Literary License December, 2006

AWARDS DEADLINE FEB. 15 Newsweek surveying the publishing scene. whim”–whatever her 45 reviewers happen Books published during 2006 may be What’s an author to do? to be interested in on a given day. She entered in the annual SMA awards contest To answer that question SMA presented throws out all press releases. She does until Feb. 15, 2007. a panel of experts at the Nov. 14 meeting in favor books from certain small publishers. Entries must be shipped directly to the the Athletic Association. She has responded to books with Post-It® judges in each category, Tom Ciesielka, professional book tabs calling attention to pages of special The list of judges and complete publicist and columnist for Literary interest. Good cover design can help. instructions will be posted soon on the License, observed that newspaper literary None of the panelists wanted any phone SMA web site: www.midland authors.com editors get as many as 50 books a day. calls. E-mails should explain in the first and published in the next issue of Literary Cheryl L. Reed, books editor of the paragraph what’s different about your License. Chicago Sun-Times, said she has only book. West considers such factors as the Information is available from Carol Jean “seconds to decide” which books to assign reputation of the author, the significance Carlson, awards chairman: 1420 W. for review. A brief handwritten note and timeliness of the subject. It’s OK to be Farragut Ave., Chicago, IL 60640. attached to the book and calling attention persistent and keep trying, but self- (D)773/275-3999 (N) 773/506-7578. E- to a Chicago angle can help attract her published books from houses such as mail: [email protected]. attention. iUniverse and AuthorHouse have zero Cassandra West, a chance of being reviewed. EXPERTS TELL HOW TO KEEP editor who deals with books, said she finds West pointed out that a review may not YOUR NEW BOOK FROM SINKING huge press kits off-putting. She reads E- always be what you want. The reviewer WITHOUT A RIPPLE mail, but faxes are wasted. She never sees may declare that your book should make BY RICHARD FRISBIE them. Gutenberg wish he hadn’t invented Most books are never reviewed Jessa Crispin, founder and editor of printing. anywhere and consequently “sink without a Bookslut.com, a respected online journal Ciesielka said publicity for a book is ripple.” That was a dismal report from devoted to books, said her approach is “all easier to get than a review. Reed agreed.

THE BRADBURY CHRONICLES AND THE LIFE OF RAY BRADBURY

Sam W eller, whose biography of the noted science fiction writer won the SMA 2006 biography prize, will talk about his book and his subject.

Where: Chicago Athletic Assn., 12 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago

When: 6 p.m. social hour, 7 p.m. program, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007

Reservations NOT needed. Public invited. Reception and presentation $5 for nonmembers. SMA members and teachers and students with ID free. Snacks and cash bar.

Other Coming Events wife of 34 books, including adult biographies on artists including Frida Kahlo, Alexander Calder, Feb.13–“Young Adult Biography: The Back Door Edward Hopper, Diego Rivera and Mark Rothko. to History.” Judy Fradin will discuss how she and her April 10–Poetry, details to come. husband, Dennis Fradin, collaborate. They are May 8--92th Annual Banquet and co-authors of more than two dozen non-fiction Awards Presentation. children’s and young adult books and winners of numerous awards. Board Meetings Usually on the third Wednesday of each month: March 13–“Researching and Writing Biographies September through June, except December. of Dead Artists.” Speaker: Gerry Souter, president of the Midwest W riters Assn., and co-author with his

