SLPA Presents Robert Fishbone

Our Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Yes, Authors ARE in Business: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Publishing, Product Development & Entrepreneurship According to author and speaker Robert Fishbone, whether you are going the independent or traditional publishing route, you ARE in business. And you will be a lot more successful if you learn to think like an entrepreneur. That means you will have a burning passion to get your idea out into the world, the courage and perseverance to see it through, and (often overlooked) enough humility to ask for expert help. In this interactive and entertaining talk, Robert will use his own saga to illustrate "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Being an Entrepreneur." He will discuss creativity, innovation, marketing, and more. Having self-published three very different books, along with 200 other products sold in 20 countries, Robert will share what he did right and wrong along the way, and what he would do differently today. There will be ample time for Q&A. Robert Fishbone is the author of "Selling the Scream." It tells the story of how he took a crazy idea for the Scream; an inflatable figure based on Edvard Munch’s famous painting, and turned it into a million-dollar business. Now, over 500,000 Screams later, Fishbone tells his saga of starting a business, learning the ropes one mistake after another, and growing a successful company known worldwide for edgy products and excellent customer service. He also published "Onward Is Best, A Christmas Journey," a book by his late wife Sarah Jean Linquist. Visit www.RobertFishbone.com and www.OnwardIsBest.com for more info. Our Regular Monthly Meeting Location  (the second Wednesday of every month) Brentwood Community Center 2505 Brentwood Blvd - Room 101 St. Louis, MO 63144 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. Monthy Meeting Admission  Members – FREE Non-member Guests – $10 per person, cash or check at the door (Guest fee will be applied to Membership if you decide to join at that meeting)

 Visit our web site for more information and resources: www.stlouispublishers.org

 

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

The Nations

Many people may not make a connection with a Western Novel and Black History Month, but Authors Buck Stienke and Ken Farmer's best selling, top rated historical fiction western, The Nations, have done that with the lead character Bass Reeves. 

Did you know that Bass Reeves was the first black Deputy US Marshal west of the Mississippi. A former slave, he was appointed to the US Marshals service in 1875 first as a tracker then as a full-fledged Deputy US Marshal under Judge Issac C. Parker of the 9th District Court of Western Arkansas—also known as the 'Hanging Judge'. 

Bass, along with some 200 other white, black and Indian deputies and local Indian Police called Lighthorse, were charged with administering law and order in the eastern portion of what is now  Oklahoma—known then as  Indian Territory or The Nations. It was also known as "Robber's Roost" and "No-Man's Land" and was regarded in the latter part of the 19th century as the bloodiest and most dangerous place in the world. Sixty-five of those courageous marshals would give their lives in the line of duty during the twenty-one year span under Judge Parker, 1875 to 1896. 

Bass Reeves was one of the survivors. During his 32 year career as a Deputy Marshal, he would serve over 3,000 felony warrants and kill 14 men in the line of duty—twice as many as Marshal Wild Bill Hickok. He is regarded to this day as one of the greatest marshals in the long and storied history of the US Marshals Service. A larger than life size statue depicting Bass was recently erected next to the site of the US Marshals Museum in Ft. Smith, Arkansas.

 

Bass Reeves was a true American hero and is so depicted in the novel, The Nations, now available where ever good books are sold in print or E versions. Bass will again star in the sequel to The Nations, entitled, Haunted Falls, due out this summer. Watch for it.

Local Author Recognized in National Book Contest

The 2012 Stars and Flags Book Award Program announces that author Warren Martin of St. Louis, Mo, was recently awarded a finalist medal in the Historical Fiction category, for his book, Forgotten Soldiers: What Happened to Jacob Walden 

Forgotten Soldiers is a Cold War mystery about Air Force Captain Jacob Walden shot down over Vietnam in 1970 and the unknown story of why he never returned home. Forty years later, Journalist Ted Pratt investigates what may be the sudden reappearance of Jacob Walden. Ted Pratt follows the trail to find Walden and 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.

A veteran of the Cold War and Green Beret, Warren Martin served 21 years in the U.S. Army. He was born in Maryland and then moved to Ireland with his mother when he was young, but returned to the U.S. in 1967. Martin earned a BA degree from the University of New York, an MBA from the University of Michigan and is currently pursuing a PhD in Business and Organizational Leadership. He currently lives in St. Louis, Mo with his wife Debbie.

A national contest, the Stars and Flags Book Awards program, was established five years ago with the purpose of promoting books which have a connection to the military. Many of the judges are veterans themselves, and others include historians, teachers, and avid readers. The program is facilitated by Nancy Smith of Reeds Spring, Mo., owner of starsandflags.com, whose main goal is to support and promote our veterans. Smith is also an active member of the Military Writers Society of America, a graphic designer, and is soon to start writing her first book about veterans. The book awards program runs from Feb. through Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Anyone interested in the program can find more information at http://www.starsandflags.com or by email at nancysentertainment@yahoo.com