With all of the questions and concerns about how the economy is and will be affecting book publishing, I though you may be interested in reading the following, which is from Publishers Weekly and was submitted by Joanne Ivancich of Scottsdale. If you would be interested in reading more from Publishers Weekly, they have a free daily newsletter which they email directly into your box…Tom
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123093737793850127.html#articleTabs=article
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
Hopefully the following Good News posts will encourage you to aggressively, confidently and wholeheartedly follow or continue to follow your literary, personal and creative dreams. You were given a voice and a heart and both were meant to be expressed, so why not use them? The following persons did just that and doing so made all the difference. If you have any of your own Good News that you would like to share, we would love to hear from you as well. You can reach us by calling the office at: 928-203-0265 or e-mail: tombird@tombird.com
Because I have been receiving soooooooooooooooooo much Good News, not only will I be listing a portion of it each month in the newsletter, but I will be sending it out periodically in separate mailings and listing it here at least once a month, as well.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
Good News November 2008
The Story of Tripp Bowden
Hello Tom,
It has been awhile and you may not remember me, but I took your class at Emory in Atlanta many moons ago—I want to say March 2000. I have written all my life, but your class, your program, your way of “bringing out the book inside you” changed my life. I always knew I had a book in me, many books truth be told, but getting them out proved to be very difficult. I always found excuses to the contrary, but not after taking your class.
Fast forward 7 years and I now have a book contract with Skyhorse Publishing out of New York! The book is called Freddie and Me: Life Lessons from the Legendary Augusta National Caddy Master. It is scheduled for release March 1, 2009 to coincide with the Masters tournament. Currently it is listed on Amazon as well as a few other sites for pre-sell! Pretty wild.
I have also written a 1200-page novel that my agent is currently shopping around (Greyhound Jesus and the Perpetual Care Fund), and also have another proposal out on the market.
None of this happens without you.
The reason for my email is a simple one. I want to say thank you. Thank you for giving me hope, for opening the door to life-changing events. It took 8 years, but I never gave up, never gave in. I know I’m just getting started, and who knows how the book will sell, but I am dreaming big.
Why dream at all if you don’t dream big?
When I asked my editor if he liked the book (I had not heard from him in 4 weeks—what can I say, writers are needy) he said, and I quote:
“Yes. The book is terrific. You did a great job.Everyone here is excited about it and our distributor has tagged it as a breakout book!”
Not sure what a breakout book means but I am taking it as a very good sign. J
So thank you again, Tom. Thank you for waking me up to the writer I was born to be.
All the best,
Tripp Bowden
P.S. I have sent along the prologue should you care to take a gander. I wrote the book just as you said. Fast as you can, don’t look back and no edits until the end. The book is 224 pages and I wrote it start to finish in less than 4 months. And that is while still doing creative projects for my ad agency and for the most part being primary caregiver to our two kids ages 1 and 3. My wife has made tremendous sacrifices so I could chase the writing dream. Most of Freddie and Me was written late at night or during naptime. J
-Prologue-
Phoning Home
I’m standing over fresh dirt and stale flowers, choked up but not teary. Freddie wouldn’t want teary. I fish the golf ball out of my pocket, uncap the purple Sharpie and write with an unsteady hand.
“The world has lost its greatest storyteller.”
I blow on the ink and drop the ball into the dirt, pushing down with my shoe so it won’t roll away. It’s a Titleist Pro V 1X, fresh out the box. I wish it were a Top Flite XL, a range ball in disguise. Freddie always said, “It ain’t the ball, man, it’s the player.”
He was right.
I’m feeling terrible regret. Regret for not visiting more often after Freddie’s retirement from the Augusta National Golf Club at age 70, regret for not attending his funeral, held in a college gymnasium because of the expected attendance.
The church just wasn’t big enough, and when Pop told me the news I couldn’t help but smile.
I look up, admiring the vast arrangement of flowers and cards, stuffed animals and notes. An abundant display of admiration. My eyes stop on an extravagant arrangement of chrysanthemums, roses and lilies. Beloved wife and mother, the card says.
Beloved wife and mother?
Son of a bitch. I’m at the wrong grave.
I look beyond the dedication to another grave surrounded by the same goodbyes. I can’t help but laugh, and I know Freddie’s laughing, too. Me getting all choked up at the wrong gravesite. Even in death Freddie is alive, still looking over my shoulder and pointing me in the right direction.