1 Her paper likes to feature interviews with let a contact get away without considering Chicago authors, complete with photos. at least one idea that goes beyond book LITERARY LICENSE Fiction has to stand on the merit of the reviews. ©2006, Society of Midland Authors, P.O. Box 10419, Chicago, IL 60610 work itself, but many non-fiction books Feature Story. Of course, you’d like lend themselves to a variety of publicity this story to be all about you. However, in Editor: Richard Frisbie, Suite 104, possibilities. case your contact doesn’t realize your 445 W. Erie St., Chicago, IL 60610 Crispin won’t touch “me toos,”–books greatness, try suggesting another topic and Phone: 312/397-0992 on subjects already well-covered. offer your expertise as a resource. Fax: 312/255-9865 Books editors aren’t “callous and Contributed Article. A contributed [email protected] horrible,” Reed said. There’s just so little article is a win-win for you and editors. time, so little space, so many books. They get a free article, which saves them Associate Editor: money and time, and you get to display Carol Jean Carlson BOOK PUBLICIST REVEALS your expertise and mention your book in SECRETS OF THE TRADE the byline. Literary License accepts BY TOM CIESIELKA Chapter Excerpt. This variation on the appropriate advertising inserts. For information, contact the editor. TC PUBLIC RELATIONS contributed article demands even less work It’s true that interacting with the media from you. It also gives readers a great idea www.midlandauthors.com takes organization, skill and innovation. of what the actual book is like. Make sure Training, research methods and pitching you get permission from your publisher techniques also help. However, what you before using an excerpt. rarely hear from publicists is that at heart, Event Listing. Many people discover PR is a lot simpler than you might think. It authors from book signings or speaking Not to Be Missed is basically the art of building relationships events. Let the local papers or magazines Bill Ott, editor of the ALA’s Booklist, to spread ideas. know when you will be out and about, and recently gave Robert Hellenga’s The Although simple, these relational rules they can tell potential readers when and Sixteen Pleasures (paperback, Delta, 1995) are key in connecting with the media and where to see you. a rave review in the Collection building the relationships to help you get Sidebar. Editors love ready-to-go Development section of American the coverage you deserve. sidebars. Suggest a funny or unusual idea Libraries. Say “Please” and “Thank You.” Like that you could write about, and put together It was among several books most people, media contacts don’t like some quick tips on the matter. recommended for reading by anyone rudeness. While it’s important to be direct, Book reviews are great, and you should planning a trip to Italy. Hellenga’s novel, take a friendly tone and make sure to let pursue them whenever possible. However, his first, centers on a young American book them know you appreciate their time and keep your other opportunities in mind. Let restorer who travels to Florence after the attention. your media contacts know that you can be a 1966 flood. The story recounts her affair Ask First, Make Pitches Later. Show resource for them in many ways, and take with a middle-aged man and her discovery consideration by asking your contact what advantage of a wide range of publicity of a 16th century volume of erotic he or she is looking for at the time. Instead options. engravings. of just throwing your thoughts at the media, Ott contends that the book presents “an listen and offer your book or your ideas as almost tactile sense of Florence,” and a helpful resource. CAROL’S IN-BOX advises “even if you have no interest in Keep in Touch. Polite persistence is BY CAROL JEAN CARLSON going to Florence, don’t miss this book.” crucial in building a rewarding relationship The Sixteen Pleasures won the SMA with the media. Drop regular notes when award for Adult Fiction in 1995 for books you see information they might be Chicago Map Exhibit published in 1994. interested in or to ask what they are Robert Remer and his wife Katie working on. This keeps you “top of mind” recently loaned the Edgewater Historical A Foray Into the Judicial World when they need a comment on your area of Society a collection of maps that was on Scott Turow’s latest, Limitations expertise. exhibit at the society’s museum from Oct. (Picador, 2006), focuses on Kindle County Success with the media hinges on your 13 to Dec. 16. Appeals Court Judge George Mason, ability to connect and build relationships. The map collection is the result of years described by Turow as a “tall, trim, gray- Take these extra steps to help your media and years of accumulation and grew out of haired…standard issue white guy.” (Kindle contact think of you as an ally, and to the Remers’ passion for collecting books County is a fictitious county in that provide you with coverage that puts your on Chicago. bears a strong resemblance to Cook name and ideas in front of your target Remer points out that assembling the County.) audience. exhibit “taught [him] how important maps Turow introduced Kindle County and Your Publicity Buffet are in art, history and life.” Mason in his earlier novel, Personal The press is a smorgasbord of potential The oldest map in the collection is from Injuries. More novella than novel, placements if you are willing to think 1781. The exhibit also included a map of Limitations originally ran as a series in the outside of the “book review box.” Once the “burnt district” following the Chicago Sunday New York Times Magazine. you connect with your media contacts and Fire of 1871 and an original copy of Daniel In the telling, a case is resurrected open a dialogue, you multiply your chances Burnham’s 1909 Plan of Chicago. involving four white high-school hockey if you know what your options are. Don’t players and the videotaping of their 1999

