“Why Storytelling Is The Hook For Your Book”
September 6th, 2010
By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio
As authors and writers, we’re always learning about resources and industry tools that we can use to improve our book project performance and the enjoyment of our writing and marketing experiences. Today let’s talk about storytelling.
We as human beings have told stories for years. Philosophical stories, educational stories, stories of great accomplishments and stories that have kept the histories of nations, beliefs, religions and cultures alive.
By our very nature, we are born storytellers. Some of us feel more comfortable with this role than others. Some feel more confident as orators and speakers who tell stories live in person in the front of a room, on a stage or through television and film. Others feel more at ease writing their stories down in the form of an article, a blog or a book. And still others are most apt to tell their stories through video recordings or a film script. By and by, we have developed more ways to tell our stories throughout the centuries – and books are the hook for many of them.
Our stories reveal our strengths, fears, courage, cowardliness, faith, fortune and misfortune. We dash our hopes against the seas of despair only to find an unanticipated resurrection, resolution and reward for the variety of experiences we have endured throughout the journey.
As we write them down, our stories leave a legacy – beginning with the very next person who reads your book. I often like to say that “Your book is your HOOK!” because, simply put, just look at all the dead people you have lingering around on your bookshelf. Whether they are authors of scary stories, inspirational stories, historical stories, memoirs, children’s fables or films that have been adapted from a book written long ago or last year, we as human beings just love great stories. We read them again and again. When we like them, we pass them on because they’re just so darn good.
Secretly, we even read some of them more than once. I know people who have a favorite book they read once a year to remind them of something, encourage them and help them keep their perspective solid.
As authors and writers, we are the ones who give generously of our time, energy and effort – a significant contribution from our lives to humanity – to share our stories with the world. We touch the lives, hearts and imaginations of others with our books. That’s why your book IS your hook! You hook the souls and spirits of others with your book. Across the seas in so many languages, people read your story and get hooked into your imagination, inspiration and intellect.
Storytelling has been an integral part of our DNA since the human race began. Stories help us to better understand our world. They take our breath away. They make us smile. They startle us. They make us recognize what we believe in and they inspire us to stand up for what we stand for. Stories instill faith, optimism, hope and grace in others. They introduce conversations, conflicts and confrontations of our deepest beliefs and feelings.
Stories are powerful. They influence our lives and fan the flames of the Human Spirit.
When you are willing to tell your story in a book or whatever form you choose, you bless the entire human race with it – past, present and those who will come years after you are no longer here. You make a difference with it in the lives of so many, many whom you will never meet.
Tell your story and leave your legacy. And that’s why your book is your hook – for your story.
For more information on this Education Corner topic and others, please refer to www.YourBookIsYourHook.com/blog for more articles and resources to help you with your books.
Publisher Dominique Raccah of Sourcebooks & Ken Corday, Executive Producer of “Days of Our Lives” And Now Author With His New Memoir
July 13th, 2010
By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio
www.yourbookisyourhook.com
This week on the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show, Dominique Raccah, the publisher of Sourcebooks and the 
co-chair of the Book Industry Study Group will talk with radio personality and host Jennifer S. Wilkov about how she started her publishing company, Sourcebooks, now the largest book publishing company in Chicago, and the approach she takes with authors to publish and support their projects.
Raccah will discuss her perspective of the future of the book publishing industry, her outlook on the impact of digital publishing and important advice for authors when crafting and writing their books.
She will also inform listeners about the Book Industry Study Group, its efforts to navigate the industry changes that are affecting the supply chain and the constant challenge that publishers face in getting the right book at the right time into the right consumer’s hands for them to read and enjoy.
Ken Corday, the executive producer of NBC’s long-running, popular 
daytime drama, Days of Our Lives, will also discuss his memoir entitled, The Days Of Our Lives: The True Story of One Family’s Dream and The Untold History of “Days of Our Lives,” with radio personality and host Jennifer S. Wilkov during the show. He will reveal the humble beginnings of Days of Our Lives and his own experience with coming onto the show as a teenager, first as a composer before joining the ranks of the producers.
Corday will talk about why he wrote the memoir now, how he got published and why he chose Sourcebooks to publish the book. He will also share a few favorite memories from working on the show and how he is using his book as his hook.
An Author Who Was Rejected Nearly 100 Times & The National Writers Association
June 21st, 2010
By Jennifer S. Wilkov, host of the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show on WomensRadio
www.yourbookisyourhook.com
This week on the “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Show, find out more about the National Writers Association, a 73 year-old writer’s service organization. Sandy Whelchel, the Executive Director of the association, will talk about some universal problems that keep writers from getting published and why some never make it. She’ll also provide information about the contests offered to writers throughout the year.
You’ll also enjoy a candid discussion with author Bertha M. Davis who was rejected nearly 100 times for her book, Growing Up In Mississippi. Ms. Davis will talk about what was happening in her head as she continued to get rejection after rejection from agents, publishers and editors. Her positive approach will inspire you to stick with your project and get it published. She did get published and went on to become a bestseller for her publisher, win awards and even got invited as a guest on C-SPAN’s Book TV.
