The New Book Review

This blog, #TheNewBookReview, is "new" because it eschews #bookbigotry. It lets readers, reviewers, authors, and publishers expand the exposure of their favorite reviews, FREE. Info for submissions is in the "Send Me Your Fav Book Review" circle icon in the right column below. Find resources to help your career using the mini search engine below. #TheNewBookReview is a multi-award-winning blog including a MastersInEnglish.org recommendation.

Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Self-Help Books. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Self-Help Books. Sort by date Show all posts

Monday, July 30, 2012

Accountant Reviews Book That Inspired Him

Title: Yes You Can ! How to Be a Success no Matter Who You Are or
Where You're From

Author: Bill Townsend
Website: www.interminds.com
Genre: Self-help, motivational, business
ISBN-13: 978-1477659748
Reviewer: Naoto Takazawa, Accountant, Las Vegas, NV

For 9 years I have worked in the accounting department of a mid-sized
company. It is a good job, it pays fairly well, and I am thankful for
it. But I have often wondered if there is something else I should be
doing? Am I destined to move to another company? Should I start my own
accounting firm? Should I change careers completely? And each time I
ask myself these questions, something holds me back.
No longer.

Last week I read "Yes You Can ! How to Be a Success no Matter Who You
Are or Where You're From" by Bill Townsend (available at Amazon.com in
paperback and Kindle).

As a 37 year old with questions about my future, reading this book was
a revelation. It gave me not only the motivation to take action, but
the inspiration to do so. It also helped me determine how to do it, by
giving me tactics to follow. I find that part of the book unique among
self-help books because most talk about how to be better, but few give
you actual tactics to get there.

The author, Bill Townsend, isn’t a Harvard graduate and wasn’t born
with a silver spoon in his mouth. He grew up on a farm in Western
Pennsylvania. His mother had a stroke when he was 5 years old that
left her paralyzed and without speech. He taught her the ABCs and how
to tie her shoes. He earned a degree in art, then worked in
advertising. At age 27 ran for US Congress, almost winning. Then he
got busy. He was the cofounder of Lycos.com, sixdegrees.com (now
LinkedIn), Deja.com (sold to Google and eBay) and 9 other companies. A
pretty successful person by anyone’s thinking.

"Yes You Can! How to Be a Success no Matter Who You Are or Where
You're From" is a motivational book that teaches you how to take
control of your life to become successful in career, love, and life.
There are hundreds of stories of people who started with nothing and
made it: people like John Paul Dejoria, who started John Paul Mitchel
Systems with $700 and is now worth over $4 billion.
"Yes You Can ! How to Be a Success no Matter Who You Are or Where
You're From" is fun to read, nurturing, uplifting, regenerative, and
worth every moment spent in your hands.

P.S. I’ve decided to start my own accounting and bookkeeping service.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tell your Facebook friends about it.  

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Bob Rich Reviews Psychologist's Self-Help for Anxiety Disorders

Book Title:  “Calm Ground: Grounding tools to help you feel safe and solid in the present”
Author:         Megan Williams
Website:      www.calmground.com
Where to buy book:  Available on Megan’s website
Genre:        Self help for anxiety, stress and trauma.
ISBN:          978-0-646-90948-6
Publisher:  Self Published

Reviewed by Bob Rich originally for his newsletter “Bobbing Around”


Modern society is designed to make us dissatisfied, worried, unhappy. Contented people don’t need to buy things. So, we all need tools apart from retail therapy to relieve distress.

Nearly on third of people will qualify for a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder at one time or another, and people in the “normal” range also suffer stress and anxiety far more than is good for them. So, Calm Ground by Megan Williams is an invaluable tool for most people.

This little book is a plain language primer on anxiety disorders, and evidence-based techniques for dealing with them, but it’s more than that. It is also a collection of magnificent photos of Australian landscapes including peaceful forests, beaches and mountain streams. Understanding is also aided by helpful diagrams. The pictures are tools for self-soothing.

Although relevant psychological theory is explained, the words and concepts are simple enough for a high school student to follow.

There are useful exercises that anyone can do. They will help at times of anxiety and worry, and more generally will lead to inner peace.

So, do yourself a favour and study this mini-manual, and follow its suggestions.

