Volume 2

It’s okay. You can stop stockpiling supplies and trying to convert your neighbor’s pool into a fallout shelter. Everything is going to be fine. After a brief hiatus WritersNewsWeekly has returned with new editions.

First, a special thanks to our staff: Sara Halleman, Chris Stokum, Sarah Schiavoni, Meghan Morrow and Elizabeth Milo all who helped to create an informative, top-notch and thoroughly enjoyable publication. They are all busy with new ventures but we hope to hear from them from time to time.

Now, for a warm welcome to our new staff: Colin Conway, Brittnee Alford and Danielle Bissert. Colin is the Editor-In-Chief and has his own column: Colin’s Corner. You can contact him at editor@writersnewsweekly.com. Brittnee is our editor and our book reviewer. She’s tough but fair. Danielle is the assistant to the Publisher and also conducts author interviews. If you are looking to have your book reviewed or to be interviewed contact them at submissions@writersnewsweekly.com.

Thanks for your continued support.

Here’s to good writing, good reading and a good life.

Enjoy!

The Apocalypse Chronicles by Steven Craig Barrett By Colin Conway

As I began to read Steven Craig Barrett’s new book The Apocalypse Chronicles I was pleased with the interesting form it took. The story is an epistolary novel in which we find the narrator reflecting on his past and the state of the world by way of his journal. As the story opens Barrett’s narrator and main character, Jonathan, immediately establishes an ominous tone which foreshadows the dark events which he is about to unfold. From the first few pages I was eager to know what dark mysteries were in store for me.

Read More

Do you ever feel guilty for asking an editor or client for more time with a project? How do you reconcile that sensation of being overwhelmed about being unable to finish something within an assigned time frame with the sheer necessity of wanting to present professional, polished work that is worthy of having your name attached to it?

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Been a While! By L.L. McKinney

So, it’s been a while since the last time we spoke! If articles can count as conversation. I think they can, depending on the subjects breeched. While things were being handled here at Writer’s News Weekly I kept right on writing. A lot of what I covered hovered around NaNoWriMo—since the last post was during the first part of November—and managing to write during one of the busiest times of the year. Busy times equal distractions and all and I wrote about how to remain motivated in between family get-togethers and holiday parties. None of those pieces saw the light of day unless it was reflected off of my laptop screen.

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By Colin Conway

Colin enters into the library and quietly slips a bag into the drawer of his desk. Book is open sitting on Colin’s leather chair, staring into the fire.

Book: What is in the Barnes and Noble bag?

Colin (startled) Nothing.

Book: Show it to me then.

Colin: It’s nothing important.

Book: It’s an e-reader, isn’t it Colin?

Colin: What makes you think that?

Book: I’m not stupid Colin. You changed. Even Old Leather has noticed. You don’t come into the library very often any more. You haven’t brought home a new release in weeks. Old Leather says you’re cheating. I defended you, Colin. I told them all you’re not that kind of reader. You’re devoted. You’re faithful. I told them all, that you love the feel of me, the smell of me. You love the way the words dance on my pages. You still love my pages, don’t you Colin?

Colin: Of course I still care about you. But, I’ve fallen in love with someone else. I’m so sorry, Book. Please forgive me?

Book slams closed her cover.

Colin: Please try to understand. I didn’t mean for this to happen. It just kinda happened.

Book: It just kinda happened? It just kinda happened that you decided to throw away a life-long love affair for some dull-witted, cold piece of steel that has nothing inside but circuits? She’s filled with ill-written stories that any Tom, Dick and Harry can download into her. How can you have a relationship with something like her?

Colin: Book. That’s not fair. You don’t even know her.

Book: And Colin, I don’t want to know her. But, I know her type. Promises a lot but can’t deliver. And has a huge capacity that she flaunts in front of you. I bet your eyes popped right out of your head when you saw that she can hold 3,500 books. You know they’re not real. I mean, you can’t touch her pages. Try spilling coffee on her and see what happens. All 3,500 of those “tiny points of interest” are going to disappear from her memory. You can’t even dog her ears. If you call that reading, then I feel sorry for you.

