Monthly Archives: August 2014
MADI PREDA: THE FIRST PERSON WHO SHOULD PROMOTE A BOOK IS THE WRITER
Madi Preda is a very special author. All the reviews of project “How To Promote and Market Your Book – Publicists Tips & Tricks” are very positive. She dedicated her time to help authors. This is why Madi is so interesting to all of us – indie authors.
– What is your book about?
– First of all I want to thank you for having me as a guest on your blog today. As the title sais “How To Promote and Market Your Book – Publicists Tips & Tricks” is a book about book marketing,based on my experience as a publicist and its meant to be a help for every writer. The book contains general notions about book marketing, step by step ideas on how to build an author brand. Three case studies for promotion on different genres and lots of resources and useful contacts.
– How you decide to write this kind of book?
– I have met many authors complaining that their publisher don’t do much publicity for their books and I think here is a bit of misunderstanding. The first person who should promote a book is the writer because he knows best what the message of his story is and he is the most qualified person to share this message with the audience. How readers perceive a book has an important role when it comes to brand yourself as a writer, to promote a book efficiently and the ability to do this has become essential. No matter how talented an author is – if the readers don’t know about a book, how will they know to buy it or if it is a good one or not?
How To Promote and Market Your Book by Madi Preda is an easy to read and understandable guide designed to help every author to chart their own path and stand up and say to the world “Here is my book” and communicate the message from between the covers in an original way that call to action and make their book a must read.
Writing a book without promoting it is like waving to someone in a dark room. You know what have you done but nobody else do.
– What was the biggest challenge during the write up process?
– The biggest challenge for me it was not to write in my language, which is Romanian and always there was the fear that I will make mistakes and readers will penalize me for that. I was lucky enough to meet Nancy King – the author of Changing Spaces and she did the editing for me. So that problem was solved.
Another challenge it was my determination to do everything on my own, and that was a big one. I designed the cover and I had to find out how to format an e-book. Many new things for me and I had to study a bit in order to complete this project.
– How much time you need to finish the story and to publish it?
– It wasn’t such a long time. Many materials such as lists of bloggers and other resources were part of my daily activity as a marketer. Then there was a pre order campaign for about a month and finally the book was published on 1st of July. All together about three months I think.
– Who are you?
– This is a tough one. You know, I can do PR for other people quite easy but I find difficult to talk about me. So,lets start with…I am Romanian and I am living now in Greece. I was dreaming to become a doctor and I ended up by being an economist. Because I couldn’t practice that here in Greece and because I didn’t manage to learn the language, I was trying hard to find something to do online using English language. I like reading and when my husband published his first two novels, “Herodotus The Gnome of Sofia” and “Judas Goat The Kennet Narrow Boat Mystery” I helped him a bit by designing some electronic newsletters and spread the word about his novels. After that the idea grew and here I am doing promotion and public relations for authors.
About my human being, I have to say that I always liked to see only the good side in people and in everything which happens to me.
– Do you have some kind of system or writing procedure when you wrote the book?
– Not really, it is my first book and I like to say that I am unique, not necessary as a plus. Everything it was about back and forwards, cutting some pieces off, developing some others, cover design before finishing the book.
– Are you satisfied by the sales of the book and do you plan another one?
– I think it is a bit early to discuss the book sales, and it is not that the point. More important for me is the engagement and the response for my targeted audience; with that yes, definitely I am satisfied. The book it has a few reviews on GoodReads, and lucky me all of them are five stars.
Also I am satisfied with the number of downloads during the pre order campaign and I have to say its worth the effort to set it up and this is an advice for every single author. If they do pre orders and they promote the pre-order campaign efficiently they will be pleased with the results.
– What are you doing to promote the promotion book?
– You made me smile with this question. You know what is amazing, I found myself in the position of others now and sometimes I am a bit shy to say, hey here is my book. Funny enough I think I do less for my book than I have done for others.
*Please list the Top 5 advises that authors must follow in order to make good promotion?
*Do research to find the right audience
*Draw a marketing plan
*Be cooperative, ask and offer help to other authors
*Start marketing the book before its finished (post excerpts, do a cover reveal, mention it as a work in progress every time you can)
*”Think outside the box” and find new and original ideas
– What is the rate of importance between being a good author and good promoter in order the book to be well discovered by the readers?
– I don’t like to talk about numbers and statistics, what I can say is that being a good writer is not enough.
– You are born in the Balkan peninsula, how would you describe with three phrases this part of the earth?
– In that part of the world, generally speaking, people are very sensitive and caring people with an open and sincere display of emotions. Abroad this is not always so… and the humanity has been polluted by materialism and wrong values. Probably being away makes me to idealize a bit and to remember only the good things.
You may find “How To Promote and Market Your Book – Publicists Tips & Tricks” on:
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords
Kobo
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT ME?
Then check out my interview for Ira’s Love Hate Poetry web page. Go here
BOOK IN THE TRAINING BAG
Here is a very interesting photo, made by Ian Haya! Credits to him and his club (www.Facebook.com/justliftinc and http://www.JustLift.ca)!
The print copy of “The white prisoner: Galabin Boevski’s secret story” is available here:
CARMEN STEVENS: I CRAFTED THE MAIN CHARACTER FROM THE DARK SIDE OF MYSELF
The next guest in our Q&A interviews with authors section is Carmen Gross. She is known by her pen name as Carmen Stevens. The American is born in Fargo and is one of the youngest writers around. Her first book “Anne” was published last year.
