Celebrating Our 3rd Anniversary

Our pubco, The Reed Edwards Company is celebrating its 3rd year in business. As a thank you to all of your who helped us reached this milestone we are offering a 30% savings on our books when you order direct from us at www.reededwards.com.

We love to hear that you've enjoyed our books and recommend them to others. So why not give someone an inexpensive gift of a good story? You know our motto: Recommend, don't lend! Book sales put dollars in authors pockets and give us the capital to publish more new writers.

And speaking of new writers... As we move into our next year we hope to bring you two, new exciting and compelling authors.
(More on them at a later date!)

So if you've enjoyed Painting The Invisible Man, Sweet Bitter Love, and Far East Of The Sun, I hope you'll consider giving a copy to someone as a gift.

Just visit www.reededwards.com. We accept credit cards via PayPal...so your payment is safe and secure.

PS. Check out our inspirational refrigerator magnets!
PPS. Feel free to pass this sale notice to your friends and family!

My UK Interview With Bernie Ritchie

I had the pleasure of being interview by UK brand expert and SME business strategist Bernie Ritchie. Out meeting is testament to the power of social media marketing. We met through LinkedIn when I posted the book trailer for Painting The Invisible Man on one of LinkedIn's writing groups.

Bernie contacted me about the book trailer, and we struck up an online acquaintance. I became interested in reading her blog, posted some comments; Bernie was fascinated by my novel and how I use social media to get the word out about it.

I was thrilled when she asked to do an online interview, which was published on her web site, Management Sushi. Bernie also created a rather humorous, tongue-in-cheek video version of the interview.

Join Us Today 9/24 Multi-Author Book Fair

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..."

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...

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.

This Week On "Talk To Me..."

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

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

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"

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.

This Week On "Talk To Me..."

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...

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....

Make a Smilebox slideshow

This Week on "Talk To Me..."

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

This Week On "Talk To Me..."

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

This Week On "Talk To Me..."

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..."

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

This Week on "Talk To Me..."

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!

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..."

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...

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)

This Week On "Talk To Me..."

On Tuesday, May 26, my guest is Carola Dunn. She has authored 50 books, and we'll be talking about two of her latest: Manna from Hades, The Bloody Tower, Black Ship, and Sheer Folly.

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

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

A Slew Of New Reviews!

It's been an exciting few weeks...A number of blogs and Internet book review sites have featured/reviewed my books.

Feature article on Chic Galleria:
Book Talk With J & J:
Review on BestsellersWorld
Review on ReviewYourBook.com
Even Sweet Bitter Love picked up a review after 12 years on the market on Wyns Reading Books!