Vincent “Vinny” Valetutti is my friend Becka’s partner. I met him several years ago when he offered to drive our entire book group to a vineyard in a van so we could all relax and enjoy. This year, I assigned a student intern working with me in my public relations business to interview Vinny and write a press release on the traveling, thirty-foot-high, mock Sea Level Rise Ruler he created to raise awareness about rising sea levels. Helping Vinny get some media attention on this innovation gave me a deeper view into his mind. So, when he contacted me a few months after his initial outreach and asked for help with a book, I was interested in working with him. I have since learned much about the man behind the ruler. If I Were President: 29 alternative ideas for solving global problems, is now available. As Vinny says, “My ideas are neither left or right, I like to call them real ideas.” 

My fall intern, Morgan Briggs, a student at Westfield State University, interviewed Vinny about the experience of working with me on his project.

How did Janice help you with the project from start to finish?

She was the one who was able to take the ideas in my brain and put them into words. I have always wanted to write different books, but I could never get the words down on paper. Janice was able to interview me, figure out information about my life, my career, etc.

What did you consider the most valuable part of working with Janice on your book? 

She was able to take my ideas and put them down on paper (not diluting them in any way).

What kinds of suggestions did Janice make? Did you act on all of them? If you had differences, how did you resolve them? 

Janice had many suggestions, particularly on formatting the different ideas in the book. If there were differences, we talked about each suggestions/recommendation and came to an agreement. Many times, I agreed with her suggestions; I went with my own if it made me more comfortable. I thought reviewing the cover design was not as important as the ideas inside. I wish we had checked the title of the book as it is in use on several children’s books. 

In what way did your book turn out differently from what it would have been if you had not worked with Janice on it?

It wouldn’t have existed. I don’t know anyone else who could have helped me like Janice did.

How did Levellers Press help you get the word out about your book? Was your experience with them positive? 

I know the book is on their website, and they created an ebook that is on Amazon and Kindle. Steve and Randy were awesome, extremely helpful.

What kind of reaction have you had to your book? 

Haven’t had too much, but what I have had is positive. My sister, who works with engineers, said that the head of the company she works for looked at it and said that the book was awesome. Family members and friends all liked the book. One person said that they didn’t agree with all of the ideas but still liked the book. 

You are working on a second book now. What is that about?

More of the same concepts, but different ideas. The title is Since I’m Not President. I have a lot of ideas formed currently in my brain; on paper, I have some scribbles. 

Anything else you want readers of Janice’s blog to know?

Greta Thunberg, the young Swedish environmental activist, inspired me to create the book. Also, I am about to be 75, so if anything happens to me, all of the valuable ideas are captured on paper forever.

The post Feedback from a Client appeared first on Beetle Press.

My summer intern, Olivia Greeley, a student at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, interviewed my friend and fellow author Judith Kelliher this week about the publication of Judy’s book, “A Wartime PhD: One soldier’s story of Vietnam and learning to live again.” The book tells the story of Judy’s brother Bobby’s two tours in Vietnam. The conversation between Olivia and Judy appears below.

Olivia: What was your original reasoning for wanting to share your brother’s story through this book? 

Judy: It started when my brother and I read the book “Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption” by Laura Hillenbrand, which shares a soldier’s unbelievable story of survival. Ironically, at the time, I had no idea that Bobby and I were both reading it but as I read, I realized I had never had a conversation with my brother about his time as a soldier in the Vietnam War. He had served two terms when I was very young (around 8 years old), and it was never something my family talked about, because of how hard it was for Bobby. The book was really my inspiration to sit down and have that chat with my brother. Originally, it was going to be an interview that I would write up, with zero intention of sharing it to the public, but rather for Bobby to have for himself. It was after the conversation began that we both realized Bobby had a real story to share and one that could help a lot of people struggling the same way Bobby did after returning home. That was when I made the switch from the interview to writing my book. 

Olivia: Is “A Wartime PhD” like any other book that you’ve written before? 

Judy: Even though I’m a writer, this is actually my first book! My background is in journalism, so I am used to writing for newspapers. 

Olivia: What was the biggest difference between writing a book and writing for a newspaper? 

Judy: First of all, I was always used to interviewing strangers for my articles. This time I was interviewing and writing about my brother, someone I look up to very much. The other difference was that the writing style itself is very different. I was used to writing quick, punchy language that caught the reader’s attention right away. The biggest difference of all was how afraid I became almost halfway through my writing process. I was afraid that no one would want to read it and even worse, that I wouldn’t do my brother’s story justice. I had felt these fears before in past projects but nothing at this intensity. I started making up excuses to not write and kept pushing it off. It wasn’t until I attended the Women and the Art of Risk Conference in Holyoke with a few colleagues, that I had my writing epiphany. There was a panelist there that was sharing a story about a client she had who was a writer, but they had become so afraid of failing that they no longer wanted to continue. This story resonated with me immensely, so after, I spoke with the panelist and shared with her my similar thoughts and feelings. She said to me, “celebrate how far you’ve come and how much you have written, not that you have not finished.” That was the epiphany I needed to keep going. 

