SouthWest Writers of Albuquerque, New Mexico is sponsoring a class on creating book covers for people who want to self-publish. Rose Marie Kern and Kathy Louise Schuit are combining their talents for three thursday afternoon zoom classes.
Class dates and times: October 7,14 & 21 from 3-5 pm MT. Cost: $ 10 per hour for SWW members ($60); $15 per hour for nonmembers ($90). Registration information is available at www.southwestwriters.com/classes/
The New Mexico/Arizona Book Awards just announced their 2021 list of finalists. Among the books listed are ones that were published via RMK Publications. Those books and the catagories they are up for include:
The Flypaper Witch Murders written by Mary Candace Mize is a finalist in three categories: Fiction: Crime – Fiction Historical and 1st Book-New Mexico
Fiction Anthology Category: Seeing the World in 20/20 A collection of award winning stories and poetry from the SouthWest Writers Annual contest
Another RMK author, Jacqueline Murray Loring, whose book Bridge to Socorro was just released, is a finalist in the Political/Current Events category for her book Vietnam Veterans Unbroken.
Congratulations to all of you!
All of these book are currently available on Amazon.
RMK Publications announces the release of “My 40-Year Dialogue with Jesus” by Listens to Father Sky aka Ramon Sanchez. Click here for more information.
Here is a list of things to consider before you go with either the traditional or self-publishing (Indie) route.
Traditional Publishing Pros
Traditional Publishing Cons
Self Publishing Pros
Self Publishing Cons
It is always a joyful time after months of formatting, revision, cover design, and more revisions, when you can finally hit the big yellow PUBLISH button! Assisting Verne Lucero and his wife, Christy in creating “My Blessed Street” was fun – this memoir hits home to anyone with interest in early 20th century life in New Mexico and how faith can carry you through some really tough times. Click here for more information.
The lust for glory and fortune are as old as the origins of mankind.
Obsession, unbridled, can result in the destruction of the individual and the people they love. Toro – The Naked Bull is such a tale.
Luis Montoya, oldest of the Famed Montoya Bullfighting family is dashing with a lust for power and women. Soon he is to be anointed “greatest” Matador adored by the residents of Villa de Candelaria and much of Europe. He is handsome, charismatic, brash and driven, thirsty for fame and the spoils which accompany it. Luis’ relentless quest for power comes at the expense of anything or anyone. Luis is also the object of Gabriella’s heart. She is the untouched, beautiful daughter of one of the town’s hardest working toolmakers, Juan Trujillo.
Simone, a younger brother, is an honorable man and an accomplished Matador in his own right. He is often troubled by his calling as a Matador, but carries on the Montoya family tradition of bullfighting.
It has often been said that the brave have no fear. Bullfighters know this is false. They live with danger, fear becomes a familiar acquaintance. The Toro is bred to wield chaos and fury in the dirt circle. The bullfighter knows he is totally exposed amid the mighty forces of the bull, just inches away.
In Spain, in the early1950’s, when bullfighting was a cultural tradition of almost mythical proportions. Its people love and admire Matadors and the trappings and pageantry of the Corida. For some, Matadors are defined for their bravery and defiance of death. Bulls (toros) are also held in great regard for their strength, spirit, ferocity and courage. The juxtaposition between the courage and skills required to address and defeat a 1600 pound raging bull, against the terror of being impaled is a metaphor for life in TORO – The Naked Bull. The spectacle of Corrida – bullfighting with its pageantry, protocols, power, fame, bravery, and romantic ideal makes for a powerful saga. Add the elements of betrayal, loyalty, resentment, and love amongst the Montoya brothers and the cocktail of family rivalry and chaos explodes .
The smite of the Toro is furious. The forces of destiny persist amid any attempt to sway its course. Destiny comes. It always comes.
A native of Albuquerque, New Mexico USA and a graduate of the University of New Mexico, Jeffrey started TORO-The Naked Bull as a life project in 2008 inspired by child and teen year experiences, including numerous trials and tribulations while growing up in Albuquerque. After he survived a car crash at ten killing his mother Shirley, he was raised by his hard-working grandfather and domineering grandmother in a lower middle-class area of Albuquerque.
Thrust into a new world absent of his mother, he experienced love, dysfunction, violence, isolation, a quality education and a childhood rife with contradictions, all of which inspired the compelling saga of TORO-The Naked Bull.
As an adult he worked across multiple disciplines including, Sales and Marketing, Corporate Relations, Media Relations, Behavioral Economic Sales & Training and has hosted various Television Programs.
Currently, Jeffrey is the host of a weekly opinion and interview style radio show called “The Gauntlet of Truth” on a 50,000-watt radio station in Albuquerque. He is a professional drummer and enjoys: public speaking, writing, reading, astronomy, running and biking. Jeffrey is married to an incredible woman, Nancy.
The New Mexico Press Women have announced the winners of their 2021 Communications Contest and two books published through RMK Publications took awards!
The Flypaper Witch Murders by Mary Candace Mize came in 2nd place in the Historical Fiction category.
Seeing the World in 20/20 by SouthWest Writers took Honorable Mention in the Anthologies division.
Although not all of our talented authors choose to enter their books into the various contests, we are very proud to have contributed to the success of those who do.
Rose M. Kern’s book on Creating Microclimates for High Desert Gardening took first place in the Crafts division of the New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards. This annual event is sponsored by the New Mexico Book Coop. (http://nmbookcoop.com). It has 48 categories of prose, poetry, fiction, non-fiction and more.
This compilation is the result of years of experimentation while producing large quantities of fruits, vegetables and flowers in the New Mexico high desert. It discusses how weather extremes can be modified with advance planning.
The book is available on Amazon. Click Here
The Flypaper Witch Murders by Mary Candace Mize is now available for sale in both print and ebook formats through Amazon. Although fictionalized, the story, set in Hungary after WWII, is based on actual events which took place in a small village after the men returned from fighting in the war.
Although the crux of the tale evolves from the pain of a young woman whose gentle father was cruelly murdered by men who’d returned home from the war, the story ripples through the lives of many villagers. It is richly endowed with love turned to ashes, personal hopes and fears and flavored with the desires, frustrations and triumphs of every day existence.
For more information you can check out Mary Candace’s website: https://www.theflypaperwitchmurders.com
Most people see the restrictions being placed on public gatherings and movement due to the coronavirus as a royal pain in the…well, you know what. However for those of us with the need to express ourselves through the written word, the enforced inactivity has a silver lining.
If you have been frustrated because there is a story or article in your head that has been fighting to get out – well now is the time! There are a plethora of short story and poetry contests going on for those who just want to sharpen their skills or need a “writer’s Block” diversion from a book project. One of the best is from SouthWest Writers in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Their contest has 11 categories with separate awards for prose and poetry in each category. First place in each category is $50 and 2nd place is $25, and that is not all. The authors of winning entries are given the option of having their work published in an anthology by SouthWest Writers! www.southwestwriters.com
As for books, this is an ideal time to finish your project – especially those who want to self-publish. Finish the fun part – the writing – and get serious about the steps you will need to take to get to publication including:
Remember if you need help with any of this, RMK Publications can help.
Also, for those engaged in either fiction writing or memoir writing there is an excellent book out entitled Revising Fiction by Kirt Hickman. (Even though Memoirs are not fictional, they are written in the same styles as fictional stories rather than non-fictional reference materials.)
Any challenge in life offers options – this one actually encourages you to succeed in something dear to your heart, because now you have the time to do it!
