Connecticut’s Source for The Authority Writing, Publishing & Marketing Information Connecticut Authors & Publishers Association—Since 1994 Volume 18 Issue 12 Inside This Issue CAPA HOLIDAY PARTY Baking With Barb p. 2 Everyone is invited to come and Conquering Writer’s Block relax with your fellow writers and p. 3 future writers, chat about your writing and network with those James Bond, Special Agent who are building a career in the 007 p. 4 book business. SECAPA Notes p. 4 Where: Sycamore Hills Park Community Center Coming to “Terms” Without 635 West Avon Rd., Avon, CT Power p. 5 When: 10:30 am – 12:30 pm Have Your Manuscript Saturday, Dec. 17 Ready Beforehand p. 5 Join Us and Party Dan Poynter Tip p. 5 Schedule of Upcoming Meetings p. 6 Celebrating Success pp. 6-7 MEET A MEMBER Eleanor “Ellie” Sullo by David Garnes The ABCs of the Editing Process p. 8 to conduct some research in going back to school. She beautiful Provence, the main earned a BA in English from setting for the next book, ten- Central Connecticut State Uni- tatively titled In Hot Pursuit . versity (where she also taught I asked Ellie to tell me a bit English with a university fel- Meetings about her early background. lowship) and an MA degree in Here’s what she said: “I was Pastoral Ministry, with a cer- Southwest Division brought up in the North end of tificate in Spiritual Direction Hartford, where life was so from St. Joseph College in West Shelton 12/12 sensually interesting — ethni- Hartford. To be announced cally and racially diverse: the She worked for some years shofar of the synagogue as a pastoral minister (“It was Main Meeting Our featured member sounding on the corner, the a joy”) and still occasionally Avon 12/17 this month is Eleanor Italian neighbors filling the air facilitates retreats. Now she’s Christmas Party “Ellie” Sullo of Colchester. with unknown (to me) smells, happy to consider herself a Ellie, a prolific writer, the choir at my Catholic full-time writer. Southeast Division recently published Hurdles , church singing in intriguing Over the years Ellie has Groton 12/19 the third in her Menopause Latin! Great preparation for published scores of fiction and Christmas Party Murder series (the first two someone who will want to nonfiction pieces. Her book- create vivid worlds in her sto- are Hostage and Harem ). A Check the CAPA website trip to Europe earlier this ries, novels, etc.” continued on page 3 fall gave her the opportunity Ellie raised a family before for details. page 2 Directions : contest and get your favorite Baking With Barb by Barbara Chop and brown the recipe printed in the Author- chicken and onions in a little ity . Let me know what you Tico Taco Soup throw in a can of black beans. olive oil. Place in crock pot want to bring, make your spe- Soup was served for the Since that time, whenever it’s (or large stew pot) along with cial dish, bring it to CAPA, first time at our Avon CAPA chilly and I have leftover other ingredients and bring to and we will decide which one meeting in November – not chicken, I dig through the a boil. Reduce heat to low and we’d want to try on our own. just any soup, but Tico Taco cupboard and gather my in- cook until thick and fragrant. If chosen bring your recipe on Soup. Every time I came near gredients. Oh yeah! Tico Taco Correct seasoning if needed. a card, or email it to me at the crock pot, another patron Soup for supper. Serve topped with grated [email protected], and asked if I’d share this thick Ingredients : cheese, tortilla chips and op- I will take care of the rest. south-of-the-border recipe 1 pound chicken tional sour cream and/or avo- Your name and recipe will be with them. 1 medium chopped onion cado. Complete this meal with published! This contest is About 20 years ago when 1 tablespoon olive oil a green salad and a margarita! ongoing. Good luck! my son Chris first served this 3 16-oz. cans beans (may be soup to me, I savored it, black beans, Mexican-style ***** thinking how I could change chili beans or equal amounts Don’t forget the meeting it to make it my own. I love of assorted beans hiding in on December 17 th which is our Costa Ricans, who call them- your pantry.) holiday party! It starts at 10:30 selves Ticos, and their 1 can of corn or hominy a.m. as usual. CAPA will pro- warmth and simplicity. I’ll 1 16-oz. can chopped tomatoes vide hardy sandwiches for the never forget my visits there 1 16-oz. can tomato sauce meal. Everyone is to bring one and eating black beans served 1½ cups water or broth dish of a favorite appetizer, with chicken. The original 4½-oz. can chopped green