Archive for June, 2009

Last week, Mary Krchma of Webster University’s Alumni Programs unexpectedly contacted me via email asking if I was interested in submitting my titles to their Alumni Authors Program.  Being a graduate of Webster University, I was eligible for this benefit.

I asked her how she found me and how she knew I was a Webster University graduate who had published and authored books. After all, there are literally tens of thousands of alumni and I have never made any effort to stay in contact with them.  She says that they find out about alumni who become authors through a variety of ways such as doing searches on Google, referrals, or word-of-mouth.

I suppose it benefits the school’s public image to know that many of their graduates have gone on to publish or author books. Seeing this as a mutual benefit, I agreed to join the Webster University Alumni Authors Program. The additional exposure can only help my publishing business.

This email came at a time when I was preparing for the dual announcement of my newly released books, “TurnKey Publishing” and “TurnKey Publisher’s Audio Publishing Handbook”.

I have been invited to their Alumni Author Book Signing Event in St. Louis on October 9, 2009. I told her I have not decided whether I would attend but I would seriously consider it. She tells me it is a fun and great networking event. I am leaning towards going because it will be an all-new experience for me.

This article was first posted on The TurnKey Investor’s Blog.

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Because of my dissatisfaction of how the Columbus GA Housing Authority manages and conducts itself and its apparent lack of customer service accountability, I have taken the step to launch ColumbusGAHousing.com to assist and provide information and editorials to local landlords in navigating the Section 8 Housing Voucher Program with the Columbus GA Housing Authority.

ColumbusGAHousing.com will give “street information” as to how they actually work, not the “official” public line they tell people. They always seem to have excuses as to why they fall short in their customer service performance but they have no problems holding anyone else accountable.

My business partner and I continue to work with them and have several rental homes under the Section 8 Housing Voucher Program but our complaints have largely gone ignored. However, that may change when they find out (through ColumbusGAHousing.com) that more landlords are dissatisfied with their customer service to landlords. It may also require escalation to higher levels of the HUD Agency to get some attention.

At long last, I have finally written, published, and released both of my “TurnKey Publisher” books for general sale.  They are now available and in stock at Amazon.com and BN.com.

“TurnKey Publishing” was made available in February but I did very little to promote the book at that time. I was waiting for the completion of Volume II, “The TurnKey Publisher’s Audio Publishing Handbook”. After all, this is the beginning of what I call “The TurnKey Publisher” series.

These two books really go together as a set.  Volume I starts with the business of book publishing and then continues to Volume II where readers are introduced to the world of audio publishing.

Volume III, “The TurnKey Publisher’s Unstoppable Book Writing” has been announced and 50% of the book has been written.  It will be a much smaller book than most books I have written thus far but I think will be essential to help those break the mental barriers that often come up in the world of publishing.

Volume IV, “The TurnKey Publisher’s Accelerated Publishing Handbook” has been announced.  Nothing has been written, not even an outline. This book incorporates elements of Volumes I to III into the premise of Accelerated (quick, down, and dirty) Publishing.

I am kicking around ideas of releasing a “TurnKey Publisher” introductory audio product using some cutting edge technology. However, I don’t want to say too much right now until I finalize my decision.

2009 will be the year of “The TurnKey Publisher” series. I am quite excited and believe it will carry me well into 2010. I will be making more announcements in the following months.