Well, this year has been a heck of a ride — On August 16, 2017 the World Minamata Convention on Mercury was ratified and thus transitioned from a convention to treaty to international with the strength of international law . That means the first year anniversary of the treaty has just passed.http://www.mercuryconvention.org.) I was able to be at the first convention of the parties signatory to the convention in Geneva this past September. Over this year my romance suspense novel Chasing Mercury seems to have opened up the dialog on environmental toxins to several thousands of people who otherwise might not have cared as much — and hopefully more will come. Here are some reviews from the past month— but what is clear to me is what readers are appreciating is not me — but the story of a group of people who came together to make change and who are still working at it. Hope people will continue to support Chasing Mercury and remember that a portion of the proceeds continue to go to greenaction.org and http://freegrassy.net/mercuryhome/
Tracking the process of application to the convention has been brought with joy and fear as I begin to understand how hard people worked to achieve the convention and how much work still has to be done —
Mercury is a natural element: it is found in the Earth’s crust and naturally released through volcanic activity and weathering of rocks. It exists in various forms, each with a varying degree of toxicity but all equally harmful, affecting the nervous system, the brain, the heart, the kidneys, the lungs and the immune system of all living beings. Because exposure to mercury – even small amounts – may cause serious health problems, including in utero, the World Health Organization considers it one of the top ten chemicals of major public health concern.
Earlier this month it was my profound pleasure to attend the UAW Women’s Conference held annually in Black Lake, MI at the UAW Family and Educational Conference Center. I was a delegate representing the National Writers Union. The center is named after Walter and Mae Reuther. I remember when the couple and the architect of the center were killed under suspicious circumstances— that is at the alternator had been tampered with. My grandfather, a union man, assured me they had been murdered. What an extraordinary vision to have a place where people who worked primarily in manufacturing can come and relax in nature as well as attend classes and strengthen their Union and resolve.I learned a lot about the There were daily secessions where the teaching ranged from Sexual Harassment and bystander response to Mindfulness.
What Stella Sees written by author Sarah Kornfeld is the sort of novel any publisher would want to to share, though few will have the opportunity to do so. Cove International Publishers finds itself with a remarkable author of literary fiction grounded at once in reality and fantasy. Sarah hits it to the horizon on the first swing. The project is accented by the extraordinary editor & book interior engineer, Eric P. Carlson. The cover is by designer Marta E. Johansen, working with the exquisite image of the consummate Danish artist and photographer Lone Morch.
What Stella Sees is equally lyrical as it is brassy in its exploration of love, family, and the environment. It is an inditement of medicine while extolling its processes. Stella awaits her readers, now on Amazon, and coming soon through Ingram Partners to booksellers near you. Here is a little bit more
So — last week on Friday I was able to introduce The Elephant in the Room:Bioethical issues in Human Breast Milk Banking— the new book by September Williams (me) with Mothers’ Milk Bank San Jose. Attached is a video shot by Joi Johnson during part of the talk. We also offered a giveaway for the new book and Chasing Mercury. It was so much fun!
Hi Folks back from the East Coast — more later. I’ve been working on The Elephant in the Room: Bioethical Concerns in Human Milk Banking. One of the cases I review in the book was the forced sterilization of Hispanic Women at LA County Women’s Pavillion during the 1960s and 1970s. It is covered in the film No Mas Bebe’s. Have a look at the review on http://www.bioethicsscreenreflections.com/2018/08/bioethics-and-no-mas-bebes.html
In the the throws of of helping the publication of Sarah Kornfeld’s “What Stella Sees” I saw the original certificate of copyright for that book. It was signed by the same person as who signed that of Chasing Mercury. I realized that it was just over a year ago when one of the finest public servants the nation has known resisted collaboration with —well— what we have in our government today— Are is the piece form last year. piece — the “Canary in the Tunnel.” I’ve republished it for you here today.
“I had a very strange experience today. I went to the drawer where I keep my copyright certificates for film and written works. I couldn’t remember the date I received the copyright for Chasing Mercury. I needed it for the front matter of the book as we prepare to publish. I opened the drawer, in the space which we laughingly refer to as my desk. The copyrights are there so my kids can find them when I die. I fished out and unfolded the certificate. Then I saw it—”
Every day I learn something new about the vagaries of book marketing. For instance - did you know that a part of the Ranking of a book is the Ranking of an author on Amazon? Who knew? I did but I forgot until I was explaining to someone yesterday. Since I’ve written Chasing Mercury - I have 2000 followers on face book. This means I should have been asking you all— a long time ago— to go to my Amazon author page and follow me.Why do I care — higher ranking gets your book above the horizontal middle fold on various places on Amazon where more people can see it when browsing — So please follow my Amazon Authors page at:
https://www.amazon.com/September-Williams/e/B073W74X34/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0 and follow me.
