The Ripple Effect

By Susan Reichert, Editor-in-Chief for Southern Writers Magazine

Most of us have thrown a pebble in the water and watched as the ripples expanded across the water. We find examples of the ripple effect in the economy, societal, financial and even the computer world.

Is there a ripple effect with the books we write? Yes, two ways that come to mind are the ripple effect of the content of our writing and the marketing of our books.

In writing, people read our words we’ve written and those words touch that person as they read. Our book will affect them. Will it affect them in a good way or bad one? Will it make them feel good or bad? Will they enjoy it? Will they quit before they are through the book? Will they say good things about the book, or bad things? Will they encourage others to read the book or discourage them? Either way this will cause a ripple effect.

In marketing the book, the ripple effect applies. You tell one person, they tell another, and before long the ripples have extended farther than you can even see. Whether it takes a day, a month or a year, your book will be noticed if…people are told about the book. How is it done? By placing ads in radio, TV, newspapers and magazines. By word of mouth, asking your friends to read it and tell their friends about it. Using Social Media, contests, book signings. Promoting the book is necessary to get people to buy. You use everything at your disposal short of hiring sales-persons to go door to door. So eventually, you have the ripple effect.

The bigger the ripple the more books you sell. The bigger the ripple the more people read your words.

Cover Stories

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director, Southern Writers Magazine


COVER STORY #1

The new July / August issue of Southern Writers is out, and it's a special one for our second anniversary! All of us at the mag are grateful to you, and what a pleasure it is to work with every one of the great authors, poets, songwriters, publishers and agents who share their voices of experience with our readers, from cover to colorful cover.

Hmm, covers.  Actually, one of my favorite articles in this issue was written by author and artist Natasha Brown, who shares tips on designing effective book covers. Visit www.southernwritersmagazine.com to see all that's waiting for you in the new July edition.

Speaking of covers, the front of our commemorative issue is graced by none other than Karen White, the author of 16 bestselling and award-winning novels, including her latest summer getaway, The Time Between.  Which brings us to...

COVER STORY #2

You can win an autographed copy of The Time Between!  Karen White has graciously offered to give two of our readers signed copies of her new June release (there's the cover for you). What do you have to do to win one?  Simply visit www.southernwritersmagazine.com/karen-white-contest.html and submit your email address by July 14th. A random drawing on the 15th will determine the two lucky winners.

And that's not all! As part of our second anniversary celebration, we'll follow that giveaway with additional giveaways during July!  Stay tuned to win even more books autographed by authors who appear in our anniversary issue.

COVER STORY #3
While we're talking giveaways, here's not only a chance to win a free online subscription to Southern Writers, but your opportunity to give us your opinion on your favorite book covers. What book covers have grabbed you even before you saw the title?  Which ones have that "wow" factor that you can't take your eyes off of?  We want your opinion, and in the November issue we'll show the book covers you chose as the best of the bookshelf, plus we'll talk to the authors and artists who made them.

To cast your vote (for up to five different book covers — and yes, you can vote for your own), be sure and visit http://covers.southernwritersmagazine.com. We'll be taking your suggestions through August 30. After that we'll draw for ten winners of year-long subscriptions to Southern Writers Magazine.  If you already have a subscription (and you do, right?) we'll extend it, of course. Then in November we'll share the secrets of book cover success in our very special "cover" story.

So run for cover!  Enter our newest contests and dive into the 2nd anniversary issue of Southern Writers.   If it's summer writing inspiration you're looking for, we've got you covered.

A Rejection Can be Better Than Acceptance

by Sherry Perkins

Have you ever entered a writing contest only to never hear from them again? Most of the time, well all of the time, I keep my eyes open trying to pick out the frauds. Perhaps I think too big in this regard, because I feel like I have stumbled head first into the “sucker” abyss with my eyes wide open all the way to the bottom.