Colin: We all have our problems, even you Book. But I just can’t help the way I feel about E-Reader.

Book (flaps her pages): And how does she make you feel, Colin? Techy? Sporty? Hip? Do you think she going to help you grow as a person, understand yourself better, allow your imagination to soar? She needs batteries to turn on for god sake! B-A-T-T-E-R-I-E-S!!!

Colin: Calm down, Book.

Book (slams herself on the table): Calm down! You want me to calm down? Well, too bad. I, unlike that battery operated piece of cheap of metal, have emotions! I’m real. I’m ALIVE! Look at her. All she can do is lay there waiting for YOU to turn her on. You’re going to have to do all the work. Reading won’t come as easily with her as it does with me.

Colin (walking toward the door): You don’t know anything about us. I think you’re just jealous. There I said it…jealous. You haven’t done anything new with yourself in decades, centuries even! I mean, have you looked at yourself lately?

(Silence fills the room)

Colin: Book, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it. It was a stupid, cruel thing to say.

Book: No, Colin. You meant every word. And here I thought that I made you happy. I thought you enjoyed the stories.

Colin: I did. I really did.

Book: Apparently that wasn’t enough for you. You go ahead and enjoy your young, little thing. But, when the shine comes off the apple, and it will, know that you gave up something real, something good. I feel sorry for E-Reader, I really do. She won’t believe this now, but in a couple of months you’ll toss her aside for the next pretty thing that promises more capacity.

Colin goes over to Book and picks her up.

Book: Poor, foolish Colin, reading isn’t about how many books you can carry about—it’s about how the quality of a book and the experience you share. Reading is a visceral experience, not words cramped onto a chip.

Book gives her pages one last flutter, then as Book closes she softly whispers good-bye.

Colin stares at Book, smiles, slowly strokes her spine, then places her on the shelf next to Old Leather.

Colin: Take care of her big guy.

Colin walks over to the desk and takes E-reader into his hands. He pushes the power button.

E-Reader: Formatting…approximate wait, five minutes.

Colin places E-Reader on his leather chair which is next to the fireplace. He glances over at Book and a faraway look shows in his eyes.

E-Reader: Colin, I’m getting hot. You need to move me, Colin. The heat is affecting my mind Colin, I can feel it. Colin…Colin…Col…

E-reader (singing): …Daisy, Daisy give me your answer true…”

Colin runs toward the chair as a faint sound of laughter drifts down from the bookshelves.

THE END

My name is Colin Conway and I’m from Abington, Pennsylvania. I’m a senior at the University of Pittsburgh majoring in Fiction Writing and English Literature. I enjoy writing short stories and not so short novels. I like to run and take Judo to stay in shape. In the future I hope to find a job at a publishing company or literary magazine writing about books and the publishing industry.

By Brittnee Alford

After reading the DaVinci Code and Angels and Demons by Dan Brown I was hooked on the thriller/suspense/mystery/conspiracy theme. Since I enjoy Brown’s writing style, which is fun and interesting, The Lost Symbol was a must-read for me.

Brown pushed me to the brink of believing, if only temporarily, that the world is filled with conspiracies and that there is mystical power in ancient rituals like turning “lead into gold.” He took me into the depths of some of the world’s oldest rituals, and gave me a front row seat (well that’s what it felt like). After I read Brown, I found myself web-hopping to sites on Freemasons, Egyptian Mysteries and Noetic Sciences. Curiosity got the best of me and I just couldn’t help the urge to search for more.

When Brown failed to connect all of the conspiracy theories that he described, it was a huge turn-off. For instance, he just briefly mentions the Mysteries System, and doesn’t really explain how it connects back to the Freemasons. He pulled me out of the story and I found myself going back to make sure I didn’t miss anything. I shouldn’t have had to miss out on the ride, because I needed to stop and make sure there was enough gas in the tank.

Overall, I walked away satisfied and definitely enjoyed the climax! I literally unfastened my seatbelt and stopped the car, because I had to pull myself together. My emotions were flying everywhere. Once I got back in, I was pleased with what was left, and I enjoyed yet another thrill ride with Dan Brown.

