Category: from the publisher
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5-star reads from 2025
Let’s take a look at what I read in 2025. According to Goodreads, I read more than 15,500 pages in published books. I say published books because I also read unsolicited submissions for Parisian Phoenix and piles of pages for editing and critique. The shortest book I read was Exactly how I Promote and Sell…
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Welcome, Historical Society
Finally, I want to welcome the Greenwich Historical Society to the Parisian Phoenix fold, as they contacted me about publishing their hometown heroes banner project in a commemorative book. Gayle and I met with the society last night at the Greenwich Township Municipal Building in Stewartsville, N.J., which— full circle— was one of the…
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Our start to 2026
A few weeks ago (or maybe a month or two), I talked about cleaning my desk. Since then, I’ve emptied a bookshelf, reorganized and purged business supplies and developed a system for tracking and storing inventory. Because, guys, I’ve reached the point where I need a system for tracking, storing,…
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Life as a working writer
I dedicated myself to my publishing business more seriously when I was laid off in September 2023. I have not worked a full-time job since. In true working writer fashion, I accept freelance writing and editing and journalism assignments, teach college courses when they are available and even serve as…
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A Business of Writing curriculum?
The other day— it was Gayle’s birthday and a big one at that— I met Parisian Phoenix Art Director Gayle Hendricks for breakfast, primarily so we could walk through my syllabus for PUBL102 at Northampton Community College this winter. (You can still register!) PUBL102 is their self-publishing course, the second half of their former…
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The evolution of Parisian Phoenix
In my travels recently, I’ve heard a lot of things that make my heart happy. Even though words are clearly my passion, my business at Parisian Phoenix Publishing focuses on people— and my staff, authors and the artists who all contribute support one another and share a sense of community.…
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Review of Collingswood Book Festival
Geraldine Donaher and I attended the Collingswood Book Festival last weekend with Pennwriters Area 6. It was my first time at the festival and I had a fantastic time. I would whole-heartedly promote this event as a vendor or a spectator. It was organized, well-run and even the neighboring businesses were friendly. It’s always…
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Benefits of slow progress
My recent newsletters have included what I shall call “autumnal reflections.” I wondered if this was a “cop out” and a potential disappointment to my readers. But I have heard from several of you with each newsletter that I voiced either something you needed to hear or something you have…
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More thoughts on Writing Craft
My classes at Northampton Community College have proven to be a lot of fun— and working with the students there have revived some lost thoughts of resources I had forgotten. Among them is the annual Guide to Manuscript Publishers compiled by Emily Harstone and published by Authors Publish. These books, in addition to having a…
