New Nook by D. Warren Hasbrouck Leads Readers to the Church Becoming a True Bride of Christ

Vancouver, WA (PRWEB) December 14, 2012

In Colossians 2:8, Paul writes, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” According to author D. Warren Hasbrouck, many churches today have turned to the traditions of men instead of God, causing complacency and vanity. “This is an issue that needs to be addressed if Christians are to return righteousness to the church,” he says. In his new book “The Bride’s Missing Gifts: Apostles and Prophets” (published by iUniverse) Hasbrouck tackles this important subject.

“There are those that are hungering and thirsting for His righteousness and not finding it,” Hasbrouck believes. “Many churches today have a form of Godliness, but deny the power thereof.”

In “The Bride’s Missing Gifts,” Hasbrouck shares his thoughts on why the church is suffering and how it is imperative to turn to apostolic and prophetic authority to build up the body of Christ. Through short, easy-to-understand chapters, he discusses the nature of God, the foundation of the church, and the role of the apostles.

In addition, Hasbrouck shares his personal correspondence with a local church about these same issues, offering a concrete example of how to put Jesus Christ back at the head of the church. By digging deep into the Scriptures and focusing on God’s plan for His body of believers, Christians can remove division and reclaim unity in Christ.

“The Bride’s Missing Gifts” deeply explores the importance of the apostolic and prophetic ministries being active in the Bride of Christ, helping readers come into a deeper relationship with God in order for the church to become a glorious Bride.

About the Author

D. Warren Hasbrouck has served God for many years in different ways in men’s ministry and prison ministry. He is pursuing an associate degree from a biblical theological institute and lives in Washington State.
iUniverse, an Author Solutions, Inc. self-publishing imprint, is the leading book marketing, editorial services, and supported self-publishing provider. iUniverse has a strategic alliance with Indigo Books & Music, Inc. in Canada, and titles accepted into the iUniverse Rising Star program are featured in a special collection on BarnesandNoble.com. iUniverse recognizes excellence in book publishing through the Star, Reader’s Choice, Rising Star and Editor’s Choice designations—self-publishing’s only such awards program. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, iUniverse also operates offices in Indianapolis. For more information or to publish a book, please visit iuniverse.com or call 1-800-AUTHORS. For the latest, follow @iuniversebooks on Twitter.

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New Political Thriller by Ian R. Kelley Asks, "Can North and South Korea be Reunited?"

Tarpon Springs, FL (PRWEB) December 14, 2012

Grounded in author Ian R. Kelley’s years of experience in the region, the new novel “UNCIVIL SERVANTS” (published by iUniverse) is his extrapolation of one possible scenario of Korean reunification. Kelley writes…”with all the turmoil and unrest in the Middle East and concerns over Iran’s developing nuclear weapons, we can’t afford to forget the last remnant of the ‘Bamboo Curtain’ with nuclear strike capabilities…North Korea!”

Six nations will come together to decide the future and fate of millions, possibly the world. Three civil servants – a Korean army officer, a Japanese diplomat, and a U.S. Secret Service agent – will do whatever it takes to influence the decision. Find out who prevails and…at what cost?
An excerpt from “UNCIVIL SERVANTS”:

“The Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea remains the longest most heavily guarded border in the world. Hostilities could flare up any minute sending the world into yet another all-out shooting war; powerful allies would be drawn into the fray. With both sides capable of nuclear strikes, there would be no winners.

"Will peace ever be possible for two peoples, the same blood running through their veins, yet divided by an imaginary line? Will a divided Korea unite and become one?”

Although fiction, “UNCIVIL SERVANTS” is based on facts and current-day realities. “Like the crumbling of the Berlin Wall,” Kelley writes, “no one doubts it’s simply a matter of when and how reunification of North and South Korea takes place.”

“UNCIVIL SERVANTS”
By Ian R. Kelley
Hardcover | 6 x 9 in | 296 pages | ISBN 9781475958355
Softcover | 6 x 9 in | 296 pages | ISBN 9781475958348
E-Book | 296 pages | ISBN 9781475958362
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Ian R. Kelley retired from the Department of Defense in 2005 with 35 years of service. He resides in Tarpon Springs, Fla. For many years, Kelley lived and worked in South Korea teaching English and communications skills to Korean and military personnel as well as serving as a professor at Keimyung College University in Daegu, South Korea.

iUniverse, an Author Solutions, Inc. self-publishing imprint, is the leading book marketing, editorial services, and supported self-publishing provider. iUniverse has a strategic alliance with Indigo Books & Music, Inc. in Canada, and titles accepted into the iUniverse Rising Star program are featured in a special collection on BarnesandNoble.com. iUniverse recognizes excellence in book publishing through the Star, Reader’s Choice, Rising Star and Editor’s Choice designations—self-publishing’s only such awards program. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, iUniverse also operates offices in Indianapolis. For more information or to publish a book, please visit iuniverse.com or call 1-800-AUTHORS. For the latest, follow @iuniversebooks on Twitter.

