THE TRUTH ABOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL

This is truly a delightful book written by our youngest author, 13-year old Reyna Hurand, of Flint, Michigan. It's her second story published, and this young author captures the very essence of being a teenager facing Middle School for the first time. You don't have to be in that difficult age that we all go through to understand the heroine's fears and concerns when she enters Middle School for the first time.Will she be able to become part of the "in" crowd? Will other girls - and boys, of course! - like her? What about her teachers? Can she handle all those classes with different instructors and keep her sanity? Reyna writes using the language of today's girls and boys of that age - sometimes a foreign language to adults - and she does it with humor and great knowledge of that generation that just entered their teen years.Follow the school year with Isabel - "Is" for short - and walk with her the crowded halls of the Middle School. A book for kids 12 to 16... or older, why not?Reyna Hurand shows great talent at 13, and we look forward to her next story and... the next... and the next...

The Truth About Middle School

This is truly a delightful book written by our youngest author, 13-year old Reyna Hurand, of Flint, Michigan. It's her second story published, and this young author captures the very essence of being a teenager facing Middle School for the first time. You don't have to be in that difficult age that we all go through to understand the heroine's fears and concerns when she enters Middle School for the first time.
Will she be able to become part of the "in" crowd? Will other girls - and boys, of course! - like her? What about her teachers? Can she handle all those classes with different instructors and keep her sanity? Reyna writes using the language of today's girls and boys of that age - sometimes a foreign language to adults - and she does it with humor and great knowledge of that generation that just entered their teen years.
Follow the school year with Isabel - "Is" for short - and walk with her the crowded halls of the Middle School. A book for kids 12 to 16... or older, why not?
Reyna Hurand shows great talent at 13, and we look forward to her next story and the next and the next...

Pennies From Heaven

The latest book published by OMNI Book Publishing is a tasteful work by Mr. Samuel J. Elliott, a complete artist from North Carolina.

"Pennies From Heaven" brings us Mr. Elliott's poems enhanced by his photographs and paintings, and together they form a beautiful book. This is a combination of the visual and sensitive expressions through poetry; these are poems that are easy to understand and that depict his life as a talented artist who is proud of his land and heritage. From his great-great grandfather in the early 1800s, a Presbyterian missionary who rescued the Dakota Indians and baptized and saved over 300 in one day to other members of his family who were the first founders of the famous Underground Railroad, we hear their stories told by Mr. Elliott with pride. This is a testimony to always endure and never give up. It is his message to be heard at this time of trials for many people.

A grant from the Arts Council oif Hendersonville, North Carolina, opened the door for Mr. Elliott to fulfill his dream of seeing his art and talent published for all of us to enjoy.

A beautiful book to own and to give to others.

As a publisher, we do enjoy promoting our authors and their work. Check out our authors and their wonderful books here: OMNI Book Store.

PENNIES FROM HEAVEN

Our latest book to be published is "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN' by Mr. Samuel J. Elliott. This is a tasteful combination of the visual along with sensitive expressions through poetry.
The author is a native of Western North Carolina who has written poems and articles for a long time, and has enhanced his art with his own photographs and paintings. A grant from the Art Council of Hendersonville, North Carolina, gave Mr. Elliott the chance to fulfill his dream of publishing his work and have it placed in the Internet and its distributors.
His poems are clear and concise and tell about his emotions, his sad and happy moments, and show his pride for family and their past. The Elliott family was part of the first founders of the famous Underground Railroad, and our author proudly tells us their story.
This is a book to buy for ourselves and to give to others as a gift of beauty and love.

Finding Fairyland by Barry Poupard

As a publisher, we enjoy promoting our authors and their published work. Check out our authors and their wonderful books here: OMNI Book Store.

This week, we are promoting a lovely children's story by Barry Poupard, Finding Fairyland.

When Julia saw the first brownish-white mushroom near the far edge of the woods, she looked past it thinking it was only a curled leaf. Then she saw another a foot or so away and she stopped walking. She scanned between the two and then imagined a line connecting them. She looked in an arc from there and found a bunch of three mushrooms and then another and several more even further around in a circle.

“Stop!” she called to McKenna who had continued walking along the trail. Julia saw the definite outline of a ring.

McKenna ran back to her and Julia pointed to the ground. “See it? It’s a circle of mushrooms. We found a fairy ring!”