I dig the Titleist out of the wet ground and walk over to his grave, still not believing he’s gone.
People like Freddie aren’t meant to die.
Suddenly, I am ten years old, and this ominous figure of a man with black skin and white golf shirt is knocking on our back door.
“Hey, man. It’s Freddie. Is my doctor home?”
His voice is warm as a favorite blanket, and when I open the door he shakes my hand. Just reaches out and grabs it.
It is the first handshake I remember.
I’ve never met Freddie before, but I recognize him from the picture in our den. He and my Pop, standing outside the bag room at Augusta . Pop smiling like he won the lottery, having just played the National for the very first time.
Another memory taps on my shoulder as I toe the dirt with my shoe. Our phone book, and the number my mom taped to the cover every year without fail. Peel it off and stick. Peel it off and stick. Freddie’s private number at Augusta , the number you dialed when it was important and the only person who could make it right was Freddie. The phone was an old rotary, big and bulky. He called it The Black Bat. When it rang, Freddie stopped everything and answered it.
I push the Titleist into the dirt, close my eyes and dial the number.
It rings.
The Story of Denna Jumper
I heard from a lot of you who were unable to find Denna’s story, which was featured last month on The Today Show by going to The Today Show website. To catch the interview in its entirety, visit Denna’s personal website at www.dennajumper.com.
Denna Jumper
Because I particularly wanted to focus on one portion of The Good News from one of my students this month, and doing so would take me a significant amount of distance to cover, I have decided just to include in this newsletter only the story of Denna Jumper from Atlanta.
I will be emailing other Good News to you through separate mailings through the rest of the month as well, as mentioned above, including it in the next newsletter and posting in on my site as well.
You may remember me mentioning Denna. Denna took one of my classes at Emory University about a year and a half ago and I have been working with her on an individual basis since then. Her first book covers her life growing up without her father, who was murdered. Over 70 literary agents expressed an interest in considering her book, which has also been gone over by Paul McCarthy, for representation.
One of those agents, Wendy Sherman, who I would personally consider as one of the top 20 agents in the business, actually called Denna and began pursuing her very aggressively.
Denna recently flew up to New York to meet with Wendy. The two met for several hours and Denna is on the brink of signing with her to represent the book, which Wendy would take to market just after the first of the year, with an eye toward landing a big contract for her by the end of January.
As exciting as that news is though, the most exciting part of this story actually transpired before Denna got her offer from Wendy. Now read really carefully here, for I feel that there is a real lesson for all of us to learn from what I am about to share.
For all of the time that Denna and I have been working together, she has always made it very clear that writing was what she wanted to do for a living, and her efforts have never reflected anything other than that. However, no matter how strong the desires of a writer, he or she has to go through a progression of personal release and development to live their dreams. For some that comes in one bold strike. For others it is like pulling a bandage off very slowly, one hair at a time. Either way, the bell eventually tolls for all of us as long as we just keep going and don’t quit. It is as if the influence of the head finally gets pushed out of the way by our hearts, the desire of which then can finally align with the universe and our prayers are instantly and finally answered. Such was the case with Denna.
After one tough day at work or whatever, she finally cried out and issued a prayer, all in her own personal way. It was on a Saturday that transpired. Immediately afterwards Denna began telling everyone she know about what she wanted to do with not only her book but her life as well. The following Monday The Today Show called and wanted to do a feature on her. She and I spoke shortly afterwards. “Does this help to sell my book,” she asked me in regard to the offer made by The Today Show. “It just sold your book,” I replied.
With that type of exposure behind her, offers to consider her book for representation began pouring in. You can still view Denna’s interview, by clicking on http://www.TheTodayShow.com. Denna’s story is also heavily being pursued by Dateline, as well. “Luck?” you suggest. Possibly, as long as you define luck as ‘when preparation meets opportunity.’ Denna’s story is not unlike mine or so many of my students. In each case, we all had to reach a fit of desperation. Secondly, we asked for Divine Guidance and turned the task of whatever needed to be accomplished over to a much Higher Source, who had far more reaching capabilities than what we possess as human beings. Thirdly, after having run out of alternatives on our own end, it became easy to leave it in the hands of the Higher Source and to remain open to receive a reply. Then POOF, what we asked for , or something even better, appeared. That is exactly what happened with Denna. In fact, Sherman has now suggested an approach to Denna which will significantly broaden her audience, appeal and illuminate what she is now seeing as her purpose, leading to a sale of possibly several spin-off books, as well.
