All new authors are faced with the same dilemma: Should I
take on the task of publishing a book myself or seek out a trade publisher?
Self-publishing can be less expensive, but a trade publisher knows the ins and
outs of the business. It would be ideal to find that intermediate publisher
that can edit, layout, format, and produce that book for you.
JLB Creatives Publishing, a Florida-based company, is a type
of hybrid publisher that understands what authors really want. The key
personnel are authors themselves and come from both the self-published and the
trade publishing side of the business. It is this combination that created a
fresh new company. Owner, Janet Beasley says, “Over the past several years I
have taken pride in networking with industry professionals who have a heart to
serve the literary world in fresh new ways. I have invited a select few of
those literary enthusiasts to become part of the new JLB Creatives Publishing
team. We bring to the table a combined total of over 100 years experience in
the industry.” The company is making waves in the industry and has already
published a few books under the JLB Creatives Publishing trade name since the
company's inception in January 2014.
L to R: Pickford Community Library's Head Librarian Ann Marie Smith, JLBCP CEO Janet Beasley (via Skype/computer screen ), and JLBCP Senior Editing Director Dar Bagby.
Over the past two years Janet Beasley and Dar Bagby have
developed an affiliation with Ann Marie Smith, manager of the Pickford
Community Library in Pickford, Michigan. Skype provides Janet and Dar the
ability to teach a Young Writers Workshop at the library. This growing class of
aspiring young adult writers has written and published short stories of such
talent that they have gained the recognition of Frank Foster, Michigan State
Representative.
So what does an author really need to know? Some basic
questions one should ask before choosing a course of action are: Is writing a
hobby or a more serious endeavor? Do I know the industry standards? Do I really
need a “professional editor?” How tech savvy am I? Can I design my own book
cover? How much time can I spend on this project from inception to
completion? Can I promote and market the
book by myself? How much money do I have to spend? Can I have both a print and
an eBook? Will I receive royalties on the sale of my book? JLB Creatives
Publishing, a member of the Florida Authors and Publishers Association, has
their own professional in-house Editing Department, Design Department, and
Media Department that offer authors one-on-one advice and assistance throughout
the publishing process. Custom made promotion and marketing packages are
offered at an additional charge. Both print and eBook versions are included in
the author contract. And yes, they pay royalties to their authors.
JLB Creatives Publishing publishes both fiction and
non-fiction, as well as illustrated children’s books. They accept a wide
variety of genres and take electronic submissions via their website http://jlbcreatives.com.
Currently they are seeking true life stories and children’s full-color,
illustrated books with text (25–40 pages). Fantasy, science-fiction, mystery,
and light paranormal are always welcome. Visit their website for more
information.
The JLB Creatives Publishing Team does not present to the world your typical publisher. These ladies know when to be serious and when to have fun, but most importantly they know how to have some serious fun!
Hello faithful fans, and welcome all you new fans. We are excited to have you here. If you've not had the chance to take a peek at the blog for a few days we invite you to check out the new pages we've added. You can now read FAQs for JLB Creatives Publishing, check out the Events page, plus our newest feature - on Thursdays - you'll have access to cool writing and publishing tips from the #JLBCP team. And it's all FREE! All authors and artists are welcome to submit to be featured on the JLBC Blog. Simply follow the Submission Guidelines near the top of the page. You do not have to be published by JLBCP to be featured. We just simply believe there are so many worthy talented folks who deserve the chance to be discovered!
So be sure and share our blog with your friends who may
find it useful and/or interesting.
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This week we are featuring a multi-talented artist. She is internationally known, and has so much to share. If this firecracker of an artist doesn't inspire you, then we don't know who will! Please help us in welcoming the fabulous. . .
Author/Artisit
Elizabeth Esguerra Castillo
Elizabeth Esguerra Castillo
from the Philippines always
dreamt of becoming a writer ever since she was young. Writing has always been
her passion and as proof, she has written quite a number of poems and essays
from way back during her elementary days. Yes, she had dreams of publishing her
own books and she has never really imagined that destiny and hard work would
help her achieve greatest dream years after.
