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21
Feb 2010

Sporkette Gazette – Volume 5, Issue 2 – February 21, 2010

By sporkette

SPORKETTE GAZETTE
http://www.sporkettegazette.com/
February 21, 2010 – Volume 5, Issue 2

Patricia Spork (aka Sporkette), Publisher
Contact Sporkette!
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IN THIS ISSUE
———————————————–
Ramblings
T. J. Banks Interview
Valentine Writing Contest Winning Entry
Share! Giveaway! Freely Distribute!
End Ramblings
Notice
Copyright Information
Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information
————————————————
Ramblings
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Hello, Good Folks!

Yah, yah, late with my personal deadline for this issue, but by golly, I finally got to it. And I ain’t making excuses. That’s just the way it is! :0)

Changed PS site to have FREE and “Surprise” memberships, meaning less will be offered as free downloads to visitors. Several Valentine specific items were added to the site this month, some for visitors and some for Free and Surprise members.

SporkBinge has had two Texas musician interviews added since the last issue of SG. Read my interview with Rowan Cowan,  who does Texas Country “Outlaw” music. Or read my interview with Michael House,  who is heavy into the 60’s/70’s Metal/Psychedelic sound with his band DarqSyde.

Sold the child’s saddle (Whoo-hoo!), so removed the blog post about it from Sorrel Sunflower, but still two adult saddles available there, plus other odds and ends. Nothing new added to that site, and nothing done to Sporkette, Digital Frolic, Resell Ebooks Buzz or eBookMouse. Grrrr.

Oh, did get a skin care product blog post published this past week. You may not know I’m an Independent Sales Representative for that well-known company, but I am, and have been so for almost two years. The company made the “Blog” feature available several months ago, but I haven’t been active with posting there, as you can tell. LOL! Love many of their products. Oh, yah!

Here’s some advice I hate to give, but going to, since your computer could get infected with a virus or malware: DO NOT CLICK ON ANY LINKS WITHIN SEARCH ENGINES THAT HAS MY NAME [PATRICIA SPORK] IN DESCRIPTION!

This past week, some freaking a-hole hacker transgressed on at least 16 domains (not mine…yet) and added some rogue page files. The page titles, so far, are Valentine-themed and my name [Patricia Spork] is being used as a keyword for those pages. If you click on the Valentine-related page links within search engines, you may wind up on a malicious attack page that will automatically download the “new” virus “Rogue:W32/SecurityTool.AA”…or who knows what else.

I contacted most of the domains (those I could locate “Contact” information for) and warned them of the malicious attack abuse. Most of the domains are registered in Europe, with some in Asia, South America and the United States. Several of the domain owners have contacted me, thanking me for the notifications. Those that contacted me have removed the rogue pages from their servers. Being most of the sites are in languages other than English, maybe my e-mails weren’t read or discarded or never received, so other page links are still showing in search engines.

I wouldn’t have known about my name abuse, except for being signed up to Google Alerts ™, so I highly recommend if you are not signed up for this service, then consider doing so.

Also, if not for one of the domain owners (whom I fondly call “HackerTracker”), I wouldn’t know about that particular virus. Poor fella had approximately 2000 rogue files on one of his domains, which totally urked the heck out of him. Rightly so! Being he’s very tech savvy, he’s hot on the trail of the culprit. So do me a favor and take a moment to wish HackerTracker much success with his hacker tracking endeavors. Thanks.

And if you are a super-sophisticated, super-savvy, super-techie, Super Geek and want to do some super, super hacker tracking, just do a simple super search for my super simple name [Patricia Spork] and start super-surfing from there. But if you do, be super careful, for super-dupers can be super-duped. :0)

Now tell me…if this type situation happened to your good name, would you warn the Internet community not to click on links having your name affiliated with them?

Hackers can ruin my name in search engines on the Internet, but they can not ruin my personal ethics and morals, nor take from me my name. So, to this particular hacker, I state, “UP YOURS, MF!”

In proud defense and defiance,
Patricia Spork (aka Sporkette)
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T. J. Banks Interview
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T.J. banks, Author of A Time For Shadows (Photo by Zeke)

T.J. banks, Author of A Time For Shadows (Photo by Zeke)

T. J. Banks is the author of several novels, the most recent being the historical romance A Time For Shadows.

Having read previous works by Ms. Banks, and having enjoyed the reads, I requested a review copy of A Time for Shadows in return for my book review. Thankfully for me, T. J. Banks accepted my request and mailed the review copy my way as soon as she received printed copies.

Being a prestigious “cat writer”, this new direction in writing from T.J. Banks is a pleasant surprise. And if it hadn’t been for my friend, Alina Oswald, I may never have been aware of T. J. Banks or had opportunity to read any of her books. Thanks, Alina, for hooking us up!

T. J. and Alina are good friends. As a matter of fact, T. J. recently interviewed Alina and posted the interview at her “Sketch People” blog site. Read the interview.

Anyhoo, to me, T.J. Banks is now a budding historical romance writer, and I’m thrilled to have interviewed her about her first book in this genre. Thanks, T. J! So in great gratitude to her, I share our interview with you. :0)

SPORKETTE: What prompted you to write the fiction romance novel A Time for Shadows?

T.J. BANKS: I’d always been haunted by my grandmother’s story about Max, the brother she’d lost in WWI. Something about the way she told the story stayed with me; in fact, it doesn’t take much for me to transport myself back in time to the afternoon she told me the story while we were sitting under the big willow tree at the old farm. She had loved that older brother of hers very much – so much so that she didn’t rest easy about him till many years later, when she finally got a chance to visit the cemetery, in France, where he was buried. My aunt, who was with her, says she put her hand on the grave – much as Iris does at one point in the book – and murmured, ‘It’s dry.’ Apparently, my grandmother had nightmares for years about his having been buried in a water-logged grave because it was so close to the coast. Anyway, Max’s story led to the writing of Shadows, although that story obviously plays only a small part in the book.

SPORKETTE: Why did you choose World War I for the novel’s time period?

T.J. BANKS: I’ve always been fascinated by WWI…and not just because of my great-uncle’s tragedy. Some incredibly powerful literature came out of that war: Wilfred Owen’s and Siegfried Sassoon’s poetry; Vera Brittain’s Testament of Youth; and Robert Graves’ Good-bye to All That.

And literature aside…let’s not forget that this was a war unlike a war anyone had ever seen before. None of the old rules of warfare applied anymore. It was the last war that cavalry was used and the first that saw chemical warfare, ambulances and airplanes being made use of. And it changed the psychic landscape of a generation.

I had a history professor who emphasized how all the Victorian ideas of science and progress were obliterated during the trench warfare and men were ‘reduced to living like moles in the earth.’

Last, but not least, the Second World War came out of the badly made peace of the First. Had that peace been more equitable, there might not have been a socio-economic climate for Hitler to flourish in. You cannot understand WWII fully without studying WWI.

SPORKETTE: What is your favorite fact blended into A Time For Shadows, and why?

T.J. BANKS: I’d have to say the use of Francis Derwent Wood, the British sculptor who came up with the electroplated masks for disfigured men. It was really the beginning of plastic surgery as we know it today.

The masks were, as historian Lyn Macdonald points out, ‘temporary affairs that would last a few years at most, but they helped,’ and ‘[f]rom behind one of Captain Derwent Wood’s masterpieces, a disfigured man could look the world in the face knowing that the world could look back at him without shuddering.’

I was fascinated by a mind like Derwent Wood’s…one that could come up with such a creative solution to such a seemingly unsolvable problem. So, he had to go into the book.

SPORKETTE: How do you think your ‘nurse and soldier romance‘ theme differs from others on the market today?

T.J. BANKS: Well, I honestly see the romance as being secondary. It’s really more about the war and Iris’ growth as a person. That was, as I’ve said before, one of the joys of writing the book…watching her grow and take on a life of her own. She gets her heart broken open – once or twice (at least) by the war – and is transformed by the process, becoming the strong, compassionate old soul that journalist Dawn Kailey comes to know and love in the prologue and epilogue. It really is a trial by fire for Iris.

SPORKETTE: Why did you add a supernatural animal character to A Time For Shadows?

T.J. BANKS: I like a good ghost story. I also have an ‘office cat,’ Hawkeye, who kept me company during the writing of the book, so it seemed only natural to give him a part in it. Hawkeye’s asking for royalties now.

Seriously, though, I came across a number of WWI photos and postcards that showed enlisted men fussing with cats and kittens that had strayed into the camps and trenches – drawn by the rats, no doubt – and stayed on as mascots. I even found a postcard showing a tabby [cat], named Togo, ‘on watch’ inside one of the guns of the Dreadnought – an incredibly powerful British battleship. Togo was listed on the card as ‘the pet of the Dreadnought.’ So you might say there’s a historical basis for Hawkeye in the book.

SPORKETTE: Which male character in A Time For Shadows is most fleshed out and what is his main fault?

T.J. BANKS: That’s a tough question. Jerry, Iris’s lover, and Joe, whom she eventually marries, are clearly the most flawed. Jerry’s badly shell-shocked and frequently lashes out at Iris as a result. And Joe isn’t exactly the most honorable soul in the world. But are they the most fleshed out? Somehow I don’t think so. After all, both of them are ‘off-screen’ at the Front during much of the book.

SPORKETTE: How were you effected while writing about the tragedies of war?

T.J. BANKS: You can’t read about any war and not be moved and/or sickened by its horrors. And WWI had more horrors than most…men being gassed, blown to bits or crucified on barbed wire. Plus, so many men were killed by what we now call ‘friendly fire,’ thanks to the stupidity of many of the generals. So I was – no pun intended – blown away by the terrible waste in human lives.

SPORKETTE: What type friendship do you believe transpired between your characters, Dawn Kailey (unemployed journalist) and Iris MacCurdy (retired school teacher, once a WWI Red Cross nurse)?

T.J. BANKS: I think that it gradually becomes a surrogate mother-daughter relationship, with Dawn standing in for Iris’ absent daughter, Lucy. And, remember, Dawn starts out much as young Iris did, as an introspective outsider without ties to anyone. So, in a very real sense, they parallel each other.

SPORKETTE: Of your characters, whose war-time friendship do you like best in A Time For Shadows, and why?

T.J. BANKS: That’s easy…her friendship with the Australian soldier, Tim Skinner. He’s based on my late husband, Tim Spooner, who died in a car accident in 1995. Tim is always there for Iris; in fact, we last see him as a funny, slightly crotchety, utterly loyal old man, who has hurried down to see his old friend because he knows she needs him. And I love that because my Tim was only 34 when he died, and in my book, he gets to live out his life…he gets to be old. And, for the record, the real Tim could do a pretty mean Australian accent.

SPORKETTE: How do you hope A Time For Shadows affects readers?

T.J. BANKS: I hope that people will be moved by it…that while reading it, they will forget that these characters are just characters…same as I did, while writing about them. I think that’s what any writer hopes for.

And I also hope that the book will inspire people to pay more attention to the First World War, which really has – to borrow a phrase – become ‘this half-buried war.’ And it’s much too important to be written off like that.

***
T. J. Banks is the author of A Time for Shadows, Catsong, Souleiado, and Houdini, a novel for young adults which the late writer and activist Cleveland Amory enthusiastically branded ‘a winner.’ Catsong, a collection of her best cat stories, was the winner of the 2007 Merial Human-Animal Bond Award. A Contributing Editor to laJoie, she has received writing awards from the Cat Writers’ Association (CWA), ByLine and The Writing Self. Her writing has been widely anthologized, and she has worked as a columnist, a stringer for the Associated Press and an instructor for the Writer’s Digest School. She is currently writing a blog called ‘Sketch People,’  a series of interviews with interesting folks doing interesting stuff.

