WHAT IF?
A Beginners Course in Exploring The Quantum Question of Conciousness
by Jack McDaniel
Visit www.thewhatifproject.org
Monthly Archives: February 2010
Jack McDaniel Author- WHAT IF? A Beginners Course in Exploring The Quantum Question of Conciousness
Filed under Books to Read
The Society of Southwestern Authors- March 21 Forum SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE a presentation by Patrick Millikin
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE
Patrick Millikin will be speaking on how important it is for authors to support independent bookstores and what a bookstore manager wants to see an author do when they arrange a signing.
Patrick is a bookseller, freelance writer and editor. For the past fifteen years he has worked at the Poisoned Pen Mysery Bookstore in Scottgsdale, Az. His articles and reviews have appeard in numerous publications, including Publisher’s Weekly, Firsts Magazine, Yourflesh Quarterly and Paradoza. He is also the editor of the recent anthology, PHOENIX NOIR, featuring short stories of mayhem set in the underbelly of the great metropolis by such authors, Diana Gabaldon, Luis Alberto Urrea, Robert Anglen, and others.
Reserve your place byMarch 17. Call 546-9382 or email forums@ssa-az.org
Forums are held at Four Points Sheraton (Speedway and Campbell) Tucson, Arizona. $25 paid at the door includes lunch and Speaker
(No Credit Cards- processin g fees are too high)
Underground parking beneath hotel.
Filed under Books to Read, Workshops & Conferences
Arizona Daily Star- FEBRUARY 28, 2010 BOOK EVENTS
FEBRUARY 28, 2010 BOOK EVENTS
TODAY
Mystery Book Group- Antigone Books, 411 N. Fourth Ave. Group will discuss VANISHING ACT by Thomas Perry. 12:30 p.m. Feb. 28. Free. 792-3715
Symposium on Wilderness Preservation- Singing Wind Bookstore. 700 W. Singing Wind Road, Benson. symposium features some of the photographers, artists, and writers who contributed to the Sky Island Alliance project, ART IN THE WILDERNESS TUMACACORI HIGHLANDS. 1-5 p.m. Feb. 28. Free. 1-520-586-2425
Buddhist Book Group- Antigone Books, 411 Fourth Ave. Group will discuss BUDDHA’S BRAIN: THE PRACTICAL NEUROSCIENCE OF HAPPINESS, LOVE, AND WISDOM by Rick Hanson. 2 p.m. Feb. 28. freee. 792-3715
Donate used Books to the Friends of the Oro Valley Public Library- Oro Valley Public Library Book Shoppe. 1305 W. Naranja Drive. Collecting used books in good condition. Books will be sold in the Book Shoppe and in a sale, 10 a.m- 4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays; 11 a.m.- 6:45. Tuesdays and Thursdays. 229-5326
TUESDAY
THE EVEREST PRINCIPLE: HOW TO ACHIEVE THE SUMMIT OF YOUR LIFE- Barnes & Noble, 5130 E. Broadway. Canyon Ranch experts Dr. Stephen Brewer and Peggy Holt Wagner will discuss how to conquer life’s challenges. 7 p.m. March 2. Free. 512-1166
WEDNESDAY
Jump! Creative Writing – Wheeler Taft Abbett Sr. Branch Library. 7800 N Schisler Drive. Writing workshop with author Marge Pellegrino. Registration requested. Space is limited. 1-3 p.m. March 3. Free. 594-5200
THURSDAY
Beth Solheim- Joel D. Valdez Main Library. 101 N. Stone Ave. Meet author of AT WITT’S END Beth Solheim as she presents SMALL TOWNS CAN BE DEADLY- HOW TO WRITE A COZY. Noon- 1 p.m. March 4. Free. 594-5605.
IF YOU DON’T OWN A CIRCUS, YOU SHOULDN’T BE HIRING CLOWNS!- The Next Level, 215 W. Glaconda Way. Lola Kakes, CEO of Effortless HR. will sign her book at a business networking event. 4-6 p.m. March 4. Free. 546-3947.
