Wedding Planning Book hits #1

I was browsing through Amazon.com today and looked at the Wedding Planning Book I wrote and I saw:

#1 in
Books > Business & Investing > Small Business & Entrepreneurship > Retail Businesses

It’s a niche category, but hey I think it is awesome- New York Times Best Seller List here I come!

As a writer, it is nice to know you are appreciated and that your books matter. I am still very new to all of this. I can tell you that it is inspiring for me and makes me want to write a lot more when I get a little boost every once in a blue moon. Writing is a very solitary profession that can be a little lonely at times.

I don’t live in a big city, and I am not a superstar so I really don’t have any fans ( unless one of your out there want to start a fan club- HA!) But seriously it is a nice boost to see that my writing is recognized even a little. If you would like a copy of this book that takes you step by step about how to create an awesome career as a wedding planner go to:

http://tinyurl.com/dap3af

 

Children Writing a Book

So what is worse than writing a book yourself? Having two children decide they are writing a book. My wife often says that the solution to the war in Iraq is sending middle school girls. There is nothing more scary or totally insane then angry young girls. They do not play by any rules except the ones they create, and even those are subject to impulsive revisioning.

My daughters , Loreena (11) and Sarah (14), thought it would be an excellent idea to write a book together. It is a romance thriller that begins in the early 1900’s and spans to modern day. It’s theme is one of second chances in love.

Sounds great right? I was sent the first chapter and thought,” Wow this is good stuff. My girls have some talent.” It is at this point that things get a little out of control.

The fighting began two nights ago, mostly about artistic differences and disagreements about plot structure and who was responsible for which chapter. Now in the world of writing this is not an uncommon event, but with pubescent girls, the gloves came off. The fighting, not unlike a Monday Night Wrestling Throw Down, ensued. There is no logic, no begging to be reasonable, just lunacy.

 

At this stage they agreed to do a story board and outline. For now, there is peace, but I am not too hopeful. In the end, they will probably get a fiction book published before me because their passion is unchecked and their energy unmatched.

My wife was Pierced Today

We went to an awesome Greek breakfast and then went to Claire’s at the mall. My wife an appointment and sat up in the seat for honored guests. A little girl in pigtails crowded in close for event, for she was next in line  to sit in the seat of honor.

The certified stabbing professional had my wife sign all sorts of forms to release them from liability should something go horribly wrong. I don’t know what all fuss was about, I mean what is the worse that can happen when a teenager gets their hand on a spring loaded gun with a roofing nail poised to pierce skin and cartilage.

The little girl held her breath and my wife reassured her that everything was fine. Pop! It was over. On the top of her earlobe was a small barbell. The little girl in pigtails looked up at my wife in awe. My wife told her it did not hurt at all.

The little girl clutched her bear that she was holding and wiggled into the seat. This was her 3rd try, and today was going to be the day!

How do you write about topics you are not an expert in?

 

When I wrote the book about Wedding Consulting, my friends, family and peers looked at me strangely. I am 6’1” of burley Italian man. Not the typical wedding planner persona. Although I would argue that I do not exactly fit the piccolo player persona either.

I usually respond two ways. The first is that I contact experts in the field that I am writing about. I get their perspective about the material matter and they supply tips for the readers. I take the the material they provide for me and shape it into a book. This is not the case for all the books, as the one I am currently working on about making wine, I do have some expert knowledge about.

The second way I approach it is that I do a ton of research. I read everything I can about the subject I am writing about. While this may not make me an expert, I can then spin the material I have learned from experts into a readable and easy to understand format. There is a saying that there are “ No new things under the sun.” While mankind does continue to evolve, we are building and spinning things in new and interesting ways, the material at its core is not new.

It is the job of a good author to make old knowledge or ancient plot to turn and develop it in a unique way. There might be new names, faces and backgrounds, but most good stories are eternal.

 

Check out what experts have to say about starting a wedding planning business. If you buy this book through my website, send me a message and I will mail you bonus book or material. http://osirispapers.books.officelive.com

The Move From the Seventh Level of Hell

I am providing a map from Dante to give you an idea of the hell I have been living since Monday. It has taken 3 truck loads (1.5 hours each way) and I still have stuff to get. It NEVER ends.

Then I come home and Teeny Cat let me know how he felt about the move. He peed all over the bed. There was a puddle. What the hell was he drinking?

Then I lost the power cord for my computer today. I called Best Buy- and the lady says $109 dollars. WHAT? She says,” That’s all we have, take it or leave it. “ Nice customer service. I went to the store and they had one of those already been opened boxes- 50% off. I guess that is not all they had after all.

I did have a Sloppy Joe Pizza at the Mellow Mushroom. Yummy. Still, I had to come back to the house of boxes, but at least my computer works now. Whew! Back to work, finally!

Neighborhood Association

In my almost 40 years, I have never lived in a neighborhood, that was historic or had an association. I now live in both. I just received my first newsletter.

 

I know for some reading this, it does not seem that exciting, but it gives me hope. Sometime ago I asked the question why people did not sit on porches anymore. In my opinion it is because the concept of community and neighborhood is disappearing in America. The idea, that you actually know and talk with your neighbor seems foreign.

 

 

When I knocked on my neighbor’s doors yesterday, I was greeted with someone peeking out and not very happy to see me in the middle of the day. I am well groomed and pretty harmless, but even in this new neighborhood there was initial distrust and skepticism. Once I informed them I was their new neighbor, doors were flung open and I was warmly embraced.

One of my neighbors seemed totally amazed that I was knocking on doors and introducing myself. It was backed with a large smile and a hearty handshake. I genuinely felt welcome and appreciated. I left my email address with another neighbor and have already received emails from the neighborhood association. 

Images of days gone by when neighborhoods met, had BBQ’s and celebrated holidays together has come to life. There is even a garden club. Wait wasn’t that the background for the “Stepford Wives.”

Ebay Book Coming soon

 

I was excited to hear from the publisher that my book on powerselling on Ebay should be released soon. It was a very interesting process to create this 300+ page book.

The underlying message throughout the book is that it is difficult to reach the powerseller status, but it is even more difficult to maintain it. If a Ebay store is to survive they need to look beyond selling garage sale items and act like a real small business. This is what truly separates the average ebay seller from the Powerseller.

There were a number of experts and powersellers that contributed to this book, and without them, it would not be the power tool that it has become.

If you have any questions about powerselling on Ebay, do not hesitate to ask. If I do not have the answer, I will ask one of the experts!

 

John Peragine