Hello

Subject: Hello Tue May 11, 2010 8:53 am

Hi,

I'm Al. In a previous life I wrote books and a magazine column about computer programming. Now I'm almost finished with a novel (isn't everyone?) and found this forum in order to learn about that world.

You'd think a guy with about two dozen published books would know how it works. But I had the same acquisitions editor for years and no agent. She did all the hard parts. All I had to do was write the books. None of my contacts are on the fiction side of things, so I have to come at it as a novice.

I look forward to learning from the membership here. I might be able to help someone with advice about non-fiction, but my knowledge is kind of outdated. It's been seven years since my last book was published. I'm sure the world has changed since then.

Since retiring from writing, I made my living as a musician and entertainer. Well, not much of a living lately. Times are slow, which is why I have time to write again.

Subject: Re: Hello Tue May 11, 2010 9:43 am

Welcome Al, I'm not sure how much help I may be as I'm self published but any I can give I will happily give. Hello Icon_biggrin

Subject: Re: Hello Tue May 11, 2010 10:42 am

Hi Al,

Welcome to the forum! Hello Icon_biggrin

Subject: Re: Hello Wed May 12, 2010 9:46 pm

5/13/2010

Hi Al:

Welcome aboard..

Cheers..Joe

Subject: Re: Hello Thu May 13, 2010 5:28 am

Hi...which one of you is Al?

Subject: Re: Hello Thu May 13, 2010 10:36 am

Please check the humor entry in my profile. They don't have an entry for lame humor.

Subject: Re: Hello Thu May 13, 2010 11:05 am

Lame humor is the default here.

It's nice to see an experienced, well-seasoned novice in the bunch.

Welcome, Al.

(PS... why is that guy with the glasses in your picture?)

Subject: Re: Hello Thu May 13, 2010 1:28 pm

It's all explained here:

http://alstevens.blogspot.com/2006/04/jokes-about-ventriloquists.html

Subject: Re: Hello Thu May 13, 2010 2:13 pm

Was one of the books you wrote "Ventriloquism for Dummies"?

Subject: Re: Hello Thu May 13, 2010 2:43 pm

lin wrote:: Was one of the books you wrote "Ventriloquism for Dummies"?

No. That book is not one of the authorized "For Dummies" books although the publisher tries to make it look like one with the cover design.

http://www.amazon.com/Ventriloquism-Dummies-John-Wing-Jr/dp/0887533701

It's not even about ventriloquism, oddly. Check the prices. Strange.

I have a manuscript that teaches ventriloquism. I never tried to publish it, though. Lately I am considering it as a Kindle eBook.

Subject: Re: Hello Thu May 13, 2010 2:47 pm

That's not a bad idea at all. Look into Smashwords, as well.

Subject: Re: Hello Thu May 13, 2010 11:04 pm

Al Stevens wrote:: Please check the humor entry in my profile. They don't have an entry for lame humor.

Lame humor? Which dummy said that?

Subject: Re: Hello Fri May 14, 2010 4:46 am

When my mother was in the nursing home, one Sunday they had a ventriloquist. My daughter and I went, and the dummy began to flirt with my daughter. (The nursing home circuit is a tough group to play to.) Finally he had her come up and sang her a love song. She was embarrassed, my mother was delighted, and my husband and I were quite impressed by the ventriloquist's talents at singing.

Carol