FRIDAY
Maria Finn- Antigone Books, 411 N. Fourth Ave. Meet the author of TANGO ME HOME. 7 p.m. March 5. Free. 792-3715
SATURDAY
Decorate a Book Plate for Literacy- Barnes and Noble, 5130 E. Broadway. Pi Beta Phi members volunteer for literacy. For each book p;late decorated, P)i Phis will ensure that a child in need gets a book. 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. March 6. Free. 512-1166
Marlene Tova Fineberg- Bookmans, 1930 E. Grant Road. Fineberg will sign and sell copies of her book, ELEPHANTS, ALLIGATORS, UMBRELLAS: A BOOK OF POEMS FOR A FAST PACED WORLD. 11 a.m- 1 p.m. March 6. Free. 325-5767
The Path to Becoming a Writer- Wheeler Taft Abbett Sr. Branch Library. 7800 N. Schisler Road. A talk and Q&A with fiction author Jilian Cantor. 2 p.m. March 6. Free. 594-5200.
SUNDAY
Democracy & Dissent Book Group- Antigone Books, 411 N. Fourth Ave. Group will discuss GREAT AMERICAN HYPOCRITES: TOPPLING THE BIG MYTHS OF REPUBLICAN POLITICS by Glenn Greenwald. 2 p.m. March 7. Free. 792-3715.
Meet Tucson’s Leading Authors- O’Shaughnessy’s SteakHouse & Piano Bar. 2200 N. Camino Principal. Meet leading fiction authors Ernesto Patino, RayAdkins, Don Kirchner and Kate Mathis in a “fireside chat” setting. Special book and dinner prices available. 4:30- 6:30 p.m. March 7 Free. 296-7464
Filed under Books to Read
Randy Ford Author- THE SMUGGLER, A Snapshot of History 6th Installment
By 1920 Sim had slipped into Sulu. The Tausug, and not the Gypsies, still lived in bamboo houses reached by a maze of shaky walkways built over the sea. Sim descended on these people with his small boat. He was determined to raise their standard of living and make a profit for himself. With a pox Americana, the Tausug, by and large, accepted American rule. Along with the boat people they enjoyed a prosperity that they hadn’t seen before. As well as capturing firearms, collecting taxes, and branding cattle, America introduced paper money proving how ready people of Sulu were for Sim and his bargains. With a variety of goods to sale he always departed a richer man than he came. His ability to move around safely proved that he had the right connections.
Sin Ah Lah never lost sight of his obligations and employed his brothers. With one brother in Sandakan, and another one in Jesselton, he control his costs and maintained a personally link with a region-wide system of trade. This was how he became very rich and powerful.
He realized God had been very good to him. He started with one boat filled with chintz, chinaware, tea, drugs, and many other things; next a bigger boat and then many boats; and finally the monopoly of Crockett’s day. Above all he furnished the inhabitants of Sulu with many things they thought they needed.
Immediately after the war, with the availability of modern weapons and violence on the rise again, he had to hire a security force. In spite of a good relationship with the constabulary and most datus, he always had to be on the alert for pirates. Hence Sin learned battle tactics and expected to see bloodshed. Some of them attacked in broad daylight and highjacked ships because they were afraid of nothing. Sin had to sail through a no-man’s land, where only guns and powder spoke. However this situation proved beneficial, because the Tausug respected a show of force and believed that killing was a legitimate way of avenging shame.
It was considered bad to seek revenge, but also bad to suffer shame. Unless a man sought revenge, he suffered shame, so either way it wasn’t a simple matter. Many hot liverish feuds existed to this day. Accepted by Allah, friends were always a step away from becoming enemies. Members of rival families, having been allies and once close, in an instance one of them shamed, for which the other was held accountable. The affront often was small. Something blown entirely out of proportion. Then pressure from the community would build until someone got killed.
Crockett was accepted into Sim’s Sandakan family and then passed a series of tests that gave him an edge. Just when the British were giving up their territory in South East Asia, he took over the Sin family business in Jolo and lived the life of a true White Rajah. This may have been an exaggeration; but it was fair to say that he lived quite well. Back in Sandakar, Sim thought he could trust him. He had become an adopted son.
In spite of discrimination, the Sims became respected members of the community. In spite of having left Amoy with almost nothing, they accepted the difficulties they faced and never expected to fail. They knew if they stumbled, they could get up. They had a community they could go to for financial assistance, and that was true for all of the Chinese. Crockett met all of the relatives, who frequently visited him, when he never knew any of his own relatives.
Smuggling got the better of the law. Crockett’s first taste of it came from riding over the sea in fast speedboats. For his education, he would race full throttle towards Sitangkai or Tawi Tawi. He rarely slept nights. Sometimes making two runs before the sun came up, his boat would be full of contraband.