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Megan is a  registered psychologist.
 

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Self-Help Book (With Humor) Keeps You on Track

Title: Hindsight: What You Need to Know Before You Drop Your Drawers
Author: Maryanne Comaroto
ISBN-13: 0974661007
Genre: self-help, sex, relationships
Publisher: Bridge the Gap publishing

Have you noticed that you have a knack for attracting Mr. Wrong (or Not-Exactly-Right)? When it comes to relationships, timing is everything. Knowing what you need to know before you drop your drawers can save you tons of heartache, money and time. For some of us, finding a man any man totally eludes us. While others have become adept at finding a man, he is rarely the right man, and rarely does the relationship last, nor should it.

Let's face it, there isn't much worse than literally and figuratively waking up to the reality that we have been sleeping with disaster. Hindsight: What You Need to Know Before You Drop Your Drawers guides the reader through the challenges of dating and mating in the twenty-first century and shares powerful solutions on how to find the RIGHT man, get him, and keep him, so you are fully equipped to create healthy, sustainable, fulfilling relationships.

Maryanne Comaroto (Maryannelive.com) has been inspiring people to create and attract healthy relationships for nearly a decade. In HINDSIGHT she reveals the six tools you must have in your tool belt to create the perfect mate. Maryanne takes you through the toxic choices we make in dating, and then teaches you how to turn six tools into lifelong skills and Self-Love Prescription exercises designed to help you achieve mastery.

Since HINDSIGHT begins within, your relationship with yourself is the first place to start. You will learn: How to tell the frogs from the princes/princesses What you truly want and how to create it Ways to remove the blockages you have with men and relationships The steps on the journey from selling yourself to your sacred self that will attract your perfect mate How to manifest the relationship of your dreams into reality To lighten up and have fun discover the JOY of your own life While the truth can often hurt, it can also be hysterical. The journey through Hindsight will have you laughing and learning your way to healthier relationships.

Maryanne's book is applicable for just about anyone – single or not – as it focuses on the priority we should place on learning to be in tune with OUR OWN SELVES. It's then up to us how we choose to take this knowledge into our relationships! A great read for anyone feeling there has to be a better way to be in a relationship, or for someone who just wants help figuring themselves out! Maryanne tells it like it is in a way that encourages and inspires!

~Alexis James
(synopsis first published on Amazon

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Monday, June 12, 2023

How-to-Books-For-Authors



Please help me celebrate the release of the 3rd edition of the Winningest Book in Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s “HowToDoItFrugally” Series of books,  “The Frugal Editor”! 

SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2023

Dawn Colclasure Lauds Carolyn Howard-Johnson's "The Frugal Editor"

I love author-edited newsletters like the one below from Dawn Colclasure below for information, yes, but especially for networking and building a loyal base.  You'll see from the "More About the Author" that Dawn is not only a prolific author, but among her books are career-boosting how-tos for writers--and you (my SharingwithWriters and TheNewBookReview subscribers and visitors) know how I am about books being the most frugal way (and often the most credible way!) to build writing careers. Today's post was a surprise from Dawn, perhaps my first quite like this. It is what I will call and "editorial review" or recommendation.  It will become a vital part of my celebration of the release of the 3rd edition of my #TheFrugalEditor. Here it is! Along with a sample of her newsletter!  


Welcome to the latest issue (the of the 

Thirteenth!) of the SPARREW Newsletter!


An Assortment of Dawn Colclasure's Poetry, Fiction, and About Anything
and Everything Else! 


The free monthly newsletter for self-publishers, authors, readers, reviewers, editors and writers! I am happy to have you aboard! Thank you for subscribing! And welcome to new subscribers!


Thanks to her lovely contributions to this newsletter, Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s newest release, the third edition of The Frugal Editor: Do-It-Yourself Editing Secrets-From Your Query Letters to Final Manuscript to the Marketing of Your New Bestseller is not an unknown book to me. If you’d like to read about Carolyn’s thoughts on why the update of this book was necessary, you can check it out in my article in First Chapter Plus here: pages 16-17

 

But aside from getting new nuggets of editorial wisdom from this book, I was surprised by how Carolyn’s reminder to edit query letters really hits home. I have reviewed many rejected query letters and realized that, after some thought, they definitely could use some editing. Carolyn’s book can help whip those query letters into shape! It’s definitely a must-have book for every writer serious about making their work shine.

