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Introducing the FIRST "PeopleWhoProsper.com" featured entrepreneur, Rochelle Carter, SPHR. Since starting Ellechor Publishing House in 2009, she has signed 12 authors and released six books! Ellechor is a royalty paying/no author investment, Christian book publishing company. She also started Live.Write.Publish! which is a self-publishing imprint for authors who want to maintain full control. I have had the privilege to ask her a few questions and hear her inspirational story and share it with you!

 

She answered a few questions about herself so that we may get to know her.

1.Tell me your story. What were you doing before you started your own business?

I was, and still am, a Senior Professional in Human Resources and a Project Manager. I had a great job right out of College and was blessed to work with many great people at a great company.

2. What made you want to start a business and what is your mission?

I started this business as an investment and for the long-term satisfaction of a family business. I needed to put myself in a position where I could have a business that I loved and create opportunities for others. I chose publishing because reading is my passion and writing was my hobby for a long time. I thought it was time we made our relationship official, plus I had always wanted to be an editor!
Our mission is to produce quality Christian Fiction and Non-Fiction that changes lives while entertaining, and to provide hope/support to aspiring authors in a company that will dream big with them.

3. What inspires you? What keeps you motivated daily to keep growing your business?

My love for books inspires me, and my authors keep my motivated daily to do my best and to keep growing this cause. They have put their faith in God and in me, and I pray that God continues to bless me so that I can bring inspiration to them. I ask myself daily, what have I done for my authors today? What have I done to promote Christian books today?

4. Do you have a mentor? Who is it and why? Do you believe it's important to have one?

This is a surprisingly tough question! One mentor is Demetria Hayes, because she brought me into Human Resources and the world of helping people. Without her guidance, I may not have been motivated to find my true joy in work. I do a lot of career counseling and resume writing because she showed me how I can use my skills to help others. My second and all-time favorite mentor is my mother. She worked hard to get her Masters while raising four children, started her own business in a time of need, went to the Philippines to gain her PhD later in life. She is always getting things done!! It's so important to have a mentor, because they are the one person you will never compare to and therefore your motivation to keep moving. If you no longer see the value in your mentor, you need a new one! You should never be without a positive influence.

5. What would you tell someone who wants to get involved in your line of business but doesn't know how to get started?

Call me! Or, just jump right in. Thinking about writing a book? Just start! Want to be an editor? There are plenty of college students who need help. Offer your services free of charge to an author with a completed manuscript in exchange for a reference. There is no great starting point. I have met with many professionals in my journey who wanted to set me back, and I refused. I have not regretted it for one moment, because God has blessed me with a great team and we are getting things done right!

6. What advice would you give to someone with an entrepreneurial spirit?

If you are looking for something lasting, forget the get-rich-quick plan. What do you LOVE to do? What can keep you up hours at night with no regrets? Do that! Write the business plan- it doesn't have to be pretty but cover the basics in 4 pages or less. You can refer to it as a basic outline until you work out the details. Find others with your same passion, always keep learning more and be willing to adjust to new situations.

 

I just want to thank Rochelle for stepping up and taking the plunge of telling her story. It is so refreshing to hear other people's stories sometimes for many reasons: 1. to learn from their mistakes. I know, may sound a little harsh but it's true. That's why these people share their stories, so that you don't have to go through some of the same hardships they went through. 2. to gain, rebuild or sustain your motivation. If they can do this, surely you can! So, make sure you're reading successful and prosperous people's stories often to keep your fire burning!

 

Again, thank you Rochelle for sharing how you became so prosperous.

 

Til next time!

Hear Rochelle's story on PeopleWhoProsperTV

We are always looking for people to feature on PeopleWhoProsperTV and garrisonprosperitysolutions.com. So, if you're bold enough and proud enough of yourself and your accomplishments in business, then I dare you to share your story with us! Just email PeopleWhoProsper to Tamara@garrisonprosperitysolutions.com for more details!
Tamara Garrison-Thomas
deut8:18
www.garrisonprosperitysolutions.com

 

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Today with all of the amazing technology, self publishing a book has become a more attractive option. Gone are the days of someone’s dreams and visions being placed on hold or forced to wait because they are in search of a publisher to accept their book. I remember hearing so many stories of how many attempts, how many companies, and how many rejections it would take before an author could get published. I don’t know about you but I always had this image in my mind of traditional publishers sitting on a throne deciding the fate of the literary world. To me it was like a secret society that allowed a select few to enter and those that did had very little control.