Both sides looked out for each other; and each side considered darkness a friend. However the Constabulary had to sometimes recover some of the goods. This everyone knew; but the boats for some reason were never confiscated. Sim personally knew all of the Philippine brass and knew that some of his runs had to be intercepted or else heads would roll. The recovered contraband also helped grease palms. For looking the other way, Naval officers were only too happy to accepted cartons of fresh American cigarettes. For a long time this had been a routine.
This was Crockett’s inauguration into a life of crime. Here crime was considered legitimate, and everyone accepted smuggling as a necessary evil. And it was a rather large business; yes by any reckoning, it was difficult to know exactly what was not smuggled in. Take an ordinary recipe for meat sauce. There would always be one or two ingredients that only could be obtained from smugglers.
Three hours out, through monsoon waters, following engine problems, which Crockett and Sim’s son Chu could do nothing about, anxious to recover lost ground, the two young men were surprised by pirates. They weren’t particularly smart. Chu recognized the distant sputter of a panboat and should’ve known that that type of outrigger was the favorite of pirates. At first Crockett thought that they were about to be rescued. Only after seeing their bodyguards’ reaction did he sense how ominous their situation was. Before that evening ended Crockett learned how to use a machine gun.
This brief engagement raised Crockett’s stock with his adopted family. It gave him another reason for perfecting the hide-and-seek game of smuggling. By then he had a grasp of the territory, which stretched from North Borneo to Zamboanga, with the ports of call at Sitangkai, Isabela, Bongao, Siasi, and Jolo. By then Jolo had one of the best harbors in southern Philippines. Then without applying for them, Crockett had a number of different passports from a number of different countries and used a number of different aliases.
When he traveled as a tourist to Singapore, Manila, and back, he ran into difficulty over carrying too much currency. It was something he learned the hard way. It was better to be hanged for something such as that than thrown into jail for smuggling dope. Without knowing his real name, which might have embarrassed his father, a magistrate locked Crockett up for a week, a lesson he never forgot. Later when his legal difficulties grew, he thanked all the loopholes in the law. This only happened outside of his domain. In the Sulus, he and Sim’s family held a position above the law.
Their success was so great while admittedly corrupt that they were envied. Often shots rang out. And shouts of “Chinaman go home! Foreigners! Foreigners!” showed how their neighbors felt about them. Malays armed with krises more than once chased the Sim family into their compound and threatened their lives. Though respected but hated, they never went anywhere without bodyguards. This animosity spread throughout Sandakan. It came from small but vocal groups. Because of bad PR, Sim used Crockett more and more as a go-between.
Finally martial law had to be imposed. Fearing a widespread revolt the police cracked down, and a curfew was set. Unfortunately this tough stance hurt most the very people it was designed to protect.
Shouting the Royal tongue as he went, Crockett shuffled between the two camps. He reminded the Malays that the British and not the Chinese had colonized them. “Why speak of the Yellow Peril? Before you ever saw a Union Jack, Chinamen came with the goods you desired and never tried to change you. They became your neighbors. They also keep their shops for you open all the time. They brought you cloth, salt, kerosene and biscuits way before Sandakan was a beautiful city. You have the advantage of a superior religion and have a sultan. So favored, what do you have to fear? You own the land and to have a little land is everything.”
Out of gratitude, Sim gave Crockett control over Jolo Island. His house was constructed of white coral; and those of his employee also were nice. With hardwood floors and imported furniture, these houses were built to impress even a datu.
Randy Ford
Filed under Snapshots of history
Arizona Book Publishing Association- Four Ways of Participating in THE SECOND TUCSON FESTIVAL OF BOOKS
Friends and Members of the Arizona Book Publishing Association in Southern Arizona:
The Second Tucson Festival of Books is just a couple of weeks away. ABPA again has a booth reserved, and there are several ways this year that you can participate.
First, there are instructions below if you are interested in displaying and selling copies of one or more titles.
Second, there are instructions as well about how you can sign up for one of a limited number of 50-minute book signing sessions.
For both of these options, you can register online at: http://azbookpub.com/events/tucson-fob/
(As a local publisher, for these two options you won’t need to be concerned about mailing copies of your books to me. You can just bring them directly to the booth, or you could bring them to my office on campus. We will have the information about the exact location of the booth next week.)
Third, we would like to have 4-8 volunteers help staff the booth. The goal is to have two people for each time slot: 9am-1pm Saturday, 1pm-5pm Saturday, 9am-1pm Sunday, 1pm-5pm Sunday. Send me an email (rcasler@ag.arizona.edu) if you are interesting in helping represent the Southern Arizona chapter in this way.
