The Pearlsong Letter

Authors & Publisher to Chat About Creating & Publishing Fat Friendly Fiction

Join me (Peggy Elam) and several Pearlsong Press authors in two free teleconference calls at noon Eastern/11 a.m. Central Wednesday, July 8 & Wednesday, August 12, 2009 as we discuss creating and publishing fat friendly fiction.

We'd love to hear from YOU as well! This is your chance to let us know what YOU want to read.

Featured Conversationalists will include:

Lynne Murray, author of the Josephine Fuller mystery series, whose new book Bride of the Living Dead will be published by Pearlsong Press; Pat Ballard, Queen of Rubenesque Romances and author of 10 Steps to Loving Your Body (No Matter What Size You Are); Frannie Zellman, author of FatLand and editor and co-author of Fat Poets Speak: Voices of the Fat Poets' Society; Charlie Lovett, author of The Program; and Ellen Frankel, author of Beyond Measure: A Memoir About Short Stature & Inner Growth and co-author of The Diet Survivors' Handbook & Beyond A Shadow of A Diet.

Topics to be discussed will include why these authors decided to write about fat characters, any challenges in writing fat characters, and reactions from readers.

 If you don't feel comfortable speaking up during the teleconference―which will be recorded―then email your questions or comments to me at peggyelam@pearlsong.com.

Email pearlsongconversations@pearlsong.com for the details (teleconference phone number & access code) and call the teleconference line at noon Eastern (11 a.m. Central) to listen and/or participate in the hour-long Conversations. You can participate in one or both calls.

The line will handle up to 96 participants―first come, first served. There's no cost for the calls other than your usual long distance charges.

We are recording these Pearlsong Conversations and making them available for listening online or downloading after the calls. You can find links to the previous Conversation recordings on the Pearlsong Conversations webpage.

See http://www.pearlsong.com/pearlsongconversations.htm for more info. Request the call-in number & access code (which will be the same for both calls) by emailing pearlsongconversations@pearlsong.com.

I hope I'll hear your voice―or at least you'll hear ours―on July 8 & August 12!

In Joy,

Peggy Elam, Ph.D.

Psychologist,
Editor & Publisher,
Pearlsong Press

"A book, too, can be a star, 'explosive material, capable of stirring up fresh life endlessly.'"

Madeline L'Engle
in her acceptance speech for the Newberry Award for
A Wrinkle in Time,
quoting astronomer Fred Hoyle.

A Pearlsong Conversation with Pat Ballard, Queen of Rubenesque Romances

Just in time for Valentine's Day, romance novelist Pat Ballard chats with Pearlsong publisher Peggy Elam, Ph.D. in the second of the Pearlsong Conversations. Click here to listen to and/or download the 50-minute mp3 recording of today's conversation.

In addition to Ballard's 6 romance novels and short story collection featuring Big Beautiful Heroines -- or, as her publisher likes to put it, "books in which the fat chick gets the guy" -- Ballard is the author of the inspirational self-help volume 10 Steps to Loving Your Body (No Matter What Size You Are).

Ballard & Elam are joined by FatLand author Frannie Zellman as they discuss Ballard's journey to self- and body-acceptance and -love, her writing process, and why a truly happy Valentine's Day and satisfying sex starts with loving your body, no matter what it looks like.

The Pearlsong Conversations are monthly teleconference calls in which publisher Elam chats with a Pearlsong author and fans. To participate in future Conversations -- or listen to archived recordings of previous ones -- go to www.pearlsong.com/pearlsongconversations.htm.

Pat Ballard's romantic short story collection Dangerous Curves Ahead now available as a Mobipocket ebook

Pat Ballard's romantic collection Dangerous Curves Ahead: Short Stories is now available in Mobipocket ebook format from Mobipocket.com & affiliated online retailers. Mobipocket is an ebook format designed for mobile devices such as PDAs and smartphones as well as computers.

Ten romantic tales pack suspense and sizzle into this collection of short stories by Pat Ballard, all featuring amply curved women.

A handsome stranger comes to the aid of rancher Sarah Singley in "Dangerous Curves" -- but what does he really want?

Molly learns the cost of trying to be someone -- and some size -- she's not in "Freedom."

