R. Scott Boyer's Blog, page 7

25 Authors and What They’re Most Looking Forward to Doing When Social Distancing is Lifted

[image error]I am pleased to be part of a recent article about what authors are looking forward to the most once social distancing is lifted. I think it goes without saying that we all miss being physically close to one another. Prior to this pandemic, I never realized how much I take physical contact for granted: handshakes, fistbumps, a pat on the back, a hug. Like many of you, I want to make plans to see my family and friends ASAP. While there is much sorrow in the world at this moment, I believe it is also important to cherish one another and celebrate life as well

You can see the full article, with my brief contribution here: https://www.hastybooklist.com/home/25-authors-and-what-theyre-most-looking-forward-to-doing-when-social-distancing-is-lifted

IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Winner!

I am honored and humbled to announce that my young adult fantasy, Bobby Ether and the Jade Academy, was just named a finalist for the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) 2019 Benjamin Franklin Award for Fiction: Teen 13-18. The book is guaranteed to win at least silver in this category, with the potential to win the gold medal during the online award ceremony scheduled for May 2020.

Here is the official press release from the IBPA:

[image error]The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Reveals the Best 164 Independently Published Books of 2019

164 unique books representing the breadth and diversity of indAWaependent publishing honored as finalists in the 32nd annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program.

(Manhattan Beach, CA – March 19, 2020) — Today, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) – www.ibpa-online.org – announced finalists in the prestigious IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards program, the association’s flagship award program recognizing excellence and innovation in independent publishing for 32 years.

In May 2020, one finalist in each of the fifty-five categories will be named a Gold winner during a special online announcement. The remaining finalists in each category will become Silver winners.

Click here to access the full list of 32nd annual finalists.

Representing the breadth and diversity of independent publishing nationwide, finalists in each of the fifty-five categories include such titles as The Official Downton Abbey Cookbook (Weldon Owen, an imprint of Insight Editions), Why Women Hunt (Wild River Press), Art in the White House (The White House Historical Association), It’s Okay to Say “They”: Tips for Educator Allies of Transgender and Nonbinary Students (Dave Burgess Consulting), and A Textile Traveler’s Guide to Guatemala (Thrums Books).

Other finalists include: Out of the Shadow of 9/11: An Inspiring Tale of Escape and Transformation (Loving All Nations Press), The Disruption Mindset: Why Some Organizations Transform While Others Fail (Ideapress Publishing),  Why Do They Hate Us? Making Peace with the Muslim World (Top Reads Publishing), and The Interactive Constitution: Explore the Constitution with Flaps, Wheels, Color-Changing Words, and More! (Bushel & Peck Books).

“Winning an IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award says to bookstores, reviewers, and readers, ‘This is one of the best books published in this category and it deserves to be noticed’,” said Patagonia Books publisher and incoming IBPA Board Chair Karla Olson. “The finalists, which reflect the highest standards of professionalism and attention to detail, celebrate the innovation and diversity coming out of today’s independent publishing community.”

Added IBPA COO Terry Nathan, “I started managing the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program in the early 90s and each year I’m amazed at the improvement in quality of books over the previous year. Since the beginning, IBPA has challenged independent publishers to compete at the highest level. That challenge is being met through this program. Independent publishing is alive and well.”

Over 160 volunteer librarians, booksellers, and design and editorial experts – most of whom have decades of book industry experience – judged the 1,697 entries submitted to the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program. The judging process took seven months, beginning in September 2019 and continuing into March 2020. At the end of the process, all 1,697 entrants will be given a written critique from each of the three judges who reviewed the book.

“The first time I entered one of my company’s In 30 Minutes guides for consideration in the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program, we didn’t win the Gold or Silver,” said i30 Media Corp founder and former IBPA Board Member Ian Lamont, “But we got something even more valuable from the process: critical feedback from design and editorial judges letting us know exactly what worked … and what didn’t. My team took that advice to heart, and since then we have not only won several ‘Bennies,’ but have also created books that convey a sense of professionalism and publishing excellence to readers.”

