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Book Review: Catching Cold Volume 2: Redemption

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Catching Cold Volume 2: Redemption

Lem Moyé

 

Doctor Jon DeLeon and his team of eccentric CiliCold researchers continue their work, though now they exist in a hidden location. With good intentions, Meredith Doucette, Triple S Pharmaceuticals’ CEO, has reallocated her salary to the company’s charity branch, which some have seen as a controversial move while Cassandra Rhodes, Triple S Pharmaceuticals’ lead attorney, has been found not guilty of the murder of Cristen and is then hired by CiliCold.

For those who read volume 1 in this series and grew attached to some of the characters, this book continues the story with many of the same characters. However, Dr. Lem Moyé has written this book so that it can be read as a stand alone novel.

Catching Cold Volume 2: Redemption will be an entertaining read for those with a love of science and the corporate world. Written by a physician who has taught graduate classes in biostatistics, this novel has a realistic view of the scientific research world as it intertwines with corporate pharmaceutical companies, providing some great insights for the reader with a twist.

Days to Celebrate in April

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April: English Language Month. A month-long celebration of the uniqueness of the English language and all the learners working hard to master it.

April: National Poetry Month. Spend time this month writing, reading, and studying poetry.

April: National Volunteer Month. In the United States, volunteerism is instilled at a young age. Most organizations in small towns, rural counties, and the largest cities would not function without volunteers.

April: Records and Information Management Month. This event celebrates good record keeping and information management and emphasizes the importance of having organized records.

April: Stress Awareness Month. This month, we are all challenged to keep our stress levels low, and our peace levels high.

April 4: National Hug a Newsperson Day. Say thank you and send a hug to your local newsperson.

April 4: National School Librarian Day. School librarians spend long hours keeping the library organized, helping our children find the resources they need to encourage learning, and are dedicated to creating an environment children can learn in every day of the year. Set aside some time to honor school librarians.

April 5: National Play Outside Day. Spend a few minutes outside today enjoying the beauty and the fresh air.

April 7: National No Housework Day. Freelancers working from home sometimes choose to be distracted by housework rather than work on a challenging project. On this day, it is not allowed, so find something else to distract you–or rather, sit down and work on that challenging project.

April 7-13: National Public Health Week. The week focuses on prevention and reducing unhealthy activities.

April 6-12: National Library Week. Visit your local library in person or online, and give your library card a workout.

April 8: National All Is Ours Day. This is a day to appreciate everything we have, rather than dwelling on what we don’t have.

April 8: National Library Workers Day. Library workers do so much more than keep track of the books we can borrow nearly any time of the day or night. Today, library workers are masters of research.

April 10: National Encourage a Young Writer Day. Do you know a young person who has a vivid imagination, maybe someone who likes to tell stories and reads a lot of books? Encourage them to pursue their goals and develop their writing skills.

April 14: National Reach as High as You Can Day. Review and plan your goals for the upcoming quarter or the rest of the year as you reach for your dreams or goals.

April 14: Look Up at the Sky Day. Look for inspirations and beauty by looking up at the sky.

April 15: National Rubber Eraser Day. Celebrate the invention of erasers by acknowledging that we all make mistakes.

April 16: National Bookmobile Day. Honor the access to information and resources our nation’s bookmobiles make available to our communities and the professionals who work diligently to provide these services.

April 16: National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day. Let go of the stress of deciding what to wear for a day by wearing your pajamas to work.

April 17: National Haiku Poetry Day. Try your hand at this creative form by writing about what you see outside.

April 17: National High Five Day. Spend a moment on social media, and give a virtual high five to someone who has recently helped you out.

April 17: Get to Know Your Customers Day. Select a customer and get to know them a little better.

April 20-26: Administrative Professionals Week. Celebrate the administrative professionals and secretaries who keep businesses going.

April 20-26: National Volunteer Week. Provide support by offering your services to a local organization you feel passionate about.

April 23: National Administrative Professionals Day. Some freelancers have virtual assistants, and we didn’t want you to miss this day! Celebrate your VA and show how much you appreciate this person.

April 24: National Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. Take some time to mentor your sons and daughters and aspire their writing to new heights!

April 25: National Poem in Your Pocket Day. Memorize a poem or two to share with the people you meet throughout the day.

April 27: National Tell a Story Day. Share a story with fellow word lovers.

April 28: National Great Poetry Reading Day. Celebrate distinguished poetry and the notable poets who wrote them.

Book Review: Catching Cold Volume 1: Breakthrough

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Catching Cold Volume 1: Breakthrough

Lem Moyé

 

Doctor Jon DeLeon is on an adventure of a lifetime: he thinks he can cure the common cold. In his personal life, Doctor DeLeon has a cordial relationship with his ex-wife, but he is devastated to discover that she is engaged and pregnant. Nevertheless, he tries to swallow this news and continue pursuing his dreams.

Yet, obstacles abound! With limited funds, the researchers at CiliCold, Doctor DeLeon’s research lab, push forward to a cure that other researchers gave up on years ago. The research lab is filled with quirky researchers, many of whom have lost credibility in the scientific community, leading to some entertaining scenarios and small talk.

Doctor DeLeon being preoccupied with his personal life and the financial instability of his lab is oblivious to the betrayals that take place inside his research lab.

Catching Cold Volume 1: Breakthrough is an enjoyable read, especially for those with a love of science. Written by a physician who has completed over 30 years of research, this novel has a realistic view of the scientific research world, providing some great insights for the reader.

Caring by Connection

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Through the NAIWE discussion list, members can discuss important topics with fellow publishing professionals, and they can also reach out to others who have had similar experiences and who may offer the same type of work.

However, NAIWE members like to have fun too! NAIWE members chat about funny signs they saw while at the park or in a store and funny moments they had with a client.

NAIWE members are here to support and laugh with one another!

 

 

April Michelle Davis, NAIWE Executive Director

April Michelle Davis has been the executive director of the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE) since 2018. Prior to that, she was NAIWE’s Social Media Marketing Expert. NAIWE is an association that focuses on career building for writers, editors, and other professionals in the publishing industry by developing multiple streams of income; it helps its members market their products and services through social media, newsletters, and more.

She is also the coordinator for the Virginia chapter of the Editorial Freelancers Association, a lifetime member of the American Copy Editors Society, and a freelance editor, indexer, proofreader, and author. April Michelle has taught courses through her own company, Editorial Inspirations, as well as for associations and colleges on topics such as editing, indexing, grammar, writing, and creating macros.

Her credentials include a master’s degree in publishing from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Messiah College, as well as certificates in editing (University of Virginia), book publishing (University of Virginia), and professional editing (EEI Communications).

April Michelle has shared her insights about her career development by contributing quotes and vignettes to several books. She has presented sessions on various editorial topics to many groups, including the Virginia Writers Club, the Communication Central conference, Randolph-Macon College, the Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network, the EFA, Copyediting newsletter, RavenCon, and the Hanover Book Festival. In addition, April Michelle has published four books.

Book Review: A Reunion of Death

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A Reunion of Death

Patricia Crandall

 

Mavis and Trevor Gordon are hosting a four-day Christmas celebration at their renowned mansion for their friends. However, the celebratory mood is quickly replaced with tension when Mavis discovers the theft of a valuable bracelet and a priceless heirloom.

Mavis Gordon asks a guest, Darby Potter, who is also a member of the Security Task Force, to investigate, but when a murder occurs, Trevor Gordon brings in a private investigator to assist.

A Reunion of Death is a thriller written in the style of Agatha Christie’s writing. Although there is murder and mystery, it is fun and entertaining to read as well.

The design of the book cover, and even the interior of the book, gives the feeling of an Agatha Christie read. The front cover displays a snowy mansion with a golden bow in the left corner to emphasize that this book is set at Christmastime. The front cover includes a photo of Agatha Christie herself, and the back cover includes an image of an insightful detective. Inside, each chapter begins in the same typeface as the book title on the book cover, with its flowing cursive. The feeling the reader has even before setting eyes on a word provoke an appropriate feeling for this beautiful read!

Author Patricia Crandall writes in a light-hearted manner while developing the characters and giving them their own quirks. It is a quick read that will bring the reader along for an amusing ride!

Member Benefit: Discount on The Chicago Manual of Style

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Member Benefit #22

The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) Online is the undisputed authority for style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format. Completely searchable and easy to use, CMOS Online is available to individuals and small user groups, as well as academic, private, and public libraries, through annual, IP-based subscriptions. Subscribers receive full access to the latest two editions of CMOS, as well as access to the online CMOS Users Forum.

NAIWE members receive 20% off the book or online subscription!

Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.

Book Review: The House Filler

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2024 NAIWE Literary Fiction Book Winner

 

The House Filler

Author: Tong Ge

Author Tong Ge captures the reader immediately with her first sentence: “I met the man I grew to love and the man I came to hate on the same day.”

Golden Phoenix is a 26-year-old woman living in China. Following the customs of her people for the girls and women, her feet have been bound since she was six, in hopes her beauty will be known through a smaller foot size. Females also were forbidden from receiving a formal education, so Golden Phoenix became a skilled seamstress.

Because of her less-than-ideal foot size, Golden Phoenix is given in marriage to a widower 20 years older than her as a house filler. The author goes into extreme detail about the process of being married off to include the events leading up to the marriage and the celebration to educate and engage the reader, who likely doesn’t know what was typical in 20th-century China.

While Golden Phoenix has inherited a stepson, she desires a son of her own to secure her status. However, her stepson and his wife soon plot against the child.

Written as historical fiction, this book is based on the life of the author’s grandmother, creating a personal relationship between the story and the reader. The language the author uses draws the reader into the story and holds the reader there to feel sympathy for Golden Phoenix and care about the hardships she experiences.

The death of Golden Pheonix’s husband leads to challenges in supporting their five children, and she is forced to give her twin sons to the Red Army. War continues between the Communists and the Nationalists, and Golden Phoenix sees her family ripped apart and a son sent to prison to await execution.

