Tracy Elman MyTTweet: February 2016

Sunday, February 28, 2016

The Secret to Success
Ask and you shall see

Be good to yourself. Work on yourself. Invest in yourself! You reap what you sow. Work hard play hard. If you don’t truly love yourself you won’t know what love is and have love. You can’t be truly free until “it” finally clicks. It may take 50+ years for it to click, but once it does you can be a huge success. What is “it”? It is different for each person. “It” is a clear understanding within. It means you finally get it! Now you understand. It could be business, or what you feel you are meant to do in life. By exposing yourself to your true passion in life while learning things that will apply to your future at any age, are a sure head start. Help others while helping yourself. Ask for guidance. Ryan Ferguson’s article, “Stop Learning. Start Applying.” Makes a very good point. Just do it! Smile, do it, and be happy.

Rev. Dr. Tracy Elman, D.D., D.M. -multi-award winning best-selling author, narrator, & founder of Leap To New Heights, Empowerment for Life, Education & Coaching.

https://medium.com/@tracyelman/the-secret-to-success-7537b0ffff51#.ba2kusohi

Saturday, February 27, 2016

With A Little Help from My Friends

Thursday, February 25, 2016

How to open a can with toucan #handsfree

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Teleprompter App for making Videos

How the new Amazon Retail Stores may impact your life... and who might be fighting it

The new Amazon Retail Stores may impact your life and there might be a fight. The Giant is raising up and I’m so excited about a new Wall Street Journal article that talks about Amazon opening up to four hundred brick-and-mortar bookstores in shopping malls. I’m so excited because perhaps my books that I wrote will be sold in the new physical Amazon bookstore. Let the kids know what a bookstore is. The proper way to hang out at the bookstore. These kids have never used a typewriter. There is so much that they have missed in order to enjoy the gain. Have you ever looked at a young person when they were making a choice to look something up in a physical book or the electronic version? I have and each time I see them go for the physical book if it’s going to be any length of time. It’s great to be able to pick up your smartphone and talk to it and get your answer right away, but if you really want to learn something wouldn’t you rather go page flipping?

In a recent interview Amazon told the Seattle Times, that online customer reviews would be included to determine what the physical store inventory would be. Amazon Prices will match those online.

I mean really. Think about it. What does this mean? I'm an author and for years I've been trying to figure out how to get my book in the brick-and-mortar chain bookstore. I have been turned down. I have been told if you're self published we can't take your book. If I decide to go with the traditional publisher they want $5500 or more upfront. Plus I have to buy maybe 1000 of my books. And the traditional publisher will change everything. They will change the pictures and change the cover and change the words inside, then change the meaning, the illustrator and have a different editor. Not much of the original book would still remain. I would not have the rights to it. I wouldn't even own my own book.

The constant motivation of searching… possibly going to a hybrid publishing house or an a la carte publisher and paying as I can afford it. Why? That's why I chose to become a self published author. Not every book has 12,000 sales in an hour and makes the big money. It sure would be nice. So if Amazon put self publishers inside brick and mortar stores it would be the answer to so many peoples prayers.

So what will the traditional publisher say? Will it put some of them out of business? Obviously they won't like it. So why would anybody want to go to a traditional publisher then? They take chunks of the money, they do not do much promotion anymore. The author still has to finance it with their other job. Okay, so it’s who they know. I get it. But is it worth it?

Amazon the bookstore and retail for the people by the people thank you, Jeff Bezos.

Rev. Dr. Tracy Elman, D.D., D.M. -multi-award winning best-selling author, narrator, & founder of Leap To New Heights, Empowerment for Life, Education & Coaching TracyElmanBooks.com/Books.html

SCAM WARNING -TRACY ELMAN -VOBS Ep. 24 February 8, 2016 GVAA CEO & Actor David Rosenthal

Stop, Thief! My Audiobooks Were Copied And Posted On YouTube! What To Do ...

AUDIOBOOKS

Stop, Thief! My Audiobooks Were Copied
And Posted On YouTube! What To Do ...

February 9, 2016

Note: The author recently posted on Facebook about this, and VoiceOverXtra asked her to write the following article as a heads-up to other audiobook narrator / rights holders ....

By Tracy Elman
Voice Actor, Audiobook Narrator & Publisher

Most of us know that a voice over career does not typically just take off and start making us money. It pretty much started for me, when David H. Lawrence XVII decided to teach voice over. I was in the first or second class he taught, and at the time he was doing 16 sessions.

