Book Promotion – Angie's Diary https://angiesdiary.com Literary Magazine & Guest Blog Thu, 08 Apr 2021 13:27:48 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://angiesdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-angie-head-trans-1000x1000-1-32x32.png Book Promotion – Angie's Diary https://angiesdiary.com 32 32 Cover Designs and Fonts https://angiesdiary.com/featured/cover-designs-fonts/ https://angiesdiary.com/featured/cover-designs-fonts/#respond Sat, 10 Apr 2021 07:34:36 +0000 https://angiesdiary.com/?p=32967 Cover Designs And Fonts

Cover Designs And Fonts

Cover Designs And Fonts

Cover Designs and Fonts: One of the most important steps when self-publishing is the cover – it should grab attention, and attract the audience – your purchaser – and make them want it by its cover. 

It sounds so easy but it needs to be the art you never learned in art class, a special technique, and the use of the correct tools to make it shine.

Your Audience

So you are now finished with your book but the final question, how to attract a large audience?  The information provided here has to do with publishing your book, it doesn’t matter if it is an eBook or a printed book, in both cases the first thing you see is the cover. A cover brings what you have on the inside, to life – for instance – if you are a lover of memoir – something must stand out about the main story, pretend you are trying to write that introduction or prologue which grabs the person who has to know more before purchasing. Remember, before they go inside the cover, you have to get the book into their hands.

Online you have the opportunity to let them read the introduction, prologue, first chapter, etc.  The same is true with the book off the shelf, but one is more apt to press a button on the keyboard to read the section you provide when that is the only book that is surrounding them – online.

Make it Attractive

One thing to remember, you loved your book, still do – but don’t fall in love with a font because you like what the letter A looks like, remember you are building this book to be both attractive, and on the inside, easy to read.

You have completed the hard work and completed your manuscript, now to the detail of getting it to press. The following five goals came from the website The Book Designer as written by Joel Friedlander.

Announce its Genre

This is very important for genre fiction, but it’s equally important for any book to be clear right away about exactly what kind of book it is. This seems to me to be the first concern of the cover designer.

Telegraph its tone—Particularly important for fiction and literary fiction, where the whole effect of the book rests on the skill of the writer. A cover can give you an idea of the writer’s voice in many subtle ways.

Explain its scope—Mostly for nonfiction. Understanding the extent of the book’s subject helps to define its target market.

Generate excitement (the “hook”)—Let’s face it, book covers are a subspecies of advertising design, and they can be powerful sales tools. But if nothing about the cover stops people, or evokes instant interest, fascination or curiosity, it can’t accomplish its aims.

Establish a market position—This is almost the sum of all the other goals listed here. Taken together, they establish the exact space we see the book occupying amongst all the other books that address the same topic or which are in the same genre.

animal-farm-orwell

Fonts for Your Manuscript

I believe the following information about the Font inside, meaning your manuscript, and the correct font for the cover is a must-know for a self-published book.  I want to tell you, I learned through the website above, some fonts are used illegally  “If you’re downloading a font from a third-party site, you need to know this. For instance, if you can download a font created by Adobe that you'll find at “Freddy’s Free Fonts,” you should question whether Freddy bothered to get the rights to distribute it,” said Joel.  So his warning, “be careful when searching for free fonts.”

You may be concerned about the uploading of your book file, as I was – as I held my breath I wondered if this PDF file was going to erase, since it has been like a child for a long time, it has your heart and soul on every page.

In the article I read about setting up the manuscript for the printer, I learned about certain fonts which will not embed due to technical and legal restrictions.  Imagine, your book is all finished, in position on the page, and now you find out the font you used corrupts the entire file.

It is now time to scream...

Joel’s advice is to use the font on a few pages and try it out.  He recommended opening the file in Adobe Acrobat and check under the File/Properties on the Font Tabs.  You will find a list to read, Embedded or Embedded Subset for the file to work at the printer.

Quality Considerations

When it comes to fonts be sure of the quality, and make sure you can change the font from italic to upright.

In front of you is your book - remember the stranger who is going to be reading it – make it strong and clear. Don’t try to use fancy fonts for books to be read – sure you can introduce letters, or special quotes with different fonts but please, not the entire book.

I find myself flipping through pages of books either at the library, bookstore, or where they sell second-hand books and checking the font, its size, and spacing – not everyone has 20/20 vision.

How many of you have opened your reader and found misaligned books.  These same books are being sold at readings, bookstores (rare as they may seem) that take local writers on, and especially with eBooks.  The person reviewing the cover and sample (online) is probably thinking this is a first-time writer, instead of a first-time publisher. ebook authors, as first-time authors are sometimes excellent writers, and if their artwork and choice of font matched their writing it may have been purchased twice as much.  People tend to close the cover of a book that appears to be printed cheaply.  Remember that old saying, “don’t choose a book by its’ cover,” well it is an old saying because in this market the cover and presentation is extremely important.

Paris-v-NY

Space Calculation

What makes the finished product look so immature, as if it had a life span – well it happens when the set is off and those extra spaces show up because of set width errors.  This means the number of letters it takes to fill the space was not calculated properly.

One of the most important things to remember, fewer words on the cover, makes a clean look and a title to remember. What appears on the cover is the title, and if you need it a subtitle, and the name of the author.

Joel tells, “if you’re writing about a topic considered masculine and aimed at a male audience, does it help you to have an overly-embellished or feminine typeface that’s barely readable on your book cover? No, I don’t think so either. Or for a historical romance, you wouldn’t want a modern clean sans serif typeface like Helvetica for your cover. It would simply look dangerously out of place.”

Now you will receive a few tips on how to choose the most appropriate font for your book.

We are writers, not artists, or are we accustomed to putting a 100,000-word manuscript in perfect order for the printer.  The first thing you should understand is the two types of fonts, display fonts, and text fonts.

What makes a display font different from those text fonts?  Each has a different way of spacing, widths, to set, and what a printer says weights.  A printer would say it is not correct to use a text font for a book cover, although it is done, and sometimes very well.  I would have to say the perfect font should fall into the display category for the cover so you have no questions asked by the printer of your choice.

Suggested Fonts

The following is a list of display fonts suggested on the website.

1. Chunk Five (free from fontsquirrel.com): This meaty and emphatic slab serif font is ideal for book titles in numerous genres. Try this font for action-oriented or political stories.

2. League Gothic (free from fontsquirrel.com): This sans serif font is very vertical, which is ideal for book titles. League Gothic would be a great choice for thrillers or business books, and it can be useful if you have a very long title, too.

3. Trajan (available from Adobe): You might recognize Trajan, and that’s because it’s been used for more movie posters than any other font. It works quite well on books, too. This classic font is appropriate for histories, novels, and historical fiction, among others.

4. Franchise (free from fontsquirrel.com): Another tall and meaty sans serif, just ideal for the right book cover treatment. Franchise would be a great pick for a historical epic, for mysteries, or for thrillers.

