Volume 1, Issue 1 April 2005

Monthly News about our authors www.bestsellingbooks.ca

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Welcome to my first newsletter. Joyce, as usual, is the producer and Robert just sits back and lends his wonderful talent to the writing of those pesky books that people keep asking for :-) Please let us know what you think (I hope the formatting is all right - I'll find out when I receive my own copy as there is no way to check beforehand!) If you have any requests for certain information, ask away. If you would prefer to go on our mailing list via the website, send us an email at: info@whitlands.com
In the meantime, enjoy!

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“Laughing Through Life: Tales of a Yorkshireman"
An Autobiographical Journey by J. Robert Whittle

If you have met author, J. Robert Whittle, you will understand the title of his new autobiographical audio CD. This picture of Robert wearing his Birthday Crown, was made by two of his young fans, too young actually to attend his 70th Birthday Party where he was surprised by a restaurant full of fans on June 10th, 2003. At this event, the taping of his life story began. Coming in Spring of 2005, this CD is our response to the hundreds of readers who have asked Robert to write his autobiography (something he says he will never do!). However tricking him on this occasion got the ball rolling and another small event in 2004 produced enough stories for 2 CDs of his wonderful stories of experiences all over the world!

CD will be sold on Robert's website www.jrobertwhittle.com/laughing.html
and wherever you find the author(s).
$22 CAN (incl. PST/GST)

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2 Books produced in 2004 bring total to 8 for these busy authors,br>
Robert added Book 4 to the popular Lizzie Series (set in London, England) in October 2004 and Joyce added Book 2 to the Moonbeam Series! The latter was a particularly joyous event because it was not only Joyce’s first solo novel but it was published with the assistance of their Granddaughter, Shayla, a 10-year-old who has been involved with marketing their books for the past four years. This time, Shayla, has a starring role as the Earth child who is helped by the Moonbeam Riders. She also recorded the audio book with her grandmother, playing her own part. This book is full of exciting adventures with fairies, a magic seagull, etc., plus many valuable lessons of life for kids. Each book or audio component in this series is $8.95 CAN.


Now Available in a Bookstore Near You !!
All books by J. Robert Whittle and Joyce Sandilands are now available in Canada and the USA!! We ask you to please talk to your bookstore—make them aware of our popular family approved books. If you cannot find them in your bookstore, tell them about us and ask them to order these books. Our Canadian Distributor is UTP. Our US Distributor is Wilson and Assoc. and Ingram.

Go to our website for more information: www.whitlands.com/stores.html

2005, a new and challenging year!

We are always pleased to be able to communicate to our readers and those interested in learning more about our family friendly books. You may not be aware, but Joyce and Robert have been self-publishers earning their own success by digging in and doing it themselves. With two bestselling novels so far, they appear to be doing something right but the test will really come in 2005! With success totally dependent on worldwide book sales, we trust in our readers, to spread the word—then you’re rewarded as each new book/CD is produced!
This year, our books are available in bookstores across North America for the first time. We need bookstores to learn about our books so they will stock them willingly. There are thousands of Robert’s Lizzie and Nancy and Dan fans out there and we need them to be able to walk into their bookstore and purchase these books rather than depending on us to always be in Victoria when they need us. We are both awaiting knee surgeries in next 18 months and this is bound to disrupt our market sales. Later, we hope to get on the road and do some book signings away from the Victoria area.

Topic of the Month:
Have you considered writing a book? by Joyce Sandilands

The situation is familiar, you know how to use a computer and you think you have a fascinating story to tell, be it of your own life, someone else’s or a non-fiction book. Millions of people across the world have now chosen to write stories which they hope to publish. Many don’t realize how challenging and expensive this decision will be. Robert and I have given many lectures on this subject and wannabes say they appreciate our candidness. So while I have your attention I’m going to briefly tell you about the publishing industry.
In the past 10 years, there have been so many books produced that bookstores have been forced to draw the line. Many have decided not to accept books which are produced by POD (Print-on-Demand or Ebook) publishers. Some will not even talk to self-publishers of any sort. This may seem unfair but many of these books are not even edited and poorly written. This means that a writer (you are not an author until your book is published and even then I think you should have to sell at least 2000 copies to be called an author!) is forced into marketing their own book. This becomes costly and takes TIME! There are many ways to market books. The internet is full of ideas and how-to books, marketers who will gladly take your money to show you how. Prepare a budget and stick to it or you will soon find yourself in trouble.

If you decide to find a publisher — one who will pay you for the honour of publishing your book — you will be one of the lucky 5% or so, but don’t think this will come easy. An author once told us to take a large sheet of paper and draw a grid of 64 squares (8x8). Put each publisher’s name in a square, mail out your manuscript and when your rejection letter comes back cross of that square and start again. By the time you have all the square filled, you should have found a publisher. This was back in pre-computer days. If you think that sounds hopeless, you will understand why we chose to self-publish!

We have been lucky. We had the skills and the TIME. Robert was a natural and retired. I had secretarial skills and a stay-at-home job. Our kids had flown the nest. We didn’t have a lot of money but when the first 500 books sold and paid off our expenses to date, we knew we had something and decided the risk was worth the effort at that time. However, we had no idea we would soon have a fan base that would keep demanding new books! Now it has grown too big and expensive for even us. We are not young anymore and so with great anticipation we are at last looking for a publisher of our own for Robert’s next novel. Now the manuscript must be painstakingly produced anyway, promotion for our published books to worry about. Life is a rollercoaster but it is never dull!

Next Month’s Topic: Kids Love To Write Too!
We hope you have enjoyed our first newsletter.

Check out all our books on our substantial website and/or Robert’s page at Author’s Den for our latest news. Thanks for joining us and see you next month.

Whitlands Publishing Ltd., 4444 Tremblay Drive, Victoria, BC Can. V8N 4W5 Tel: 250-477-0192
www.whitlands.com www.bestsellingbooks.com
email: info@whitlands.com