***
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Valentine Writing Contest Winning Entry
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If you recall, the Valentine Writing Contest consisted of writing 100 words about why Sporkette can’t be your Valentine. My grandkids were to vote on what they thought to be the most creative and interesting reason why I couldn’t be the contest entrant’s Valentine. Well, they didn’t get to vote because only one entry was received. LOL! So, instant winning unedited entry is…

Why Sporkette Can’t Be My Valentine

By Levada Pendry

Ahhh alas! Sporkette can’t be my valentine because she is not red like a rose. She is plenty prickly with thorns, but those won’t qualify her. Red, lots of red is required.  Preferrably a dozen and long stemmed, and expensive.

Hey, love is not cheap!

My other valentine requirement is yummy deep dark chocolate with surprise centers.  Wrapped in a fancy gold box of course.

Sporkette is way too vanilla to qualify for that. She is much more like a crunchy rice krispy gooey treat. You know the kind that sticks to your teeth like superglue!

So sorry Sporkette, for that ONE day a year, you just don’t measure up. But for the other 364, you are the best friend a person could ever have.

***

Levada Pendry

Levada Pendry

Levada Pendry is a freelance writer, web designer, and quilter, living on the Upper West Coast of the United States.  ‘Follow‘ her.

***
Man, thank gosh for friends!

Luv ya, Levada…and thanks so much!
***

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Share! Giveaway! Freely Distribute!
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The e-books available as free downloads further below are by other authors. I don’t endorse the authors or their e-books, or any content within the e-books. All of the e-books can be distributed to others. The Rights can be read within the e-book or may include a separate Rights license of some sort. You will need a ZIP utility program and PDF reader to extract files and read the e-books. Click on the titles below to download the zipped e-book folders to your computer:

Check Your Website

Breakfast in a Flash

Delicious Puddings

Garden Wormery Guide

“How Brain-Friendly Learning Can Release Your Child’s Infinite Potential”

Any inquiries or download problems, contact me.
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End Ramblings
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Obsolete Fools

Hackers are but Internet whackers,
Masturbating codes for pleasure and fun;
Stealthy they are, stroking naive sites,
Leaving electronic jism spattering the hordes!

Do they not know that life is short,
That brilliant minds – gifts – not to be wasted;
That bodily circuits shut down with age,
Like any old computer does as time fades?

What then of perverted, deviant, obsessions,
When sneaky, demonic, passion decreases?
Will they replay triumphs, once thought existed…
Or realize…they’re obsolete fools like tools once used?

~Sporkette
(aka Patricia Spork)
*********************************************
NOTICE:
Sporkette Gazette is published by Patricia Spork (aka Sporkette) at www.sporkettegazette.com.

READ: Terms, Policy and Disclaimer on this site (www.sporkettegazette.com).

I hope to heck all content in this Online Newsletter is legal and not too defamatory or libelous and that I’m not infringing on anyone’s rights. I’m willing to be held accountable for any wrongdoing, but please know, everything published in this newsletter is done so in good faith and with as much integrity as is possible for a southern hick that doesn’t have much knowledge about law.

January 2009 – Patricia Spork
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Copyright Information
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Sporkette Gazette is Copyright 2003-2010 Patricia Spork. Some content may be copyright of other respective authors. Copying any portion and publishing any of the content elsewhere is not permitted without express written permission from Patricia Spork or any respective authors.

If you would like to share any portion of Sporkette Gazette with a friend or family member, please do so by sending someone the URL for this issue. Thank you.

Sporkette Gazette Copyright 2003-2010 Patricia Spork,
All Rights Reserved Worldwide
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If you’re using some type of RSS Feed Reader, click on the blog name and look for a Settings section where you should be able to click on Unsubscribe.

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If using some type of “Live” bookmark, click on the blog name and right click for drop-down menu where you can click on Delete.

***

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02
Jan 2010

Sporkette Gazette – Volume 5, Issue 1 – January 2, 2010

By sporkette

SPORKETTE GAZETTE
http://www.sporkettegazette.com/
January 2, 2010 – Volume 5, Issue 1

Patricia Spork (aka Sporkette), Publisher
Contact Sporkette!
———————————————–
IN THIS ISSUE
———————————————–
Ramblings
Alina Oswald (Photographer) Interview
Valentine Writing Contest
Share! Giveaway! Freely Distribute!
End Ramblings
Notice
Copyright Information
Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information
————————————————
Ramblings
————————————————
Happy New Year, Ya’ll!

To let you know, this issue was to have been published as the last issue in 2009, but I got distracted throughout the holiday season, so now it’s the first issue for 2010. Sporkette Hatchette is not in this issue. May not appear again; then again, it may.

Imagine a few of you woke with hangovers yesterday morning. Awww…too bad! <snicker, snicker> Not me, for I woke with indigestion from gobbling down too much yummy food at the church Chili Cook-off. Daughter and grandkids were with us. We brought the New Year in together. Real blessing! Oh yah!

So, you fools make resolutions you won’t be keeping this year? I did, main one being to clean my office, which may take until next year to do. If you saw my office, you’d understand why such a chore. LOL!

Anyhoo, “Soldier” – my wild turkey short story – formatted into an e-book available for members only at PS site. Also added to the site is my first blog theme design, “Winter Storm” – a free download.

Let’s see…wrote a poem (“Nine Years“) and created funky artwork (“SoulMusic“), then published them at Sporkette. And I added Thanksgiving and Christmas pages to Digital Frolic.

I decided not to use Resell Ebooks Buzz just for health and self-improvement digital products. I’ll let you know what I do with that site, if ever I make time to work on it. And I’m still planning on using eBookMouse for plant and animal e-books and graphics…one of these days.

Three Western saddles – one, a child’s saddle – added to Sorrel Sunflower. Although made in Mexico, they are decent leather saddles for those who can’t afford higher-priced saddles. We mainly use these type, ’cause we’re po’ folks. LOL!

SporkBinge – now my Texas musician interview site – is relaunched. Whoo-hoo! Man, I’ve had a blast listening to music tracks! And…met some nice, talented folks! So far, three interviews published and another to be published soon. I’ll try to publish at least one or two interviews there a month.

Well, babbled on long enough. Ya’ll have a great year!

Sporkette

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Alina Oswald (Photographer) Interview
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Alina Oswald, Author of "Journeys Through Darkness"

Alina Oswald

Alina Oswald is a freelance writer and photographer, whom I’ve known for several years. When we first met online in 2002, she was a blossoming writer. Writing endeavors led Alina into the realm of photography. In the last couple of years, Alina has taken many photography courses and advanced in photography skills and equipment. This year, she self-published several photography books, her first being Backbone. Congratulations, Alina!

Being friend to Alina, she has gifted me an assortment of her published works, including photo calendars and photography books. Lucky me! And since I am always supportive of close friends and enjoy promoting their creative works, I requested a “photographer” interview with Alina. She, of course, agreed. :0) Thank you, dear friend!

You may have noticed I’ve interviewed Alina before, about her book, Journeys Through Darkness.  I’m hoping that by reading this newest interview, you’ll view Alina Oswald not only as a writer, but also as the professional photographer she is now.

SPORKETTE: What caused you to become a serious photographer?

ALINA OSWALD: Writing articles. In general, editors are more prone to consider article ideas, and also to assign a writing project if they know the related photography is also covered. Not every article may need a photo, but most of them do, especially those covering interviews (especially interviews with celebrities), events, or even book or show reviews. Also, I lost a few writing assignments because the editor couldn’t find a photographer to take the adjacent pictures; therefore, I decided to write the article and take the pictures myself. Yet, to add photography to my writing, I first had to learn how to take (actually photographers ‘make’ don’t ‘take’) good, quality images. Otherwise, the editors would not accept them for publication.

SPORKETTE: What type of photography equipment do you use?

ALINA OSWALD: I’m a Nikon™ shooter. For lighting, I use available light (when… well, available), and also strobes for studio photography. I also like to paint with light – I use a variety of flashlights, iPhone ™ applications, etc. (after all, ‘photography’ means ‘painting with light’ or ‘writing with light.’)

SPORKETTE: What is your favorite photography ‘tool’ and why?

ALINA OSWALD: I actually have two favorites. I love using my 70-200mm lens. It’s heavy and pricey, but this low-light lens is truly awesome. Wonderful for portraits! In my opinion…totally worth carrying to photo assignments. Also, a fun ‘tool’ to use is the Lensbaby Composer®. Personally, I love it because it allows me to add special effects to the image. I’m not sure if the effects can be created in Photoshop™. (Experts say ‘No.’) If possible to recreate…the task would cost a photographer lots of hours in front of the computer and not behind the camera, shooting.

SPORKETTE: Do you prefer color or B&W photography, and why?

ALINA OSWALD: It depends on the mood, subject, and others. Color can give a vivid,  more…alive tone to the image. B&W or sepia offer more of a sombre character to the image. Lately, I’ve been into B&W and sepia, while working on a series of self-portraits…still a work-in-progress.

BackboneAOswaldTSPORKETTE: Why did you choose Backbone as the title for your first photography book?

ALINA OSWALD: The book is a second incarnation of my solo show from 2008. I initially wanted to call the show ‘Chasing Rainbows‘–first, because the rainbow flag is the flag of the LGBT community and my show celebrated the courage of its unsung heroes;  second, because I actually do chase rainbows, with my camera. I love rainbows because of what they represent–hope–and the glimpse of the universe surrounding us that they offer. Yet, I didn’t have any good enough rainbow pictures to use as feature image for cards and, therefore, for the book cover. So, while browsing through literally hundreds of pictures I had, I stumbled upon ‘Backbone.’ I thought it was just perfect for the show, a symbol of the core (the spine) of any community, really, representing individuals whose names may not be recognized, yet whose dedication and strength surpass any obstacles.

In the case of LGBT and AIDS, I’ve covered the two communities in writing and photography for almost a decade now (it’s sometimes hard to believe). During this time I’ve discovered wonderful people who’ve accepted me, and allowed me to hear their voices and also make my voice heard. Like in any community, it is because of these unsung heroes that the community flourishes. Backbone is for them, because they represent the… well, ‘backbone‘ that supports us all.

SPORKETTE: What prompted you to implement a wood cross necklace draped down the spine tattoo gracing a human spine for your ‘Backbone‘ photograph, which is the cover image for your book, Backbone, and what is the cross’ significance?

ALINA OSWALD: Actually, I tried to shoot for two topics during the same photo shoot: for ‘Backbone,’ and also for a photography group I’ve belonged to for some time now. The topic for the group was ‘Solitude‘. I was aware of the model’s spine tattoo (I once saw the tip of it coming out of his t-shirt) and wanted to photograph it. I told him to bring a cross because of the idea of integrating a cross in my Solitude assignment, since people usually pray and meditate in solitude. Yet, at the beginning of the photo shoot, I didn’t really know what to do with the model, the cross and Solitude. That was until the model starting slapping his back (slightly, playfully) with the cross at the rhythm of ‘We Will Rock You.’ I just happened to notice the image possibility and told the model to stay put. I hopped on a chair (he was on the floor) and took the picture of his back. Only later that day I had the time to start to grasp the details in the image (like the wood cross aligned with the tattoo).