5. Baskerville (many versions available): Sometimes you need to have a straight roman typeface for your title, and in that case, I like to use one of the variations of Baskerville, a highly readable typeface. You might find Baskerville perfect for a memoir, a business book, or a historical romance.

NOTE:  All of these are listed on the website listed, and samples of the book covers are shown.

For me, I took Joel’s advice and tried many of the fonts – at least those which were free – to get a feel for what is said both on the outside and inside the cover.

The following note is about the person who supplied all the choices and details for your typeset and cover.

Joel Friedlander is a self-published author, an award-winning book designer, and an accomplished blogger. He's the founder of the Self-Publishing Roadmap online training course and a frequent speaker at industry events where he talks to writers about how the new tools of publishing can help them reach and inspire their readers.

If you liked the points I shared with you, simply check out the website and follow what your heart desires. I hope some of these simple tips have given you the courage to dive into the business of self-publishing.

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How Do I Market my Book and Get Read? https://angiesdiary.com/publishing/how-do-i-market-my-book-and-get-read/ https://angiesdiary.com/publishing/how-do-i-market-my-book-and-get-read/#comments Tue, 16 Mar 2021 07:30:28 +0000 https://angiesdiary.com/?p=44751 Market my Book and Get Read

Market my Book and Get Read

Market my Book and Get Read

How Do I Market my Book and Get Read?: Here are my best tips on how to gain exposure for your book:

1. Overview

What is the marketing plan for?
You promote your last book, promote all books of yours, promote your website, or promote a book that is free for a certain period of time.

2. Timing

  • For how long are you ready to run this campaign?
    Only for launching, a certain period of time, seasonal (Christmas, Easter, summer holiday).

3. Budget and Costs

  • What budget do you have for paid advertising/PR/Marketing?
  • Can you support other costs: printing promotional materials, launching parties, traveling…?

4. Publicity and PR

  • Set up a press kit with audio and video links, including press clippings and articles, have teasers that catch the attention.

5. Contact Local Media

  • Play the ”local writer” and contact local newspapers, magazines, and local radio stations.

6. Contact National Media

  • -Send press releases targeting cities and subject-related magazines.

7. Book Reviewers

  • Send review copies for reviewers in various publications.
  • Send review copies to book clubs and community groups targeting your genre.

8. Articles

  • Write and submit articles to the print media: about the book, about the subject, about you as a writer and other hobbies, about the writing process.

9. Speaking engagements

  • Make an offer for speaking at your local library, schools, and organization and association if your book has a social impact. You can visit senior groups and senior homes for storytelling, children’s home care for children’s books.

10. Networking

  • Join a few social media channels and try to be active as much as you can. This is the way to build your brand and reputation online as an author.

11. Launch your book in local bookstores

  • Send press releases for the event to the local media, reading groups, local librarians, and invitations to friends.
  • Send a thank-you note to every single person who joined the event.
  • Donate a few books to your local library.

12. Promotional materials

  • Have business cards and bookmarks with the cover, your website, your free eBook, your x for the price of y if you have some other books.
  • Spread the business cards out (offer them to libraries, bookstores, office supplier shops, hotels, the local supermarket

13. Word of mouth

  • It works best. (Family, friends, colleagues, neighbors.)
  • Be sure you have a share with a friend button on your website.

14. Advertising

Do it by target:

  • By location (place of birth, place of living, where the action in your book takes place).
  • By subject and social issues if the book has such subplots in it.
  • By genre and interests.

15. Co-Promotion

  • Target authors of the same genre for reviews, guest blogging, and co-promotion.

16. Cross Promotion

  • A book about meditation in nature or a healthy lifestyle can be sold in the camp site’s little shops.
  • A book on the history of (a country) may be proposed for university studies in this country's history.
  • A diet book can be promoted at your local gym or fitness club.

17. Charity

  • Only a small percent of your sales can make a huge difference in people’s lives. Your book gains exposure, and you will be proud to do a kind act (only if you are that kind of person who cares)

18. Short Stories Anthology

  • Contribute with a short story to an anthology related to the subject in your book, and you will be mentioned with your book in the resource box.

19. Blogs and Bloggers

  • Be in touch with bloggers who review books, for interviews, for guest posts.
  • Organize a blog tour for yourself or ask a blogger who does that to do it for you.
  • Ask for a cover reveal.
  • Ask for a promotional spot for your launching event, your book, or a public appearance.

20. If all of the above seems too much or too hard for you, this problem can be solved very easily: FIND A PUBLICIST!

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Grandmother’s Bleeding Hearts https://angiesdiary.com/story/shortstory/grandmothers-bleeding-hearts/ https://angiesdiary.com/story/shortstory/grandmothers-bleeding-hearts/#respond Thu, 11 Feb 2021 07:11:09 +0000 https://angiesdiary.com/?p=35028

Grandmother's Bleeding Hearts

Grandmother's Bleeding Hearts: That damn radio blasted day and night with church songs - she would sing with the announcer, blessing Jesus for everything she had.

Pray tell, what did she have? The same old Formica table, white with red-chipped paint, one over-sized basin for a sink - soiled dish towels hanging, drying draped over a piece of wood.

A dented white metal cabinet half-filled with foggy, plastic glasses. Ceramic cocoa bowls, cracked.

Every other day she held an ice pick in her aging hand’s defrosting her old refrigerator – those knees had to be raw – knelt on linoleum day and night praying -
praying out loud, half crying, saying - "Thanks, thanks."

Her slippers worn her apron dingy - she never wanted anything new - God in heaven wouldn't like it, she had to sacrifice, sacrifice.

I still see the old black iron pan, resting on a stove without a lid; scolded herself holding metal in place. Her pantry had a liner - covered with little frills;
red and white flowers, cups, saucers lined perfectly in space. No one touched a single item in her pantry.

If the old door creaked, or the calendar shook that hung from a nail on her pantry door - Grandma appeared wondering what it was you took?

A pull string hung in the middle of her kitchen – it would hit her head when she stood – a string – a cord connected to her damn radio, connecting life.

As she aged, a hassock would be placed to lift her legs. her feet would drag, her knees were old and she appeared frail. She still prayed as her homemade curtains blew in the wind.

Grandmother ached inside, ached to reach her window sill to stare out a pane of glass - old, and aging rapidly.

She never, never, wanted to cry, but I felt her tears, her aging heart.

She never gave up old "Zebra Bread." a toaster - she flipped two sides with her curled thumbs, testing, to see if her bread was cooked.

Every morning, into the cracked ceramic bowl she tossed, dried old Italian Bread, Dandy Crackers, Ritz, Graham - Rice Krispies, Corn Flakes, and cookies - from her old antique cookie jar; a funny bear – it smiled at us, remaining on the same spot of her chipped table.

I loved her Cookie Jar filled with striped cookies from "Woolworth’s." Those cookies made me happy.

On Tuesday Grandma climbed the staircase to the second floor holding a brown paper bag - I followed. She filled the old antique cookie jar with cookies from
"Woolworth’s."