I’ll report back to you if it’s horse-hocky about affecting author rank or not.
I'm so Honored by Leigh Morgan's review of Chasing Mercury. Leigh is a Top Contributor: True Crime Books Please read her review and if it is helpful to you, indicate it either on Amazon/ Good Reads. Reviewers are the life’s blood of literature. Encourage those with a passion for reviewing books! There are also other books Leigh may have reviewed that you would like to read. In honor of Leigh’s review I’m posting the cover image for the second book in the Chasing Mercury Toxic Trilogy — Weighing Lead. Shoot me a note and let me know what you think of the image — in this romance, suspense and now vetted “True Crime.” Also, the image is a hint for those who have read Chasing Mercury as to where the book might begin — and the name of it’s first chapter… .
WAYS TO HELP: This is from my National Writers Union sister. We all have communities — this information comes from one and it may be helpful to yours. Keep the Message Clear:
Stop Homeland Security from Separating Children from their Parents
I’m wondering how to help the children, as I’m sure you are too. A letter to the Senate is just one way to help. Here’s a link:
Another is to donate to the charities on the border. (Links follow below.)
Call Senators: Stop Homeland Security from Separating Children from their Parents at the Border
Your voice can help put an end to the Department of Homeland Security’s cruel and needless practice of tearing apart immigrant families who are seeking asylum from ternary . Her is a draft:
Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME] and my zip code is [YOUR ZIP]. I’m urging the Senator to denounce Trump’s family separation policy and use all of Congress' authority to stop it.
I’m excited about having 2 online interviews coming up this week. Also, If you are a member of the Good Reads Romance Audiobook Group — I was given 6 Chasing Mercury Audible audiobook codes to give away. These are highly desirable because using them doesn’t require buying into the monthly commitment — you just get your book. So sign up for the giveaway . If you like Romance and You like Audiobooks sign up for the group. The Audiobook giveaway begins tomorrow June 21, 2018 on the Good Reads Romance Audiobook Group and runs for a week.
I have always appreciated Dr Gerritsen’s crime stories and particularly the humanity of the friendship between the polar opposites,Rizzoli and Isles... But the historical fiction that is this book, ‘Playing with Fire’ brings to bear this author’s full humanity and craft. Not one twist or turn was anticipated, the medicine was sweetly blended with it’s strengths and foibles. It’s a story that brings new fans and grows the old beyond our borders. It reminds us that humanity is not a physical designation but an inspiration, a reason to be. Victor Hugo would be proud to call Tess Gerritsen a colleague. SDW
THURSDAY JUNE 21st is the first day of Summer! There is a body of water and a beach chair waiting for you to show up with a good book? But do you know where your summer books are?
Now I've done enough bookstore events to have an opinion. Book stores are not theaters. For me the classic book store event doesn't work. The classic being where you stand at a podium or a mic with an audience seated before you. A few weeks back I figured out that I am better at meeting and greeting patrons who are in a store because they came to buy books not because they had an appointment for an author’s reading. I strike up a chat with them which encourages them to buy my book.
It happened at the Bindery and Book Passage last week — more books were sold before than after. A “meet and greet” is where a book store sponsors you to hang out with a display of your books, talk to people and directly sell to them books which the book store has stocked for the purpose. This doesn't usually include a reading. Well, tonight's event at Books Inc. Alameda became a new kind of platform — I became a bard in the room.
So one thing about writing is that you want to surround yourself with written words. It keeps your head in the game. There are only a certain number of hours in a day so I listen to audiobooks while exercising -- sometimes it is the only thing that makes me exercise! I'm a member of the Romance Audiobook group on Good Reads and from time to time there are book giveaways that I am interested in. I just learned that I can also share my goodreads reviews on my own blog. Below is my review of Interior Design and Other Emotions —a story about a Stock Analyst and an Autistic Woman who works in his daily visited coffee shop. It's a good read.
So, when I was asked to read in the new LitQuake Comfort Lit program I was ecstatic! Lit Quake gets it! After all, Chasing Mercury is a Romance with a capital ‘R’ — and a suspense, memoir in the low case. Yet, Chasing Mercury held in the top ten of an Amazon International Suspense and Crime category for over a month. My signature during book signings is something like Think <——>Love. People keep be confused thinking the book is non fiction when we are talking about it — they are somehow stuck in “think mode." or somehow think I am — the curse of an academic background.