SPORKETTE: Why did you choose to self-publish Backbone?

ALINA OSWALD: I chose to self-publish because I just wanted a few copies of the book for those who’ve modeled for me, those who’ve been supportive of my work, and also those who couldn’t make it to the show. Self-publishing is pretty fast compared to traditional publishing. Also, the book is only a small ‘extra’ to the photographs in the show, nothing else.

SPORKETTE: Of the over 30 photographs in the Backbone book, which was the most difficult to create…and why?

ALINA OSWALD: There are a few of them, actually: ‘Fashion Statement‘ (the Speedo™ rainbow) took quite some time to create, because I had to shoot quite a lot of ‘Speedos,’ and then to choose the right ones for the rainbow and, finally, to make the rainbow image in Photoshop™. ‘Backbone in B&W‘ is one of my first images in which I experimented with painting with light (I took the picture in total darkness, in a very tight and tiny dark room, by painting with a tiny flashlight).

I think my favorite is ‘The Awakening,’ which is also an example of literally painting with light in total darkness. The image almost didn’t happen. The photo shoot was a test shoot, one that allowed me to experiment and try out new things. Looking through the images, my first impression was that I didn’t have any one worth using. Then I converted two of the images in B&W and made the composite that’s now ‘The Awakening‘. I think the title is perfect, capturing the essence of the book with the same name containing a collection of my older poems and newer pictures.

SPORKETTE: What is your favorite subject to photograph, and why?

ALINA OSWALD: Again, it depends of the mood, and includes sunrises and sunsets, light paintings, and also fantastic individuals, not necessarily in fabulous outfits.

SPORKETTE: You recently self-published The Awakening and The Best of MJ – both, photography books – so, in your opinion, what do they reveal about you as a photographer?

ALINA OSWALD: I think the two books reveal the two sides of my work, thus far. The Awakening is more sombre, with sombre tones of B&W and sepia, with poetry to match those tones (or the other way around). The Best of MJ is about gorgeous, fantastic and fabulous individuals; it’s about color (but not only), male beauty and fabulous outfits; it’s about fashion and fashion statements. I loved putting together this collection. I’m thinking of making a calendar of fantastic and fabulous guys. Anybody interested?

Talking about fantastic and fabulous people, I have to give many thanks to my wonderful model, MJ. The guy is a godsend to a photographer. I captured only a small sample of his outfits in The Best of MJ.

SPORKETTE: As a photographer, what do you want your over-all body of works to express to others, now and in the future?

ALINA OSWALD: Reality. As a journalist and photojournalist, I have to capture reality at its core. Many times reality morphs into works of art. I believe that any art form should reflect at least a version of reality, but reality nonetheless; hopefully, without sugar coating or ‘happy bubbles‘ that isolate us from the wide and wild world outside.

Although it may be easier to live in a happy bubble, we cannot escape reality because life is real, as is our mortality. And while we may be able to escape life, we can’t escape our mortality. Therefore, we do have to deal with reality, to understand it and make the best of it. We can do that by learning about the lives of those who’ve come before us. One way to do that is through the artifacts they’ve left behind. If we fake reality in our artwork, then the generations to come will have an askew perspective of our lives, of what defines us as human beings, living in this day and age.

***

Alina Oswald Alina Oswald Alina Oswald is a freelance writer and photographer living in New York City area. Her latest books include Journeys Through Darkness, a biography, and two photography books: The Awakening and “The Best of MJ. To contact her, please visit Alina’s site.

***

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Valentine Writing Contest
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To enter the Valentine Writing Contest, write 100 words about why Sporkette can’t be your Valentine. My grandkids (teenagers, unaware they are to be the judges) will vote on what they think is the most creative and interesting reason why you don’t want me for your Valentine. Oh, they should enjoy this! LOL!

Submission Guidelines:

Word Count: 100 (max.), includes title.

Format: Black, Times New Roman 12 pt., Plain Text Only, Single Space, No Indents.

Include: Short bio and relevant URLs.

Deadline:  Midnight – January 31, 2010.

Prize: Let’s see…what should the winner get as a prize? Me? Hahahahh. No, not cool. Hmm, okay, I think I’ll be sweet and pay $5.00 to the winner. Maybe the winner will use the dough to buy a Valentine card for a special, special someone, like…me. Heehee.

Enter this contest by embedding your work in the body of an email with Subject Heading “Valentine Sporkette” and send to sporkettegazette-AT-sporkettegazette.com.

Response Time: 24-72 hours, or longer depending on circumstances.

By submitting any work to enter this contest, you assure that you are the original creator of the work and grant Patricia Spork (aka Sporkette) the right to publish the work (unedited) and your name in the next online issue of Sporkette Gazette (www.sporkettegazette.com). You will be notified if you are the contest winner, prior to publication. You also grant Patricia Spork One-Time Electronic Serial Publication Rights – Internet Use Only and Online Archive Rights.

Contest winner announced in next issue of Sporkette Gazette (expected publication date of 2/5/10, but could be sooner; then again, could be later.)

To help inspire you, five reasons why Sporkette should be your Valentine:

  • She’s filled with love (for herself).
  • She bakes great cakes (just ask the grandkids sputtering out dry crumbs).
  • She’ll wear your heart (gold or silver).
  • She writes poetry (no romantic inklings).
  • She shares her chocolates (if you can find them).

Okay, Lil’ Valentines, did that help? Hope so. I guess I’ll find out by next month. So should you! Haha!

———————————————-
Share! Giveaway! Freely Distribute!
———————————————-
The e-books available as free downloads further below are by other authors. I don’t endorse the authors or their e-books, or any content within the e-books. All of the e-books are free to give away, so I do because I like sharing free stuff with others. To be honest, some of the e-books, I don’t fully read, either because the subject matter does not interest me or because I get turned off by the excessive advertising blatantly displayed in some of them. But that’s me, hard to please. LOL!

Anyway, you might find one or more of the e-books to your liking (advertisements or not), as I have done by scanning through many over time. You will need a ZIP utility program and PDF reader to extract files and read the e-books. Click on the titles below to download the zipped e-book folders to your computer.

Christmas Coloring for Children (Yes, this e-book should have been made available last month, but hey, coloring is a good activity for any time of the year.)

How to Successfully Organize Your Home

Starting Your Internet Business Right

Super Affiliate Marketing Secrets

Unlocking the Niche Code

Any inquiries or download problems, contact me.
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End Ramblings
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2010
New Year Sphere

Sun shines
- a chandelier -
cupping world…
our sphere’s brassier.

Little trinkets, souvenirs –
we are great imagineers;
so persevering, we appeared,
seeing last year disappear.

We meet New Year as summiteers,
climbing heights, for hopes premier;
and though our course, at times may veer,
our thoughts are true…our paths sincere.

~Sporkette
(aka Patricia Spork)

P.S. “Summiteer” – to me, someone who climbs to highest peaks.

*********************************************
NOTICE:
Sporkette Gazette is published by Patricia Spork (aka Sporkette) at www.sporkettegazette.com.

READ: Terms, Policy and Disclaimer on this site (www.sporkettegazette.com).

I hope to heck all content in this Online Newsletter is legal and not too defamatory or libelous and that I’m not infringing on anyone’s rights. I’m willing to be held accountable for any wrongdoing, but please know, everything published in this newsletter is done so in good faith and with as much integrity as is possible for a southern hick that doesn’t have much knowledge about law.

January 2009 – Patricia Spork
———————————————–
Copyright Information
———————————————–
Sporkette Gazette is copyright of Patricia Spork. Some content may be copyright of other respective authors. Copying any portion and publishing any of the content elsewhere is not permitted without express written permission from Patricia Spork or any respective authors.

If you would like to share any portion of Sporkette Gazette with a friend or family member, please do so by sending someone the URL for this issue. Thank you.

Sporkette Gazette Copyright 2003-2010 Patricia Spork,
All Rights Reserved Worldwide
—————————————————
Subscribe to Sporkette Gazette
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Subscribe using either the RSS feed or e-mail delivery options available on this site: http://www.sporkettegazette.com/
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Unsubscribe from Sporkette Gazette:
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An “Unsubscribe” link should be available in delivered e-mails.

If using some type of “Live” bookmark, click on the blog name and right click for menu where you can click on Delete.

***

Category: Sporkette Gazette Volume 5  Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  Leave a Comment
06
Oct 2009

Sporkette Gazette – October 6, 2009 – Volume 4, Issue 11

By sporkette

Sporkette Gazette
http://www.sporkettegazette.com/
October 6, 2009 – Volume 4, Issue 11

Patricia Spork (aka Sporkette), Publisher
http://www.patriciaspork.us/
Contact Sporkette!
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IN THIS ISSUE
———————————————–
Ramblings
Sporkette Hachette
Tweed Scott Interview – Except III
Alligator Thanksgiving Writing Contest
Share! Giveaway! Freely Distribute!
End Ramblings
Notice
Copyright Information
Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information
————————————————
Ramblings
————————————————
Howdy-doody, Tootie-Frooties!

Boy, time has a way of rocketing by, doesn’t it? Oh well, I’m finally here with another issue. Ain’t ya happy? I am, for another issue published means another project marked off my current To-Do list. And I just know you’re dying to know about this past month’s completed projects. Heheheheh. Yah, right! Like you really give a hoot. Haha! Well, I don’t really care if you care or not, but I’m going to share about them anyway. Oh, poor you….

Finally finished that freaking clover e-book started months ago. Much research went into Clover Miscellany, a compilation of information about clover plants. Some pretty cool stuff in there, if ya like clover trivia. Yet to publish at my membership site, for “paid” subscription members only, but will do after I get all the older e-books up there.

Created some Halloween-themed desktop wallpaper and e-cards and packaged them as a graphics package for resale. Halloween Wallpaper and E-cards has 6 wallpaper and 7 e-cards, set up as 6 sets: “BatRat,” “PumpkinCat,” “PumpkinHead,” “Scarecrow,” Spooky,” and “WitchBroom“. I mainly hand-drew the characters, then scanned and fiddled with them in photo-editing software. What fun! Get free download of “Spooky” at Sporkette. The full package (see set samples here, with Master Resale Rights, is available at Patricia Spork for “paid” subscription members only.

DigitalFrolic.com domain name is no longer for sale, and I’ve turned it into an online shop containing holiday e-books and graphic packages, most with reseller rights. Only Halloween category. I included my Halloween graphics package there, too (cheaper to get it at PS site, if you get the Trial subscription membership, only $4.95, which allows 3-day access to all content onsite).

I’ll be doing a similar online shop with Resell Ebooks Buzz, although it will have health and self-improvement digital products. Also, similar shop to be done at eBookMouse, with plant and animal related e-books and graphics.

Seems I added more tangible products to Sorrel Sunflower since last SG issue, but not certain and too lazy to go check right now, so you check it out.

Got a new printer (poor for photo printing, even though a photo printer), but it will get me by for printing black text. I’ll get another printer by Christmas, for photo printing purposes only. Now, my darn CD/DVD drive has gone out. Can’t back up a darn thing on disks! Grrrr.  At least I have back-up hard drive.

Well, that’s enough about me. Got anything you want to share about you with SG and me? If so, contact me.

Until next issue, ya’ll have fun!

Sporkette

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Sporkette Hachette
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“Are you going to take the H1N1 vaccine?” ~Pig Fan in Missouri

Sporkette: Hell, no! Not even if made ‘mandatory’. Not enough research done, in my opinion. Heck, I’ve never even had a regular flu shot. I got turned off to them by seeing some friends and family members wind up with the flu soon after being vaccinated.

