Meet Dave Richardson

Hi Everyone,
Please come on in sit a spell take in a look see at Dave Richardson's book Vietnam Air Rescue - I'm sure you will get a new picture of history and life.

I need to work Aug. 1 won't be here to post but I hope you will leave a comment - check below for special information if you do.





I haven't been able to get a great deal of information for this book or author due to other commitments including some emergency doctor appointments for a family member - so please check out the tour schedule posted below - and do enjoy Dave, he has so much to offer.
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SPECIAL NOTE

Each person who posts a comment on any or all of the blog tour spots will be entered in a random drawing for a copy of Dave Richardson's. In addition – the blog owner that hosted the winning commenter will also win a free copy of Vietnam Air Rescues. Share your thoughts and comments with author Dave Richardson. He will check in throughout the day to answer questions. You’ll learn more and you have a chance to win his book - if you haven't already read the book pick up visit his website today and order a copy www.vietnam-air-rescues.com.

For more information about Dave Richardson and his virtual tour, check the schedule at http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/07/vietnam-air-rescues-author-dave.html ..

Thanks for stopping by. See below for where Dave will be next.

Join us Tomorrow for Dave Richardson

Vietnam Air Rescues Tour Schedule for August

Eavesdrop—as a father recounts to his adult children his exploits as an Air Force “Jolly Green” combat helicopter rescue pilot in Vietnam…

Be There—to see what it was really like…

Ride Along—and determine what you would have done when another man’s life was literally hanging in the balance…

Feel—what it meant to save a life…

Experience—heart pounding action in…Vietnam Air Rescues.

Join author Dave Richardson on his August blog tour to learn more about his life as a “Jolly Green” rescue pilot, picking up aircrew shot down in North Vietnam and Laos. This book is a real treasure with details of his 7 rescues of 9 men and over 30 anecdotes relating to his experiences. The book is profusely illustrated with more than 100 photos, maps and drawings. To order your copy visit his website at www.vietnam-air-rescues.com.

Author Dave Richardson
August Tour Dates

August 1 http://printedwords.blogspot.com

August 4 http://www.stevenbradley.blogspot.com/

August 5 http://joyceanthony.tripod.com/blog

August 6 http://joyceanthony.tripod.com/blog

August 7 http://joyceanthony.tripod.com/blog

August 8 http://joyceanthony.tripod.com/blog

August 11 http://newgreatbooks.blogspot.com

August 12 http://mommyreviewed.blogspot.com

August 13 http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Reverend-Don - Call in number (347) 326-9387

August 14 http://detailwithnikkileigh.blogspot.com/ - In Detail with Nikki Leigh

August 15 http://tristipinkston.blogspot.com/

August 18 http://itsallinthesetting.blogspot.com/

August 21 http://cfvici.blogspot.com

August 22 http://nikkisreviews.blogspot.com/

August 25 Dave & Kenny Interview on BlogTalkRadio with Nikki www.blogtalkradio.com/nikkileigh

3:00 – 4:00 EST – Call in number (347) 215-8201

August 27 http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/04/current-events-and-book-promotion

August 29 http://undergroundcontroversy.blogspot.com/

August 30 http://www.blogtalkradio.com/authorsread - Call in number: 347-215-8319. Time: 8-10 AM (Pacific)

Come to Your Senses

This morning as I was reading a chapter of Lawrence Blocks Spider Spin Me A Web, A Handbook for Fiction Writers -- I am nearly at the end. All the articles are ones that he has written way back when - but they are still as current as new fallen snow. What impressed me was one where a young woman was worried about the decline of the publishing market. The midlist was shrinking, only the big names could get contracts - and so on. Well, that article was from back in 1980 something. Guess what folks, it hasn't changed - at least our perception of it.

Block says, "What advice do I have for you? The very best advice of all Stop Writing! Quit wasting your time. Instead of postage, and envelopes and typewriter ribbons [Author note: you can tell this is a tad old]put your money into something sound, like lottery tickets and Czarist bonds. Come to your Senses!" He does go on to say the only reason he would dare tell us that is because he knows we are writers and we can only continue to write, we cannot stop. So it fits even yet - instead of printer ink, or just your time when you send e-submissions - get a "real" job. LOLOL

Isaac Asimov still echoes in my mind "I write for the same reason I breathe, for without it I would die," I say Amen to that.

So Write Like the Wind, Write on, just write until you can't write anymore, and let it be it's own reward.

Growing your Newsletter list

Having a newsletter or ezine is a great way to build your address list - But how do you do this? Well my guest blogger today will give you a few tips.

1. Send a Sample Copy

Send a sample copy to everyone in your database - clients, colleagues, and friends. Send out your first, or best, issue announcing your new ezine, and inviting them to sign up. Due to SPAM regulations, it's not a good idea to sign anyone up without their permission.

2. Sign-up Form

Have a prominent sign-up form near the top of your home page, and have a sign-up box on every page of your web site. People can enter into your web site at any page, so you want to capture them no matter where they land.

3. Signature Line

Promote your ezine in your signature line. Have a simple description of your newsletter topic and the benefit to readers in your email signature line that goes out at the bottom of all your emails. Include a *call to action* to subscribe to your ezine with a hot link that allows people to sign up directly.

