Rita's Not-So-Daily Word

Tonight on "Talk To Me..."

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:41:00 +0000

Tonight on "Talk To Me...Conversations With Creative, Unconventional People"

This week on Talk To Me...Nina Vecchi and Julie LePoer, founders of the Wachusett Vegan Society. “Our mission is to inform the community of the health benefits and world saving qualities of a plant-based diet.”

Tune in, Call in, Live! 347-327-9158 and talk to me...and Julie and Nina!

Can't tune in tonight? This show, and all my interviews, are available in the archives. Simply go to Talk To Me...Conversations With Creative, Unconventional People. www.blogtalkradio.com/rita

Join Us Today 9/24 Multi-Author Book Fair

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:46:00 +0000

Join me and a few dozen more authors today at the Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, 14 Union Street, for a terrific book expo. A chance to talk with authors about their work, pick up books for your reading pleasure, holiday gifts, etc. Event begins at 3:00 p.m. I'll be signing both Sweet Bitter Love and Painting the Invisible Man.

Stay for the reception for the keynote speaker -- which just happens to be me, ;-) -- at 6:45 p.m.
The keynote address begins at 7:30 p.m. Hope to see you there! Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, 14 Union Street, S. Hamilton, MA,

This week on "Talk To Me..."

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:41:00 +0000

My guest this week is author and Boston's Channel 7 investigative news reporter Hank Phillippi-Ryan. Winner of 26 EMMYs, and dozens of other regional, national and international honors for her hard-hitting investigations, Hank and I will be talking about her critically acclaimed Charlotte McNally mysteries: "Prime Time," "Face Time," and "Air Time."

Tune in, Call in, Live! 347-327-9158 and talk to me...and Hank!

Can't tune in tonight? This show, and all my interviews, are available in the archives. Simply go to Talk To Me...Conversations With Creative, Unconventional People. www.blogtalkradio.com/rita

Politics Aside, An Inspiring Message...

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:45:00 +0000

In 2001, KidsTerrain co-founder and president Maggie Moran wrote a book for children about finding one’s magic. The Magic In Me offers a simple, yet vital lesson for our children, helping them identify the talents and abilities that represent the magic in each child.

Eight years later in his address to the school children of our nation, President Obama said, “Every single one of you has something you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is.”

Now, aside putting all the political controversy, when you get right down to it, the message was a good one…and one I would think that every parent would, should, and ought to teach their children. The message was really quite simple: you’ll never know what you are good at (what your magic is) if you don’t try, if you don’t embrace the concept that failure is a necessary part of success.

No baseball player hits the ball every time; no ice skater executes a new jump perfectly at the start; no author writes a book from beginning to end in one take. A baseball player batting .333 (which is pretty darn good) is actually only hitting the ball 33% of the time. When a champion figure skater begins to learn a new jump, spin, or lift, he or she fall hundreds of times. And every author, every writer knows that rewriting is essential to honing a story.

“No one’s born being good at things. You become good at things through hard work,” the President reminded us. He also said that asking for help “is not a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don’t know something” and a willingness “to learn something new.”

Whether you agree with his politics or not, President Obama offered an inspiring message: To be the best that we can be, to pick ourselves up and keep moving forward when we stumble along life’s paths, and to encourage our children to discover and nurture their talents…their magic.

Written for KidsTerrain.com. Published here with permission.

Nights And Weekends - Painting the Invisible Man Review

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:21:00 +0000

Nights And Weekends - Painting the Invisible Man Review

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This Week On "Talk To Me..."

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:34:00 +0000

My guest this week is author Shane Joseph. His books include Redemption In Paradise and Fringe Dwellers. We'll be talking, too, about his latest work in progress, After The Flood.

Tune in, Call in, Live! 347-327-9158 and talk to me...and Shane.

Can't tune in tonight? This show, and all my interviews, are available in the archives. Simply go to Talk To Me...Conversations With Creative, Unconventional People. www.blogtalkradio.com/rita

All Eyes Are On Fabulously40 Featured Member

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:51:00 +0000

I had the honor of being a featured member on Fabulously 40 & Beyond. (Admittedly, I'm on the "beyond" side of things.) It was a unique interview; not the same old, same old. Here's a bite for you...

1. How did you start your career? Did you attend college immediately following high school? If so, did your parents expect you to go to college or did you attend on your own?

Much to my mother’s disappointment, I did not want to go to college because I hated high school. (She graduated from Syracuse University in the 1940s, a time when most women were not encouraged to get a college education.) But when my best friend was packing to leave for an out-of-state school, I decided to go, more because I did not want to be left behind. My mother was thrilled and my father agreed to pay for it, under the condition that I studied and got good grades.