– What is your book about?
– My book is a historical thriller, titled “Anne”. It involves an egotistical, orphaned girl in eighteenth-century England who longs for true happiness in her life, but it’s not until Anne endures a series of hardships that she realizes what it means to be truly satisfied.
– How you decide to write the story?
– I have always loved to write, and I felt that I needed to write a story that would tell the world of the importance of loving and getting along with one another, not to take anything for granted, be rich in love, and all of the other themes that my story is about.
– What was the biggest challenge during the write up process?
– I didn’t have too much difficulty, except in some punctuation and grammar matters. I have trouble with commas.
– Tell us something more about your main character? Is it close to someone from your real life?
– I think Anne is a very interesting, complex character, and I think I kind of crafted her from the dark side of myself. Anne is fiercely independent, haughty, indifferent, seductive, potentially cruel, and way too prideful for a girl of her circumstances. She’s also incredibly selfish, putting her own well-being before anyone else’s. However, Anne dreams of a better life, a life in which she doesn’t live on the dirty streets of London, England, and in order to find this happiness, she must endure certain sufferings and gradually learn to be a kinder person.
– How much time you need to finish the story and to publish it?
– It actually took me a few years to finish writing “Anne,” but it took less than a day to publish it. This is because I self-published it.
– Who are you?
– I’m Carmen Gross, but my pen name is Carmen Stevens. I’m a 22-year old full-time college student and author. I’m studying law, but for the summer I’m working. I self-published “Anne” in July of 2013.
– What are your writing habits?
– I like to totally flesh out a story before writing it from the beginning. I believe that a person should know where a story is going to go before writing the actual story.
– Are you satisfied by the sales of the book and do you plan another one?
– I read somewhere that if a self-published author makes under 100 sales in his/her first year of having the book published, then that is a good thing. My book has only been out for a year and I’ve about made this goal, so for now, that has me satisfied. I love writing, so I certainly wouldn’t mind writing another book someday, but I think that would depend on what kind of reception my current novel takes and if my readers ever desire for me to write another.
– What are you doing to promote by the best possible way your book?
– I have several things I’m trying to do for promoting my novel. I have a blog that I write in, I ask people to review my story, and I keep my eyes open for any opportunities to expose my book, like author interviews and spots on others’ blogs.
– Who was the first person who took a full look into your book and what he told you?
– I don’t exactly remember who the very first person was who read my book, but one of the first must have been a blogger who I followed. She’s an author herself, and she was very willing and generous to read and review my book and give it a high rating.
– If you may select just one thing to do on Saturday evening, what it will be and why – to write, to go out with friends or to read a book?
– I like having my fun on weekends, so I think I would definitely love to hang out with friends on a Saturday night. If my friends happened to be busy, though, I love the thought of curling up at home with a good book. I love reading, and I love how it can take you away into a whole different, exciting world.
Check out “Anne” here
To read more interviews with authors go here
ROY DIMOND: CO-WRITING IS A DEEPER, RICHER EXPERIENCE
Roy Dimond is the next guest at our virtual Q&A room. Honestly, one of the reason for starting such a section in the blog is to meet some special people. The co-author of “Saving Our Pennys” is one of them. Why? The answers are below…
– What is your last book “Saving Our Pennys” about?
– First Ognian, please allow me to say thank you and tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to interview me. It is greatly appreciated. Saving Our Pennys, is a work of non-fiction that I co authored with my good friend Jeff Leitch. It is best described as focusing on Self-Help and Personal Transformation with some humor and insight into the human condition. It is the story about a person who happens to be a teacher and he feels that something is missing in his life. He feels unfulfilled. The main character goes on a journey from Shadow, to Substance, to Spirit, and learns how the choices we make affect our lives.
– How did you decide to write the story?
– Combined, Jeff and I have worked for over 70 years in the education system and one day, while hiking, we decided that we wanted to write something of substance. Hopefully we have written something that will help others find their joy and therefore help them reach their potential.
– What is the difference between being an author and a co-author?
– Excellent question. The difference is significant. Writing alone is such a solitary experience. You are the master of the story and control everything that happens. A wonderful experience. Writing as a co-author however means giving up much of that control. But writing with someone else also means the story often soars to places unseen. I think working on a story with another in many ways is a deeper, richer experience. To do this successfully you must have great trust in the person you are writing with. Fortunately, Jeff and I have had a long friendship so we knew where we were both coming from. We are both able to set our ego aside and make it all about the story.
– Tell us something more about your main character? Is it close to someone from your real life?
– Yes and no. The main character is a composite of both Jeff and me, but we also included many characteristics of the people we know. We placed the main character in a school. First, because it is an environment we know well and also because that setting is filled with so many heroes. In any school, anywhere, someone is always trying to help another and that makes it a perfect setting to tell a story about redemption. Our hero grows from being unfulfilled in his life, to understanding what makes a life filled with joy. He finds a mentor and is taught that he can tell how he is doing by the things he values. His life takes on meaning. So I think you can see that our main character can be anyone. Anyone on a journey to find oneself.
– What are your other two books “The Rubicon Effect” and “The Singing Bowl” about?