The call to enter the 33rd annual IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award program (for books with a copyright date of 2020) will open in May 2020 . Visit the official IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award website to learn more.

Anima & Exsos

One of my favorite moments in my young adult spiritual fantasy, Bobby Ether and the Jade Academy, is the explanation given for the strange phenomenon that occur at the start of the book. While commonly referred to as a book’s magical structure, my approach was to blend pure fantasy with both spirituality and science:

“Think of it like gravity,” said Cassandra, “or the earth’s magnetic field; it is invisible and yet it exists all around us. And, just like gravity or magnetism, this energy can be manipulated and controlled. We call it anima after the Latin word for ‘breath of life.’ A person who can tap into anima is called an exso, after the Latin exsomnis, for ‘awake’ or ‘wakeful.’ Such people can do things most others would consider impossible. That is how I was able to open the gate in your backyard, as well as convince you to accompany me despite your insistence on going to the hospital.”

Bobby leapt to his feet, sending the contents of the bowl in his lap flying across the room. “I knew it! You’ve been controlling me this whole time, using magic to make me do what you want.”

“Bobby, sit down and listen to me; there is no such thing as magic. There is only anima—life energy. Everything alive contains it. The key distinction is that you have the ability to control it while most others do not.”

The River

A good story is like a river. It starts at one location and flows to another. Along the way, it passes over obstacles and around obstructions as part of the natural course of good storytelling. But not all stories flow properly. Given the chance, plots may swirl in ceaseless eddies. Scenes drift into side streams, diverting the story from its intended destination.

The goal of the author is to guide the flow. Dig out those rocks and logs creating a dam. Keep the story contained within the banks of the river. Don’t try to steer your story. Tend it. Guide it towards its natural destination. Let it flow.

Jade Academy Ebook – $0.99 Promo

For the month of November, the ebook version of Bobby Ether and the Jade Academy is on sale for just $0.99. You can pick up a digital copy at Amazon (Kindle), Barnes & Noble (Nook), and Kobo.

Flintridge Event Pix

On Sunday, I took part in a three author panel at Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse. It was quite a drive but well worth it. The audience was packed (standing room only!). I had a wonderful time talking about my new young adult adventure, Bobby Ether and the Jade Academy. The discussion with my fellow authors was lively, and Q&A from the audience was thoughtful and engaging.  Big thanks to Gail Mishkin at Flintridge Bookstore for organizing the event, as well as fellow speakers Florian Louisoder, author of the inventive and compelling sci-fi Shockwave series (13crystals.com), and Lacy Weston, author of She was Worth It All.

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Flintridge Bookstore – Oct. 27th, 5pm

I will be at Flintridge Bookstore and Coffeehouse on Sunday, October 27th from 5:00pm – 6:45pm as part of a three author panel discussing our recent books. Full details are available on the Flintridge Bookstore website HERE. Stop by and check it out!

Flintridge Bookstore – Oct. 27th, 5pm

On Sunday, October 27th, 5pm, I will be part of a three author panel presenting their books at Flintridge Bookstore & Coffeehouse. Stop by and hear about my new young adult adventure, Bobby Ether and the Jade Academy, as well as Shock Wave by Florian Louisoder, and She Was Worth It All by Lacy Weston.[image error]

Chaucer’s on Sunday

This Sunday at 2pm, I will be at Chaucer’s Bookstore in Santa Barbara, talking about my new young adult fantasy Bobby Ether and the Jade Academy, signing copies and taking questions.

Chaucer’s Bookstore – 3321 State Street, Santa Barbara CA 93105

The event will start at 2pm and go until we run out of things to talk about

Huntington Beach – Event Pix

On Sunday, I did a book signing event at the Barnes & Noble at Bella Terra in Huntington Beach. The turn out was amazing! Huge thank you to my dear friend Rebecca Hamrock for inviting everyone and helpig to spread the word. Thank you to Janine and Rachael at B&N for helping to organize the event, and to everyone who showed up. I hope you all had as much fun as I did!

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