Theodore’s Comments (group member since Apr 01, 2017)

Theodore’s comments from the Navigating Indieworld Discussing All Things Indie group.

Carole wrote: "Love it, Ted!!"

I spent some time in Chile in late 1961...the area of interest in the upcoming Flash Fiction piece is near the coast, north of Santiago. The story was inspired by something I describe in the third book of my Antarctic Murders Trilogy.

Judy wrote: "Theodore wrote: "I just sold my second article to the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI). This one was on taking into consideration reading disabilities (e.g., dyslexia) your..."

Thanks, Judy. I appreciate your interest and support.

Theodore Jerome Cohen Wins Flash Fiction Challenge

http://www.indiesunlimited.com/2017/0...

Thanks, Gang…your support means the world to me.

Next week, I’ll take you back to Chile with me for a story about a misguided hombre who thinks he can outsmart the cartel (mob).

Erica wrote: "I think the stuffed penguins are a great idea! I have been looking into doing something similar with mine. Be sure to let us know what works for you and doesn't. :) Wishing you the best of luck!"

Thanks. It won't be until mid-November, so there's plenty of time to pull this together. But will keep you apprised.

Erica wrote: "I only accepted cash. I take about 10-15 books each. I include tax with mine and Mark them at a price that is easy ($10 or $15). I then offer a discount of $5 if someone buys 3. I find a lot of peo..."

My children's books sell for $11.99 on Amazon, plus shipping. I sell them for $10 (tax included), in person. I don't discount for multiple sales. It's not been a problem in the past. I'm beginning to think I'll focus on the anti-bullying (penguin) book, perhaps taking 25 copies plus a lot of anti-bulling literature, pledge cards, etc. Will set the display off from the crowd, for sure. As well, am thinking about selling small, stuffed penguins (5 inches high...have a wholesale source). Things are beginning to gel in my mind. Thanks so much for your help.

Erica wrote: "Theodore wrote: "Erica wrote: "Congrats , Ted! I would love to read it. Will it be available to the public or inly members?"

The BULLETIN is only available to members. Which article was it in whic..."

Well, I can't release the article, now that they have accepted it, but I can point you to this blog piece I wrote on the same subject that addresses typefaces and other considerations that should be instructive.

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Erica wrote: "Congrats , Ted! I would love to read it. Will it be available to the public or inly members?"

The BULLETIN is only available to members. Which article was it in which you had an interest? The one on creating your own Author Central page or the one on dyslexia?

Erica wrote: "I have had a lot of luck with library fairs when there are multiple authors in attendance! My kids books have been a big hit. Make sure to have something at your table as a free giveaway to draw th..."

Great idea. How many books did you bring with you? Did you accept personal checks or just cash?

Justin wrote: "I'd take part! My library won't even carry my books nor have they suggested I donate. They had one event for self published local authors but I didn't hear about it till after."

Thanks, Justin. My wife has suggested that at the very least, we attend to get the lay of the land...see who is attending, what kind of books are being featured (mystery? romance? children? sci fi? all of the above? as might be expected), how transactions are being handled, the types of displays used, etc., etc. We have reserved the 11th to do that, given the proximity of the Doylestown library to our home.

Carole wrote: "Great news you SOLD an article. Better news it will make an impact!!"

Absolutely! Actually, they not only pay for articles, but also, will extend your membership by a year. This will be the second time for both! Works for me.

Our local library system in Bucks County, PA, is holding a fair. Here's the announcement...

Calling All Authors! Join Our Local Author Fairs This November

We are hosting three local author fairs this November and are looking for authors who would like to participate. The fairs will take place during the first three Saturdays in November:

November 4, 1 to 4 p.m.
Bensalem Library, 3700 Hulmeville Road, Bensalem
November 11, 1 to 4 p.m.
Doylestown Library, 150 South Pine Street, Doylestown
November 18, 1 to 4 p.m.
Quakertown Library, 401 West Mill Street, Quakertown

All published and self-published authors (fiction, nonfiction, local history, and children’s books) from the area are eligible to apply, with priority given to Bucks County residents. Authors can promote their published work(s), meet with members of the local community, interact with other writers, and sign and sell copies of their books during the events.