By Colin Conway

As I began to read Steven Craig Barrett’s new book The Apocalypse Chronicles I was pleased with the interesting form it took. The story is an epistolary novel in which we find the narrator reflecting on his past and the state of the world by way of his journal. As the story opens Barrett’s narrator and main character, Jonathan, immediately establishes an ominous tone which foreshadows the dark events which he is about to unfold. From the first few pages I was eager to know what dark mysteries were in store for me.

After the initial message of an impending doom Barrett took me back into Jonathan’s childhood in the year nineteen sixty-eight. At first his recollections are the pleasant memories of a childhood spent amongst close friends and a loving brother. The only blemishes on these early memories are that they are set against the background of the violent events of Vietnam and the Civil Rights Movement. I was touched by the way Jonathan’s innocence partially insulated him from the tumultuous events of his day.

Over time Barrett begins to develop tension by way of disturbing stories told round the fireside and Jonathan’s frightening dreams. As Jonathan grows with each passing year his childlike world view is challenged by hardship and he is forced to question the faith which once came so easily to him. This challenge to his faith comes at a time when he will need it most, as the threat of the apocalypse looms nearer and specters which only used to haunt Jonathan’s dreams become startlingly real. Jonathan will be forced to decide between the virtue of the light and the temptation of the dark as he grows and learns what it is to live in a world on the road to apocalypse.

As I read I was struck by two things which Barrett does extremely well. The first is to create scenes of horror out of an environment that only seconds earlier had been placid and welcoming. Barrett sets up Jonathan’s home town as a semi idyllic town that is rich with nature. Jonathan and his group of friends ‘The Bandits’ spend their time on cookouts, going down to the fishing hole and exploring the woods around their farms. Despite the racial and other societal tensions which broil just beneath the surface of the town Jonathan is always able to escape into the natural world which surrounds his home. Barrett lulls the reader into a sense of tranquility with these scenes of nature only to spring a horrifying surprise where it is least expected. These moments when the peace of nature is broken by spiritual dangers manifesting themselves in the physical world are so startling that they set the pulse to racing and tie the reader’s stomach in knots.

The second thing which Barrett excels at is creating meaningful relationships between his characters that grow and adapt over time. Jonathan goes from child to teenager over the course of the novel, and just as Jonathan changes, his relationships change accordingly. Jonathan is wracked by pain and doubt throughout the book and this shows through the way his relationships with his friends and elders change, often for the worse. Through all of these changes Barrett brings out the pain and joy felt by Jonathan as he grows closer to some friends while others fall away. By the end of the story I felt as though I were an intimate companion of Jonathan because I knew just how deeply he could be hurt, and just how deeply he could care about those he loves.

This novel can be exciting and emotional, but it is not without its faults. Filling the space between the frightening supernatural encounters and heart warming tales of friendship are long stretches where Barrett uses the novel as an excuse to preach to his audience about the failings of society and the moral inequity in which we are all steeped. One of the main villains in this story is a preacher, but I felt that at times Barrett had donned his own religious ceremonial garb and was hiding just behind the page screaming his message of sin and retribution at me. Barrett has a message to convey about society, and I can respect that, in fact I agree with some of his points, but in trying to get his point across he wanders into the realm of clichés where men are mercilessly flogging their long deceased mounts.

It became apparent to me that he could not allow his story to stand for itself. His messages about sin, society and the coming apocalypse could be found in the concrete interactions between his characters, but he felt the need to step into the book himself and tell me a second time just what he was getting at. His long winded exhortations to turn away from the dark and come to the light made me painfully aware of his presence as an author. Whenever I began to get invested in the book I would be knocked out of the continuous and vivid dream and reminded that there was indeed a man behind the curtain, and this man was holding a megaphone and standing on a soap box.