 

We got a great issue put together for you this month.

 

In a recent issue of The Wordling newsletter, I learned about self-publisher Paul Millerd. After reading about his success as a self-publisher, I knew I had to interview him for my own newsletter! Despite his VERY busy schedule, Paul was able to find some time to answer my questions. Check out his sage advice about self-publishing below!

 

The author interview is with an author I have know for some time: William Meikle. I met William decades ago, through the Absolute Write Water Cooler. Even though it’s been many years since I’ve participated at the Water Cooler, I kept track of William through other online platforms – mainly, social media. When I learned he had books coming out this month, I wanted to interview him so he could share all about them! Don’t miss my interview with William and learn all about his journey in becoming an author.

 

And finally, the writer interview is with another fellow scribe I have known for many years: Shanta Everington. I met Shanta when I was writing for a parent publication based in England, and we kept in touch on and off ever since. Shanta graciously took some time to answer questions for the writer interview and to share her wisdom about all things writing.

 

This month’s feature article is from a fellow author who I recently crossed paths with. After I won a book drawing through Jessica McCann’s newsletter, I wanted to return the nice gesture and asked her if she would like to contribute a guest post to this newsletter. Thankfully, Jessica agreed to do so, and I loved how her ideas for writing puts a nice spin on the process! Please check out her article to find out just how she does it!

 

I hope you enjoy this issue! Feel free to drop me a note or connect with me on social media! I'd love to connect with you!


Enjoy this issue!

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

Author-Review-Request-and-Readers-Sign-up

Author-Review-Request-and-Readers-Sign-up
Authors, want book reviews?

Readers, want free books to review? 











































More About #TheNewBookReview Blog The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read and love. Please see submission guidelines in a tab at the top of this blog's home page or go directly to the form at https://www.bit.ly/FinishedReviewSubmissions. Authors and publishers who do not yet have reviews or want more may use Lois W. Stern's "Authors Helping Authors" service for requesting reviews. Find her guidelines in a tab at the top of the home page, too. And know that Carolyn Wilhelm, our IT expert, award-winning author, and veteran educator, makes an award image especially for those who volunteer to write reviews from Lois's review-request list and post them in the spirit of her "Authors Helping Authors" project. Reviews, interviews, and articles on this blog are indexed by genre, reviewers' names, and review sites so #TheNewBookReview may be used as a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. As an example, writers will find this blog's search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Holly Fox Vellekoop Reviews Self-Help Book from Valerie Allen

Title: Beyond the Inkblots: Confusion to Harmony
Author: Valerie Allen
Author's Web site: www.ValerieAllenWriter
Non-fiction: Psychology>Self Help>Motivational
ISBN 10: 1478146117
ISBN 13: 978 1478146117
Purchase at Amazon.com
Format: book, ebook, large print, and audio



"A book of simple truths about the psychology of everyday living; where we are in life, how we got here, and what we want to do next. It focuses on personal responsibility for our words and behavior, our choices and decisions."


Reviewed By Holly Fox Vellekoop, MSN, Author originally for Amazon 5 Star Review

Like learning from a sage and a good friend

Reading Dr. Allen's book is much like learning from a sage and/or having coffee with a good friend who provides practical advice and a much-needed dose of reality on topics which all of us must face in life. In these changing times, many young people and adults alike have no one to turn to for the wisdom the author imparts in this book. As Dr. Allen so aptly writes in the 'Introduction,' "This book is meant as a journey with musings about life's big questions. It is a place to begin a search and rescue mission for your true self." Read it once, read it twice, then read it again and heed the advice. Be sure to buy "Beyond the Inkblots" for your siblings, grandchildren, friends and anyone else whom you believe would enjoy a good read while gaining direction and self-discovery.