I went for a last minute interview at Cazenovia College (then a 2-year program only). I joke that they accepted me more because I walked in with a blank check to pay full tuition, and not because of my grades, which were horrid.

At Cazenovia I met and studied under Dr. Dolly Weiss…she changed my life. Despite my mother’s remarkable strength and independence, she thought the women’s movement of the 1960s-early 1970s was just plain wrong. Little did my mother know, she herself was quite the feminist in how she lived her life. (Note: I define feminist here as a women living her life outside the defined cultural/traditional role of the times.)

Dr. Weiss helped me discover my intellectual capabilities and to see a woman’s place in the world was limitlessness. I stayed at Cazenovia only one year, then transferred to a 4-year program at Wells College, and continued on to graduate school.

Read the whole interview at Fabulously 40.

"Powerful"...."Mesmerizing"... "Made me want to buy the book again..."

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 13:36:00 +0000

I had the pleasure to work with Laurie Zieber to create this book trailer for Painting The Invisible Man. Don't forget...I'll pay the shipping (USPS Media Mail only) when you buy direct from Reed Edwards with promo code: RITA

Trim the "Fat"

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 12:38:00 +0000

When describing a scene, person, or "thing" in your writing, be specific. Telling the reader "the desk was made of wood" or "he didn't feel well (not good)" is weak writing. If the desk was made of wood, then tell us what kind of wood. A light-stained oak? Mahogany? Knotty pine? If your characters is ill, then tell us what ails him.

Go through your text and remove any weak nouns, verbs, and modifiers. Eliminate abstractions and replace them with concrete images. Help your readers visualize what is happening.

Cut any clichés, unless they are central to your character. If you use a metaphor or simile, create your own.

About Press Releases - 1

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:30:00 +0000

A well-executed press release has an excellent chance of being picked up by a news organization. What can you do to increase your chances? Here are a few guidelines to follow.

Ask yourself this question: Is the information newsworthy? Of course your new business or product line is exciting to you. But how can you tweak the story to pique the interest of your newspaper’s readership? Be an objective observer of your news item.

When structuring your press release, remember the basics we learned in English 101: Who, What, When, Where Why, and How. This information should be in the first two paragraphs of your release. Make sure the first two sentences of your release are effective, as they are the most important.

This Week On "Talk To Me..."

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 12:25:00 +0000

This week on "Talk To Me...Conversations With Creative, Unconventional People"

My guest tonight is Lynn Tincher. Lynn is the author of the Paige Aldridge "Mind Bending" detective series, Afterthoughts, released earlier this year and Left in the Dark to be released in October, 2009. She also helps other new writers in their efforts to get published. Her eZine The Literary Lynnch Pen and website provides helpful tips and information.

Tune in, Call in, Live! 347-327-9158 and talk to me...and Lynn!

Can't tune in Tuesday? This show, and all my interviews, are available in the archives. Simply go to Talk To Me...Conversations With Creative, Unconventional People. www.blogtalkradio.com/rita

Featured Guest on She Speaks To Inspire...

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:10:00 +0000

Tonight, July 14, I will be the featured guest on Laurie Zieber's show, She Speaks To Inspire.

Tune in, join in the discussion. Show begins at 6:00 p.m. Eastern (that's 5:00 Texas time!) Call-in Number: (347) 539-5725. Here's the promo piece Laurie put together....

This Week on "Talk To Me..."

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:58:00 +0000

On Tuesday, July 14, my guest will be Laurie Zieber host of She Speaks 2 Inspire. (and I will be on her show at 6:00 p.m. same day!)

Laurie is also a columnist for "Fabulously 40 & Beyond," photographer, artist, and founder of Draw Away Ministries.

Tune in, Call in, Live! 347-327-9158 and talk to me...and Laurie!

Can't tune in Tuesday? This show, and all my interviews, are available in the archives. Simply go to Talk To Me...Conversations With Creative, Unconventional People. www.blogtalkradio.com/rita

Wake Up, America, Our Kids Are Dying...

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:55:00 +0000

A couple of nights ago I was awakened at 3:45 a.m. by a torrential rainstorm. After the intense thunder and lightening subsided, and still unable to get back to sleep, I turned on the television and began flipping through the channels. That mindless activity halted when my ears pricked up upon hearing an unfamiliar word: bullycide. Understanding instantly what the word meant — suicide as a result of bullying — I grabbed my eyeglasses so that I could watch the news report.