This writer is also an art
lover as she considers herself a born-artist who sees beauty in all things that
surround her. She loves sketching and doing some artworks in oil and pastel but
these had been left out in the cobwebs since she concentrated on her writing
career.
Elizabeth is a
Professional Writer/Blogger/Journalist and Published International Author and
Poet and is also currently working as an Online English Instructor for Koreans.
Her work has been featured in local and international magazines and
publications and has been a co-author to nearly 40 international anthologies in
the USA, UK, Canada, Africa and India and currently doing some more anthologies
some of which are global charities which help cancer research in the USA,
children in Africa, victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse and more.
Engaging in global charity anthologies and working with fellow foreign
writers/poets and artists is her way of sharing her talent and gifts to the
world.
Her recent works include
composing visual poetry using her own photography which she calls as her
“poetography”. Elizabeth admits
that she is also one frustrated photographer and loves taking shots of clouds,
nature and different objects. Her first international poetry book “Seasons of
Emotions” was published by Destiny to Write Publications, UK last
year January 7, 2013 after
winning a competition last 2012. This paved the way for her to garner some
other international awards like emerging as the overall winner of the WISMIWA
(Winning Strategies Magazine International Winners Award), USA for her positive
influence to her community and to people around the world last September, 2013
and another international award as “Inspirational Poet 2013” given to her at
the PENTASI B Historical Forum and World Friendship Poetry Celebration held at
the National Museum of the Philippines last November 15, 2013.
Her second upcoming book “Inner
Reflections of the Muse” will be published by Inner Child Press, ltd. USA, a
collection of her poetry including international poetry collaborations,
articles and her own quotes. The book is due to be published this year, 2014.
Elizabeth also
writes short stories and prose and below is an excerpt of one of her stories
published in her blog and an international global anthology:
Ambush Conversation
With God
By Elizabeth E.
Castillo
This
is a work of fiction folks. Just happen to think of what kind of convo one
would have with God during one of those rare moments. As there are ambush
interviews, this one I refer to as a heavenly ambush conversation.
Feeling
drowsy after reading my favorite book in my own nook, my bedroom, I suddenly
dozed off to dreamland. I was awakened by a certain sharp glare and found
myself in a strange, dreamy, white and blue space surrounded by floating,
fluffy clouds with cherubs singing wearing their bright halos on their heads.
Entangled
in my confused state, I rubbed my peepers for I still can’t figure out how did
I get there. I suddenly blurted out to myself “Oh, no, am I so dead now? As in
dead, my soul is in heaven?” Out of the blue, I saw an apparition, someone
sitting on a golden couch as if waiting for somebody – thought to myself, well
waiting for me? As if time stood still, I finally saw God’s beaming, serene
countenance and after a few batting of lashes out of my hurtful eyes because of
the illumination, I gathered up my guts to approach her. Yes, God is a woman,
not a guy we thought of would be. “I know what you’re thinking, why am I a
woman appearing before your eyes instead of a guy. It’s more than a gender
thing, my child. I could like being someone everyday. Just likened to your
changing clothes every so often. People should learn to look beyond the
physical and focus more on inner qualities”, God spoke.
Elizabeth
is also currently a Contributing Editor at Inner Child the Magazine, USA and
writes articles on love and relationships for her section “All About the Love.”
Thanks so much for taking the time to get to know Elizabeth a little bit better. We certainly hope you will check out her books and artwork, and will become a fan.
Be sure to head over here to the blog next week as we will be starting a 5 week mini series! Wanna know what it is? Then you'll have to stop by next week
to see what the mini series is all about.
Until next time - stay casual, live life to the fullest, and have a piece of chocolate for me.
Happy February! Seriously...where does the time go? Was it not just Christmas? I guess when good things are happening, the time flies ;-) And good things are happening at JLB Creatives for sure. Since JLB Creatives Publishing making its debut mid January good things have been happening non-stop. There are so many authors worthy of discovery. We want to personally invite you to check out our brand new video, and find out what JLB Creatives Publishing has to offer.
