February is Heart Awareness Month
#Health, #hearthealth

Author Rhonda McKnight uses her best-selling novel, Secrets and Lies, to spark conversation about physical and spiritual heart issues during her blog tour, February 1st-5th. 10% of the donations from Secret and Lies sales will go to the American Heart Association.  We encourage you to purchase a copy for you and a friend. In order for your purchase to be counted towards the donation, visit Rhonda’s store at http://urbanchristianbooks.com/.

VISIT THE FULL SCHEDULE AT: http://bit.ly/HealthyHeartBlogTour

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2. The Devil is a Lie Blog Tour starts July 6th.
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I’m dropping in to let you know about the books I’m promoting this month. I need to be furiously completing a short story for an anthology – the deadline is approaching fast. YIKES!

When you get time this month, stop by and check out the following virtual book tours.

• January 11-15, 2010
  Victorious Living for Women Blog Tour
• January 18-22, 2010
  Do You Wanna Be Made Whole Blog Tour with Bernald Boulton
• January 25-29, 2010
  Beautiful Ugly Blog Tour with Shelia Lipsey
• January 18, – February 26, 2010
  RADIO TOUR: Aisha (A. Life) Gant

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2. Countdown to 2010
3. Literary Breakthrough Conference – May 21, 2010

Houston, TX (BlackNews.com) — The Literary Breakthrough Conference, held Friday, May 21, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Houston, Texas in conjunction with the National Black Book Festival, gives authors unprecedented access to book industry professionals in three major fields: literary agents, publishers and marketers.

At this all-day event, top book industry experts will share information and strategies on how authors can make their literary breakthrough and turn their existing or future book(s) into a bestseller.

The Conference features the following book industry experts:

Book Agents
* Audra Barrett, founder of Barrett Books
* Manie Barron, partner in The Menza Barron Agency
* Regina Brooks, founder and President of Serendipity Literary Agency

Book Publishers
* Malaika Adero, Vice President and Senior Editor of Atria Books (Simon & Schuster)
* Joylynn Jossel-Ross, Senior Editor for Urban Book’s Christian fiction imprint
* Carol Mackey, Editor in Chief, Black Expressions Book Club

Book Marketers/Promoters
* Donna Hill, Best-selling author and packager of several highly successful novels
* Dante Lee, President and CEO of Diversity City Media
* Tyora Moody, founder of Tywebbin Creations, Internet book marketer and designer
* Pam Perry, founder of Ministry Marketing Solutions

The luncheon keynote speaker for the conference will be Sha-Shana Crichton, founder and president of Crichton & Associates, Inc. Ms. Crichton is also a licensed attorney and literary agent.

The conference registration fee includes three powerful sessions, breakfast, lunch and a closing reception. The early registration price of $139.00 is payable in two installments, and is valid through January 31, 2010. After January 31st, the standard registration price is $179.00.

For more information or to register for the conference, visit the following web site: www.nationalblackbookfestival.com/breakthrough.htm or call the National Black Book Festival headquarters at 1-800-340-5454.

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Did you miss the series on Online Marketing over at Tywebbin? I posted a recap yesterday. Check it out.

I will start posting a blog series called Twitter Basics in January.  If you are new to Twitter or don’t have time to keep up with the latest new, I encourage you to SIGN-UP HERE via email.

Enjoy your first day of 2010!

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MANUSCRIPTS

This past year I turned 38. I’m at a mid-point in my publishing goals. Back in 2006, I officially started writing fiction. I decided I wanted to publish a book by the time I was 40. That’s not far off now. The cool thing is I have one complete (and edited) manuscript.  The second manuscript will go for editing early 2010. I know I can write a book, which is really a major step. Now comes the next steps.

1) Write query letters. There is an art to writing a query letter that I need to learn over the next few weeks. I’m planning to share the resources I’ve collected over the past year.

2) Rewrite synopsis. I’ve written a synopsis for both manuscripts, but I do need to edit them. Some proposals request one page while others may request up to five pages.

3) Submit, submit and submit – I have a list of agents and publishers who accept unagented manuscripts. My goal is to start submitting by February 2010.

4) Keep writing while I’m waiting for responses. It’s important to not simply wait, but keep writing. I have started on a third manuscript and have been invited to submit a short story to an anthology.

Check out the summaries for my manuscripts and WIPS. Let me know what you think.

ARTICLES & BLOGS

I know some experts recommend choosing a genre and sticking with it, but I do like to write nonfiction as much as fiction.  I’m starting a blog series about Twitter over at Tywebbin Marketing Blog in January. Definitely sign-up and check it out. I would like to write more articles, but we will see. I mainly do want to focus on the manuscripts this year.

HAPPY ALL YEAR

Over at CookieAisle.com, I will blog about more personal goals. I have a few ventures that will be new and different for me. Something about approaching 40 is working on me.

I’m heading to give my characters needed attention for the day.  I hope you have a Happy and Safe New Year’s Eve. As one of my clients told me earlier this week, have a Happy ALL Year as well.

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This year slipped by with me not submitting any queries to agents or publishers who accepted unagented manuscripts. The timing wasn’t there, but I’m hopeful that 2010 will be a time to step out on the water.

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Thirsty
by Tracey Bateman

"Hello, I’m Nina Parker.and I’m an alcoholic." For Nina, even in recovery, the truth of the declaration has demolished her hopes and condemned her to return to the town she ran away from nearly two decades earlier-Abbey Hills, Missouri. But the place she once called home is no safe haven. A ritualistic-style murder.

Animals disappearing from the Ozark reserve where Nina works, and turning up slaughtered. And someone-or some thing-watching Nina. Wanting her. Stalking her with a 250-year-old desire that burns like a raging wildfire.

Nina’s ex-husband Hunt shows up, hoping to protect Nina and Megan, the angry teenage daughter who followed her to Missouri. But another man has entered the picture, testing Nina as she attempts to walk the tightrope of recovery-and the power of thirst. Much more than Nina Parker’s love hangs in the balance. The battle between love and obsession is destined to unfold to its startling, unforgettable end.

NOTE FROM TY: I will be posting a review soon and also check out Touched by a Vampire.

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