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The Importance of Finding A Mentor 

When I first started in the publishing industry two years ago, I had no idea how to maneuver around it, but thanks to some very good people like Kerry E. Wagner, Therone Shellman and Naiomi Pitre I have a better understanding of things.

"You can do this for yourself. Self publish. Take your book to the printer and start off selling it in your own backyard. This is not a get-rich-quick scheme, but within a year you'll see return on your investment. Sell ten thousand books starting in your own hood and most importantly count your own money. Make yourself an offer you cant refuse." ~ Kerry E. Wagner

At first I thought Kerry was all about selling his book, sharing his true-to-life with a twist of comedy stories in his blog, and that was it, but when I got the chance to speak with him in a phone conversation, I knew there was more than met the eye with Kerry E. Wagner. He genuinely cares about not only his success, but yours. His no-nonsense approach to business has influenced me in so many ways and I continue to learn from him daily. Thus, when he put out the news about WagFest in New Jersey I was on it. I took that trip and it was my first time on a plane and I'll never regret it. Going into that conference was like stepping outside of a box and I learned so much about growing my own business one step at a time, all while counting my own money. So many times we think we need someone to make us who we are, but if you work hard at it you can do just as well or better for yourself than any publishing company can give to you. Bottom line, nothing will be given to you in this industry. What you want you have to go out there and take it = Hustle 101.

Kerry E. Wagner is the author of She Did That and soon to be released Never Let Go of My Hand. He is the founder of the WagFest Literary Conference and Bazaar and the nonprofit organization TNIP (Turning Negatives Into Positives). He can be found at www.shedidthat.com and www.myspace.com/kerryewagnerlive and you can find more information about WagFest at www.myspace.com/wagfest

"There is no written rule to marketing. But the first thing a writer needs to know is that there are alot of predators out there who would like to get your money by providing services which are not going to help you.

The key to making it in any business is budgeting your moeny and spending it in the areas which are going to bring you sales or promotion, which in the long run will net you sales." ~ Therone Shellman

And this is very true, which is why I am very leery of teaming up with people who promise the moon and the stars for $199 a month on their website. Before you sign up for any marketing service make sure that 1) you can take the loss if you get no return on investment and 2) the company is legitmate and has done what they say they can do for you for others.

Therone Shellman is the author of Love Dont Live Here and No Love Lost, he also cowrote Love.com. He is the founder of Third Eye Publishing, Inc, and has a book coming soon on self publishing.  You can find out more about him by going here: www.thirdeyepublishing.org. He also has a blog talk radio show that is full of useful information in the publishing industry, especially the AA market. www.blogtalkradio.com/keepingitreal

"Get your education girl. The book business will be here, so finish up whatever projects you have out there and go and get your degree. It takes money to make it in this businesss. It will be here when you finish school." ~ Naiomi Pitre

Her encouragement for me to finish school was advice that I really took to heart. I do see myself returning to nursing school one day soon, but right now I'm married to the book business. I wasn't going to give a specific quote for Naiomi because there were so many times over the year that I've known her when I thought I wouldn't make it, and she was just there in my corner giving me advice, reading over material and giving me critique.

Naiomi Pitre is the author of Broken Vows and In The Panty Drawer: Journey Into The Mind of a Sexual Woman. She can be found at www.naiomipitre.4t.com and www.myspace.com/bbinbatonrouge

The point of this article is to give you a few tips and to say there is nothing more valuable than finding mentors and not predators and trust that when you find them you will know the difference. ~Shani