He taught about audiobooks in one module. I was adamant. I told him I am not going to do audiobooks. He asked why? I said, because I would rather make more money and work less, doing commercials.

Well, David knew something I didn’t. Audiobooks are actually fun. It's an easier niche to get into. And writing, well It’s contagious or - should I say, addicting.

I decided to write a children's story after narrating Robby's Quest for Seed, and also post it on Audible's ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange) system.

My second book, Santa's Snowy Adventure, has earned a lot of awards and medals. It's currently number one on the Amazon 2015 list of best-selling children's book for ages two through seven in four countries and in three categories.

And then I did it again and again. Wow thanks, David!

But that's not what this article is really about. This story is about the stealing of audiobooks and free downloads.
Yes this can happen - and did to me.

DISCOVER THE BOOK THIEF

Seven months ago, a stranger took 94 books from Audible book covers, plus the voice samples, and made his own videos. He posted them to a channel on YouTube, probably monetized with free downloads or free viruses. I don't know.

The man actually stated they were free downloads of the entire books, and he had arrows pointing down to where to click.

My son and I are the rights holders of two of the books involved. We each authored one of those books. They are U.S. Copyrighted. My son illustrated them and I narrated them.

My son discovered them on YouTube during a book name search.

I doubt the other people had any idea that their books were included. From their book covers it seemed they had put a lot of money into it - more than we did.

REPORTED THIS: WHAT HAPPENED ...

Anyway, I reported this to YouTube and Audible.

Audible sent the complaint to ACX. ACX responded that the YouTube video would be taken down, and that YouTube is usually really good about doing that.

I didn't want to mention my situation all over Facebook. But I did want to warn those 94 people and other audiobook narrators about what was happening.

So I only posted about this to three of my Facebook groups: two voice over and one small writing group.

And this helped! David H. Lawrence XVII saw my story. He had the right contacts and assisted in getting this guy shut down. (For details on how to do that, please see Lawrence's recent VoiceOverXtra article, Why YouTube Takes Down Your Demo, Leaves Up Pirated Content - And What You Can Do About It.)

YOUR COMPLAINT MADE PUBLIC

Here's the part about reporting abuses to YouTube that upsets me.

There's a form to fill out under penalty of perjury - no problem there. But also, in order to complain and have the video removed, YouTube must post your name and email address at where the video was removed..

This gives the offender personal information about me and my son, potentially harming us further.

That information should remain private! Since I have websites and advertising, my phone number and possibly my address can all be obtained.

Following through with a complaint like this takes strength and friends who want to help not only me and my son, but everyone in the industry - and especially those 94 audiobooks and narrators.

As it turned out, since YouTube eventually received three complaints about this, only the offender's - possibly fake - name, Howard Copeland, appears on the YouTube channel he was using. Our personal information is not shown.

So this story ends on a very good note. I am proud to be part of such a close-knit industry where we all help each other.

------------------------

ABOUT TRACY

Tracy Elman is a multi-talented, multi-award winning voice actress, audiobook narrator, producer, editor and author. Active in radio, television and film, she provides both broadcast and business voice talent services. She can sound both young and old, and can also convincingly imitate celebrities such as Julia Child. The actress is conversant with a wide range of dialects and accents, and her training in comedy further enhances her abilities. Tracy is also Rev. Dr. Tracy Elman, D.D., D.M. Dream Maker Coach, and Founder of Leap To New Heights. She has voiced over 65 recorded characters and has appeared in voice over and ADR, magazines, newspapers and radio interviews internationally. In her spare time, she supports a variety of charitable causes, particularly those devoted to organizations that improve the lives of children affected with cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, autism, and cleft palates.

Email: tracy@TracyElman.com
Web (voice actor): www.TracyElman.com
Web (Tracy's books): www.tracyelmanbooks.com/books.html

Monday, February 8, 2016

Mark Dice on Super Bowl Commercials

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Special needs players hit the ice during annual festival in Valencia

Special needs players hit the ice during annual festival in Valencia

http://www.signalscv.com/section/36/article/147405/#.VrOmONeVRhs.blogger
This was an awesome weekend. The kids were interviewed for the papers and CBS, ABC, KCAL news. We had out of town guests & friends and a great celebration.