2 gang rape of a drugged, 15-year-old black Redemptive Self: Stories Americans Live by "Gracie Gannon: Middle School Zero, will girl at a party. The videotape came to light (Oxford University Press, 2006), won the be released in April from Cloonfad Press, in 2003, and a conviction followed that is 2006 American Psychological Association's of Jackson, N.J. In the novel Gracie faces now under appeal. William James Award, as the best extreme loneliness, a family crisis and The case is extremely upsetting to general-interest book in psychology, across discovers who she really is in the process. Mason, a successful appeals court judge for all subfields. The book also won the The book focuses on bullying. The a decade who is being challenged in his American Psychological Association's information is right on target with what upcoming bid for re-election. Add to the Theodore Sarbin Award for its contribution goes on in schools today. mix a psychotic who keeps threatening to theoretical and philosophical “Hopefully, by (being published by) a Mason and his wife plus the recent psychology. secular publisher, this book will touch diagnosis of his wife’s cancer, and you And, Valparaiso University's honors more readers by getting in through the have a judge under more than a little stress. college has chosen The Redemptive Self for ‘back door,’ and on the shelf in public That and a look into the inner workings of its all-campus, one-book reading for 2007. schools. I have worked on this manuscript the judicial world are a sure-fire McAdams is professor of human off and on for 12 years. It has a message I combination for an entertaining and development and psychology and director, definitely believe in.” enlightening read. the Foley Center for the Study of Lives, at . Return of the 1960s History in a Box Neal Samors' new book, Chicago in the On Nov. 7th, Gerry and Janet Souter Frankenstein’s Footsteps Sixties came out in October, published by were interviewed on WBEZ’s 848 show As part of the Chicago Humanities Chicago's Books, a subsidiary of Chicago's about their interactive, audio-enhanced Festival, Dan Dinello followed "Dr. Neighborhoods, Inc. It includes more than history of the American Revolution, The Frankenstein's Footsteps," tracing the 150 photos and the personal recollections Founding of the United States Experience: significance of the amoral mad scientist of 80 1960s-era Chicagoans, including 1763-1815 (Presidio Press, 2006). who often serves as a lighting rod for Shelley Berman, Dick Biondi, SMA The book covers the period of American contemporary anxieties about irresponsible member Richard Christiansen, Joel Daly, history from the French and Indian War scientists, military- funded science and the U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, Judge Richard through the War of 1812. The abuses of modern technology. Elrod, Jackie Grimshaw, Glenn Hall, Hugh accompanying CD contains over 70 Dinello is the author of Technophobia! Hefner, Walter Jacobsen, the Rev. Jesse minutes of readings of contemporary Science Fiction Visions of Posthuman Jackson, Marilyn Katz, Johnny "Red" Kerr, letters, diaries and documents. Technology. He spoke at Loyola University Rick Kogan, Ramsey Lewis, Joe Mantegna, on Nov. 4. Newton and Jo Minow, Sandra Pesman, Harold Remis, Gayle Sayer, Gary Sinese OTHER MEMBER NEWS The Clinton Saga Continues and Lois Wille. Janis Kearney, diarist to President Clinton, recently launched her third book, Gets Series Name Musical Play Published Conversations: William Jefferson Clinton-- Cynthia J. Olson writes, “ On Oct. 17, Jane Howard's children's play, Maria's from Hope to Harlem at the Clinton my third book in the Foster Kids Series was Loom, for which she wrote book, music Presidential Library in Arkansas. released.” and lyrics, has been accepted for A special guest was former President Elaine and Tangles is a story of how a publication by Anchorage Press Plays of Clinton himself, who called the biography, young girl faces bereavement and change Louisville, Ky. "fascinating...the first of its kind." when security, happiness and her parents’ Originally produced by the Winnetka Kearney, an Arkansas native, founded love is taken from her as the Twin Towers Children's Theatre, the play was adapted Writing Our World Press, a small Chicago- collapse . from a story of hers that appeared in based publishing house, in 2004, and “I am very excited about this book and Highlights for Children. published her first book, Cotton Field of am pleased that I now have a series name:” Dreams: a Memoir, in 2005. Race Driver Chronicler on Tour Her former boss, William Jefferson Helps Lead Writers’ Group Michael Argetsinger has been on the Clinton, wrote the foreword to that book. Michelle True has been appointed to the road to discuss his recently published WOW Press published Quiet Guys Can Do steering committee of the Chicago Writers biography of race driver Walter Hansgen, Great Things Too: a Black Accountant's Association. Walt Hansgen: His Life and the History of Success Story, in June, 2006. She runs Poetic License, a Post War American Road Racing (David Conversations: William Jefferson poetry-writing group, and publishes Bull Publishing). Clinton, from Hope to Harlem introduces Write-On!, a monthly newsletter for On Nov. 9 Argetsinger was in Saratoga new voices to the dialogue concerning writers. Springs, N. Y., to address a special meeting America ’s 42nd President. She will speak to creative writing of the Saratoga Automobile Museum. On “Black Americans – from Hope to students at Niles North and Niles West Dec. 7 he spoke at the Society of Harlem–share their insights, memories and High Schools in the spring. Automotive Engineer's Motorsports opinions of William Jefferson Clinton– the In addition, she'll present a writing Conference in Dearborn, Mich. man, the leader, the enigma.” career workshop at Wheeling High School for their day of art, "Make Your Mark!" in Psychology Book Wins Awards Bullying Exposed April. Dan McAdams’ recent book, The Mary Elizabeth Anderson writes: On April 21 True will host the Second