I sat near the pantry door, patiently waiting – as she handed me one - her gold tooth shinned as she smiled - I waited, squirming in now in the chair, begging
with my eyes for more.

Now I wonder why Grandma’s pans hung from nails in her pantry - I wonder why she had a bread box, nailed shut?

The cookie jar, I remember most - Yellow, green with eyes that stared from her table.

But those damn church songs embarrassed me. Her homemade curtains blowing in the wind - echoes of how God would turn our world around.

I played beneath her open kitchen window, near Grandmother’s plants - her bleeding hearts.

bleeding hearts

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Crowdfunding – Not General Solicitation https://angiesdiary.com/economy/crowdfunding-not-general-solicitation/ https://angiesdiary.com/economy/crowdfunding-not-general-solicitation/#comments Fri, 06 Nov 2020 06:19:13 +0000 https://angiesdiary.com/?p=63134 crowdfunding

crowdfunding

crowdfunding

Crowdfunding—Not General Solicitation
People tend to assume a synonymous relationship between crowdfunding and general solicitation. At a perfunctory glance, the two appear to display no difference. Misleading information may partly account for the confusion. Websites casually reference crowdfunding interchangeably with general solicitation.[i] But the SEC distinguishes these easily conflated terms.

Crowdfunding—Defined

Crowdfunding” denotes the cumulative process of generating funds through capital investment, recruiting small money from many people over time [ii], Unlike General solicitation which exploits advertisements, crowdfunding simply directs investors to a funding portal or broker. [iii] Crowdfunding typically fundraises via the internet.

While crowdfunding accepts contributions from “crowds” of investors, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (JOBS ACT) prohibits advertisements for crowdfunding, unless to notify about a prospective investment opportunity. [iv]

General Solicitation—Defined

Under SEC 506(b) of Regulation D, General solicitation includes, inter alia, advertisements/promotions displayed in the following:

  • Newspapers;
  • Magazines;
  • Published websites;
  • Broadcast radio/television communications; and/or
  • Social media outlets as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, personal blogs, etc. [v]

Difference Between Crowdfunding & General Solicitation

The differences between crowdfunding and general solicitation display as follows:

  • The SEC recognizes a difference between crowdfunding and general solicitation. Title II, AKA § 506(b), governs general solicitation. Crowdfunding falls under Title III of the SEC which prohibits advertisements beyond attracting investors to a crowdfunding platform. [vi]
  • Under Title II, issuers—legal entities that finance operations by selling securities—must take reasonable steps to verify the accredited investors they recruit. [vii] An accredited investor generally refers to any individual whose (a) net worth including assets surpasses $1 million, or (b) individual income supersedes $200,000 annually for at least two years; $300,000 combined income if married. [viii] If issuers fail to verify before solicitation as a condition precedent, liability results. In other words, Title II entrusts issuers with knowledge or reason to infer such reasonable steps as an extension of their fiduciary responsibility. Hence, any such omission despite reasonably foreseeable knowledge of the foregoing precondition subjects the issuer to liability. However, Crowdfunding encourages eligible participation from accredited and non-accredited investors alike.
  • Additionally, unlike crowdfunding, Title II requires no agent intermediary for general solicitation. Furthermore, Title II as promulgated recognizes a legal exemption under the aforementioned 506 (b) prerequisite for general solicitation; not so with crowdfunding, which appears questionably illegal. [ix] Title III, nonetheless, authorizes crowdfunding for the sole limited legal purpose of selling securities in small amounts to many investors. [x] Therefore, 506(b)—an exemption to the original rule—permits general solicitation, providing issuer(s) take all reasonable steps in procuring accredited investor(s). In 2013, Congress subdivided the original 506 rule into 506(b) and (c). Thus, the bifurcated rule provides a safe harbor under 506(b), while still retaining its original flavor pursuant to 506(c). [xi] Title III provides no such exemption for crowdfunding.

Crowdfunding At The Technological Forefront

Nevertheless, increasing technological trends appear to plausibly support the probative inference of crowdfunding possibly receiving a similar exemption. Though speculation drives this tentative consideration. For more information, consider the following references and resources:

References:

[i] Joe Wallen, Crowdfunding v. Rule 506(c) Offerings, StartUpLaw Blog (Oct. 1, 2013), http://www.startuplawblog.com/2013/10/01/crowdfunding-v-rule-506c-offerings/

[ii] Kim L. Taylor, REG D, RULE 506. REG A+ & CROWDFUNDING—Powerful Tools to Raise Big Money, SyndicationLawyers.com, Trowbridge, Taylor, Sidoti (May 26, 2015), http://www.syndicationlawyers.com/reg-d-rule-506c-reg-crowdfunding-powerful-tools-raise-big-money/
[iii] C. Steven Bradford, Crowdfunding and the Federal Securities Laws, 2012 COLUM. BUS. L. REV. 1, 10 (2012) (“Bradford”)
[iv] https://www.sec.gov/info/smallbus/secg/general-solicitation-small-entity-compliance-guide.htm
[v] See Id. at 1
[vi] 15 U.S.C. 77b(15)(ii)
[vii] 17 CFR, §230.215
[viii] General Rules and Regulations, Securities Act of 1933 §230.215 (1933).
[ix] Is Crowdfunding Legal, Startup Company Lawyer (May 26, 2012), http://www.startupcompanylawyer.com/category/general/
[x] See Bill Carlton, Patch of Land, SEC Regulation D Rule 506(c) & General Solicitation Explained in Video, (Feb. 26, 2014), https://patchofland.com/blog/qa-from-the-patch/2014/02/26/rule-506c-general-solicitation-explained-in-a-video/?utm_source=Hubspot&utm_medium=email&utm_term=&utm_content=investorWF_leftcta_060115&utm_campaign=general&hsCtaTracking=bbce6976-1a3e-4bd7-9489-574c6fb87795%7Cdb630ae2-ef47-4a38-996d-ec67a9657f8a&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_0YRxP523vqk6e5RGufvbYovbMGZAxOj1RK-sqQiDwWSPTMEEF4-27Bq7mrvSW8uRJRGM0pVDomjKxvMtPLvLQqpCjvsSWIlrbg4_YlOuWT_2xLys&_hsmi=18086281&utm_source=hs_automation&utm_content=18069489;
[xi] SEC Rule 506 of Regulation D, Securities Act of 1933, § 4(a)(2), http://www.sec.gov/answers/rule506.htm.

