Hi, Thanks for the invite. I'm Mary! I'm here to mingle with people who love anything to do with writing or reading, or just to be a friend or inspiration! My first published novel came out in December 2006. Visions of Enchantment is a wonderully exciting romantic-time travel. Nice to be here, and thanks again. Mary Mary J. Dressel Author, Visions of Enchantment ISBN 1424152038 http://www.maryjdresselbooks.com

We now have a title to the second book in The Enchantment Series. It's title is Enchanatment's Embrace, the continuing story of Eryn and Uriah together at last... or are they? Mary J. Dressel Author, Visions of Enchantment ISBN 1424152038 http://www.maryjdresselbooks.com

Since this is my second book with this publisher, I guess I will have to defend my decision. I know there are negative things written about my publishing company. Before submitting to them the first time, I researched and saw all the negative stuff. I took a chance. I have to honestly say that I've had the best experience with them possible. They have done everything possible to meet my needs, and have worked with me on many different things without any argument. Sometimes, old stuff keeps coming up, and things might be different from what was posted in the past. I, for one, can say that I've had the best publishing experience ever with them. If I hadn't, I surely wouldn't have submitted a second book. I do thank you for your concern, and for the warning, but like I said, I do feel very comfortable working with them. It's a lot of work on my part, true, but that hasn't taken away from my experience with them. They published a beautiful book for me, and it didn't cost me anything for them to do it. So, I really can't say anything negative about them. That's just my opinion, and I know there are others who might not feel this way. Thank you, again, for your concern. I do appreciate it; that's why we're all here. Mary J. Dressel Author, Visions of Enchantment ISBN 1424152038 A hero, a heroine, a wrinkle in time... http://www.maryjdresselbooks.com

I'm with you, Gemma Bloom. I'm not getting any younger here, so why wait to hear from a big name publisher. Oh, don't get me wrong, I would love to be published by one of them, but once, with Dorchester Publishing, I waited two years to hear back. Yes, you heard me right. Two Years! They apologized though! Right now, I waited about 8 months to see my book in print. I imagine it will be another 8 months or longer to see my second book in print, since it's not quite in the production stage yet. And, time is slipping by here, and I just chose not to go the traditional route of searching for an agent, looking for the right publisher, and waiting. I did it for a few years, and it just didn't work. In fact, it made me put my book away, and forget about it for awhile. Now, my book is a good book, so that's not the reason. Most all of them said the writing was great, but the story line wasn't what they were looking for. (A romantic time-travel) I didn't pay anything to get my book published, and it never will unless I want to buy books for something. I've convinced book stores to carry my book, that everyone else calls POD, but my publisher swears they aren't POD, their books are returnable. Anyway, they made me a beautiful book, did everything for me to make it that way, and I am totally satisfied with them. I just wish marketing wasn't so expensive. So, now for me, this is the way to go. Mary J. Dressel Author, Visions of Enchantment ISBN 1424152038 http://www.maryjdresselbooks.com

Oh, Uriah, did you jump right off the pages of my novel? My hero's name is Uriah! I can't help but agree that it just takes discipline to stay with one project. No one can make you do it but you. It would be better to stay away from the other distractions, to stay focused. Are you bored with what you are writing, is that why you can't stay with it? Then, put some excitement in!! It's okay to work on more then one thing at a time, I do it all the time, but make sure you continue with one project to the end. You can do it, just don't give up. Mary Mary J. Dressel Author, Visions of Enchantment ISBN 1424152038 Enchantment's Embrace, coming 2008 http://www.maryjdresselbooks.com

I'm here to defend PublishAmerica once again. I know there is bad press about them, but it's mostly old stuff that keeps coming up. I published my first book, Visions of Enchantment, with them, and loved the way the book looked, love that they worked with me on everything. They worked with me on my cover, and made slight changes I requested, plus additional requests I asked them for. Now, my second book, Enchantment's Embrace, is in production, yes, with PublishAmerica. I did choose to go with them again. Books three and four in the series will more than likely go to them also. And the comment about not being able to do anything with the book while under contract-- Well, that goes with any contract, and after all, what I want to do with the book is SELL IT, and everyone has a CONTRACT to sign. I'm not sure about ebooks having a contract because I don't use them. Would you want to work with a publisher who didn't have a contract? It protects you, too. Yes, it's true, I would love more marketing and Promotional help from them, but these two books have cost me $0.00 bucks, not the 900+ that was mentioned. Why the heck would someone want to pay for a book to be published when it can be done for free? Trying to find a publisher, like a big time publisher can take up to two years or more. I waited two years to hear back from Dorchester Publishing! In the meantime I had to sit and wait, and, yes, it was requested material, I didn't just send it. I don't know about you, but I don't have time to wait that long. I am going to try ebook publishing for some of my writing, but my BIG novels will go to PA. It was once said that PA accepts anything. That's not true, they are particular these days, and they're not the same publishing company they used to be. This is my opinion, and my comment, but go to the PublishAmerica message board and see how many satisfied authors they really have. In the end go with your own instincts. I did, and I'm totally satisfied with working with them. Feel free to contact me at: dresselmj@aol.com Mary Mary J. Dressel Author, Visions of Enchantment ISBN 1424152038 http://www.maryjdresselbooks.com

