Memorial Day Free Ebook Download

This Memorial Day Weekend Download a Free ebook copy of my book 

“Forgotten Soldiers: What Happened to Jacob Walden” 

This weekend is NOT about BBQs or the beginning of the summer Movie Lineup – it’s about remembering our Fallen and Never Forgetting them – 

“You Are Not Forgotten”

http://tinyurl.com/ybyffw6f

Alan Spector - A Writer's Journey

St. Louis Publishers Next Meeting: Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Lessons Learned: A Writer’s Journey from Baseball Fields to Battlefields  -- presented by Alan Spector

Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.”

In that regard, in 2006, when I was developing the manuscript of my first book, I was at a family gathering and asked a would-be-author cousin how her book was progressing. She excitedly reported she was working closely with her agent and editors at the publisher toward a final draft. In return, she asked me how I was doing on my early draft and what kind of feedback I had received. “Feedback?”
She was incredulous, “You mean you haven’t shared your work with others yet? When are you going to get out of your cave?”
I immediately knew what she meant, and added “get out of my cave” to my list of things I was learning about being an author. Sure, I had interviewed people for my book and done a lot of research away from the confines of my computer, but I was enjoying the actual writing process so much I hadn’t reached out to others to get any critical feedback.
My next steps were to 1) join a local writer critique group, 2) register for a couple of writers’ conferences, and 3) develop a list of willing beta readers — the first of which was my wife, who is now the more-than-willing first-reader on all of my manuscripts and is ecstatic when she gets to wield her red editing pen.
My list of lessons learned continues to grow, and First Lady Roosevelt was right. I’ve been learning from others’ mistakes — because I’m out of my cave. And I’ve been making plenty of my own. Here are but a few of the lessons that I’ll be glad to share with you in more detail at the SLPA meeting on February 8:

• Don’t quit your day job… unless you already have.
• Grow thick skin… rejection is inevitable.
• Everyone will have an idea for your next book… and some of them are good.
• Self-published? Tolerate Amazon… but market to direct sales.

I also look forward to hearing what you’ve learned from your mistakes and those of others — oh, and from successes as well. If you’re like me, you’ve had both. I hope to see you and learn from each other on February 8.
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Our regular Monthly Meeting location
(the second Wednesday of every month)

THE HEIGHTS: Richmond Heights Community Center
Argus Room
8001 Dale Ave.
Richmond Heights, MO 63117
Here's a link to Google Maps for location and directions.
Doors open at 6:30 PM for networking. Business meeting begins at 7:00 PM and continues till 8:30 PM or so with networking continuing afterward till about 9.

Free Kindle Download for Christmas

Free Kindle Download for Christmas - 24th & 25th. Thank you to all who've already got it, and if you have not downloaded it yet here it is - share with your friends as a gift to them and please share with anyone you think would enjoy this book - thank you and Merry Christmas

Available on Amazon for Download

 Forgotten Soldiers: What Happened to Jacob Walden

 Cold War Mystery about Air Force Captain Jacob Walden shot down over Vietnam in 1970 and the untold story of why he never returned home. Forty years later Journalist Ted Pratt investigates what may be the sudden reappearance of Jacob Walden and follows the trail to find Jacob. Ted encounters Charlie Smith, a secretive and seasoned Operative who may have answers to the question about “What Happened to Jacob Walden,” and why Jake never returned home.