Linda Evans: Victorious Living for Women

Using Pitchrate.com to Maximize your Publicity

By L. Drew Gerber



PitchRate.com, which connects journalists with expert sources, is getting more traffic than ever these days as more reporters discover the free service.



Less than 10 months after we launched it in February, PitchRate.com passed a major milestone with more than 100 active requests from journalists on the site.



"There is now a request at PitchRate for almost anyone to pitch," says Shannon Nicholson, vice-president of sales for Blue Kangaroo, Inc., our web products company.



At the same time, our new Publicity Results Web site has been drawing massive traffic since we launched it Oct. 20 as the products site for our PR firm, Wasabi Publicity, Inc. We have been getting great feedback from people on sharing the pitch that landed one of our clients an appearance on Dr. Phil just eight hours after she signed up. (You can find out about it at: http://www.PublicityResults.com/PerfectPitch.)



In addition to publicizing or products, the new site will be a place where you can find the goods on getting free publicity. And when it comes to getting great free publicity and being a media expert, all cursors point to PitchRate.com (http://www.PitchRate.com).



Not only is it free for both journalists and sources, but PitchRate is the only service that rates the expertise of sources based on reporters' reviews from previous interviews and other criteria. Here's how it works:



When preparing for a story, print journalists and broadcast producers use PitchRate to make a request for experts or firsthand sources they can interview. PitchRate.com sends these queries out each day in emails to our experts who can then pitch the journalists on their area of interest. It costs nothing to sign up as an expert.



As PitchRate.com becomes more and more active, this is a good time to discuss how to use the site to maximize opportunities for free PR. This was the topic of an email I recently received from Shel Horowitz, author and entrepreneur (you can find him on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/l/;frugalmarketing.com and http://www.facebook.com/l/;shelhorowitz.com).



"I've been on PitchRate every now and then, but have never figured out how best to use it," Shel wrote. "If you were me, what would be the first two or three things you'd do on PitchRate?"



My answers are to follow these tips:



■Step 1: Your PitchRate profile is attached to every pitch you make. Therefore, in order to make the best use of the resource, you need to make sure your profile will grab the media's attention. The cornerstone of your profile is your bio, so make sure it's interesting and creative. Writing your own bio can be a daunting task, and Joan Stewart offers some great advice about how to do it right on her blog, The Publicity Hound (http://publicityhound.net/ ). In your profile, you should also include links to your Web site and any other relevant documents for journalists, such as photos or press releases.
■Step 2. Search PitchRate.com for journalist requests that match your area of expertise and make a great pitch. You can do this by either scanning the daily emails sent to your in-box or logging in to your account and searching the Web site. Both are updated daily with the most recent journalist requests.


■Step 3. Prepare to meet the media. We offer an array of resources including PR Happy Hours, teleseminars and videos to help you prepare to put your best foot forward when the media calls. You can find these at http://www.PublicityResults.com.

PitchRate.com is great resource, but using it to generate PR isn't a passive process. You get out of it what you put in. By taking these three steps when starting out, you're setting yourself up for success.



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About the Author:



L. Drew Gerber is CEO of Blue Kangaroo, Inc. and the creator of PitchRate.com (http://www.PitchRate.com), a no-charge media tool that moves the best interviews to the front of the line for journalists and producers. Gerber's business practices and staffing innovations have been revered by PR Week, Good Morning America and the Christian Science Monitor. His companies handle international PR campaigns and his staff develops online press kits for authors, speakers and companies with PressKit 24/7 (http://www.PressKit247.com), a technology he developed. Contact Gerber at: drew@publicityresults.com or 828-749-3182. For more great free publicity advice, visit: http://www.PublicityResults.com.

Tiffany Easley: Victorious Living for Women

Six Steps for Getting National Media Coverage

By L. Drew Gerber



Getting national media coverage in top print, broadcast or online media can boost your business in ways it is hard to imagine.

A single placement in a glossy national magazine is worth tens of thousands of dollars, sometimes a lot more, and not just in the value of ad space in the publication. Getting covered by national media lends a level of credibility, prestige and buzz that money cannot buy.

At Wasabi Publicity Inc., we sent out a pitch that landed author Dr. Jill Murray on Dr. Phil's TV show less than eight hours after she had signed up as a client. Within one week, that same pitch also got her coverage with CNN Weekend News, Issues with Jane Velez Mitchell, 20/20, syndicated radio shows, and several magazine articles. Sales rankings of Dr. Jill's newest book But He Never Hit Me shot up to number 16 on Amazon.com and number 23 on Barnes & Noble within hours of her Dr. Phil appearance (see the exact pitch at http://www.publicityresults.com).