Later in the day, I spent a few hours researching the Internet for bullycide stories. Actually, when you Google "bullycide stories," the result reads "about 26,100 for bullycide stories." Eventually, I ended up on You Tube. I still get goosebumps thinking about the plethora of videos I discovered there. I’d like to bring two of the videos to your attention.

The first is a compelling news report by ABC’s Diane Sawyer. It begins with a scene from the old television show, Candid Camera, illustrating the evolution of behavior (the devolution, really) of two little girls towards one boy. The second is a music video tribute entitled Bullying In America. Watch this one alone first, then watch it again with your kids.

I’ve written on the topic of bullying a few times and under different buzzwords and terms: when eleven-year-old Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover hung himself after enduring daily taunts at school about being gay (anti-gay bullying); and when the Megan Meier case first hit the news cycle (cyberbullying). I’ve even blogged about the adult extension of this abusive behavior (workplace bullying).

Well, I’m going to continue writing about bullying until this horrific problem wanes. It’s time we wake up to this insidious behavior that is killing our children.

Originally written for KidsTerrain. Reprinted with permission.

This Week On "Talk To Me..."

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:30:00 +0000

This week on "Talk To Me...Conversations With Creative, Unconventional People"

On Tuesday, July 7, I am featuring an Author's Roundtable. Guests include Robin Marvel, author of Awakening Consciousness A Girl's Guide and Awakening Consciousness A Boy's Guide; Jason Gehlert, author of Europa; Heather Whittaker, author of The Tazie Effect—10 Leadership Principles For New Leaders; and Geoffrey Zimmerman, author of Love Never Dies.

Tune in, Call in, Live! 347-327-9158 and talk to me...and all the writers!

Can't tune in Tuesday? This show, and all my interviews, are available in the archives. Simply go to Talk To Me...Conversations With Creative, Unconventional People. www.blogtalkradio.com/rita

Book Bloggers

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:49:00 +0000

With so many newspapers laying off their book editors or cutting their book review sections altogether, book bloggers are enjoying a heydey.

Authors looking to have their books reviewed should check out Book Blogs, a web site where members read books, blog about books, write books, and publicize books.

Like with anything, do your research. Don't just send books to anyone. Read the bloggers archived reviews. Be sure that the blogger is interested in your type of book...in other words, if you are a nonfiction writer, a YA (Young Adult) science fiction blogger may not be the best person to send your book to.

This Week On "Talk To Me..."

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:13:00 +0000

On Tuesday, June 30, my guest is April Robins, celebrated writer of children's picture and story books designed for early readers. April also leads a very active online networking group of authors, writers and artists with over 1300 members called Red River Writers. Her goal for Red River Writers is to create a forum where she can make members aware of events, links or other items of interest to the members. She leads the discussion on several topics exploring the pros and cons of issues, organizes events for the group and encourages the newer members.

Tune in, Call in, Live! 347-327-9158 and talk to me...and April!

Can't tune in Tuesday? This show, and all my interviews, are available in the archives. Simply go to Talk To Me...Conversations With Creative, Unconventional People. www.blogtalkradio.com/rita

This Week On "Talk To Me..."

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 16:01:00 +0000

On Tuesday, June 23, my guest is Mahala Bishop, author of Sunshine And Shadow: My Battle With Bipolar Disorder. Mahala became a victim of bipolar disorder in her fifties and uses her life experience, her writing ability and multitudes of notes from manic episodes to create this informational book.

Tune in, Call in, Live! 347-327-9158 and talk to me...and Mahala!

Can't tune in Tuesday? This show, and all my interviews, are available in the archives. Simply go to Talk To Me...Conversations With Creative, Unconventional People. www.blogtalkradio.com/rita

The Scarlett O'Hara Effect

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:42:00 +0000

Most customers are like Scarlett O'Hara....they'll think about buying your product or contracting your service "tomorrow." Our tendency is to deliberate, postpone, and delay...so what is the most effective way to counterbalance this? Impose a deadline.

Inject a sense of urgency into your ads, sales presentations, and marketing messages. Whether the message is "Act fact! Only 2 books left!" or "Prices are going up at the end of the month," create a deadline or an incentive to motivate people to take action now!

P.S. Take advantage of our online savings! Save up t0 20 % on all Reed Edwards publications through June 30! Order today! (Get the point?)!

Facebook friends get free shipping, too! Use promo code: Facebook

Twitter friends get free shipping, too! Use promo code: Twitter

LinkedIn friends get free shipping, too! Use promo code: LinkedIn

This Week On "Talk To Me..."

