ASJA Tip Sheet
Holiday Edition 2005
December 2, 2005
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
Looking for an expert or a great story idea for the Holidays? Let the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) holiday special edition Tip Sheet help. This special Tip Sheet offers holiday season trends and other story ideas from nationally-recognized book authors and experts who are members of ASJA.
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HOW TO USE THE TIP SHEET
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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.
STILL LOOKING FOR A GREAT HOLIDAY STORY IDEA BUT 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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HOLIDAY TOY SHOPPING
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LEAD: THE QUEST FOR GREAT TOYS HAS BEGUN.
What: How can you pick entertaining, educational toys and not be fooled by the holiday hype? Ellen Neuborne and Marianne Szymanski offer concrete toy-picking advice. They are co-authors of Toy Tips: A Parent's Essential Guide to Smart Toy Choices. Marianne is the founder of Toy Tips Inc and has more than 15 years experience in toy testing. Ellen is a veteran journalist. She's covered 15 Christmas seasons and seven Toy Fairs and countless playtime trends. Contact: Ellen Neuborne and Marianne Szymanski, Marianne@toytips.com, 414-421-9668, www.toytips.com.
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HOLIDAY FAMILY AND FRIENDS ISSUES
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LEAD: ONE WORD REDUCES HOLIDAY STRESS.LEARN HOW TO USE IT
What: As obligations and pressure mount, being able to say "no" puts joy back into the holidays and your life year 'round. Social psychologist Susan Newman explains a person's rights and strategies to free you without hurting others or feeling guilty. The insights and simple techniques in her new book, "The Book of No: 250 Ways to Say It-And Mean It-And Stop People-Pleasing Forever," squelch the "yes-person" in each of us and stop those who take advantage -- whether friend, co-worker, or relative. Contact: Susan Newman, Ph.D.: newman@susannewmanphd.com, 732-494-5969. http://www.thebookofno.com.
LEAD: HOLIDAY RULES FOR DIVORCED PARENTS
What: "Do not, under any circumstances, put pressure on your children to make the decision about where to spend these important holidays," say Russell Wild, financial planner, and Susan Wild, litigation attorney, co-authors of The Unofficial Guide to Getting a Divorce. Married for 22 years and the parents of two children, Susan and Russell are now amicably divorced. Based on their professional backgrounds, as well as their personal experience, Susan and Russell offer unique tips for divorced parents on handling the holiday season. Contact: Russell Wild, Russell@Globalportfolios.net, 610-530-0078.
LEAD: HONORING YOUR LOVED ONE
What: Losing a loved one is never easy, especially with the holidays approaching. How do you get through the holiday? How can you honor your loved one's memory? Lisa Iannucci, founder of www.youngwidowsandwidowers.com, lost her husband when he was 37 years old, and now comforts others in the same position with her Web site and newsletter. She can provide tips on making it through a difficult time and discuss several ways to honor your loved one. Contact: Lisa Iannucci, lisawriter@msn.com, 845-463-2548, 845-559-8925 (cell).
LEAD: HOW DO I GET THROUGH THIS FIRST HOLIDAY
What: You've lost your beloved parent, spouse, or dear friend, and you are dreading trying to get through this first holiday without them. The holidays can be trying anyway and are made more complicated with a recent loss. "The first holiday without the person you love and lost is particularly challenging," says Andrea King Collier, author of Still With Me…A Daughter's Journey of Love and Loss. Collier has tips for getting through the holidays for those who have suffered loss. Contact: Andrea King Collier, andycollier11@comcast.net, 517-487-1683.
LEAD: GRIEF DOESN'T TAKE A HOLIDAY
What: Holidays should be joyful but they are often sad for individuals grieving and dealing with loss such as illness, death, divorce, job loss, natural disasters, miscarriage, or accidents. While we want to be supportive, we often find ourselves at a loss for what to do or say. Robbie Miller Kaplan, author of How To Say It When You Don't Know What To Say: The Right Words for Difficult Times, will provide specific suggestions on what to say and do to make the holidays brighter for those facing challenging times. Contact: Robbie Miller Kaplan, rkaplan@ix.netcom.com, 703-255-3388, www.wordsthatcomfort.com.