And finally, ABPA will be hosting a reception Saturday evening, 6pm-8pm. Appetizers will be provided; cash bar. We will let you know as soon as the location has been set.
We hope you’ll consider these opportunities seriously. Let me know what option fits you best.
Robert Casler
621-7177, rcasler@ag.arizona.edu
——–
Exhibit Your Books at Tucson Festival of Books
ABPA will be exhibiting and selling member books at the Tucson Festival of Books, March 13-14, 2010, on the University of Arizona campus in Tucson. More than 50,000 book lovers are expected to attend. See http://tucsonfestivalofbooks.org/ for details.
Showcase your book
ABPA members are invited to display their titles or schedule an author for a signing time.
Cost to display a book is only $35 per title and you may send 5-10 copies of the book you want to sell. To include your book in the display, register below. You’ll receive an email telling you where to ship your books. Title display does not include the opportunity for the author to work in the booth, however, author signing times are available.
Participants must provide each participating book title, the publisher name and address, and the show sale price (including tax) of the book(s).
After the show, unsold books may be picked up at the March 31 ABPA meeting; if you are unable to attend the meeting, provide instructions about whether you want the books returned or donated. (You are responsible for shipping charges, if you request that the books be shipped to you).
Author Signing Times Available
Author signing times will also be available on a first-come, first-served basis. A nominal publicity fee of $10 for a 50 minute signing will cover listing your signing on the website. Signing times are available at 10 am, 11 am, noon, 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm on both Saturday and Sunday. One signing is available per publisher, (unless open time remains available). We will promote the author/title via social media avenues and on our website, and provide information to Tucson Festival.
Participation is an ABPA member opportunity. Past Glyph Award winners will also be considered if space is available. Authors who wish to sign are strongly encouraged to also exhibit their title(s), however, if they do not, they should bring their own books to the booth at signing time and carry away any unsold books. All book sales must be handled through ABPA.
At the ABPA booth at the Festival, we will accept cash and checks only–no credit cards. All funds will be deposited into ABPA’s bank account, and checks will be distributed to those who sold books after a thorough accounting of sales (less taxes) has been made by the President and Treasurer of ABPA.
ABPA will obtain the sales tax license and pay that bill. Participants will need to report their sales as a “Sale to Reseller,” but they do not need to send tax to the state or city. The sales tax will be deducted from the revenue brought in during the event. If you have questions after the event, contact Bill@AmericanTravelerPress.com.
For questions about participating, contact Gwen Henson, executive director, at Gwen@AZBookPub.com.
Filed under Workshops & Conferences
Jerry D. Simmons- Contents February 25, 2010 TIPS FOR WRITERS FROM THE PUBLISHING INSIDER
February 25, 2010 - TIPS for WRITERS from the PUBLISHING INSIDER is a free bi-weekly eNewsletter published by Jerry D. Simmons. Readers can access additional information for free at his web site www.WritersReaders.com, the Information Source for Book Publishing where we take pride in Preparing Writers for Success.
Writers and Authors in Control - by Jerry D. Simmons
Book publishing has always favored the big companies and only a select few of the mega-bestselling authors have real input on how their titles are handled in the marketplace. over the market for eBooks. The economics have changed and the advantage is finally shifting to the independent author.
For information on how you can take advantage of the emerging eBook market and control your content, send me an email Jerry@WritersReaders.com.
Apple’s iPad: A Blessing and Curse for Publishing - Excerpts from an article by Tim Bajarin for pcmag.com
Apple’s new tablet may revolutionize the publishing industry, much to the benefit and detriment of big houses.
eBook Innovation - by Jerry D. Simmons
No more printing costs – the elimination of shipping, handling and warehousing – no book returns, all sales are final – the new reality with digital downloads. For new authors struggling to create an audience, why would you want to launch in print when the price of entry into the eBook market is so low?
Kindle Books in Snack Sizes - Excerpts from an article by MOTOKO RICH for The New York Times
Who has time to read a whole book anymore?
Author Royalties for eBooks - by Jerry D. Simmons
Royalties for authors under contract are running about 20 percent of net sales for traditional publishers while on the independent side that number is closer to 30 percent of net sales.