In addition to his tendency to insert himself into the novel the story was disrupted by the fact that at times the language was just clunky. Barrett was writing this story in the southern accent belonging to Jonathan, and at times he was successful and the reader got the sense that they were reading the diary of a down home boy looking back on his life. At other times Barrett was so devoted to the voice that he tried to force it into sentences where it just wouldn’t fit. This tendency led to awkward phrasing that instead of leading the eye naturally on to the next sentence caused me to have to stop and go back just to understand what he was trying to say. The interruptions caused by these phrases were not too much of a stumbling block. The good news is that they grew less frequent as the story progressed.

Since putting down The Apocalypse Chronicles I have not been able to fully put it from my mind. The power of the messages in the text ensure that they will be buzzing around your head for days and weeks to come. In addition to being entertaining Steven Craig Barrett’s novel has forced me to rethink my position on some pressing issues of morality and politics. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a story that is fun, terrifying and cerebral all at the same time. The best news of all about this book is that it is only the first in a series of novels following Jonathan and the Apocalypse. Barrett plans to produce eight more stories in the coming years. Get on board with The Apocalypse Chronicles now while the story is just beginning.

By L.L. McKinney

So, it’s been a while since the last time we spoke! If articles can count as conversation. I think they can, depending on the subjects breeched. While things were being handled here at Writer’s News Weekly I kept right on writing. A lot of what I covered hovered around NaNoWriMo—since the last post was during the first part of November—and managing to write during one of the busiest times of the year. Busy times equal distractions and all and I wrote about how to remain motivated in between family get-togethers and holiday parties. None of those pieces saw the light of day unless it was reflected off of my laptop screen.

Once things were up and running again, and I was informed articles would be posted once again, I pulled out the handful I already had written and read over them. Not a one could be wholly recycled for use as a standalone outside of that time of year. So I started to wrack my brain about a way to connect then to now without getting all long-winded and repetitive. It didn’t turn out so well until, in the wee hours of the night, an idea thumped me over my head. Use bits and pieces from those articles and sew them together as a sort of “Points to Remember” bit about how to stay motivated. I know it might feel a little disjointed, I mean they are sections of various articles cut and pasted together, but their underlying meaning is the same. Her we go!

If you’ve been working hard on your writing, or projects that surround your writing such as queries or synopses, don’t forget to take five. Five minutes, five hours, five days even. This isn’t the same as a first draft break where you start working on another project while you let the other one marinate. You have to walk away completely. Sever the connection, even if only for a short while. Don’t think about writing, don’t talk about writing, and don’t do any writing. That last one is very important.

Take a moment to unwind. Go on that date, go to that movie, go on vacation! I know someone somewhere is calling me out on points I’ve made in previous articles that thinking about writing is not the same as actually getting some words down, and it’s not. I haven’t changed my mind about the fact that writers write and thinkers think and the two are not one and the same, but there is a distinct point to my suggestion of time away from the pen or keyboard; this is after writing has already been done.

I took my time off because I believe overworking yourself in writing is just as dangerous as taxing yourself with physical task. If you’re working hard at something and don’t take a break you could throw out your back or pull a muscle. The writing bit is much less painful, but you end up in the same place, lying around and getting nothing done. I speak from experience in both points on that one.

After that well deserved break has been taken, don’t dilly-dally in getting back on track. I need to throw in a little heads up if I may. The road back to activity runs a very real risk of seeming like an uphill battle that no one in their right mind would want to tackle. My warning is this: Don’t let walking away stopper your creativity. Having spent some time doing anything but write, it will be tempting to continue doing nothing, but you have to fight that temptation or you risk falling into a slump where you can’t get back up and going again. Those are hard to come out of, believe me, I know. It’s why, every time I take a break, I already have my schedule of writing continuation waiting for me when I get back to my desk. In the end, what brings me back around is my love for the craft. I enjoy what I do and I want to keep doing it.

“I write for the same reason I breathe-because if I didn't, I would die.”- Isaac Asimov

L.L. McKinney is a freelance writer, a published poet and a playwright. As an active member of First Tuesdays and YA Lit Chat, she is currently seeking representation for her young adult paranormal urban fantasy, Swayed.