– The Rubicon Effect, is the story of an environmentalist who takes on American Right-Wing politicians. International corporations manipulate politicians who in turn manipulate the church into proclaiming the End of Days. While the world ignores Global Climate Change until it is too late, a leader of the right wing by the name of Michele Yakin comes up with a horrific plan to deal with global change.
The story asks two fundamental questions. Who are we? And what do we believe in? I am very proud to say that the Pope I describe in this novel was created before the new Pope was ordained. The similarities are quite startling, down to having my character born in Buenos Aires and becoming the first Pope from South America.
The Singing Bowl, Will forever be my opus. A grand tale about a monk who is displaced from Tibet when the communist Chinese invade. His monastery is destroyed and his teacher, The Tenzin, meaning, The Holder of the Teachings, sends him on a quest to find a book that has been lost to the world. He travels the world looking for clues that lead him on a journey to ultimately learn that all quests are internal.
– Who are you?
– No easy question. Like most people, I am many things. A writer, husband, friend, wanderer, and searcher. I was a Youth Worker for thirty years in the education system and tried to help those who were struggling. I travel the world with my wife and gather insight from all those around me.
To be honest, if I had to describe myself in one word, I would say that I am a… listener.
– What are your writing habits?
– The first thing I do each morning is write. I write till I have nothing else to give for that day. Then I usually go for a hike or sit on my deck enjoying my life. I live in a very beautiful area of the west coast of Canada in a place called Garden Bay. So contemplating the beauty around me inspires my writing.
All three of my novels were at sometime enriched by the natural beauty I see everyday. If I do get stuck on a character or scene I ask my wife to join me for a walk around the three lakes near our log home and she usually has some helpful advice. If not, sometimes the deer, or birds, or bears provide insight.
– Are you satisfied by the sales of the books and do you plan another one?
– I don’t know many writers who are satisfied with book sales. We write not only for profit, but so that others may read our thoughts and feelings. So no matter how many read our books all authors wish another would pick it up.
I am presently working on my first children’s book about a small child struggling with change. I have just signed a contract recommended by my agent, Malaga Baldi, for a book with the working title of Silence and Circumstance. It will be coming out from Untreed Reads this January. It is about the eleven days that Agatha Christie went missing and is told from the perspective of her governess. I have also just completed a manuscript called I, Bully a Young Adult novel revealing the seriousness of bullying from both the perspectives of the bully and the victim.
– What are you doing to promote the best possible way your books?
– Unfortunately I think the best and most underrated way of promoting books is word of mouth. It’s unfortunate, because we authors have little control over that. But the better book you write the more people will talk about it.
I do find LinkedIn helpful and Madi Preda, a marketer, has been a great help.
– You worked with at-risk children and their families. How important is it to help those kids in time and what percentage of them may be helped along their life road?
– One of the interesting things about working with at-risk families is you seldom really know who you help. Some are obvious and you see change, but others evolve over time and if you are lucky you find out years later that you bumped them, in a small way, towards a better life.
Helping someone as early as possible is fundamental not only to their happiness, but for the well being of society. It takes less time and has longer lasting results to intervene as early as possible. To break bad cycles now can save generations in the future.
As to what percentage is helped, I honestly believe that 100% of those who realize we care, are helped. It may not show immediately, but the next person that cares, or the next, or the next, may make a breakthrough because others before them cared. If we ignore those who struggle, I do not know if their life’s road is more difficult. And as a society that should be important to us.
– You traveled on four continents. Please make a top 3 destinations that you visit and why you selected them?
Tsumago in Japan… It is a small village of no more than a hundred people that is located in the Japanese Alps. It has been kept exactly as it was for hundreds of years.
Santorini in Greece… To watch the sun set from your cave home is an experience well worth having.
Machu Picchu in Peru… (the author’s picture is in front of the famous monument) From high in the sacred mountains, to look through a window carved in the stone, knowing that hundreds of years ago, another stood there looking down to the river thousands of feet below, transports you to another time and place.
If you want to take a look over Mr. Dimond’s books, check them out here:
Saving Our Pennys
The Rubicon Effect
The Singing Bowl
Roy is very interesting person. I recommend you to check his web space
DISABLED BY MEDIAS
Monica Garcia Sanchis
Ognian Georgiev
Lionel Messi, Roger Federer or Tiger Woods. Their names are on the media stream every second. The biggest sports stars on the planet are winning event after event. There are many other successful sportsmen, who are crowned as sport champions on local, national or international competitions. Some of them became №1 in Europe or in the World. Their names are never typed by correspondets’ fingers. The cameras are missing in the airport when blind, deaf or some other disabled champion returns with gold medal from big championships.
Vesselin Kushnerenkov throws the ball to the other part of the field. The sphere sounds with a rattle tone, which is the only reference point for the defenders. In front of adhesive tape three guys with bands on the eyes are waiting in a dog position. There isn’t a wooden or metal goal. The ball’s speed is rising. One of the players jumps with his body to stop the sphere, but without a success. The ball scores in the virtual net.
Vesselin Kushnerenkov throws the ball
Vesselin gives right away new instructions. He is the national coach of Bulgaria goalball team. Some of the guys are 100% blind. Others have some vision left. They all gathered for one of the two weekly training sessions in the volleyball hall of University of Sofia’s Biological faculty. The net in the middle stand sometimes on the way, but the players are not allowed to put it down. Instead of the traditional goals, used in goallball, they stick an adhesive tape on the floor. Before each practice the guys say a prayer against rain, because the roof is trickling.