Apple Pushing to Control Ebook Prices - Excerpts from an article by Nicholas Kolakowski for eWeek.com
Apple is negotiating with major publishers for the ability to control ebook prices in the event that a particular text becomes a bestseller or starts selling at a discount in its hardcover version, according to unnamed sources quoted in an article in the New York Times.
Pricing sets the Stage - by Jerry D. Simmons
Regardless of where the major publishers decide to price their eBooks there will be plenty of room for independent authors to compete by pricing more aggressively. Whether $9.99 or $14.99 the big publishers have fixed costs that smaller companies and independent authors do not.
Book Tour and Amazon Promotion - by Dave Lieber
Here’s an easy and free way to get noticed every week as a popular author in your hometown.
BookTour.com, which calls itself the world’s largest, 100 percent free directory of author events, offers a wonderful event calendar for your author engagements.
As a reader award, I’m saving the best for last. Recently, BookTour and Amazon struck a deal so that all of your listed events on BookTour now stream into your Amazon Author Page, assuming you have one. (Go to authorcentral.amazon.com to sign up for that.)
Dave Lieber is an international speaker and newspaper columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. His newest Web site is davelieber.org – which he says is a sleek new “hub-of-the-wheel” author site that he just completed with author-tech guru Thomas Umstaddt Jr. of authortechtips.com.
ISBN’s & Bar Codes - Don’t pay Bowker’s prices! If you are in need of one or a few ISBN’s or Bar Codes, send me an email Jerry@WritersReaders.com, I can save you money!
National Indie Excellence Awards – Last Call for the 4th annual National Indie Excellence Awards sponsored by Ellen Reid’s Book Shepherding. Be sure to check out the Sponsor’s Choice Prizes; they focus on promotion www.indieexcellence.com
FREE Writing Workshops That Will Make You Laugh –
The workshops on are Saturdays, from 9 AM to 4 PM. Dates are: March 27th, Writing Memoirs. April 24th, Writing Novels, May 22nd, Self-Editing, and June 5th, Ghostwriting. Contact: Allen Kates, (520) 616-7643. allen@writingpublishing.com, Workshop Location: Lord of Grace Lutheran Church, 7250 N. Cortaro Road (at Ina Road), Tucson, AZ 85743.
The workshops on are Saturdays, from 9 AM to 4 PM. Dates are: March 27th, Writing Memoirs. April 24th, Writing Novels, May 22nd, Self-Editing, and June 5th, Ghostwriting. Contact: Allen Kates, (520) 616-7643. allen@writingpublishing.com, Workshop Location: Lord of Grace Lutheran Church, 7250 N. Cortaro Road (at Ina Road), Tucson, AZ 85743.
INDI Publishing Group - Assisting writers and authors with publication and distribution of their writing in digital format. If you own the electronic rights to your content, make an appointment for a free consultation with Jerry D. Simmons by email jerry@writersreaders.com or phone 623-556-2751.
Please Pass Along - If you find this eNewsletter helpful, please forward to other writers and authors. For your own free copy sign-up at www.WritersReaders.com where you can receive free, a 20-page eBook titled “What Writers Need to Know about Marketing.”
Reprint Information - You may quote from or use any of the information, all or in part, under the conditions that (1) The author and source is quoted, (2) The republication is not sold or used for any commercial use, and (3) The author, Jerry D. Simmons and web site www.WritersReaders.com are prominently referenced. All written material Copyright 2010 Jerry D. Simmons.
Disclaimer – This eNewsletter is not edited. There may on occasion be grammatical, syntax or spelling errors. I acknowledge the fact and apologize.
Jerry D. Simmons - Author, Publisher, Speaker
INDI Publishing Group
Assisting Writers in Publication & Distribution of Digital Content
Author of WHAT WRITERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PUBLISHING
Also available as an eBook
www.WritersReaders.com – THE INFORMATION SOURCE for BOOK PUBLISHING
Preparing Writers for Success
www.NothingBinding.com - WRITER & AUTHOR MARKETING
Online Catalog for New & Emerging Writers
INDI Publishing Group
Assisting Writers in Publication & Distribution of Digital Content
Author of WHAT WRITERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PUBLISHING
Also available as an eBook
www.WritersReaders.com – THE INFORMATION SOURCE for BOOK PUBLISHING
Preparing Writers for Success
www.NothingBinding.com - WRITER & AUTHOR MARKETING
Online Catalog for New & Emerging Writers
15508 W. Bell Rd., Suite 101-315, Surprise, AZ 85374-3436, USA