Today that image has changed for me. When I set out to publish my first book, going the traditional route was not a consideration. “Why?” you might ask. As I alluded to earlier technology has revolutionized the publishing world. The internet along with the social media platforms have empowered and given a voice to so many talented authors; many of whom would never have received even a rejection letter from a traditional publisher. Traditional publishers, like so many industries because of technology, have been forced to develop new business models. Major publishers are faced with downsizing and cut backs making it even more difficult for a new kid on the block. Most of the traditional publishers today want authors who have a celebrity size following or a distribution list that equates to immediate ROI.

There are a lot of opportunities in self publishing a book. You can do it completely yourself. When you publish your work yourself you are responsible for the editing, formatting, securing distribution, communicating with the printer, and copyrighting it to name a few. The other option is selecting a publisher that will handle all the previously mentioned items, but allows you to remain in control. If you are a writer and perhaps run another business, the latter option would more than likely be the most beneficial for you. Here are top 5 things you should consider when looking for a self-publishing publisher:

1. Is it a good fit?
Believe it or not personality means everything. Your book is your baby. It’s a project and not a drive-thru menu experience. Ask yourself, “Are you comfortable with their style of communication?” I know its cliché, but communication is the key to everything. Does the publisher make you feel like you are valued and not just a number? Is there a real interest in your project? What’s your publisher’s background? Many times I have seen authors when self publishing their book forfeit the importance of literary and business experience of their publisher. Make sure when selecting a publisher they have literary experience and business acumen.

2. Make sure you maintain all your rights.
In the traditional world of publishing you generally give up a large portion, if not all of the rights to your book. This means all of the control on editing, characters, book cover design, etc, are determined by the publisher. This is primarily because you have received an advance for your book. When you are self publishing a book there are publishers who cater to authors who desire to self publish. In this case if you are not receiving an advance you should maintain all the rights to your book. All of the decisions from editing to the book cover design as mentioned before should be your final say. You should also have the option of taking your book with you if you decided to leave that publisher.

3. Royalties
When self publishing a book it is my opinion that you as the author should receive the higher percentage of royalties. In the traditional world it can be viewed slightly different because they have a larger distribution, they have provided you with an advance, and there is more at stake. There are some self publishers who will do a 90/10, 75/25, or 60/40 split, with you receiving the lower percentage. In this case I would make sure you get the higher, because there is no upfront investment in you from the self publishing publisher.

4. What type of services do they offer?
Do they offer various editing services from rewrite to copywriting? Editing is extremely important when self publishing a book. Be mindful of a company that will publish your book that doesn’t offer or require editing. In most cases if they don’t offer editing, your publisher should have a list of editors they can refer. It is true today with technology and a fast paced society the standard grammar has become more relaxed. However, you still want a quality product that will stand the test of time. Other services you should look for are marketing that includes social media, graphic and website design.
When self publishing a book often authors assume the publisher is automatically going to promote your book. This is not the case. You as the author should have an option of acquiring those additional services.

5. Time
Yes, I know everything is done at the speed of light today. We no longer have to wait on the 6 o’clock news to find out what’s happening around the world. We can email a document that used to have to travel by what we now have labeled “snail mail”. Although this has made our lives easier, when self publishing a book, we still want to value the time it takes to create a quality product. Again, self publishing should not mean you should compromise and produce an inferior product. That’s what the big guys and critics expect and/or automatically assume. I have seen companies that promote one to two week turn-rounds. That might be the case. However, please allow yourself the time for editing, correct formatting, the right cover design, to receive a proof (an actual copy of your book), etc. A reasonable amount of time should be 60 to 90 days, but this is determined by so many variables. How long it takes you to submit your work, and to sign off. You may realize that an entire chapter needs to be deleted. Allow for creativity which is often something that shouldn’t be rushed. Remember experts say today a book is the new business card. What do you want yours to say?