Despite the enormous value of national publicity, many business owners and entrepreneurs don't understand how to go about attracting the media's attention. It's not complicated if you follow six basic steps:

Brand your message. Be crystal clear about who you are, what makes you unique and why the media should care. Assure you have a consistent message by having all your press materials ready before the press calls. A great way to do this is to get an online press kit. We created a technology called PressKit 24/7 (http://www.presskit247.com) which allows people to create press kits simply and easily without any special technical knowledge. More than 90 percent of journalists prefer to get their information from the Web. Having an online press kit is crucial to giving them the facts they need to cover you, your product, service or business.

Develop your pitch. Pretend you are in an elevator with Oprah and have 30 seconds to tell her why she should have you on her show. Your pitch should be concise, reflect your passion and stress what makes you unique. As PR professionals we have found that short pitches are often more effective for getting the media's attention than long press releases.

Find the media: The Internet provides countless ways to research media that may be interested in you. Pitchrate.com (http://www.pitchrate.com) is a free service we created to connect media and sources. You can also research media list sites such as http://www.usnpl.com. Watch your favorite show and find out the producer's name from the credits, or read your favorite newspapers and magazines to find out who covers your topic area. When you contact reporters, compliment their work to let them know you have taken the time to research.

Respond immediately. When the media calls or emails expressing interest in covering you, respond immediately. Reporters usually work on very tight deadlines, so the sources that respond fastest with the most concise and useful information are most likely to get covered.

Be prepared. Thoroughly prepare for your interview. Decide what you want to say and practice saying it in short, concise sound bites. This is where professional media coaching can be valuable, since many people have had little experience in front of cameras and microphones.

Keep it simple. Try practicing what you plan to say in front of an 8-year-old. Really! If you do this and the child can repeat back to you what you have said, you know that you're communicating in a way that's easy to understand.

So remember: brand your message, hone your pitch, find your media and give them what they need to make interviewing you interesting and rewarding. That brings us to a final piece of most important advice: Focus on what the reporter needs and how you can provide content that is useful to the audience, rather than hard-selling yourself or your product. Remember, you are getting great publicity for free, and pay it forward!



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About the Author:



L. Drew Gerber is CEO of Blue Kangaroo, Inc. and the creator of PitchRate.com (http://www.PitchRate.com), a no-charge media tool that moves the best interviews to the front of the line for journalists and producers. Gerber's business practices and staffing innovations have been revered by PR Week, Good Morning America and the Christian Science Monitor. His companies handle international PR campaigns and his staff develops online press kits for authors, speakers and companies with PressKit 24/7 (http://www.PressKit247.com), a technology he developed. Contact Gerber at: drew@publicityresults.com or 828-749-3182. For more great free publicity advice, visit: http://www.PublicityResults.com.

Joann Smith: Victorious Living for Women

Getting Into Bookstores

Penny C. Sansevieri

Let's face it, regardless of the odds we authors still want to get into bookstores. But if you've been having a hard time with this, take heart. It's getting harder and harder to get into stores but not impossible. We're going to look at some of the possibilities here.

First, it's important to understand the pressure stores are under right now. With the increased focus on publishers to get their authors out there, bookstores are being given most of their marching orders by their corporate office. Bookstore shelf space is bought and paid for by the New York publishers, making getting on the shelves or display racks a bit tricky, if not impossible. So here's a game plan for those of you trying to survive outside of the traditional market.

1) Get to know your local store. I know this might sound obvious, but you'd be surprised how many authors don't really know the people in their local store. The thing is, if you know them, they know you - and when you're ready to promote your book they might be more open to having you in their store if you have taken the time to get to know them.

2) Start to follow the types of events they do at the store. Get an events calendar or get on their email list. You'll start to see trends emerge. For example, they might have an independent author night you could participate in. Also be cautious for big releases like the recent Stephenie Meyer events many stores had planned. If you are trying to capture the attention of a store when they're in the middle of a major book launch, you're likely to get ignored.

3) Buy a book. Don't just wander the store trying to make friends: shop there. Support your local stores regardless of whether they are a chain or independent. You'd be surprised what a difference this makes when you're trying to get to know the folks who could book you for an event.

4) Book signings are boring, offer to do an event instead. Events are a draw, book signings aren't unless you're a celebrity. Plan to do a talk, educate, entertain, or enlighten. This will be a more attractive pitch to the bookstore and will draw more people to your talk.

5) Get to know the local authors in your area and then offer to plan events for them. Here's how this works: Bookstores are inundated with local authors asking for a time slot, but what if you went to the bookstore manager and said that you'd be willing to coordinate a once a month event featuring all the local authors. The bookstore could just refer all local Independently published authors to you, you could coordinate this, and guess what? Not only are you helping the store but guess who's getting a monthly showcase in their store? You. You can do this with more than one store if you have the time, but keep in mind that with cut backs often one store manager will oversee a few locations so you might only have to go through one person.

6) If they won't let you coordinate a monthly event, suggest that they have an Independent author night if they haven't already started this. If they have an Independent author night you should definitely participate, it's a great way to gain exposure, not to mention network with some local people.