Olivia: What has it been like to have your book out in the world? 

Judy: It ended up taking six years to finish the book, mostly because of the fear I just talked about, so right now it feels very relieving. It’s wonderful to know that people struggling with PTSD, or any mental battle at all, can read this book now and feel that they can overcome this challenge with the help of family, friends, and professionals – there is redemption and they can come out on the other side, just like Bobby. Overall, after so long, it feels remarkable. 

Olivia: What is some feedback you’ve been receiving on “A Wartime PhD”? 

Judy: All of the feedback really has been positive. I’ve had so many people reach out via Facebook, text, email, and in person to give their congratulations and positive remarks. Bobby and I have even received hand-written notes in the mail! A common theme in the feedback I’ve received was that readers “read it in one or two sittings” or “I couldn’t put it down!” A lot of friends of Bobby’s said they were really surprised to hear his story. The best feedback came from some of the men that Bobby had served with. He was able to reconnect with them, and they loved the story! 

Olivia: Can you provide some statistics and numbers on your book sales and orders? 

Judy: I did an initial print run of 300 copies, which has already sold out, so we have since ordered a new print run of 200. With the second run, I hope to do more promotion to expand my audience even further. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, we couldn’t do a book signing or reading, but hopefully we can do that soon, with the second run. 

Olivia: What are some media interviews you have done for the promotion of the book? Do you have any favorite quotes from those interviews and stories that have been written? 

Judy: I was recently interviewed with my brother for the Wilbraham Hampden Times. It was a lot of fun to do the interview with Bobby, and I really enjoyed how the article turned out. My favorite quote from the story was, “Perhaps worst of all was hearing his internal struggle dealing with the loss of two comrades to suicide and the fight against Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which went un-diagnosed until the mid-80s and nearly cost him his marriage and a relationship with his daughters.” The writer, Tyler Witkop, did a wonderful job sharing the most important aspect of the book, which is the harsh aftereffects of the war – he really got it! Bobby and I were also interviewed by MassLive. That article has yet to be published but we look forward to its release and getting to read it ourselves.  

Olivia: What would you recommend to other authors who feel nervous about publishing their stories? 

Judy: After my experience with fear and everything I’ve learned since, my biggest piece of advice would be to understand that the fear of failure is natural especially for first time authors. If an author feels passionate about their story and feel it would be something others could learn from and be interested in reading – go for it! Now that I’m on the other side and my book is out there, I am so grateful. It’s so worth it!

The post A Q & A with a New Author on Inspiration, Feedback appeared first on Beetle Press.

Recently, I had the pleasure of conducting a Discovery Session through Janice Beetle Books with Charlene Moses of Laconia, New Hampshire. She is working on a memoir about painful events that occurred in her family when she was growing up.

Charlene has taken some correspondence courses in writing for children and teenagers, but she has not had formal training or experience, and as she worked on her manuscript, that fact concerned her. She sought me out to serve as a resource and an objective voice. I told her to keep writing. She is well on the right track.

“I’ve always had the urge to want to write,” she says. “It just never really happened. I’ve written songs or poems in the past, but this book is my first biggie.” 

Indeed, it is.

I am grateful that Charlene took the time to answer the below questions about our Discovery Session. 

What are you working on as a writer at this time?

I am working on my life story as a child and young adult. The dramatic experiences I went through.

What prompted you to have Janice review your memoir-in-progress?

I knew I would need help because of my inexperience. When I saw Janice’s ad in the Laconia Daily Sun, it caught my attention. Her picture indicated to me that there was something special about Janice. She had a spiritual look and honesty in her eyes. My instincts were right on.

What were you hoping to achieve in the session?

I was hoping to feel a sense of accomplishment and to hear that I did have the ability and compassion to continue my journey. The session taught me just that. I received the encouragement I needed to proceed.

What did you learn that was helpful?

I received some wonderful critiques that could help make my story come more alive and exciting for the readers.

Any other specific tidbits that will help you to self-edit your work?

The suggestions that were given were so helpful that I can’t wait to go back and review my work and make it even better.

Did you feel you made a connection with Janice? If yes, in what way?

I definitely felt a connection with Janice. I felt as though we have known each other for a long time. I felt she could actually feel my experiences with me and knew where I wanted to go with my story. Her sensitivity showed she cared about who I am and that she wanted to help me in every way possible.

Anything else that might be helpful feedback for Janice or someone thinking about working with her?

Janice is a very knowledgeable and professional person. She is also very caring and compassionate. She makes you feel right at home and makes you feel that you can accomplish anything your heart desires. Even though I have not had a lot of experience in writing, she made me feel that I was already a successful writer and could reach beyond what I ever hoped for. I can see why other people have asked for her help, and I am so glad that I found her. I wouldn’t have gotten even this far without her. Anyone else would be blessed to work with her.

