EDITOR'S NOTE
 

And so we try. As we all should. Attempting to become the change we want to witness in the world that surrounds us. Injecting our energies and our thoughts and our feelings into the beauty that could be our lives 24/7. And when we recognize that we do control the spigot to our happiness, why not try bringing it to everyone we meet. Giving to them as we wish others would give to us. Trying to help others feel better about themselves. Recklessly sharing in all that we possess. Smiling and helping all those in need. It's a concept we have the ability to tap into at all times, beginning right now.

BOOK EXPO AMERICA
 

And luckily for us, lot's of fun stuff has been filling our stockings this summer. Went to my first BEA (Book Expo America) as a published author this past month, and it was quite an arousing experience. Everybody who was anybody in the publishing industry at least stuck their heads through the door of the Los Angeles Convention Center. The event also provided me with the opportunity to witness and visualize what it is that I want to be when I grow up as a writer. There is so much more to come from this Stolen Boy.

THE SEQUEL
 

Being around the industry biggies lent a new sense of confidence to my pursuit of my next writing project. It's been a strange ride, these last five years. And the roller coaster of life promises to get only crazier, but my sense of purpose has never been stronger. This newfound strength also derives from the many positive notes of feedback I've received from the public at large.

Where in the beginning, many people responded in a negative light toward my attitudes about the death penalty, Jesse James Hollywood, and troubled youth and families in general. People wanted punishment, and many thought I too should be punished for having what they perceived to be a very bad attitude.

But now, the energy wave seems to have reversed itself. Several people have indicated that they've totally changed their minds about the death penalty. Many have said they don't want to see Jesse James Hollywood or Ryan Hoyt die. This is good news. It means that my message is being understood. It means that there's a lot more people out there who think as I do and we're now finding each other to express our similar views.

And it also means that I know what I must do next. That this project is not over, as I'd hoped it might be. There's more to this very important story to tell. And there are very important people in the entertainment industry who feel the same way and who have encouraged my next step in the project.

My sequel to Stolen Boy is tentatively entitled: From Alpha Dog to Stolen Boy: A Transformation in Consciousness. It will tell the rest of the story of these young troubled teens and their families, what the impact on the case has had on me, and what troubled youths and their families can do to avoid similar tragedies in their lives.

 

THE AWARDS
 

Stolen Boy continues to garner much national attention. On the Friday before BEA, Independent Publisher held a posh awards ceremony at the stunning City Lights restaurant in Downtown Los Angeles. There I was getting the Gold Medal, and I felt a certain sense of pride at having accomplished something that most writers only dream of.

 

Stolen Boy has now garnered four awards: An IPPY Gold Medal, Best Book of the Year in Fiction from Books-And-Authors.com, National Finalist for Fiction by the Indie Excellence Awards, and First Place for Best Novel by the Public Safety Writers Association. And I still believe there will be more to come.

 

THIRD THURSDAYS

Thursday, May 15^th, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
 

With great sadness -- and excitement -- I must now face the reality that the wonderful writing seminars offered by award-winning author Patricia Kokinos and myself is about to reach its conclusion. "Jumping into Marketing, 1-2-3" will be the topic of our last discussion in the Third Thursdays seminar series for writers to be held Thursday, June 19^th, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Bank of Books, 748 E. Main Street, Ventura.

 

Our popular writing series has revolved around the three major aspects of the book business: the craft of writing, publishing, and now, "the how to" of marketing what it is that you've published.

By the time the author has completed his or her manuscript, they must know how they're going to promote their book. The key to marketing begins with the marketing plan. This is what the writer will use to convince an agent or publisher that he understands the market for his or her book. It's a niche market, and the first time authors aren't going to get any help from their publisher, so they must have a plan. And this is what we'll be discussing in the next Third Thursdays session. For more information please call the Bank of Books at 805.643 3154.

 

TRANSFORMATIONAL THIRD THURSDAYS

July 17, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

The excitement comes from the fact that we're really not done yet. Next month, Third Thursdays officially transforms into Transformational Third Thursdays, a combination transformational workshop/book study group that I will lead. It will take place on the Third Thursday of every month beginning in July. We will begin by studying the tremendous works by consciousness transformation specialist, Eckhart Tolle. We will start working on his first big seller, The Power of Now, and when we're finished, we will transition into his latest bestseller, A New Earth.

The goal of the class will be for each participant to learn and/or strengthen the building blocks of positive transformation. It was once said that "Each person consciously generating higher frequencies of love, joy, and bliss are actually more powerful than thousands of negative thoughts." We will build on this theory and determine its truth as we learn to apply our own consciousness into creating a more beautiful reality around us in which to live.

 

In celebration of our exploration into consciousness transformation, Clarey Ruud, owner of Bank of Books, has agreed to give a special 20% discount on both of Tolle's books. Hurry to get your copies while supplies last. Call Bank of Books at 805.643 3154 for more information.