Well Done Dunn! Dianne Is On the Cover!

Well Done Dunn!  Dianne Is On the Cover!

How exciting to see the cover of a magazine with a very special friend!

Take a look at this month's issue of The Residential Specialist and you will see my friend Dianne Dunn on the cover, on page 1 and again on page 21!

Diane is not just a pretty face. She has 34 years of real estate, is a broker/owner, a fellow CyberStar, a mentor and coach to many. This past year Dianne authored a book and  had it published by Peg Silloway ...my friend and publisher of Real Estate the Rome Way.


Congratulations Dianne! You are a role model to so many of us. As I always say to you...
Well Done Dunn!!



                                                     
 Diane is not just a pretty face. She has 34 years of real estate, is a broker/owner, a fellow CyberStar, a mentor and coach to many. This past year Dianne authored a book and  had it published by Peg Silloway ...my friend and publisher of Real Estate the Rome Way.

Proof That Marketing Pays

Proof That Marketing Pays!

My friend and my publisher, Peg Silloway, is going to be on the radio this Saturday January 30th beginning at 5:05PM. The live interview is on Talkin Pets Radio

Here's your chance to call in with questions about your cats. Can we keep the board lit up?

Peg is scheduled for the first 30-60 minutes. If there are too many calls, they might have to keep her on longer.

Toll free call in number: 866-606-TALK (866-606-8255)

Website - Listen online: http://talkinpets.com

Via Peg Silloway (The Silloway Press):

I realize I'm preaching to the choir on this one - the concept that it pays to market is not new to the real estate professionals that hang out in the Rain. But I got positive proof just yesterday that letting people know what you do is the first and maybe most important step to building your business.

You probably know by know that I wrote a book - The Cat Lover's Book of Days - and several folks on Active Rain have said nice things about it. (Yes, I'm talking about you, Russel and Jim!) But to meet my definition of success for this book I needed to reach a wider audience, so I chose to work with a PR professional to get the word out. She drew up a list of target media, we prepared a press release, and started to spread the news.

And it worked! In a matter of a couple of weeks we've sent review copies of the book to radio stations, magazines, and websites. Yesterday I got confirmation that I'll be interviewed on a national radio talk show, "Talkin' Pets" with Jon Patch, on this Saturday! It's going to be great fun and I would love it if Rainers called in with questions or comments. Here are the details:

"Talkin' Pets" with Jon Patch - 5:00 p.m. EST - Saturday, January 30, 2010

Toll free call in number: 866-606-TALK (866-606-8255)

Website - you can listen online: http://talkinpets.com

The show runs from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and I'm scheduled to be on during the first 1/2 to 1 hour. To find an AM station near you that carries the program, go the website and click on the "Station Info" button on the left.

Please call and say "Hi!" - I'd love to hear the friendly voices of Active Rain. This Saturday. 5:00 p.m. Fun!

So Proud of My Friend, So Proud of My Publisher

So Proud of My Friend, So Proud of My Publisher!

Look back almost a year to December 2008 when I was celebrating the publication of my book Real Estate the Rome Way - my first book, Marti's first book cover, and the first book for my friend Peg Silloway of Silloway Press.

In just twelve months we are about to have a new celebration. In that short time, The Silloway Press has published eight books including Peg's own new book, The Cat Lover's Book of Days. I think that's amazing!

Even if you are not a cat lover, you gotta look at this book. It's creative, it's fun, and it's more than just a great book.

Peg wanted her book to last, so she made it a gift-quality hardback.

Peg wanted it to be environmentally conscious, so she had it printed on FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper.

Peg also wanted it to help cats and kittens, so she's contributing part of every sale to PetSmart Charities, a highly-rated 501(c)(3) charity that supports local animal shelters and rescue efforts throughout the country.

Perfect timing, don't you think? Perfect for the holidays,

The Cat Lover's Book of Days THE perfect gift for all your cat-loving friends.

