Aren't you sick of the election news?

It seems like it's the same story rehashed day after day. I don't know about you, but I wish the election was over already.

It's going to come down to a choice of whether people want to take a chance with a new president or stick with what they know.

The world is more and more turbulent everyday and it looks like the U.S. is losing fans all around the world.

If you see what's happening in Pakistan, our ally, you will understand that it's so simple for other countries to yell "Death to America". The  fact that they have an atomic bomb doesn't help.

I don't know what will turn it around - or if any one leader can change the way the world views us. I grieve for Chris Stevens' family to lose such a valuable human being that was trying to make a difference.  I hope that life becomes easier for Americans who would like to work and travel abroad. I actually feel bad for the citizens of Egypt - since it's losing much-needed tourism dollars from the West.

This continuing unrest will hurt those who need American dollars the most - the poor of the Arab world.  We have to watch and see what happens....

Tips for authors who need a publicist

There are many writers out there today - some more famous than others. While not everyone can be J.K. Rowling or Thomas Wolfe, writers are looking to expand their audience, get more recognition and improve sales of their books.

Yet, they don't understand what's involved in public relations.

Hiring a publicist is like hiring any other professional.

Doing PR is a time-intensive and difficult job.

Authors should do what they do best, which is to hone their craft and continue to write.

Having a professional publicist handle the marketing of your book makes sense. A good publicist can find niche audiences for writers, whether they write non-fiction, memoirs, fiction or children's books. Many writers would love the opportunity to speak to a group and do book-signings. They would also enjoy speaking engagements and appearing in local, regional and national media.

A publicist can create a pitch to "sell" the author and all of the materials necessary to "package" the author to decision-makers in the media and at universities, libraries and bookstores. They can also provide talking points to assist the author prior to any appearance or talk.

A publicist is a cheaper alternative to advertising your book. An ad in any paper is a one-shot proposition that could be as costly as hiring a good public relations consultant for a month. An article that appears in a magazine or newspaper has third-party endorsement, providing more credibility to your audience than any ad.

So don't be penny-wise and pound foolish about investing in marketing yourself. You and your book deserve it!