Elaine Ash, Book Editor

Like the "little engine that could," PLAIN PRINCESS JANE by Jennifer Milne just keeps racking up the awards. Now it's a Purple Dragonfly Award for excellence in children's literature. Jenni got a plaque for me, as editor, and medals for Sharmyn McGraw, Author. Double Trouble Publishing-Dying Series and CJ Johnson on the design team. CONGRATULATIONS, JENNI!

I had the best chiropractic treatment ever this week! Dr Neil Andres and his brother opened a clinic all their own, and a first treatment for $50 includes their new decompression table plus a fancy massage chair that gets everything from head to toe, including feet.

Dr. Neil has always been able to adjust my stubborn neck unlike any other, and I've been going to chiros for years. If you're close to Artesia, CA, try them out. ELITE BODY MIND CHIROPRACTIC. https://www.elitebodymind.com/about

For a $20 investment, the first book in the OPERATION VAMPIRE series shot to the first number on Saturday as shown in the top screenshot. Monday morning he's still at the rankings in the bottom screenshot. Subsequent books in the series sell for $4.99.

Do you see how the author will recoup his money and make a profit rather quickly at this rate?

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST!!!!I
One of my clients just WON the prestigious international Christlit Award, celebrating exceptional Christian literature. The paperwork and digital seal will be processed soon and then I can officially announce. This is a no-fee contest completely funded by the organization, NOT by writers. Hooray!

NEW CLIENT SPOTLIGHT
I am thrilled to consult with Mr. Courtney Gatlin on his first full-length self-help book.

“Coach Court” is a professional relationship and dating expert with a large and enthusiastic following on You Tube and other social media.
https://www.fruitfulseedz.com/

HAVE YOU BEEN FOLLOWING THE AUDRA WINTER DEBACLE? the text on my phone read. Why no, I hadn't, but when I searched "Audra Winter debacle," up popped so many posts and videos that I dove in.

A ten-year labor of love, THE AGE OF SCORPIUS was scrubbed from Amazon shortly after publication. Let me save you hours of endless vlog-watching to summarize what went wrong. The 22-year-old author concentrated on artwork, gilt pages, character drawings, maps, and glitzy doodads and add-ons instead of THE WRITING.

Graphic example: A great story written on toilet paper is still a great story. A lukewarm story jazzed up with bells, whistles, and an embossed and gilded hardcover is still a lukewarm story. Capiche?

Young writer Audra Winter raised money and hired the developmental editor of THE HUNGER GAMES to conduct an edit. Impressive, huh? Yes, BUT development notes are not enough, even if Charles Dickens could somehow sit down with Ray Bradbury looking over his shoulder, and write them himself. A developmental editor needs to stay on top of revisions to make sure the writer stays on course and delivers the changes convincingly.

Nor only was that not done, but the copy edit and proofreading tasks strongly recommended by the developmental editor were rushed, and some videos seem to convey that the writer tried to proof the manuscript herself. (Excuse me while I try to flatten my hair; it seems to have raised into a "scream" position all by itself.) Gentle reader, please never try to proofread your own final work. Fresh eyes are necessary. Always. No exceptions.

I'll stop here. You can find more info all over the interwebs on this one. To quote a great country song: It's all over but the cryin' (and the rewritin'). Fortunately, Audra Winter is young, a great promoter, and she's on the comeback trail with a hard lesson under her belt.

Now, dear fantasy writer, write this a hundred times on a blackboard: It's all about the writing. It's all about the...

A 31-year old author is murdered, leaving his wife and two adorable children fatherless becuz... words. I stand for the freedom to write and speak. Screw politics.

SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2025 I'll moderate a panel on publishing for the Greater Los Angeles Writers Society at the Venice Library. More details soon.

BRIAN DRAKE always writes a great war tale. His deep knowledge and insight adds to his thrilling action and suspense.

The War Business: A Sam Raven Thriller Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

I remember when organizations ran contests to give back to the writing community, not make money from it. Call me a throwback, call me old school, my short story contest will be FREE to enter, FREE from start to finish, and offer cash prizes to writers, with a special boost to newbie writers looking to get published for the first time.