If you'd like to find out more, and how you are welcome to make a submission please visit www.JLBCreatives.com
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JLB Creatives is about more than just their authors. . .they are happy to help spread the word about any author who is dedicated, passionate, and serious about the craft. If you'd like to be considered to be featured on the JLB Creatives Blog all you need to do is check out the info at the top of the page and follow the instructions.
And now...on with the show! This week we are excited to feature author David Meredith. We had the chance to interview David and are thrilled to bring you his answers to our questions. So sit back, relax, and get ready to get to know David on a whole new level as an author.
Author David Meredith
We all love stories – especially yours! Would you
be willing to give the readers a synopsis of your current book?
Sure! Here it is:
What
happens when "happily ever after" has come and gone?
The
queen has been in a moribund state of hopeless depression for over a year with
no end in sight. It is only when, in a fit of bitter despair, she seeks
solitude in the vastness of her own sprawling castle and climbs a long disused
and forgotten tower stair that she comes face to face with herself in the very
same magic mirror used by her stepmother of old.
It
promises her respite in its shimmering depths, but can Snow White trust a
device that was so precious to a woman who sought to cause her such irreparable
harm? Can she confront the demons of her own difficult past to discover a
better future for herself and her family? And finally, can she release her
soul-crushing grief and suffocating loneliness to once again discover what
"happily ever after" really means?
Only
time will tell as she wrestles with her past and is forced to confront The
Reflections of Queen Snow White.
The phone just rang – it’s a movie deal for your
book! Holy cow – they’ve left it up to you as to where you want them to film on
location, and who will play the starring role…we can’t stand the suspense.
Where and who is it?
I
think Rooney Mara (from The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and The Social Network)
has the right look and acting chops for Snow White. Diane Kruger (from
Inglorious Bastards and the two National Treasure movies) is a blonde, but is
German like the original Grimm faerie tale and would probably do a great job
too. Nothing a little hair dye couldn’t fix. For the mirror, perhaps James Earl
Jones or Christopher Lee, but definitely someone with a very distinctive voice
What book or books are you currently working on?
Can we expect a new release soon?
As
a matter of fact, yes. I have a HUGE project I started WAY back in 2004 that is
nearly complete. I lived in Japan for about a decade so I have drawn on that
experience to craft a fantasy series based upon Japanese myth, legend and
folklore, rather than the European model that is so prevalent in fantasy
literature today. Originally it was a 406,000 word behemoth, but I've edited it
down to three volumes that are between 95,000 and 120,000 words each. Here's a
synopsis:
On
the happiest day of the year, Taro’s world ends. His people and his family are
slaughtered. His lands are brutally laid to waste by merciless, imperial
forces. Taro is certain that neither he nor the ghosts of his lost loved ones
can rest until he has visited the same devastation tenfold upon the heads of
the vile collaborators. Consumed with grief for the fallen and guilt at his own
survival, he gathers his scattered people and solemnly vows bloody revenge on
the allies of the Emperor in the neighboring barony.
At
the same time, young Naomi, cherished daughter of the doting Lord of Numanodai,
is blissfully unaware of the chaotic world spinning out of control all around
her. She fervently studies the arts of dance, music, and poetry as she dreams
of being accepted into the distant imperial court. However, when disaster
visits her very doorstep and she loses everything that she holds dear, Naomi
must learn what it truly means to be a woman and a ruler. She must come to
grips with her own gnawing grief and paralyzing doubt if she is to have any
chance of saving her beaten and bedraggled people from Taro’s unreasoning fury.
In
the process, both she and her pursuer discover a magical world of vengeful
akuma demons, fierce kitsune fox-people, droll tanuki badger-folk, and the
mysterious, arcane power of the ikioi. Taro and Naomi must decide whether to
use this power for healing or destruction, revenge or redemption. They must
choose whether to react to their pain and loss with wrath or with love. In the
end, both must come to understand that the only thing that really makes them
different is the choices they make and what they are willing to sacrifice in
attaining that which they desire.