About the Author: 

Dr. Valerie Allen, psychologist, author, and speaker is an experienced writer in many genres. For several years she wrote a weekly newspaper column, Family Matters. Many of her articles have been published in parenting magazines. She has written two children's books for ages 7 - 12. She also writes fiction, non-fiction, and short stories. Her contemporary novels focus on families dealing with a child in peril. She is a popular author of numerous short stories centered on  facing that "moment of truth"  within our relationships.  Reach her at
  ValerieAllenWriter.com , and  Facebook.com/Valerie.Allen.520 
Her books include:  
 
 Beyond the Inkblots: Confusion to Harmony
Write Publish Sell!
Summer School for Smarties
Bad Hair, Good Hat, New Friends
Amazing Grace
Sins of the Father
Suffer the Little Children
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Jan Peregrine Reviews How to Get Great Reviews Frugally and Ethically

How To Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically
Subtitle: The ins and outs of using free reviews to build and sustain a writing career
By Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Nonfiction: Writers/HowTo/Marketing
ISBN: 978-1536948370
Available on Amazon as E-book and Paperback 

Reviewed by Jan Peregrine originally for Facebook

The title and subtitle of this book live up beautifully to their claims! Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi-award-winning How to Do It Frugally Series of books for writers, emphatically reminds me of yesteryear book titles with that nonfrugal use of words in her title/subtitle! The generous text carries on this theme with six sections, appendix, and close to 300 pages. This ARC e-book, free until it's print-published, is my introduction to the author and it won't be the last book of hers that I read. We're FB friends now and she published my White Trash book review on her blog. Not only a cool lady, but a very helpful one!

Howard-Johnson's latest e-book is the kind of self-help book that serious writers need. I sure do. While I have the book-writing part down, nary a writer's block to dog me, I unfortunately am messing up big time on the promotional part. Maybe I should blame the former dysfunctional review site I wrote for. Not making much money for my writing has become second nature to me...or something like that.

First she shows us the ropes to build the backdrop of our artistic performances to the reading/listening public That means getting to know who's out there who may help us to promote our books. There are lists we can make of people, reviewers, and publishers who are potential interested parties, especially if we hook them with a blurb about our book. I'd never thought of that. Also she encourages writers to review books where other similar authors will likely read them. That's a great suggestion and Howard-Johnson knows of review opportunities I've never heard of.

She really has a lot of useful tips and links, but I have one for her. Recently I read a young adult novel by Sonya Sones and since she included her email address on the back flap, I emailed her about my concerns regarding her story. I was thrilled to hear back from her right away! She had the erroneous impression that I hated it and would give it a bad review. While I did email back and clarified my impressions, I'll be more careful the next time I email an author. Brief reviews via email don't seem like a good idea.

So now I feel more confident that I'll be better able to promote my own books with effort put into it, even if they're self-published, because Howard-Johnson knows of reviewers who welcome self-published books and are not book bigots, heh.

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Jan Peregrine writes reviews for Amazon, Goodreads and her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/jansbooks/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel. She plans to be a fequent contributor to The New Book Review.



MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Clare O'Beara Author Interview in Dublin, Ireland

Q and A Interview for the New Book Review

When in Dublin recently, I had a chance to meet up with author Clare O’Beara and her IT husband. Due to her busy schedule, I was just lucky enough to catch her between being the official film recorder for science-fiction World Con and Hugo Awards problem solver, as well as the start of the fall college class startup. Of course, she also is a busy tree surgeon. To my delight, she had a few hours to talk. We initially met on Goodreads as she answers readers’ comments and questions, and this was our first in-person talk.

Clare O'Beara Author Interview in Dublin, Ireland

When did you start writing?

I have been writing for most of my life. Now, I write mysteries, science fiction, young adult, and romance books. I have won several awards for short stories and am an Amazon bestseller. I also review books and am considered a top reviewer with Net Gallery, Fresh Fiction, Goodreads, and Amazon. I review excellent, accessible facilities for people with disabilities As an example, this is a link to her short film about accessible places in London.

Why are you taking college classes when you are already a successful writer?

As a multimedia journalism student, I am learning more about improving my writing, making publicity marketing materials, producing videos, and networking with people interested in this area. I help run events where this knowledge is helpful. At the science-fiction World Con, it was helpful to know about multimedia journalism as I was an official film recorder and Hugo Awards problem solver. I learned more about creating book trailers. I am already using the degree although the classes are not even finished.