To be honest, I think the recent Swine Flu strain was man-made and released to the public on purpose, to see how fast it would spread and what effects it would have on populations world-wide.

No doubt, pharmaceutical companies will profit from this new vaccine. Surprised not a million commercials running advertising its benefits, much less potential hazards to health…of which, I’m sure there are many that wouldn’t be announced, because not known…at least, at this time.

Let “sheeple” be the guinea pigs. Not me!

***

“Can I really earn income from writing?” ~Newbie Writer in Connecticut

Sporkette: Sorry, but there’s no guarantee. If you want to make money writing, work at it! Hone your writing skills, study the markets, and submit your work…then, hope and pray for the best to happen. Good luck!

***

“Do you know how to braid rugs?” ~Anonymous Rug Crafter

Sporkette: No, but I know how to braid my hair. Oh, and horse tails and manes. Does that count? LOL!

****
Click here to Hatchette out with Sporkette. Send a comment, question or opinion. By sending an e-mail, you automatically grant Sporkette (aka Patricia Spork) the right to publish and archive the content from your e-mail in any online Sporkette Gazette issue at any time.  Sporkette (aka Patricia Spork) has sole right to decline or publish any e-mail content submitted to her. Submitters will not be notified of either decision.

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Tweed Scott Interview – Excerpt III
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Texas In Her Own Words by Tweed Scott

Texas In Her Own Words by Tweed Scott

This excerpt is 3 of 3 of my interview with Tweed Scott, author of Texas In Her Own Words. (Read the first except. Read the second excerpt. Read the book review.)

Since the last interview excerpt, Tweed has closed down Tejas Communications.com and rolled everything necessary from that site to TweedScott.com, since people locate him online by his name and not the company name.

Anyhoo, I thank Tweed for taking the time to do the interview and wish him continued success with his writing career. Thanks, Tweed!

TWEED SCOTT INTERVIEW – Excerpt III:

SPORKETTE: How did you get from radio broadcaster to award winning nonfiction book author?

TWEED SCOTT: To answer that could be another book. Simply put, I have been writing most of my life. What I consider my first good piece of writing was done back in high school. I was assigned a term paper my junior year. As I dug into the research, I realized the project was bigger than a term paper due in about 4 weeks. I knew I was going to have to write another term paper for my senior year, so I banged out another quickly researched term paper for the junior session. I continued to research the original project throughout my junior year and senior year. When it was completed, I received an exceptional grade on the project. The subject matter dealt with the personal price that each of the signers of the Declaration of Independence paid for signing that document. I left for the U.S. Navy the morning after high school graduation and never gave another thought to writing.

After the service, I started college and ‘fell’ into radio. I used radio to work my way through college. Upon graduation, I already had a radio career started and I stayed with it for the next 28 years. The interesting thing about radio stations is that they are the consummate marketing machines. That’s all they do 24/7/365…they market themselves and their clients. Commercial broadcast stations by definition are fueled by commercials and promotions. Before anyone hears or sees commercials, they must be written and produced. Over the course of those 30 years, I wrote thousands of commercials and promotional spots. I cannot put a number on how many I wrote and produced…I do know it was easily in the thousands. You have to have some copy before you go into the studio to produce the commercial.

What is interesting now, looking back, I never once thought about the writing process over all those years. I never thought, ‘Gee, I’m writing.’ Writing was just a necessary function of my job. I won’t puff it up and tell you I developed my talent for writing while writing marketing copy. It simply was part of my job. I never thought of myself as a writing talent, even after winning a couple of awards for my commercials.

When I left the radio business, one of my many jobs was that of a producer of a Saturday morning hunting and fishing outdoor show. The host of that show also published a country lifestyle monthly magazine. I had written a funny little piece and showed it to him. He liked it and asked to put it in the magazine. The next thing I knew, I was a staff writer and wrote a piece every month. This went on for at least a couple of years. I developed a talent for interviewing people and writing profiles of them.

After radio, I asked myself, what now? What can you do at this stage of your life? I thought about it for a couple of days and realized that I could convey a thought on paper, coupled with all that experience writing radio and marketing copy, I decided to hang out my shingle as a professional copywriter. That’s when I started Tejas Communications. I never thought about writing books…just never crossed my mind.

Then that fateful night came when my wife made the silly statement to my son that he had something I would never ever have…he was born in Texas. That was the spark that got me to thinking about why Texans are so different than most people. I then pursued my search for the T-Chromosome.

I didn’t write a book to win awards. Don’t get me wrong, awards are cool but it wasn’t something I doggedly sought. In fact, my publisher is the person who submitted the book for the award. I was as surprised as anyone was when we found out that ultimately we were the first runner up of a national book award. The book that beat us, The Tree House, had already won about half dozen national awards. I figured we must have been running in some tall cotton. The book has really turned out to be a little gem. As I mentioned before, my publisher and I look at Texas In Her Own Words as ‘the little book that could.’

SPORKETTE: What made you decide to invest in billboard advertising, and was this type of promotion worth the costly expense?

TWEED SCOTT: Second part first: No, it wasn’t a profit center for us. Having said that, I do know it brought in some buyers…probably just not enough. The reasoning behind doing this began with one of the people in the book. He was from the Amarillo area and had many friends there. He found the billboard company that would sell us two billboards for about 250 a piece for two weeks. It seemed like a good price to me. He bought one and my publisher bought one. We put his picture on the board with the caption ‘Come meet the most interesting man in Texas…‘

What was cool was the number of people who actually saw and mentioned the billboards at the book signing. At the end of the day, we sold 41 books in 90 minutes. I know it was not a strategy most authors or publishers would normally use, but in this case, it did make some sense for us.

SPORKETTE: After your book’s publication, a snowball effect occurred, with TV, radio and newspaper interviews…how are you adapting to still being in the media spotlight?

TWEED SCOTT: It has been a help having a publicist for the first 11 months of the life of this book. He has lined up several of the interviews and speaking engagements for me. I welcome the publicity. I was in broadcasting for 31 years and have no fear of dealing with the media. Publicity is media time and space that is essentially free and you take it when you can get it. With my background, I have an insight as to what the media is seeking from me. It is an asset having sat on the other side of the interview table asking the questions for so many years. I simply try to deliver good pithy answers to the questions that get tossed my way. I have a real passion for this book and my subject matter. I believe that comes across in my interviews, whether it be the electronic media or print. I want the audience to feel some of the excitement I feel.”

SPORKETTE: How proud are you of Texas In Her Own Words and why?

TWEED SCOTT: Immensely proud. I wrote this book to be an evergreen. The material is not dated. The concepts that come out of the backside of the book were 170 years in the making. The tone of the book is almost reverent. I was able to capture the personality not only of the contributors but of Texas itself. I am extremely proud of my wife’s cover shot. Frankly, that cover has sold a bunch of books for us. I’m glad that she is so involved with the book. In many ways, it’s become her book. I am so proud for my publisher. She worked hard to make it happen. It takes amazing people to literally buy into your dream and help you achieve it. For that I will be forever grateful….

SPORKETTE: What advice would you give a writer contemplating writing a first nonfiction book?

TWEED SCOTT: Again, have passion for your subject matter. If you’re not passionate about what you’re writing about, you have no right to expect your audience to feel any passion or interest in what you’re doing. The next thing is do the research. Simply, do the work. Writing a book is a multifaceted process. It requires several skill sets or processes. Researching, traveling, interviewing, of course writing, and editing. I would also hasten to add that every book is different and not only that but each writer’s work habits and processes are different. So it’s tough to make a blanket statement. In my case, when I started the project, I didn’t know where the work would take me or what the outcome would be. I’m a big believer in just do the work. I trusted the work to lead me to a place where I would begin to understand what I was learning. Therefore, in my case, it was more of an open-ended conclusion. I just did the work and eventually the book told me what I needed to know and provided enough information for me to draw logical conclusions.

Other nonfiction works may rely more on understanding historical facts where we already know the outcome but seek better clarity. Perhaps another work might be akin to proving scientific theory.

Another point should be addressed here. I was always told that if you didn’t know who was going to buy your book before you wrote it, then don’t bother (unless you just have to write it for yourself). I’m not saying do it the way I did it, but I didn’t have a clear image of who was going to buy my book. My book boiled down to a simple act of curiosity that other people found interesting. Looking back, it wasn’t even a calculated gamble. So in that respect, I have probably beaten the odds. It gets back to my original thought on this question. Believe in what you are doing and never give up. I learned a long time ago, reputations are not built on ‘gonnas’. I’m going to is not a result. It’s not even a plan. If there is one quality a writer must possess when writing a book, regardless of genre, is perseverance. You must keep the end in sight and never give up until you get there.

Prepare to be successful. Nothing compares with that sense of accomplishment you will feel when you hold your book in your hands for the first time. It is truly one of life’s most magnificent highs. Be proud. You will have earned it.

SPORKETTE: If Texas in Her Own Words is so popular that you sold 2,300 books in 7 months and won an award, why is it there was no suitable place for your book in the 2006 Texas Book Festival?

TWEED SCOTT: I would love to know that myself. I have my suspicions. Like any big function, there is politics involved. I intend to get to the bottom of it. I found it ironic that I know my book sold more copies in…7 months, than some of the panelists have sold…. Not only that, but two of the people in my book spoke at the Texas Book Festival.

If you read the small print in the submission process, they essentially tell you that the self or independent small press need not apply. How a book about Texas can not get into the Texas Book Festival, especially with measurable commercial acceptance, just escapes me. The final hypocritical aspect is that the small and independent publishers were invited to buy a table booth for $600 to show their books. My wife put it all into perspective when she asked, “Where would you rather have your book; the Texas Book Festival or The Alamo?“  The book is on sale at the Alamo. My wife is a wise lady.

SPORKETTE: What faults do you have as a writer and how do you compensate for them?

TWEED SCOTT: Ummm. This not a question I’ve ever been asked before. Faults? The first thing that comes to mind is that I don’t do enough of it. I have been asked dozens of times, how do you become a writer? I tell them, it’s easy. It involves only four steps. Get a pen or pencil, get a piece of paper, sit down and write. I also tell them to write for at least ten minutes everyday and get into that habit. Now having given that advice, I don’t always do that. Writing is a discipline and you have to keep doing it to get better. It’s true, practice makes…well, better.

Another fault as a writer I can think of is not reading enough good books. I admit for having a soft spot for both Twain and Poe, but the world is full of great examples of literature. Reading is another way of expanding your skill as a writer.

SPORKETTE: What are your 5 most favorite factoids in Texas In Her Own Words?

TWEED SCOTT: Gosh, that’s a fun question. Without a doubt, my favorite question is: Outside of being at opposite ends of I-10, what attributes do the cities of Orange, TX and El Paso/Anthony, TX share? I devoted two pages to that…that includes a special map.

Other favorites include: Amarillo is closer to four other state capitols than it is to its own; If Texas were to secede from the union, it would own the 8th largest economy in the world. A couple of more would include, Rhode Island would fit into Texas 220 times; and finally, Texas is 11 miles taller than it is wide.

SPORKETTE: For those who don’t know, what is Tejas?