Have you noticed that many ActiveRainers love their cats? Just do a search for cats and you will see what I mean.

You can order signed copies – including free gift wrapping! – Go to CatBookOfDays.com.

Peg will begin sending out the books around December 10 when the first shipment is due. I remember how hard it was to wait. The Closer It Gets, the Harder It Is to Wait!

You can also pre order (without the signature or the free gift wrapping) through Amazon.com. But better to order them right through Peg and let her know I said so.

So Proud of My Friend, So Proud of My Publisher!

Now I am wondering whose book Peg will be publishing next year! Could it be yours?

The Best Part of My Job

Now I am really happy! Two very special people..both my friends... what pleasure getting you together. Think it was better than a matchmaker. I adore you both!

Tim, I was honored to be one to preview your future best seller, Create a Great Deal. Can't wait to get my hands on the finished masterpiece. Love your writing, you wisdom, your message, your manner of teaching, your kindness...and a fabulous book for all of us to read!

Congratulations to you both.

I remember the day 12/18/2008 when my books were delivered..your smile says it all.

Via Peg Silloway (The Silloway Press):

It's the phone call – "They're perfect!" – when an author receives the first shipment of books. It's the photographs of the justifiably proud author holding the first copy out of the carton. Writing a book is hard work and takes longer than anyone thinks it will. To complete that, and then to actually publish the book, that's something to be very proud of.

Today I'm celebrating Tim Burrell's accomplishment. His book, Create a Great Deal: The Art of Real Estate Negotiating, is one of the best I've seen on the subject. It's well written and has an eye-catching cover thanks to the design skill of his wife, Judy Burrell. It's already received a very good review by Bernice Ross in Inman News on June 1, and endorsements from many of the top names in the business.

Tim knows a thing or two about marketing in addition to his formidable negotiation skills, and I expect this book will be a great success.

Yep, it's my favorite part.

Liquid Sunshine and Books in Baltimore

Books bring people out every year to Mount Vernon Place in Baltimore at the end of September. On a sunny day, the Baltimore Book Festival will be packed with book lovers from far and wide. On Saturday…well, we had a lot of "liquid sunshine," but the festival took place anyway, and though attendance was down, we were there.

At first, you could have found us (my publisher, Peg Silloway, and me) in the MidAtlantic Book Publishers Association booth, talking with visitors about publishing and handing out information packets on the books published by association members. In every packet was a Real Estate the Right Rome Way post card from my publisher, The Silloway Press.

The president of MBPA, Sheila Ruth, was there with her husband, Nick, and their son, David. Sheila is the publisher in the family and had several of her books on display. Nick is the author of Dark Dreamweaver, and was sporting his signature tee shirt. David is an outgoing young man and natural marketer who handed out information packets and is also writing a book. We had a chance to talk with a few visitors for longer than usual when a heavy downpour sent everyone scurrying for cover, and created a river in the booth. Yep, that "sunshine" was really flowing.

After our shift, we went over to the Live Baltimore booth where I was ready to volunteer, but they didn't need me just then, so we borrowed an umbrella and went for lunch. If the weather had been sunny, we would have found something to eat from the vendors and used one of the many picnic tables that the city set up. But with all the liquid sunshine falling on us, we opted for Donna's where we dried off and enjoyed a lovely lunch.

After Peg left I went back to Live Baltimore where Ruth Louis, a board member, and Teresa Stephens, a staff member, were welcoming visitors with information and smiles. Like Teresa and Ruth, I live in the City and love it. Besides the bright yellow umbrellas, which were very popular, they had a selection of books about Baltimore including one on Sparrows Point (where I just took a listing, 2414 Lodge Farm Rd. 21219 Baltimore County, Maryland). There were also several books about famous people who have lived and worked here such as Dr. Ben Carson, football great Lenny Moore, and the many writers like H.L. Mencken who have called this city home.

Next year we'll be hoping for a bit more of the traditional sunshine, since we plan to be at the Book Festival again, but this time to sign and sell books!