Editor update

After searching for editors and despairing over their fees last year, I posted my lament on my other blogsite, on letterdash (24.com). One of the self-published authors there who has an impeccable command of the English language as well as personal yachting experience (! - how lucky can I get!) came forward and suggested he help me edit my books.

Thank you, Lesley Hyla Winton Noble, author of Tabika (1 and 2), Baa Baa Black Belt and Regina! (All available on Lulu.com too.) L'chaim and here's to a long and prosperous association!

that purple monster

There are certain ways of NOT going about publicity.

Reputation is imperative. I noticed this with my studio... reputation is invisible, they will never tell you what they heard about you. But you will feel it, in people's attitudes and in your numbers. I'm now at the point in my violin studio where I can tell a prospective student to the face, "my fees are quite high", and they sign on anyway. Reputation pops out in small ways - strangers call in and ask for lessons, and when I tell them my name (our posters have no name on them, just numbers), they say, "aah!". (Not, "aargh!" - LOL!)

Now the best way to ruin a reputation right on the outset is to set up a truly professional, highly visible, public event - and then make an unprofessional mess of it. People remember. "Ah! Lyz Russo - that idiot woman who set up all her books here and then brought the creche to tear down the place! We couldn't eat our breakfast in peace! She and her rugrats also put us off looking at the gallery. Eww!"

I shan't set up another booksigning until the following are in place:

• a bookshop calls for it
• there have been newspaper reviews and the book is freely available
• the book is making waves

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY

• someone is babysitting - paid for the day, preferably in another city!

How is it that when a woman dumps her children on her husband in an important professional event, they feel sorry for the man and they regard her as a selfish, inept mother? But when a father dumps his children on his wife while she's busy with an important professional event, onlookers feel sorry for him and regard her as an inept professional and a selfish woman who is an inept mother and wife?

I can see why behind every successful man there is a very active wife -
behind every successful woman there's a broken marriage!

What am I doing wrong?

Another "book signing" with me hanging about uselessly for 5 hours. People saw the books and the poster. They did nothing. One acquaintance came and bought - one of mine and 2 of Les' books.

If people rave why doesn't this book sell? And if it's not selling, why do they rave? What's going on here?

Yippeeh a sweet Review!

Jinxed? Nah. The only thing that seems to be jinxed at this point are my megabytes!

Fran Lewis, author of the Bertha series of books and Memories are Precious, decided to review the Solar Wind volume 1 for me. I kept her waiting (not by choice) for an easy 3 months and yet she was still prepared to review, and wrote me a stunning review (which I'll be sending to all newspapers I can come up with).

Here it is:

Powerfully written: Mind Stimulating: Terrifying and Full of Twists and Turns:

(The mystery of)

The Solar Wind

By Lyz Russo

Secrets, mysteries, lies, deceptions, intrigue and murder are just some of what you will encounter when you board the Solar Wind for your journey into the 22nd century. This will not be just any ordinary journey, it will keep you spellbound, alert, terrified, inquisitive and more, to learn about the new regime and the new world powers of the year 2116 and just what changes are in store for you. With a cast of characters so diversified, yet so alike, you will want to not only learn the reasons why each crewmember signed on to the Solar Wind, but go along with them on their dangerous journey to find freedom and safety in a world filled with fear.

The world is not the same any more. The governments in most parts of the world are no longer democratic. The Unicate and the Rebellion are two opposing World Domination Governments that have taken over and captured many countries on both the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts. Let’s meet the Captain of the Solar Wind: Radomir Lascek, who sails his illegal trader ship around the world doing shady deals and illegal trading of ships and much more. Next we have three teenagers that were rescued and brought aboard in Dublin, escaping the wrath of the Unicate Government. What would happen if everyone in the world that needs medical care did not have to pay a co-payment for service but instead a hefty fee for a medical care license, just like a driver’s license? This license has to be renewed on a yearly basis and if you cannot afford the fee, you do not get the care. What would happen if you had to flee your country because you were accused of murder but did not commit one? Wait until you learn why and how the Donegal kids came to work and live on the Solar Wind: Paean, who has the ability to forecast when something bad will happen and has an understanding of herbal medicine and more; and her two brothers Ronan and Shawn who have skills of their own that make all three invaluable to the captain of this dangerous ship.