Resources:

  1. https://www.sec.gov/about/laws/sa33.pdf
  2. SEC Rule 506 of Regulation D, Securities Act of 1933, § 4(a)(2), http://www.sec.gov/answers/rule506.htm
  3. The Electronic Code of Fed. Regs., US Gov’t Publishing Office, (Aug. 20, 2015), http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=3bfd62667cca0a16625adf3dc1136de0&node=se17.3.230_1215&rgn=div8
  4. http://www.sec.gov/rules/proposed/2013/33-9470.pdf
  5. http://www.legalandcompliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/LC_White_Paper_10-8-12.pdf
  6. http://www.joneskeller.com/news/2014/sec-proposes-crowdfunding-rules-issuers-and-funding-portals
  7. Alixe B. Cormick, Definition of Accredited Investor in the United States, Venture Law Corporation, http://www.venturelawcorp.com/definition_accredited_investor_usa.pdf
  8. http://www.alleywatch.com/2013/09/what-are-reasonable-steps-to-verify-accredited-investors/

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The Case of the Missing Roman Artifact https://angiesdiary.com/story/shortstory/the-case-of-the-missing-roman-artifact/ https://angiesdiary.com/story/shortstory/the-case-of-the-missing-roman-artifact/#respond Thu, 22 Oct 2020 05:32:51 +0000 https://angiesdiary.com/?p=77024 roman-artifact

roman-artifact

roman-artifact

Missing Roman Artifact: This is the story of a crime committed in the Bristol Museum and how the Freemasons covered it up so as not to have an inquiry.

How do I know it is true? I was the person who reported the theft to the curator.

In some ways, I became my own nemesis as the reporting of the crime made me a marked man by the masons who at the time ran the security at the museum; for my honesty, I was overlooked for promotion several times because the bosses knew that if I were allowed to go to the senior staff meetings, I would be not only a thorn in their side but an embarrassment as they knew I could not be fobbed off. And would not give up asking questions until I got to a satisfactory answer; that would require a full enquiry, and the masons feared that.

The story begins on a normal day at the museum. I was cleaning the plastic from the case of a Roman artifact when I noticed there was nothing in the case. Not unusual as curators used to take items out for checking, and often forget to leave a note for the security staff.

The security staff were on first name terms with some of the curators, others we called Mr. or Mrs. out of respect, or because we never felt the need for the friendly approach.

This day, I was walking through the tunnels under the ground floor, when I met David Dawson, head curator of Archaeology (at the time). I asked him if he or his staff had removed the artifact, and he replied that nobody had taken the item out.
We went up to the case where the theft had occurred, and David reported the missing item to our head of security; this is where things got “hinky.”

How do you remove an item from a case that is covered by electronic surveillance, locked, and videoed 24/7, without someone knowing?

At this time, only ex-police officers patrolled the ground floor; one of the officers that were on patrol that day was sent to a branch museum, and the other was promoted to second-in-charge of museum security because the museum administration officer was in the same Freemason lodge.

I got overlooked for promotion for several reasons. I could put up a case for each, from being a superb stockist for the shops to being friends with a young man who later committed suicide. Those of us who knew my friend Richard knew he was being hounded by the Masons, but we could never prove it, and if we could, it would have done no good as they close ranks quicker than bees when the nest is attacked.

Other reasons include the fact the bosses knew that though I was like Richard in some ways, I was not as left-wing radical, but I have never been either a “yes-man” or a “bosses man,” I always support the working man when I think he has a case to support.
With me, Richard, and our friend Steve at the meetings, the bosses feared they had a trio that was not only loyal to the workers but could not be bought.

Unlike others at the museum, I earned a rep for honesty and not being a rat, a backstabber, or a snitch.
People knew if I got a promotion, it was because I had earned it, not by ratting someone out to get my way, or telling tales to the bosses as some did. That is why when I got turned down for a promotion that most people I had earned the hard way; everyone was surprised, as the man who got the job had only been with the museum a few months, whereas I had been working at that branch for over two years; I had the contacts for the brass rubbing center, our rubbings were in such demand we had orders from as far away as Russia and the USA.

In the end, I had the last laugh, he may have got the job I wanted, but he knew I had forgotten more about the alarms than he could know; if I had been that way minded, I could have messed the system up. But, it was enough for me to know that he knew I had the knowledge.

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Excerpt: ASAP – A Settling of Scores https://angiesdiary.com/story/excerpt/excerpt-asap-a-settling-of-scores/ https://angiesdiary.com/story/excerpt/excerpt-asap-a-settling-of-scores/#comments Sun, 18 Oct 2020 05:48:33 +0000 https://angiesdiary.com/?p=21076 A Settling of Scores

A Settling of Scores

A Settling of Scores

An excerpt from Chapter IV ASAP - A settling of Scores:

Suzanne's breakfast meeting with Smitty had left her at odds, not knowing where to begin in dealing with his information. Checking her watch, she saw that it was just 8:00. “Damn, if I can't trust our office phones, what am I going to do now?" She had to call Brad. He isn't going to believe this!

Crowds of people mostly dressed in the New York Fall uniform - a trench coat - rushed by, missing her by a hair's breadth. Somehow the true New Yorker could dash around the city with blinders on, unaware of anyone else in their path. Stopping in a building doorway just down the block, she pulled out her cell phone.

If Brad’s number hadn’t been on autodial she doubted if she would have remembered it. Closing her eyes, she thought back to the early days. What was it Brad had told her about his phone number? Oh yes, now she remembered. He said it was funny that his new phone number spelled Brad MIT. Suzanne hit the button for his pre-coded number and silently prayed that Brad was at home.

ASAP - A settling of Scores"Brad," she shouted into the phone, hoping she could be heard over the honking horns of a taxi trying to drive through a gridlocked intersection.
"Suzanne? Where are you, the reception is terrible?"
"I'm on 58th street. I have to talk to you. I wasn't sure if it was safe to call you from the office. I’m calling on my cell." Suzanne's heartbeat was returning to normal. Brad would tell her how to secure their offices. He was the systems security genius. While she was a graduate engineer her responsibilities were to run their business. She was the marketing and operations half of the team. Brad took care of acquiring new technology and working with Secure Homes special customers.

"Suzanne, let’s take it from the top. What has you calling me from the street?"
Turning her back away from the passersby on the busy street, she told him of her breakfast meeting and learning that their company’s microcircuit was on a black market list along with the names of other suppliers of high tech items. Just relaying Smitty’s information got her riled. Someone had violated their company. A company that was a living breathing extension of both of them.

"Go to the old warehouse," Brad instructed. "The one you set up like an apartment for my rare visits to the poison apple."

Suzanne was smiling at Brad's comment; he never did like New York City. He thought it dirty, the air poisoned, and the people more like robots built to generate wealth, than flesh and blood human beings.
"You should visit us more often. I miss your smiling face. The kids miss you too."
"And Leonard?" Brad's sarcasm was thick with hostility.
"Why can't you two get along?" It wasn't the first time they had exchanged these same words.
"Because he's a toad! You deserve better."
"Yeah. Like you?" She loved Brad as much as she did her own children. It was too bad they weren't cut from the same cloth. If they had been, she would never have even looked at Leonard in law school, no matter how dashing and sexy she had thought he was.
"Brad. This is a crisis. What do I do?"
"You're right. This isn't the time for personal stuff. Go to the warehouse and log on to my special database. Look for a project folder labeled "office hardware." There should be a subdirectory with a list of people and phone numbers. Find Nathan Berger and call him for an appointment. Then rush over to his shop on 43rd and 9th Avenue. He specializes in surveillance equipment and can sweep the offices for bugs, cameras, or any other kind of spy gadget. Then get him to put a scrambler on your phone. Only yours. Maybe you'd better just get a separate phone line to make sure."
"You mean like the White House uses to talk to Russia?"
"The concept is the same. All our conversations will be scrambled so that whatever we discuss will be just between us."