TWEED SCOTT: The first written reference to Tejas was found on an old Spanish map going back to the 16th century that referred to an area along the Texas coast as Tejas. Here’s how I explain it in the book: Texas derives its name from the word ‘Tejas’…pronounced “Tay-haas.” It is thought to refer to the remnants of various Indian tribes…the Nasoni, Nabedache, Hainai, and the Nacogdoche. The handbook of Texas says the French and Spanish knew the Tejas as the Hasinai. The word itself is thought to be a Spanish pronunciation of the Hasinai word for friend. It is said these were the first words with which the natives greeted the first Europeans. The word has also been interpreted as meaning ‘ally.’

SPORKETTE: Is a second volume of Texas In Her Own Words planned for the future, and if so, how might someone locate the submission guidelines?

TWEED SCOTT: Early on, while still interviewing people, I did think about the sequel. What was funny was that it was difficult in the beginning to get people to sit down and talk with me. It might have been because they didn’t really believe I was writing a book. Once the word got out that I was serious about this project, I never ran out of people to talk with.  As I finished the book, I came to the realization that I couldn’t do this book again. Oh, I could go and interview another 60 people for a second volume, but I submit to you, the conclusions would all be the same. I’ve already written what those are. If I did this again, it would merely be with different people. Now if the reading public told me that’s what they want, surely I’d do it, but I haven’t sensed that.

Now I have been asked many times about my next book. My plan at this point is two books – one with my wife. I would like to drive around the state and let my wife take pictures of the various ways Texans show or display their pride. Flags on barns, mailboxes, rooftops, windmills, cowboy hats, etc…the list goes on. There is not another state in the union that displays its pride as prominently as Texas. So, that’s one book. The other would be along the same format as Texas In Her Own Words, but this one would be interviewing the owners and operators of many of the old line businesses in Texas. There are some great stories there. I know of one business that literally was won in a card game.  Now, is that Texan or what?

SPORKETTE: Please close with your best written Texan’s philosophy, attitude—at least 300 words.

TWEED SCOTT: “Never let anybody piss down you neck and tell you it’s raining.” That is one of the guiding Texas philosophies of my life. All that means is if that if you have a dream, you owe it to yourself and your dream to pursue it. It’s your dream. There will always be 200 people lined up to tell you, you can’t do it because you are not old enough, not big enough, not rich enough, not smart enough, not (you fill in the blank) enough to succeed. You can never, ever, ever, ever, buy into that. It’s your dream. The people quick to tell you that you will fail are the ones who are already failures themselves. Just nod and smile and get on with your dream.

One of the reasons I love Texans so much is because they are possibility thinkers. This place oozes in that can-do attitude. Want to get something done. Tell a Texan it can’t happen and then get the hell out of the way. Some action is about to take place. Granted it may not be well thought out but something is about to happen. Texans are “How” thinkers and not “If” thinkers. Go back to the pioneers. For them, no was not an option. This was such a brutally tough place to live. You had essentially two choices when faced with a challenge. You could quit, lie down and die or get up and dust yourself off and say, “Well, that didn’t work, now what? How do we make this happen?“  Texas was built by that kind of character.

***

Tweed Scott

Tweed Scott

Besides being an award-winning author, Tweed Scott writes marketing collateral and website content for a few selected clients. He is working on his next book, Texas 50 Over 50, about 50 Texas home-grown businesses over 50 years old. As a motivational speaker, Tweed speaks to an ever-growing variety of businesses and organizations, motivating people by using Texas as a vehicle to deliver his points.

To know more about Tweed Scott, request interviews, inquire about speaker presentations or purchase Texas In Her Own Words, visit Tweed’s site. Read Tweed’s blog. Follow Tweed Scott.

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Alligator Thanksgiving Writing Contest
———————————————-
Alligator Thanksgiving?

Well, sure. Why not? Must be the Cajun in me to think such things! Heheheh.

So, how creative can you be to implement an alligator…some how…in a Thanksgiving short story for this weird writing contest? For a little inspiration, have a look at my alligator image.

Give you any ideas? Hope so. And if so, and you want to enter this contest, then keep the short story to 500 words maximum and get it to me by midnight, October 31, 2009.

If your story is selected as the winning entry (or is the ONLY entry), you get your choice of any two digital products listed in the “Just So Ya Know” category blog posts at Patricia Spork. Some items are e-books, while others are graphics packages. Some products are by me, while some are by other creators, with most having some type of reseller rights. And just so ya know, by the time this contest ends, more products will be added to that site, so you’ll have quite a variety to choose from…of course, that’s if ya win. :0)

Oh, be sure to send a short bio with your submission – include any relevant URLs.

Also, follow submission guidelines further below. Thanks.

F.Y.I.: By submitting any work to enter this contest you assure that you are the original creator of the work and grant Patricia Spork the right to publish the work (unedited) and your name in the next online issue of Sporkette Gazette (www.sporkettegazette.com). You will be notified if you are the contest winner, prior to publication. You also grant Patricia Spork One-Time Electronic Serial Publication Rights – Internet Only and Online Archive Rights.

Okay, if still interested in the writing contest, here are the guidelines:

Word Count: 500 (max.)

Format: Black, Times New Roman 12 pt., Plain Text Only, Single Space, No Indents.

Deadline:  October 31, 2009.

Enter this contest by embedding your work in the body of an email with Subject Heading “Alligator Thanksgiving Writing Contest” and send to sporkettegazette-AT-sporkettegazette.com.

Response Time: 24-72 hours, or longer depending on circumstances

Contest Winner announced in next issue of Sporkette Gazette, with expected publication date of 11/15/09, but could be sooner; then again, could be later. LOL!

Have fun!
———————————————-
Share! Giveaway! Freely Distribute!
———————————————-
You will need a zip utility program and PDF reader to extract and view files. Click on the titles below to download the zipped e-book folders to your computer.

7 Basic Rules of Living Without Lies

Delicious Pumpkin Recipes

Halloween Safety Tips

Protect Your Computer System

Any inquiries or download problems, contact me.
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End Ramblings
———————————————

Halloween Warning

Take heed the bat and witch in flight,
The ghosts above the graves;
Tred soft around the werewolf lairs,
And hide from vampire fangs;

Smile wicked like the pumpkin heads
And guard sweet treasure bags,
Since strangers roam the night in search
Of treats lost from trembling hands!

~Sporkette
(Patricia Spork)

*********************************************
NOTICE:
Sporkette Gazette is published by Patricia Spork (aka Sporkette) at www.sporkettegazette.com.

READ: Terms, Policy and Disclaimer on this site (www.sporkettegazette.com).

I hope to heck all content in this Online Newsletter is legal and not too defamatory or libelous and that I’m not infringing on anyone’s rights. I’m willing to be held accountable for any wrongdoing, but please know, everything published in this newsletter is done so in good faith and with as much integrity as is possible for a southern hick that doesn’t have much knowledge about law.

January 2009 – Patricia Spork
———————————————–
Copyright Information
———————————————–
Sporkette Gazette is copyright of Patricia Spork. Some content may be copyright of other respective authors. Copying any portion and publishing any of the content elsewhere is not permitted without express written permission from Patricia Spork or any respective authors.

If you would like to share any portion of Sporkette Gazette with a friend or family member, please do so by sending someone the URL for this issue. Thank you.

Sporkette Gazette Copyright 2003-2009 Patricia Spork,
All Rights Reserved Worldwide
—————————————————
Subscribe to Sporkette Gazette
—————————————————
Subscribe using either the RSS feed or e-mail delivery options available on this site: http://www.sporkettegazette.com/
—————————————————
Unsubscribe from Sporkette Gazette:
—————————————————
These suggestions may not work for everyone:

If you’re using some type of RSS Feed Reader, click on the blog name and look for a Settings section where you should be able to click on Unsubscribe.

An “Unsubscribe” link should be available in delivered e-mails.

If using some type of “Live” bookmark, click on the blog name and right click for menu where you can click on Delete.

***

Category: Sporkette Gazette Volume 4  Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  Leave a Comment
24
Aug 2009

Sporkette Gazette – August 24, 2009 – Volume 4, Issue 10

By sporkette

Sporkette Gazette

http://www.sporkettegazette.com/

August 24, 2009 – Volume 4, Issue 10

Patricia Spork (aka Sporkette), Publisher
Contact Sporkette!
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IN THIS ISSUE
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Ramblings
Sporkette Hachette
Levada Pendry Interview
Tree Stump Writing Contest Winning Entry
Share! Giveaway! Freely Distribute!
End Ramblings
Notice
Copyright Information
Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information
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Ramblings
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Hey, hey, I’m still here!

As you may have noticed, I changed the theme for this site. I like this lighter colored design.

Congratulations to friend, Alina Oswald, for two of her photographs (“Blue Reflections: Nature’s Element” and “Chasing Rainbows” ) being accepted and now on display in the “Cool Blue” art show at LITM (Love Is The Message) gallery in Jersey City, New Jersey, through the month of August. Way to go, girl!

Alina’s thoughts about the acceptance: “I’m kinda disappointed, especially when I thought that “Water Reflections” was a good one, but, hey… what can I do? (I know, find a gallery in NYC, :-) ) May try to. LOL!”

Now isn’t that funny after having an acceptance, one could also be disappointed? Well, it does happen, as you’ve just read. But as most creative folks know, a work rejected at one place, could be accepted at another place. I’m sure Alina, will see “Water Reflections” hanging in a gallery one day, even if it’s her own gallery. Want something bad enough, you can make it happen, that’s for sure, one way or another. Oh, yah!

Let’s see, what have I been up to…well, I recently created some graphics and entitled the series as “Healthcare Reform Opinion!” One of the images is used as a background on my Twitter account. If you like it, you can download the background image and a little different style desktop wallpaper image here . You may notice I changed the WordPress theme at that site. Like that gorilla!

More items were added to Sorrel Sunflower and Patricia Spork. Click on “Free Downloads” in “Categories” section at the PS site to see what you can download for free, and click on “Just So Know” to find out what’s available for members only.

Grandkids start school tomorrow, so won’t be visiting us as often. Bummer, but that means I’ll have more time for office work That’s kind of good, for I’d love to finish an e-book about clovers that was started months ago. When finished, the e-book will be made available for members to my PS site. Much planned for the site, and many things yet to be added. If interested in my work (images, e-books) and other neat things I’ll share, you ought to subscribe as a member, for as time passes, not all items will remain available, even for paid subscription members. To get access to all content onsite, you can subscribe to the 3-day Trial membership for only $4.95.

Got a new dog – an Old English Mastiff, named Dozer (think bull dozer – LOL!). He’s two years old and gives huge slobber kisses. If you like large breed dogs, you’d probably love him. So now, have six dogs. Love ‘em all!

Parts in my photo printer are “near the end of their service life”. That means it will die soon. My dryer died. Now I’m wondering what the third thing will be to bomb out on me, since things seem to come in three’s. Please, not my computer!

Hope things go well with you. :0)

Sporkette

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Sporkette Hachette
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“Do you make much money from writing?“

~Kurious Katrina in Wyoming

Sporkette: Hahahahah. I wish! Nope, hardly ever make any money, but that’s because I don’t cater to a specific audience other than myself. I got to a point where I hated targeting audiences and the submission and follow-up process, so opted to self-publish my works – most of them being offered as e-books from my sites only. I do this because I’m more attuned to self-satisfaction rather than the self-glory of being an author of books mainly gathering dust in bookstores. I do have a small base of people that appreciate my work, and their appreciation is much more meaningful to me than money could ever be. But don’t get me wrong, I do make a dollar or two, here and there, from my writing and other creative works. Sure couldn’t live on the meager income, though. Thank God, for a supportive husband!

