Canadian Author Wins $12,000 Marketing Makeover

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) August 4, 2006 -- Vancouver, BC � August 3, 2006 � Whether self-publishing or lucky enough to land a book deal with a traditional publisher, authors are typically left doing most, if not all, of the marketing themselves. Canadian author Glenda Watson Hyatt has hit the jackpot. She has won the $12,000 Mega Marketing Makeover, sponsored by well-known American promotional expert Suzanne Falter-Barns of Get Known Now (www.getknownnow.com).

Glenda Watson Hyatt is currently writing her autobiography "I'll Do It Myself: A Collection of Memories from a Woman Living with Cerebral Palsy", in which she intimately shares her life story to show others cerebral palsy is not a death sentence, but rather a life sentence. Her book is due to be released on November 4th � her 40th birthday!

Upon hearing she had won, Watson Hyatt exclaimed, "Wow, what an amazing opportunity! This will send my book into orbit!" The Marketing Makeover may well do that as other contributors include: Marketing Sherpa award-winner Andy Wibbels (www.goblogwild.com), author of top-selling blogging book "Blogwild!"; media coach Susan Harrow (www.prsecrets.com), author of "'Get a Six-Figure Book Advance"; and publicity expert Joan Stewart (www.publicityhound.com).

Watson Hyatt says her first task is to kick off her Summer Reader Blitz. Her goal is to have 500 readers sign up for her monthly book updates by the end of summer. Readers receive excerpts from her autobiography, such as the following excerpt in which Watson Hyatt describes her experience with receiving speech therapy as a child:

"Speech therapy seemed rather bizarre to me. The therapist sat on a floor mat, with me on my back between her outstretched legs. My legs wrapped around her waist and her stinky toes in close proximity to my nose. She then proceeded to stick her fingers in my mouth to wiggle my lips, supposedly to loosen them. She alternated between her fingers and ice cubes. Then, when the actual speaking segment came up, she pushed on my chest in attempts to improve my breathing capacity. After all those years of this hefty woman pushing down on my chest, I am convinced that was why I was such a late bloomer.

The thing that puzzled me, as I laid there on my back staring at the ceiling tiles, what was I suppose to do when I met people outside as I got older? Was I to lay down on my back, on the floor, before speaking to them? I envisioned myself sprawled out on the ground when meeting a friend at the shopping mall or grocery store. Definitely not a dignified thought. Perhaps not surprisingly, pillow talk is some of my clearest speech!"

One reader writes, "I look forward to receiving Glenda's monthly updates on the progress of her book. There is nothing better than a wicked sense of humor, and Glenda definitely has it!"

Individuals can sign up to receive these excerpts at www.BooksbyGlenda.com.