Leaning on the stone wall of the building for support, Suzanne felt a rush of fear. “Brad, these precautions sound over-the-top.”
“But,” he said, “very necessary.”

Was this situation going to place her kids in danger? Slow down, she thought. Don't overdramatize. I've been reading too many spy thrillers. Resigned to do whatever was needed, she straightened her back prepared to follow his advice. "I'm on my way. I’ll call you from the warehouse."
"Check the digital readout on the card lock. The meter's on the inside of the door. If it's at 555, then no one has been there since my last visit. It will be safe."
"555? And if it's different?"
"I coded it to register another number if anyone enters without my pass card. Your card has the same code. If you find any other reading, simply call me with some gossip. I'll take it from there."
"Are you always this paranoid?" Wonder colored her question.
"Yes. I wish you'd learn to be. This scare is your induction to the true world of bitheads. It isn't just about inventing a new technology, it's about protecting it once you've developed it."
"Bitheads! I'm proficient in programming, it isn't my profile." Suzanne had always separated her knowledge of computers and that of Brad's genius, by saying she was computer literate, whereas he was wired. "Maybe you should give me that lecture again. The one where you tell me we should run the company like a division of the FBI."
"Later. Don't go to the office. Call from the warehouse and tell Jenny that your appointment took longer than you thought. Don't let her know what you learned. Did you already tell her about Branagan?"
"No. I didn't know his name, or what he wanted. Anyway, it was just after 7 am. Jenny didn't have to know I was meeting him. But Jenny’s safe."
"We don't know that, and until we do we don't trust anyone. Got that? Call me as soon as you talk to Nate. I'll stay by the phone."
"Brad, I'm scared. Nothing like this has ever happened to us. Does this mean we're of national importance?" chuckling at the thought. At least her sense of humor was returning.

"We have been for a long time. It's just that our customers don't like publicity."
Alarm bells resonated in her head. "What customers? Who do we sell to that I don't know about? Brad, are you holding out on me? You're scaring me!"
"Don't worry, you'll love it. Later."

Closing her cell phone, Suzanne felt relieved knowing that Brad would take over from here and see they were protected. Protected from what she wondered?

Waving at a passing taxi, she jumped in and gave the driver the address of their first office located in the fashionably restored meat-packing district in downtown Manhattan. As the cab pulled up in front of an old warehouse, Suzanne smiled remembering those early days when their business was only an idea.

As she pulled her key card out of her bag, she realized that it had been something like six months since she last met Brad here. It was officially a Secure Homes, Inc. office location, but now Brad was the only one who used it.

Unlocking the door of the third-floor space, Suzanne was relieved to see the lock still read 555. Looking around the full-floor open loft space as if revisiting a favorite home, she headed over to the antique roll top desk with an incongruously streamlined computer sitting on top. Logging on, Suzanne quickly located Brad’s special database file and found Nate’s information.

"Okay, Nate. Now it’s your turn to scare the shit out of me," she said as she dialed his number.

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If it Looks Too Good to be True… https://angiesdiary.com/society/if-it-looks-too-good-to-be-true/ https://angiesdiary.com/society/if-it-looks-too-good-to-be-true/#respond Sun, 27 Sep 2020 06:37:06 +0000 https://angiesdiary.com/?p=76860 Too Good to be True

Too Good to be True

Too Good to be True

Too Good to be True: It all started about 20 years ago. My marriage was going through another of its rough patches.

I felt for many years that I was not appreciated and unloved, so I started using dating sites, just to have female company with whom to chat.

Chatrooms

If I meet a lady online, she knows I expect no more than someone to talk to. Beyond that, it is up to her how we proceed with our friendship. For several months I chatted with many girls, knowing they were running a scam, but they never knew that I knew until it was too late. They used to think that an older man would be flattered by the attention of a young lady. Not this man.
My first thought is, what is a young lady like you doing chasing after me?

I could always tell when I had the girls on the hook. When their handlers felt they were losing their hold, they would invent a friend to back their story up.

Russia

Now I get regular requests from Russian girls who say they wish to chat with me with the idea of marriage, and could I pay them to visit. Why would an educated young lady chase after an older, much older in my case, man with little education, if not to run a scam and take his money? Besides, their mothers would have had a better chance to convince me as I believe older ladies are as attractive as young girls. That is why the ladies in my romances are mature women.

Large Breasts

Other than a couple of writing colleagues, the only lady I chat with abroad is my friend Marge in Alberta, Canada. Marge and I have been friends online for over a decade now. I used to chat with her sister Patty until she had her 50th birthday several years ago, then Patty went cold, and we lost touch.

I had to laugh some years ago when I was approached by a young girl online who wished to be my Facebook friend. She thought that being young, colored and showing her large breasts was going to impress me. It did; it turned me off.

Scams

Most of the girls work from Lagos, Nigeria. Interpol knows where to look; this area is infamous for scammers; one ploy they used to use is called the Lagos Scam for obvious reasons. A girl will ask you to deposit £1,000 into an account, on the promise that you’ll get £7,000 back in a month. Sounds too good to be true, rule 101 comes in to play here; “If something looks too good to be true, it usually is.” There is no bank to send the money back, and you lose your money.

A Rat

It isn’t only young girls who run scams. I exposed one three years ago run by a man called Bill Swallow; he said he would pay me $2,000 for a 2,000-word short story for his anthology. From the start, I smelled a rat. The going rate then was $200 for a story of that length, if you were fortunate to get paid, that is.

I sent him a story, and after weeks of being told the book was in the process of being published, his secretary told me they had never received my piece.

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Interview with Hank Quense https://angiesdiary.com/artist-spotlight/interview-with-hank-quense/ https://angiesdiary.com/artist-spotlight/interview-with-hank-quense/#comments Sat, 05 Sep 2020 06:49:50 +0000 https://angiesdiary.com/?p=76946 Hank Quense

Hank Quense

Hank Quense

In this interview: After 20 years of writing fiction and 12 years of self-publishing, Hank Quense shares what he has learned.

Tell us about your background. Who you are and from where you are.

I write satirical fantasy and sci-fi stories. I live with my wife, Pat, in northern New Jersey, a mere 20 miles from Manhattan, the center of the galaxy (according to those who live in Manhattan). We have two daughters and five grandchildren, all of whom live nearby. For vacations, we usually visit distant parts of the galaxy. Occasionally, we also time-travel when I'm researching a novel.
For non-fiction, I write about fiction writing, self-publishing, and book marketing. I also lecture on these topics in schools, libraries, and webinars.