The players taped so called “doors”
“During the day I am working as masseur.” Says his story Vesselin Kushnerenkov. He’s got just 10% of the normal vision. “Evenings we are coming here for two hours. Everything is on voluntary level. I’ve got family and a child.
My wife is angry at me because instead of being home, I am practicing. But the sport is above all.” Vesselin trained footabll and track and field before loosing his vision. He was studying in a normal school until 13 years old. Then was moved to a blind school, where found the passion for goalball. “It’s very important for blind people to do sports.” Explained Veseelin Kushnerenkov. – They are learning coordination. Start to rely on the guy next to him. They see what is to win or lose together. Without vision not every one of us may move free, which is extremely important for us.” One of the best Bulgarian football players Daniel Dimov comes to watch the practice of Bulgarian national goalball team. He is part of the most famous club in Eastern European country
– “Levski” (Sofia). The defender never expected that may see such a hard practice from the blind guys.
Daniel Dimov (with jacket) with Bulgaria national goalball team
“I am very happy that they have such a desire.” Tells Daniel Dimov his impressions. “They are doing good. Their spirit is high and never give up despite the lack of vision. It’s a pity that almost no one helps them. I’ve got inspired, when I saw the way they train. We, the football players, must take an example from them. Everything is given to us. We’ve got big salaries and now I see that the newspapers are correct when sometimes described us like a bunch of mollycoddles.” Vesselin Kushnerenkov admits that the media coverage of the national goalball team and the sports for blinds is weak. “I am angry, because they remember us just for some projects, charities, Christmas, Easter or during The white cane day” Express his opinion Vesselin Kushnerenkov. “We are not interesting, because
The Medias are searching for some yellow and chilly news
The Bulgarian national television is always very good toward us as well as some other TV stations. At the beginning they put a report of our event in the social part of the news. But it changed. Now we are part of the sports emissions.” The sport organization of blind peoples in Bulgaria is staging competitions in goalball, chess, archery, showdown, sports fishing, backgammon and track&field. 26 clubs are licensed and send their representatives to the events.
Chess for blinds, the national champion Ilinka (left) shows her class
“I am satisfied by the media coverage at all”. Confess the chairman of sports for blind organization in Bulgaria Ivan Yanev. – Bulgarian national television, Bulgarian national radio, some newspapers and internet editions are following our events. There are some serious private televisions, who are invited by us every year. They came just once or twice. We’ve got a case when a reply came to our invitation. It was a money offer per minute of TV time. We wish to have some funds to pay, but we have nothing.” The result of cooperation between blinds and Medias is visible. “If you ask 12 years ago what is goalball, everybody will look strange at you.” Adds Ivan Yanev. “Now, they couldn’t remember right away, but some of the ordinary peoples remember the rattling ball. We are working well with the social Medias. Some of our guys made YouTube clips. There are shown our sports as goalball, showdown or archery for blinds. The rules are explained with subtitles. Others find our club and the sports we practice, because of our internet web page.” Ivan Yanev knows how important is the media coverage not only for showing the sports for blinds, but also to recruit new players among blinds. “As much as popular is one sport, there is bigger chance that some sponsor may appear” Shows his hopes Ivan Yanev. “The Medias are our force, because thanks to them we reach that level. We would like to start a campaign in mass schools for kids with vision problems. They may be forwarded to our clubs, where will have a chance to practice specialized or adapted sports. This is the way
how kids with disabilities
may find a way to do some physical exercises.” The legendary gymnastics champion from Bulgaria Yordan Yovchev participated in a record six Summer Olympics. He is one of the few government officials in Bulgaria, who is taking the disabled people’s problems with heart.
Six times Olympian Yordan Yovchev now is deputy sports minister in Bulgaria
“They are limited in some things, but this doesn’t mean that we must limit them as well” Says Yovchev, who is deputy ministry of Sports and youthfulness in Bulgaria. “We, the people without disabilities, have got everything, but most of the times complain how we are missing something. There are men and women who are blind or deaf. They are stronger than us and we must learn from their spirit.” In fact, spirit is something that is not missing in any word of Jesus Santana. He is the top scorer in the First Division Men’s Goalball in Spain, with 92 goals scored in 2013. With only 23 years he has managed to be an indispensable part of the Spanish national federation, which was runner-up in the most important competition in Europe for Goalball, the Championships A. He would be the equivalent of Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for our football, but with the difference that this is the first time Media called him for an interview. “Once I was shown quickly in a program of the second Spanish national channel (La 2) because the producer is my friend, but that’s it, the mass media are more interested in showing the look of Sergio Ramos than telling the achievements of any professional in a minority sport” says Santana with energy and some anger.
Jesus Santana and Kim Lopez are high level Spanish sportsmen
The same feeling that shows Kim Lopez. This 25 years old Spanish sportsman has been proclaimed as the disk world champion in a paralympic competition.
Interviews, thought, nor even smell them
He remembers that once he received a call from a radio. He was very excited because he thought that it may be at last the start for him to be on media landscape. But it did not happen that way. “It was the first and the last call” says Kim with the disappointment of those who accept that reality is unchangeable. After a train of 6 hours a day, he has no time for anything else. His phone rings. It’s his girlfriend. “I wish I could have more free time but if I want that I need to quite training, and for me sport is too important”, Kim admits. Both agree that it’s the sport what has given them enough strength to overcome his blindness and feel useful and socially integrated. Jesus Santana says that it makes him feel like any other person and that he forgets about his disability while practicing. David Casinos, the most famous Paralympic athlete in Spain, shares this view. “It’s amazing how playing sports you feel that there are no borders, but then every pedestrian crossing is an obstacle,” he says on a coffee accompanied by his dog Ximena.
Paralympics legend David Casinos and his dog Ximena
For Casinos, the process to become a star was not easy. Fifteen years ago he lost his sight because of a sugar raise incompatible with his diabetes. The first thing he did was joining ONCE, the National Organization for blind people in Spain which promotes lots of programs and facilities for blinds. He started practicing sport to forget what happened and now he is one of the few who can dedicate himself professionally to it. He has won four consecutive gold medals in the Paralympic Games in Sydney, Athens, Beijing and London, where he was the bearer of the Spanish Paralympic Team in 2008. His name rings a bell for almost everyone and
he appears in the pages
of the most famous sports newspapers in Spain, as you can see in this image from Marca. However, his fame did not come alone. At the beginning, though he had already won several competitions and made a huge effort to be on the first page of Spanish sport, David did not get any results. His achievements were not news and his story either. He started beating around the bush and he came up with a conclusion. “If nobody sees you, you do not exist. We’re great professionals but if we do not appear on television we are not anybody,” he concluded. So it was clear for him that he had to hire a communications agency. Since then, with the PR on his side, his media and sports career has not gone in one direction but up. Thanks of it he can dedicate himself one hundred percent to the sport. “When you go on media, private companies become interested in you and they want to be your sponsors. This is an indispensable aid due to the fact that without money you cannot give the maximum of you because you have to work or to study” he details. In addition, being on the news has helped him to be a part of society and to be admired rather than deplored. “I have received letters from people saying that they want to be like me, can you imagine that? Like me, that I’m blind! ”
David hired a PR to get media attention
David Casinos is the perfect example of how Medias help minority groups not only to be more integrated into society but to success on their careers and personal lives. As Jesus Santana says: “I think that media should promote not only the best payers but every sport. Not looking only for medalist sportsman. They should show reality, things that happen every day, and that’s much more than a won medal. You know well that what it’s not on TV is like it does not exist, we are only on TV less than 5 minutes during the Olympics and that’s all. But is not only about Paralympics or blinds, it’s about sports that are not football and sportsman that are not the most famous ones. If any champion of athletics is not on TV… How the hell are we going to be?”- He wonders.
TV Broadcaster Sasho Yovkov: We are debtors
The sport journalist and TV broadcaster from Bulgarian national television was one of the main organizers of Deaflympics Games that was held in Sofia last year. It was the 22-nd edition of the event. The first one was in 1924.
One of the most popular Bulgarian broadcasters Sasho Yovkov is helping deaf peoples for 30 years
Q:Mr. Yovkov, how tough is to organize event like Deaflympics?
A: 4600 sportsmen from 91 countries came in Bulgaria. They participated in 18 different sports. The organizing committee was just 8 persons. Only we know what it cost to us. The Games were given to Greece initially. They refused to stage them in 2011, because of the financial crisis. Then Hungary was elected for the host, but they couldn’t do it as well and gave away after just two months of organization. During the Summer Olympics in London it was decided Bulgaria to be the new host. We did the entire organization in 10 months. When i went to some companies to ask for sponsorship, they told me that no money will be given for such Games. There were other peoples, who helped a lot and do not want it to make it public. This wasn’t just pure help, but also a showing that in Bulgarian society the things are changing.
Q:What is the difference between ordinary sports competitions and those for deaf?
A:The sport is a competition for everybody. The most important is that deaf and the people around them feel that they do not need help, but sympathy. It’s 30 years i am working with them. During my career as a volleyball player, there was a national team for deaf people. I was their coach. We beat the strong team of Soviet Union 3:0 at the finals of European volleyball championships for deaf in 1984. These peoples must demonstrate far more power, character and will to overcome all the problems, that was not in front of ordinaries. They are high-strung with strong senses. Falseness is very easy to be feel by them. At the same time they are incredible human beings when see a true attitude.
Q:How the sport helps deaf people?
A: When you don’t have hearing and there is no one in the family or society to help, your brain is not stimulated. The mental development stops. It’s very important that the society not only to include disabled people in special schools, children gardens or to do prophylactics on them, but also to accept them as equal.
Q:How important are the Medias for people with disabilities?
A:It’s crucial. The problems of disabled peoples are very difficult to reach the society. I don’t want to criticize my colleagues, but Deaflympics, for example, were covered just by Bulgarian national television. Those competitions are not commercials and do not bring money. They are giving something else – humanity, sympathy and civilization. We’ve made some meeting with sports ministry and in the sports commission in Parliament. Because of that now the medalists for Deaflympics will get government pension when they retired, just like it’s with Paralympic Games. I know that blind people got some problem, but if they aren’t shown in the medias, noting will change. We, the medias, are debtors of disabled peoples. Seems like we underestimate or ignore their pain, because it’s not on our head.
