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My friend Mike Kinziger asked for my help spreading word about his book, King Frog: 100 of the Best Group Games Ever Played. This book is perfect for summer camps, physical education teachers, after school programs, recreation agencies, church groups, and scout troops. I sent a copy to my friends at Camp Manito-wish.
Learn about the book and purchase at KingFrogBook.com.
In this episode of the Medical Author Chat podcast I talk to Clif Castleman, WEMT, about The Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness First Aid. We discuss his background as an Eagle Scout, American Red Cross instructor, volunteer EMT, and degree in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management from Penn State University. Clif is a founder of the Center for Wilderness Safety and also works as a safety ranger with the National Park Service in Virginia.
The Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness First Aid is a compact book meant to fit in a first aid kit and be accessible and easy to understand by the reader. The book and the Wilderness First Aid course are used by Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, SAR professionals, Sierra Club leaders, and outdoor enthusiasts.
We also discuss Clif’s process for writing the book and his experience publishing with Lulu.com.
Buy the book, take a course, and learn more from any of these links:
WFABook.com
RestockYourKit.com
WildSafe.org – Center for Wilderness Safety
Facebook.com/WFABook
Noted book author and marketing expert Seth Godin wrote a post recently, Advice for Authors part 1 and 2. If you are an aspiring book author it is certainly a post worth reading.
He writes, “Blog mentions, on the other hand, matter a lot.”
He does not mention podcasts. I am not sure how much podcasts matter for authors and book sales. I can tell you that Amazon affiliate sales (through my links) of books by authors interviewed on this podcast are low. For most books my affiliate sales are probably in the single digits. A few titles have achieved low double digit sales. What I don’t know is how often a podcast plants a seed for later mention.
If you are an author do podcast appearances matter? Have they helped your sales?
If you are a podcast listener does hearing an author on this or other podcasts influence your purchasing decision?
The market for books by paramedics and EMTs is a micro niche. Maybe 10 books sold through a podcast for this niche is significant. I am not sure.
If you are looking for book ideas I added an Amazon book store recently, EMS Books for your Kindle.
Happy New Year!
A few days ago I read about the 12 n ’12 Reading Challenge on the Books on the Nightstand Blog.
Are you ready for a 2012 reading challenge. These are my ideas, but you are welcome to come up with your own 12 n ’12 reading challenge.
1. 12 books written by paramedics
2. 12 EMS World or JEMS continuing education articles
3. 12 books written by authors from your service area
4. 12 books about the history of your city, region, or state
5. 12 books from any genre on an eReader
6. 12 books from any genre in hardcover or softcover
7. 12 chapters in your paramedic or EMT textbook
8. 12 journal articles on a hot topic like capnography, airway management, or pain management
9. 12 blog posts from the archives at theEMTSpot.com, theHappyMedic.com, or the AmbulanceDriverFiles.com
10. 12 books in a 2nd language
11. 12 books on leadership, management, or teaching
12. 12 books on computer programming, accounting, or graphic design
What are your ideas for a 12 n ’12 challenge?
Millions and millions of the Kindle Fire were opened on Christmas morning. I have been enjoying my Kindle Fire
Three ways to get the most out of your Kindle Fire.
1. Check out Digital Books from your local or regional library. I check out books, including new releases, from the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium. I receive an email when a book I have held is available and ready for download. The link takes me to Amazon and I can download the book to my Kindle device or Smartphone with the Kindle App.
2. Select one Kindle book for free each month. I used this feature to read the first two books in the Hunger Games triology. In early January I will be eligible to download my next free book. Browse Kindle eBooks
3. Download a free app everyday from the Amazon android app store. One of my daily website visits is the Amazon android app store. A paid app is offered for free everyday. I have downloaded some of my favorite apps, like the ad free version of TripIt, and on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day I was able to download interactive books, Charlie Brown Christmas and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, for my kids. Browse the Amazon Android App Store
Between the free apps and cost free library downloads my Kindle Fire will have paid for itself in early 2012.
How are you getting the most out of your Kindle Fire?
An alert reader notified me of this spectacularly titled new book: Stuck Up! 100 Objects Inserted and Ingested in Places They Shouldn’t Be. This might be the perfect holiday gift for the paramedic in your life that swears they have seen it all. It is also a celebration of the human imagination.
Enjoy!
Are you aspiring to write a book about your experiences in the medical profession? Blogger and Author Chris Brogan has recently had a series of posts about writing a book. Check them out:
Writing a Book – Finding Time
Writing a Book – Discipline
Writing a Book – Structure
Writing a Book – Marketing And Promotion
Writing a Book – Making Money
Chris Brogan is the author of Trust Agents
Listen to an interview with Dr. Ron Breazeale author of Duct Tape is Not Enough
Dr. Breazeale explains how Reaching Home is a book about reslience and how storytelling can be used for teaching. We dug into the importance of resilience for overcoming adversity and dealing with hard times.
The workbook, Duct Tape is Not Enough, teaches 11 skills and attitudes, including the importance of conectedness, flexibility, and optimism. Duct Tape is Not Enough is a six hour training program for group or individual study. Two of the DVDs feature stories told by a mix of people including a firefighter and a health care professional. We discussed the application of resilience training to health care professionals.
We concluded our conversation with advice from Dr. Breazeale for aspiring writers. He emphasized the importance of how a good editor helped him improve as a writer.
You can learn more at ReachingHome.com
Have you read the novel Reaching Home or participated in a Duct Tape is Not Enough workshop? Please share your experiences in the comments area.
This episode features veteran Firefighter Will Wyatt, author of the book And a Paycheck Too: Just Another Day at the Office for a Veteran Firefighter.
During the episode Will describes his inspiration to join the fire service was watching the television show Emergency! He explains that he never had an interest in EMS but a year into his career needed to become an EMT. Ever since EMS has been the majority of what he does as a firefighter.
Will was inspired to write the book to help the “average American understand what Fire and EMS professionals do in a typical day.” He went to great pains to make the book enjoyable to the public – not just insiders. He explains that life as a firefighter is a “roller coaster.”
The book is a mix of humorous stories and reflections on the fire services. He also shares one of the emotionally charged situations of his career that is told in the book.
Will wrote the book over a three month period. He usually wrote in the morning. He did not keep a journal during his career, but wishes he had. Will advises listeners to start taking notes for a few months before starting the writing process. He also encourages aspiring authors to sit in on firehouse story sessions to remember some of the other memorable moments of their career that might not be top of mind.
And a Paycheck was self published with Brown Publishing Group and is available for order through AndaPaycheckToo.com.
Show Notes:
