Donating Royalties to Charity

Really worth cause and good information on giving to a charity.

Myths of the Mirror

At least once a year, my writers group slips into a period of enthusiastic over-exertion. In 2014, our creative mania took a fresh turn. We decided to write short stories built around five randomly selected elements: a ghost, an alien, a spaceship, a conflict with a boss, and a fireplace poker.

Despite the unifying elements, the result was seven entirely unique tales. After months of rewrites, we chose to publish the Five Elements Anthology and donate all royalties to charity.

Choosing the charity took a whopping thirty seconds. We selected Books for Kids, a Willamette Writers’ literacy program here in Oregon. Far more complicated was figuring out how to make the donations. I discovered early on that there’s no definitive source for information or guidance on this topic.

I can guarantee that I’m no expert on this, so the information below should not be taken as gospel. My intent is simply to share what I learned. More accurate and/or detailed information is welcome!

That said, here goes:

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Charity anthology to raise money for Guide Dogs – Book cover

This is one of the most worthy causes I can think of.

K Morris - Poet

As loads of you who follow this blog will know, I am, with the kind contributions of fellow authors/bloggers compiling a charity anthology to raise money for the Guide Dogs for the Blind association (http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/).

The Story Reading Ape has very kindly agreed to design a cover for the anthology free of charge – thank you Chris! I would be grateful for feedback on the proposed cover together with comments regarding the suggested title for the anthology.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the anthology and to David who is kindly editing the book without charge.

Kevin

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That’s My Story

Adam is a good writer in the Speculative Fiction genre.

Adam Ickes

PHOTO PROMPT -© Dawn Q. Landau

It was the dog what done the girl in. Yeah, I know I’m covered in her blood, but that’s just because I tried to save her from the flea bag. Is that a crime these days?

I was only there because something didn’t sit right ’bout that mutt, so’s I followed the kid down by the tracks. I was worried ’bout her, ya know? Can you fault me for caring too much?

The dog was following her so’s I followed too. Crazy mutt just up and attacked her out of nowhere. I wasn’t close enough to help the kid.

—

This story was written for Friday Fictioneers.

I just wanted to let you all know, in case you missed the news, I’ve got a new book coming out March 15th. It’s a collection of four short stories, a bit different than my books of…

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A First Look at Advertising with Amazon

Information we can use.

Nicholas C. Rossis

by meowmeowmeow21.deviantart.com

I’m sure you remember my step-by-step tutorial on how to advertise with Amazon. Three weeks later, I have some preliminary results, which, as promised, I’m sharing with you, so that you can learn from my mistakes.

In a nutshell: I’ve failed. The experiment has so far been a disappointment, albeit one offering fascinating insights.

You may remember that I had done my math and knew that, to make any profit, I had to bid under the proposed $0.50.

Now, for a peek behind the scenes: whenever Amazon is about to show a product page, a small bidding war will rage for a few nanoseconds. Amazon will check to see if that product is linked to any ads. If more than one ads want to be displayed, they will bid for that space, until they reach their cut-off threshold. So, if I have specified 5c as my maximum, then an ad…

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We Rise by Lifting Others

Beautiful thoughts by a lovely man who cares about others.

The BUTHIDARS

My good friend and excellent writer Teagan R Geneviene sent me this today and I couldn’t fail to share it with you so apt it is.

We Are All Human

As the population gets bigger and bigger, the world gets smaller and smaller. People of various specialties, and within that different levels of experience, inevitably bump into one another. The thought of comparison and competition can take some down a negative path. But why let that take hold?

We are all human. Imagine if all of us as humans, at the most basic level believed in one simple construct. We are here on this planet to support each other, and to hold each other up.

We fight the same battles at one point or another, we want to feel good about ourselves and our work, and we should realize that many find happiness in other people’s eyes.

We want to…

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Grant Handgis, Interview with a Memoirist

Grant Handris describes his books. Good review by Diana Peach.

Myths of the Mirror

Grant Handgis

Exactly a year ago, I had the opportunity to swap books with author Grant Handgis. Though never a reader of memoirs, I was instantly mesmerized by the humor and honesty with which he shared his personal story. Perhaps it happens all the time, but at the end of that literary peek into his life, I felt as though I’d met a friend. As it turns out, I had.

Sleeping Under the Bandstand

I recently finished reading Handgis’s latest work, Sleeping Under the Bandstand, a compilation of stories his mother wrote about her life while growing up in Kansas. It’s a captivating account of a complex human journey, of a woman’s intrepid spirit, rich in determination, honesty, and insight.

I’m delighted to share the author and his books with you.

DWP: I’m fascinated by an author’s decision to write a memoir. What was the impetus behind your choice?

I have mine…Show me Yours

GMH: Up until…

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Author Feature: Sue Coletta

Great interview and information.

Nicholas C. Rossis

You may have noticed Sue Coletta hanging around and offering her take on my posts. As a crime author, her mind works in unusual ways. In fact, I was recently blown away (not literally, thank goodness) by her free “50 Ways To Murder Your Fictional Characters” booklet and the creativity involved. I’m not sure I want to know what’s on her browser history, but I suspect it’s nothing good… 😀

So, let’s meet this lovely – yet deadly – lady!

The Usual

Hi Sue, and welcome! Your latest book is Marred, right? What inspired you to write it?

Since I don’t have a cover or blurb for you I’ll tell you what it’s about. MARRED is a psychological thriller/mystery. During a hot July week in 2006, four people are murdered, drained and severely marred in rural Alexandria, New Hampshire. Sage Quintano believes this is the work of the…

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JACK’S VISIT

 

Copyright: Marie Gail Stratford

Here we are for aother week, gathered today in a virtual warm house, sheltered from the cold weather that’s frosted the window panes. We’re here as the Friday Fictioneers to discuss our original stories for this week. Our hostess for this gathering is the gracious and talented author and artist, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. The challenge for this group is to write a story with no more than 100 words. It’s supposed to have a beginning, middle, end, and follow the picture prompt for the week. This week’s prompt was supplied by Marie Gail Stratford. Thank’s Marie Gail.

To read the other stories from group members, just click on the little blue frog in the blue box.

The link for the other stories is as follows:

http://rochellewisofffields.worpress.com/2015/02/18/20-february-2015/

Genre: Humor Fiction

Word Count: 100 Words

JACK’S VISIT By P.S. Joshi

Billy, age five, was listening intently to his dad.

“Yes, every winter Jack Frost comes and paints the icy crystals onto the window panes.” His dad demonstrated painting.

Billy had seen the frosty patterns on the windows, and it made perfect sense.

His mother said, “Steve, are you telling fairy stories again to him? He’ll be so disappointed when he finds out what really happens. Oh, I need you to repaint the window trim. It’s looking worn.”

Steve got out the brushes and laid them near the window.

Billy saw them the next morning. “Dad, Jack came! See his brushes.”

GRANDPA DISAPPEARED

 

Copyright: Barbara W. Beacham

This is my weekly contribution to Monday’s Finish the Story, hosted by Barbara Beacham. Every Monday, Barb supplies a new picture prompt along with the first sentence to be used for the story. The original story to be written should have only 100 to 150 additional words. The title doesn’t add to the word count. I’ve bolded the first sentence given with the picture prompt. Be sure to click on the little blue frog in the blue box to read the other stories.

The link for all the other stories is as follows:

http://mondaysfinishthestory.wordpress.com/2015/02/16/mondays-finish-the-story-february-16th-2015/

Genre: Humor Fiction

Word Count: 150+21+2=171 Words

GRANDPA DISAPPEARED By P.S. Joshi

Little did they know when the photographer took their picture that they would find themselves in a painting. The small band left behind many friends and family members who wondered what happened.

The disappeared were Nathaniel Pitching who played the snare drum, Zechariah Knavelthorpe who played the tuba, Ely Twitchickle who played the air horn, and Humbert Thinkin who played the trumpet.

Buddy Pitching never got tired of hearing the story about the strange event. “Mom, tell me again how Grandpa just disappeared one day.”

“Well,” said his mother, “the band members decided to celebrate their ten years together by having a picture taken. They went to the studio and no one’s heard of them since. All that was found was the painting that’s hanging on the hallway wall. It’s an odd painting, because there are no brushstrokes.”

Buddy went and examined the painting again.

As he leaned closer, he thought he heard a tiny voice say, “Help.”

The figures seemed to have changed positions. That was creepy.

HURRICANE

 

Copyright: Alastair Forbes

This is my contribution to Sunday Photo Fiction for February 15, 2015. Every Sunday a new picture prompt is supplied by Alistair Forbes, the host. The weekly challenge is to write an original story with no more than 200 words. It’s supposed to have a beginning, middle, end, and follow the picture prompt for the week. Be sure to click on the little blue frog in the blue box to read all the other stories.

The link for all other stories is as follows:

http://sundayphotofictioner.wordpress.com/2015/02/15/sunday-photo-fiction-100-february-15th-2015/

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Word Count: 200 Words

HURRICANE By P.S. Joshi

Along the outer coast below Miami, Florida, there were some new hotels catering to vacationers. Jim decided to spend his vacation in one of the rooms.

During the second week, he turned on the TV weather forcast and heard there was a hurricane headed for the coast. Being from Tennessee, he’d never seen a hurricane.

His next door neighbor, a young man from Chicago, met him in the hall the next day.

“Hey Dude, you gonna stay for the hurricane party?”

Jim looked at him. “Hurricane party?” he asked. “No, I don’t think so if you mean you’re going to stay during the storm and celebrate. That’s crazy.”

The neighbor just grinned and said, “You’ll be missing a blast.”

Jim planned to leave the next day. He saw people planning to attend the party busy carrying in drinks, food, and tableware.

It had started to rain and blow by the time he began driving north.

When he got to a motel that evening, he saw on the news the storm was getting stronger as the hurricane started to reach land.

He checked again when he got home the next night. The hotel where he’d stayed had blown away.