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New Book Helps Readers Unlock Their Inner Magician

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (PRWEB) December 13, 2012

“Within you is a powerful magician that can change your reality through your thoughts, words, and emotions,” says author Druanna Johnston. “You can create whatever it is you wish.” In her new book, “Manifestation Magick for the New Earth: Volume I” (published by iUniverse) Johnston shows readers how to unlock their hidden manifestation abilities.

While sharing her life experiences as a practicing magician, psychic reader and healer, Johnston gives insight into using tools such as the tarot, Solfeggio frequencies, DNA activation, the pineal gland, chakras and the Five Rites to help move readers out of the 3D matrix and into ascension.

“Manifestation Magick for the New Earth” shows readers how their thoughts can help them take control of their lives. The book also includes exercises to activate readers’ inner powers to quickly transform their realities.

“Utilizing certain tools will aid our manifestation abilities as we approach the New Earth, to keep our vibrations up and to remember who we are, a powerful fully conscious Magician. Once we unlock our full potential to create, we come into our own sovereign power.”

About the Author

Druanna Johnston started her career as a psychic empath and tarot reader when she was 17 years old. She moved into Reiki and Seichim healing in her early 20s. Johnston hosts a weekly radio show. She and her husband, Jerami, live in Baja, Calif., Mexico with her children. For more information visit: http://www.illuminatingmindztherapy.com.

iUniverse, an Author Solutions, Inc. self-publishing imprint, is the leading book marketing, editorial services, and supported self-publishing provider. iUniverse has a strategic alliance with Indigo Books & Music, Inc. in Canada, and titles accepted into the iUniverse Rising Star program are featured in a special collection on BarnesandNoble.com. iUniverse recognizes excellence in book publishing through the Star, Reader’s Choice, Rising Star and Editor’s Choice designations—self-publishing’s only such awards program. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, iUniverse also operates offices in Indianapolis. For more information or to publish a book, please visit iuniverse.com or call 1-800-AUTHORS. For the latest, follow @iuniversebooks on Twitter.

Read Full Story at: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/12/prweb10230040.htm

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Fighting Writer's Block

Writer’s block is like someone coming after you with a metaphorical knife and trying to stab you right in the middle of intellectual creativity. It’s the most scary, macabre thing for a writer to unexpectedly find that he or she has stopped having ideas. It’s a powerful incentive not to write, because you fear that you’re going to write something that’s not good enough.

The good thing about writer's block is that it is all in the head. And since it stays in the back of your mind, it can be made to stay there indefinitely by practicing effective habits that reinforces and affirms your creativity. The following are some proven strategies authors employ to eliminate writer's block:

Overcome the Impulse Perfection. One strategy for overcoming writer’s block is to tell yourself that you don’t have to be perfect, that what you’re creating doesn’t have to be an end result. It’s part of the process of discovery. If you’re going off on an adventure, how can you blame yourself for not quite knowing where you’re going to go or for being a little bit imperfect on the way?

Write a Lousy First Draft. The bad first draft is precisely what it is. A semi nonsensical scribble intended to get your brain going from a cold start. Just as you don't have to hit the ball out of the park on your first strike, 100% of the time, writing perfectly on your first draft doesn't have to be mandatory too. Give yourself enough time to loosen up your mental muscles by writing enough nonsense and you will practically see writer's block melt away.

Oddly enough, this doesn’t just apply to writers. Action star Sylvester Stallone advises writing anything. "I just write anything, and pretty soon other things start coming out of me, and the words start to flow again.” I’ve read pieces by computer programmers advising the same thing-- if you’re stuck and nothing will come, write a lousy first draft anyway.

Vary Your Writing Routine. Changing something about your creative routine can help too. Sometimes going to talk to someone instead of just sitting in your room causes a different part of your brain to become active. You can also trick your mind into working by varying the settings where you do most of your writing. Some writers head to the forests. Some prefer booking a hotel. Some go on long cruises.

Take a Walk. Sometimes it helps to walk away from your work and go take a shower - some of my best ideas happen when I’m doing something completely unrelated to work. Anybody trying to do something creative will face this fear that they are not good enough or that the project is not going to pan out nicely. The key is to let go of that fear and allow yourself to fail. Write a piece of crap and keep at it until you find yourself writing something you can live with again.