***

“Why do you like to write ebooks?“

~Again, Kurious Katrina

Sporkette: For one, I consider myself a ‘brevity writer,’ so the shorter a work, the better, especially since I go off on many tangents and don’t make time to stick to one subject or one topic for too long. That doesn’t mean I don’t have some long e-books published, for I do. E-book length is not determined from the outset, but is determined during writing or compiling information for my e-books. When an e-book is done, it’s just done, no matter how many pages it takes for the content.

One person told me that one of my e-books was the best K.I.S.S. book he’d ever read. If you don’t know, that acronym means ‘Keep It Simple Stupid’. So, for number two reason, K.I.S.S. basically sums up how I feel when creating an e-book – the simpler the better, for me and the reader. That doesn’t mean I haven’t taken a gross amount of time for research, writing, compiling or formatting most of my e-books, for quality definitely counts to me.

Thirdly, e-books, I feel, meet the needs of some members of today’s rushing society, those folks that prefer being online more than not and don’t make time offline for long, pleasurable book reads. All writers should meet that type of societal need. Besides, the last ten years or so has been the dawning of the e-book age, and today’s writers should strive to be a part of that age, especially, since sadly, e-books will gain momentum and eventually conquer the book publishing industry in the future. To be honest, I think you should hold onto your favorite print books, for one day, your later generations won’t have access to them unless you have passed them down to your heirs…and them, to theirs; otherwise, they will have to pay high cost or visit museums to actually see, and maybe, read a ‘real’ book. My opinion, of course.

Fourthly, creating e-books is a favored creative outlet, and nowadays, I only outlet what I wanna outlet. :0)

***

Click here to Hachette out with Sporkette. Send a comment, question or opinion. By sending an e-mail, you automatically grant Sporkette (aka Patricia Spork) the right to publish and archive the content from your e-mail in any online Sporkette Gazette issue at any time.  Sporkette (aka Patricia Spork) has sole right to decline or publish any e-mail content submitted to her. Submitters will not be notified of either decision.

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Levada Pendry Interview
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Levada Pendry

Levada Pendry

I met Levada Pendry at a California woman’s shelter in fall of 1990. To make a long story short, we wound up becoming roommates for a short time and have been friends ever since. We often talk by phone or video chat, constantly brainstorming together and tutoring each other about various skills learned. That’s because we’re mega-thinkers, with jillions of ideas, and self-motivators when it comes to learning something new.

Levada is a bookkeeper, who, in her spare time,  earns extra income by writing and designing Web sites. She is an expert quilter. She has gifted me many of her completed quilting projects, from lap blankets to bed covers. Lucky me! Last year Christmas, I received a beautiful, quilted tree skirt for my Christmas tree. Cool, huh!

My advice: If you don’t know how to quilt and don’t have a quilter friend, get one. Heheheheh.

Anyhoo, I decided to interview Levada because of her talents. As you’ll see from some of her answers, she isn’t too forthcoming or as detailed as she might be if writing for a paying market. LOL! I imagine she was in a rush to do something other than answer freaking interview questions for my beloved SG. But hey, I got the interview. Yeehawzaphat! So, here it is:

Sporkette: What is your main writing interest and why?

Levada Pendry: Currently, I am writing ebooks on non-fiction subjects.

Sporkette: How have you implemented your sewing and quilting knowledge into written works?

Levada Pendry: Well, it is fun to combine interests. Plus, when I write an ebook on a quilting subject, I know that there is a HUGE base of quilters out there interested in this subject. They are what is referred to in marketing terms as a ‘hungry’ market.

Sporkette: How has writing skills helped you as a Web site designer for clients?

Levada Pendry: Frequently, I find myself recommending to them that they produce an ebook and offer it as an inducement to get folks to sign up for their newsletter, thus building a list that can be marketed to.

Sporkette: How have you used your creative skills to barter for things you wanted, such as for a tattoo and navel piercing?

Levada Pendry: LOL! That’s not fair to tell the world about my barter habits, not to mention my body decorating spree that I have been on lately. So I refuse to answer this question.

Sporkette: Why do you believe that writers do not always need to seek publication?

Levada Pendry: I recently started to write what I call my ‘God Notes’. I am a Christian, and I was experiencing that the Lord was really doing some things in my life, especially on Sundays during worship. I get sort of double the benefit because now I go home on Sunday afternoons and write about what has happened that day. Sometimes…well, actually, many times, it is an intensely personal experience that I don’t care to share with others. Sometimes our writing can just be for US!

Sporkette: What are your “God Notes” and would you ever consider publishing them?

Levada Pendry: Well, as I said above, probably not. But there are the times when they are not so personal or they are of a nature that lends itself to sharing/publishing. So perhaps sometime I will put them together in an ebook.

Sporkette: How does writing your Christian screenplay differ from writing a fiction story?

Levada Pendry: Now you are touching on the direction I have been called for my writing to go. In the next few years I plan to transition to mostly writing Christian screenplays. So many stories in the Bible (and some true personal experience stories people have told me), God purposely takes someone with everything stacked against them, and works a miracle. God cares not a whooof about the circumstances of this world! So even though it is impossible to get a script read in Hollywood, and impossible to get a script sold, and impossible for an unknown writer to succeed, if God WANTS it to happen, then it will. These last few years have seen a tiny but amazingly successful series of Christian movies being produced and released. I believe this is a mission field unlike any other, and I look forward to writing those scripts.

Sporkette: We discussed angels as having fragrance, so would you describe the scent you sensed from your guardian angel?

Levada Pendry: I really don’t know if it was from an angel, but it was from the spirit. Here is what happened: I was working on a Christian ministry website. The ministry is called YouthAlive and it is the Oregon chapter of this national ministry. The leader had sent me a website template that he had picked to use, and when I unzipped it onto my computer, I was suddenly surrounded by the sweetest smell! Now this is a sort of miracle in itself, because years ago I had a virus which robbed me of most of my sense of smell. So I jump up. I am sniffing all around my computer desk trying to find the source of this wonderful smell. It was strong, and sort of flowery, but not like any flower I had ever smelled. I couldn’t find where it was coming from. I ran across the room, smelling the air coming in from the air conditioner…nothing. I ran outside my room…nothing. I went back to my computer desk, and there it was again. I enjoyed it for a couple of minutes, and then it slowly faded away and was gone. I don’t want to seem to be all flaky and religious, but it touched my heart. It seemed to be a manifestation of the spirit saying that the website I would build from this template would be a sweet aroma to our Lord.

Sporkette: Which of your written works do you feel has most contributed to society and why so?

Levada Pendry: It is the one that I haven’t written yet. Look for it when I publish it…because it is going to be good! A lot of people get scammed out of a lot of money these days, especially by what they call ‘Dating Scams’, which is worse than anything, in a way, because they prey on lonely people…and not only steal their money, but break their hearts too! The research is all done. It is an actual play-by-play, real life story of my run in with a scammer and how I ‘played’ him by turning a lot of their scammer tricks against him. I guarantee you will be laughing when you read it. I plan on making it a free ebook. I hope it will open the eyes of anyone who frequents any of the online dating sites, which is where these predators hunt.

Sporkette: Give me three reasons why potential writers should consider another career?

Levada Pendry: Oh, sure! My best advice is that if you can live without it, then do so.

But if you can’t stand to live without writing, then with hard work you can overcome these bad aspects to the writing business:

(1) It is hard to make enough money, especially if you opt into the old school business model of trying to get your work published by the established publishing companies. I personally decided to self-publish and it has been a good decision.

(2) It is lonely work. I would suggest to you that you cultivate real life relationships with real life people, especially with other writers.

(3) Unless you plan on writing on a yellow pad with a dull pencil, you will have to become expert at technology…simple necessary things, such as computers, writing programs, graphics programs, PDF programs, CD burning software & hardware, digital delivery of electronic products, payment gateway usage, blogging, social media,, etc., etc, etc.

And, oh yes, creating your own website – another part of self-promotion, which is a necessity for any writer.

***

Levada Pendry is a freelance writer, web designer, and quilter, living on the Upper West Coast of the United States. To learn more about Levada Pendry, visit her site or ‘Follow’ her.
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Tree Stump Writing Contest
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Congratulations, Jorge Ochoa!

Jorge’s “Pride” was the only entry received for the contest, so is the automatic winner for this contest and gets Jorge the 30-day membership to my Patricia Spork site. Thank you, Jorge, for your participation in the contest. Hope you enjoy your membership that began today.

Read Jorge’s contest entry below, which is an unedited 10 minute writing exercise inspired by my tree stump image:

Pride

By Jorge Ochoa

I was once a big strong fella. My trunk was straight and reached for the sky. My branches were full and strong, and my leaves were a buzz of green. Maybe it was my pride that brought my downfall. I think so now.

I wouldn’t listen to the other trees. I knew better than those old dodgers! When you are rooted in one place, you gotta be smarter. The wind can scream through your branches and strip you bare. The water can tumble up against you and dig you outta of your dirt. The freezing air can crack you right open like a bird egg in a bad circumstance.

The birds are our messengers since they are free to fly from tree to tree. We feed them, and they fly for us.

Late in the afternoon a bird lands in my branches.

“Mr Oak yonder thinks a storm is acommin” sang Mr Bird.

I didn’t believe so. The day was bright and a light breeze tickled my leaves. That old oak was always hatching up something, and I never really liked him anyhow. I shook my branch lightly so Mr Bird would take a nice flight off.

“Mr Oak says curl your leaves in and droop down your branches” sang Mr Bird, hanging on tightly to the branch.

Oh, now that’s it! That old oak doodle was wanting me to make myself look silly!  I decided to stand more proud than ever. Mr Bird got tired of his tweeting and flew off finally.

Into evening I stretched as tall as I could. With all that concentrating on reaching, I didn’t notice that the clouds were gathering heavy and dark. I noticed as the wind  began whipping.

It was too late. A loud crack and sizzle dazzled me. I felt my very trunk split in an agony of rendering. That lightening severed almost down to the ground. My sap tears mingled with the rain now cascading down.

All through that stormy night I tried to imagine how my trunk would grow together again. I was fooling myself! My pride would not let me see that I would never again be what I had been.

In the morning, the bird came again. He found a branch not leaning too badly to the side.

“Mr Willow says that a man thing is coming.” Mr. Bird sang and then flew away.

I got very afraid. He had some kind of monster and it buzzed with a fearsome noise and bit me with the fastest teeth. My broken parts fell aside. The man thing gathered up my fallen parts and took them away.

I was left to be a stump of my former self. I had no more sap to cry. Everything including my pride is gone.

Over this long winter I have been thinking. Spring is coming soon. I bet I can put out some new branches from the top of this stump.

***
Jorge Ochoa is a Westerner who enjoys writing and wood carving. His first fiction novel is in draft mode. He hopes to self-publish his book in 2010.
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Share! Giveaway! Freely Distribute!
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You will need a zip utility program and PDF reader to extract files and view files.  Click on the titles below to download the zipped e-book folders to your computer.

Bird Posters (color printables)

Booksmarks (color printables)

Buying and Maintaining a Car Made Easy

How to Bookmark for Free Web Traffic

The Speedy Guide to Web Copywriting

Any inquiries or download problems, contact me.
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End Ramblings
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Autumn Hoarding

leaves flitter from trees
dropping acorns by dozens
as squirrels hoard food

~Sporkette
(Patricia Spork)

*********************************************
NOTICE:
Sporkette Gazette is published by Patricia Spork (aka Sporkette) at www.sporkettegazette.com.