This degree seems to be made for O’Beara! I’m sure it helps with her blog, website, and YouTube channel.

I see you are a national showjumping champion. How did you become interested in horses?

At the age of four, I wanted to be an architect. Then, my parents put me on a pony to go for a ride, and that was it. I have been a horse person ever since. Several of my books involve horses in the plot, especially Silks and Sins, Murder at Kildare Mensa, and Rodeo Finn.

I also asked O’Beara if she had ever dressed up especially for a race as described in Silks and Sins, and she said she did a few times.

Cats are important in your books. Do you own cats?

The answer was she has four cats. I wasn’t surprised as they are part of the stories and even included when friends visit. One cat, boots, was ignored by an owner which figures into the mystery. I think I didn’t have to ask if one of her cats had white paws and was named Boots. I just think probably so!

Did you try traditional publishing prior to self-publishing?

Yes, in the 1990’s when manuscripts were sent through the post with SASE (self-addressed stamped envelopes for their return). It was a very slow process. She tried this a few times. Then she started to realize books like Wool by Hugh Howey did well although self-published. As a best-selling Amazon author, she is not at all sorry she tried this route. She evens shares what she has learned about independent publishing at the page on her website.

O’Beara said she bought ten ISBNs and used seven in her first year. She had five books ready to publish at that time. She used five the next year.
Why do you review books for sites such as Fresh Fiction?

Participating in book awards and reviewing books written by others is always educational and I learn so much from these activities. This is where I first noticed the increase in independent publishing which inspired me, for instance.

Self-publishing involves much technical work. How do you accomplish all this?

My husband, Allan, is my IT support. I take the photos, and he creates the book covers. He is the website maintenance and troubleshooter. It takes time to do the writing much less the technical aspects of this kind of writing. I appreciate the support.

*Note: Read her advice for people who want to self-publish at this link.

What are your writing plans for the future?

I plan to write a book a year although I’m taking the multimedia journalism degree and working and volunteering with my other interests.

I hear the science fiction World Con will be held in New Zealand next year. Will you attend?

Well, that is a long way off and a long distance. This year we were lucky as we said Ireland should have a turn, and it was here. The volunteers do get their entry tickets paid, but the travel and accommodations are not covered. We will just have to see. She added:

“I've just spent a week and a half helping to staff Worldcon, the World Science Fiction Convention. This was held in Dublin for the first time and all hands were needed. My husband Allan also attended and gave me great assistance. The Hugo Awards were carefully administered, and duly awarded in a stunning ceremony.”

Climate change is a constant theme in your books. What would you like people to know about this topic?

I recommend the movie Mimicking Africa to learn about sustainable animal agriculture. I also help moderate the Green Group on Goodreads where we discuss this topic. I am a fan of the Fota Wildlife Animal Sanctuary and share information about it, as well.

You are very active on Goodreads. That is where I met you. I was so pleased when you answered. Do you like comments from readers on that platform?
Yes, and I do answer and converse with readers on Goodreads. I welcome comments.

Thank you so much for meeting with me today!

Previously on The New Book Review, I have reviewed some of Clare O'Beara's books.


I also have reviewed other books by O’Beara on Amazon, such as this one for Murder at the Dublin Mensa

Thank you for reading, Carolyn Wilhelm, Wise Owl Factory

Clare O'Beara Author Interview in Dublin, Ireland

Clare O'Beara Author Interview in Dublin, Ireland


MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read and love. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and in a tab at the top of this blog's home page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites so it may be used a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

For Writers Tax Season Lasts All Year!

The Write Life
By Sylvia McClain
ISBN Print: 978-0-974264-39-3
E-book: 978-0-974264-30-X

Usually I run reviews on this blog, today I am taking the liberty of using an excerpt because I know it will help both the working reviewers who have published their reviews here and the authors who have had reviews of their books run here! It is from Sylvia McClain's The Write Life.


Did You Know the Tax Season Isn't Over: For Writers it Last all Year?

You got paid for a story you wrote. Congratulations! You’ve become a recognized and published writer.

Now you have to ask yourself this question. Am I now self employed?

