ASJA Tip Sheet
August 17, 2005
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
Looking for an expert or a great story idea? Let the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) monthly Tip Sheet help. Each month you will receive a complimentary e-mailed Tip Sheet that offers trends and other story ideas from nationally-recognized book authors and experts who are members of ASJA.
HOW TO USE THE TIP SHEET . . .
Using the Tip Sheet is simple. Just take a look at the tips from the authors on this month's sheet. If you'd like to build a story around the ideas in the sheet, or think that one of the experts is right for a story you have in the works, contact the expert using the information provided. If you have any questions on the Tip Sheet, please contact Andrea Collier at tipsheet@asja.org, 517-487-1683.
DON'T SEE THE EXPERT YOU NEED IN THIS MONTH'S TIP SHEET?
ASJA has a host of experts available as resources. If what you are looking for is not in the Tip Sheet, check out our member directory at http://www.asja.org/memdb/search.php.
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HEALTH AND FITNESS
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LEAD: LOSE WEIGHT & OUTLAST THE BIGGEST LOSER II
What: Like brides-to-be, "Biggest Loser II" contestants will lose big because of the Wedding Effect – while the world is watching their every pound, they're super-motivated. But after the reality show is over, they're at serious risk of regaining. Get motivational strategies for permanent weight loss from Jean Fain in September's Oprah Magazine, the same strategies this Harvard Medical School psychotherapist teaches clients and has written about for the LA Times Syndicate and women's magazines. Contact: Jean Fain, jfain@hms.harvard.edu, 978-505-7333, www.jeanfain.com.
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PREGNANCY AND LEGAL ISSUES
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LEAD: NEW BOOK FOCUSES ON FINANCIAL, LEGAL, AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF PREGNANCY
What: Your Practical Pregnancy Planner: Everything You Need to Know About the Financial and Legal Aspects of Preparing for Your New Baby realizes pregnancy is about more than prenatal visits and layettes. Parents have choices to make about guardians, cord blood banking, newborn testing, parental leave, life insurance, and budgeting. They have many rights they are unaware of. Written by an attorney in an engaging and friendly month-by-month format, this is a complete guide to the big decisions faced during pregnancy. Contact: Brette Sember, brette@brettesember.com, 716-759-1706, www.BretteSember.com.
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ETIQUETTE AND STYLE
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LEAD: HOW TO AVOID A FLIP-FLOP FLAP AT YOUR OFFICE
What: The Northwestern University women's lacrosse team caused controversy when members wore flip-flops to their photo-op with President Bush. Now that we know that flip-flops are a no-no in the White House, what about the rest of the business world? Certified etiquette and protocol consultant Leah Ingram can help your audience navigate the tricky nature of office attire, from business casual to casual Fridays and everything in between. Plus, come Labor Day, employees may need a refresher on appropriate work attire and what's good for the beach only. Contact: Leah Ingram, leah.ingram@comcast.net, 215-862-8256, www.mannersmom.com.
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HOUSE AND HOME
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LEAD: MORE HOMEOWNERS WANT TO GET AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS
What: Fossil fuels make up 85 percent of the world's energy sources. In many polls, a majority of Americans prefer moving to alternative energy. A quiet revolution is afoot - in people's homes. Christine Woodside, author of The Homeowner's Guide to Energy Independence (Lyons Press, fall 2005), can talk about how to can get away from oil and coal now – with solar panels, wind generators, hydrogen fuel cells, wood, hydro-electric, and conservation techniques. Contact Christine Woodside, cwoodside@snet.net, 860-526-4576.
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SEASONAL: FALL, HALLOWEEN AND HOLIDAY STORIES
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LEAD: HALLOWEEN AND PET AFTERLIFE
What: A perennial online bestseller that gets special attention every October is The Soul of Your Pet: Evidence for the Survival of Animals After Death by Scott Smith. It analyzes 125 surprisingly convincing tales of cats, dogs, horses, and birds which came back from the dead for one last reassuring visit. Contact: Scott S. Smith, sssmith2@adelphia.net, 310-254-4051.
LEAD: WANT TO SAVE BIG BUCKS ON YOUR NEXT HOME?
What: Then build it yourself! Gwen Moran and her husband, Henry Nonnenberg, Jr., have co-authored Build Your Own Home on a Shoestring. The couple shares their experiences general contracting their home to help owner-builders save tens of thousands of dollars by building their next homes themselves. The book helps owner-builders choose the right contractors and work with them effectively, design a home that suits their needs, find bargain land, and complete the project with much more equity than buying new construction. Contact: Gwen Moran, gwen@gwenmoran.com, 732-280-7047, www.gwenmoran.com.
LEAD: AMMO FOR INDEPENDENT MUSICIANS TO PROSPER
What: Indie music guru Daylle Deanna Schwartz's I Don't Need a Record Deal! Your Survival Guide for the Indie Music Revolution takes her other Billboard Books to the next level. It includes every opportunity to earn a musical income and help musicians develop careers to avoid being desperate for a record deal. From licensing music to touring domestically/internationally and more, independent musicians can make music a day job! Daylle will do a fall three-month solo cross country road trip, speaking in colleges and bookstores to promote independent music. Contact: Daylle Deanna Schwartz, daylle@daylle.com, 212-688-3504, www.idontneedarecorddeal.com.