We will provide each author with a table and two chairs. Authors are responsible for creating their own display and making change for book purchases.

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I'm debating about participating. On the one hand I see this as a significant opportunity to get my books in front of the public (and to chat with readers, as well). On the other hand, it would require a significant (!!!) investment to stock even ten copies each of the three books in my children's book series "on the come," so to speak, with no guarantee of sales (especially given I'm not set up to do credit card sales and will not accept personal checks (burned once, and all that)).

Does anyone have any experience, advice, whatever, regarding participation in these events?

Carole wrote: "Great news, Ted!!"

Thanks, Carole. Frankly, I was a bit surprised, but it IS an important subject and I've never seen anyone raise the issue.

Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger) wrote: "Congratulations, Theodore! Hugs

Thanks, Sam! Have a great day.

Ted

Alex wrote: "That's a good little piece.
I tend to get my ideas from all around me, they pop into my head at all times of the day and night, and I can be anywhere when they hit me.
Some are inspired by things..."

Neat! When I was growing up in Milwaukee in the 1940s, a man kept a small red race car in a garage on our alley. As well, the local rag man kept his horse in a similar garage not that much farther down the same alley. Great memories...and good grist for our mills.

I'm beginning to think that half of good writing is just (1) living a long life, and (2) keeping your ears open.

I'm a big fan of "faction" (fact + fiction). In fact, all of my noves and short-story anthologies are based on fact or are ripped from the headlines. (Even my first illustrated children's storybook, Pepe [the penguin] Builds a Nest] is based on fact.)

So, there I am, in the gym earlier this week talking with a neighbor with whom I've worked out for the last five years when he happens to mention that his father was the tail gunner on the B-29 that dropped the second atomic bomb on Nagasaki. I immediately went home and penned the following piece of Flash Fiction for my new book in the same genre to be released next January:

Cockpit (copyright, Theodore Jerome Cohen, all rights reserved)

“Hello, Skipper.”
“Go ahead, Navigator.”
“Half a minute to go, Skipper.”
“Roger, Navigator.”
“Hello, Bombardier. Bomb bay open. Okay when you are, Bombardier.”
“Right, Skipper.
“Steady, boys . . . steady . . . steady.”
“Counting down, Skipper.”
“Right, Bombardier.”
“Five, four, three, two, one, zero . . . Fat Man away, Skipper!”
“Roger, Bombardier. Turning now, boys . . . hang on . . . turning, turning, turning. Hang on! Hello, Tail Gunner.”
“Tail Gunner here, Skipper.”
“Do you see anything, Bierman? Anything at all?”
“Not yet, Skipper, but—“
“Bierman? Skipper to Tail Gunner! Bierman! Are you okay?
“Sir, I am looking into the Gates of Hell!”

The inspiration for this story was Sergeant Melvin H. Bierman, tail gunner on the Enola Gay for the flight when the Fat Man atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945.

What inspires you?

I just sold my second article to the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI). This one was on taking into consideration reading disabilities (e.g., dyslexia) your readers might face.

Sobering facts: 70-80% of people with poor reading skills are likely dyslexic. One in five students, or 15-20% of the population, has a language-based learning disability. Dyslexia is the most common of the language based learning disabilities. Nearly the same percentage of males and females have dyslexia.

It would behoove us to keep this in mind when selecting fonts, developing graphics, creating layouts, integrating text and graphics, and so forth . . . which is the subject of the article that will appear sometime in early 2018.

Meanwhile, the first article I sold to SCBWI will appear in the November issue. It's about creating your Author Central Webpage.

Easy...hiring a PR agent...dumb, dumber, dumbest. Didn't produce anything. The saving grace was a threat to sue, which resulted in some significant benefits from the company I used to publish the book in question (like majorly discounts on the next three books published with them).

Carole wrote: "What was your best investment in either time or money in publishing your book?"

A good editor! Actually two: initially, one to help with content, but overall, with English usage.

Erica wrote: "Voted!"

Thanks! Perhaps one of these weeks you'll jump in and join the crowd. There seem to be more and more stories every week.

Carole wrote: "voted!!"

Booyah! You are the gal! (;>)