7) Try as best you can to funnel everyone to one store to purchase your book. If you're having a tough time getting shelf space (and aren't we all), funneling folks to one store might prompt that store to keep a few copies of your book on hand. Whenever you do local speaking or media, let them know by name and address where they can get your book. Stores have been known to take in books that they're getting lots of requests for, regardless of how they are published, so if you're sending people to one store instead of fragmenting them to a bunch of different ones you could start building an ongoing interest in reorders.

Getting into bookstores isn't impossible, but it does require a dash of creativity. Keep in mind that if bookstores aren't receptive after you've tried the tips in this article then maybe you're sitting in a tight market. Areas like Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago might be tough areas to get noticed because these are often the first stops traditional publishers seek when planning author tours.

If you're near those areas, try looking outside of the city for alternatives that are often overlooked by New York. If that doesn't work for you then consider non-bookstore events. Over the years we've planned events for our authors in all sorts of non-bookstore venues such as: video stores, electronics stores, gyms, even grocery stores - so if events are your focus, keep an open mind and remember: often the biggest piece of getting an event in bookstores are the relationships you build with them.



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Penny C. Sansevieri, CEO and founder of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a book marketing and media relations expert whose company has developed some of the most cutting-edge book marketing campaigns. Visit AME

A Love Potion for Media Attraction

By Michelle Tennant

I've worked at building relationships with the media for more than 20 years and over that time I've come to realize there are no shortcuts. What works with journalists are the same basic rules we all learned in kindergarten.

To open the media floodgates and become a sought-after expert, follow those same rules for building relationships. Here are a few simple tips to get you started:

■Make media friends — One of the best places to connect with reporters seeking interviews is PitchRate.com (http://www.pitchrate.com). Go there to sign up as a source in your area of expertise.

■Know what you're talking about — Pitch responses that relate to your area of expertise. You'd think this was obvious, but it bears repeating. Stick close to home when pitching and your credibility will shine through.

■Early bird gets the worm — When the media contacts you, get back to them ASAP! Make it a high priority and never take more than 24 hours. Even on weekends.

■Pay attention — To be a great interview, you need to be a great listener. When talking to journalists, listen closely to what they're saying and what they're asking. Don't force your agenda. Allow things to develop organically.

■Be helpful — Send journalists articles, stats and research to help them with their story. You're the expert and you've done a lot of research in your field. Share relevant information and help your interviewer shine and you'll ensure that you'll get callbacks!

Keeping the Love Alive

Once your "Love Potion" has taken effect — that is, once you have a journalist's attention — here are a few tips on how to keep it:

· Get to the point — Keep it simple. When talking to the media, it's time to break out your "elevator pitch" – that one to two minute snappy description of what you do and why it's newsworthy right now. Stay on message and keep it simple. K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Silly) will win the day!

· Make it easy to contact you — If you're hard to reach or you're slow to respond, the media will just go to the next person on their list. Here's a simple trick I swear by: Use a landline while talking to media. We all know how frustrating static and dropped calls can be. Being a clear voice on the phone can take you farther than you think.

· Give them what they want when they want it — Journalists are under tight deadlines. Make their job easier and you're sure to get repeat PR. If you're difficult to work with, you won't be contacted again.

· Be amazing in your interview, so you'll be sought out again and again. Two tricks to being amazing: 1. Do your homework — Have your pitch prepared, know the points you want to make and stay on message! 2. Listen carefully to find out what the journalist is asking you. Not sure? Ask them directly what more you can do to help them with their story. The more positive the interaction, the more the journalist will want to work with you again.

This leads to my last point, the one that will help you in the future as well as now. Build a relationship. Be concerned about the journalist's needs, not yours. As budgets get cut and news outlets struggle, journalists' jobs are becoming more and more stressful. Be a resource for them. Filter out relevant information and supply them with additional resources. Make their jobs easier and you will become their go-to contact in your field. That's priceless.

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About the Author:

Wasabi Publicity co-owner, Michelle Tennant Nicholson, specializes in breaking news, only takes on clients who make a difference, and has been called a five star publicist by Good Morning America producer, Mable Chan. In 2009, Michelle placed a new client on Dr. Phil within 8 hrs of contract signing. She blogs about PR at http://www.StorytellerToTheMedia.com. For more great free publicity advice, go to http://www.publicityresults.com.

Kathleen Moon on Why She Participated in Victorious Living for Women

7 Ways to Sell More Books at No or Low Cost

Phyllis Zimbler Miller

Your goal is to sell more books – and sell those books without spending a lot of money. Therefore, your number one goal is to make it easy for people to find you and say yes to you:

• Yes to buying your book
• Yes to reviewing your book
• Yes to having you on their radio show

To make it easy for people to find you and say yes to you – you must be where these people are. Where they can "meet" you, like you, and want to help you promote your book.