LEAD: DON'T LET THE GRINCH OF GRUDGES PAST STEAL YOUR FAMILY HOLIDAYS AND RUIN THE FESTIVITIES.
What: Sure, we all have some history of the brother-in-law's offensive, rude remarks; sister-to-sister childhood hurts that never healed; intended and unintended insults and slights; and all those other bad behaviors that go into creating long-lasting family conflicts – and result in long-term grudges. But now's the time to forgive and clear the way for wonderful family holidays. Sandra E. Lamb, author of Personal Notes How to Write from the Heart for Any Occasion, will provide six simple steps to forgiveness. They aren't guaranteed to change your boorish brother-in-law. But they will set you free to enjoy the wonderful spirit of the season and embrace those you love. Contact: Sandra E. Lamb, lambbast@comcast.net, 303-750-6860, www.sandralamb.com.
LEAD: HOLIDAY-SPEAK
What: The holiday season poses unique speaking demands. Learn how to give a great toast for family dinners . . . handle conversations with the boss at office parties . . . and fend off those pesky questions from Aunt Edna. Joan Detz, author of It's Not What You Say, It's How You Say It, will show you how to speak up with confidence at any holiday gathering. Contact: Joan Detz, jdetz@joandetz.com, 215-340-9752, www.joandetz.com.
LEAD: FRESHEN UP THOSE HOLIDAY LETTERS
What: We all receive them, and often we groan when we read them. We even write them. Holiday letters. This year, instead of the same old, same old, freshen up your approach. Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, author of Pen on Fire: A Busy Woman's Guide to Igniting the Writer Within, offers ways to enliven your holiday letters. DeMarco-Barrett hosts "Writers on Writing," a weekly radio show on KUCI-FM and teaches creative writing at UC-Irvine. Contact: Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, penonfire@earthlink.net, 949-760-8086.
LEAD: HOSTESS ETIQUETTE FOR THE HOLIDAYS
What: Chances are that you're going to be invited to someone's home this holiday season, so you may be wondering – do I need to bring a hostess gift? Gift and etiquette expert Leah Ingram can provide the dos and don'ts of hostess gifts for situations ranging from dinner parties to overnight stays, plus provide unique gift ideas. Ingram is the author of The Everything Etiquette Book. Contact: Leah Ingram, leah.ingram@comcast.net, 215-862-8256, www.giftsandetiquette.com.
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HOLIDAY FOOD AND FITNESS
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LEAD: HOLIDAY SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP 5 POUNDS
What: Trim the tree and yourself during the holidays. Add mall walking, winter walking, and urban walking as you run errands to avoid the typical five-pound holiday weight gain. Squeeze in a 10-minute meditation walk before entertaining to manage stress. The author of The Walking Deck: 50 Ways to Walk Yourself Healthy shares tips on how to fit easy, effective exercises into your hectic holiday schedule. Contact: Shirley Archer, SArcherJD@aol.com, 650-740-2224, www.ShirleyArcher.com.
LEAD: THINK TWICE BEFORE EATING THAT CHRISTMAS HAM
What: Both Judaism and Islam forbid eating pork. Even most Christians would agree that Jesus (a Torah-observant Jew) abstained from eating ham. So why do most Christians celebrate Jesus' birth (Christmas) with something that He never ate and that Scripture forbids? This question is answered in Hope Egan's book Holy Cow! Does God Care about What We Eat? This lighthearted walk though the Bible includes scientific evidence that affirms what observant Jews have known for thousands of years: God never intended pork or shellfish to be eaten. Contact: Contact: Hope Egan, hope@HolyCowNews.com, 773-528-7447.
LEAD: WHY CAN'T AMERICANS STOP EATING?
What: A study released this month shows that over the long haul 9 out of 10 men and 7 out of 10 women will become overweight during the course of their lives. Yet, the diet industry is a multi-billion dollar enterprise. What are Americans missing in their weight loss efforts? Contact: Debbie Danowski, PhD, debbie@debbiedanowski.com, danowskid@sacredheart.edu, 203-685-3909, www.debbiedanowski.com .