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 11:58:00 +0000

On Tuesday, June 16, my guest is Pat Bertram, author of More Deaths Than One and A Spark Of Heavenly Fire.

Tune in, Call in, Live! 347-327-9158 and talk to me...and Pat!

Can't tune in Tuesday? This show, and all my interviews, are available in the archives. Simply go to Talk To Me...Conversations With Creative, Unconventional People. www.blogtalkradio.com/rita

Anorexia Rising In Middle-Aged Women

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:47:00 +0000

Grown women struggling with eating disorders is the latest, hidden national epidemic. While some adults may have initially developed their illness in their pre-teen or teenage years, clinicians are seeing a steady increase in eating disorders developed during adulthood.

For adult women, the triggers are often mid-life anxieties: divorce, children leaving home or “empty nest syndrome,” a chronically ill relative, the loss of a parent, or extreme loneliness.

Our youth-obsessed culture plays a role in determining our body image, too. In our society, aging is more difficult for women than it is for men. Thin is in, has been, and always will be. And being thin is a good thing. But being too thin is not.

According to a report by ABC News, experts believe between 1 million and 3 million middle-aged women in the U.S. have anorexia or bulimia, and 1 in 10 eating disorder patients is over age forty.

Just like with their teenage counterparts, there are signs to watch for in adults: an obsessive element to eating patterns, preoccupation with weight, high volume exercise.

If you or someone you love is battling an eating disorder and you don’t know where to turn, talk with your family physician. Your doctor will be able to guide you or your loved one to an eating disorders treatment center or program.

(Written for KidsTerrain)

This Week on "Talk To Me..."

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:49:00 +0000

On Tuesday, June 9, my guest is Dinah Romig Mellin. Dinah is a fun-loving, Celtic fiddle player and artist. She teaches fiddle lessons; indulges in creative art projects from graphic arts to Fine Art. Printmaking is on the top of her list. She's a member of the Cape Cod Fiddlers and hosts the "Fiddle & The Harp" on WOMR 92.1 FM.

Tune in, Call in, Live! 347-327-9158 and talk to me...and Dinah!

Can't tune in Tuesday? This show, and all my interviews, are available in the archives. Simply go to Talk To Me...Conversations With Creative, Unconventional People. www.blogtalkradio.com/rita

And Here's Another!

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:01:00 +0000

Thanks to Missy's Book Nook for her lovely review of Painting The Invisible Man.

"I finished this book in less than two days....I just couldn't put it down....Rita Schiano truly has a gift for writing, and captures the characters and time frames perfectly. I am Italian, so that is another reason I enjoyed this story.Painting the Invisible Man is a true glimpse of the life of Anna and her family in the 1970's, her relationship with her father, mother and brother, and the grown-up Anna; ready to face her fears and live her life without boundaries.Read this book - you won't be disappointed. My Rating: Five Stars (Read full review here)

This Week on "Talk To Me..."

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Sat, 30 May 2009 18:43:00 +0000

On Tuesday, June 2, my guest is Christopher Seufert. Christopher Seufert runs Mooncusser Films LLC, specializing in both the production and distribution of documentaries, educational films, music videos, artist profiles, and corporate /promotional multimedia. He is also a sound recordist and photographer.

Tune in, Call in, Live! 347-327-9158 and talk to me...and Christopher!

Can't tune in tonight? This show, and all my interviews, are available in the archives. Simply go to Talk To Me...Conversations With Creative, Unconventional People. www.blogtalkradio.com/rita

Reviews Just Keep On Coming...

rita@ritaschiano.com (Rita) — Wed, 27 May 2009 13:36:00 +0000

Here are the latest round of reviews for Painting The Invisible Man.

From Dan's Journal: "It’s interesting how Rita Schiano took a real life event involving her father and turned it into a wonderfully, charming story about one woman’s quest to find out the truth about her father’s murder. Anna Matteo, the main character in this story, discovers that her father was killed what may have a mob hit because of his gambling debts. The more she digs deeper into this long ago event, the closer she comes to the truth. “Painting The Invisible Man’ is a witty and pleasurable book." (Read full review here)

From LuxuryReading: "Rita Schiano creates a cast of multifaceted characters who are the backdrop to this first person tale of self discovery. Her liberal use of flashbacks create a sense of being “in Anne’s head” and living Anne’s life. In Painting the Invisible Man, Rita touches upon families, grief, loss, sexuality, and “coming of age”…all different parts of the human experience." (Read full review here)

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