Here are seven good ways to do this:
1. Join social networking site Twitter.com and use Tweetbeep.com to alert you when people on Twitter talk about book marketing or their books.
If appropriate you can join in the conversation. Thus people on Twitter will start to pay attention to you as a book author.

2. Have a call-to-action book website (call-to-action to buy your book or books).
Share one or more chapters on your site. Let people get hooked enough to buy the book NOW. And, of course, have a BUY THIS BOOK NOW option on every page of the website.

3. Blog about your nonfiction book's topic or a related topic to your novel.
Many elements in a novel can spawn blog posts – from recipes of the book's locale to posts on the construction work your protagonist does to all kinds of things. If you're a novelist, you make up stories. Use your imagination to think of blog posts that connect to your novel. Showcase your writing and make an emotional connection with people who can buy your book.

4. Leave comments on other book authors' blog posts where appropriate to lead readers of similar books back to your own book blog or website.
If you choose wisely where to leave worthwhile comments, you'll be reaching fans of the type of book you've written. This is another way for people to learn about you and then find your online "home" where they can visit you.

5. Join LinkedIn and then search publishing groups and writing groups to join.
Get email notifications of the questions posted in those groups and answer those questions if you can add something of value. Extra tip: Try to be one of the first to answer. If several people answer before you do, your response may be buried too far down for most people to see it. Share your information with others, which will help attract people to you.

6. Consider which of the numerous book sites such as Goodreads.com and Shelfari.com fit your personality and time commitment schedule.
It's better not to spread yourself too thin over so many book sites that you can't be a real presence on any site. Choose one or two book sites and go deep (make connections). Engage in conversation about your book whenever it's appropriate as long as you share about other books too. People want to know what other books you like.

7. Join one or two other online communities whose mission has an affinity with your book.
If you write about a medical condition, join one or two sites focused on that condition. If you write graphic novels, join one or two sites focused on this type of fiction writing. Becoming known in the online community is important, followed by sharing of what you do and how this might interest the community's members.



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Phyllis Zimbler Miller is a National Internet Business Examiner at http://budurl.com/internetbusiness as well as a book author, and her company http://www.MillerMosaicLLC.com provides internet marketing information with easy-to-implement solutions to promote your brand, book or business.

Keep a Personal Touch Online

By L. Drew Gerber

Have you ever had someone tell you they were slammed with work, only to find their Facebook page full of frequent frivolous activity?

Or maybe you have been surprised by a rude, off-the-cuff remark on Twitter?

Social networking offers boundless potential for authors and writers to promote their works to a wide audience online. Just remember to avoid some common etiquette pitfalls.

Keeping a personalized touch makes all the difference. Let the Golden Rule govern your behavior online and treat people and situations as you would face to face:

Share — Provide valuable information that people can use. When I am networking online, I offer great content for free, whether it be seminars, newsletters or even articles that I find that would be interesting for the community.

Don't just promote yourself — Engage with people online just as you would if you were building a business relationship in person. If someone comes in and all they want to do is promote, promote, promote, that approach is likely to go nowhere.

Be polite — People have a tendency to say things online they would never say face to face. I have seen instances where people on Twitter have a personal beef or a problem with a person and tweet it out publicly. Don't say anything you would be embarrassed for your loved ones to read.

Don't lower yourself — With electronic communication, whether email or social networking, there is no way to read facial expressions or body language. If there is a question about a person's intentions, give them the benefit of the doubt rather than calling them out for being rude.

Be responsible — Not only for what you say, but for your time and your image. It will hurt your credibility if you tell people how busy you are and they see you taking those "Who am I?" and "5 Favorite" quizzes on Facebook everyday. When you are online you should assume everyone is watching and behave accordingly.

Don't butt in — If you are participating in an online discussion, let other people have a chance to share their ideas and perspectives. Wait your turn and you will get your chance.

Have fun and be creative — Think of ways you can share information about your article, book, writing service or yourself that are fun and make people want to follow you.

These tips work because social networking is all about building community. Just like in the community you live in offline, the people who have credibility online who are those who engage others and provide value for the community.

Interested in Branding Yourself

About the Author:

L. Drew Gerber is CEO of Blue Kangaroo, Inc. and creator of http://www.PitchRate.com, a no-charge media tool that moves the best interviews to the front of the line for journalists and producers. Gerber's business practices and staffing innovations have been revered by PR Week, Good Morning America and the Christian Science Monitor. His companies handle international PR campaigns and his staff develops online press kits for authors, speakers and companies with PressKit 24/7, a technology he developed (www.PressKit247.com). Contact L. Drew Gerber at: ldrewg@gmail.com or call him at 828-749-3182.

How to Have an Effective First Website

Phyllis Zimbler Miller

The saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" could be applied to the need for local businesses, book authors, or anyone with an idea or product for sale to have a website. Nowadays more and more people tend to first look up information on the web.