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TRAVEL
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LEAD: SNOWSHOE: SO COOL THAT IT'S HOT
What: Easy to learn and easy on the budget, snowshoeing is North America's fastest-growing winter sport. Claire Walter, a leading snowshoeing authority and author of The Snowshoe Experience, has tips galore for new snowshoers and wannabes. Her book makes an excellent add-on holiday gift with a pair of new snowshoes. She also wrote Snowshoeing Colorado, a definitive trails and resource guide to snowshoeing in the state that is synonymous with snowsports. Contact: Claire Walter, cmwalter@claire-walter.com, 303-442-7709.
LEAD: HOLLYWOOD EXPERT AVAILABLE TO GIVE TOURS
What: Doing a travel piece about L.A., Beverly Hills, or any neighboring city? William A. Gordon, the author of The Ultimate Hollywood Tour Book, is available to give tours showing all kinds of entertainment sites tourists overlook. These include "The Flying Saucer House," the doggie day care center where you can get your dog "muttrimonied" or "bark mitzvahed," presidential homes, film locations, sites that inspired songs, celebrity homes, etc. Contact: William A. Gordon, BGordonLA@aol.com, 949-855-0640, www.nrbooks.com.
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KICKING OFF THE NEW YEAR
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LEAD: START YOUR BUSINESS ACCORDING TO PLAN
What: Thinking about starting a business in the New Year? A good business plan can mean the difference between success and failure. Learn how to structure your plan to get financing, improve operations, or even sell your business, in new book, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Business Plans, by Gwen Moran and Sue Johnson. Contact: Gwen Moran, gwen@gwenmoran.com, 732-280-7047, www.gwenmoran.com.
LEAD: LOW COST MARKETING TIPS FOR SHAMELESS PROMOTION IN THE NEW YEAR
What: "Get newspapers, magazines, radio, and TV shows buzzing about your business with these tips," says Marisa D'Vari, Manhattan-based author of the new book Building Buzz. 1. Choose networking events by brainstorming people you need to meet. 2. Create short, snappy "juicy bites of sound" to introduce yourself at events. 3. Send introductory letters or e-mails to journalists offering yourself as a source. Contact: Marisa D'Vari, mdvari@deg.com, 917 273 4668, www.BuildingBuzz.com.
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TECHNOLOGY TOOLS
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LEAD: TRACKING GOOGLE AND OTHER SEARCH ENGINES
What: Getting your Web pages indexed by a search engine is one thing. Figuring out how often search engines index your pages is another. Tech writer Bruce Miller provides an easy way to help track how often search engines index your web pages. Contact: Bruce Miller, 206-903-9677, www.movari.com/trackinggoogle.php.
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A GREAT READ, A GOOD GIFT
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LEAD: CAMILLE CLAUDEL, A NOVEL, TELLS A JUICY STORY OF LOVE, INFIDELITY AND CREATIVE GENIUS
What: Camille Claudel was a great female sculptor who produced most of her work in the late 1800s. Fueled by the rejection of her lover, Auguste Rodin, she became insane. The book reveals a magnificent love story, and illuminates the lack of recognition faced by women artists at that time. Dr. Alma Bond, psychoanalyst and author of 11 books, including The Autobiography of Maria Callas: A Novel, Who Killed Virginia Woolf? and Tales of Psychology, is highly qualified to provide insight into the psyche of two geniuses. Contact: Alma H. Bond, PhD, almahb@aol.com, 212-786-3230, http://alma_bond.tripod.com.
LEAD: "ROCKFORD" BOOK IS THE PERFECT GIFT FOR FANS OF JAMES GARNER
What: As Jim Rockford on "The Rockford Files," James Garner brought humor to the private eye genre and changed television forever. Thirty Years of The Rockford Files tells the inside story of Garner's landmark series. "Rockford" won five Emmys and remains one of TV's most influential shows. Author Ed Robertson has written extensively about Garner's career, which spans three generations. The book is a perfect companion guide for the December 6 "Rockford" DVD release, and a great gift for Garner fans the world over. Contact: Chloe Rounsley, chloe@edrobertson.com, 707-557-4521, www.edrobertson.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 302, New York, NY 10036. Contact: Executive Director (Ms.) Brett Harvey, execdir@asja.org.