I'm
hoping to release the first volume, Shirobara Falls, sometime later this year.
Love and romance, paranormal, epic fantasy, sci-fi,
mystery, thriller, drama, and the list goes on. Where do your books fall as far
as genre and reading audience?
I
would call it Fantasy/Romance Crossover. There are strong elements of both and The Reflections of Queen Snow White has
been featured and reviewed on web sites and blogs of both types.
Time to go to the movies! Out of all the ones
you’ve seen, what’s your fav? And be sure to tell us why in case we haven’t
seen it and would like to check it out.
I
actually haven’t been to a lot of movies lately, so that’s a tough one. I
suppose it would have to be “Departures”. It’s a Japanese movie (and Oscar
winner) about a cellist whose orchestra disbands forcing him to move back to
his hometown in Yamagata Prefecture (near where I lived in Northern Japan for
nearly a decade). Quite by accident and desperate to make a living, he ends up
working as a mortician in a funeral home where he prepares dead bodies for
funeral and cremation, putting him in conflict with his young wife who thinks
it’s creepy. I would characterize it as a dark comedy with a lot of heart and
an intimate grasp of traditional Japanese culture. I thought it was great.
Social media has become a part of being an author.
What are your 3 best tips of the trade for upcoming authors when it comes to
building their social media platform?
Get
on Goodreads. Put up a web site or blog that focuses on your writing as well as
a Facebook page. Then be prepared to send HUNDREDS of review request letters. Interviews
and features on review blogs can really help you connect with potential readers
as well. It’s a long, hard slog, but if your writing is up to snuff AND you
persevere, you can be successful.
How much time do you devote to writing? Daily –
weekly – monthly – whenever the urge strikes?
These days almost all of
my time is spent promoting my work. Without a marketing department if you don’t
spend several hours a day trying to get your stuff out there, it is most likely
going to languish, unread on Amazon. I will say though that before I really got
serious about marketing The Reflections of Queen Snow White, I tried to spend
at least 3-4 hours per day on my writing, or as much as I could whenever I had
a few spare minutes. If you want to get serious about being an author, expect
to spend TONS of time.
What is your favorite make-believe place you’ve
ever created in a story? Is it a town? A hide-out? A futuristic city? The
possibilities are endless! Please tell us all about your fav as we’d all love
to escape with you!
In
Shirobara Falls, which I mentioned
earlier, I have created a world that is based heavily upon the history, myth,
legend, language, culture, and even geography of Northern Japan. I lived in
Yamagata Prefecture for nearly a decade all together and LOVED my life there. I
feel like there is a whole lot of truth in the land of Wa and Sankei Prefecture
– and I think that really makes it my favorite. In a lot of ways, it’s a real
place.
Who is your favorite character that you have
created? Tell us about him or her and why you are so fond of them.
I
love my Snow White, of course. On the
surface she might seem like a kinda vanilla character but I also felt like she
had a particularly and mostly untapped potential for some really interesting
darkness. After all, she had a truly horrible upbringing – the tragic death of
both parents, left in the care of an abusive woman who despised her,
disassociation from her peers, isolation, loneliness, depression… I think these
are all elements that really work to elevate the level of drama and move the
story forward in a way that is especially gripping and impactful.
How do you deal with rejection when you submit an
MS?
If
you are working hard enough – sending enough queries out – you don’t have time
to even think about it. Assume you’ll be rejected when dealing with traditional
publishers. Even if your MS is good most publishers have a certain number of
slots allocated for the kinds of thing they want to publish in a given year
usually based upon what was popular in the previous year. Traditional
publishers want to make money. They are adverse to risk and their decisions are
based upon what they KNOW will sell. That generally means predictable plots and
going with authors they’ve already published and sold before. New is unknown
and therefore scary. It’s really important not to internalize rejection. It
isn’t necessarily any indication of the quality of your work.
To ebook or not to ebook – that is the question.
What’s your take?