The post Coaching a Writer in Progress appeared first on Beetle Press.

Note: I recently did what I call a Discovery Session with a writer named Charles Merida. He calls himself Chaz and describes himself this way on his Twitter page: “Published Writer, YouTubist, Actor, MBA, echnoGeek, F/Vlogger, Father, Brother, and Jedi Knight of the Order of Starfleet.” Charles had a dream in 2015 that inspired a trilogy of books. I had the chance to read a portion of the first book recently and provide Charles with some feedback and direction on publishing. When we were done, he told me, “My brain is having a celestial party with all of this information.” I asked Charles to answer the following questions for this blog.

Your name as you would like it to appear in the blog.

J.M. Charles

What are you working on as a writer at this time?

“The 151,” a fiction, fantasy, and sci-fi trilogy.

What prompted you to have Janice review your work of fiction that is in progress?

I work at Fisher Auto Parts in Raymond, New Hampshire, as a shuttle driver, and a colleague of mine, Tom Marden, saw Janice’s advertisement in the Laconia Daily Sun. He mentioned it to me and then scoured the entire warehouse for the newspaper, finding it at the tail end of the work day. I called Janice shortly after and the rest is history.

What were you hoping to achieve in the session?

I have had over 40 beta readers handle various parts of my book, and only a handful had some kind of response. Janice, after reading just 39 pages, provided me with more insight than any of them. She was an absolute joy to talk to you. The Force is most definitely strong with her.

Name three things you learned that were helpful.

#1  I am not alone in trying to make my dream happen. Janice is proof that with effort and persistence, it can and will happen.

#2 I am walking my own path, and, although I have had doubts, my work is really good.

#3 Janice has recommended various resources and the initial steps of moving forward with “The 151.” The Force works in mysterious ways, and I am grateful that Janice entered into my non-linear timeline.

Any other specific tidbits that will now help you to move forward?

I wouldn’t call them tidbits, maybe BigBits. Janice helped me understand that even though the flashlight of imagination can have moments when it stops working, to jiggle it and shine it on another part to re-inspire.

Did you feel you made a connection with Janice? If yes, in what way?

Absolutely! The moment I left the first voicemail when I called Janice, I felt a certain energy frequency with her voice, despite it being a two-dimensional, electronic recording. The following phone conversation would confirm that realization. I look forward to the wonder and magic that will come from our connection.

Anything else that might be helpful feedback for Janice or someone thinking about working with her?

We all have that a moment when anxiety and fear, meet eye to eye with confidence and courage. I felt all that up to that moment I called Janice. Since that call, anxiety and fear have had their ass kicked. Janice’s honesty, and integrity, took center stage of our conversations as we discussed my project. I look forward to hearing about the amazing works Janice will be involved in.

The post Coaching a Sci-fi/Fantasy Writer appeared first on Beetle Press.

Note: I recently did what I call a Discovery Session through Janice Beetle Books with a writer from Laconia, New Hampshire, named Claire L. Hebert-Dow. Claire is writing a memoir, and she came to me for some feedback on her work. I read thirty pages of her manuscript, and we met on the phone for two hours to talk about what inspires her and where she feels stuck. Afterwards, I asked Claire to answer the following questions for this blog.

What are you working on as a writer at this time?

I am preparing a recap of my life adventures, told in part from multiple perspectives.

What prompted you to have Janice review your memoir-in-progress?

It is awkward to maintain a balance on one’s emotions when reiterating difficult passages which, in some cases, adjusted the trajectory of my life. Getting a professional’s opinion is invaluable for bringing my story to life and, hopefully, to publication.

What were you hoping to achieve in the session?

A clarity on whether she felt I was on the right path and encouragment to continue this lonely journey through the past.

What did you learn that was helpful?

There are two voices within my writing style—the insightful and logical one, fighting against the emotional, brow-beating one. I need to separate myself from these emotional tentacles. I will consider writing separate letters to my son and give myself the opportunity to release these nagging feelings. Also, I learn to be alert to hackneyed expressions.

Any other specific tidbits that will help you to self-edit your work?

Focusing on moving the narrative forward. It’s easy to get consumed in words for the sake of word count. If a section doesn’t accomplish that objective, delete or revise. Also be attuned to the need to describe a thought or a scene in enough detail for third-party understanding.

Did you feel you made a connection with Janice? If yes, in what way?

Absolutely. Her voice is soothing yet projects confidence in her analysis. She supports without casting judgment and stays focused on the details to be covered.

Anything else that might be helpful feedback for Janice or someone thinking about working with her?

One has to be prepared to hear negative feedback on sections that I, as a writer, had thought were well-stated and finished. Flexibility is required for a successful partnership with a coach. 

The post Coaching a Talented Writer appeared first on Beetle Press.