Barry Poupard was born and raised in Michigan and has lived, gone to school, worked, and wrote there for most of his life. He has two kids, a boy and a girl, now grown and on their own. Though he has worked a variety of jobs, he spent the longest time working in a bookstore. He never considered writing books for younger readers until his friend asked him to write a story about her daughters that she could read to them. Keep in touch with Barry on his blog/Web site: http://barrypoupard.com/

We welcome you to try our services. We know you will be pleased. Welcome to OMNI Book Publishing.

Dark Moon Over Berlin by Christina Brett

As a publisher, we do enjoy promoting our authors and their work. Check out our authors and their wonderful books here: OMNI Book Store.

This week, we are promoting an incredible story by Christina Brett, Dark Moon Over Berlin.

Remember those unforgettable 1940s movies where the heroine is spunky and funny, more American than apple pie, and at the same time intelligent and gutsy? Margaret Stapff, a History teacher turned secretary, fits this description to a T.

Her change of jobs takes her closer to her dream of doing something useful and to become God’s thumb to squish Hitler flat, and before she can say “Heil-you-know-who” she’s put in the midst of war-torn Berlin with two missions: one to server her country, and the other to find out what happened to Paul - her lover, her boss, the only man she could love.

The story shows Maggie playing the role of a Baroness fallen into bad times, of a spy who is not afraid of spiders, of a woman whose golden heart will put her in danger if she’s not careful, of a woman in love who went to the very bowels of Hitler’s Berlin to find out what happened to Paul.

History and fiction are mixed in this story that will keep you turning pages until you reach the end.

Christina Brett has been writing for over twenty years. Starting with travel articles, she later graduated to short stories, then to full-size novels, and “Dark Moon Over Berlin” is her fifth one in print.

Originally from Uruguay, South America, Ms. Brett now lives in Michigan with part of her family and her sassy cat Nash. Look her up at www.christinabrett.com.

We recommend reading this wonderful story by Christina Brett.

We welcome you to try our services. We know you will be pleased. Welcome to OMNI Book Publishing.

Voices in Verse by Floriana Hall and The Poet's Nook

As a publisher, we do enjoy promoting our authors and their work. Check out our authors and their wonderful books here: OMNI Book Store.

This week, we are promoting a wonderful poetry compilation by Floriana Hall and The Poet's Nook with Voices in Verse. These twenty talented poets from Akron and Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio as well as the surrounding areas comprise The Poet's Nook. Floriana Hall founded the group ten years ago as a means to promote the art of wholesome poetry, rhyme or free verse, to help further children's interest in poetry by holding a Children's Poetry Contest each spring. They also promote charitable organizations in the community.

This exceptional book is broken down by each poet and their specific works. Some poems are prize winners or have been published in other books or magazines. There are also the poems that have never been published prior to Voices in Verse. Each poet creates beautiful imagery and weaves words that allow the reader into each poet's world.

We recommend you read this incredible work of poetry by Floriana Hall and The Poet's Nook.

We welcome you to try our services. We know you will be pleased. Welcome to OMNI Book Publishing.

Street Smarts 101 by Mike Lantis

As a publisher, we do like to promote our published authors. Check out our authors and their wonderful books here: http://www.omnibookpublishing.com/store/.

This week, we are promoting Mike Lantis who wrote Street Smarts 101. His book focuses on proper decision-making and learning how to figure out the reasons behind making a good decision. We all know what leads to a bad decision, but making that key decision at the right moment and figuring out how to get there are always harder to ascertain. Mike helps the reader determine these things logically as well as provides the different situations in order to think properly so when we actually come across these things, we are more prepared to handle them.

Mike Lantis grew up in Jackson, Michigan, and currently resides in that area. He received his BA from Spring Arbor University and majored in Management and Organizational Development. Throughout the course of his career, Mike has held several key sales positions in different arenas, and was Director of Operations at an employment firm located in the Midwest. Over the years, he has volunteered service to the Catholic Church and to the development of young men through the community recreation department. Mike is most proud of his two sons, Zachary and Jacob. Contact Mike through his official Web site here: http://www.streetsmarts101thebook.com/

We recommend you read Mike's pertinent book.

We welcome you to try our services. We know you will be pleased. Welcome to OMNI Book Publishing.

De-Stress Yourself before You Write

Funny... I wrote the title of this week's blog and shook my head in disbelief. Look who's talking!.  I write my stories and blogs at my desk while waiting for reply emails or for telephone calls, and I can assure you that it doesn't work well. 

