Erica's Newsletter
April 2007

A photo of Erica Miner











Introductory Comments
Let's hear it for spring - Yeah, baby!

Blue skies, golden sunshine, and brilliant colors always inspire me to take a moment and breathe it all in at this time of year. Okay, we've got lots of that here in So Cal - but in spring, everything just seems so heightened. It's inspiring, really, this renewal, especially for those who actually live through a 'real' winter. I think the Greeks really had something there with the Persephone-Pluto thing. It really makes a lot of sense to me. They knew a thing or two, those ancient Greeks! :-)


Media Update
'Calling All Authors' Interview Apr. 24

Valerie Connelly, host of the dynamic 'Calling All Authors' internet show, has invited me to be her guest on Tues., Apr. 24, at 4 pm CT. We'll be talking about writers' challenges (see below), and it's sure to be a fun experience, for me and for listeners alike. Check out the info below, and do listen in if you can. I'll be awaiting your comments! :-)

Tuesday, April 24th at 4pm Central time, Calling All Authors welcomes author, Erica Miner, to talk about her book, "Travels with My Lovers," and author Richard Hains, who will talk about his book "Chameleon" and the all expenses paid weekend with the author in London contest he is offering to all listeners.

Here are some of Erica's talking points:

* How long have you been writing, and what inspired you to become a writer?
* How much of your personality and life experiences factor into your writing?
* Which comes first, the story or the characters and does the setting play a significant part in your story creation?
*Do you find love scenes difficult to write?
*What has been your greatest challenge as a writer?
*What are you currently working on?

CALLING ALL AUTHORS with host, Valerie Connelly, Publisher at Nightengale Press, airs live on Tuesdays, 5PM (ET), 4PM (CT), 3PM (MT) and 2PM (PT).

Tune in to CALLING ALL AUTHORS by taking two simple steps:

1. Go to www.globaltalkradio.com

2. Click on LISTEN LIVE

Listeners: to call in to ask a question or make a comment call use these numbers:

Listener Calls: 800-773-0355 (Outside the USA: 1-310-328-9300)

To contact Valerie Connelly: email her at publisher@nightengalepress.biz

'Another use for our brilliant effort!' (-:

Carolyn Howard-Johnson, my favorite 'frugal book promoter' has joined with me in placing our happy, collaborative effort, 'The Joys of Journaling Dialogues', on her website.

Click on The Joys of Journaling Dialogues to download your copy.

We've tweaked it a bit from the previous version, so if you haven't yet taken a look at it, or would like to read the updated version, please feel free to avail yourself of this fun, informative resource. And do send me your feedback as always!

Google Alerts scores again

I was delighted to find several of the alerts below in my inbox over the last month. It always reaffirms my faith that people out there are availing themselves of my wisdom :-), such as it may be. In this particular case, I have the ever-dynamic Nancy Mills to thank for the promotion venue for my ad. If you haven't yet checked out Nancy and her fantastic work in the name of 'spirited women' everywhere, now is a great opportunity to do so. Great job, Nancy!

SPIRITED WOMAN NEWSLETTER AD
By Nancy Mills

Take a much-needed break with Travels With My Lovers, author and internationally known lecturer Erica Miner's award-winning novel about a single mom looking for love in some of the world's most exotic locales. Be inspired to express your emotional freedom! For info on this break-out book check out: www. ericaminer.com.

For And About Writers
Carolyn Howard-Johnson Launches New Website

Here's another 'fab' woman who refuses to let any So Cal grass grow under her feet! Check out a small sample of Carolyn's latest activities. (The "Free Articles 4 Writers and Editors" page is where our 'Joys of Journaling rap' appears.) Read below and you will see why Carolyn remains one of my greatest inspirations. You go, Girl!

Award-winning author Carolyn Howard-Johnson presents her new website just in time for the launch of her new book, The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success. The HowToDoItFrugally site features the author, her literary work and how-to books, but it is also designed to give both readers and writers information they want and need.

Of particular interest to the editors of websites, blogs, e-zines and newsletters is the "Free Articles 4 Writers and Editors" page where Howard- Johnson regularly posts articles on writing, book reviews, and essays. General readers will appreciate the "Links for Readers" page that not only lists books by category but also websites that specialize in reviews to help readers select their reading and reference materials. A similar page for writers lists resources writers need for everything from tekky stuff to book promotion to writers' conferences and tradeshows.

Howard-Johnson was named Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment this year by the 43rd and 44th District of the California Legislature Her first novel, This is the Place, and her book of creative nonfiction, Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, are both multiple award winners. She speaks frequently, is an instructor for UCLA Extension Writers' Program and has appeared on TV and hundreds of radio stations nationwide.

The author's first book The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't the first in the HowToDoItFrugally series, was named USA Book News' Best Professional Book and given the Book Publicists of Southern California's Irwin Award. On HowToDoItFrugally.com, visitors will find a media room, downloadable media kits and even information on Authors' Coalition, an organization the author founded.

Carolyn will also be at the Biblio Booth at Javits Center in New York City at 1 pm Friday, June 1, signing her new Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success, and will teach UCLA students winning plays for their budding careers. Students will play The Career Game during Career Week 2007, April 9-13.

'From My Readers'
Harry Green brings 'spring cheer'

True to his name, Harry Green has brought a bunch of spring cheer to this writer over the past month. I was delighted to hear from him 'out of the blue.' You know how much I enjoy hearing from any and all of my readers, and especially those whom I've never heard from before. Harry is a part-time minister of a small Unitarian Universalist congregation in Bergen County, NJ. As I told him, "I'm always glad to hear from a Bergen Countyite. It was my home for many wonderful years." In any case, I wanted to share some of his comments with you...

"Hi Erica! I downloaded a couple of issues of your newsletter and read them yesterday. It's clear you bring a lot of caring and love to them... My working life has revolved around communications both spoken and written. It is much more recent that I'm moving toward a world where writing is the end product, not just a means to an end.

"What makes all this seem more doable is the incredible amount of support out there for those of us new to the craft. You are a shining example of that kind of support, and I appreciate very much the love and caring that goes into your newsletter."

Thank you, Harry, for taking the time to express your thoughts. I do appreciate it!

Closing thought(s)
Each month I seem to find more wisdom than I know what to do with :-) All the more gratifying to be able to share some of it, both for writers and for non- writers, with you. Comments from yours truly included :-)

"There is no way writers can be tamed and rendered civilized or ever cured. The only solution is to provide the patient with an isolation room where the creature can privately endure the affliction and food can be poked in with a stick."
- Robert Heinlein

(Ha! My sentiments exactly!)

"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home."
- Twyla Tharp

(Had to smile at this one. Brought back memories of her collaboration with Barishnikov during my stint with ABT - in my former life.)

"You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have."
- Maya Angelou

(Amen to that!)

"I've dreamt in my life dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas; they've gone through me, like wine through water, and altered the color of my mind."
- Emily Brontë

(Ooh, just divine, Miss B!)

Until next time.

Best regards,

Erica Miner


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Copyright 2005-2007 Erica Miner. All Rights Reserved

IN TODAYS' NEWSLETTER

Introductory Comments
Let's hear it for spring - Yeah, baby!

Media Update
’Calling All Authors' Interview Apr. 24
'Another use for our brilliant effort!' (-:
Google Alerts scores again

For And About Writers
Carolyn Howard-Johnson Launches New Website


'From My Readers'
Harry Green brings 'spring cheer'

Closing Thought(s)