The Writer Mama Riffs

Today’s giveaway comes from a recent addition to the writer mama club: Jenna Glatzer!

And I know we all feel that our children are the cutest on the planet. Naturally, right?

But you have to check out the photos of Jenna’s daughter, Sarina. She is just way too cute.

And here’s an awesome list of how she makes Sarina laugh that will make any mom smile.

Which is not exactly a good transition to introduce her book but that’s okay. It’s late and we’re on day 29!

Today’s giveaway is…

September 29th: The Street Smart Writer: Self Defense Against Sharks and Scams in the Writing World by Jenna Glatzer and Daniel Steven (Nomad Press 2006).

Here’s the description: You’ll never get scammed by a deadbeat publisher or an unscrupulous agent once you read this guide. It’s an in-depth look at all the shady characters who are out to rip off writers, from fake literary agents who get kickbacks from editorial services to rigged writing contests. It also covers the sorts of new agents and publishers who don’t actually mean to do harm, but are so clueless that they can kill a writer’s career. Whether you write books, scripts, poems, short stories, articles, essays, or anything in between, you’ll be a wiser writer by the end of this book. Learn all the warning signs to watch out for, what do do if you’ve already been taken, and how to spot a good deal.

Jenna Glatzer is the author or ghostwriter of 16 books, with a 17th on the way. She writes everything from celebrity biographies to health books. Her latest titles include Bullyproof Your Child for Life (by Joel Haber, Ph.D. with Jenna Glatzer), Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer, and Unbroken: A Memoir (by Tracy Elliott with Jenna Glatzer). Jenna has also written hundreds of magazine articles, and is a contributing editor at Writer’s Digest magazine. Visit her at www.jennaglatzer.com, where you’ll find everything from writing advice to photos of her new baby.

Okay, I almost forgot the question for the second night in a row. Wake up, Christina!

Here it is: Have you gotten scammed in any way related to your writing career? Have you known anyone who has been scammed? Any situations, that were supposed to be on the up and up that made you raise an eyebrow? How do you tell the difference between a legitimate writing opportunity and a scam?

Folks, your response to the question must be between 50-300 words to qualify to win this awesome book!

Can you believe it? Only three more days to participate in the Writer Mama Back to School Daily Giveaway!

Today’s giveaways are: September 28th: Guide to Literary Agents 2008 by Chuck Sambuchino (Writer’s Digest Books 2007) & Calm and Compassionate Children, A Handbook by Susan Usha Dermond (Celestial Arts 2007).

I had the distinct pleasure of writing an article for the Guide to Literary Agents 2008 and of meeting Chuck in NYC when I attended the BEA/Writer’s Digest Conference. And I can report this: Chuck is a really nice guy. Smart too. And, of course, this is an extremely valuable book and an excellent resource for your shelf. Here’s the official description:
As the market becomes more glutted while the number of major publishing houses shrinks, writers need someone familiar with the publishing scene to shepherd their manuscript to the right person. Now in its 17th year, Guide to Literary Agents is the writer’s best resource for finding a literary agent or script agent to represent their work. It provides names and specialties for more than 700 individual agents around the United States and the world. The 2008 edition includes more than 90 pages of original articles on finding the best agent to represent your work and how to seal the deal. From editing your work to crafting a book proposal to making the most of your contract, this must-have guide helps writers deal with agents every step of the way.

Today’s giveaway also includes a lovely signed copy of Calm and Compassionate Children, a Handbook by Susan Usha Dermond (Ten Speed Press, 2007).

In a world where media sensationalizes, terrorism threatens, and youth violence makes headlines, parents and teachers are faced with an important challenge—to instill a sense of calm and compassion in the children they care for and to foster universal values such as tolerance, respect, kindness, honesty, and generosity.

Calm and Compassionate Children provides inspiration to do just that—help children develop empathy and integrity as they grow and mature. Dermond shares more than ninety straightforward techniques that expand children’s thoughts and feelings and foster natural joy, wonder, caring, and love. The book has fresh and fun examples of activities that awaken a child’s curiosity, for example, showing children the power of positive energy by having them compare the number of people who smile when they smile versus the number of people who smile when they don’t. Music, nature, pets, stories, quiet time, rituals, and more are used to create calmness and compassion in simple, but delightful ways. Anyone who touches the life of a child will find valuable support in this thoughtful guide.

Susan has a free discussion guide and six calm and compassionate children’s activities on her website:

http://www.susandermond.com/

AND TODAY’S QUESTION IS: (Sorry, fell asleep at the wheel momentarily!) 

What are your beliefs about agents? What positive stories of agents impacting a writer’s career have you heard? How might an agent specifically benefit your career?

Please answer today’s question in 50-300 words to participate in today’s drawing. (Unless you came earlier than 7:30 a.m. PST on the 28th. 😉 )