Luck? I think not. Did all of this transpire immediately for Denna? Yes and no. Yes, it did transpire immediately, but not until after she had worked diligently for years to clear the way for it to happen. Could this be you? Yes. What do you have to do to make what happened to Denna happen for you in your own way. Follow the steps outlined above and then just stand back.
Thanks to the following students for their Good News:
IIWC student Suzy Allegra from Scottsdale was wondering if anyone would be interested in her memoir. She got her answer, with more than 40 literary agents responding positively. The agents who have expressed interest in representing her book include: legendary agencies Levine-Greenberg, Curtis Brown, Sandra Dijikstra and International Creative Management (ICM), which has rivaled William Morris for the title of the top literary agency in publishing for the last two decades. She garnered interest from Marly Russoff, one of the top selling literary agents (a Career Maker) over the last few years and Trident Literary Agency, who were actually so interested that they took the time to call her to set up an interview. In addition, Suzy also heard from Larry Kirshbaum’s agency LJK. Before opening up his own agency, Larry was renowned as the most powerful executive in publishing. I guess Suzy got her questioned answered; they are interested!
This note came from IIWC student Renee Rojas from San Francisco:
Hi Tom,
My writing has shifted again to another level. My speed is still about 2300-2400 words an hour. It slows when I’m writing something more emotional for me. More of the book is showing up on the paper – it’s like I broke through another level of fear. I’m only able to stay with the writing about an hour or hour-and-a-half, then I have to leave it. But I’m working on building that muscle too. – Renee
IIWC student Cecelia Payne Wright, from Memphis, has been accepted by Paul McCarthy as a client. Cecelia used IIWC to complete a novel she had been working on for the past seven years. She’s in the fast lane now.
IIWC student Dorothy Mack, of Phoenix, sent out query letters on two books. She received approximately a dozen requests right off the bat from literary agents to review her work.
IIWC student Michael Cohen, of New York, finished his fifth novel since February. Michael’s first novel is currently being edited by Paul McCarthy.
IIWC student Saskia Roell, from the Boston area, has received more than a dozen responses from interested literary agents in regard to her query letter. Saskia’s book is already completed. She received interest from
International Creative Management, one of the top three agencies in the world, as well as from Curtis Brown, Sandra Dijkstra and Wendy Sherman, all Top 20 representatives.
IIWC student Angela Jordan’s manuscript, 90 Days to a New You, has been reviewed by Paul McCarthy and was met with a very favorable response. After reading it only once, Paul made just a few small but important suggestions. Otherwise, he thought it was ready to go to market. Angela, who is from Scottsdale, plans to have the book self-published this fall. She will also have a video coming out at the same time. Angela also has more than 20 agents interested in potentially representing her book, if she ever decides to go the conventional route. I’ll let you know when both her book and video are available. Hopefully, they’ll be ready in time for all of those New Year’s resolutions.
Results from my latest Releasing Your Author Within Retreat
As you may know, part of what is covered in a RAW retreat is the successful completion of one’s query letter. Not only did those in attendance at my RAW September retreat complete their queries in record time (most in as little as 25 minutes), but since then their queries have been met with a lot of interest from agents as well. Here is a sampling of the results experienced by some of those students. Watch for more on this next month.
IIWC student Cheryl Congdon, of Las Vegas, who attended the retreat, received an immediate dozen responses from literary agents wanting to review for consideration her nonfiction book out of 130 she heard from. That works out to just under a 10-percent acceptance rate. A 4-percent acceptance rate is usually viewed as excellent. She presently has more than 20 agents interested in reviewing her latest book.
Here’s a portion of what one of the agents had to say:
Thank you very much for contacting my agency about your project, THE UNCARED-FOR CAREGIVER. From your description, this promises to be a poignant, insightful read, and we would be most pleased to invite its submission. Over my many years, having experienced the thrust of your book’s subject matter, I can well empathize with its intent to provide guidance to individuals undergoing such dynamics.