Tell us about your latest work and what inspired you.

My previous book, How to Self-publish and Market a Book, was unique in that it integrated publishing and marketing into a unified project. However, I realize many authors aren't interested in the publishing part but need assistance with the marketing tasks. So, I write Book Marketing Fundamentals to help these authors.

It targets three groups of authors:

  1. Authors who have a publisher but now have to market the book.
  2. Authors who self-published a book and need help with marketing.
  3. Authors who plan to self-publish a book but need to know more about book marketing.

What themes does your book explore, and what do you hope the readers will take away from this interview?

My latest book Book Marketing Fundamentals, will be available on October 1. The central theme is that no one buys a book of which they never heard. Hence, the need for marketing: to tell the world about the book. For most authors, marketing is a vague concept that is slightly repellent. My book explains the marketing concepts and defines the tasks so the author can understand what they are doing. I also explain how to accomplish the task, something that is missing from many marketing books.

My hope is that the authors who read the book will experience a degree of confidence that they can indeed market their book. A second objective is the authors will understand the financial danger they face from all the scam artists who proliferate the web searching for authors who are struggling with book marketing.

What prompted you to be an author, and were you influenced by a particular person, artist, or genre?

At the time of my 50th birthday, I was a sales manager for a large corporation with an office in mid-town Manhattan. I started thinking about a second career and decided on fiction writing. I began writing stories during my morning commute. When the corporation came out with a lucrative retirement offer, I took the money and ran.

Early on, I was strongly influenced by two authors: Douglas Adams and his Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and Joseph Heller's Catch-22. Happily, I never quite recovered from those experiences.

I belong to a few writing groups — one a physical group, the other a virtual one — and I've noticed that the newer and the inexperienced members struggle with creating fiction and also with the concept of self-publishing. Since I have been writing and publishing for more than 20 years, I decided to start writing non-fiction to share my expertise with other writers and first-time self-publishing authors. I also started lecturing on the same topics.

If you could compare your book to any other existing works, which ones would they be and why?

Most marketing books that I have read are vague about exactly how to go about accomplishing a task. My book goes into detail on the "how" part. Three groups of authors are the target audiences for the book. Well, the marketing needs of each group are different. Most marketing books assume a one-size-fits-all approach. My book identifies which tasks apply to each group. I think these differences and the "how" details make it unique.

How can your readers contact you? Or buy your books?

Find Hank Quense on:
Website - Facebook - Twitter - Angie's

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Sons in the Clouds https://angiesdiary.com/story/sons-in-the-clouds/ https://angiesdiary.com/story/sons-in-the-clouds/#respond Wed, 02 Sep 2020 07:42:54 +0000 https://angiesdiary.com/?p=31571 Sons in the Clouds

Sons in the Clouds

Sons in the Clouds

Sons in the Clouds: Most have experienced it: staying with the same person no matter how bad and unhealthy a relationship becomes, hoping against the odds that things will eventually get better, allowing love to prevail.

Some look to God, wish upon a star, or seek out and counsel with every psychologist around to heal the broken seams, replace bad with good, take another drink of love potion which brought bodies together in the first place, and inflame the sparks both felt when first meeting. But realistically, sometimes the right thing to do is walk away early on before you wake up one morning, aged, staring in the mirror, wearing nothing but tattered scars both inside and out.

In my novel, Sons in the Clouds, I created two male protagonists. One was very fortunate at an early age to meet the woman of his dreams. They shared a special love and bond which stood the test of time no matter what. They loved, played, respected, trusted, and were completely devoted to each other. They were inseparable from their first moments, and the chemistry between them was filled with those rare, indescribable ingredients we all dream of experiencing. The other fell hard for the wrong woman.

She secretly lied and stole a great piece of his heart when all he wanted was to be the best man he could be to her. For a long time, he wanted to have faith in the relationship. He clung to the idea of her, the dream of sailing off into the sunset hand-in-hand and arm-in-arm while just knowing inside that she was the one. He loved her deeply, but her love wasn’t exactly on the same page as his. Later, and after much time had swept by, the truth of who she really was finally became known.

Reluctantly and painfully he walked away, taking his battered heart and learning to eventually let it go, freeing himself to find the right partner and share a mutual love. It was hard for him because he wanted to trust in her so badly; that she was the answer to his eternal happiness. Fortunately for him, the signs from God finally slapped him in the face, forcing him to place her in his back window. He became a much better man for it and used the mistakes of his past to apply towards the future. In a way he was lucky, he was still a very young man with a full road ahead. But for many in normal life, the emotional boundaries are extremely hard to break.

Sons-in-the-CloudsHow many times has this happened to us all? A girlfriend, boyfriend, husband or wife enter our lives and spin us out of control, only to dismantle us piece by piece and steal a part of who we are. We let them get away with it because we want to believe so badly that they’re the one. We can’t let go because whatever it was which drew us in has some certain irresistible grip not easily shaken away.

Sometimes months, even years go by before seeing the light and summoning the courage to open the door and run to the other side. By then, the scars are oftentimes running deep, zapping our energy, taking much time to heal. We knew better, and secretly felt inside it would definitely end one day. The omnipresent signs were everywhere: lack of trust, respect, communication, lingering grudges, sometimes infidelity. Yet, letting go of love is never an easy battle to win because everyone wants it so badly. And like flakes of gold found deep inside mountains of earth, true love is the ultimate in human discovery.

I’ve known many who’ve stayed in relationships for long periods of time which weren’t healthy. They have their reasons, and it’s certainly their right to do so. And I’m not immune, believe me. So, why do so many do it? The biggest reason that I can see is we, as human beings, love a challenge and don’t want to lose at anything, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. And then there is the investment in time we hate seeing wasted. The agonizing starting over with someone new, dragging ourselves back into that crazy dating scene, and the exhaustive tasks of sorting through the faces before discovering that certain spark once again. Besides food and water, sex and love are human beings' basic needs. Kind of places it all into perspective, no?

Falling for the wrong person is a mistake everyone makes sooner or later. It’s simply a part of life until you find your true soul mate, and even then, the road will never be completely paved with gold. Relationships are always an open textbook devoted to teaching you what you want, a test of fate, a learning experience growing into the couple God has planned. Many are lucky and find the true one right off the bat. For others, trial and error come before moving in the right direction.

I hope, for you, your dreams of love come early.

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The Casey Anthony Murder Trial https://angiesdiary.com/review/intro-the-casey-anthony-murder-trial/ https://angiesdiary.com/review/intro-the-casey-anthony-murder-trial/#comments Fri, 27 Dec 2019 15:31:08 +0000 https://angiesdiary.com/?p=31955 Casey Anthony

Casey Anthony

Casey Anthony

From sidebars to sideshows, this is "The Casey Anthony Murder Trial.” The entire trial history preserved in one book was written by mother-daughter writers Claudette Walker & Matrix Filia.

The book is a comprehensive look at the media, judge, jury, defendant, lawyers, witnesses, and evidence, written with eyes wide open. This is what most people never see: the events that occur during a murder trial.