In "Misconception" and "Playboy," big beautiful women learn there may be more to their handsome new bosses than they suspected.

Dig into these and other juicy stories for a healthy serving of entertainment and a reminder than love comes in all sizes.

Click here to purchase the Mobipocket ebook version of Dangerous Curves Ahead: Short Stories from Mobipocket.com. Mobipocket versions of Pat's novels Wanted: One Groom, Nobody's Perfect, His Brother's Child, A Worthy Heir, Abigail's Revenge & The Best Man are also now available from Mobipocket.com and affiliated retailers.

Pat Ballard's novel Wanted: One Groom now available in Mobipocket ebook format

Pat Ballard's romance novel Wanted: One Groom is now available as a Mobipocket ebook from Mobipocket.com & affiliated online retailers. Mobipocket is an ebook format designed for mobile devices such as PDAs and smartphones as well as computers.

If Hanna Rockwell isn't married by the time she reaches her 30th birthday, she will lose her Nashville home, Rockwell Place, and her entire inheritance.

Hanna's mother and brother, who also live at Rockwell Place, are desperately afraid they're going to lose their home and allowance. Their constant nagging at Hanna to find someone to marry has driven her to challenge them.

"Start planning the wedding, Mother. And Will, you find the groom. And I'll get married on my 30th birthday!"

Feeling confident that her plan will never work, Hanna is dismayed when Will announces that Matt Corbett has agreed to marry Hanna.

The Matt Corbett? The has-been rock star who was her teen-aged idol? No way!

Matt Corbett can't believe the string of events that has led him to decide to marry a stranger. But he's determined to get back on his feet. And he's determined to make his former manager pay dearly for getting him in the financial ruin that he's in. Yes, he'll marry Hanna Rockwell so he'll have a place to live, just long enough to jump-start his country music career.

But he hadn't counted on falling in love with her.

Click here to purchase the Mobipocket ebook version of Wanted: One Groom from Mobipocket.com. Mobiocket versions of Pat Ballard's novels Nobody's Perfect, His Brother's Child, A Worthy Heir, Abigail's Revenge & The Best Man are also now available from Mobipocket.com and affiliated online retailers.

His Brother's Child by Pat Ballard now available in Mobipocket ebook format

Pat Ballard's romance novel His Brother's Child is now available in Mobipocket ebook format from Mobipocket.com & affiliated online retailers. Mobipocket is an ebook format designed for mobile devices such as PDAs and smartphones as well as computers.

One party. One wild night in her entire life and Fait Carr winds up pregnant! What were the odds? And what were the odds of finding out that the handsome stranger who'd gotten her pregnant had only made love to her because of a stupid bet! And now he didn't want anything to do with her or the baby that was growing inside her.

Edward Brenner knew as soon as he saw Faith Carr that he would love her. But he also knew he had many obstacles to overcome. She'd been hurt. She'd been frightened and made to distrust all men. She was scared and vulnerable. And she was pregnant with his brother's child.

Clcik here to purchase the Mobipocket ebook version of His Brother's Child. Mobipocket versions of Pat Ballard's novels A Worthy Heir, Abigail's Revenge and The Best Man are also now available. (Look for Mobipocket versions of Nobody's Perfect, Wanted: One Groom and Dangerous Curves Ahead: Short Stories to follow soon!)

A Worthy Heir by Pat Ballard now available in Mobipocket ebook format

Pat Ballard's romance novel A Worthy Heir is now available in the Mobipocket ebook format from Mobipocket.com & affiliated online retailers. Mobipocket is an ebook format designed for moible devices such as PDAs and smartphones as well as computers.

All Pamela Spencer wants is to help her brother, Tom, get his life back on track. After a job-related accident, he's confined to a wheelchair, unable to do anything except endure excruciating pain. When Pam discovers an ad in the newspaper advertising for "a worthy heir" to inherit Fiona Bainbridge's millions, she jumps at the chance that will allow Tom to be back under a doctor's care. After all, it was Fiona's company, Bainbridge Corporation, that caused Tom's problems in the first place.