Saundra Wright, of Tucson, has received sixteen replies from literary agents requesting to review her first book, From the End of Your Pen, including acceptances from LJK – founded and run by one of the most powerful executives in publishing, Larry Kirshbaum – and legendary agents Jeff Herman, Susan Lescher, Curtis Brown and Sandra Dijkstra. Saundra received the following reply from Peter Miller, as well:
I am interested in reviewing this, so could you please FedEx it to me?
Sterling Pratt, of Mesa, Ariz., an IIWC student who attended the retreat, has more than twenty literary agents requesting to see his work, as well.
Here is a sampling of the positive replies received by Sterling. These have been included so you can see how widely and wildly responses of this sort can range. Thanks to Sterling for sharing. See you next month.
Wow – what a month!
I can only hope that all of you had a month like the one I just experienced. Wow! You just can’t underestimate the power and significance of being in the flow and, as a result, doing the right thing at the right time. As most of you know, I am such a proponent of getting into the flow and staying there that I devote the beginning of each day to doing so.
First, my assistant Jim Sheffield and I did our annual overhaul of my “Selective Guide to Literary Agents, Editors and PODs” database, and Wow we came up with some incredible results! We expanded the this year’s version to include more than 1,800 qualified literary agents, making it by far the largest qualified list of agents available anywhere.
With my updated list comes a new opportunity for you, as well. Not only have we just entered one of the most advantageous/beneficial times of the year for receiving acceptances from agents, but the hundreds of new agents on my list comprise virgin territory since they may not have heard from the likes of many of you yet.
Secondly, my unique, first-of-its-kind, interactive computer program, “The Author’s Den,” roared to a near-completion last month. As some of you may know, my trusted and brilliant programmer suffered a car accident back in June. Thank God he is now okay. But his fortunate recovery certainly delayed us for awhile. We’re now back on track, though, and readying for a fall release. I will keep you informed on the progress.
I nearly finished my latest novel this month, as well. What an eye-opening pleasure it has been to commune with this work each day. I plan on sending it off to market later this month or early October at the latest.
Thirdly, I offered my class, You Were Born to be Published, to the Sedona community for free. I have been hesitant to present this on a free basis for several years, so it was definitely an experiment. The reason I have been delaying doing so for decades is because I discovered, when I initially began teaching, that people rarely respected or put to use what they didn’t have to dig down into their pockets to pay for. Obviously, things have changed – thank God. The 170-plus individuals who attended the class on August 27 were more than appreciative and offered me the impression that they were all going to go out and do something with what they learned that night. So enthused was I with their response that I decided to host, free of charge, the second class in my You Were Born to Write series on October 14, 2008, at the Sedona Creative Life Center. My lecture on the 27th was also filmed, and I plan on making it available through my Web site and The Author’s Den in the near future.
With my plate being cleared from much of the above, I have also begun applying some of my valuable time and energy to the development of TheWriteWorld. As you may recall, TheWriteWorld is one of the many ways I plan on spreading the message I feel I am divinely led to share with writers the world over.
By simple definition, TheWriteWorld will be my version of The Spelling Bee for authors. Through it, I will offer writers of all ages, grades and interests an opportunity to receive instruction in my method for free. In addition, I will provide them with the opportunity to be awarded for their efforts, commitment and heart through local, state, regional and national awards offered for short stories, articles, novels, screenplays, nonfiction books, essays and poetry. Everything will culminate annually with a national award ceremony in the heart of New York’s literary district, offering honorees the maximum amount of exposure they deserve in front of the people who can do the most for them.
Every award-winner at each level will also have the opportunity to have his or her book or material published and distributed internationally, free of charge.
At present, it appears as though I have acquired the necessary legal assistance to make this dream of mine a reality, but I will need a lot of other assistance to pull it off. The program requires local, state and regional overseers and managers responsible for getting the word out about our offerings and events to schools, libraries, bookstores and the media. These same people will also be responsible for setting up each award ceremony in their area and for the distribution of the teaching aids to schools, libraries and bookstores.
If you are interested in fulfilling such a role in your area, please drop me a line to let me know. Then just be patient for it may take me a bit of time to get back to you with other information on the position. But I will get back to you!
