A Personal Note From Jess: I Believe in You Motivational Message: Fall Seven Times, Stand Up Eight IAOAA Happenings: Local Chapters Forming Writing & Publishing Tips: Finding a Publisher in Your Niche Freebies: Free Press Release Template Marketplace: IAoAA Member Merchandise Feature Article: Can I Find a Publisher After Self-Publishing? About IAOAA: Addressing Specific Needs of Aspiring Authors About Jess Kennedy Williams: Founder of IAOAA Volume 1, Issue 2 March, 2010 Published every month. You are on our list because you signed up for one of our programs. To change your subscription, click the link at end of this eZine. If you would like to view this eZine as a webpage CLICK HERE.

We had a fabulous Virtual Launch Party with a great turn out. I want to thank Rick Frishman, Ellen Reid, Warren Whitlock and Stefanie Hartman for being our guests. They were all terrific and came loaded with great information for aspiring authors. I also want to thank all of the members who attended the virtual launch party. Thank you for your support. I appreciate you more than you will ever know. You are very special to me, and I want all of you to become rich and famous authors! I want this to be the year you write your book and get it published. What can we do to make that happen? We are working behind the scenes to find resources to help you get your book published. We are going to be talking with published authors, literary agents, and publishers, to get the insider information on what it takes to get a publishing deal. We will do everything in our power to help you get your book written and published. I believe in you, and I look forward to helping you create your success story. Gambaru! Never, ever give up!

Fall Seven Times, Stand Up Eight. When I read this I knew that it was going to be this month's motivational message. In fact, it resonated with me so much that I bought a bracelet from Signals catalog with the saying engraved on it. It's good to keep visual reminders around to keep you motivated. Fall Seven Times, Stand Up Eight.  It means if you get turned down by seven publishers, send your manuscript off to the eighth. If you get turned down by 98 publishers, send your manuscript off to the 99th. Keep trying and don't give up. Your persistence is what will make you stand out from the crowd, and ultimately lead to your success.

Local chapters are now forming internationally. We have local chapters open and coming soon in: St. Petersburg, Florida Largo, Florida Tampa, Florida Rogue Valley, Oregon Extreme NE Georgia Bear, Delaware Clearwater, Florida Phoenix, Arizona Southern Ontario, Canada Indian Rocks Beach, Florida Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Marina del Rey, California This is just the beginning. Please contact jess @ associationofaspiringauthors .com if you are interested in opening a local chapter in your area.

If you are trying to find a traditional publisher or agent, I recommend buying the book, Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, and Literary Agents 2010. I read through it and could not put it down. They not only have publishers and agents listed by genre, they have interviews with them so that you know what they are looking for, and some information about their personal lives. Try to find one that you have something in common with, who works in your genre.  Mentioning something about their hobby, or favorite vacation spot, will add that personal touch that will let the publisher or agent know that you have done your homework.  That could be the difference that gets you a publishing contract.

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Free Niche Market Finder at www.sandrosalsi.com Free Press Release Template at www.sandrosalsi.com Monetize your book's content. Create & publish online companion guides. Expand the reach and impact of your print or e-book. Publish Your Knowledge in an Online Genie, and Keep 100% of the Profit at www.myknowledgegenie.com Free 30 minute strategy session with Jess at www.VIPAuthorCoach.com

We now have official International Association of Aspiring Authors member merchandise available for sale. T-shirts, hats, mugs, mousepads, writing journals, sweatshirts, and more. Click here to shop for member merchandise. You can also buy Gambaru! merchandise at the same place. Click here to shop for Gambaru merchandise.

If I self-publish my book, can I still get a traditional publisher to publish my book? That is one of the most frequently asked questions by aspiring authors. I am happy to say the answer is yes! There are numerous stories about an author self-publishing their book, making it a success, and then getting a publishing deal. Here are three examples… James Redfield sold 80,000 copies of The Celestine Prophecy from the trunk of his car. He then sold the reprint rights to Warner Books for $800,000. The book has gone on to sell 5.5 million copies. In 2001, Lisa Daily self-published her book, Stop Getting Dumped. With the help of publicist Sherri Rosen, she attracted so much publicity for the book that she was able to sell the rights to Penguin for a tidy sum. Business consultant Tom Peters self-published In Search of Excellence and sold more than 25,000 copies directly to consumers in the first year. He then sold the rights to Warner, whose edition has gone on to sell more than 10 million copies. Those are very encouraging stories. Instead of waiting around for a publisher, why not self-publish? This will give you time to build your following, which is what traditional publishers want to see. They are not much interested in just a good story or great writing. They are looking for authors who have a platform, are well-known, and can sell lots of books. Sure, it would be great to get a contract with a publisher which includes a million dollar advance. But, while you are waiting for that, you could be selling your book, building your platform, and making yourself more attractive to publishers. Publish or self-publish? You just have to do what feels right to you. I say, go for it. Self-publish and get your book out there, while you keep looking for that golden publishing deal. You could be the next great success story!

International Association of Aspiring Authors is the only organization created to cater to the specific needs of the aspiring author. Free membership is available online at www.AssociationofAspiringAuthors.com, featuring a writer's critique forum, a discussion forum, publishing options, resources, tips from celebrity advisors, featured articles, monthly tele-conferences, and so much more. LOCAL CHAPTERS NOW FORMING.

Jess Kennedy Williams' passion for helping aspiring authors pursue their dream of writing their first book has led her to create many programs and resources to help the first time author, including the How to Write Your First Book - Book Writing System, the Pyro-Writing System, Aspiring Author Coaching, Instant eBook Author Coaching, and the only membership site to address the specific needs of the aspiring author, the International Association of Aspiring Authors. She lives in paradise, also known as Treasure Island, Florida, with the love of her life, Kevin, the most lovable dog in the world, Stewie, and her beloved cat, Angel.

Copyright 2010 Jess Kennedy Williams. All rights reserved.