Well, I don’t have a
physical version of The Reflections of Queen Snow White yet so yes, I’m in
facor of E-books. If you’re a good author with not a lot of money they can
honestly be the only way you are going to get you work out there. I’m
definitely in favor.
You and your friends are invited to stop by the JLB Creatives Publishing Facebook Event taking place Feb. 1 between 1:00p - 2:30p EST
Chat live with the JLBC Publishing Team: ask questions, say hello, spread some sunshine.
There will be giveaways too!
Please visit JLBCP FB Event early to join the event and invite your friends.
Hope to see you there!
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And now back to our regularly scheduled program... Hello fans, and welcome to the JLB Creatives Blog. This is the place to discover aspiring authors, and sometimes other amazing style artists such as painters, photographers, musicians, etc. Of course we will be featuring JLB Creatives Publishing's authors. But here's some great news. . .If you are an aspiring author (published by JLB Creatives or not) and would like to be featured on the JLB Creatives Blog, check out the box above this post for the simple instructions regarding our Submission Guidelines. We feature not just our talented authors, but talented authors from around the world whether they are trade or self published. At JLB Creatives we believe that a published or upcoming release work of art is an exciting accomplishment, and we enjoy sharing your news. And now...it's time to introduce this week's author who has decided to bring us an Excerpt Extravaganza! Please welcome. . .
Author Kirsten Feldman
Synopsis, No Alligators in Sight
In this coming of age novel, Lettie and Bert squeak by in a tiny town on Cape Cod, one parent an alcoholic and the other absent. After a string of bad decisions on Lettie’s part, their father ships them to their barely remembered mother for the summer, where they will learn hard lessons about themselves, their family, and their future by way of the Florida swamp. Throughout Lettie keeps her biting humor flowing, her razor-sharp pen at the ready, and her eye on her quest for a “normal” life.
Excerpt from No Alligators in Sight, the debut coming-of-age novel by Kirsten B. Feldman “So. Let’s get started.” He squinted up at the sun, just approaching its height. “We’ve got a good eight to nine hours before it gets dark. Plan is to bushwhack our way around the island, look for the best spot to cut through to the center, and make a site for the tents and the latrine.” He reached into one of the moldy canvas bags he’d brought and pulled out four big knives with curved blades. He slung the bag over his head and behind his back. “Know what these are?” “Cool! Swords!” Bert was already reaching for one. I had seen them in the army/navy store in Provincetown. I didn’t know anyone actually used them, I thought they were more sort of decorative, or if you were a veteran remembering your days in Nam. “You’re giving an eight-year-old a machete. Isn’t there some law against that, child labor or something?” “Now you’re a joker, huh? You need to work on your delivery.” “Seriously, he can’t use that thing. He’ll cut off his leg.” “Yes, I can, I can. See?” Bert grabbed for a machete and then swung wildly to cut down a mass of green growth. I didn’t know what it was; all the plants were different down here and grew bigger overnight. I’d seen in the paper that some of the vines in Key West were so strong they pulled down telephone lines. “No blood, huh? All set then. We’ll go this way,” he put his leash hand on Gertrude’s shoulder, “and you two go that way. We’ll meet at that big tree in a couple hours, report our progress.” He waved vaguely at the great trees that crowded the central part of the island (like the whole island wasn’t covered in trees). “And you better have made some.” He put one of the big duffels over his other shoulder. “You look out for Bert, okay, Leticia?” Gertrude quavered. “Like I ever do anything else,” I muttered. “And don’t worry about me or anything. I’m all set for Jungleland here, plenty of preparation.” “Clearly her mouth is her best weapon. Let’s go, True. Time’s a waitin’,” and then they were off. She didn’t even look back. “Wasting, you idiot.” “Annie?” “Yeah?” “Is he serious?” ------------------------------------------------- I don't know about you, but she's definitely got me wanting to read more! If you enjoyed this excerpt be sure and let Kirsten know. Better yet, buy her book - I'm sure she won't mind ;-) Just visit the link to Amazon where you'll find her book
Welcome fans one and all! We are excited to have you here at the JLB Creatives Blog. If you missed last week's post, there was some big news featured!