READ: Terms, Policy and Disclaimer on this site (www.sporkettegazette.com).

I hope to heck all content in this Online Newsletter is legal and not too defamatory or libelous and that I’m not infringing on anyone’s rights. I’m willing to be held accountable for any wrongdoing, but please know, everything published in this newsletter is done so in good faith and with as much integrity as is possible for a southern hick that doesn’t have much knowledge about law.

January 2009 – Patricia Spork
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Copyright Information
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Sporkette Gazette is copyright of Patricia Spork. Some content may be copyright of other respective authors. Copying any portion and publishing any of the content elsewhere is not permitted without express written permission from Patricia Spork or any respective authors.

If you would like to share any portion of Sporkette Gazette with a friend or family member, please do so by sending someone the URL for this issue. Thank you.

Sporkette Gazette Copyright 2003-2009 Patricia Spork,
All Rights Reserved Worldwide
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***

Category: Sporkette Gazette Volume 4  Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  Leave a Comment
21
Jul 2009

Sporkette Gazette – July 21, 2009 – Volume 4, Issue 9

By sporkette

Sporkette Gazette

http://www.sporkettegazette.com/

July 21, 2009 – Volume 4, Issue 9

Patricia Spork (aka Sporkette), Publisher/Editor

http://www.patriciaspork.us/

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IN THIS ISSUE
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Ramblings
Sporkette Hachette
Tweed Scott Interview – Excerpt 2
Tree Stump Writing Contest
Share! Giveaway! Freely Distribute!
End Ramblings
Notice
Copyright Information
Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information
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Ramblings
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Congratulations to Alina Oswald! She had an Internet radio interview about her book Journeys Through Darkness. Yah, I’m a little slow announcing it, but that’s what happens when forgetful. Oochee-woochee!

Whoo-hoo, Maison Mosley! Love your Spirited Lady Community, of which, I’m a member. Beautiful site with lots of potential! Way to go, Maison!

DigitalFrolic.COM domain name is up for sale now and you can make an offer.

Added a few items to Sorrel Sunflower and Patricia Spork. Be adding more this week. Oh yah!

My desktop wallpaper “Butterfly Flower” is a free download at Sporkette.

Grandkids were here about two weeks. I went crazy sharing my computer. Hardly any office work done. But, oh, how I loved those brats here and looking forward to their return this weekend. Wondering what I can do to aggravate them this time around. Heheheheh.

Helped daughter move on July 4th. What a way to spend the holiday. Then, her separated husband had ‘capades, so drama, drama. Grrrr.

Hubby’s helping start up a new trail riding group. Wish I could ride, but back injuries from a horse accident persistently nag me and could be worsened by riding, so can’t ride. Wah, wah, wah!

Two days ago, got a new dog – two-year-old male – an Old English Mastiff – free! That’s right, FREE! His name is Dozer. He’s a sweetie – loves to give slobber kisses. Yuck-a-wuck-a!

Between, dogs, horses, turtles, grandkids, daughter and a great husband taking up much of my time, I’m doing pretty darn good getting done what’s getting done around here. Dang, I’m good!

Ya’ll really care about my personal life, huh? LOL! Oh well, have a super-duper time on the Internet, and after reading this issue, be sure to come back and read the next issue…if ya dare. <snicker, snicker>

Patricia

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Sporkette Hachette
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“I have a bit of exciting news, one of my short stories is going to be published…the magazine states in their guidelines that this does not count as professional publication. Exactly what does that mean? Does it mean I can send the story to someone else right away, or do I need to wait awhile? And when I do send it, will it be considered a reprint?“
~Vanessa in Texas

Sporkette: Congratulations!

To me, the editor is just stating not professional publication because he isn’t paying writers. But to other editors, a publication online is a publication, pay or not, so you couldn’t offer First Rights to any market if story is “first” published at that site. But you could offer Reprint Rights or One-Time Rights elsewhere, at anytime.
***

“Dear Sporkette, I’m new at being published. I was wondering… what is the difference between publishing via POD and self-publishing? Thanks.“
~Anne Virtual World

Sporkette: I could give much info about my experience with Print-On-Demand [POD], but don’t have the time, so keeping this short for my benefit. Print-On-Demand companies provide fee-based services for publishing and printing books. POD service fees may include editing, cover design, book lay-out, salespage hosting, marketing and handling the payment process. A book is not actually printed and shipped until it’s purchased by you or a customer; hence, ‘print-on-demand’.

You should receive royalties for any book or e-book sold through a POD publisher. These royalties are generally higher than traditional publishers that pay an advance prior to publishing and printing an author’s book.

Some people in the writing industry believe there is a difference in POD and self-publishing, but to me, no matter how much control you have over the publishing process, if you have to pay to have your work in print book or e-book form, it’s self-publishing. And, if you print and bind your book at home or create your own e-book, it’s all at your cost, so I consider that, too, to be self-publishing.

***

“WTF is Sporkette Hachette?
~WTF

Sporkette: Something to confuse WTF’s like you.

***

Hatchette out with Sporkette by submitting your comment, question or opinion as plain, black text within body of an e-mail with Subject Heading “SH” and send to sporkette [at] sporkettegazette.com.

By submitting any e-mail, you automatically grant Sporkette (aka Patricia Spork) the right to publish and archive any content from your e-mail to www.sporkettegazette.com, in any Sporkette Gazette issue at any time. If you do not want your comment, question or opinion credited online or anything linked to from SG, then do not provide your full name or your Web site URL.

Sporkette (aka Patricia Spork) has sole right to decline or publish any content submitted to her. Submitters will not be notified of either decision.

Thanks!
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Tweed Scott Interview – Excerpt 2
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If you don’t recall, Tweed Scott is the author of Texas In Her Own Words, and I published the first excerpt of his interview in Sporkette Gazette January 27, 2009 – Volume 4, Issue 3. If you haven’t read the first excerpt yet, you might do so before reading this excerpt. You might also want to read the book review.  Since my interview with Tweed was so long, you’ll see a third excerpt in a future issue. For now, enjoy this one:

Sporkette: As a first time author, you sold 125 books at your first book signing, so what do you feel was the most effective promotion prior to the book’s release at the signing?

Tweed Scott: To start with, I have to tell you, I’d be lying to you if I told you I had a solid marketing plan. It was more of a marketing clue. For the book release party I had radio, TV, print and email working for me. My publisher had agreed to add the services of a publicist. He was helpful but I believe the biggest bang for my buck actually was the effort I put into my email campaign. I looked through my email contacts. I then compiled a mailing list from those contacts. I then composed an invitation and sent it out to about 200 people. After the event was over, I looked back at where the attendees came from and determined that most of the turn out was, in fact, from my email list. There were people I could directly attribute to the radio coverage, still others from the TV coverage but the preponderance of the turnout was directly from that email list.

Sporkette: How in the heck did you get a 2nd print run for Texas In Her Own Words 7 months to day of its release?

Tweed Scott: This to me is a remarkable story. My publisher and I think of this as ‘the little book that could.’ There are, I believe, several factors for our commercial success. The initial book release party was great. I have been told by several authors that your book release party will almost always be the biggest single day you’ll ever have. So far, they’ve been right; however, we have had consistent success on several fronts. For example, we did a book signing…in Amarillo that resulted in 41 copies sold in 90 minutes. We sold 26 copies at a book signing…in Corpus Christi. The book is available…throughout Texas.

I also do a great deal of public speaking to groups, clubs and civic organizations resulting in back-of-the-room sales. Thus far, I have been converting at least a third and, more likely, half the room with each speech. We have moved several hundred books this way. Another big factor that cannot be overlooked is the Alamo. About five weeks after the book was released on March 2, 2006, Texas Independence Day, the Alamo called and purchased 60 copies of Texas In Her Own Words. That was a stunner for me. That was instant validation of this book. Doors just blew open everywhere. Since then the book has been taken on by the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, in Austin. It is in the state capitol gift shops, several other museums in Texas, and several book stores and gift shops statewide.

Without blowing my horn too loudly, I have taken the marketing of this book quite seriously. It goes back to finding a publisher who believed in this work before they ever saw a word of the manuscript.

…It is important for new authors to understand, you will spend 6% of your time writing your book. You’ll spend 94% of your time selling it. Ultimately, it is up to the author to get out there and make it happen.

The initial print run was for 3,000 books. Seven months to the day of the release date, my publisher decided that we needed to go ahead with a second run…we didn’t want to run short over the holidays. It truly has proven to be a popular gift book…moved in the neighborhood of 2,300 books in 7 months; thus, the decision to move ahead.

Sporkette: You traveled extensively throughout Texas seeking interviews…what especially made the traveling time and expenses worthwhile, besides the endeavor to get content for your book?

Tweed Scott: Understanding. That’s the short answer. I saw Texas in a new way…up close and very personal. There is boundless beauty in every part of Texas, even the desert. I knew I couldn’t write a book about Texas sitting in a coffee shop in Austin. There are several states within the state. I knew I had to go to all these places if I was going to do this book justice. What really made the effort worth the time and expense was the absolute privilege of sitting down and looking across the table into the eyes of these wonderful Texans. Looking into their eyes, I peered through the window to their hearts and souls. Like the commercial says…the experience was priceless.

Sporkette: Being Texas In Her Own Words is an ‘as told to‘ you book, what were some unforeseen opportunities that helped you land interviews with well-known celebrities and a ‘Foreword’ by a potential governor?

Tweed Scott: There are a couple of points here. First, I was in radio for over 30 years. I was fortunate to have met and known many famous people. I’ve learned that famous people are just like the rest of us. They’re just people who do things we consider extraordinary. I’ve never really been in awe of stardom. So I just look at them as people. That makes the interview process much easier. Second, many serendipitous things did happen along the way that found me talking to some extraordinary Texans. For example, I went to interview entertainer, B. Boyd…in Spicewood, TX. That particular establishment is owned by P. Locke, W. Nelson’s stage manager. As I began to interview Booby, he asked if it was OK if Poodie sat in with us. That was fine by me. In course of the interview he asked me if I had interviewed Willie or Coach D. Royal yet. I said, ‘No.’ He then told me that I couldn’t do a book about Texas without W. Nelson or D. Royal or the Alamo.  He set the interviews up for me. I had already met them before, during my radio days, but this was far better. Poodie also took me to the Alamo movie set. It was a moving place, because for the first time, I got a real sense of what the Alamo defenders were facing. Those poor boogers never had a chance.

On the trip out there, I told him, I’d like to get K. Friedman to do the foreword. Again, I had met Kinky before but didn’t know him well enough to find him. Poodie said, just call him…yeah, like I had his home number.

The next day I did. I called Kinky and asked him and he said, “Yes, just send me the manuscript.”

Can you imagine it being that easy? That happened long before the race for governor was ever mentioned in the media.

There were several instances of running across people that I never could have dreamed of having a conversation. I actually stumbled across General G. Patton’s personal tank driver. Through another interview, I found a Pulitzer Prize winning author. It’s amazing how if you do the work, it will reward you with surprising results.

Sporkette: If you had a choice between fighting at the Alamo or fighting in the Civil War against the South, which would you choose and why?