COMMON CORE UNIVERSE

Is it a common core universe? More moms and grandmas are talking about common core math than kids. And teachers are complaining too. I hear it a lot in general gatherings. My question is in 10 years which group will be better at math? Also IS it also teaching abstract thinking and problem solving skills? Or is it more dumbing down of America. I am furious about removing cursive from the curriculums. I was upset years ago when they removed phonics, art, drama, PE, music and now cursive writing. I think they have brought those back.

I would know. The outcome of not having phonics when I was in 1st grade messed me up. It was not put back into California schools until my kids were out of school. They had several failed and replaced curriculum methods, one was the whole reading approach and they also had this thing called “New Math” that most people did not understand. The blessing was that I sought help for my children when in the 3rd grade for them to learn reading, spelling and writing including cursive. My mom said I could not spell as an adult back then.

I was lucky enough to catch the news interview with our former state school superintendent of that time giving a genuine apology for removing phonics and a promise to get it back into the schools. Solution: I became a phonics specialist and learned by teaching. I taught my children and many others what the school should have done right the first time. If I learned it as a child perhaps I would be a scientist or MD. Too much time passed and it effected my confidence to progress during school and I hated to read or write. I can imagine what it does to the children. They are the leaders of tomorrow. The same people that will take care of us in nursing homes.

What is the Common Core? It is a standard for English and Math. It is meant to compete with the educational system in other countries. It is not easy for the initial concept to be understood by most. I will show an example here from https://www.facebook.com/Strzala4Senate/videos/484185855099066/

The math problem must be written horizontal. After all lines are equaling a number by 5 or 10 and show the whole number in the beginning of the question, the second column is added up and IS the answer.

Instead of the vertical method, it is writen horrizontal.

43-13=___

13+ 2=15

15+ 5=20

20+10=30

30+10=40

40+ 3=43

Division looks very similar and is taught using a lot of 1 and 10 and some 5 adding the middle like in the above subtraction example. The addition is the only one that makes sense to me it looks like pre-algebra and will ready the kids for algebraic factors. It is added up in the far right column. I can actually see a reason for it.

About cursive writing the generation today wont be able to write or read cursive and that means very few will be able to read old documents and family papers. Also many will be dependent on an interpreter for history and vital records, census’ and so much more. Haven't they thought this all through? Or is it an attempt to erase history? This reminds me of the 2006 movie Idiocracy, Where the entire country had Gatorade for tap water and people were just plain unintelligent.

It isn’t it ironic that now I am an Author, Narrator and Voiceover actor reading aloud and love it. With phonics it is easy. How many mathematicians will society gain with common core?

If you can, take a look at the photos in this Salon article with the check and the kids school assignment done by a parent.

http://www.salon.com/2015/11/28/youre_wrong_about_common_core_math_sorry_parents_but_it_makes_more_sense_than_you_think/

Rev. Dr. Tracy Elman, D.D., D.M. Dream Maker Coach, Multi-Award Winning and Best-Selling International Author, Educator, Storyteller, Narrator, Speaker, and Founder of Leap To New Heights. Tracy takes you on a captivating journey, while keeping you riveted with every word she speaks. Tracy voiced over 65 recorded characters. Appearances include commercial, VO & ADR, magazines, newspapers and radio interviews internationally.

www.TracyElmanBooks.com Amazon, Audible, iTunes, Kindle and more

Idiocracy - Trailer

From the 2006 movie Idiocracy. This is what is happening. Take an active role and help fix our school system and our society.

You’re wrong about Common Core math: Sorry, parents, but it makes more sense than you think

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Tom I See Dead Puppets - Dead Puppet Society

https://youtu.be/aVFb0TdiFjI

The Giant Raises Up from Amazon

The Giant Raises Up from Amazon and I’m so excited about a new Wall Street Journal article that talks about Amazon opening up to four hundred brick-and-mortar bookstores in shopping malls. I’m so excited because perhaps my books that I wrote will be sold in the new physical Amazon bookstore. Let the kids know what a bookstore is. The proper way to hang out at the bookstore. These kids have never used a typewriter. There is so much that they have missed in order to enjoy the gain. Have you ever looked at a young person when they were making a choice to look something up in a physical book or the electronic version? I have and each time I see them go for the physical book if it’s going to be any length of time. It’s great to be able to pick up your smartphone and talk to it and get your answer right away, but if you really want to learn something wouldn’t you rather go page flipping?

Tracy Elman