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ASA Newsletter
Are you an author or a Book Club? If so, we are interested in you. Visit our website: www.freewebs.com/asanetwork and click on Contact Us, to be added to our Author Links or our Book Club page for free. Authors we do ask for an exchange link. Don't forget to tell others about this newsletter and feel free to forward it on. Feature Article 
Volume 3:
April - June 2008
From The Editor | Feature Article | 2008 ASA Spring Books
Quotes | Birthdays | FREE!!!
Author Events & News
Hello!
Who Are We?
ASA (Authors Supporting Authors) is a networking group of authors and readers who promote avid reading while providing support to other authors. Browse our website to learn more about our group and members. www.freewebs.com/asanetwork
Interested in chatting with ASA or one of its members? If so, click on Contact Us and we'll schedule a chat or a Radio Blog Talk show.
From The Editor
Spring is here and the readers are blooming to get their hands on new exiting novels. And our authors have released some excellent reads for 2008. Spring is one of my favorite seasons. The flowers bloom, it begins to get warmer and it is the most refresing time of the year.
Make sure you sign u for ASA's newsletter to keep in the know of what is going on with ASA, including author information, book tips, free give-a-ways, and literary news. Also, don't forget to add us as a friend on MySpace: www.myspace.com/asaauthors.
Happy Reading and Writing
Tinisha, proud member of ASA
Writing well 6 steps to being your own best editor
Written by Navneet Kaur
One of the first important lessons a writer learns is that writing is a process, a series of steps that take an idea from concept to completed work. This is true whether the work is an article, a poem, a report, a short story or a book. Understanding this process -- and the role a writer plays in it -- is crucial to their success.
One of the most important steps in this process is learning to look at one's own work objectively. To focus on the intended message and ensure that it is delivered properly. While that may seem obvious enough, as the work progresses, it can become blurred. As the old song goes, "I have so much to say; but the words get in my way." To clarify that 'blurring' effect, it is essential to be able to edit your own work. But how does a writer edit their own work? While the process may vary depending on the writer, there are six steps that are integral to editing. 1) COMPLETE THE DRAFT Novice writers should not attempt to edit as they write. Even experienced writers, who learn to smoothed over the copy as they go, know this is not editing and must wait for that separate step later on. The most important point of a first draft is to simply get the idea on paper, in whatever fashion that's comfortable for the writer. An outline is helpful and can serve as a rough draft for smaller projects. But if that format seems too limiting, just write out the first draft, understanding it is only the first go-around. 2) WALK AWAY Even if it's only for a long enough period of time to get a glass of water. With longer projects, try to lengthen the time to a few days or weeks. This step allows the writer to gain perspective by "stepping back". Mostly, it allows the writer time for the subject to settle in their mind, plus it gives them time to mentally shift gears from writer to editor. 3) ASSESS OBJECTIVELY While reading over the copy, the writer must learn to view it as a reader. One should be neither overly critical, nor overly attached to certain pet phrases or side remarks, but simply read it as if reading it for the first time. When done earnestly, this will make any errors, flaws or awkward points more apparent. 4) BE BRUTAL This is the most difficult step, especially for the young or insecure writer. Heck, it's tough for the pros. Think of the classic image of an editor-- from the old Superman comics, for instance, wielding his red-ink pen with flourish, only interested in the facts. Especially when writing articles or in business, this is your best ally. With this image in mind, really look at what is necessary to make a logical progression. One trick is to put yourself under an artificial word restriction. Nothing helps cut unnecessary copy better than a specific word limit. 5) CRISP, CONCISE, CLEAR These are the º-C's" of good writing. While each writer has his/her own way of expressing themselves (and, in the case of fiction, more latitude is acceptable), these three points are integral parts of any successful writing. Whether a report, a novel, an essay or an article -- even in poetry or song -- this rule applies. While editing, a writer must ask them self if the work succeeds in these three areas. If it doesn't, WHY? Analyze when and where it strays, even if that means working backward to the beginning. 6) PERSONAL WEAKNESS Just as an athlete must learn to be aware of any physical weakness and compensate for it, so a writer must familiarize themselves with their own bad habits or tendencies. A classic example is when a young writer masks their insecurity with a flourish of fancy words. But each writer has their own faults and must learn to guard against them. For example, when I was young, I had a nasty habit of using at least three adjectives whenever I described something. Eventually I saw this as the annoying flaw it was, and learned to choose the very best adjective and commit to it. Seeing this habit as a flaw was difficult. But it made me a stronger writer. And that is the entire purpose of learning to edit one's own work: to grow and strengthen as a writer. 2008 ASA Spring Books Read an excerpt and purchase the novel, Never Say Never at: ======================================================= Whether newly discovered or rekindled, there is no feeling in the world like pure passion coursing through our veins. It erupts at our core and allows us to be free and uninhibited. Visit author Hazel Mills ======================================================= Kathy J Marsh was born and raised in Writing is a recently discovered passion, and as with everything about which Kathy is passionate, she devoted many hours to learning her craft and writing her first novel. That novel, The Aura of Love, garnered a 2007 IPPY Award, a 2007 Blackrefer.com Reviewer’s Choice Award, a 2007 African American Literary nomination, and is a Booking Matters Bestseller. In addition, her two short stories, Wedding Interrupted and Struck by Lightning, are available at Amazon Shorts. Currently residing in Visit Kathy J. Marsh Make sure you check out Kathy’s amazing book trailer for her novel,
CRISP - A fresh or meaningful viewpoint. Take a stand. The purpose of writing is to say something-- so say it!