Tweed Scott: The Alamo without question. As I mention the book, I believe Texans, to this very day, are somehow spiritually connected to those people at the Alamo…men and women. Texans admire courage, spirit and standing up for something you believe in even though the outcome may not be ideal. They got that from the Alamo. The story is well known. Those men and women could have left and saved their lives. They knew beyond a shadow of doubt their chances of survival were next to nil. Yet, they stayed anyway. How can you not admire that kind of courage? I certainly don’t have a death wish, but I’d like to think that I would have stood at that wall beside others who possessed the belief and fortitude needed to create a nation. The Alamo is the crucible of Texas liberty, bought and paid for by individuals who dared to dream, and purchased that dream with their own blood.

Sporkette: Do you think some of the people you interviewed were instrumental in getting Texas In Her Own Words available to mass audience? If so, how so?

Tweed Scott: From what I’ve seen first hand, yes, some of the people in the book have lent a certain appeal to it. The appearances of some others have certainly made it an easier sale. As I have told many people – because of my broadcasting background – I could have done this entire book with interviews with famous people. However, I thought, ultimately, that would have made for a mostly boring book. I wanted a really good cross section of Texans. What I call the people who walk the talk every day. Ironically, I have also seen people pull back because they viewed say, Kinky or even Willie as a polarizing factor. Not everyone in Texas loves Willie…same thing for Kinky. Perhaps because they live a different lifestyle. I knew that was a calculated risk to include them in the book. The bottom line for me was…I wanted them in the book. It’s a better book because of that. It is also a better book because there are people in there that most people couldn’t possibly know but who speak to the readers. Most Texans will find a piece of themselves somewhere between the covers of the book.

Sporkette: What was the most humorous incident that occurred during your interview quests throughout Texas?

Tweed Scott: The first thing that comes to mind was the initial conversation with B. Leftwich, Patton’s tank driver. As we were sitting down to do the interview, he started telling me about a ranch that was 2.1 RI’s. I know I looked at him quizzically. I was not familiar with the term. After thinking a moment under a furrowed brow, I knew I had been had. He was telling me the ranch was 2.1 Rhode Islands. We got a good laugh out of that one.

Sporkette: Texas In Her Own Words is an eye-appealing soft-cover book, inside and out…can you please describe its design and overall appearance, and where it’s available for purchase?

Tweed Scott: When I started writing and transcribing the interviews, I began by placing person’s name and vital data…birthplace, current residence and occupation at the top of the page. I did this just so I could easily keep track of them and recognize which interview I had in my hand. It was just an organizational device for me. I had thought of adding pictures of everyone I interviewed, but nixed the idea when my book designer, T. Dever, suggested that would give the book a ‘scrapbooky’ look. So we decided not to include a lot of people pictures.

I have no illusions…I am not a book designer…I’m a writer. I left the conceptual design with the book designer. After all, that’s what they do. I have to brag on Tami and her business partner, Erin. They have done some magnificent books and have won the prestigious Ben Franklin Award for book design at least a couple of times. Who am I to tell them? To her credit, Tami saw the vision of this book before she ever saw a word of copy. …A barbed wire motif runs throughout the book. That is something inspired by Tami or Erin. I find it appealing. Several book customers have mentioned it to me while thumbing through the pages.

Several times while in discussions with the publisher, we talked about soft cover versus hard cover or doing a split run. I didn’t feel like if we started with a soft cover, we could never go back to hard cover. I have never been one to want to spend a ton of my publisher’s money but I also wanted a good-looking book. The compromise was the soft cover with French flaps.

…I had no idea how the book would actually look. My first glimpse was the black & white PDF file. I was stunned even then. I knew this was going to be a gorgeous book.

Let me tell you a quick story. The printer overnighted me two copies of the actual book the day it came off the press. I can still remember my excitement trying to get into the mailer. What was so weird was when I held the book in my hands for the first time, the emotions ran the gamut. It was exhilaration; laugh out loud joy, excitement, and in a flash, abject depression. I’m not kidding. I went from this soaring high to this cold feeling of depression. At that precise moment, the three years of living with this book came crashing in on me. I realized at that moment that it was over. What I was holding in my hand was the culmination of three years of my life. This was it. I recognized that THIS was the book. Finally. I could not go back and change a word of it. It is what it is. That part is over. Almost immediately, I switched into the marketing mode and have been there ever since.

The book is available at all the Barnes & Noble Booksellers across the state of Texas; it is also available at The Alamo gift shop, the Bob Bullock State of Texas History Museum, and both of the State Capitol building gifts shops in Austin; as well as, Austin’s Book People and the Congress Avenue Card & Gift shop. You can find the book at the Admiral Nimitz Museum, in Fredericksburg; the Luckenbach General Store; The Panhandle Plains Museum, in Canyon, Texas; and at the Big Texan Restaurant’s gift shop on I-40 in Amarillo. That’s where, if you can eat the 72 oz. steak with all the trimmins’, you get it for free. We’re still opening up outlets, such as gift shops, around the state, whenever and wherever we can.

Sporkette: Would you mind crediting your wife here, for her photographic contribution to Texas In Her Own Words? Thanks!

Tweed Scott: There are, I believe, something like 78 photos in the book. My wife, Zee, took 59-60 of them. She just has a good eye. In fact, that stunning cover was her shot also. As I explain in the book, that particular shot was an accident of sorts. We passed a flag late in the afternoon and the sun went behind the flag and washed out the colors. I happened to see it and told her that she needed to see it too. I turned the car around. She got out and got down in the wet bar ditch and snapped two pictures. About a week later when we got the pictures developed, we were surprised at what we had. Later, my book designer chose it as the cover shot. That cover has sold us books. I have had more comments about that shot. Zee just has the eye. In the beginning, I was writing a book about Texas. After the book came out with her pictures adorning the inside and the cover, it was obvious this was as much her book as mine. I love sharing it with her.

Sporkette: How supportive were your family members while you worked on your book and what was their general opinion of Texas In Her Own Words after its publication?

Tweed Scott: That is somewhat amusing. I think, my wife especially, just understood and let me do my own thing. When it got really interesting was after she took the picture and it was chosen to be the cover…that’s when she really bought in to this project. After it came out, it became as much her book as mine. She has enjoyed the attention she has received for taking the cover and most of the interior pictures as well. My son, Tyler, thinks it’s cool that he helped cause a book to be written. My daughter was not happy with me because she was barely mentioned in the book. The truth be known, she was born in Oklahoma. Tyler is the Texas native.

The overall acceptance by family and friends has been heartwarming. So many of my friends are genuinely happy for me. I know they heard so much about this book…I’m sure some were wondering if there really was a book. Now that it’s out, they think it’s cool to have been around the process. I have one friend who became so inspired that one of her friends wrote a book that she has since written and published a book too. That’s cool. We can just look at one another and wink and we both ‘get it.’

Sporkette: Do you think the armadillo should be the Texas State mammal…why or why not?

Tweed Scott: No. I’ve always thought the horse should be the state mammal, for the simple reason the horse was so instrumental in the advancement of Texas. Some of the greatest light cavalry the western hemisphere has ever seen were, in fact, the Comanche Indians. The cattle drives certainly would have never happened without the horse. For me, the horse is almost synonymous with Texas. When you think of the Texas image, isn’t there a horse in there somewhere? What the Armadillo means to me is that when I’m traveling and I see one with four legs up on the highway…I know I’m back home in Texas.

Sporkette: Out of curiosity, do you ride horses or ranch cattle, and do you look good in a cowboy hat and tight jeans?

Tweed Scott: Actually, I’ve never owned a horse…but I can ride some. I wouldn’t say I’m an accomplished equestrian, by any stretch, but I like being on horses. We have run some cattle on our place, but didn’t particularly enjoy the experience. There’s just something about cows; you can look in their eyes and tell ‘there ain’t anybody drivin’.'  Actually, I do wear a cowboy hat much of the time. I started several years ago, because I wanted to keep the sun off my neck, nose and ears. I can burn easily. The only time you won’t find me in jeans is when I have to dress up. I do know how to wear my hat and jeans.

Sporkette: What is your main regret about the publication of Texas In Her Own Words?

Tweed Scott: Actually, there are two regrets. First (and I mention this in the thank portion of the book), both of my parents didn’t live long enough to see the book. The second regret was that although I had each of the people in the book sign a release – so that I could use there image and words in the promotion and marketing of the book as well as be in the book – I failed to seek permission to use their voices. I have all these interviews on tape and I can’t really use them to do an audio portion of the book or e-book. Some will be impossible to get again because there are already three people I interviewed for the book that have passed on. Trust me…that will be in my next release.

***

To learn more about Tweed Scott, request interviews, inquire about speaker presentations, or purchase Texas In Her Own Words, visit Tweed’s site. Also, read Tweed Scott’s blog.
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Tree Stump Writing Contest
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What can you write about a tree stump? Well, look at this image for inspiration, then get creative and write about that ugly stump for 10 minutes (no editing allowed), then send me the results. If I like what you wrote above all other works submitted, I’ll publish your work in the next issue – whenever that will be. If your work is the one published, I’ll give you a “Free” 30-day membership to Patricia Spork site. Not much there, yet, but will be adding more between now and the time of next SG publication. Oh, be sure to send a short bio with your submission – include any relevant URLs. Follow guidelines below. Thanks.

F.Y.I.: By submitting any work to enter this contest you assure that you are the original creator of the work and grant Patricia Spork the right to publish the work (unedited) and your name in the next online issue of Sporkette Gazette (www.sporkettegazette.com). You will be notified if you are the contest winner, prior to publication. You also grant Patricia Spork One-Time Electronic Serial Publication Rights – Internet Only and Online Archive Rights.

Okay, if still interested in the writing contest, here are more details:

Word Count: 10-minutes worth!

Format: Black, Times New Roman 12 pt., Plain Text Only, Single Space, No Indents.

Deadline:  Juts get it to me before next issue, which would more than likely be approximately two weeks from now.

Enter this contest by embedding your work in the body of an email with Subject Heading “Tree Stump Writing Contest” and send to sporkettegazette-AT-sporkettegazette.com.

Response Time: 24-72 hours, or longer depending on circumstances

Contest Winner Announced in next issue of Sporkette Gazette, with expected publication date of 8/04/09, but could be sooner; then again, could be later. LOL!

Have fun!
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Share! Giveaway! Freely Distribute!
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You will need a zip utility program and PDF reader to extract files and read the e-books. Click on the titles below to download the zipped e-book folders to your computer.

Top 5 Diet Disasters!

Article Marketing Strategies

Auto Sound Systems Made Easy

Use Bing for Quilting

Any inquiries or download problems, contact me.
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End Ramblings
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Rain lulls dullards to sleep and writers to write.

~Sporkette

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NOTICE:
Sporkette Gazette is published by Patricia Spork (aka Sporkette) at www.sporkettegazette.com.

READ: Terms, Policy and Disclaimer on this site (www.sporkettegazette.com).

I hope to heck all content in this Online Newsletter is legal and not too defamatory or libelous and that I’m not infringing on anyone’s rights. I’m willing to be held accountable for any wrongdoing, but please know, everything published in this newsletter is done so in good faith and with as much integrity as is possible for a southern hick that doesn’t have much knowledge about law.

January 2009 – Patricia Spork
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Copyright Information
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Sporkette Gazette is copyright of Patricia Spork. Some content may be copyright of other respective authors. Copying any portion and publishing any of the content elsewhere is not permitted without express written permission from Patricia Spork or any respective authors.

If you would like to share any portion of Sporkette Gazette with a friend or family member, please do so by sending someone the URL for this issue. Thank you.

Sporkette Gazette Copyright 2003-2009 Patricia Spork,
All Rights Reserved Worldwide
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