Blog

Authors with Verve: Featuring Linda Yacovetti Arvanitis

“Who can turn the world on with her smile?” Linda Yacovetti Arvanitis, that’s who! She’s a successful realtor in Florida, has major potential as a stand-up comic, and is a published author of Buck the Dog Tails . . . er, Tales, told from her adopted pet’s perspective. She released the first book in the series last fall (Buck’s New Home) and is getting ready to thrill her fans—I mean, Buck's fans—again with a new ditty in the ensuing months. More...

Authors with Verve: Featuring Phil Emmert

Author Phil Emmert is indeed a preacher, teacher, and people reacher. His world revolves around the sharing of stories that are relatable and inspiring, and now he’s writing them too. He’s published four books in recent years and, at the age of 80, has more in the works. Lauded by his family and friends as an endearing storyteller, in addition to being a stellar preacher of the Word of God, he admits he has many stories in his heart. This...

What’s Bigger than (an) Amazon?

Folks, I’ve been in a tizzy for a long time now about Amazon’s listings of our print books in terms of availability. I’ve called Amazon. To no avail. I’ve submitted product queries, as an informed reader. I’ve called Ingram/Lightning Source, the print-on-demand (POD) distributor of our published authors’ books. I’ve ranted and raged. How can a print-on-demand book be “one to two months” out for availability? Interestingly, when I push, the availability changes to something more reasonable. But I have to push. And push...

Hybrid Publishing Love

Konradbak | Dreamstime.com Hybrid publishers get a lot of down news--lately and forever. There are some, for sure, that maybe deserve it. We at thewordverve have been a hybrid publisher since 2010 (incorporated officially, State of Georgia). And I love it. It's persevered with low overhead and a wealth of ideas, and a lot of "winging it." Just one example of recent instances where hybrid publishing gets the thumbs down: Tate Publishing, one of those, bit the dust. I never tried...

Follow Your Hero

A writing tip from Mr. Ray Bradbury: First, find out what your hero wants, then just follow him! This statement seems so obvious, yet many of us fail to do it. We opt to tell the story (yawn) instead of letting our hero show us how it's done. You've heard of the writing mantra "show don't tell," yes? If you have a hard time understanding exactly how to achieve that goal, imagine yourself holding a video camera and recording a scene in front of you. Reiterate...

Put a Twinkle in Your New Year

Start 2015 in comforting hands. Educator Maria Angeliadis, first-time published author from Tarpon Springs, FL, delivers the perfect setting for a fresh start. In Once Upon a Twinkle, young and old can learn a thing or two about the power of prayer. This book is as beautifully illustrated as it is written. Rick Sanders of Riverview, FL, does the interior artwork, a soft watercolor rendition of the words on the pages. Learn more about this book and Maria at www.thewordverve.com/twinkle/

It’s a Bloody Buck!

Code Blood Red by Jeffrey Belanger is now available on eBook for ONE DOLLAH! Yup, just a buck.  So up your creep factor and read the first book in the "Ali the Cat" series. He's a bad dude in a bad mood. And he's terrorizing Middlesex High School. This Halloween special ends November 1. Follow the Coach Belanger on his website, www.jeffreybelanger.com. He always has great gigs going on, like this one, and his #XmasBracketMadness game.

Tiptoe through the Tulips? Not with Parkinson’s

By thewordverve author Adele Pfrimmer Hensley: April is Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month. It is not a cause for celebration, but it is an occasion to remember, to learn, and to hope. We remember that Parkinson’s disease has never brought with it an automatic death sentence. It used to be even more disabling than it is now, before the discovery of a useful formulation of levodopa. This winter I met a woman who said she remembered visiting her grandparents when she was little. Her...

Spotlight on Parkinson’s Disease

It's Parkinson's Awareness Month and we don't want to miss our unique opportunity to share information about the disease. We have two authors with the Parkinson's (and several caretakers who have experience with the disease) on our team, and are proud to contribute to increasing #parkinsonsawareness with the following features. Adele Pfrimmer Hensley, who has young-onset Parkinson's disease, has written two books for children who have parents suffering from chronic illnesses, like PD.  She wishes to offer a BUY ONE/GIVE...