CONCISE - Do not wander from the point. At least, not without a reason that directly relates to the original idea.
CLEAR - Make a steady progression from beginning to end. Don't leave major gaps in the progression.
Article Source: http://www.articleblast.com/
Never Say Never Cause Sometimes We Do The Very Thing We Said We Would Never Do!
by Julia Thomas
It is part of human nature for us to seek ultimate happiness and to want more than what our eyes have ever seen. As life is never perfect, people tend to get frustrated about their lives, and in the process they eventually lose their sense of purpose.
Never Say Never is a compelling new novel about the lives four young women of a colour whose friendship dates back to childhood. It presents the story of how their lives emerged from early adolescence into adulthood. Through the pages of this work, readers will meet an unforgettable quartet — Amanda, a successful doctor, LaNae an entrepreneur, Monique, a hairstylist, and Celeste, an educator — and through each of their stories, they will witness the obstacles that comes with careers, their own search for meaning and happiness, and ultimately discover their relationships that evolve around family, friendship and love.
Through friendship, these women grow and evolve, both individually and collectively. The message of this book is clear: You might not know yourself as well as you think you do or know what you want out of life and everything that shows up unplanned is not an unfortunate thing.
Reviews
Insightful, funny, and thought provoking.,
By Malcolm's Mom "M&M's Mommy" (
As an avid reader I am always looking for a book that opens my eyes to
new experiences. The four heroines in Never Say Never, were down to
earth, likable characters that had not so typical experiences. I loved
the way the author demonstrated how the choices we make in life have
consequences (good or bad) that we have to live with. I would say that
a great theme for this book is "You reap what you sow." I will take
from this book a renewed belief in the Golden Rule.
http://www.myspacecom/juliasaysneversaynever
www.2.xlibris.com/bookstore
www.amazon.com 
Bare Necessities: Sensuous Tales of Passion, coming April 2008 from Xpress Yourself Publishing
Bare Necessities: Sensuous Tales of Passion is a collection of short erotic stories that explore passions that are buried deep in the subconscious as well as those that lie just beneath the surface and are easily exposed. The characters of each sizzling story experience passions that explode and send them hurling into a fiery universe of sensuous pleasure.
CONTEST:
Get BARE and win $100!
CLICK HERE to find out more.
www.hazelmillsstories.com
www.myspace.com/hazelmillsstories
www.kathyjmarsh.com
www.myspace.com/kathyjmarsh
The Aura of Love: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uym0fJ6dD7c
Quotes
"Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn't stop to enjoy it."
-William Feather
1889-1981, Writer
“Self-trust is the first secret of success.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson, poet
“We write because we believe the human spirit cannot be tamed and should not be trained.”
- Nikki Giovanni
Birthdays
We'd like to celebrate and announce the following ASA members birthdays. If it weren't for birthdays, we wouldn't be able to pursue our passions and grow into superb human beings.
Happy Birthday To YOUUUU!!!!! 
May 21 - Shani Greene- Dowdell
May 18 - Tinisha Nicole Johnson
June 19 - Cinsearae Santiago
FREE!!!
Enter to Win A FREE Gift Bag from ASA Enter to win TODAY! 10 random winners per month 
Interested in receiving a free gift bag of promo items mailed to you? If so, go to www.freewebs.com/asanetwork sign up for our newsletter and then click on Enter To Win
Gift bags will contain any of the following items in combination: bookmarks, flyers, brochures, coupons,
postcards, books, notepads, journals, gift certificates, and other items deemed appropriate.
*Authors who are interested in supplying promo materials, free books, gift certificates, bookmarks, flyers, or other
promo material, for our monthly give-a-way gift bags, please Contact: Tinisha Johnson at her website www.tinishanicolejohnson.com Click on ‘Contact’ In the comment field please reference: ASA PROMO FOR GIFT BAGS
Free Banner Exchange
Calling all businesses, authors, book clubs, entrepreneurs, groups etc. Would you like us to place your banner on our website?
If so go to the site: www.freewebs.com/asanetwork and click on Contact Us.
We will place your banner on our site, in exchange for our banner. You can find ASA's banner on the home page.