If you want your business, book or idea/product to stand out in the marketplace, you have to have an online place where potential customers can find you.
But the truth is, for people who have no website expertise, getting started having a website can be overwhelming:

· Which website designer/programmer to hire?

· How much will the project cost?

· How long with the project take?

· Does the website designer/programmer understand marketing principles?

· Will he/she make the website effective for online marketing campaigns?

· Will he/she make the website user-friendly?

While these questions can be paralyzing — it's easier to do nothing than to tackle these unknowns, you're risking losing your potential customers to local businesses, book authors, and others who do have an effective presence on the internet.

Where do you start?
First you need to get a domain name that effectively supports your business or project.
Make sure that you get one that is memorable, can be spelled easily, and is a .com (people try .com first if they're looking online for a specific website). If you get a domain name with .biz or .net, your online marketing efforts may send potential customers to your competition.

Second, you need to consider whether you want to capture the email addresses of people who come to your website and are interested in what you have to sell.
This "email opt-in box" can be a highly effective if you offer, in exchange for the person's email address, something for free that has perceived value. This can be a report or a discount coupon or something else that is related to the reason the people came to your site in the first place.

And, yes, the placement of an email opt-in box is important. If should definitely be "above the fold" — as high up on the home page as possible. And for maximum effect the box should be on every additional page. This way, if people decide on another page that they want to join your email list, they can do so without having to search for the email opt-in box.

The most important "real estate" of a website is the home page area first seen when a visitor comes to the site. This means that it is no longer considered effective to waste time with a cute flash intro that prevents a visitor from immediately getting to the heart of the site.

Another big negative is to waste real estate announcing in large letters "Welcome to my company site." The most important real estate should answer the question what you are offering in information or products that makes sticking around on your website worth it.

An additional website goal is creating a relationship with potential customers. Nowadays people want to know who is behind the site. Whose authority is being presented online? Thus home page pictures of company buildings are out; home page pictures of company personnel are in.

These are only some of the important elements that you should consider when starting your online presence.

While even these elements may seem overwhelming, if you find a website designer/programmer who understands marketing and is willing to be guided by your website goals, you can make these elements work for you without paying a bundle for your first website.

And once that website is up, you can move on to your next project: utilizing your website as part of an ongoing marketing campaign to attract more potential customers and to convert more potential customers into buyers. – P.Z.M.



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Phyllis Zimbler Miller is a National Internet Business Examiner at http://budurl.com/internetbusiness as well as a book author, and her company http://www.MillerMosaicLLC.com provides internet marketing information with easy-to-implement solutions to promote your brand, book or business.

Your Book Is Judged by Its Cover — 7 Tips for Effective Internet Book Selling

Phyllis Zimbler Miller

Books have always been judged by their covers. In a bookstore you look at the cover first, then turn over the book to read the back cover. Or maybe you next read the inside front and back flap covers of a hardcover book.

Now, though, many of us judge a book by first seeing it on the Internet — even if we ultimately buy the book in a bookstore using a 30% off coupon.

And on the Internet, especially on Amazon, the book cover is a tiny thing. And, yes, many books on Amazon have the LOOK INSIDE feature. Still, your book cover has nanoseconds to connect with a potential buyer before that person clicks away to another book.

Here are seven tips for a book cover that gets people interested in your book:

1. Decide on your book cover design by looking at it the exact size it will appear on Amazon. Yes. many books on Amazon have LOOK INSIDE. Still, your book cover has nanoseconds to convince someone to stay around and learn more.

2. Make sure your book cover clearly conveys what the book is about – is it a novel, a how-to book, a memoir? Yes, the title has the heavy lifting duty here, but our brains process pictures faster than words. Use the design cover to speak to our brains.

3. Make sure the title and your name can be clearly read against the cover art. Some books might, for example, use light blue type against a dark blue background. This is not the easiest to read, especially when reduced to a tiny photo.

4. Make sure the size of the title and your name are large enough to be read when reduced to a tiny photo. A great title does no good if it can't be read when reduced in size.

5. Choose simplicity over complexity. You want the eye to be drawn to the title and a photo that makes an impact on the brain. You don't want a cover with so many competing elements that the eye doesn't know where to look first — so the person simply clicks away rather than suffer the confusion.

6. Graphic artists are not necessarily the best people to hire to design your book cover. There are specialists in book cover design who know the additional details that should be considered when designing a book cover.

7. Make sure the cover doesn't mislead the potential buyer. No nude women on the cover of a how-to about growing roses in your garden. On the other hand, you don't necessarily have to have a rose on that book's cover. But the book's cover should have the look and feel that is complementary with the tone of the book.

Bonus tip: No matter how good the cover is, if your book is filled with grammatical errors, incorrect punctuation and spell-check errors (such as their for there), people will be disappointed with your book. If you're self-publishing, hire a professional copyeditor before you publish the book. Your reading public will thank you. – P.Z.M.



