Publishing news

...now browsing by category

 

Blog Hiatus

Thursday, May 29th, 2014

Thank you to all my blog readers! Your support is appreciated. I will be taking a break until further notice.  Enjoy your summer and, if you are interested, please refer to my posts over the past five years in my Archives.

– Yvonne S. Thornton, M. D., M. P. H

So You Want to Write a Book

Friday, September 21st, 2012

When I decided that my story might help other women striving to overcome their own circumstances, I worried that my expertise as a physician wouldn’t exactly translate to the process of writing a great book.  Instead of giving up right there though, I decided to look into hiring a writer to help me out.  Luckily, I found talented freelance writer and editor, Anita Bartholomew who truly is a book doctor.

After reading my first best-selling memoir, The Ditchdigger’s Daughters, Anita saw potential in the next chapter of my life as a professional woman trying to balance career and family.  Her writing skill and knowledge of the changing publishing industry allowed me to get exposure to a much bigger audience than I would have been able to do on my own.  With her collaboration, my newest memoir, “SOMETHING TO PROVE” won the Grand Prize in the New York Book Festival.  On my radio show, Inside Information for Women, Anita and discussed this process and how the publishing industry is shifting in a way that actually benefits small publishers and unknown authors.

As the cost of print media slowly begins to outweigh its profits, many publishers are scaling down and moving to digital publishing.  You’ve no doubt noticed the increase in e-books and e-readers, but many are unaware how this is changing the popularity of what it is we’re reading as well.  Before, you needed a book with surefire potential for big profits or a name that already had clout in the genre in order to get the attention of publishers.  Now though, many people are partnering with smaller publishing companies or even publishing and promoting their own work through digital formats.  This has allowed new authors to sell a lot more of their work, and this time, without losing the percentage a publishing company would have taken.  It has also, surprisingly, shifted what people are reading altogether; as steamy romance titles are easily concealed on e-readers and nobody knows whether someone is reading about politics or pop stars.  These digital authors and publishers have also increased competition in the publishing world in general, driving prices down to much more easily consumed costs for their audience, which translates into more sales for more writers.

Even though it is easier to get e-published these days, you’ll still need great writing in order to sell a lot of books.  I’m thankful I found Anita so that my book could have that chance.  If you too are dying to get your story told, whether fact or fiction, you don’t have to be the next great author, you just need a great idea and a partnership with a talented freelance writer like Anita Bartholomew.

 

– Yvonne S. Thornton, M. D., M. P. H.

 

My memoir’s getting lots of media attention: good news and bad news

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

Yes, that’s me on the cover Living, the Jersey Shore magazine, and there’s a lovely, long, detailed article inside, that talks in-depth about my latest memoir, Something to Prove, as well as my first memoir, The Ditchdigger’s Daughters.

I’m thrilled to have gotten the coverage, especially now, when I learned, in a roundabout way, that the publisher of Something to Prove is getting out of the trade (consumer) book business.

Erik Sherman of CBS News wrote all about that, and how it affects Something to Prove, so I won’t say more. But I hope to have news for you of a paperback and ebook of Something to Prove soon. Stay tuned.

– Yvonne S. Thornton, MD, MPH

Something To Prove Wins Top Prize from New York Book Festival!

Friday, June 3rd, 2011

I’m thrilled to report that Something to Prove: A Daughter’s Journey to Fulfill a Father’s Legacy earned the Grand Prize from the judges in “The New York Book Festival,” besting hundreds of rivals in every category for the title.

Although I wish I could be at the ceremony on June 10, 2011, at the Algonquin Hotel, to accept the award, I have a previous commitment. I will be the lead panelist at the “100 Black Men of America Annual Convention,” in San Francisco that day.

My fellow panelists include Terri McMillan, bestselling author of How Stella Got Her Groove Back, and several other books, radio talk show host Shirley Strawberry, and TV personality Star Jones, best-known for her long-running stint on the popular talk show, “The View.”

Although I won’t be there to accept the New York Book Festival Award in person, you can bet I’ll be there in spirit. I am so honored to have been chosen to receive this recognition, and so very, very grateful to the judges who chose Something to Prove over so many other terrific books.

– Yvonne S. Thornton, MD, MPH

Come Join Me on BookTV Next Weekend!