Author Events & News Kathy J Marsh was born and raised in May 2-3rd ~ Walking in Abundance Conference ============================================================ On The crowd came out and showed them much love. Friends, family and book lovers alike came to support both authors. Each guest who purchased their books received gift bags stuffed with books and promotional material donated by other author friends. For those that purchased both authors books, and most of the people in attendance did, got raffle tickets for the beautiful gift baskets the authors had created. The baskets included two small Spa Day baskets, a Literary Lovers basket filled with signed books by some industry majors, a Romance Basket, The Freak in You basket (actually won by a MAN) and the huge Quiet Time Basket. All in all, everyone said they had a wonderful time and appreciated all of Gayle and To view photo’s from the authors launch party visit their websites Visit Gayle Jackson-Sloan at: www.gaylejacksonsloan.com ================================================ Tamara Angela Grant, author of Promises Made, Promises Kept is not only an author, but her other passion is cooking and =============================================== Tinisha Nicole Johnson, author of Searchable Whereabouts had an excellent Virtual Book Tour for the month of March through www.pumpupyourbookpromotion.com Searchable Whereabouts is a mystery novel and the story of Rahkel Williams who’s trying to unravel the mysterious death of her uncle, but finds clues into his life that has her thinking he may not be the man she knew. Get a visual look into the authors book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkC6oC_v5Yc Visit Tinisha at her website: www.tinishanicolejohnson.com "This is one of those book where you can get absorbed in the story not realizing several hours has passed - I didn't want to put the book down until I knew "whodunit." — Rachel Laudiero, OldMustyBooks.com "...a thriller with charm...there are life-stories to be told." "I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened next. With all the twists and turns, I would have never guessed the ending. It had a really good plot and I fell in love with the characters." ================================================= ======================================================================================== =============================================== “Thanks to all that came and showed support, called and wished me well and those that were with me in spirit. Lawd a sister is tired. I did two book signings with Rique Johnson today and tomorrow I have another with William Frederick Cooper.” – Tina Visit Tina to learn more: =================================================
Julia Thomas author of Never Say Never
April 6th ~ Private Book signing party Location (TBD)
Ambassador Hotel in Victorville
May 11th DivineSisterz Of
In 
Visit Victoria Wells at: www.victoria-wells.com
entertaining. She’s stepped out on faith and started her own event planning company. Check out her website. She will be doing book events for authors. So authors if you are in the ATL area, check her out. She will help with planning, decor, and catering for your book events.
www.eventsby
www.tamragrant.com 
— Keith, editor of Unheardwords
—Knevits Stephens, Armchair Interviews 
(from Left to Right) Linda R Herman, Tina Brooks McKinney and Jennifer Coissiere of APOOO Book Club
Consequences: When Love is Blind by Linda R. Herman is getting much praise.
Purchase a copy and check out the awesome reviews at Amazon.com
Visit Linda: www.myspace.com/lrhbooks
Author Violette Reid will discuss and sign her new breakout fantasy novel at the following locations:
March 27th (
April 6th – Book Launch at Vino Libra (
April 12th –
April 26th –
The First Chronicle of Zayashariya: OUT OF NIGHT
by Violette L. Reid
Sorcery, slaughter, and struggle with self, Out of Night provides a spiritual twist that units fantasy ans science fiction with the battle with faith and numimous world.
Tina Brooks McKinney’s book release party for Fool Stop Trippin’ was a success. In all, Tina gave away a total of 16 gift baskets, each with no less than 4 books in it. In all she had eight attending authors (Marsha Jenkins Sanders, Rique Johnson, William Frederick Cooper, Thomas Green, Peron F. Long, and D.L. Sparks.)
Each was given an opportunity to present their books and some sold out of their copies.
www.tinamckinney.com
www.myspace.com/tinamckinney
Author and Literary Coach Tamara Angela Grant is offering the first in the So You Want to be an Author seminars!
There will be a teleconference in which you can learn what it takes to get your feet wet in the literary world!
How do you turn your ideas into a best selling book? Learn about what it takes to be in the Business of Books!
Please visit www.thinking-outsidethebox.com for more details!
You've written your book, now who knows about it? Writing your book doesn't just end at the writing process, that's where the fun begins! As your Literary Coach, my job is to help you to shape your image as an author as well as help you to increase your promotion efforts to get your book into the reader's hands!
Affordable prices that fit in your budget!!!
Contact Tamara Angela Grant @
www.thinking-outsidethebox.com
or tamara.grant@hotmail.com
for more details!!!
=================================================
On June 1, ASA members Hazel Mills, Linda R. Herman, and Shani Greene-Dowdell had the pleasure of dining with SBS Book Club at Houlihans in Columbus, GA. The conversation topic of the evening was Mocha Chocolate and a wonderful time was had by all! A special thanks to SBS President, Mashawn, for organizing this event.
Book offer valid while supplies last - 3 books for $25; Single book for $10. Contact sunshineroyal75@yahoo.com
=================================================
On June 2, the authors also met fellow ASA member, Kolayah KeeVan, who hosted their book signing at The Gnu Room in Auburn, Alabama, Home of the Tigers! It was so cool meeting the phenomenal poet who mesmerized us with his spoken word.