Reese Bainbridge, Fiona's grandson, who has refused to have anything to do with Bainbridge Corporation, quickly returns home when he discovers that his fanatical grandmother has run an ad in the newspaper for someone to replace him as her heir. His frustration with his grandmother grows much stronger when he discovers she has moved the beautiful, voluptuous, green-eyed blonde and her freeloading brother into the house that he's supposed to inherit.

Sparks will fly--and Pam is up to the challenge.

Click here to purchase the Mobipocket ebook version of A Worthy Heir. Mobipocket versions of Pat Ballard's romantic suspense novels Abigail's Revenge & The Best Man are also now available.

Abigail's Revenge by Pat Ballard now available in Mobipocket ebook format

Pat Ballard's romantic suspense novel Abigail's Revenge is now available in the Mobipocket ebook format from Mobipocket.com & affiliated online retailers. Mobipocket is an ebook format designed for mobile devices such as PDAs and smartphones as well as computers.

FRAMED. Abigail Avery was falsely convicted of the murder of her father and sent to prison when she was only eighteen years old. The supposedly good citizens of Leaky Springs, Mississippi were silent as an innocent young woman was orphaned, accused, swiftly tried and locked away. Her only clue in the travesty of justice is that a bunch of crooked "good ole boys" -- headed by the judge who presided at her trial -- keep pestering her to sell her family farm. Now, a decade later, Abigail's out of prison and heading back to Leaky Springs. It won't be a pleasant homecoming. She's out for revenge on the people who stole ten years of her life. Especially the judge.

Click here to purchase the Mobipocket ebook version of Abigail's Revenge. The Mobipocket ebook version of The Best Man, another romantic suspense novel by Ballard, is also available now.

The Best Man by Pat Ballard now available in Mobipocket ebook format

Pat Ballard's romantic suspense novel The Best Man is now available in the Mobipocket ebook format. Mobipocket is an ebook format designed for PDAs and smartphones as well as computers.

The Best Man is the newest romantic suspense novel from Pat Ballard, the Queen of Rubenesque Romances.

Sparks fly the night Lana Clark meets to plan her sister's wedding -- and not just because curvaceous Lana announces she's stopped dieting and doesn't care if she's fat as maid of honor.  The strong-willed sister of the bride attracts the attention of the groom's devastatingly handsome best man, Anthony Angelino. But when the sparks become flames, Lana's in trouble. Tony's first wife died mysteriously. Will Lana be next?

Click here to purchase The Best Man from the Mobipocket website.

Pat Ballard is featured guest on Health At Every Size radio show

Pat Ballard, the Queen of Rubenesque Romances and author of the nonfiction self-help book 10 Steps to Loving Your Body (No Matter What Size You Are), was a guest on Radio Free Nashville's Health At Every Size show this morning. Pearlsong Press publisher Peggy Elam, Ph.D. hosts the show.

Listen to and/or download the mp3 recording of the show here. (Right click on the link and "save as" to download.)

Join a Pearlsong Conversation with author Pat Ballard on Feb. 11, 2009

Pat Ballard, Queen of Rubenesque Romances and author of 10 Steps to Loving Your Body (No Matter What Size You Are), will be the featured Pearlsong Conversationalist in our Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009 teleconference call.

In January 2009 Pearlsong Press began hosting a free monthly teleconference call in which publisher Peggy Elam, Ph.D. chats with a Pearlsong author (and possibly you!). If time and technology permit, participants are able to ask questions and join in the conversation. (Questions can also be emailed to Dr. Elam before the event at peggyelam @ pearlsong.com.  Please put "Pearlsong Conversation question" as the subject of your email.)

The teleconference will be recorded and the recording made available for listening online or downloading at the Pearlsong Press website. (Archived of previous Conversations can be accessed here.)

Ballard is the author of 6 novels and a short story collection featuring Big Beautiful Heroines (and some Big Handsome Heroes). Her first nonfiction book, 10 Steps to Loving Your Body (No Matter What Size You Are), is "like having your own personal coach and cheerleader for ending the warfare and making peace with the body you have."

To receive Pearlsong Conversation details (teleconference phone number and access code), send an email to pearlsongconversations@pearlsong.com. You will receive an automated response with the phone number and access code for the call.

There is no fee for participating in the Pearlsong Conversations. Your usual long-distance toll charges may apply -- but that's between you and your phone company.