Writing is a process that is best done with minimum stress. The creative mind cannot function beyond its stress threshold. It is important to tell yourself that you don’t have to be perfect. That it's OK to write crap. And then you just write anything, let it come out of you, and don’t judge it until later. Counterintuitive as it may seem, the ultimate secret to avoiding writer’s block is not to try.

For more writing tips, head over to the iUniverse Writers Tips and learn from the experience of iUniverse Author Focus.

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What Key Questions to Ask to Ensure the Success of Your Book

Promoting a book is not much different from marketing a business. Dreaming about the best-sellers list will not help you get your book off shelves. Businesses rely on a business plan. Similarly, your book requires a blueprint for identifying and creating a successful marketing plan for your book. Begin with these few simple steps to help identify the best way to market your new book.

1. What is your book's goal?

What is the purpose of writing your book and what do you want to accomplish? Key marketing decisions depend on your goals. The degree of investment necessary differs from just making a few copies of your book available for family and friends to selling thousands of books to total strangers. Whatever the case, make sure your goals are realistic and achievable based on resources you are willing and able to commit.

2. Who should read your book?

Knowing your audience will help you decide how to sell your book to readers. Consider your audience's demographics to determine your marketing focus. If you find your target to be a very small niche, marketing will need to be very focused. Aiming for a small niche of, say, Young Adult fiction with a strong interest in vampire-themed books may be better than aiming for a bigger slice of the broad fantasy fiction genre. Business books are marketed and priced with this strategy in mind. They focus on small niches but price books higher than fiction or most other genres. Conversely, you may want to expand the appeal of your book by making some changes to its scope so as to increase your customer base.

3. What is your Unique Selling Proposition?

Know as much as you can about what appeals to your target market? Position your book as an alternative with a specific difference. Perhaps your book belongs to the Self-Help genre on marriage counselling. Then identify what sets it apart from other titles by "writing against the grain". Maybe your book can contrast itself from most books with Christian views about marriage by writing a book that focuses on inter-faith marriages.

4. How will your book stack up against other titles in your genre?

Discover how your book relates to the industry you are writing about. For example, if you are writing a cookbook, it may fit in with healthy eating rather than down home barbecuing or cookbooks featuring celebrities. Start by identifying who your competition is and what their strengths and weaknesses are. Focus on their weaknesses where your book can highlight its strengths, because this is where you can position your book as a compelling alternative.

5. Where is your audience at and how do you plan to reach them?

In today's digital world it makes sense to begin your search for your target readers on the Internet. Search for websites with related interests to your book. Use social media sites like Facebook, Twitter. Take advantage of online book cataloguing sites like GoodReads and Shelfari and submit copies of your book as contest giveaways while encouraging book reviews on your social media profiles, website and blog. With online distribution becoming a favorite feature among most e-publishing formats, your book can also be sold and downloaded through the Internet, so it makes sense to start your marketing efforts where a growing population of readers is frequenting.

For more writing tips, head over to the iUniverse Writers Tips and learn from the experience of iUniverse Author Focus.

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Four Steps to Better Book Blog Traffic

A book website maybe one of the most cost-effective marketing assets a book author can have. It can be a launch pad for author-reader interaction which is probably one of the most rewarding relationships authors can have with their readers. Before you can even get to that level of engagement, you must improve the odds of getting your book blog or website discovered.

Here are four important actions to take to boost your website or blog's online discoverability while encouraging a steady stream of traffic.

Step 1: Apply basic search engine optimization tactics to Your Book Blog

Optimization essentially means making your blog noticeable to search engines like Google or Bing. This step is about finding the right keywords that your readers are using to look for book titles similar to yours.

To begin, you may use the Google Keyword tool (which is free) or keyworddiscovery.com to get the top keyword suggestions for the type of article you'd like to write. These tools return the top searched keywords and phrases that relate to your topic.

Pick the key phrase that isn't too competitive but still gets a lot of regular searches. Plug it into your blogs title, meta tags, and image descriptions. Using "stop words", insert the same phrase throughout your text.

Step 2: Exchange guest blogs

The process of trading blogs with someone else has become common. Writing a themed blog for someone in exchange for one they write for you is a two way street. You get the benefit of having their regular readers read your post in exchange for your readers getting to know their work.

Another cool side effect is the fact that the two sites will now be linked together. This connection adds to a stronger ranking in search engines.

Step 3: Tweet for traffic

With the ease and popularity of Twitter, one of the easiest ways to leverage your account into more blog traffic is to do a giveaway or run a viral contest. All you need to do is post a simple tweet.

