Michael Newton, Author of The Encyclopedia
of Serial Killers
An insightful look into the mind and
making of a...predator. An important addition to the literature on serial
murder.
Book Description
The Cross Country Killer, the Glen
Rogers Story provides an insightful look into the mind and making of an
American predator. Glen Rogers, twice on
Book Description
What do Ray Bradbury, Albert
Einstein, and Henry Ford have in common? Their stories of rejection, failure,
and overcoming adversity are light-heartedly told in Joyce Spizer's latest
book, Rejections of the Written Famous. If you're bummed and need inspiration,
Joyce Spizer's newest book is just the cure for the blues. Whether you're a
writer, artist, entrepreneur, musician, or dreamer, this collection
of inspirational quotes and short stories from those who didn't give up will make
you or someone you love, smile. Joyce didn't give up on her dreams, and she
won't let you either.
Reader Reviews
Inspiration for
Everyone, Not Just Authors
Did you know Michael Jordan was cut from
his high school basketball team? Winston Churchill failed the sixth grade and
didn't become Prime Minister of England until he was 62? Tony Hillerman's agent
told him, "Get rid of the Indian stuff"?
If you're having another nightmare
day wrestling with blank pages or pounding the Internet pavement for customers,
give yourself encouragement by reading that Herman Melville's Moby Dick, his
favorite, sold only eleven copies in his lifetime.
The author reinvented herself as a
writer, and has since received her share of setbacks. Her first novel The Cop
Was White as Snow received 72 rejections, including one as kind as this from a
publisher: "I regret to say I don't think it's right for me, which has
nothing to with your obvious ability to tell a story."
As Joyce Spizer writes in her
dedication to the imaginatively titled Rejections of the Written Famous,
"'No' is a word on your path to `Yes.' Don't give up too soon." Not
even if well meaning parents, relatives, friends and colleagues tell you to get
"a real job." Spizer inspires with the words, "Your dreams are
your real job." Don't be afraid to fail, don't listen to teachers and
reviewers (who seem to dole out the most negatives), keep those rejections
coming, and someday you could be in Spizer's revised and expanded edition!
Reader Reviews
This author was named Book Publicists of Southern California and this book won the Irwin Award for 2000. Spizer regularly teaches creative marketing, media classes at the university and college levels and at writing conferences, sharing her innovative ideas with other authors. This is the consummate “how-to” for published and pre-published authors.
Because Fiction is
Harder to Sell
Whether you sell out to a large (
There
are two major categories of books: Fiction and nonfiction. Fiction is
entertainment and as such it is more difficult to sell. Fiction must compete
for people's (scarce) time. They must make choices between reading your story,
and seeing a film and taking their kids to the zoo. Nonfiction, on the other
hand, is valuable information that people buy to save time and money. Each
nonfiction book is unique; each is on a different subject. A nonfiction book on
parenting does not compete with a nonfiction book on parachuting. Most
publishers will caution you to write your nonfiction books first-and to save
your fiction until you can afford them. If you are writing (and selling)
fiction, you need industrial-strength help. Joyce Spizer is coming to your
rescue.
This book is brimming with every conceivable book marketing and promotion idea. Some are expensive and some are free. Some are hard and some are easy. Some require you to personally flog your own book and some are (comfortably) remote and anonymous.
As a publisher and an author of
113 books (including revisions and foreign-language editions) and over 500
magazine articles, I highly recommend this book to both authors and publishers
of fiction. Dan Poytner
What Writers Need to Know
You are a
business. You are an artist. You are a writer. And unless your name is Stephen
King, your work won't sell itself. I have heard this author speak and she has
personally taught me her marketing tricks. I recommend this highly for any
author, including those who want to publish e-books.
More Often than an Author
Why do
so many books get their start being published by the author? Rejection! The
explanation is simple and let us not blame the publisher for failing to
recognize good writing.
Publishers cannot be experts in every type of fiction and nonfiction.
Let's face it, publishers specialize or, at least, they have a record of
accomplishment with certain types of books. When your manuscript is rejected by
a publisher, that is not a bad grade for your work. It simply means that the
publisher does not get it! If a publisher specializes in travel books and you
send a manuscript on vegetarian eating or parenting, that publisher will not
know whether your work is good and will not know where to sell it. You do not
want that publisher anyway. To find the right publisher for your work, do your
homework and match your manuscript to the publisher.