Not only did we feature a fantastic author last week, we announced the debut of the JLB Creatives Publishing Company.
JLB Creatives has been diligently preparing for one year, putting together the perfect blend of trade and self-publishing for authors around the world. We are honored to have wonderful authors already submitting their work for consideration to be published by JLB Creatives.
Over the years JLB Creatives has taken pride in networking with others who have a heart to serve the literary world, in fresh new ways. We developed working relationships with industry professionals that have brought to the table a combined total of over 100 years experience in the industry.
If you are an author seeking to be considered for publication, we invite you to read more information, and discover our Submission Guidelines at www.JLBCreatives.com or visit last week's post from the archives - look for date January 13, 2014 below.
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And now, on with the show! This week we are featuring one of JLB Creatives Publishing's very own authors. Please welcome. . .
True Life Story Author
Lisa Andrews
An Introduction of "A Life Renewed"
by Lisa Andrews:
A highly-achieving student and athlete, Lisa
was in sixth grade when she was diagnosed with AML leukemia. The news shocked
her and her family, along with her entire small-town community. Over the next
six months, Lisa and her mom basically lived at the hospital. When she wasn’t
receiving chemotherapy, Lisa was hospitalized for transfusions or for
antibiotics to fight serious infections. She went through a lot of changes. On
the outside, most noticeably was her bald head! On the inside, her faith was
being challenged as she tried to make sense of her experiences.
Once Lisa
completed chemotherapy, she re-entered junior high school. One month into
seventh grade, Lisa’s leukemia returned, and after a few more months of chemo
she received a bone marrow transplant. After the transplant, Lisa was in
remission but continued to face other health challenges, most of them
side-effects from chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Almost a year
after her bone marrow transplant, a man at Lisa’s hometown church said to her,
“You should write a book so that other people can read about all that you have
been through.” At the time, Lisa had a very negative reaction to this advice,
wanting nothing to do with her story. She wanted to forget about everything and
continue on with her life. She had a lot of anger and bitterness that she
didn’t want to tell others about. And though her small-town community had
offered much support and love, she wanted everyone to forget that she was “the
girl that had leukemia.”
It wasn’t until
her freshman year of college in 2002, almost six years later, that Lisa was
ready to accept her illness as an important part of her past and to deal with
the bitterness and anger head-on. The process involved a lot of journaling and
some counseling with a friend. Those journaled thoughts compose much of this
book. After receiving healing, she felt comfortable talking about being a
cancer survivor and answering people’s questions about what she had been
through. Lisa also felt it was time to do as that man had suggested years
before: write a book so that others can read about it.
A
Life Renewed is suitable for ages 12+ and has three purposes. The first is
to give a raw, firsthand perspective from a preteen dealing with cancer. Lisa’s
hope that family members and friends might know how to better understand and
relate to their sick loved one. Secondly, this book asks hard questions about
faith, and it documents Lisa’s own personal journey with God and her attempts
to make sense of her experiences. And thirdly, A Life Renewed is meant
to inspire readers to realize the value and importance of their own stories and
to encourage them to share their journey with others.
Whether stories of greatness, of failure, of love or
disappointment, your story is one of the most important and powerful things
that you own. There is no story like yours, and no one can take it from you. We
must share our stories with one another!
-----------------------------------
If you or someone you love has been dealing with such illness, we highly recommend this book. It is "real," it is encouraging, and you will find you are not alone on your very difficult journey. You will find "A Life Renewed" available in both paperback and ebook formats on. . .
Until next week - stay casual, live life to the fullest, and have a piece of chocolate for me.
JLB Creatives has some BIG NEWS! In our years of service we have learned one thing...dreams are not for the fainthearted. They take dedication, perseverance, and a passion that won't quit. JLB Creatives is humbled to say, they are seeing their long awaited dream come true at the onset of 2014. As the new year settles in we find ourselves, here at JLB Creatives, achieving a massive goal. The feeling is indescribable. We caught a vision in the far distance, then forged toward that horizon. Through blood, sweat, and tears came forth the achievement we set our minds to. And now, we are excited to share with you our BIG NEWS!