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Phyllis Zimbler Miller is a National Internet Business Examiner at http://budurl.com/internetbusiness as well as a book author, and her company http://www.MillerMosaicLLC.com provides internet marketing information with easy-to-implement solutions to promote your brand, book or business

Jacquie Lewis-Kemp: Victorious Living Despite the Odds

Annointed Authors on Tour

Anointed Authors on Tour consists of seven award-winning, bestselling authors of Christian fiction and non-fiction publications with a commitment to write and/or publish integrity-based literature, touring as a testament to the power of using gifts and talents for God's glory. Over the next two weeks, plan to meet Kendra Norman Bellamy, Tia McCollors, Vanessa Miller, Michelle Stimpson, Shewanda Riley, and Dr. Vivi Monroe Congress. Each of these authors have current and upcoming book releases that are must-reads for your summer reading list.

The ladies join us today on Worth More Than Rubies to talk about balancing writing and family.

How do you balance your writing time and family time?

KENDRA-NORMAN-BELLAMY: It's a juggling act sometimes. I try to give every aspect of my life the attention it deserves, but for sure, there have been times that I've missed the ball. Either I've neglected to give family members the attention they need because I'm so immersed in work, or I've neglected to give work the attention it needs because I'm so busy with family.

It's basically trial and error, and each writer probably has his/her unique technique for holding it all together so that it is conducive to their own situation. In the end, it's all just a matter of scheduling and prioritizing. But sometimes life makes it easier to make the schedule than to stick to it. I've been doing this for a few years now, so I've gotten the hang of it. After a while, it all becomes a lot more natural, and the routine becomes easier to follow. Balancing it all was a lot harder when my children were younger. Now that they are 19 and 16, and the older one is away at college, it's a lot less taxing to manage the demands of family and work.

TIA MCCOLLORS: Good question! I think my family actually balances my time for me because with such young children, I’m pulled more to tending to their needs first. I can have the best intentions of waking up and knocking out 5,000 words in a day, but never get to it. But when there’s a deadline looming over my head, I take both of my children to child care during the week and call in my hubby and mama for back up during the weekend.

VANESSA MILLER: Somehow I find away to juggle it all in together. I’m not sure if I do the best balance act or not. I just make myself turn off the computer and spend time with my family.
MICHELLE STIMPSON: I do most of my writing when everyone is asleep, so I don't think I'm missing out on too much. I do get off the computer between 4 - 7 p.m. to catch up with the kids and the hubby, get dinner and such.

DR. VIVI MONROE CONGRESS: With great difficulty (smile). But in all honesty, writing always comes in second to family.

SHEWANDA RILEY: Since I’m single with no children, I’m able to use as much of my free time as I want to write.

RECENT AND CURRENT BOOK RELEASES

• The Lyons Den by Kendra Norman-Bellamy
• The Last Woman Standing by Tia McCollors
• Through the Storm by Vanessa Miller
• Trouble in My Way by Michelle Stimpson
• Manna for Mamma: Wisdom for Women in the Wilderness by Dr. Vivi Monroe Congress
• Love Hangover: Moving From Pain to Purpose After a Relationship Ends by Shewanda Riley

Follow the rest of the Summer Reading with Anointed Authors Blog Tour at
http://bit.ly/SummerReadingwithAnointedAuthors.

Thelma Wells’ Ready to Win Blog Tour Interview

OPENING: I’m delighted to be here today to visit with you and your readers, and share about a topic that is dear to my heart.

Thelma, you have had a successful banking and corporate career. You’ve spoken all over the country and around the world, done a lot of radio interviews, had your own television show, and written a lot of books. Many of our readers will be familiar with you from the Women of Faith conferences. It seems you’ve “done it all.” So when you left Women of Faith in February 2008, what was it that you were leaving them to do?

Actually, I really did not fully understand what I was going to do. I was simply following the very clear instructions of God that it was time to go. I had a few speaking engagements on my calendar but certainly not enough to make ends meet. My total dependence was on God and waiting to see what He had in store for me.

Your new book, Don’t Give In…God Wants YOU to Win!, is based on a real life experience. Will you tell us a little of that story?

I was in elementary school when one of my friends told people she was going to beat me up. I could not understand why but it was real. After school for two days I faced a crowd hungry to see a fight and a girl who I thought was my friend hit me and frighten me to tears. One the second day of my fighting ordeal my great grandmother who raised me gave me some strong advice, “Thelma, the only way to deal with a bully is to fight them. You better fight her tomorrow and beat her up. If not, you’re going to get a whipping when you get home. That was the determining factor. My Granny who had taught me that ladies don’t fight had just reversed the instruction to “fight the bully.”

I did fight her the third day and hit her hard, so she ran home, not me. I learned that when we are faced with the bully, the adversary, the enemy of our souls, the devil himself, the only way to win is to fight him with all the ammunition we have, the Whole Armor of God.