Something like:
"Get a free copy of BOOKNAMEHERE when you subscribe to my blog @DOTCOMHERE and retweet this message."
or
"Enter to win a signed copy of BOOKNAMEHERE when you subscribe to my blog @DOTCOMHERE and retweet this message."

Step 4: Be Positive, at all times

Everyone has heard that, "You can attract more bees with honey than with vinegar." You can work with this principle to direct traffic to your blog.

Look up other blogs in your same genre, maybe even on your same posting website. Read their blogs and post an insightful, truly positive comment about them. Do this for a couple of their posts. When someone notices your comments, they can click your name to see your profile and blog.

Include a simple, plain hyperlinked version of your name as your signature, but be careful and make sure your comments are specific because this can be misconstrued as spamming and can get your comment deleted.

For more writing tips, head over to the iUniverse Writers Tips and learn from the experience of iUniverse Author Focus.

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Why Digital Publishing is the Best Thing to Happen to Self-Published Authors

Even as writers and readers buzz in social media circles about the latest success story and unknown authors continue to leverage success through digital releases, the traditional publishing world has still been hesitant to jump fully on board.

Fortunately, many marketers and self-help gurus are leading the way with aggressive digitization of their books into e-books and offering them at heavy discounts (sometimes even for free!) which increasingly evens out the playing field in favor of independent authors exploiting the benefits of digital publishing.

While e-books are exploding in popularity, many aren't fully aware of what it is and whether or not they should be reading them, much less making them, and how to do either effectively.

Advantages of e-books and e-readers

The best thing going for readers in digital publishing is not the books, but the technology. The crispness of Apple's new retina display technology notwithstanding, dedicated e-readers from Amazon (Kindle) and Barnes & Noble (Nook) have embraced sophisticated digital ink technology, which doesn't rely on backlight and has a resolution twice as good as your typical laptop. This offers the reader an enjoyable reading experience without the eyestrain.

For authors, the game changer is the ease at which your book can be shared and marketed. Especially wonderful is that many e-book sellers let readers to download enough of the text to get hooked, anytime, anywhere.

E-books are quite easy to figure out, even your average reader will find it intuitive enough to obtain and use. You need only download those promotional Portable Document Format documents (PDFs) in exchange for an e-mail address or head over to the distributor of your choice, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Apple. Readers with voracious appetites for books may find this a bit more confusing as a multitude of competing formats vying for the attention of a number of platform specific devices have flooded the market.

Formats and formatting

Although there is a standard format, EPUB, as recommended by the International Digital Publishing Forum, here is where the story gets complicated. A quick look at the Wikipedia page on e-book formats leaves one with the impression that the wheel has been created, recreated, beaten into a horseshoe, and then melted into ball. Some are out-of-date, such as Microsoft's LIT while others are common in specialty areas such as science or are utilitarian formats, such as Microsoft Office document formats PDF and web-style HTML.

What's the problem?

Keep in mind that static formats like PDFs or word documents usually don't translate well to portable devices due to display ratio, as anyone who has tried to open one on their smartphone can attest. The key is that e-books should work like web pages and utilize separate files to display content and color. There are no page breaks, so the content streams freely, giving an uninterrupted flow, and are easily resized.

Pads, Pods, Nooks, and Kindles-oh my!

Now, toss into the menagerie the penchant for corporations to favor proprietary technology, and the plot only thickens. The simplest way to get to the bottom of this is to list which formats the major e-book readers support:

• The Amazon Kindle supports AZW, TPZ, TXT, MOBI, PRC and PDF natively, HTML and DOC through conversion.
• Apple's iPad or other tablets can handle EPUB, PDF, HTML, DOC, plus iPad Apps, which could include Kindle and Barnes & Noble readers.
• The Barnes & Noble Nook can read EPUB, PDB, PDF.

Everybody supports EPUB as their primary e-book format, except for Amazon's Kindle. This is very important as presently Amazon is arguably the biggest retailer and publisher of digital content.

What about writers?

It's important to know that converting your manuscript to digital format is not a simple matter of drag and drop. Outside of getting really cozy with HTML and CSS so you can accurately translate the formatting and style to the text, it's best to hire a professional service, which iUniverse provides. Although there are some third-party options that will convert your word document into one of the popular e-book formats, prepare for results that could vary from acceptable to horrid. And while you can always convert your book to PDF, you are ignoring the advantages that book aficionados most love about their dedicated digital reader.

For more writing tips, head over to the iUniverse Writers Tips and learn from the experience of iUniverse Author Focus.

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