With all the elements of an American tragedy, complete with the elevation of the mother to celebrity status, Casey Anthony stood accused of murdering her two-year-old daughter.

[caption id="attachment_31957" align="alignright" width="300"]The Casey Anthony Murder Trial Complete trial history is shown in real-time by authors Claudette Walker & Matrix Filia[/caption]

Caylee was last seen with her mother, and the toddler’s disappearance went unreported for 31 days. A massive worldwide search ensued before the discovery of Caylee’s remains in a murky Florida swamp six months later.

In the trial, both the lawyers and witnesses seemed to cross the lines between fact and fiction during this spectacle of horrors.

The media covered the arrest of the mother, and for the first time, an American jury selection was televised live, from our home in Pinellas County, Florida.

From jury selection to sentencing, this is a comprehensive interpretation of a first-degree murder trial and our American justice system, for good or bad.

This is not a storybook, but the story of this trial, done in real-time, including the observations and opinions of the two writers as the trial was ongoing.

We know this trial. The book examines the murder of Caylee, the trial of her mother, and takes a hard look at the judicial system. This trial and the acquittal of her mother for the murder have resulted in strong opinions, from an agreement with the verdict to venomous hatred of all involved in the case.

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Interview with Paula Boer https://angiesdiary.com/artist-spotlight/interview-with-paula-boer/ https://angiesdiary.com/artist-spotlight/interview-with-paula-boer/#respond Sun, 27 Oct 2019 12:51:59 +0000 https://angiesdiary.com/?p=74804 Paula Boer with her latest Book The Equinora Chronicles

Paula Boer with her latest Book The Equinora Chronicles

[caption id="attachment_74809" align="alignnone" width="850"]Paula Boer with her latest Book The Equinora Chronicles Paula Boer with Book 1 of The Equinora Chronicles - The Bloodwolf War[/caption]

Bart's Interview with Paula Boer.

Paula Boer lives on 500 acres of forest in the high country of Australia. She loves all types of creatures, from spiders and snakes to horses and dogs.

Unicorns and dragons feature in her fantasy novels as well as presiding in her library at home. She has traveled in over 60 countries on 6 continents, with only Antarctica to go!

Paula has many short stories about animals published, plus seven novels. She regularly writes for horse magazines, is a submissions reader for Aurealis Magazine, and a judge for the Aurealis Awards.

What got you into writing, and what do you enjoy most about it?

I loved writing stories as a child, and the English Language was my favourite subject at school, but when I left at age 15, there was little time for writing. I worked first as a farmhand, then due to a back injury, undertook a three-month course in COBOL programming with the hope of one day owning a farm.

Twenty years later, and having traveled the world with my computing work, my husband and I had a ‘tree-change’ and ended up working on cattle stations in Far North Queensland. At the end of each workday there was little to do, (no TV, internet, libraries or shops within a 5-hour drive) so I turned my hand to writing—a manuscript that will never see the light of day!

But from then I was hooked. When we moved to Tasmania to care for my mother-in-law, I attended a novel-writing workshop. My fictional memoir, The Okapi Promise, was about my travels in Africa in 1990. I was very fortunate for that to be picked up by an Australian publisher, IFWG, when they were starting and looking for new authors. I have been with them ever since.

What I most enjoy about writing is the ability to leave the real world behind and immerse myself in make-believe worlds with characters of my choosing.

Which writer influenced you the most?

My tutor, Robyn Friend, has to be the writer who influenced me the most in the early stages of being a writer. However, I really admire Barbara Kingsolver’s lyrical descriptions and aspire to use metaphor as successfully as she does. For my fantasy novels, I would love to have the skills to create epic novels such as those written by Robin Hobb and Kate Elliott.

What turns a good story into a great one?

There are many elements that a writer needs to consider when ensuring a reader keeps turning the pages. These days, an early inciting incident is required (no longer the ‘once upon a time’ setups of stories in my youth). Characters that readers care about are essential, which means giving flaws to your heroes and good points to the villains, else they are not believable. Which brings me to probably the most essential point—readers must be prepared to suspend disbelief, at your worldbuilding, at your characters’ superpowers, at your cultural system, and so on. It’s no good solving a challenge by suddenly producing a magic sword when there has been no mention of magic or swords, to that point.

How do you balance your schedules and artistic goals with everyday life?

Easy! I retired! Well, not that easy, as I am looking after 500 acres on my own since my husband died last year. I find I write best after a walk, so take my dog around the property after I fed all the animals. I am best at new writing in the mornings and tend to edit in the afternoons. Weekends are for house and farm chores. I only go to town once a week, so I do have plenty of time to write. Procrastination is always a problem, which means I have never had such clean windows in my life (!), but I aim to write 1,000 words a day when I am doing the first draft.

What do you aim to evoke in the readers of your books?

Primarily enjoyment. I want readers wholly immersed in my world, and want to get back to the characters as soon as possible if they have to put the book down. At a subliminal level, I also wish to create empathy and drive, especially in young people, for them to help restore the balance of humans and animals. That is why I now have animals as main characters and humans secondary.

Please tell us about your latest work, what inspired you to write it, and the research involved.

The Equinora Chronicles is a fantasy trilogy set in a horse world. The first book, The Bloodwolf War, is officially due for publication on 15th November 2019, but pre-orders are available. I was inspired to write the trilogy as I had completed my Brumbies series of 5 books for middle-grade readers about wild horses in the Snowy Mountains going to be captured for pet food. I wanted those readers to move up to more horse books in an older age group. Equinora is classified as 'Young Adult' but is suitable for all readers aged 14+.

As far as research is concerned, I spent a lot of time studying the flora, fauna, and geography of Canada, where I grew up. The setting of the first book is a made-up region similar to the Rocky Mountains of British Colombia. The second book crosses to the plains of Alberta, and the final is located in a region similar to Algonquin Lakes in Ontario. I also did a lot of research for each book as to how to solve the challenge, but I can’t tell you more about that without giving the stories away!

Can you give us a story outline of your book?

Equinora, the world where horses live in harmony with people, is in trouble. The six unicorn guardians created by the Goddess have abandoned their roles and vicious bloodwolves rampage across the land, massacring the herds and villagers.

Fleet, a young stallion without a territory, dreams of galloping with other horses and building a herd of his own. But an attack by a bloodwolf leaves him poisoned and alone. Driven by despair and a promise to fulfill his dying dam’s vision, Fleet sets out to discover how to vanquish the bloodwolves. The only help the renegade unicorns provide is to insist Fleet follow a prophecy to confront the villainous Shadow, an equine so powerful that the Goddess imprisoned him to prevent him from destroying her realm.

Accompanied by Yuma, a young man desperate to escape his destiny, and Tatuk, a tiny dragon. Fleet seeks Shadow and a cure for the bloodwolf poison. But even as he begins to fear the selfish unicorns have sent him to his death, he discovers a secret that might mean he has a chance to save all horses and people from annihilation.