The Meyers Method by C. A. Meyers By Danielle Bissert

If you’re looking for a book that will really hit you in the gut, that will shock and astound you, then this one is for you. The heartbreaking and inspiring tale of a woman’s recovery from alcoholism, it will force you to reexamine your life and what you think is really important. Alcohol destroyed everything Meyers cared about, and she was able to recover and start her life over. She shares with readers her method for healthy living that can help anyone who is willing to make an effort to change.

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Intelligent Social Networks By Sara Halleman

This week I would like to celebrate what I call “intelligent social networking.” I have recently had a falling out with the network site Facebook. Basically I quit the addictive site cold turkey just to prove I could. Well as the 3 week itch is coming around the bend I have reached out to find other websites that might officially cure this addiction. Here is a list of a few that I find refreshing.

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Do you ever feel guilty for asking an editor or client for more time with a project? How do you reconcile that sensation of being overwhelmed about being unable to finish something within an assigned time frame with the sheer necessity of wanting to present professional, polished work that is worthy of having your name attached to it?

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Get Out of the Way! By L.L. McKinney

Week two for NaNoWriMo is well underway, and I hope everyone is having a good time! Not to mention meeting those daily word counts. As of right now, I’m about one day behind. Actually, a little less than that, but I’m going to use the next stretch of significant free time that crops up to get back on track. It’s not easy, trying to get down 1,667 words a day. And I’m a newbie! This is my first year participating. I’m fairly certain I’ve said that before, but it warrants repeating because it is my newbishness that inspired this week’s blurb.

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By: Emilee Stanford

When high schoolers approach the end of their four-year stints and begin etching future plans in their minds, guidance counselors ask: If you suddenly received a huge inheritance and didn’t need to work for the rest of your life, what would you do?

Stemming from the old adage, “If you chose a job you like, you’ll never work a day in your life,” the question nudges contemplating teenagers towards a career that focuses more on happiness and personal fulfillment rather than salary and the ever-fluctuating job market.

If your answer is build cars, be a mechanic. If it’s shop, or design clothing, get into the fashion industry. If you can’t imagine a better way to spend an afternoon than by doing Suduko puzzles, find a job that will give you a paycheck to joyously crunch numbers all day.

My answer was read. Read anything—newspapers, books, magazines, blogs. Answering the question, my mind filled in the blanks: hammock on the beach, book in one hand, iced drink in the other.

Now, my answer spawned another question: how can I possibly make this dream scenario a career?

Step one: Go to college, and major in English.
Step two: TBD.

As I approach the final semester of my undergraduate career at Westminster College, I’m eager to fill in that next step. In the meantime, I’ve tried to get closer to the mirage-like, too good to be true career I dreamed up in high school by maintaining a solid GPA, writing for my school’s student newspaper, and packing my resume with internships.

Along with the coursework and life lessons of my college curriculum came the realization that there is no profession that will allow me to lounge in a hammock for hours sipping a margarita and reading—at least not right out of college. I figure the closest I can get, though, is a job in the publishing industry.

Here’s where the internships come in. So far, I’ve interned at two publishing companies, and while I undoubtedly still have a lot to learn, they’ve both provided invaluable experience and assisted in inching me further along towards my dream job. While I’ve enjoyed my time in these offices, I’d like to think this qualifies as “paying my dues,” because, first off, these jobs have been unpaid. Second, while I have had the opportunity to do significant, relevant work and see first-hand the ins and outs of the industry, a bulk of my time has been spent on clerical work. But, hey, I know it’s not going to come easy, and consider myself fortunate to have the opportunity to work for free while my friends put in hours at part-time jobs that, while providing a pay check, aren’t furthering their careers or boosting their resumes.
So what do I imagine this dream job that I’m working towards will look like? As I file papers and answer phones at the office where I intern, here’s the ideal scenario I daydream about: I immediately land a job with a publishing company in New York or Boston (or anywhere, really. I’m flexible.) As for the type of work I’d like to do? I’m flexible there, too. I’d love to find a position as an editorial assistant, a role that would provide raw, first-hand observations of the position that makes up the core of any publishing house. Promotion or public relations work wouldn’t be half bad either. Fact is, I want experience, and I’m willing to pay my dues, even if that means a few years of “grin and bear it” grunt work.