Alternatively, to make more money, get to press sooner and keep control
of your work, publish yourself. Self-publishing is legitimate, an
early-American tradition. In the early days of the
Self-publishing should not be confused with "Vanity"
publishing where an author pays (an exorbitant price to) a publisher to turn
his or her manuscript into a book.
Joyce Spizer's delightful book
is a collection of inspirational quotations and short stories about well-known
people who did not give up. Delightful and inspirational.
Kirkus Reviews
Insurance investigator Camellia Walker has
an ex-son (hit and run), an ex-husband (adultery), an ex-mother (cancer), and
now an ex-father, an
From Booklist
Camellia "Mel" Walker, a
young
Reader Reviews
One book that you can't put
down.
I
thoroughly enjoyed Joyce Spizer's book, 'The Cop was White as Snow'. It is not
often I find a book that keeps me glued to my seat, but this one does! Ms.
Spizer keeps her readers wanting more, I know I do. Her characters are true to
life and well thought out. I can't
hardly wait for her next book.
A Really Great Read!
I'm a big fan of mysteries and this is a
good one! I loved the character Mel...she is a tough investigator. The author
has an extensive background in investigations and it shows.
West Coast Mentality is Refreshing
What fun it is to enjoy the West
Coast mentality. The love of cars, driving on PCH, walking the beach, different
friends, locations that you think you know. The story shows paramedics
attitudes while working with patients, insight into how police offices really
work, causes excitement into who could have done it, and pleasure that there
are "Good Cops". It is exciting, shows the antics of the enemy,
develops appreciation of the characters attitudes, and leaves the reader with
the feeling that "This was a good read." Enjoy.
Witty and Adventurous
I found Spizer's book to be witty
and adventurous. She combined an excellent true story with depth and direction
I found The Cop Was White As Snow entertaining and a book I couldn't put down.
The book's drama was high and intense. What I enjoyed most was the wonderful
humor the heroine "Mel" possessed. I recommend this book highly!
Reader Review
GREAT READ!!
Joyce Spizer is fast becoming my favorite
author, and I’m Okay, You're Dead is her best so far. I ended up so involved
with all the characters that I couldn't put it down. A real page-turner. I look
forward to Ms. Spizer’s next book with great anticipation.
Overall, my interest is not in mystery
thrillers, but I read Spizer's first book with tremendous enjoyment. (THE COP
WAS WHITE AS SNOW) I could hardly wait for her second book to come out! Now I
have read this newest accomplishment, and truthfully I wish the 3rd were in my
hands now. Without a doubt, I am a fan of Joyce Spizer for her writing skill,
the plausibility of what she writes about, her lead character, "Mel",
and keeping women in a position of beauty and intelligence as well, which she
herself is. Wonderful reading!!!
Spizer Delivers Suspense
I'm not giving away the ending...let me
just say I'm surprised I didn't see it coming. All the same, it DID surprise
me. I appreciate an author who keeps you on your toes, and I appreciate this
author already because I have the chance to know her. Excellent work and
insight into how P.I.s (and criminals) think. Strong female lead and secondary
characters that come alive, from the heroine's witty gay P.I. partner to a
stripper with a heart of gold.
David Westheimer, author of Von Ryan's Express
You want the skinny on what an
investigator does when she's on the job? Treat yourself to this mystery.
Book Description
Private Investigator Camellia
"Mel" Walker flies from her home in
Reader Reviews
To Joyce Spizer: Are you trying to
kill me with shock? Mel and Lucas are missing??? That is the most whammo ending
I've read. I literally sat up in bed when I read that. Then re-read it. WOW.
Did a disgruntled Texan do it? As usual,
you picked the suspect nobody would have fingered :) I liked the humor, the
adventure, the human interest angle. I also liked the people of Zavalla. And of course Mel
and Lucas' disappearance wouldn't floor me as much if you hadn't made me care
about them :)
Book Description
"Howard Keel (1919-2004) was a major star
during the golden age of Hollywood musicals, although he is perhaps best known
to the younger generation for his decade-long portrayal of Clayton Farlow on
the hit television show, "
Book blurb-
“From a difficult childhood, to Broadway, movie, and TV stardom, Howard
Keel will steal your heart with this gripping, firsthand account of his life-
both in and out of the limelight.”- Sidney Sheldon
“Howard was a great actor and what a
wonderful voice he had! I remember
fondly my early Holly wood years, when Howard’s assistance with my screen test
helped me win a contract with Metro.