Sent you a message. Thanks for stopping by! Mary Mary J. Dressel Author, Visions of Enchantment ISBN 1424152038 Enchantment's Embrace, coming soon http://www.maryjdresselbooks.com http://www.maryjdresselbooks.blogspot.com http://www.mjdresselbooks.wordpress.com

Believe me, I nearly paid to have my book published, and of course, there is nothing wrong with that if you can afford it, which I couldn't. But my local newspaper kept coming out with announcements from local authors who used PA. That's what made me check them out to begin with. I read all the negative stuff, too, but decided I would try. At my age, I figured I didn't have a lot to lose. So, for me personally, I am very satisfied with them. As far as giving your opinion, that is why we are all here. It's no problem, and I will always do the same. Mary Mary J. Dressel Author, Visions of Enchantment ISBN 1424152038 Enchantment's Embrace, coming soon http://www.maryjdresselbooks.com http://www.maryjdresselbooks.blogspot.com http://www.mjdresselbooks.wordpress.com

Hello, and welcome to the group! Mary Mary J. Dressel Author, Visions of Enchantment ISBN 1424152038 Enchantment's Embrace, coming soon http://www.maryjdresselbooks.com http://www.maryjdresselbooks.blogspot.com http://www.mjdresselbooks.wordpress.com

Hi, a suggestion to market your book. Since the internet is mostly free, it's a good way to promote. Get a website, write blogs, go to www.authorsden.com and get a page there. It's basically free, but you can purchase more with a small amount of money. Make contact with other authors, and link to their sites, and have them link to yours. This is a good beginning... Best of luck to you. Mary Mary J. Dressel Author, Visions of Enchantment ISBN 1424152038 Enchantment's Embrace, coming soon http://www.maryjdresselbooks.com http://www.maryjdresselbooks.blogspot.com http://www.mjdresselbooks.wordpress.com

Hello, and welcome. I'm an author of historical and contemporary romance. Nice to meet you! Mary Mary J. Dressel Author, Visions of Enchantment ISBN 1424152038 Enchantment's Embrace, coming soon http://www.maryjdresselbooks.com http://www.maryjdresselbooks.blogspot.com http://www.mjdresselbooks.wordpress.com

My husband is very ill right now with something that has no cure, and it seems bad things keep happening to us, both financially and physically. So, I was able to finish my second book, start a new novella, and post some writing online. I do this because it's my escape, my solace. So, writing saves me right now, too. Mary Mary J. Dressel Author, Visions of Enchantment ISBN 1424152038 Enchantment's Embrace, coming soon http://www.maryjdresselbooks.com http://www.maryjdresselbooks.blogspot.com http://www.mjdresselbooks.wordpress.com

We now have a title to the second book in The Enchantment Series. It's title is Enchanatment's Embrace, the continuing story of Eryn and Uriah together at last... or are they?

Mary J. Dressel
Author, Visions of Enchantment
ISBN 1424152038

http://www.maryjdresselbooks.com

Since this is my second book with this publisher, I guess I will have to defend my decision. I know there are negative things written about my publishing company. Before submitting to them the first time, I researched and saw all the negative stuff. I took a chance. I have to honestly say that I've had the best experience with them possible. They have done everything possible to meet my needs, and have worked with me on many different things without any argument. Sometimes, old stuff keeps coming up, and things might be different from what was posted in the past. I, for one, can say that I've had the best publishing experience ever with them. If I hadn't, I surely wouldn't have submitted a second book.

I do thank you for your concern, and for the warning, but like I said, I do feel very comfortable working with them. It's a lot of work on my part, true, but that hasn't taken away from my experience with them. They published a beautiful book for me, and it didn't cost me anything for them to do it. So, I really can't say anything negative about them. That's just my opinion, and I know there are others who might not feel this way. Thank you, again, for your concern. I do appreciate it; that's why we're all here.

Mary J. Dressel
Author, Visions of Enchantment
ISBN 1424152038
A hero, a heroine, a wrinkle in time...

http://www.maryjdresselbooks.com

Hello, and welcome to the group!

Mary

Mary J. Dressel
Author, Visions of Enchantment
ISBN 1424152038
Enchantment's Embrace, coming soon

http://www.maryjdresselbooks.com
http://www.maryjdresselbooks.blogspot.com
http://www.mjdresselbooks.wordpress.com

Hello, and welcome. I'm an author of historical and contemporary romance. Nice to meet you!

Mary

Mary J. Dressel
Author, Visions of Enchantment
ISBN 1424152038
Enchantment's Embrace, coming soon

http://www.maryjdresselbooks.com
http://www.maryjdresselbooks.blogspot.com
http://www.mjdresselbooks.wordpress.com

I'm here to defend PublishAmerica once again. I know there is bad press about them, but it's mostly old stuff that keeps coming up. I published my first book, Visions of Enchantment, with them, and loved the way the book looked, love that they worked with me on everything. They worked with me on my cover, and made slight changes I requested, plus additional requests I asked them for. Now, my second book, Enchantment's Embrace, is in production, yes, with PublishAmerica. I did choose to go with them again. Books three and four in the series will more than likely go to them also.