I also need individuals with public relations, promotion, fund- raising, curriculum development, accounting and managerial skills. So, if you would be interested on that level as well, please let me know.
I could also use a significant amount of guidance from people who know their way around getting into educational and parent/teacher associations.
Whew – I know that’s a lot, but this is brilliantly magnificent task I will be spearheading. I hope that you can be a part of it, if nothing else, by keeping good, strong, loving thoughts in your mind about our efforts as we surge forward.
If the above isn’t enough, there is even more good news coming in from everywhere. Here are some exciting updates, which will hopefully not only keep you dream alive but fan the flame of it as well.
IIWC Student Rebecca Reeves of Sedona was one of many, many, many who sent out their query letters just this last week. In fact, over 10,000 copies of queries went out just that week. Wow. Rebecca was just one of many who met with an outstanding response from the literary agents she queried. In fact 44 out of the 96 literary agents who responded to her query letter in the first few days requested to see her first book.
44 positive out of 96 total replys!!!, writes Rebecca. Buddy, you’ve got one amazing database! Thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU!
Others I have heard from, attesting to the fact that it is indeed query letter season, are Al Mettner of Prescott, AZ, who received over ten positive replies from literary agents; Denna Jumper of Atlanta, who was over a dozen positive replies at last contact; Angela Jordan of Scottsdale who received six in the first afternoon after her query went out;
Tim McKeever, a frequent retreat attendee, good friend and terrible pinochle player from Cottonwood, Ariz., just received an offer from Bill Clegg of William Morris (one of the top reps in the world, in my opinion) to review his first novel.
This came in from Gil, of Knoxville, Tenn., who landed the top, big book-selling literary agent of the last few years to represent his first book:
Tom – I took your class at the University of Tennessee about a year- and-a-half ago. You responded to a personal situation of mine that I have pondered and utilized on many occasions. On a break we were walking down the corridor and I shared with you that my father, mother and sister had all died over the last 6 months. My father was feeble; my mother disease; my sister alcoholic. When I shared it with you, you said, “Isn’t that freeing?” It took a stranger, which you were to me then, to boldly say something that rang with truth. My family members were free and so was I. Thank you.
Also, I would like to [bear] witness to the literary agent Web site. I have sent out one query letter, did so this past summer, [sic] and used your nonfiction database and sent it out to around 500 agents. My book is entitled, MAP QUEST for the SOUL. Anyway, I have been picked up by an agency in New York. In fact, owner Marly Rusoff, of the Marly Rusoff Literary Agency, called me on the phone. We are currently polishing the proposal for her to seek an offer. So, I am blessed and fortunate to have sent out the one query and landed a great agent and agency. Not sure what will happen from this point, but wanted you to know that the Tom Bird Method WORKS!
Thanks, Tom!
Gil–
Dr. Gil Smith, Executive Director, CRC, Inc.
GraceSpan Life Recovery Services, Inc
Mapquestforthesoul.com
(865) 256-4691 cell
(865) 246-0442 office direct line
(865) 246-0445 Admin. Asst.
Laura Johnson, who attended my last set of classes in August at Emory University, has already landed the interest of six literary agents, who want to review her first novel, including Robert Gottlieb of Trident Media, who is the most interested of the bunch and is the best selling literary agent of big books over the last five years.
My most recent Releasing Your Author Within Retreat on September 12-14 was a great one. Out of the full house of fourteen students in attendance, four of them had words pouring out of them at a consistent 2,900 words an hour – equally all inspirational writing and no left brain intervention. With a little work, no one was writing less than 1700 words an hour when they left. Several new books began their exits out of the literary birth canal and all of the query letters the students wrote were completed in no more than two drafts. All-in-all, it was one great, inspirational weekend. In fact, so great was it, and so fast were the words flowing out of those in attendance that I began thinking about converting this retreat into either a Seven or Ten Days to the Completion of Your Book Retreat, during which we could commune each day until each book was finished. If you would be interested in attending something like this, let me know and I will get to work on setting one up. Considering the fact that most in attendance at last week’s retreat finished around 10,000 words in just the first day and a half proves that the completion of one’s book in that period of time can be a reality.
Personal Commitment Contracts to finish the writing of their first books were received from the following:
September 1, 2008
I, Chenoa Rose White, hereby state that I will complete my book:
“All My Heart Desires is an Adventure” by December 2, 2008.To have my dream turn the bend into reality, I will follow all the guidelines provided in Tom Bird’s book, “You Were Born To Write”.