This book is about spiritual warfare, demons, the Holy Spirit, and some pretty heavy-duty areas. Why write on this topic?

In this day and age when all around us seems to failing like our economic system, the government, relationships, health, self-worth, business and workplace situations, the church, wayward children, divorce and so much more, it is imperative that people have something sturdy and reliable to hold on to. Everyday we are fighting some kind of battle small, great or tremendous. When we don’t know how to fight against the disappoint, heartache, confusion, depression, and all the emotional and spiritual fall out from these issues, we become desperate, violent, vicious and vile. John 10:10 tells us that the thief comes to kill, steal and destroy us. But, Jesus has come to give us life and that life more abundantly than the feelings of no hope. This book teaches about the only hope we have and how to use that hope physically, emotionally and spiritually with a guarantee that we are winners when we do.

Will you share with us the chapter titles?
Introduction: Time for Questions
Chapter One: Know How to Fight, but Never Start One
Chapter Two: Fight or Flight?
Chapter Three: Breakdown for a Blessing
Chapter Four: Weeds in the Garden
Chapter Five: Thelma’s Untold Rituals
Chapter Six: The Dynamic Duo
Chapter Seven: The Battle Is Not Yours
Chapter Eight: Winning Weapons
Chapter Nine: Fix Your Hair!
Chapter Ten: Pad Your Bra!
Chapter Eleven: Tighten Your Girdle!
Chapter Twelve: Put On Your Stomping Shoes!
Something Extra: More Winning Weapons

You’ve been known as the BEE lady, but it seems you’re evolving into more than that? Where do you see your ministry heading in the future?

God has so many surprises for me that my heart is overflowing. I have a teaching and preaching anointing that has made my ministry one of integrity and worth. God is doing great things in my life and reinventing some vital things that will be seen by everybody in a few weeks. He has guaranteed me that the international travel I’ve done over the past thirty years, the seeds I’ve sown over my lifetime, the barriers and tough times I’ve overcome are about to pay off in many different ways. He has put Christian people in my life that have and are changing the course of my life in great and wonderful ways. I will be taking a group to Israel next November, on other Ready to Win tours throughout the world, working with World Vision in their child sponsorship program, presenting mini Ready To Win Conferences throughout the world, and whatever else the Lord assigns me to do.

Congratulations on your first Ready to Win Conference. We heard you had an awesome weekend in Garland, TX with a great group of speakers, musical artists, and attendees. Having done so many conferences in the past, why do another conference?

This is not just another conference. This Ready To Win Conference does not just excite people or create positive thinking, it gives everyone, saved and unsaved, the winning weapons to fight off all the wicked in this world. People are not only encouraged to win the war against the evil one, they are given easy to understand tools that they have reported are so vivid in their minds that they can apply every day in every situation. Coming together in a group and learning these tried and true skills is so much easier to understand than writing it in a book or seeing it on DVD. The reports have been that this works because they were able to see it, hear it, feel it, and use it instantly and forever. In today’s world, another conference is not what we are about. We are about people joining together from different denominations, ethnicities, geographic locations, languages, and thought systems and getting insight and instruction that can bring people of all walks of life together to become a mighty army against the forces of evil.

As a follow up, how can people get the Ready to Win Conference to their area?

People all over the world can contact me at contactus@thelmawells.com and we will get back with them with the details of how the Ready To Win Conference can come to their area.

In your book, Don’t Give In…God Wants YOU to Win!, you talk about doing rituals as it relates to fighting the good fight of faith. Will you explain that word to us and give us an example?

The word ritual is used on to denote the routines we have in our daily lives like fixing our hair, dressing ourselves, and being prepared for the day. It means nothing more than that and nothing mysterious that would attract any evil forces.

Spiritual warfare and putting on the armor of God is a daily activity for you. Is this because you’re a nationally known Christian speaker and author, or is this something that everyone should be aware of?

Spiritual warfare is the state of our lives whatever and whoever you are. We fight against anger, gluttony, smoking, frustration, and everything else that can make us less than our best. The warfare that we are in daily is because we live in a fallen world where Satan thinks he has power. Each and everyday he tries to confuse us into thinking that things are unfixable, out of control, etc. He is the greatest liar of all times and he lays tricks in our minds, if we let him. From the moment we were born until the day we die we will be fighting spiritual warfare. However, the good news is…people who have accepted Jesus as their Savior never have to fight alone. The end of the story is that Jesus and His people win and the devil is a number one loser!

Thelma, this book was released at a perfect time. So many people are struggling just to survive. They’ve lost jobs, money, health, marriages, and more. Many just want to give up! What can we do if we are in those situations to prepare for victory in the battle of life?