Congratulations, Tong Ge’s The House Filler for being a NAIWE 2024 Book Award winner!

Laura Pennington Briggs, NAIWE’s Business of Writing Expert

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We wanted to get to know Laura Pennington Briggs (NAIWE’s Business of Writing Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.

Do publishers favor freelancers who have agents for their nonfiction books?

Although some publishers may accept proposals for books from writers directly, this is actually quite uncommon. Agents essentially serve as gatekeepers to traditional publishers, which means that in order to get the most possible exposure for your book to publishers, it is critical to find an agent who has experience in your book’s niche. An agent shows that someone has already pre-vetted your work and believes it is appropriate for a traditional publisher.

 

Are there different types of agents or levels of agents for nonfiction books?

Some agents will have extensive experience at a high level and may be harder to access as a beginning author. This includes anyone who has placed New York Times bestsellers or works consistently with high-profile nonfiction authors.

However, almost all agents perform the same tasks for their clients, including evaluating book proposals and helping shape them into a compelling narrative, preparing the author for the submission process, submitting the book, and negotiating deals on behalf of their clients. It is important to find someone who believes in your work and someone who will advocate for you and handle communication. Since you are giving up a portion of your advance and book royalties to an agent, you want someone who is going to take some of the pressure off of you and get you the best possible deal at the best publisher.

 

Is it a best practice to have a backup agent?

It’s important to realize that when you sign a contract with an agent to place a particular book, you are obligated to work with that agent. This is why it is so important to thoroughly vet and query agents who you believe to be a good fit for your work and to communicate with them before signing any contract.

You cannot have multiple contracts with numerous agents trying to place the same book. And this would reflect very poorly on you if someone discovered it. It is far better to query your book to all prospective agents at the same time and then have conversations with the interested agents to decide on the right fit for you.

That being said, it is a good idea to have a short list of agents as some agents will never get back to you, some will decline the opportunity to work with you, and you may have multiple agents interested in your work at which point you could narrow down your list more closely. Bear in mind that many nonfiction agents only take on between one and three authors per year. So the effort you put into your book proposal and your query submission are critical for success.

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Interested in traditional publishing for nonfiction? Getting an agent to represent you may help you get the best offers and consideration from top publishers. Discover the most important tips for writing a book proposal, how to create an agent shortlist how to note and keep track of agent requests, what to ask when meeting with agents, and more. You’ll be prepared to start your query prep process!

You can join in this conversation on March 20 at 2:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on working with agents. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!

 

Laura Pennington Briggs is the founder and CEO of the Freelance Coach. A two-time TEDx speaker on how freelancing is changing the economy and the host of the weekly Advanced Freelancing podcast, Laura has helped over 15,000 freelancers start and scale their businesses. She’s an expert on systems, project and client management, marketing a solopreneur business, delegating to team members, retainers, and developing multiple income streams for writers of all stripes. Laura is the author of five books, including the Six Figure Freelancer, How to Start Your Own Freelance Writing Business, and award-winning Remote Work for Military Spouses. She’s also the founder of Operation Freelance, a national nonprofit providing free entrepreneurship training to military spouses worldwide.

WMW 2025 Writing Challenge Day 5

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Writing Challenge Day 5

According to Jim Rohn, “Words do two major things: They provide food for the mind and create light for understanding and awareness.” What two major things do words do for you?

 

Prepare for the Writing Challenge

During Words Matter Week, we host a writing challenge. Each day we will post a question on our blog and various social media outlets.

Respond to the question on your blog or social media page (be sure to include #WMW2025 in your response), and then link back to it in the comments of the corresponding article on the NAIWE blog. For each challenge you respond to, you will receive one entry (and a bonus entry for each response written on your NAIWE blog).

At the end of the week, we will have a drawing, and one person will win a fabulous prize, along with a mention and link in the next newsletter.

WMW 2025 Writing Challenge Day 4

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Writing Challenge Day 4

Words boost our understanding and bring about a level of awareness. What word has increased your understanding and brought you to a higher level of awareness? And how did it do this?

 

Prepare for the Writing Challenge

During Words Matter Week, we host a writing challenge. Each day we will post a question on our blog and various social media outlets.

Respond to the question on your blog or social media page (be sure to include #WMW2025 in your response), and then link back to it in the comments of the corresponding article on the NAIWE blog. For each challenge you respond to, you will receive one entry (and a bonus entry for each response written on your NAIWE blog).

At the end of the week, we will have a drawing, and one person will win a fabulous prize, along with a mention and link in the next newsletter.

Latest Posts

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March 27, 2026

Member Benefit: Discount on Nonfiction Authors Association Membership

March 13, 2026

Book Review: Psychosis Diagnosis

March 9, 2026

WMW 2026 Writing Challenge Day 5

March 6, 2026

WMW 2026 Writing Challenge Day 4

March 5, 2026

WMW 2026 Writing Challenge Day 3

March 4, 2026

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