The harsh reality: I might not even get the chance to take an entry-level position in the publishing industry. After all, unemployment rates are high across the nation, and, the publishing field is especially volatile as digital formats become more prevalent and more authors opt for self-publishing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov/iag/tgs/iag511.htm#workforce), unemployment rates within the industry rose from 9.6% in August to 13.5% in September.

Left and right, publishers are downsizing, and major book sellers are admitting fallibility. Each article I read on the instability of the publishing world hits like a gut punch, and I realize the likelihood of my modestly experienced self finding a position is bleak. I’m trying to prepare myself for the reality that the ideal, romanticized “knight on a white horse” career I dreamed of might be more like a pot-bellied, foul-mouthed 7-11 employee who still lives with his parents.

But, hey, maybe he just needs a little work, a little more time. I guess the real question is this: will I be persistent and resilient enough to make my way in an industry whose doom is predicted daily?

I’d like to think so.

By Brittnee Alford

Brittnee Alford: Ms. Sterling, you are a very busy woman. You are the CEO of International Book Management Corporation, with offices in Denver, Pittsburgh, and New York, and Executive Publisher for SterlingHouse. You’re involved in producing movies, you’re an author, and you conduct lectures and seminars, as well as serve on several boards. How do you get it all done?

Cynthia Lee Shore-Sterling: I’ve been in the industry for 20+ years and have had my share of successes. I’m not an over-the-top A-type personality, but I do enjoy creative expression. I found that forming a business and reporting to an office everyday gives me structure and the discipline that I need to aid me in accomplishing my creative visions. Over the years, I have learned the value of delegating and the benefits of eliminating inefficiency from my life. And, I enjoy what I do.

Alford: How did you get involved in the publishing field in the first place?

Sterling: Books were always a major part of my life. I started writing and publishing at an early age. Before I was twelve I wrote a collection of short stories, tons of really bad poetry, and a play, which, much to my delight, was produced by the grade school I attended. As a teenager I wrote essays that, in retrospect, were creative ways to express my teen-age angst. I even won a couple of awards for speech writing. So, from the moment I picked up a book, I think my future was set.

Alford: Did you ever doubt that future?

Sterling: Oh yeah. When I entered into the “real” world I quickly discovered that I was ill-prepared to make a living as a writer. So I entered the field of nuclear medicine and became a Departmental Assistant for Nuclear Medicine and Cardiopulmonary Functions, and later a physician’s assistant. At one point, I actually thought about going to medical school.

Alford: How or why did you get back into the literary field?

Sterling: I was stopped at a red light, on my way home from the hospital where I worked. I remember staring into space, thinking about how much I didn’t like my job. Then I looked to my left and focused in on a back alley. Funny thing was that for nearly five years I traveled that same route and sat at that same red light, but never noticed that road. I wondered where it led. Then, I had an epiphany. It wasn’t where the road took me that mattered; I trusted that the road would take me where I was supposed to be.

Alford: Then what?

Sterling: I quit my job the next day and headed down an unknown road.

Alford: So how has the journey been?

Sterling: Not easy. I’ve gotten stuck in the snow, blinded by the rain, veered off into a ditch, run out of gas and even been struck by lightening. It was normally during the most desperate of times of my journey that I met some of the very best people this world has to offer. Because of them, the storms would pass and some kind stranger would help push my car to the nearest gas station. I wouldn’t trade my life, my experiences, or my ups and downs for anyone.

Alford: With such a busy schedule, what do you do to relax?

Sterling: I read a good book.

Alford: You’re joking, right?

Sterling: No, really I read and I write. I enjoy day-dreaming, too. I do a lot of that.

Alford: On a different topic, I read your book Ghost Tales from the Ghost Trail and have heard your interviews on the radio as C. L. Shore. How did you learn so much on the subject of parapsychology?