There are many more interesting characters: Federi the gypsy, who has a secret of his own; the captain himself, the doctor and the centenarian, and all of the others on this ship who are trying to escape the government and find freedom. But will they?

And what about the mysterious Ailyss who is on the ship but seems cold and stays to herself? Paean tries to befriend her, but is aware that she might be dangerous. Paean is the one character that you can fall in love with despite everything that is going on. She is tough, adventurous, kind, straightforward and will do anything to win the captain’s favor even if it means breaking the rules. Proud that she is now considered part of the crew and a pirate, she does more than her share to keep everyone stitched up, safe and properly hydrated with her own brand of medicine and coffee.

Added to this mix is the captain of the Hun, Anya Miller, an angry bounty hunter who was humiliated by our captain and will resort to anything to bring him in and collect the reward.

Most importantly let us meet the Solar Wind, the most unique ship ever to sail the seas. A ship that has more sensors than the government and more eyes than the FBI of CIA when tracking predators, sharks, change of temperature and current. This ship is smarter than any person that mans it and its computer is constantly processing the information from the sensors all the time. Elusive and able to change appearances, its name and location, this ship can hide from just about anyone. Or can it?

The Unicate with its army of Stabilizers is trying to track the Solar Wind, with the help of Anya Miller. With the crew of several other ships aiding him, our captain manages to escape capture and get through the Panama Canal almost unscathed. But what happens next will astound the reader and only author Lyz Russo can tell it in her brilliant way and keep the reading on edge throughout the entire novel.

Their frightening finds on the Pacific island of Hiva Oa lead them to a trap that endangers the lives of two of the crewmembers. Vanishing lizards; killed tourists. Sunken treasure ships that were not supposed to be there, with fifteen skeletons left behind. Shawn Donegal steals a metal device from the body of a dead hobo, and Paean, wanting to return it, soon finds out that this is the missing piece of a data capsule from the Hun, and might provide the information they need to uncover what the Unicate had planned. Going back for the rest of the bounty, both Federi and Marsden are captured.

Throughout the novel the reader learns about Federi and his life before coming to the Solar Wind in letters he writes to his sister. Paean decides to keep some of her thought on paper too, helping the reader to understand her even more.

Who is the spy for the Unicate or the Rebellion on the ship? What happens when another ship’s crew comes on board and the Captain of the Solar Wind befriends them?

Keeping the enemy busy on board their ship allows Captain and Jon Marsden the time to dig deeper into the information on the two capsules, continuing their spy work right under the Unicate’s nose. For years the Unicate has hunted the Solar Wind hoping to finish off the rest of the crew that they led into a trap two years before. Is the Solar Wind at the heart of a political plot against the Unicate?

With the Unicate aboard and the Rebellion on their tails, the crew struggle on through a storm. But what is wrong with the radar? The Captain demonstrates his power over the ship and his ability to control it in his own elusive way. But then the rebel ships capture Paean and Sherman; and Federi, Rushka and Ronan Donegal will stop at nothing to find them both. With Paean and Sherman in trouble Federi risks more than his position on the Solar Wind to save them.

Who is the spy and why is this person on the ship? What does happen, will surprise the reader and renew your faith in loyalty, friendship and understanding. Will the Solar Wind ever be free from the Unicate or the Rebellion forces? Will the world succumb to being dominated by evil? Wait for the sequel and find out!

I never give stars so I will give this book FIVE SOLAR WINDS THAT HAVE AN INVISIBLE SHIELD TO HIDE FROM THE UNICATE AND REBELLION FORCES TO SAFETY AND FREEDOM: In the words of our amazing author: DONEGAL MAGIC PREVAILS

Fran Lewis: Reviewer and author of Memories are Precious and the Bertha Series of Books.