Contrary to public thought, there is an easy answer to it. If you write continuously and regularly with the activity being your primary source of income or profit, then it is a business and you are self employed. If your writing is a sporadic activity or a hobby, it is not a business. Whether you are self-employed or not, all earned income of $400 or more must be reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Money earned from a sporadic activity is easily reported on a 1040 tax form. There is another side to reporting your income as a sole proprietor of a business. To be self-employed means there is not an employer to withhold monies from your pay to meet your tax obligations. It’s now your responsibility and you can accomplish this new task.

First, let me help you understand the basics of the tax structure for the self-employed. Schedule C, Profit or Loss From Business and Schedule SE, Self-Employment Tax must be filed with your 1040 form. Schedule C calculates the amount of money you made or lost writing and Schedule SE determines taxes owed, if any.

The secret to overcoming a large tax bite is keeping good records of money spent to make money. In other words, knowing what you can deduct as an expense against your profits will help lower your tax liability. This will lower the amount that will appear on Schedule SE’s net income to be taxed. The lower the amount, the less you will have to pay in taxes. So what are the business expenses that a writer can apply against his or her profits? Any ordinary and necessary expenses incurred to operate your business. An ordinary expense is an expense that is common and accepted in your field of business. A necessary expense is one that is appropriate and helpful for your business. Advertising, educational cost, computer paper and postage are a few tax deductible writer expenses. Publication 535, Business Expenses from the IRS can assist you with definitions of other types of business expenses.

If you don’t feel tax savvy, there are preparers to do your taxes for you. You must keep good records of your expenses and income. Also, check to make sure the preparer is familiar with, and an expert in the field of writing. Not all preparers specialize in the writing profession. Preparers sometimes depend on the computer programs to guide them.

Now go on, don’t be afraid to continue doing what you love to do. Write. Before you know it, you could just make a very good living doing it. A tax bite can be turned into just a little pinch.


Author Biography:
Sylvia McClain blogs at http://sylviaspeaks.blogspot.com and is a book reviewer in her own right at MyShelf.com and Atlantic Publishing Company. The Write Life is now available in its 2nd edition.



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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using the widget below:

Monday, September 14, 2020

L. Artzer Reviews Diane Mullins New Book on Empowerment


Title: Dying to Belong: How I Accidentally Found Myself  
Author: Diane Mullins  
Genre: memoir, self-help, empowerment  
ISBN 978-0997431605 
Available on Amazon 

Reviewed by L. Artzer
 

This book will get your attention for anyone captivated by a true story. Dying to Belong is an inspiring book about a young girl desiring to belong anywhere or with anyone.  Throughout her life and her journey that God has taken her on woke her up to an important realization.  Through an unbelievable tragedy, she begins to find out and to know who she really is. I was attracted to the title of this book because I too wanted to belong to something.  It helped me to go after finding myself. So, if you are looking for help to find yourself, then this book is for you. 


MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Diane has her master’s degree from Grand Canyon University where she studied psychology to better understand people and how to help them succeed. As an author she tells how a tragic accident literally saved her life. She is now inspired to help others.  Learn more about her at:
L. Artzer Reviews Diane Mullins New Book on Empowerment



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Monday, January 3, 2011

Expert on Self-Help Hones In on Handling Grief

Title – Losing Your Only
Author – Dr Debi Yohn
Author's website link - http://www.theinternationalpsychologist.com/
Genre or category – Self help, memoir, grieving



In "Losing Your Only" Dr. Debi Yohn, a Counseling Psychologist, has shared her journey as a parent that lost an only child. Her healing lessons, her joys, her mistakes and her sadness. Debi is a southern story teller who uses her stories to remind us of the joys of parenting and the joy of loving.
Levi was bigger than life bringing joy to all that knew him in his short 20 year life. In his passing, he continues a connection with all that knew him. There is jet vapor from his existence. Debi teaches that death is part of life and she reminds us of the power of love even after death.
A Comment From Dr Debi Yohn About Losing Your Only

My current book, Losing Your Only is written to the Parents or Loved Ones that have lost an only child. This book is written from my own personal experience. When my only child was killed in a car accident, my life took a different path. I was living in Shanghai China. He was going to college in USA. In my grief, I discovered that my purpose is to motivate, and support parents and all clients live to their life potential. Losing a child is horrific, losing an only child brings it up a notch. So what do we do with that kind of experience? We have decisions to make. We can live or we can die with the child. I decided not only to live, but to thrive.
Main Topics Covered in Losing Your Only

