CINDY APPEL NEWSLETTER FOR JANUARY 2004
IN THIS ISSUE:
My monthly column update
Book Happenings
Q & A Time

Happy New Year!

I apologize if this newsletter seems to be a bit of a “rush job” this month. The holidays just kept going and going at our house. :-)

Of course, just because I was busy didn’t mean I didn’t have some time to express my opinion on a very controversial topic of the previous year, namely, that pop singer Madonna recently became a bona fide “children’s author”. My friends and I have been grumbling how celebrities can get their books published in no time at all while the rest of us have to wait forever only to receive rejection slips. But what does our moaning get us? Read my column and find out why I’m giving up the “pity-party” in regards to Madonna in 2004.

Every Day Is Mother’s Day for January: “New Year’s Resolution #1: Stop Feeling Sorry for Madonna” online at
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/cynthianna/momsday_index.html
(You may have to copy and paste the above URL into your web browser to get it to work. And don’t forget to “share it with a friend” by passing the link along.)

As always, I appreciate your feedback.

~~BOOK HAPPENINGS~~

I’m still in a holding pattern waiting for edits on my upcoming non-fiction book (still tentatively titled SLAYING THE MANUSCRIPT-EATING SLUSH PILE MONSTER). My editor says she wants a more “positive title”. I don’t know. I’m sort of partial to the monster idea... I mean, what could be more positive than slaying the slush pile monster that eats your precious manuscripts and prevents them from being published? :-)

Any and all title suggestions are welcomed, however.

In the meantime, I’ve been revamping my web site. Yes, I know. It’s not quite all there yet, but I’m working on it. It seems the lovely graphics my husband designed for my new logo/heading are incompatible with my browser program. I can’t tell if they’re working or not. But I thought I’d go ahead and put up what I have updated and let you tell me what works and, more importantly, what doesn’t work.

Go to http://pages.sbcglobal.net/cynthianna and tell me what you think of the renovations. (Be gentle. I’m not an expert computer geek by any means!)

My two romance novels are still in print (as far as I know) and two others are sitting in editors’ offices in NYC and one is being considered by an agent. I’m cautiously optimistic some good news will be forthcoming in the fiction department in 2004. So, if you haven’t picked up a copy already…

COUNTRY BOY, CITY GIRL (ISBN 1-58851-918-X)
Publish America Inc. http://www.publishamerica.com
(trade paperback edition—available through Amazon.com, BN.com, Wal-Mart.com and other online booksellers. Electronic formats available at Wings ePress.)

THE FIXER-UPPERS (ISBN 1-59088-984-3)
Wings ePress http://www.wings-press.com
(trade paperback and electronic editions)

Now, it’s time for everybody’s favorite—

~~Q & A TIME~~

Q: Do these questions really come from “real people”?

A: Yes, they do. But I need your feedback. Email me a question—it doesn’t have to be writing related. I promise I will put your name in a drawing for a free copy of my upcoming book from Gryphon Books for Writers. Don’t be bashful—drop me a line sometime!

If you have a question--any question, related to writing, publishing or whatever--email me at cynthianna@hotmail.com.(Do not hit "reply" to this newsletter or your email will bounce.) Results guaranteed or double your money back. ;-)

Check out answers to previous questions online at: http://pages.sbcglobal.net/cynthianna/writingtips.html

Here’s to a Healthy and Happy New Year for you and yours--

God Bless!
Cindy
(aka Cynthianna Appel)
My web site: http://pages.sbcglobal.net/cynthianna

P.S. Feel free to forward this newsletter on to an email friend. Better yet, tell them to sign up to receive the newsletter in their own email box. You'll be glad you did! (But if you do forward this, please forward the entire contents and not just bits and pieces. Thank you.)