And the comment about not being able to do anything with the book while under contract-- Well, that goes with any contract, and after all, what I want to do with the book is SELL IT, and everyone has a CONTRACT to sign. I'm not sure about ebooks having a contract because I don't use them. Would you want to work with a publisher who didn't have a contract? It protects you, too.

Yes, it's true, I would love more marketing and Promotional help from them, but these two books have cost me $0.00 bucks, not the 900+ that was mentioned. Why the heck would someone want to pay for a book to be published when it can be done for free?

Trying to find a publisher, like a big time publisher can take up to two years or more. I waited two years to hear back from Dorchester Publishing! In the meantime I had to sit and wait, and, yes, it was requested material, I didn't just send it. I don't know about you, but I don't have time to wait that long. I am going to try ebook publishing for some of my writing, but my BIG novels will go to PA. It was once said that PA accepts anything. That's not true, they are particular these days, and they're not the same publishing company they used to be. This is my opinion, and my comment, but go to the PublishAmerica message board and see how many satisfied authors they really have. In the end go with your own instincts. I did, and I'm totally satisfied with working with them.

Feel free to contact me at:

Mary

Mary J. Dressel
Author, Visions of Enchantment
ISBN 1424152038

http://www.maryjdresselbooks.com

Believe me, I nearly paid to have my book published, and of course, there is nothing wrong with that if you can afford it, which I couldn't. But my local newspaper kept coming out with announcements from local authors who used PA. That's what made me check them out to begin with. I read all the negative stuff, too, but decided I would try. At my age, I figured I didn't have a lot to lose. So, for me personally, I am very satisfied with them. As far as giving your opinion, that is why we are all here. It's no problem, and I will always do the same.

Mary

Mary J. Dressel
Author, Visions of Enchantment
ISBN 1424152038
Enchantment's Embrace, coming soon

http://www.maryjdresselbooks.com
http://www.maryjdresselbooks.blogspot.com
http://www.mjdresselbooks.wordpress.com

Hi, a suggestion to market your book. Since the internet is mostly free, it's a good way to promote. Get a website, write blogs, go to www.authorsden.com and get a page there. It's basically free, but you can purchase more with a small amount of money. Make contact with other authors, and link to their sites, and have them link to yours. This is a good beginning... Best of luck to you.

Mary

Mary J. Dressel
Author, Visions of Enchantment
ISBN 1424152038
Enchantment's Embrace, coming soon

http://www.maryjdresselbooks.com
http://www.maryjdresselbooks.blogspot.com
http://www.mjdresselbooks.wordpress.com

I'm with you, Gemma Bloom. I'm not getting any younger here, so why wait to hear from a big name publisher. Oh, don't get me wrong, I would love to be published by one of them, but once, with Dorchester Publishing, I waited two years to hear back. Yes, you heard me right. Two Years! They apologized though! Right now, I waited about 8 months to see my book in print. I imagine it will be another 8 months or longer to see my second book in print, since it's not quite in the production stage yet. And, time is slipping by here, and I just chose not to go the traditional route of searching for an agent, looking for the right publisher, and waiting. I did it for a few years, and it just didn't work. In fact, it made me put my book away, and forget about it for awhile. Now, my book is a good book, so that's not the reason. Most all of them said the writing was great, but the story line wasn't what they were looking for. (A romantic time-travel)

I didn't pay anything to get my book published, and it never will unless I want to buy books for something. I've convinced book stores to carry my book, that everyone else calls POD, but my publisher swears they aren't POD, their books are returnable. Anyway, they made me a beautiful book, did everything for me to make it that way, and I am totally satisfied with them. I just wish marketing wasn't so expensive. So, now for me, this is the way to go.

Mary J. Dressel
Author, Visions of Enchantment
ISBN 1424152038

http://www.maryjdresselbooks.com

My husband is very ill right now with something that has no cure, and it seems bad things keep happening to us, both financially and physically. So, I was able to finish my second book, start a new novella, and post some writing online. I do this because it's my escape, my solace. So, writing saves me right now, too.

Mary

Mary J. Dressel
Author, Visions of Enchantment
ISBN 1424152038
Enchantment's Embrace, coming soon

http://www.maryjdresselbooks.com
http://www.maryjdresselbooks.blogspot.com
http://www.mjdresselbooks.wordpress.com

Oh, Uriah, did you jump right off the pages of my novel? My hero's name is Uriah! I can't help but agree that it just takes discipline to stay with one project. No one can make you do it but you. It would be better to stay away from the other distractions, to stay focused. Are you bored with what you are writing, is that why you can't stay with it? Then, put some excitement in!! It's okay to work on more then one thing at a time, I do it all the time, but make sure you continue with one project to the end. You can do it, just don't give up.

Mary

Mary J. Dressel
Author, Visions of Enchantment
ISBN 1424152038
Enchantment's Embrace, coming 2008

http://www.maryjdresselbooks.com

Hi, Kevin, You must be talking about the book cover above your post under New Books. The comment came to me. Mary J. Dressel