Chapter One: The REAL Journey Begins
Chapter Two: A Word on Spirituality
Chapter Three: The Reality of the Loss
Chapter Four: Experiencing the Grief
Chapter Five: Adjusting
Chapter Six: Living in Your New Reality
Chapter Seven: The Parental Partnership
Chapter Eight: Filling the Void
Chapter Nine: Life Lessons
A Generation of Only Children—a Global Perspective


About Dr Debi Yohn

Dr. Debi Yohn is an international psychologist, author and speaker with 32 years experience living and working on 3 continents. Her work has taken her to Saudi Arabia for 7 years and Shanghai, China for 8 years. While in Shanghai, she founded “Lifeline Shanghai” a “911” service to help English speakers in need. She currently lives fulltime in Huatulco, Mexico and travels the world working with her clients, writing and managing her diversified business and charitable interests. To read Dr Debi’s full bio, visit http://bookpromotionservices.com/2010/12/02/dr-debi-yohn-biography/

Other Books:
College Students: 29 Winning Strategies for Success
Parenting College Students: 27 Winning Strategies for Success
Relationships in College: 26 Winning Strategies for Success
Leadership in College: 25 Winning Strategies for Success (Co-Author)

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Miracle in Fiction Gets Goodreads Attention

The Most Unexpected Course in Miracles
 
Title: Life Can Be a Miracle
Author: Ivinela Samuilova
Author's Website: http://ivinela.webs.com
Genre: Fiction/Inspirational/Self-help/Spiritual
ASIN: B00CZCCQ3U
Reviewer: Leila Summers
Reviewer’s link: http://www.leilasummers.co.za/blog
Reviewer's Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
 
Reviewed by Leila Summers, originally for Goodreads
 
This book will appeal mostly to people who enjoy reading self-help, psychology, metaphysical and spiritual books or inspirational novels with a message. It does not necessarily read as a typical novel, though there is an enjoyable storyline that surrounds the insightful information. The book was translated into English from Bulgarian and the translation and the writing are excellent.

The story revolves around Adie, a woman who is searching for her purpose and Alexey, an unusual psychologist who runs seminars that Adie attends. I was most interested to discover that Alexey is a real person whom the author received permission from to use his real name and share his distinctive methods. This made the book all the more interesting for me because the information is authentic, and after trying out some of the techniques myself, I found that they actually work!

Alexey’s seminars are sometimes described in detail which I found fascinating. It was almost as though I was attending the seminar myself, which would be impossible under any other circumstance, because Alexey Bachev lives in Bulgaria and speaks Bulgarian. I read many non-fiction books, articles and listen to various speakers on these topics, so for me this was a unique experience.

Here is an edited section from one of Alexey’s seminars - We all hold a mental map in our heads about what life is, how to live, who we are, what is possible, what is not possible and so on. This mental map determines our perception of the world, but what it shows us in not the world… It is like when you pour liquid into a container: the liquid takes the form of the container. In the same way, reality flows into our (mental) maps, and thus our maps shape our reality. When we fill our mind with something, like a problem for example, then our mental map will take the shape of the problem… In other words, the mental map that we hold shapes our reality that we experience… (But) we can go beyond the limits of the reality that we have shaped.
There are so many interesting insights that the book took me longer than usual to read, as I stopped to take notes and digest them. I do hope that the author considers translating her other novels in English so that I can read them too.

I think that this book will appeal to anyone who has an open mind, a sense of adventure and humor, an interest in psychology, believes that we can shape our reality, and would like to learn some different and fun ways on how to handle a problem.
 
About the Author
Ivinela Samuilova lives in Sophia, Bulgaria. She has an MA in Theology and a strong interest in the inner world of human beings. Ivinela's books turned out to be a phenomenon on the Bulgarian book market where she is considered to be an influential, original and spirited new voice. Ivinela’s debut novel ‘Life Can Be a Miracle’ was released in English as an e-book in spring 2013.
 
Follow Ivinela on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Ivinela.Samuilova or on Twitter @ivinela
 
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.