In the summer of 2010 I submitted a piece to what I thought was a reputable competition; it was for an anthology. The sponsor had a website, a blog, an award-winning book, and taught at a university. She had even published other anthologies. I felt good about submitting for free and I had heard about the opportunity at my writers’ group. Plus, I had never had a bad experience, except for the rejection letters we all get. Those are good experiences if you think about it.

I came up with a submission, worked on it, edited it, made sure it was within the word count, and sent it by the deadline. Then, I received an acceptance letter. Yes, my piece was accepted for inclusion! The prize for acceptance was copies of the anthology.  A follow-up email to me said something like, “...looking forward to working with you in the editing process.” I was on Cloud 9 for days, weeks. Sadly, this is where the story ends.

What was to be published by Christmas 2010 is still not published. I’ve send emails and posted on her Facebook page all with no response. Stupidly, I never got a contact number. At first, after a few months of no replies, all I wanted to know was the status of the publication. Now, I want to withdraw my piece so it can find a home elsewhere. I am beyond disappointed and passed being mad a long time ago, but what am I to do? Is there a statute of limitations on what someone promises versus what they deliver? I don’t know. I’m no literary attorney. Are any of you by chance?

The point is although we are careful where we submit, these situations are bound to happen. Do I feel cheated? Yes. Do I feel like I’ve wasted a year and a half waiting patiently on a piece to get published, only to realize I’ve been duped? Yes. Has this ever happened to me? No! Although I don’t have children, this experience makes me feel like one of my fictional kids has disappeared and I don’t know where he is. So, please be cautious of your submissions.

We writers work hard on every word. We constantly edit. We’re open for suggestions to make ourselves better writers. And when we do submit, no one should ever just leave us hanging. At least have the courtesy to say, “No thanks.” For the first time, I would’ve been happier with a rejection letter.

P.S. Here’s a follow up:

Just a few weeks ago I finally heard from the sponsor. Was this coincidence since I was preparing this piece for the Suite T blog? You got me. Naturally, she apologized for not getting back to me and agreed I should submit my story elsewhere. She said she did not receive enough good submissions for the anthology and got busy with other things. However, mine stood out and was well written. (At least that’s what she said.) I accepted her explanation and chalked it up to experience. We ended the back and forth emails on good terms.

_____________________________________

Sherry Perkins is president of Bayou Writers’ Group of Lake Charles, Louisiana,  and has had several articles and photographs published. She resides in DeRidder, Louisiana, with her husband, stepdaughter, two cats, a fish, and a ball python named Richard Pryor.  Visit Sherry at www.sherryperkins.blogspot.com







Have you gotten your free online copy of Southern Writers' anniversary issue yet? Get it now! http://www.southernwritersmagazine.com/july-gift.html  

CONTEST

Southern Writers One Stop Christmas Shopping Contest

Southern Writers has teamed up with three incredible authors to bring you a one-stop shopping opportunity that only costs you a few clicks and moments of your time! By following each step below you will earn at least one chance to win an incredible prize package that will include:


1) Lisa Whittle's {w}hole. 

Get past whatever holds you back – and start living a whole new story

We all have holes in our lives — those things we lament about ourselves. Those things we allow to define us in ways we don’t like. Those things that keep us from living the life God wants for us.


But what if you discovered that the holes in your life are really the things that will ultimately make you… well, whole?

Author and communicator Lisa Whittle knows this all too well. When her world was rocked to the core in a very public way, her faith and whole reason for living were challenged like never before. In that moment, Lisa was confronted by the holes in her spiritual life. And what she learned not only changed her life, but could bring great possibilities to yours.

In {w}hole, Lisa calls you to take an honest look at your holes, discover how to fill them with God’s presence, and get to a real and vibrant place of wholeness instead. In her trademark bold, compassionate, and relatable voice, Lisa takes you on a transformational journey of understanding who you really are… and what you were born to be and do.

2) Lisa Wingate's Dandelion Summer

The latest in the inspirational and heartwarming Blue Sky Hill series from Lisa Wingate. 