LEAD: NEW BOOK ENCOURAGES PARENTS AND STUDENTS TO "SAY YES TO COLLEGE"
What: Just in time for Back-To-School Nights and Parent-Teacher Conferences, Sharon Chandler and Elizabeth Crane have published "Say Yes To College: A Practical and Inspirational Guide to Raising College-Bound Kid" with a Foreword by Bill Cosby. Using her own experiences as a single African American mother of two, Chandler encourages all parents -- regardless of race, income, or their own level of education -- to make college the goal for their children. Contact: Elizabeth Crane, 415-826-5228, ecrane@well.com
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VACATION AND LEISURE
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LEAD: FESTIVAL TIME IN COLORADO
What: Mushrooms. Mountain biking. Music. And more. Colorado mountain resorts abound with festivals from art to wildflowers. Local guidebook author and award-winning magazine writer Claire Walter knows where to find them all. Contact: Claire Walter, cmwalter@claire-walter.com, 303-442-7709, www.claire-walter.com.
LEAD: TIPS FOR MAINE COAST VISITORS
What: Maine's Coastline would measure about 5,500 miles if you pulled it taut, but taut it isn't. Sandy shores give way to bony fingers of land tipped with granite fingernails. Windjammers sail by spruce-clad islands. Yes, you'll find lobster, lighthouses, and L.L. Bean, but you'll also find nationally-renowned chefs, snazzy oceanside spas, and a dazzling arts scene, with galleries, theater, and music. Hilary Nangle, author of Moon Handbooks Coastal Maine, knows the Maine Coast. Her experience and honest insight are invaluable when planning a trip. Contact: Hilary Nangle, htnangle@midcoast.com, 207-832-5345, www.hilarynangle.com.
LEAD: DESPITE HURRICANES, MORE THAN 75 MILLION TOURISTS FLOCK TO FLORIDA
What: Palm Beach, Miami and the Florida Keys: A Great Destination, Trish Riley's new guide to Florida's Gold Coast and the Keys provides the latest details on South Florida. Home of such natural wonders as the Everglades and the Coral Reef, Florida's fragile ecosystem requires gentle care, and Riley, an award-winning investigative and environmental journalist, helps visitors protect and preserve these incredible natural treasures for future generations to enjoy. Contact: Trish Riley, trish@trishriley.com, 954-384-9466, www.trishriley.com.
LEAD: STAYING HEALTHY WHILE TRAVELING
What: Nothing ruins a trip like an illness, medical emergency, anxiety, and stress. Healthy Travel, by Lisa Iannucci and Dr. Michael P. Zimring, provides information, checklists, and record-keeping sheets for planning trips for business, pleasure, or adventure. Authors can be interviewed on immunizations you need before a trip, medical insurance coverage, traveler's diarrhea, pre-trip check ups, stress-free travel, exercising while traveling, healthy eating, medical emergencies, and more. Contact: Lisa Iannucci, Lisawriter@msn.com, 845-463-2548, www.healthytraveldoc.com.
LEAD: JOURNALIST JETSKIS THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE MISSISSPPI
What: In a latter-day version of Huckleberry Finn, journalist Jonathan Green is the first person to jetski the entire length of the Mississippi River. His story features broken bones, a pursuit by the coastguard, and non-stop action. Jonathan Green is an adventure journalist working on a book about his adventures. So far he has broken a world skydiving record - jumping from 30,000 feet with former special forces soldiers – and he has ridden a bull. Contact: Jonathan Green, jonathan@jonathan-green.com, 646-591-7908, www.jonathan-green.com.
LEAD: FIRST-EVER FENG SHUI CRUISE
What: With the sunny, sexy Caribbean as the backdrop, feng shui expert Mary Mihaly has signed with Celebrity Cruises to lead the first-ever feng shui cruise. Island-hopping passengers will learn how feng shui enhances every aspect of their lives, from prosperity to romance, creativity and wellness, as they visit the Caribbean's most exotic ports. This innovative cruise happens December 3 through 10; stops include Barbados, St. Kitts and the Dominican Republic. Contact: Mary Mihaly, 216-281-7270, marymihaly@sbcglobal.net, www.marymihaly.com.
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ABOUT THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF JOURNALISTS AND AUTHORS
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Founded in 1948, the American Society of Journalists and Authors is the nation's leading organization of independent nonfiction writers. Our membership consists of more than 1,100 outstanding freelance writers of magazine articles, trade books, and many other forms of nonfiction writing, each of whom has met ASJA's exacting standards of professional achievement.
American Society of Journalists and Authors, 1501 Broadway, Suite 403, New York, NY 10036. Contact: Executive Director (Ms.) Brett Harvey, execdir@asja.org.