3 Annual WriterFest at Indian Trails Library teaches a writing class for detainees at the Reinhold (VNR), a technical and reference in Wheeling, Ill., where local published Cook County Jail. publisher, where she developed books authors from all genres provide valuable focused on the culinary arts, architecture, writing, publishing and book promotion Lorna Collier is co-author of Tilli's gemology, and began acquiring business tips to writers aspiring to get published. Story: My Thoughts Are Free, the true titles. Next, she joined Irwin Professional story of an East German escapee's Publishing (now McGraw-Hill) as senior Explains Politics on National Radio childhood under Hitler and Stalin. editor where she focused on acquiring R. Craig Sautter appeared for two hours Collier also is an award-winning manuscripts in the manufacturing and on Bruce DuMont's Beyond the Beltway on freelance writer who has worked as a daily management areas. Dec. 3, to talk about Presidential politics newspaper reporter, magazine editor and In 1996, Zigmund . departed and Iraq. TV news producer. McGraw-Hill to join Dearborn Trade The program airs on 60 stations coast to Her feature articles about health, Publishing (now Kaplan Publishing) as coast, and on Chicago TV. parenting, business and other topics have executive editor. Six months after joining Sautter is a consultant to political been printed by major newspapers, Dearborn she was promoted to editorial candidates as well as an author. magazines and Web sites, including the director, and was named vice president and Chicago Tribune, San Jose Mercury News, publisher in 2000. Zigmund . holds a Miami Herald, Philadelphia Inquirer, business degree from Monmouth RECENT NEW MEMBERS Smart Computing and Crain's Chicago University, where she graduated summa BY THOMAS FRISBIE Business. cum laude.

Sel Erder Yackley was born in Istanbul Kevin Davis is an award-winning and reared in Ankara. She was educated in FINAL CHAPTERS journalist, former newspaper reporter and the United States and has lived in Arizona magazine writer based in Chicago. He is and Illinois most of her adult life. the author of two nonfiction books on the She has worked as a reporter and editor, Alice Judson Ryerson Hayes, poet and criminal justice system, The Wrong Man as a college instructor, as a public relations writer who founded the Ragsdale and Defending the Damned. consultant, as a fund-raiser and as a travel Foundation in Lake Forest, Ill., died Oct. In addition, Davis has authored eight agent. She is author of Never Regret the 13 of complications from an auto accident. non-fiction children’s books. His writing Pain: Loving and Losing a Bipolar Spouse She was 84. has appeared in USA Today, the Chicago (2006). Owner of a historic mansion built by her Tribune, Chicago magazine, Utne Reader, grandfather, a noted architect, she turned In These Times, American Bar Association Cynthia Zigmund is Midwest regional the house into a refuge where artists in Journal, Readers Digest, USA Weekend, agent for Literary Services, Inc of New residence could focus on their work. Encyclopaedia Britannica and many other Jersey. She began her career in 1980 as an Over the years, many SMA members publications. editorial assistant for John Wiley & Sons, have taken advantage of the tranquil He has worked as an editorial consultant Inc. atmosphere at Ragsdale to finish significant for Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Next, she moved to Van Nostrand books. Loyola University Medical Center. He also

If your address label says “(Exp Jun 2006),” that means you have not paid your dues for 2006-2007 and this will be your last issue of Literary License.

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