Ms. Davis will also comment on how important it is to share your personal story with others through a memoir and what has happened for her locally in her community as well as nationwide. Her book and story take place during the time of the Civil Rights Movement and she is a living legacy who touches the lives of everyone who reads her book.
Growing Up In Mississippi – A Memoir That’s Making A Difference
June 21st, 2010
By Guest Blogger Bertha M. Davis, Author and full-time Writer
www.BerthasBooks.com
Growing Up In Mississippi is a vivid and descriptive biography that grips at the very core of every human emotion as memories of growing up in somewhat painfully poor social conditions in Mississippi do not deter the family, but bond them together with the unified strength and triumph most prevalent in top movies like Soul Food, or even to overcome travesties as in The Color Purple. You will be intrigued by the strong development of characters like the wayward Uncle Wigley, a cursed character among many black families who resorts to inflicting abuse on family members. The relationship between Jay and Tish is a classic example of how women in the past wound up with larger unplanned families because love conquered all back then and even poverty.
The reader feels as if they are in the story and watching without speaking. It is evidenced that life was slower paced, but more fulfilling even with the absence of television. This is a modern day tale with a happy ending and heralds the rise of our families of the past through political and social upheavals as prevalent as The Civil Rights Movement.
This book is also about an African-American girl growing up with a single struggling mom of four who had to anchor the storms in her life to survive and take care of four children alone. Searching for food when there was none, working in the Mississippi hot sun from sun-up to sun-down, and haunted by racism are just a few obstacles one had to overcome. This book is certainly a book of history and you can listen to a sample of Growing Up In Mississippi Audio Book at: www.berthabooks.com on Bertha’s home page.
Additional comments from Bertha M. Davis about writing this book:
YBIYH: What was like to write the book and reveal your personal experiences with others in your life?
B: It was like revealing history to our future youth. In the beginning, my idea of writing “Growing up in Mississippi” (my personal experiences) was for my children and grandchildren so they could read about the struggles my life encountered as a child. I didn’t want them to have any excuse for fulfilling any dream life offered them. I certainly didn’t want them to get hung up on the crippling words, “I can’t.” Since my life had so many disadvantages, I felt compelled to tell them about my struggles and see my life as an example of how you can succeed in spite of obstacles. After only a portion of my book was read by family members, friends and book reviewers, I was encouraged to take it a step further so all readers could read my story.
YBIYH: Were you nervous about writing about other people whose actions and behavior would be exposed in your book?
B: No not really! People’s actions and behavior were already exposed in the towns and over the television during the Civil Rights Movements and before desegregation. If it wasn’t by personal contact, research was conducted before finalizing my book.
YBIYH: Also, what is it like for you now when you speak to others about your story? How does it feel for you? What do you see in them … in their faces? Do they say anything to you?
B: Sharing my life’s story with others is a challenge; history is reborn. I don’t live in the past. I live in the present but I never want to forget the days of defeat that God has allowed me to conquer. I feel honored to tell my life story, especially to the school children……I see in them a desire to learn more about the past….Their faces light up in amazement…..The students always say, “Thank you for coming and sharing your story with us.” The adults react differently; some of them will purchase a book because they want to know what is said, or they simply just like to read a memoir. There have been those who had sadness in their faces and most of them will say, “You are a strong woman,” or “You’ve been through a lot.” Some of my readers will send me a note to say how much they enjoyed reading the book.
YBIYH: What has been the most meaningful part of your experience with sharing a story that’s so personal and yet is benefiting so many?
B: One of the most meaningful parts of my experience while sharing my personal story and benefiting so many was when I went to Key Learning Junior High School here in Indianapolis to speak with fifth and sixth graders. It blew my mind. After my presentation, the students thanked me for coming, but a young frustrated girl came up to me and said, “I have been so ungrateful to my mom for the things she does for me and I sometimes talk back to her. But after hearing about your life and struggles, it gave me more of a sense of appreciation,” she said. About a week later, the young girl’s mom brought her by my house to buy her a book. It was so overwhelming just to get one child’s attention. She even emailed me several times to say hi and let me know that she really enjoyed reading Growing up in Mississippi.
Another meaningful experience was when Growing up in Mississippi was taught to fifteen students at Southwest Education Center in Phoenix, Arizona in 2006 during Black History Month. (15 books were ordered) The children who attend this private day school range between the ages of thirteen and eighteen and they absolutely enjoyed the book. The majority of the students came from a variety of ethnic backgrounds and had difficulty with reading but Growing up in Mississippi was comfortable enough for them to read without causing them any major frustration. “Growing Up In Mississippi has truly given some of my students the will and motivation to try to achieve a more prosperous destiny.” These words came from the Lead Teacher/High School Facilitator there.
As a free gift to get you started with your book, I’d like to share my Free “Your Book Is Your Hook!” Starter Kit with you.