I will write at least two hours daily, six days a week on lineless paper.
I will allow my pen to move fast and not reread my draft until it is completed.
If for some reason I do not complete my daily goal, I will clean my rooms spotless.
If I succeed in my daily goals, I will find some way to celebrate, whether taking a bubble bath, taking a hike in a beautiful place, doing something fun with friends, or eating Bliss Coconut Ice cream, etc.
When I finish my first draft, I will celebrate by doing something exhilarating and rewarding, something that says; I finished my book and it’s now time to open the next chapter where I will fine-tune the essence until it sparkles like a diamond.
I will keep this contract statement of my goal; that my story is finished by December 2, 2008. My goal includes the intention that when people read the first sentence of my book they fall straight through the pages into another world of magic and adventure. I desire that all the beauty in my soul be expressed in this story. I have breathed it as rain about to fall. Now, I pray that I’m flooded with this destiny I’ve been breathing in since I was 12 years old.
I hereby state that I will keep this contract. And follow all of the steps of Tom Bird’s book to heaven.
Chenoa White
MY WRITTEN COMMITMENT TO AUTHORING MY FIRST BOOK
On this first day of September in the year 2008, I Michael Earl Wells, do enter into this contract willingly and with full knowledge of what is expected of me. I write this contract in order to commit myself to writing a book, a book that is inside me and wants out. I will complete this book by Christmas of this year, 2008, with my rough draft being complete by October first, 2008. I do understand the necessity of this contract binding me to a commitment of writing.
I will reserve two hours daily, six days a week, to write.
I will remove all distractions, I will set boundaries for those near and dear to me and ask them to respect those boundaries, so that I may have uninterrupted time.
I will do relaxing exercises before writing, during writing, and after writing.
I will allow my thoughts and feelings to flow freely onto blank, unlined sheets of paper, so as to allow my Author within to more freely express Himself.
I will post my daily, weekly results on a bulletin board above my desk.
I will make a list of all the tasks I need to complete my book, rough draft, second draft and six sweeps as I have been taught to do.
I will break them into daily, weekly, and monthly actions.
On a daily basis I will reward myself with lunch and a glass of wine with my wife Marilyn as I complete the required task of two hours of writing.
When I have made a completion of each one of these steps, rough draft, second draft, and a total of six sweeps, I will treat my wife, two sons and my daughter-in-law to a meal at the restaurants of their choice.
When I have finished my final copy and have sent it off to my Literary Agent, I will travel with my wife for one week to a destination of her choice and we will celebrate a true milestone in my life. And then I will raise a glass to my AW, and to Tom Bird, while in my CCM state.
I gladly and willingly and with all seriousness do sign this contract.
Michael Earl Wells 9/01/08
IIWC students Michael Cohen of New York, New York, and Angela Jordan of Scottsdale, Ariz., have been accepted, through my recommendation, as clients by legendary editor Paul McCarthy, who gave a very moving retreat presentation in Sedona in July. Paul is not only a best-selling author himself, but also has been the personal editor for hundreds of literary household names, including nine No. 1 New York Times best-selling authors, with names you may immediately recognize, such as Clive Cussler and Stephen Koontz.
I also just received a copy of IIWC student Michelle DeAngelis’ soon-to-be-released book Get a Life that Doesn’t Suck: Ten Surefire Ways to Love Life and Love the Ride (Rodale Press). Michelle’s book is scheduled for a formal release this month, and I recommend that all of you consider picking up a copy. I worked with Michelle for a considerable amount of time. Not only is she a joy, but also an inspiration. More information on both Michelle and her life-changing book can be found at www.michelleinc.com. I will keep you posted on the success of Michelle’s book, which I am sure will comprise for her a fast ride to the best-seller list.
I received a copy of Melissa Bracy’s beautiful book The Ones that Got Away – A Dating Memoir, which looks really great. I have read Melissa’s book and it’s really wonderful. I would recommend it to anyone.
In case you haven’t checked in with my web site lately, here’s some other Good News that has come in, but which only comprises a fraction of the Good News I receive. Keep that Good News coming though. I will find a way to get all of it recognized and posted.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