Then I look at my desk and groan. What do I see on it? Piles of papers, folders, pens (the same ones that I cannot find when I look for them), and many other items that form the clutter I hate. Sometimes I say that I must clean my desk so I remember the color of the wood it's made of...

First.  If I lived in an ideal world, my desk would be completely clear of clutter, with my computer and my glass of water handy, and all the reference books would be neatly tucked in the bookcase at my back.  I'd find the right picture and place right in front of me. That picture would be a photograph taken at some unforgettable place when I was visibly happy and relaxed. I'd want to trigger my memory of that experience on my subconscious mind, breaking the circle of stressful thoughts.

Second.  I'd add a living thing to my desk. A flower in a cute little vase, a small plant, such as a miniature ivy, or a goldfish.  Just looking at any of those living creations can be effective and subtly override a stressful mind. 

Third.  I'd have handy a meaningful souvenir. An item like a rock, a crystal, some small item purchased during a significant visit to some place that has remained in your mind, or an item given to you by someone wonderful.

Fourth.  Try your best to clear your mind of other stressful thoughts and just concentrate on your writing. Try to BE there at the scene with the characters; try to picture in your mind their surroundings during the scene being written; focus on their dialogue so that it sounds realistic and not artificial; and most of all, re-read after you write.  It may happen to you as well, but when I write what I'm thinking I sometimes skip a word if I'm going too fast therefore I have to go over and see that the idea is complete before I move to the next paragraph.

Of course, the above works for me and I cannot assume that it will work for you as well. Maybe I should add a fifth point... I need silence when I write. Sometimes I can't even have music playing (soft, 'elevator' music, never the noisy kind), but not every one is like me, obviously.  Like those teenagers who need a blasting stereo to do their homework, some grown ups fit that category – but that's something that I cannot understand.  Do whatever YOU feel to make yourself at home writing and creating... but DO IT!  Don't wait for a miracle to see your novel finished because, trust me on this one... it ain't going to happen.

One more point:  don't copy my English grammar either...

Practice Makes Perfect

The most important aspect of publishing that aspiring authors fail to understand is that writing a publishable book takes practice. Lots of it. Yes, once in a while an author will sell a first novel to a print publisher. A vast majority of them, however, have been working on that book for years, revising and rewriting scenes, changing characters and story lines, learning from each change that they make.

A pianist doesn’t sit down and play a Beethoven sonata without lessons. A surgeon doesn’t operate on a patient’s heart without years of study. A lawyer doesn’t defend a client without attending law school. Writing for publication is no different. It’s a profession and has to be learned. It takes practice, practice and more practice.

A writer must know the basics of a good story - how to create goals, motivations, conflicts, character arcs and the ever important hook. How to handle transitions, point of view, dialogue, plot points, gray and black moments. Most important of all, a writer must develop a voice, for without that, the greatest story in the world will have trouble catching the eye of an agent or editor.

More About Solutions to Common Writing Mistakes

Not doing enough work prior to staring the actual writing  -  Too often writers jump into their project before doing the necessary groundwork, and they end up with a mess. Revising can only do so much. Sometimes starting writing too quickly can leave you with a project that can’t be saved and waste a lot of your energy and time. It’s easier to pick the best point of view for your story before you put quill to paper. It’s easier to figure out your characters’ back stories and primary motivators before writing. It’s easier to develop and understand the antagonist’s plans before writing.  In other words: do your research carefully before you start writing.

In our company, OMNI Book Publishing, I personally go over stories when they are submitted to us, and I can tell you horror story after horror story about some of the manuscripts that we receive.

The worst one (and I’ll be brief), is about an author who was not publishing with OMNI but wanted me to take a look at the proof book that she had just received from her chosen publisher.  I read the first chapter and had to email her immediately and place a big URGENT on the email subject line. I could not believe that the publisher had actually printed the manuscript as she sent it without going over at least the first chapter. If they had done that, trust me, the book would had been rejected.

Not only common grammatical errors, but also punctuation and repetitions galore were present. Probably the worst part was the fact that the story was set in 1810 England and the characters “listened to the radio and slowdanced,” “the girl’s parents had died in a car crash,” “the girl also wore black lace panties and tiny bra”... and that was just the beginning. Their language was also very twenty-first century:  “you guys,” “howdy,” “gimme a break!”, and the worst: “omigod!” I was expecting to read that their cell phones started to ring...