4. Archive Back Issues

Offer a sample issue, or archive back issues at your web site. Many people want to see what they'll be getting before they sign up. They want to see your writing style and to know there will be value to them in subscribing. You might also have a sample issue available by autoresponder.

5. Tell a Friend

Encourage people to pass the word. Have a note in your ezine letting your readers know that you're building your subscriber list. Ask them to pass it along to friends and colleagues who might be interested in your topic. Provide an easy way for people who receive your ezine this way to sign up.

6. Business Cards

Tell people about your ezine on the front or back of your business cards. Let them know why and how they should subscribe. That way, everyone you meet can be potential subscriber.

If you're not currently doing all of the above to promote your ezine, commit to doing at least one thing this week to expand your subscriber base and the reach of your newsletter.

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Want to use this article on your website or your own ezine? You're welcome to, however we do require that you include the copyright and the following bio with live web site link. Please also notify us where the material will appear.

© by Jan Marie Dore of Femalepreneurs.com.
Jan Marie Dore mentors coaches, speakers, consultants and other solo-professional women to work fewer hours and make more money with online business
building strategies. Get your free 'Professional Women's Success
Kit' and other marketing resources at http://www.femalepreneurs.com/ezine

B is For Basics--Background is Basic

You can’t beat a good character for making sure your readers get involved in your story. Not only that, but it gives you proper motivation for your story goals.

For instance, if you use the zodiac signs to chart your character traits—the simple ones that give general traits without worrying about sun signs, moon position and all that. You can find the perfect character with the traits you need to give your protagonist so she can act in appropriate ways. And you can find the perfect opposite to drive her crazy, create the conflict in a romance and/or the angst with the right villain.

While your protagonist is water (Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio) your romantic interest/or even your antagonist could be a fire sign (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius). The traits of those people, both strengths and weaknesses should give you enough individual conflicting traits to weave a great story.

Once you determine your characters’ Birthdate, you can dig further to define him or her. There are references to birthdates tied to tree charts. For instance, Aries birthday falls somewhere between March 21 and April 19, so we will pick April 3 (out of a hat) that makes her a Rowan Tree (The sensitivity) who is full of charm, cheerful, gifted without egotism, likes to draw attention, loves life, motion, unrest, even complications and the list goes on. I can pick and choose which traits I want to portray for my character. Certainly you can find an opposite for most of those characteristics, not that you need to use them all.

Another consideration for backstory would be where they grew up. Both parents alive living together or raised by a single parent, adopted or foster parent(s)? What about home life? Siblings, or an only child, what state, country, large or small town/city?

Look at your own background and that of your friends, and someone you dislike—even the choice of careers helps shape your character. An adopted daughter of a multi-millionaire family, living in Hollywood, California will probably have a completely different outlook on life than a girl born as the fourth child in a family of seven children in a small farming community in the Midwest where the land and the life challenges by the weather, amount to survival for the strongest. Throw these two together even without or in spite of their birthdates, they will exhibit different traits and may be polar opposites.

Your character’s background is an important part of your story worth telling. It makes him real. It helps your reader relate to him or her. Even if you don’t use all the information you have laid out in your character chart, you need to know it so your character behaves appropriately in every situation and hooks your reader.

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Billie A Williams is an award winning, multi-published author whose

characters are

accidental sleuths who solve crimes with

wit, wisdom and chutzpah.

www.billiewilliams.com

Characters in Search of an Author

ISBN 978-1932794151

Available anywhere or www.filbertpublishing.com

Anatomy of a Good Story

Most everyone would agree the best books, actually all books, begin with characters who want something. They spend the whole book trying to obtain this goal, brass ring, or prize, whatever you choose to call it. Other people and events conspire to keep them from acquiring it. That’s it in a nutshell.

Simple isn’t it? How come then, are there so many, many books on writing? How many ways can you say the same thing? Here’s a clue – you could give a room full of one hundred people the same plot for a story and you would wind up with one hundred variations on the original theme or plot.

Everyone is unique. Everyone is the only one with their particular make up, experiences, learning, parents and all that makes them who they are their learning is unique, too. We all learn in a way unique to us. So, when we read all these various ways of saying the same thing, we eventually hit upon one that gives us that “aha!” moment.

When that is achieved we put pen to page or fingers to keyboard and begin our very own story worth telling. You decide which genre you will write in, and possibly the subgenre your story leans to. Even if you are writing in one of the most popular genres, say Romance, or Mystery—there are still dozens of sub-categories or genres.

Why should I bother with sub-categories or discovering what genre my book is going to be before I even start to write it? One reason is that all genres have their own conventions, style, requirements that readers come to expect from them. But that is only one of the many considerations in building a good story. Here are some others.

Time period when your story takes place

Topic

Age range/ or target market

Plot

Characters that are fully defined — you will want your readers to care about them.

Point of view

Setting

Title

Summary of the story – it keeps you moving toward your target—your goal

According to Nancy Lamb in her book The Writer’s Guide to Crafting Stories for Children, “A good story flows from a solid understanding of writing and structure, along with a confident grasp of character and plot and dialogue.

In conclusion, storytelling is a gift, an art, a craft and you can develop yours. Art has form and structure, so too does novel writing. Craft has rules, process matters and novel writing or story telling has rules for the process. Simple really.

About the Author

Billie A Williams is a multi-published, award-winning author her

Accidental Sleuths solve crimes with wit, wisdom and chutzpah

http://www.billiewilliams.com