
Best Sellers Rank: in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)#74 in Animal Care & Pet Essays Image used in Cats Magazine with this story
www.michaelleu.com

Recently, Jude Balthis had a dream. Her cat Satie appeared on her bed, green eyes staring down at her owner. “It was clear that she had a message,” Balthis says. “She told me she knew I had done the best that I could to protect her.” The large calico had just died a month earlier.

            “I felt very guilty about her death,” Jude recalls. “In her later years, she wasn’t able to defend herself as well as when she was younger. I had secured the porch from other animals by installing gates, but it wasn’t enough.” One night, while Balthis and her family were away, raccoons broke into the barriers and killed Satie.

            Upon awakening from her dream, Balthis felt instantly that Satie had absolved her from blame. “I didn’t cry, even though I was on the verge of tears, because the dream allowed me to understand that she was in a safe place.”

            Companion animals bring us comfort and love, but are they also spiritual messengers who understand more than what seems possible?

            “An angel cat would be a messenger who would help you to know that love is all around you and that miracles are possible,” explains Linda Anderson, coeditor of Angel Animals, Exploring Our Spiritual Connection with Animals. Bernard Ward says in his book Angels: They’re All Around and They’re Watching Over Us, “Angels are here to guide us, warn us, comfort us, teach us or just be a friend and companion.”

ANGELS AMONG THE LIVING

            Years ago, when Stephanie Laland was in her 20s, she was distraught about her life. She remembers sitting on her bed and crying. “Suddenly, my two-year-old calico cat Yoko jumped up on my lap and put her paws on my face and licked the tears away,” she says. And while some cats are deeply affectionate, Laland confesses, “this wasn’t the sort of action that my cat would normally do. At that moment she was my little angel.”

            Since then, Laland had turned her life around. She is the author of Peaceful Kingdom: Random Acts of Kindness by Animals and Animal Angels, and teaches workshops for people wishing to boost their bond with animals. She feels she knows firsthand how it feels to be touched by an animal angel.

            Many of the stories in her work suggest that the notion of animal angels isn’t merely whimsy. Take, for example, the story of Mrs. Sweeney, an elderly woman who had always welcomed animals in need into her home. One winter evening, she became ill and wasn’t able to move from her bed. As the fire from the stove went out, the house grew deathly cold. Too feeble and ill to move, she was sure she would freeze before daybreak. In the morning, when her neighbor came to check on her she discovered the freezing temperatures and raced to the old woman’s bed, fearing the worst. But Mrs. Sweeney was safe in bed, very much alive—and not cold at all. She was quite comfortable, with seven cats and a dog draped over her warm body like a fur blanket.

            Many near-death survivors have reported feeling a sensation of leaving their bodies—or traveling through tunnels of light.  Some people report encounters with relatives or even family pets.

            During a down-and-out period, reports Anderson, Debi Reimann, a legal secretary from Lacey, Washington, felt herself floating through a gray mist. She recalled seeing light and feeling an overwhelming sense of love. She saw a vision that appeared old and wise. Even though the “being” told Reimann that it wasn’t time to die, she didn’t want to go back to her painful existence in life. The “being” turned her around, directing her toward the tunnel that would take her back to life. At the other end she saw her cat, Missey Kitten, waiting for her. “The cat was the one being on earth that could touch her heart, and Debi made a decision to come back,” recalls Anderson... (Reprinted with permission from Cats Magazine, December 1999 issue.)