Please allow us to introduce to you,
the JLB Creatives Publishing Company.
JLB Creatives has been diligently preparing for one year to bring authors a fresh choice in submitting their work for the prestigious opportunity to have the backing of a true publisher.
The JLB Creatives Publishing team consists of both trade and self-published authors. Together this team has been working hard, creating a finished product that holds the perfect blend of trade and self-publishing.
Janet Beasley CEO of JLB Creatives Publishing Author of the Hidden Earth Series
Owner/founder and CEO, author Janet Beasley, said, "Over the last several years JLB Creatives has taken pride in networking with industry professionals who have a heart to serve the literary world, in fresh new ways. We developed working relationships then invited a select few literary enthusiasts to become part of the JLBC Publishing team. The team we have put into place brings to the table a combined total of over 100 years experience in the industry."
JLB Creatives Publishing delights in bringing forth manuscripts that are written by authors ranging in age from 8 - 108! True life stories, creative fiction, westerns, non-fiction, fantasy, sci-fi, science "faction," fairy tales, steampunk, and fully illustrated/full color children's books give you an idea of a few of our interests.
Beasley went on to say, "Excited doesn't even begin to cover how we feel. We are looking very forward to seeing what comes our way as far as submissions. And now that I've mentioned submissions, we are welcoming submissions at this time for any genre - though we will not accept anything obscene or slanderous."
For more information, or if you are an author seeking to be considered for publication, we invite you to read more information, and discover our Submission Guidelines at www.JLBCreatives.com
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Author Joseph Rinaldo
Now...on with the show! This week we are featuring the amazingly talented author, Joseph Rinaldo. JLB Creatives has had a connection with this author for over 3 years and counting. We are excited to have Joseph be a part of our blog, and hope you enjoy getting to know him and his writing talent.
Author Splash Feature
for Joseph M. Rinaldo
Greetings. I am Joseph
Rinaldo, and I have written four books that are available on Amazon. The
latest, Valerie's Retreat, follows
the life of a forty-one-year-old woman who happens to fall in love with a man
sixteen years younger. My wife is sixteen year older than I am, so that might
have helped foster this idea for a book. The jokes Valerie must endure, such
as, "Do you have to cut his meat for him?" are actual barbs my wife
received during our dating process. Like Valerie, I also worked in a bank.
Unlike Valerie, I never considered robbing the bank where I worked.
Valerie doesn't consider
herself a "Cougar". Franco, her boyfriend, happened to attend the
same church singles dance on the same night. They talked, talked some more,
went on a date, and presto- they're boyfriend/girlfriend. That's how it
happened with my wife and I. "Cougar" makes the women dating younger
men seem somewhat predatory. That isn't the case at all with Valerie, or my
wife. For the record, my wife never considered robbing a bank either. Well,
maybe considered, but never planned it out.
In A Spy At Home, another book of mine, the protagonist sees his
life's work as a CIA field operative as a complete waste. We've all had jobs
where we felt that way, right? Even if the job isn't completely unrewarding,
certainly you've had days like that.
What I'm trying to show
you is that I enjoy writing characters that are a lot like you or people you
know. The former CIA agent from A Spy At
Home has the added dilemma of wondering what will happen to his son if he
dies first. The son has Down syndrome, which means he is mentally retarded.
You'll have to read the book to find out what happened to his wife, but this
man's problem is one I've considered. My daughter has Down syndrome. If my wife
and I die, what would happen to her?
As writer I guess a part
of me winds up in the books I write. Of course, a whole lot of the books are
only my imagination.
If you are in a book club
that discusses one of my books, please feel free to contact me via Facebook or
my website, www.josephmrinaldo.com if you'd like me to attend your session.
We hope you enjoyed this week's feature author. Be sure to visit his links, buy his books, like his page, and follow him on Twitter. (Trust us, he's well worth it!)
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