Special needs for sport
The sport organization of blind people in Bulgaria don’t have a specific sport center for their needs. They used another places to practice, but often the halls are not practical enough, just like the volleyball field, where national goalball team does its trainings.
After 3 years of searching the organization finally finds a spot, which may be the dream one. The project for the reconstruction of the current property to become a sport center is around 250 000 euros. “We’ve got some meetings with deputy minister of sport and youth Yordan Yovchev, but for now it’s just talks.” Says the chairman of blind people sport organization in Bulgaria Ivan Yanev.
The chairman if Bulgaria blind sport organization Ivan Yanev is fighting for a hall
Yovchev who is very much into the project. He thinks that there is a major problem that must be solved
before the approval of the funding
“We’ve got a person, who will give the property for free where blind people may use for a sport center for a period of 10 years.” Adds Yovchev. “The problem is that the owner is a private company. It’s complicated, because if we give the money and the reconstructions will be made, then the owner may throw away the blinds and to took back his property. In this case the government would make the rebuild, but we don’t know how to protect the rights of those guys to stay. The possibilities are being in search so everything will be solved by the best possible way.” Right now the national goalball team, which is the only representative in Bulgaria at international competitions for blind, is preparing in terrible conditions. “We are send for two weeks in Belmeken mountain camp before European championships and for another two weeks we may train in a normal hall in Sofia with goals.” Gives an example the coach of the Bulgarian national goalball team Vesselin Kushnarenkov. – The summary is that once in every two years, we’ve got the chance to prepare in good condition for 4 weeks.”
Bulgarian goalball team has good history. The squad finished on 10th place in Seul’88 Paralympics. Bulgaria was close to qualify for “A” division of European championships, but lost in decisive playoff in 2010. Jesus Santana, the goalball national player, does not have to face these problems. Of course, he’s got some others since he does not receive any salary for his dedication so he has to complement it with his studies in and Administration and some economical help from his family. But despite that, he trains with his team three days per week in Valencia. They meet one hour and a half on Mondays and Wednesdays and four hours on Saturdays in a goalball pitch with all the facilities that they need. Then, before the championships, the national players train all together in different sports centers of Madrid. In Spain there are 7 goalball teams in the first division, 10 in the second one and 10 in the third one. Also 11 female teams. As it happens in football, the best players of each first division teams participate on the championships representing Spain. They’ve got a professional coach and also a place for living offered by the National Blind’s Federation. As a result, the Goalball Spanish team is one of the stronger ones in Europe. It won the silver medal on the last European Championship. In professional Athletics, things are a bit different since it’s not a team sport. Kim Lуpez started training when he was 19 and it took him 4 years to become gold champion of shot put of the world. During that time
he did not receive any money
for any national or European competition that he won, but when he became a gold sportsman, things changed a little bit. He did not receive any money for the medal but the Spanish Paralympic Committee saw that he was an athlete with future so when he threatened them to leave competitive sport because he didn’t get any money and he needed to work, he was offered a scholarship of 400 Euros per month. Also, his got all the training facilities that he needs. He used to train with other blind sportsman but now he can use the standard athletic pitches and practice almost by his own every time he wants to. His official trainings are six hours a day.
Huge difference in the funding
There are huge differences in the sports funding of people with disability in Bulgaria and in Spain. In the Eastern European country more then 16 000 are registered as blind (~0,2% of the population) and more than 7700 are deaf (~0,1% of the population). The main funding for all groups of disabilities is given by the Ministry of Sport and Youth. The last year budget of deaf people sport organization is approximately 270 000 Euros. Most of them were used for the staging of Deaflympics Games in Sofia. Blind’s budget is just 8 000 Euros per year. There is another organization for disabled people – Bulgarian paralympic association. They are sending competitors for different paralympic events and receive a yearly budget of approximately 273 000 Euros per year. “We’ve got other programs, which may benefit disabled people federations and their clubs.” Explains deputy Sports Minister of Bulgaria Yordan Yovchev. “Everyone may apply for them. We are trying to raise the number of disabled who are doing sports and stays active.” The deputy Sports Minister of Valencia, Vicente Carratalа, also explains the programmes that are being promoted by the government so that each time more disabled people practice sports.
Vicente Carratalа explains the municipality programs for disabled peoples
The Valencian government -in Spain each region has its own institutions- is giving
14.000 Euros per year
to general programmes with this objective. In addition they spend 25.000 per year in a specific programme called Hospi-Sport, where the main goal is to assist people in hospitals that have lost their vision, or a leg or any part of the body so that they are integrated. They also offer with this money free entrance to a swimming pool where the disable are the main users. Finally, they give
100.000 annual Euros for prizes of elite sportsman, with deficiencies and without them. This is only for Comunidad Valenciana, one of the 17 regions in Spain and also, it’s mainly to encourage non-professional sport.
This is something that the National Federation for blind people, ONCE, knows very well. This private organization has been developing sport programmes since early 80’s and it is its labor the one it needs to be thanked in this area. Julio Santodomingo, the sports director of the delegation of Valencia, explains that for ONCE sport has always been a priority.