And, of course, my husband Ronnie had so much respect for Howard as they
worked together on behalf of the Screen Actors Guild.”- Nancy Reagan, from a
condolence letter to Judy Keel
“Howard Keel was one of
“Amongst my favorite sounds is the
burnt umber and sienna sound of the American singers Lawrence Tibbett and Howard Keel.”- Dr. Harold Riley, world famous portrait
artist
“Howard was a fantastic-looking man
with a spectacular voice. He was a
charming, funny, well-informed person who could tell a story better than almost
anyone else I know. After every time I saw
him, I couldn’t wait for the next time we could get together…I think he was one
of the giants of show business.”- Rich Little
“’This is Your Life’ was transmitted
on the BBC network on 22nd February and the reaction was
fantastic. To give you perspective, let
me tell you that if a programme achieves 8 or 9
million with a 25% share of the audience, the producer gets his contract renewed
and is regarded as golden! Your programme achieved 11.7 million with a 45% share. I have been interrupted in writing this
letter by news that Baroness Thatcher has made contact with the BBC to say that
she missed the programme and could she have a copy of
the video for her own private use. This, of course, has been dispatched.”- Malcolm Morris, Producer BBC
“Howard’s beautiful song will never
be ended. It is in our memory always as is
his bountiful, handsome self. His
Publishers Weekly
Completed shortly before his death last
year at age 85, this autobiography traces Keel's journey from
Reader Reviews
Howard Keel is Not Make Believe
The best autobiography that I have read
about life in the entertainment world.
A wonderful memoir
A frank and honest account of his life.
The book is written as he spoke, so that as one reads the pages one feels he is
sat there relating the story to you in person. A fascinating and sometimes very
moving journey told with great humor. It will not only have you laughing out
loud, but will also tug at your heartstrings. The book was so hard to put down,
that I read it the weekend I received it.
Fascinating book about an
amazing man
I could not put this book down once I
started it. It is written as though you and Mr. Keel are great friends talking
over coffee. Howard shares the most candid details of his amazing life and the
most amusing stories that had me laughing until I cried. It left me wishing
that I had known him and certainly wishing that I had discovered his talent
much sooner than I did. This book will fascinate readers whether you are a fan
of Howard Keel or not. I highly recommend it!
Fabulous Memoir
Many times when you have a long wait for
an autobiography, the result simply doesn’t live up to the anticipation. Not so
with Only Make Believe, I’m happy to report. Howard Keel began his life as
Harry Clifford Keel, the son of a Gillespie, Ill coal miner, on April 13, 1919.
For anyone familiar with Mr. Keel’s interviews, you will recognize his
distinctive narration as he takes you though ups and downs of his life. And
what a life it was. From an auditorium in Pasadena to Broadway and London’s
West End, the sound stages of MGM, the tent theaters of summer stock and the
grassy meadows of Southfork Ranch, Mr. Keel’s story will make you laugh, cry
and keep you thoroughly entertained from start to finish. There is simply not a
dull moment in this book. There are wonderful stories about the people we’ve
all grown up admiring and enjoying: Frank Sinatra, John Raitt, Mario Lanza,
Anthony Quinn, John Wayne, Ben Hogan, Larry Hagman, Linda Gray, Barbara Bel
Geddes, Prince Rainier and many, many others. But some of the best stories are
of people you’ve never heard of, great characters both in and out of the show
business world. There are also stories about the theater itself, where glamour
and glitter step aside for hard work and sheer guts. The closeness and
camaraderie of an excellent cast and the pain of leaving them; difficult
directors and inconsiderate audiences; working hurt, sick and numb from
Novocain; mediocre parts taken just to pay the bills. All of this and more is
covered, and through it fluently winds the thread of Mr. Keel’s personal life
as it goes from trouble and pain to, at last, great happiness. I could spend
hours telling you how and why I enjoyed this book. Having read dozens of
memoirs in the past few years, I have no doubt that this book is the single
best I’ve read. Simply put, it was a treat. I highly recommend it to not only
fans of Mr. Keel, but to anyone who wants a taste of what real show business is
without all the modern day Hollywood glamour and mega-bucks.
All reviews are copyrighted by Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble
and by their authors