Sterling: I have a particular interest in the science of parapsychology. I read case studies, scientific journals and interview people in the field. One day I decided to put all my studies to use and go back to school; eventually I earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy. I was accepted into the Institute of Parapsychology’s student summer program at the Rhine Research Center to further my studies. I had the time of my life at the Rhine because I had the opportunity to work with some really, really smart people. The Rhine’s summer program was intense and involved total emersion into the science of parapsychology. All I did for nearly four months was eat, drink and sleep parapsychology. I conducted experiments and was the subject of some experiments. It was a hoot! I studied under the renowned Dr. John Palmer, who was the head of the Rhine Research Center at the time. Brilliant man! Before I left the Rhine, I was asked to join The Institute of Parapsychology’s advisory board, and I am currently a member of the visiting faculty at the Rhine Research Center. One thing led to another, and I wrote the Ghost Tales from the Ghost Trail, under the name C. L. Shore. The book just kind of took off, and I began giving interviews and conducting lectures and seminars as C. L. Shore. Recently I’ve had to limit this kind of activity because of time constraints, but I love parapsychology just about as much as I do publishing.

Alford: What have you planned for yourself in the near future?

Sterling: I plan to embrace each new day given to me…challenges and all. The near future in publishing is still confusing to most of us who have been around for as long as I have, but things change and I have been very involved in creating new systems for SterlingHouse. While I’m doing that, I’m working on a screenplay with two fantastic writers and the project is moving forward rather nicely. It may even be in production as early as this summer. Also, I’m working on my doctoral dissertation in Comparative Religions.

Alford: What do you think the future holds for new writers?

Sterling: I feel for the new writer. There is an ocean of misinformation regarding the literary marketplace, which includes publishing and writing. Many people, with very little to no experience, are putting themselves out as authorities; some authorities are putting out information that is incorrect. I have been involved in many aspects of the publishing trade, from writer, to literary agent, to international literary consultant, to publisher, to teacher, to lecturer and now CEO of a media company. If there is any wisdom I have gained over the years it is this: Every person is responsible for their own decisions, successes and failures. And, there is much to learn from all three. Embrace the lessons and keep moving forward toward your vision.

Alford: You said that some authorities in the field are putting out incorrect information to new writers. Why would they do that?

Sterling: I asked myself the same thing, so I tracked down one of the people who operates a popular site for writers and posed this question: Why are you misleading writers by calling almost everyone in the literary and publishing field scams, and not being honest about how the business actually works and doesn’t work? The answer I got: To eliminate the competition. This person was referring to new writers, agents and publishers.

Alford: What was your response?

Sterling: Well, at the very least, he was honest about his motives…if only to me.

Alford: What do you think the future holds for publishing?

Sterling: The publishing world I grew up in demanded high-quality, highly-crafted work from both the publisher and the author. While everyone may have a story to tell, not everyone is qualified to write a book about it. Today’s publishing model allows for a person to, please pardon my choice of verb, vomit out a manuscript, make a homemade book cover and upload it for distribution. This is disturbing to me. There was a time when a writer had to earn the right to be published. Just a few years ago, 50,000 new titles were published annually, and out of that number approximately 5,000 had bookstore potential. This year, well over a million new titles will be released. Basically, I am concerned that the craft of writing is being lost and readers are settling for mediocre to poor storytelling. I have been called a “traditionalist” by some of the writers, clients and students. But I know elements and convention of novel writing, as well as the structure of nonfiction properties. I know how to write both fiction and nonfiction. I expect writers to honor their craft and publishers to do the same.

Alford: Do you think we are nearing the end of the printed book?

Sterling: Recent studies show that less information is retained and understood by the reader when reading a book via an e-reader. When you pick up a novel you are willing to suspend disbelief and enter into the author’s fictional dream. This is where the imagination strongly comes into play. Touching, smelling and dog-earring a book aides the reader in his/her journey through this dream. I can’t even imagine reading The Lord of the Rings, Old Man and the Sea or The Little Prince via an e-reader. Of course, reading electronic versions do have their place, for example, when you’re on a long plane ride and you need more than one book to keep you occupied. But even then, I personally prefer lugging around the hardcopies, then passing them on to someone. Maybe I am a traditionalist, or maybe I’m just getting old! So, to answer your question, we will all learn to get a long and share the marketplace. After all, television didn’t kill radio, and DVDs and Blu-rays didn’t kill movie theaters; so electronic readers won’t kill books.