I read the entire book and could not believe that a publisher would print a book like that without taking a look at the first chapter at least... or the first page, for that matter! When I sent a three page report to the author telling her that the book needed to be re-written, her answer was that she didn’t realize that one has to check so many things before submitting a story. HER words, not mine.

That is a true story. A true case of someone who had an idea for a story and sat down and started typing. I am telling YOU... please check everything before you start your story, especially if it’s a historical romance, as in these not only the time frame is very different but also the language used.

The solution - Think through what you are going to do before you do it. For every action you plan to take, ask yourself why; make sure you also have a good reason. Make a checklist for everything, like characters and their personalities. Ultimately, and especially, if you are going to write a historical romance, saga, or mystery ... make sure that you read a few before you start your project. You won’t be copying anyone’s style, just studying the way others do it. Pay attention to language, even to the way they say “good morning”... it’s worth it and will save you from embarrassment especially if you go with a publisher who does not check manuscripts before they accept them. Once the book is published and out in the Internet it will be too late to make corrections, unless you want to pull it off the shelves, re-write, and pay another publishing fee for a new book.

For a novel writer, this is a particularly hard thing to hear, but it could happen if you are not careful.

Solutions to Common Writing Mistakes

Not Starting  -   If you don't start you can never finish. Completing any writing project, particularly a novel, is a daunting prospect. Many people become frozen by the prospect; others keep waiting for the right time. Some wait for the spark of inspiration. Even experienced writers find it easier to do anything other than actually write.

I wish I had a dime for every time I've heard people tell me “I've always wanted to write a novel / a how-to book / a short story / an article on...” They're called wannabes. Don't be a wannabe because you won't gain anything except thinking of excuses every time someone asks you “Hey, what happened to that novel you were going to write?”  That gets old.

The Solution   -   Start anywhere. While the opening line, page, and chapter of a book is critical, remember you can always change the opening upon re-writing. So after doing the correct preparations, pick the best possible start point at the moment and just begin writing. The right time is now. This minute. The right time can be while sitting at the airport waiting for your flight, or waiting for the dryer to stop spinning.

If you study successful writers, you will find that many began writing at what appeared to be inopportune times – not when all the stars were lined up according to his personal horoscope. Often they began writing when the timing seemed the absolute worst. This might actually be the best time to write. If you wait for the perfect time, it may never come.

Not Finishing  -   Kind of obvious, isn't it? But starting a project is so much more interesting than slugging through the entire thing. The middle section of any piece of writing, whether it be a novel, nonfiction, article, is almost always kind of hard to work on. The excitement of generating the idea – the lure of the beginning, writing something new – isn't there, and the lure of the finishing line is as far away as the shiver of the beginning.  I just re-read this and I can assure you that I used to be this person I just described.  One day I looked in a file that I have with novels, short stories, and other writing and I found quite a few that were not finished.  That, however, was the old me. Now I make sure that I finish what I started before I start another project. It wasn't easy. But I am doing it, and so far, succeeding... fingers crossed.

It's always easy to get sidetracked by a new idea, but when that happens

The Solution  -   Suck it up.  I suggest that you start a file called:  IDEAS TO BE DEVELOPED, and go from there.  Just write down a few lines about the new idea, mark your calendar, and on that marked date go back to the file and take one of the ideas and start working on it until you see the end.

For the professional writer who is under a contract it's easy because he gets paid for the work he submits. If he keeps procrastinating and leaving things unfinished he gets no paycheck.  The bottom line is simply forcing yourself to sit down and plug away at it. Knocking out words regardless of how you feel. Trust ME, it can be done!

These are just two cases, but we will keep adding more every week.

Come back and read us. Welcome to OMNI Book Publishing.

OMNI Interior Layout-We Never Use Templates

At OMNI Book Publishing, we strive to make your book as individual as possible. We do not use templates for our interior layouts. If you wish us to use a particular font for your design or have certain things in mind, feel free to let us know. We will be sure all of your recommendations are incorporated into your book's interior. We typeset your book according to publishing standards, so you can be sure your book will be professional in every way. 

OMNI Book Publishing will ensure your book will make you happy, so if you wish something to be changed in your interior layout just let us know. We want you to be completely satisfied with your published book and we will strive to achieve this for you.

We welcome you to try our services. We know you will be pleased. Welcome to OMNI Book Publishing.