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

I’m delighted to report that my keynote address to The Young Women’s Leadership Network was covered by C-SPAN for BookTV.  I had been interviewed a few years ago by Brian Lamb for his program Q&A on C-SPAN [], to talk about my first memoir, The Ditchdigger’s Daughters, and it was a great experience.

Now, on Saturday, April 16 and Sunday April 17, the program, broadcast from The New York Academy of Medicine in New York City, will capture me addressing 400 high school girls from East Harlem who are interested in math and science for their Career Day.  I will be discussing my recent memoir, Something to Prove: A Daughter’s Journey to Fulfill a Father’s Legacy.

C-SPAN book discussions are always in-depth, unlike so many other television “sound-bite” interviews, which is why I’m so happy to know that BookTV selected my presentation of the new book for their broadcast. Hope you’ll take a break from the last minute tax return rush to join me.

– Yvonne S. Thornton, MD, MPH

Book Signings, Media Appearances, and Reviews, Oh My!

Monday, January 24th, 2011

Something To Prove: A Daughter’s Journey to Fulfill a Father’s Legacy has been getting tons of attention lately. I’m exhausted from running here and there for signings, speeches. and appearances, but happy to do it, if it means more people get to hear the story.

As you can see here, I’ve been signing books like crazy, and more events are coming up.

One of my favorite reviews to date appeared in Library Journal. Read it here.

And one of my favorite articles appeared in Paramus Patch, after a book-signing at the local Barnes & Noble. You can find it here, but I thought I’d quote from it, just to give you a taste:

Warm and funny, Thornton captivated the audience of more than 50, many of whom were patients and colleagues.  Married for more than 35 years to an orthopedic surgeon, Thornton had a confession.


“When I became a doctor, I thought I caught the brass ring, that there was nothing left to prove, but I was wrong,” she said. “Even when I got there, I found there was another mountain to climb.”

In that large, enthusiastic audience, I not only re-connected with old friends, but made several new ones and saw (with my own eyes) a young woman of 27 years, Sara, who I delivered in 1983.  Her mother accompanied her and recounted all the drama surrounding her daughter’s birth.  Ah, I remember it well!  Where has all the time gone?  I’m so grateful to all those who have embraced Something To Prove, and can’t wait to meet more of you in person.

– Yvonne S. Thornton, MD, MPH

Hear (and See) My Radio Interview with Leonard Lopate of WNYC

Friday, January 7th, 2011

I had a great time visiting with Leonard Lopate of WNYC Radio, and talking about my new memoir, Something To Prove.

We spoke of my father, Donald Thornton, how our girl band, The Thornton Sisters came into being, and how sexism has often been a greater impediment than racism in my career.

The interview was videotaped and posted to YouTube, so here it is.

Let me know what you think.

– Yvonne S. Thornton, MD, MPH

Win a copy of “Something To Prove,” the sequel to “The Ditchdigger’s Daughters”

Thursday, January 6th, 2011

Want to win a copy of my new memoir, Something To Prove? If you have a blog, you can enter a contest to win one of two free copies. See the details for the contest, here.

You only have until January 13th to enter, so please get started now.

– Yvonne S. Thornton, MD, MPH

Blizzard Forces Postponement of Chuck Scarborough Interview

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

I don’t need to tell you how chaotic New York has been after the big snowstorm. We’ll re-schedule the interview with Chuck Scarborough of WNBC-TV once the weather improves. See you then.

– Yvonne S. Thornton, MD, MPH

Dr. T’s Midweek Memoir Media Blitz

Tuesday, December 28th, 2010

I’m thrilled to tell you that my new memoir, Something to Prove: A Daughter’s Journey to Fulfill a Father’s Legacy, is getting lots of attention from TV, radio, print and online media.

I’ve already taped a couple of shows and will have details for you soon on when and where they will air. But this Wednesday (tomorrow!) is one of my busiest days to date. I’ll be on WNBC TV’s “New York Non-Stop With Chuck Scarborough,” the Tron Thompson Show in Colorado Springs (KCMN), and “AM Ocala Live.”

Hope you’ll tune in. Let me know if there’s something in particular you’d like to know more about when I’m on the air near you.

– Yvonne S. Thornton, MD, MPH