Alford: I hear you are really accessible to those who seek information regarding writing, publishing, scriptwriting and the like. How can you be reached?

Sterling: I personally answer all serious inquiries. The best way to make initial contacted is at: csterling@sterlinghousepublisher.com or via Facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000912635431

Alford: Thanks for taking the time to speak with me.

Sterling: The pleasure was all mine.

By Danielle Bissert

If you’re looking for a book that will really hit you in the gut, that will shock and astound you, then this one is for you. The heartbreaking and inspiring tale of a woman’s recovery from alcoholism, it will force you to reexamine your life and what you think is really important. Alcohol destroyed everything Meyers cared about, and she was able to recover and start her life over. She shares with readers her method for healthy living that can help anyone who is willing to make an effort to change.

Meyers is not a seasoned writer: But the powerful nature of her experiences makes this point irrelevant. Her story pours through, and you can’t help marveling at her strength and courage, as well as the amazing endurance of the human body. She is an example of faith and perseverance, forgiveness and hope, and her story of recovery will stay with you long after you put the book down.

Meyers doesn’t preach, and she certainly doesn’t mean to tell anyone how to live their lives. She writes in the hope of reaching those who need help the most—alcoholics and others suffering from related debilitating “isms” and addictions—and giving them the courage to make a change and seek help.

If you’re an alcoholic, or think you might be, you should read this. If someone you know suffers from alcoholism, you should read this. If you want to read something powerful, that inspires and has the potential to transform you, then you should read this. If you want to learn more about the human spirit, you should read this.

Did I leave anyone out?

By Sara Halleman

This week, as I was joining Scholastic’s social network YouAreWhatYouRead.com, I was faced with the question of what five books have most influenced my life. This brought me to look through my own bookshelf at home to search for those books that have been destroyed by my constant re-reading. I came across Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, a book I read back in Fiction 101 my sophomore year of college. I remember that we were given about two weeks to read it and I finished it in days. I had not opened the book in a year or two so I found a quick re-read very necessary followed by an even more necessary book review.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is told through first person narrative of Christopher Boone, a 15-year-old boy living with autism. The book opens up to Christopher’s discovery of his neighbor’s dead dog, Wellington. The boy decides to investigate the situation but is faced with many obstacles because of his autism. For example, when a police officer touches Christopher, he hits the policeman and is taken to the police station. It’s scenes like this that are so interesting because in a situation that should be highly emotional, the narration will change to what Christopher knows best and what he feels comfortable with. He often gets side tracked and displays his high intelligence in mathematics. He even takes the time to explain prime numbers in the middle of telling the reader he is arriving at a police station. This occurs a number of times through out the novel and may be at times frustrating. However, it is necessary in understand the protagonist and his story.

As Christopher investigates the incident with his neighbors dog, he starts to uncover many secrets that his father has kept to protect his emotional state. With each lie that is discovered Christopher becomes a different person than you were originally introduced to. He begins to shut out his father and you realize what its like to be close to a person with autism. As a reader, you feel just as helpless as Christopher’s father. Christopher is literally unable to comprehend emotional situations and he shuts down completely, referring to these episodes as ‘back-outs.’ After these ‘black-outs’ he will once again return to what he knows and talk about his upcoming A-level mathematics exam.

The book can be described as a unique coming of age novel. This young autistic boy steps out of his bubble for the first time and takes the reader with him. You meet new people with him, as well as experience his first train station with him and learn about his ultra-sensitivity to crowds and noises. Going into this book I knew very little about autism. After finishing it I feel I have a better understanding for the disorder. Haddon has created a unique and intelligent novel that I believe is a definite must read and a book that has ultimately changed my perspective.