Julio Santodomingo is very important part of ONCE organization
Their funding comes from the lottery that people with disabilities –mostly blind- sell on the streets and also from some companies that foundation ONCE owns. Only in Valencia province there are 70 professional blind sportsmen using their aids, 110 blinds that practice sport as a hobby regularly accompanied by 30 volunteers who help them and 64 children practicing every week. “The sport is really necessary to them because they learn how to move and coordinate and they also learn to win. Is a group that is not very use to it and when they see that they train hard and they get something back, they start thinking they can do everything”, explains Julio. He doesn’t tell the exact amount of money that the corporation spends in sport all over Spain. However, if the example of goalball is taken the differences are very explicit. If the total amount for blinds sports in Bulgaria was 8.000 Euros per year, only the amount for goalball in Valencia is
5.000 annual Euros without counting the money spent on competitions (travel fees, accommodation, etc.). This money is only for the 3 teams of the region and is mainly spent on the salary of the coaches. Recently in Spain
paralympics sports are starting to be interesting for companies
since each time they appear more on televisions and newspapers. Moreover, taking part of its funding or activities it’s still considered as a social action by the society, so the corporations use it to give a more compromise attitude towards people. That’s the case of Plan ADOP. The Paralympic Sport Support Plan (ADOP) is an initiative of the Spanish Paralympic Committee, the Sports Council and the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality, which aims to provide the Spanish Paralympic athletes the best conditions to carry out preparation and to undertake successful Spanish team participation in the Paralympic Games. The most known Spanish companies participate in this plan, such as Iberdrola, Telefуnica, El Corte Ingles, Ford or Renfe. The program lasts for four years and it always begins after a Paralympics, because it’s objective is to be prepared for the following. Now it’s the third edition which started after London 2012 and will be on until Rio 2016. The total budget will be 3.340.325,27 euros. But still, is not gold everything that shines. The difference between a Paralympic and an Olympic medal is almost 70%. The first one is worth between 15,000 and 18,000 Euros while the second is about 90,000.
The article was part of MEDIANE program for diversity inclusiveness in media
Ognian Georgiev is the author of the book “The white prisoner: Galabin Boevski’s secret story”
INDIA WAS ONE: A JOURNEY BY ANONYMOUS AUTHOR
“India was One” was described with the following comment: “As a love story it breaks your heart to read of a married couple separated by country and culture”. Sounds familiar? Well, here we would like to introduce the author of the book. He preferred to stay anonymous and used just his nickname “An Indian”.
– What is your book about?
– It’s a ‘what-if’ book. What if India was further divided into two countries? Here is a brief synopsis: …Suddenly, he saw something shiny at the bottom of the abyss. He squinted his eyes to see what it was. He ran back to his binoculars and turned them to see what it was. Sharp barbed wires that separated the two mountains came into focus. He had come as far as he could in his country. But she was standing in another country.
He was in South India and she was in North India…
Have you ever imagined India being divided into two countries? What happens to the millions of Indians who are from South India but are now residing in North India? Kaahi & Jai were two such people who got trapped in this situation. Everything was going smoothly for them and suddenly, their world turned upside down.
How will they get together? Will India become one again?
Take an exciting journey with them from their college days in Mumbai to their life in the US and back to India when they find o- ut that India is divided.
– How you decide to write the story?
– I’ve been toying with the story in my mind for some time. I finally decided to pen it down.
– What was the biggest challenge during the write up process?
– I would not call it a challenge as I don’t consider myself a writer. I am merely the author of the book.
– Tell us something more about your main character? Is it close to someone from your real life?
– I’ve loosely based my characters of my experiences when I was growing up in India, and when I moved to the US.
– How much time you need to finish the story and to publish it?
– It took me less than a week to pour down my initial thoughts. It then took over a year to expand on them.
– Who are you?
– An Indian.
– What are your writing habits?
– As I said earlier, I’m not a writer. I am a web developer.
– Are you satisfied by the sales of the book and do you plan another one?
– Not really.
– What are you doing to promote by the best possible way your book?
– As every author knows, it’s extremely hard to market one’s book. Reviews, social-media, website, etc. are the best tools.
– Please describe the book market in India? How popular is reading in your country?
– Reading is extremely popular in India. The Indian readers are very aware of the latest happenings in the western world. All the best-sellers are immediately available in India. However, there are very few Indian authors who are famous in the west, even though they are famous in India. Those authors are only well known among Indians living abroad.
– What is the best Indian food that you may recommend to the first time visitors of Indian restaurant?
– India is too vast and diverse to have one single ‘best’ food. There is not one ‘best’ food. It doesn’t exist. That’s why, I’d highly recommend a first visitor to read my book to appreciate India’s diversity. People who have never visited India, and have read my book wrote comments like, ‘I didn’t know how diverse India is’, ‘I learned so much about the Indian culture’, etc. But the comments I am really proud of is when they say, ‘I want to visit India after reading your book’.
You may found the author here:
Website: http://www.IndiaWasOne.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/IndiaWasOne
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/IndiaWasOne
Order “India was one” here
EXCLUSIVE EXCERPTS FROM “WHO I AM?” BY MEGAN CYRULEWSKI
Today is the official release date of the “Who Am I?: How My Daughter Taught Me to Let Go and Live Again” by Megan Cyrulewski. Here are exclusive excerpts from the real life novel.
On January 18, 2012, we all convened in the courthouse for the Motion for Parenting Time hearing. My dad and I arrived with my attorney, but Tyler loved an audience so he brought his dad, step-mom, and his new on-again off-again girlfriend, Heather. Tyler walked in with his posse in tow, cocky as hell. It took all of two minutes for the judge to knock him off his feet.
