It's been a long time since I updated the newsletter.  That's because website design that's supposed to be a snap still intimidates me, and this page is the hardest to work with!
   A lot has happened in the last two years, though.  I'm now THREE years cancer-free.  Woo-hoo!  And have spent a considerable amount of time and effort in raising awareness about ovarian cancer and funds for research into detecting and curing this deadly disease.  Aside from a hernia repair surgery in July 2009, wrist surgery in June 2010, hearing aids finally accepted emotionally and physically in March 2009, I'm doing great!
   Tannenbaum Publishing has now published its second offering, The Kapellmeister's Daughter by Helen Carson, which has been a joy to work on and the author a treasure to work with.  We had a fun-filled book-launching party for Helen at the end of August, and she also sold and signed books at the Artsfest weekend in mid-September in Dowell, MD, at Annmarie Garden.  The local newspaper printed a terrific article about her and her book, and The Washington Post will be doing the same this week on Thursday.  On this coming Saturday, Sep. 25, Helen will be signing books at Bay Books in California, MD, from 1 to 3 p.m.  And I expect her to also participate in the Southern Maryland Library's Author Event on Nov. 20 in Prince Frederick, MD.

   She and I have a lot to do yet to get her book out there, noticed, and in readers' hands.  As I've told her, the hard work is yet to begin!  Researching, writing, and revising was hard enough.  Then came the endless rounds of proofing and editing before printing, along with all the other choices an author and publisher have to make before that exciting moment when a finished book is in one's hands.  One never gets done with the marketing!
   And The Elimination Game is also almost done.  Just a few more weeks and it should be rolling off the press.  I've certainly learned that publishing two books in one year is about my limit.  Just as Helen has learned  a great deal about getting a book published, so I have learned an enormous amount about having an author client.  It's a whole different ball game from just publishing my own works, which takes a lot of effort and investment of time and money on its own.  I will be delighted to finally have The Elimination Game available for sales and delivery.  I am counting on my Women Military Aviator friends to snap it up and make it a huge success! 
   The thing with selling books is that there are so many avenues and venues to go down.  I have tried the public library route with Hawthorne's Cottage, writing 200 personally addressed letters to libraries in every state trying to interest them in my first book.  Not a single reply back from any of them.  Baker and Taylor has been a great distributor, but it still takes that special something extra to get bookstores or individuals interested in the book to make the sales.  Amazon.com has been the best all-around distributor for me because they make everything easy.  Preprinted packing slips, address labels, inventory reports, direct deposit into my bank account of royalties, and everything done over the internet.  I can be anywhere in the world and accept an Amazon order, whereas with Baker and Taylor, it still comes through via fax.  And the fax machine hasn't been ringing too frequently.
   I WISH I could devote my heart and soul to marketing all of these books, but that would take more than a 24/7 commitment.  And I have health issues, love to travel, love to read, and love to spend time with family and friends.  I have learned that there is simply not enough time in this lifespan that we tihnk we have to be able to do and accomplish everything we wish we could, and so we have to concentrate on those things about which we are most passionate.  For me, that means I have to give myself until almost noon each day to "get in gear."  And some mental and physical days off as well.
   Nevertheless, these books that are published by Tannenbaum Publishing are as good or better than anything you will find elsewhere, even though neither Helen nor I are household names as authors--YET!!

     In February 2007, Hawthorne's Cottage was published.  At the same time, I found out I had ovarian cancer.  I managed to do a bit of marketing for the book before settling down for surgery and chemo. 
     The first bookstore to sell Hawthorne's Cottage was Bay Books in Hollywood, Maryland, and the proud author poses for a photo!
     I had the best surgery and chemo in the world at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, a four-hour round trip from our home.  My husband, Cliff, took photos of me there so our friends and relatives who live far away could get a sense of where I was and what it was like.  I lost all my hair, went up and down in weight, became totally exhausted, and had the usual nausea and eating problems.  We call it the "lost year," because we couldn't do anything except help me get better, but that was exceedingly important!
    Cliff and I went on a cruise to Hawaii in March--our celebration of life.  I was cancer-free and feeling fully recovered except for neuropathy in my feet, loss of hearing, joint pain, and inexplicably gaining 25 pounds!  Here's a photo of me at one of the formal dinners on the ship.  I may also include a photo of me ziplining on Kuaui!
     I'm reaching the one-year survival date, and glad of it!  I had my first book signing July 9 in Fernandina Beach and sold 25 copies of Hawthorne's Cottage in 3 hours.  I hope some of you who bought my book that day will e-mail to say you loved it!
     I'm planning other book signings, so keep an eye out on my Events page.  After I've marketed Hawthorne's Cottage as well as I can, I will get The Elimination Game prepared for publication.
     And then I can start on my third book!