What was the most challenging part of writing this particular book?

Keeping the word count down. I loved the story so much, I could have made it into epic fantasy, but with the target audience as Young Adult, I had to restrict the length to under 90,000 words.

Can you tell us about how you had your book edited, published, and its cover-art created?

I was very fortunate that being an existing author for IFWG. I was able to submit to them at any time. Once I had completed the trilogy, I sent the chief editor the first manuscript. He came back with an offer of a contract for all three, without even reading the other two. Dreams can come true!

From there, IFWG handled all the production for the e-book and paperback. I worked with a very experienced editor who was a real delight, and had to make only a few minor changes in addition to accepting his useful suggestions. I was involved in the cover art creation by providing ideas, sending in my character definitions and images, and reviewing drafts. But IFWG handled the actual process.

What made you ultimately decide between self-publishing and conventional publishing? And will you use the same procedure for your next publication?

Having been with IFWG for all my novels (7 in print and 2 more under contract) plus 2 chap e-books, I have no intention of self-publishing at this stage. IFWG treats its authors as family, and it is one I am proud to be part of.

Find Paula on:
Facebook PrivateFacebook Page - Website - Brumbies Website

 

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Crucial Steps for Single Mothers to Eliminate Debt https://angiesdiary.com/economy/crucial-steps-for-single-mothers-to-eliminate-debt/ https://angiesdiary.com/economy/crucial-steps-for-single-mothers-to-eliminate-debt/#respond Wed, 23 Oct 2019 11:39:34 +0000 https://angiesdiary.com/?p=74693 Single Mothers

Single Mothers

Single Mothers

Single mothers are far more likely as compared to two-parent couples to encounter lower credit scores, debts, and even bankruptcy.

As per the reports presented by theNational Bureau of Economic Research,’ single-mothers households are most likely to encounter poverty. Women generally run roughly 85% of the single-parent households, and around 42% of these single-parent households seemed to live in poverty.

Single mothers are forever grappling with debts and juggling multiple bills and outstanding payments such as utility bills, housing payments, childcare, and clothing.

Single moms are perpetually engaged in a struggle to evade bankruptcy declaration and recover or boost credit scores. If you are running the show as a single mom, remember you are doing a good job and that you are not the only one with such issues.

As per data from the U.S. Federal Reserve, American households have $15,863 on average, in terms of credit card debt and $33,090 in terms of student loans. Moreover, we understand as per reports published by the ‘Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’ that 53% of all credit bureau filings seem to be for medical debt.

As per Forbes, if you are neck-deep in overwhelming debts, remember you are certainly not a weirdo, or something is abnormal about you. Numerous others are in a similar situation as you are in; however, you must not use this fact as an excuse for lazing around and not trying your best to pay off all your existing debts.

Debt Relief

If you are enduringly living each day thinking about ways to eliminate your debts, then the money that you are earning every month is never going to be yours. You seem to be permanently enslaved to your outstanding debts. This must be adversely impacting your mental health, peace of mind, career choices, and relationships. Single moms must never forget that there are several tried and tested techniques of eliminating your debts and lots of tech and analog resources to assist you.

Never Ignore Your Debt

The worst mistake that you could ever make is to ignore and undermine your debts. Your collection calls may have ceased, and you may have moved. That does not imply that you are entirely free from your debts. Remember, your debt records would be following you wherever you go. Just because you have opted for debt consolidation, that does not automatically mean that you have eliminated all your debts. You must take your debt issue rather seriously since you could fall in major trouble, and you may have to go through wage garnishments and many such undesirable consequences and legal actions. In the event you are keen on managing your debt and rebuilding your credit, you must analyze all your debt issues rationally and calmly. Try looking for effective debt relief solutions by tapping professional assistance from experts at NationaldebtRelief.com

Obtain Your Credit Score For Free

You must know your credit score at all times. It is a good idea to ask for your credit report from any of the authorized and authentic credit reporting agencies including the top 3 national credit bureaus such as Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion that are known to be competing with each other for capturing, updating, and storing credit histories on the majority of American consumers.

You Need To Be Organized

Single mothers must approach debts with a heavy hand. You must create a comprehensive list of all your outstanding debts, including clearly specified rates of interest, deadlines, and monthly minimum payments. You could use the monthly goals feature of Personal Capital. Use smart and cutting-edge digital tools and apps for staying organized and up-to-date. Consider using Tiller, which is a popular budgeting tool. You must seriously consider getting rid of any additional spending, and focus on lowering your overhead. You must constantly remind yourself that you are in this financial mess simply because of your habit of careless spending and overspending. Keep imagining how awesome it would feel to lead a debt-free existence.

Look Out for Credit Cards with Lower Interest Rates

Depending on your current credit score and credit history, you could get credit cards that offer a lower interest rate. Your credit score is often important for being eligible for certain lower interest credit card loans. You must, first of all, examine if you are eligible for a Zero percent balance transfer. This is undoubtedly an effective way of paying off your outstanding debts and saving a substantial amount in terms of interests.

This would work fine, provided you are well-organized. Carefully read the fine print and pay all the premiums promptly and on time. You must focus on either paying off the balance or transferring the balance before the promotion period comes to an end. You need to be truthful about your capacity and skills. If you are not adept at this sort of bookkeeping, you may opt for something else.

Opt For Debt Consolidation

Consider combining your multiple existing debts into a single bigger debt, generally, with a relatively lower rate of interest and a single monthly payment. Private Banks and many other agencies offer effective debt consolidation. If you have a robust credit score, you could find it quite easy to obtain a debt consolidation. You could make good savings by opting for debt consolidation.

Make the Right Decision: Choose Between Debt Snowball & Debt Avalanche

You could pay off your debts either by debt snowball method or debt avalanche method.

Debt Avalanche: You start by paying off your accounts, having the highest rate of interest first. The biggest advantage of the debt avalanche method is that you end up saving substantial money by eliminating high-interest rates one by one.

Debt Snowball: In this method, you would be concentrating on paying off your loans with the lowest balances initially. The major advantage seems to be the fact that you encounter a major emotional and psychological ecstasy and thrill of effectively paying off all your accounts quickly from smallest to biggest.

Conclusion

You must seek professional assistance if you are stressed out because of overpowering debts. If you are failing to get out of the debt trap, you must talk to debt specialists at reputed debt relief organizations or get in touch with qualified credit counselors who could assist you by chalking out an appropriate debt repayment plan for you.

Moreover, single mothers must keep track of their credit reports and credit score. You must examine your credit report meticulously. Whenever you identify any errors present in your credit report, you must take proactive steps to rectify them.

If you follow the tips discussed above, you could get rid of your debts. You could rejoice once you are free from debts. However, do not get back to overspending. Instead, focus on saving and try to achieve your financial goals and aspirations seriously. Strictly follow a budget and keep track of your credit score.

The post Crucial Steps for Single Mothers to Eliminate Debt appeared first on Angie's Diary.

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