The Judge addressed our respective attorneys. “Why are we here?”
“Your honor,” Tyler’s attorney began, “my client has clearly been denied his parenti—”
The Judge didn’t even let him finish. “How?” She turned to my attorney. “Don?”
“Your honor, as you can see in the divorce decree, there was supposed to be a review when the minor child turned twelve-months-old. The Defendant has ignored that review.”
“I—if I may, your honor,” Tyler’s attorney sputtered.
“I see the review in the decree. It’s here in black and white,” she told Tyler’s attorney. “What is the problem? Why didn’t you understand the review? Your client signed the divorce decree.”
Tyler’s attorney tried again. “But your honor—”
The judge cut him off. “There is to be a review conducted by the Friend of the Court referee assigned to the parties. Until then, the Defendant will continue his parenting time schedule as agreed upon in the divorce decree. Dismissed.”
And that was it. After eight police reports and numerous harassing text messages, phone calls, and e-mails, we won. As Don and Tyler’s attorney went to speak with the clerk to file the necessary paperwork, Don told us to wait for him outside the courtroom.
As we exited the courtroom, the hallway was so packed with people that my dad and I were only able to find enough space to lean against the wall. We were talking about the court proceedings when we looked up at saw Tyler and his new girlfriend standing right across from us.
“Why do you lie about everything?” Tyler screamed.
Heather walked up to me and stood about an inch from my face. “As a mother myself, you should be happy that Tyler is the father of your child.”
My jaw dropped. “I’m sorry but I don’t know you.”
She smirked. “Well you’re going to get to know me, bitch.”
Tyler made a big show of pulling her from me like I was going to punch her or something. By this time, everyone in the hallway was watching us. We were pure entertainment.
Heather continued her rant. “Two times in the psych ward, Megan? What a great mother you are.”
“Where is your mom, the real mother of our child?” Tyler screamed. “She’s the one who takes care of Madelyne.”
My dad and I tried to move away from Tyler and Heather but they followed us.
“Awww…” Heather mocked. “Do you have to take a Xanax because of your anxiety?”
“Go take your Xanax and sleeping pills, you drug addict,” Tyler shouted.
Finally, Don emerged from the courtroom and pulled us into a quiet corridor. He explained that I needed to call our referee to set-up a meeting to discuss a visitation schedule. I told Don about the verbal assault by Tyler and Heather. Don said he would call Tyler’s attorney to let him know that Heather would not be allowed in my house.
Upon leaving the courthouse, Heather screamed, “See you on Sunday, Megan.”
I turned toward her and said calmly, “I don’t know you, but you are not welcome in my home.”
That night, Tyler sent me multiple texts attacking my mothering skills, my supposed drug addictions, how he was going to fight for joint custody of Madelyne, how Heather would be accompanying him for his visitations, and a barrage of other insults:
• “Get a life already”
• “Don’t you have something better to do than wasting your parents’ money?”
• “Go take your pills and relax, oh yeah, then your parents would have to watch our daughter. Oh yeah, they already do.”
• “Go talk to your friends. Oh yeah, you don’t have any because of how crazy you are.”
• “Interesting to know you’ve been to the hospital a couple of times. You really need to get it together.”
• “Better go call your lawyer and make up some more stuff about me.”
• “Don’t be mad at your sorry life.”
• “I am sure living with Mom and Dad the rest of your life will be fun.”
• “When you get a job, then you can pay me child support. Fun.”
I finally had to turn my phone off at midnight.
***
Tyler was out of control—I had to stop him from taking my daughter…
Before I could even react, he snatched Madelyne out of my arms and put her in the back of his car. She started to hyperventilate.
“What are you doing?” I screamed.
Tyler ignored me as he tried to strap her in the car seat.
“Tyler! She’s terrified! You can’t do this! Let’s take her to a park or something. She has to calm down before she can go with you!” Was he crazy? How could he do this to his own child?
I squeezed in between him and the doorframe of the car door. “Tyler! Stop!”
“Don’t touch my car!” Tyler screeched as he tried to slam the door shut. I had my leg in between the door and the frame so he couldn’t close the door. I tried reaching Madelyne who was still wailing and howling. It was a horrific sound. All of a sudden, Tyler put me in a chokehold and dragged me from the car. I could see my dad out of the corner of my eye trying to get someone’s, anyone’s, attention.
“Help!” I screamed. “Help me!” But we were parked too far away from the actual police station and since it was Sunday, no one was around. “Someone help me. Please!”
Tyler tightened his arm around my throat. I couldn’t breathe. Oh my God, I thought. He’s going to kill me. Tyler was completely out of control. I knew if I didn’t do something soon, I was going to blackout.
WANT TO KNOW ME? CHECK THE INTERVIEW AT BOOK READER MAGAZINE
My interview at Book Reader Magazine:
Featured Interview With Ognian Georgiev
– Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
– My entire live is connected with the capital city of Bulgaria – Sofia. I am living in one of the quietest districts, named on our national hero Vasil Levski, with my girlfriend Ralitza and our little daughter Valeria. In the last 14 years the profession that is bringing food on my table is journalistics. I am writing about sports.
Check the rest here
Land Of Books 