All her life, Epiphany Salerno has been tossed like a dandelion seed on the wind. Now, at sixteen, she must move to the low-rent side of Blue Sky Hill and work where she's not wanted: in an upscale home on The Hill.

J. Norman Alvord's daughter has hired a teenager to stay with him in the afternoons. Widowed and suffering from heart trouble, Norman wants to be left alone. But in Epie's presence, Norman discovers a mystery-- memories of another life and a woman who saved him. As he and Epie take an unexpected road trip through sleepy Southern towns, they form a life changing friendship and uncover long-held family secrets.

3) Tamera Alexander's A Lasting Impression

A fake. A forger. That’s what Claire Laurent knows she is, which is why she can’t fathom working in the home of the richest woman in Nashville, let alone America. But when she meets Sutton Monroe––Mrs. Acklen’s far too handsome and equally as discerning personal attorney––Claire’s certain the first impression she made with him…will be her last.

When I first stepped foot across the threshold of the Belmont Mansion in Nashville, TN, and learned about Adelicia Acklen––the born-before-her-time woman who built Belmont––and her “tough as nails” personality and extraordinary life, I knew I wanted to write a story that included her, her magnificent home, and this crucial time in our nation’s history.

But when I “met” Sutton Monroe and Claire Laurent while visiting the mansion one afternoon, or more rightly, when they shoved their way into my imagination and met each other, oh…I knew I had to write their story. And I knew exactly what the setting would be too. The historic Belmont Mansion. After over two years of research and writing, A Lasting Impression is the culmination of that “chance meeting.”

A Lasting Impression is about being authentic in one’s life and relationships, and in one’s faith. It’s a love story about a nation mending after war, ­­the redemption of those wounded, and the courage of a man and woman to see themselves––and each other––for who they really are.

4) A Kindle, Offered by Southern Writers Magazine

The new Kindle is lighter, smaller and faster. Southern Writers Magazine wants to make it easy to read this holiday season. 

Southern Writers nurtures and encourages authors on their writing journey and is the first magazine of its kind to equip writers not just with skill as a writer but empowers them to market and sell their books. Their informative and inspirational magazine has been heralded as a "writing conference in a magazine" and is an essential tool for any writer serious about publication and success as a writer.

5) Southern Writer's Most Popular Book

Visit the Southern Writers Bookstore to explore the prose penned by each issue's featured authors. Whether you're looking for a book to thrill or inspire, you'll find your favorite emerging and established authors in the Southern Writers Bookstore. Get a copy of your next favorite book today!

Who wouldn't want to win all these great prizes? Entering is easy. Just follow the instructions below and be sure and visit on Thanksgiving Day when the randomly selected winner will be announced!

Free to Good Home...

CONTEST: One of our SOUTHERN WRITERS has a contest for you. Enter the drawing of Jonna Turner author of Shiloh and the Cave.

Would you like a free copy of my latest novel, Shiloh and the Cave, or a free online copy of the September issue of Southern Writers Magazine--with tips, how-tos, and sound advice for budding authors as well as established authors? And, reviews of some of the latest Southern novel...s.

Here’s your chance to win! Just come up with a good Southern name for the female protagonist in my next Southern Mystery set in present day.

Tips: The character will be in her late twenties, beautiful, sassy, and Southern to the bone!

The top five names will be chosen (Use your own name if you’re adventurous!) and will appear as characters in my next mystery novel(s). The first-place winner will receive a copy of Shiloh and the Cave and a copy of Southern Writers Magazine. Four other names will be chosen. Winners will receive a copy of the September issue of Southern Writers Magazine.

Be creative and have fun! Post your entries on my Jonna Turner page. Winners will be chosen and notified on October 14th. Winners’ names will be posted on the Southern Writers Magazine’s Facebook page, my Jonna Turner page, and my website: www.jonnaturner.com. Have fun and good luck!