When you’re in a battle these are the things that must be done in order to win:

• Put on the helmet of salvation to cover your thought life.
• Put on the breastplate of righteousness to guard your heart against devil and sin.
• Put on the girdle of Truth so that you will be able to understand what real truth is and be able to use the Sword of the Spirit (The Word of God – the Bible) in every situation as Jesus did when He was tempted by the devil in the mountain.
• Put on the shoes that have prepared you with the preparation of peace so you can march and stay fit as you tell other people about the goodness and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Hold up the shield of faith believing that God will keep every Promise He made for our good.
• Pray for each other and for ourselves by asking God for what we need, seeking His perfect will in all we do and knocking continually until we know God has answered our prayers. We must realize that God does not answer all our prayers the way we want Him to but whatever way He answers them, they are for our good and for His glory.
• Praise God with thanksgiving for all He has done and will do for us. The worship of God brings us into an atmosphere of being able to fight the good fight of faith and WIN.

Where/how does “submitting to God and the devil will flee from you” fit into spiritual warfare?

God asks us to do a simple thing, trust Him enough to give Him all of us. That’s hard to do when you try to control your life yourself. It really amounts to us (you and me) worshipping ourselves instead of worshipping God. When we live in humble submission to God, Satan will try to attack but God is our Protector. This is not a one-time submission to God. Everyday and sometimes during the day we must ask Him to lead us not into temptation and to protect us from evil because evil is always near. We are told to pray without ceasing. This means that we must stay in the attitude of prayer 24/7. It’s simple but it presents a challenge for us because we are so distracted by our day, our desires, our dreams, our relationships, etc. that we often forget that none of this would be possible were it not for the Lord who grants it. Submission means to let God be the driving force and the guiding force in our lives and trust Him that He will do exceedingly abundantly over and above what we can ask or think according to His power that works in us. The most peaceful, contented condition of my life is when I actually and earnestly turned my entire life over to the direction of God. I can now recognize when Satan tries to tempt me, confuse me, and drive me into doing or saying things I should not. It has come about with trust in God and practice of His word. Satan will attack but God will counter-act.

Most of us are familiar with the list of spiritual weapons available for us to use as listed in Ephesians 6. You have a way to remember these that might be more relevant to today’s woman – as a mom, wife, business woman, etc. Will you share these five things with us that you do daily when you’re getting “dressed” in the morning? [BLOG HOSTS…INSERT CARTOON PICTURE HERE]

Thelma, it seems you are all over the Internet these days. Anyone can find you on your web site, Facebook, Twitter, web casts, a blog tour, the You Go Girl Network, and other cutting edge things with technology. Why is it important for you to use all these various methods to spread your message?

Technology is the way God planned for us to get His message to the world according to Matthew 28:19.

How did you get the name, Mama T?

A young lady in my church named me that because she thought that was a fitting name for me and it has become a loving name for the ladies in my mentoring groups.

So what’s next for the Mama T and Ready to Win?

My website (ThelmaWells.com) is being reinvented to a teaching tool for people to learn more and more about how to win the battles of life. There will be powerful tools available, I will be personally speaking with people and many other changes that will enlighten, encourage, inform, influence and empower people to fight the good fight and win.

Where can our readers buy your new book and register for the webcast?

On my web site, which is ThelmaWells.com. They can click on the July RTW On-line Web cast button to learn more or register for the next series of web casts that start on July 7. You can also watch this video to learn more…click here.

My new book, Don’t Give In – God Wants YOU To Win! is also available online and at local bookstores such as, Family Christian Stores, Lifeway Christian Stores, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble Book Stores, Mardel’s, Anchor Distributors, Christianbook.com, and many other stores and vendors throughout American and the United Kingdom.

Is there anything that we didn’t ask that you’d like to share with us?

In all we’ve said, we need to remember that Jesus loves YOU and has a plan for your life. This plan includes you living a life free from worry and anxiety. God is in control of everything. When we trust in Him, give Him our lives to guide, seek the will of the Father, ask Jesus to be the Lord and Master of our lives, and accept the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are winners and nobody or nothing can take that away from us!

CLOSING:

Thank you, darling, for having me today on your blog. I hope you and your readers will visit my web site at ThelmaWells.com. And remember always be READY TO WIN!

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Somebody Prayed For Me

Broken, bruised, and even betrayed, but not forgotten.





Have your burdens ever been so heavy that you didn't have the strength to pray for yourself? Your spirit is broken, your body is bruised, and you have been betrayed by those who you've trust to love and protect you. Or maybe you just feel alone and cold in this world feeling like no one understands what you're going through.



Even when you can’t find the strength to pray for yourself, someone in this world is praying for you.

The inspirational pieces in Somebody Prayed For Me only reminds us of the power of prayer.



When God’s children bend their knees and bow their heads in prayer, it’s not about knowing the person they’re praying for. It’s all about knowing and believing in God. Do you believe? Do you feel in your heart that prayer changes things?



We believe. Even in this some times violent world, there is hope if only we believe. If only we pray for each other and hold tight to our faith in God. Pray for someone because somebody already prayed for you.