Deborah Hardnett is the Founder and CEO of Wealthy Sistas® Publishing House. Wealthy Sistas® Publishing House focus is to help authors self publish their books. If you are considering self publishing a book,  visit www.wealthysistaspublishing.com Wealthy Sistas® Publishing House website today and get more details on how you can achieve this without the exorbitant fees and retain all your rights to your intellectual property. Deborah and her staff are strong advocates of the self-publishing industry and offer an extensive variety self publishing book services.
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The Girlfriend Connection, an organization in the process of tax-exempt status, will be re-premiering Average Girl Magazine in October 2010 as both an online and print publication. As part of its mission to empower and educate low to middle income women in finances, health and wellness, career/business and family/relationships, we are seeking 500 word max articles highlighting these issues. We are not able to pay for articles at this time, however, we are offering exposure for your work and a discount on advertising promotions for your products/services.

Average Girl Magazine was founded in 2003 in response to the murder of Damita Oglesby, a victim of domestic violence. Since its inception, it has featured the stories of men and women who have overcome adversity to lead extraordinary lives. Please send an email with letter of interest to Rebekah L. Pierce at editor@averagegirlmagazine.com. Visit www.thegirlfriendconnection.yolasite.com and www.averagegirlmagazine.com to learn more about our organization and magazine.

Thank you,

Rebekah L. Pierce, Author & Entrepreneur

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Motivational quotes to inspire you.

"The mathematics of high achievement--

Begin with a dream.

Divide the problems and conquer them one by one.

Multiply the exciting possibilities in your mind.

Subtract all the negative thoughts to get started.

Add enthusiasm and determination.

And the result will be attainment of your goal."

- Anonymous

For more motivational quotes & articles, check out my blog, Mocha Writes.

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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter andthose who matter don't mind. ~Dr. SeussAs you make the shift to your best empowered life there will be nay-sayers.Those that feel you're going just a little too far. Those that feel you arenot connected to reality because you have such an optimistic outlook.You are embracing a lifestyle of Faith, purpose, passion and empowerment.Your mere existence may rub some the wrong way because they're only comfortablefollowing the dictates of society or their surroundings.What I've often told my children as we were raising them and remind them ofnow that they're young adults is to "be true to yourself." There is powerin being authentic and sticking with what you believe regardless.You can often see this exhibited with one's Faith.Besides if you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything.Only you can be the best you that there ever was. ~ Robin TrambleEmpowering you!Request your 3 free empowering gifts from Robin aka Empowerment Diva.
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Too Excited!

I was just talking with my Mom, she called to see if I was stressing out about this coming weekends' event. (our cooking demo with Real Men Cook) and I told her calmly that I wasn't and really you would think I should be with all that's been going on.In order for me to be able to serve people samples I would need to prepare all the ingredients ahead of time in a commercial kitchen, which I no access to. My husband may have to travel to California for his boss this week so he will miss our event. ( still up in the air on that) The kids and I will have to cram in my Mother's small car and drive to Plano which is 30 to 45 min away @ 6 AM on Sat. Our demo should only last for 30 min so we should be good on that. So for some reason I'm not stressed @ all! I gave it to GOD and I'm letting him work it out! So why stress, right? Wish us luck, this is just another amazing opportunity that may lead to another bigger opportunity.
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Raising Chefs' now has a Facebook Fan Page and we want you to become our fans. Please help us spread the word about all the wonderful work we've done so far and future endeavors.We are so excited about all the amazing opportunities that have come our way. Become a fan and follow are continuous progress on this wonderful journey GOD has in store for us.Thank you so much for all your support thus far and we hope that you will keep us in your prayers as we take this amazing ride together! Many blessings to each and everyone of you!
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The Recipe Writer's Handbook