salad, side dish or dessert for a recipe for this soup contained chili peppers (mild) pitch-in luncheon. ground beef, but I substituted 1 package taco seasoning ***** chopped chicken and always 1 package dry ranch dressing Be sure to join our cooking CAPA Board of Directors Article Submission CAPA Officers & Board Members Contact Information The Authority welcomes arti- cles written by members. Here are Founder Brian Jud [email protected] Jud some guidelines that we would President [email protected] Richard Moriarty [email protected] encourage. PresidentVice President Steve Reilly [email protected] Uitti Topics may cover any aspect Treasurer [email protected] Brian Jud [email protected] of writing, publishing and mar- ViceSecretary President Rita Reali Richard [email protected] keting. Your personal slant on this [email protected] Jerry Labriola [email protected] is of interest to all of us and wel- TreasurerImmediate Past President Dan Uitti [email protected] Jud come. Past President [email protected] Beth Bruno [email protected] Articles should be no longer Secretary Rita Reali than 400 words. If the article is [email protected] Chairs longer, the editors reserve the right Historian Jerry Labriola to reduce the size or divide it into [email protected] Peggy Gaffney [email protected] sections that would be run in suc- ImmediateSECAPA Chairman Past President BethTom BrunoSantos [email protected]@com cast.net cessive issues. All articles will be SWCAPA Chairman Steve Reilly [email protected] edited. Submit single spaced with Program ShirleyCommittee Webb Chairpeople [email protected] no built in formatting. Submit all CAPA University Richard Moriarty [email protected] articles to Peggy Gaffney at gaff- NewsletterMembership Dick Benton [email protected] Gaffney [email protected]. [email protected] Barbara Klein [email protected] Send submissions for the Meet SECAPAWebmaster Chairman Peggy Gaffney Tom [email protected] A Member column to Carol Healy Writer’s [email protected] Roberta J. Buland [email protected] at [email protected] SWCAPAThe Big E BookstoreChairman Deborah Kilday Steve [email protected] m [email protected] ARTICLES DUE BY THE 28TH OF THE MONTH Authority Staff:Editor—Peggy Editor—Peggy Gaffney, Gaffney, Meet A MemberMeet A Column—Carol Member Column—Carol Healy Healy Copy Editor—RitaCopy Editor—Rita Reali Staff Reali Photographer—Deborah Staff Photographer—Deborah Kilday, Staff Writer—Chris Kilday Blake The Authority Meet A Member - Eleanor “Ellie” Sullo continued length writing started with a historical romance 20 occasional but regular updates on that years ago after visiting a real haunted house in topic from published writers who have England with a fascinating legend ( The Moonrak- found something or other that works. ers ). Other books include Too Damned Hot , A Year Marketing is such a beast!” in Poughkeepsie and The Emerald Eye. I asked Ellie what else about writing Ellie particularly enjoys the research that al- appeals to her. “I love the creative powers ways precedes the writing of her books. The fasci- you need to wield when writing fiction or nating travel tales she recounts on her website at- memoirs—setting, characters, etc,” she test to the fact that she hasn’t lost the sense of won- replied. “What could be more empower- der and the sharp observations of life around her ing?” that first began back in the North end of Hartford. Take a look at Ellie’s website at http:// Ellie attends Southeast CAPA meetings and is eleanorsullo.com/. It’s one of the most eager to share and receive information on the chal- imaginative, informative and visually lenging subject of marketing. She says, “We can’t attractive writers’ sites I’ve seen. Be sure get by without online marketing these days. I’d like to check it out. Conquering Writer’s Block by Chris John Amorosino At a writer’s convention I once find it helpful to switch back and heard a famous best-selling author say, “I forth from one project to another. don’t believe in writer’s block. Have you Whether this minimizes fear or bore- ever called a plumber to fix your sink dom – or both – it seems to prevent and have him say, ‘I’m sorry. I can’t help writer’s block for many writers. you. I have plumber’s block.’” To me, that writer’s point is that we 4. Write a different part of your cannot allow any temporary loss for book. Stuck at the beginning? Can’t words stop us from completing our book. get past chapter 4? Is there another Here are some ways to keep writing part of the book you can write now, and to say goodbye to writer’s block: instead of the part you’re stuck on? 1.