Improve Your Writing Through Podcasts workshop TOMORROW and other resources for writers, readers, and entrepreneurs
Consider the power of listening, networking and promoting yourself as a brand
TOMORROW, 10/28, I will deliver a program and workshop on HOW PODCASTS CAN IMPROVE YOUR WRITING. The hour-long morning program, “Podcasts for Writers: Using Podcasts to Research, Improve & Promote Your Writing,” will provide resources and ideas for non-fiction and fiction writers. It is free and open to the public through the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group.
The afternoon workshop, “The Best Guest: Preparations, Guidelines and Practice for Any Interview,” will sharpen your public speaking and media relations skills. The workshop is free for GLWG members, $15 for non-members.
William D. Prystauk will be joining me, offering his perspective from the other side of the microphone, as a podcast host. Bill is the author of The Kink Noir Series, the recently-released horror novel The Hanging Girl and two stories in the newly released BDSM erotic anthology from Parisian Phoenix, Juicy Bits.
With Spotify and some quiet moments while you wash dishes or drive the car, curating podcast lists— if you find the right ones— can help you bolster your storytelling, increase your timeliness and factualness, learn tips about the publishing industry, and fill in the gaps of your social media/marketing/Bookbub whatever-else-is-constantly-changing knowledge.
THE DETAILS:
WHERE: Palmer Branch of the Easton Area Public Library
9 a.m.: Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group Board Meeting
10 a.m.: GLVWG General Membership Meeting
11 a.m.: Morning Program, Using Podcasts to Research, Improve & Promote Your Work
1:30 to 3 p.m.: Afternoon Workshop, The Best Guest:
For more information or to register: GLVWG.org
In other news:
The Echo City Capers duo have expanded their bookstore tour. The event at the Barnes & Noble proved so successful that they invited Joe and Ralph back to the store for a December visit! I think it’s exciting that Joe and Ralph earned a spot in the hectic, coveted 4th quarter retail season.
Our beloved Thurston Gill has launched his own Substack, Phulasso Living, and a little birdie told me that he might be brainstorming his next Phulasso project. I’m hoping it’s a workbook! Thurston also has a Phulasso-overlapping Emergency Preparedness YouTube channel and a page on the Parisian Phoenix website.
Just a reminder for Lehigh Valley residents, Thurston teaches workshops through Worldwide Academy Training Services, on everything from first aid (people and pets) to self-defense at the Bethlehem Township Community Center which is centrally-located and accessible.
And finally, know that Thurston will be retiring from his day job in early 2024 so he is now contemplating how to expand Phulasso. One effort will be a web site of his very own. We’re very excited to assist Thurston in Phulasso’s growth!
Journalist Dawn Heinbach, a contributor to last year’s Not an Able-Bodied White Man with Money, has some tricks up her sleeve— she’s in the very initial phases of launching her own news platform. Angel Ackerman (yes, that’s me) will assisting in the development. With Dawn’s background in investigative journalism and Angel’s history with community newspapers, the brainstorming and creation process should be dynamic.
On Entrepreneurship:
This section is for any small business owner or author.
It’s Who You Know. My friend Darnell Davis hosts a networking mixer, Friends of Pete, on Thursdays. The event rotates throughout the Lehigh Valley and connects people of all industries— including the Lehigh Valley Traffic Club last night. It’s always a busy and boisterous event and a good way to meet new faces. Darnell is also launching a magazine, I have some busy friends, and I may be writing a feature for him. My evening at Friends of Pete will be the subject of my Parisian Phoenix blog post scheduled for tomorrow.
It’s What You Learn. I attended “She Built This,” a webinar featuring a panel of female founders through Santander Small Business Banking. This panel gave advice for women launching a business. I included an excerpt from my notes for paid subscribers. My free subscribers can read the full post on the Parisian Phoenix blog, parisianphoenix.com, next week.
It’s How You Express Yourself and Your Experience. Nancy Scott invited me to the launch of “Disability Poetics,” a video series curated by poet Kenny Fries. My summary is here and click here for the YouTube trailer.
What I’m Reading:
I just finished an old Alan Furst novel, Mission to Paris. I bought it from my local public library because it featured Paris and World War II. Two of my favorite things. It was boring, though the characterization and sex scenes were great. I ended up returning it to the library so they could sell it again.
I am super close to done with this month’s book club selection at my local library, another World War II novel (but this one is historical fiction, whereas Furst writes unthrilling thrillers), The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron. It's well done and the protagonist ends up hiding eight Jews in her small home, but I’m bored. I think the issue is that mid-20th Century Europe/ specifically World War II is one of my academic interests, so fiction touching this era cannot surprise me.
I purchased two books by local authors at the Easton Book Festival 2023: Off the Rails, a collection of short stories by Jerome McFadden, a member of the Bethlehem Writers Group, and Testing the Stranger, a second edition of an older novel by fellow GLVWGer Phil Giunta. I wanted several more, but ran out of funds.
Please don’t forget that reviewing a book you’ve read on Amazon, Goodreads and/or Google Books is a easy but meaningful gesture you can do for any author. Reviews really do help sell books.
Would you like some tips on how to do that? Click here.
Buy our books:
Via Amazon.
On Bookshop.
At Barnes & Noble.
As always—
Angel
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