If you have lived for a while on this earth you will notice that there is very little new under the sun, with the exception of perhaps technology, which we're not talking about here. There are creative and interesting ways to use sugar, chocolate, spices and herbs in baking. There are fascinating ways to decorate cakes, cookies and all things sweet and edible. If you are a seasoned cook/baker you probably already know about this little jewel of a book, but if you are not this may be something you will want to look into. Originally written in 1997 by Barbara Gibbs Ostmann and Jane L.Baker The Recipe Writer's Handbook is something all bakers should have on their cookbook shelf. Why? Because one day you will be (perhaps not a "baby-boomer") but a generation "X" boomer or generation "Y" boomer and you will be passing on knowledge to the next generation of bakers. This sort of information is helpful.This little book is designed to teach you to "think" your way through a recipe to make important decisions and trouble shoot problems concerning format, syntax, spelling, cooking terminology etc." Those who attended at professional culinary art program probably already know this, but trust and believe if you live long enough it will escape your memory.You may not think you will, but one day you may want to put all your recipes to pen or in today's case "Word," and publish all those dynamic dishes that have made you famous or not so...famous. Publishers are always looking for ways to take a bigger piece of your pie, so this book can assist you in structuring your recipes in such a manner that publishers will think you had help...well you did it just didn't cost you an arm and a leg.The more you know, the more you can deliver and you won't have to rely on the publisher finding culinary writers to "clean up" your recipes.I have the old copy (original 1997) and plan of purchase the revised and expanded copy soon. The chapters in my copy are well written and the information is invaluable. Here's a hint of what's in the book (1997 version).Chapter 1 The Philosophy of Recipe WritingChapter 2 Recipe Writing StyleChapter 3 The Style SheetChapter 4 Recipe TestingChapter 5 Cooking TerminologyChapter 6 Preferred Spelling of Commonly Used Food WordsChapter 7 Generic Terms for Brand Names and TrademarksChapter 8 MetricsChapter 9 Nutrition Analysis of RecipesChapter 10 Copyright, Plagiarism and the Ethics of Recipe Writing and more (15 Chapters in all).The new revised book is on Amazon for under $10 (used) and I have emailed the authors to see if they might be revising it again (it's 2009). As I mention before if this is old news, no sweat, but for those baby bakers out there, just another resource for your baking arsenal.
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New Books by Joan Cartwright

This link will take you to new books by Joan Cartwright and more. . .www.fyicomminc.com/books/jc-books.htmThen, view this video that I was a part ofhttp://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0YVrSsNNWvAand visit my non-profit site for WOMEN IN JAZZ SOUTH FLORIDA, INC.your membership is welcomed. Then, join our network musicwoman.ning.com
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MUSICWOMAN TALK RADIO

Join us on www.blogtalkradio.com/musicwomanAug 13 - Renaissance Woman Suzanne BrooksAug 30 - Two B3 Organ Women, Linda Dachtyl and Trudy PittsShow runs from 6 - 8 p.m. ESTCall in on 347-677-0782. To talk hit #1To Chat, you must register with blogtalkradio.comIf you miss it, listen to our archiveswww.blogtalkradio.com/musicwoman

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Help Me WIN Fashion Mag Internship!

All you have to do is register and vote here: http://www.gotcast.com/MayDay82Competition DetailsDo you dream about working in the fast-paced, glossy world of magazine publishing? Do you have a passion for fashion and journalism?Style Network is looking for three people to take on coveted internships at a top New York based fashion magazine this fall! The show will provide the selected interns the amazing opportunity to work closely with the fashion team, get first-hand experience researching issues that concern real women, assist in celebrity and fashion photo shoots and see what it takes to get a publication ready for print. The show is truly going to provide an experience and opportunity of a lifetime!No experience is necessary, but we are looking for three success driven people to take on coveted internships at a New York based magazine this fall! Candidates must be willing to have cameras document their lives in and out of work.INTERESTED CANDIDATES MUST BE:- 18 years of age or older- Eligible to work in the United States- Fiercely passionate about working in the fashion, beauty & lifestyle publication industryLive audition dates will be held in Los Angeles, Chicago, Nashville and Philadelphia within the next two weeks so contact us ASAP!
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