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The people I met were engaged and always hopeful and positive; they take joy in simple pleasures of family and community.” Londergan hopes her message will motivate and inspire others.

She goes on to describe how Heifer’s presence is impacting the global struggle against HIV/AIDS. “Many projects address the needs of the population. Those affected are vulnerable and their health precarious. Milk from the goats is especially beneficial, as it is highly nutritious and easily absorbed.” On heifer12x12.com,” Londergan writes of the “Passing of the Gift,” a ceremony where people who have been given an animal are required to give the first-born female of that animal to another person in need. This is particularly poignant in Rwanda, where communities affected by the genocide in 1994 still struggle for survival. Perhaps this shared concept of

passing along one’s blessings is one reason why the work of Heifer resonates with Londergan.

One of her favorite quotes is from social activist Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. “The opposite of love is not hate. It is indifference.” Londergan hopes her passion inspires others.

matter of hours. Plus, self-published authors earn up to 70% royalties as opposed to the 10-15% they will earn from a traditional publisher. What are the benefits to the author and reader of eBooks and self-publishing? And does traditional publishing have any benefits that are lost when self-publishing? Authors have much more freedom and control over their work. They oversee every step of the process, from editing to cover design. Publishers often want to cut out chunks of your book, or change your story entirely, or stick you with a cover that you hate. None of that happens with self-publishing. For readers, eBooks give them greater choice, faster access, and sometimes the ability to download updated versions of books they’ve already paid for.

Photo caption: Betty Londergan in Malawi

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Self-Publishing: A Smart Choice for Authors

Interview with Ty Treadwell by Donna Barkson

In the Fall 2012 semester, Oglethorpe students benefitted from top quality professors and also from several real-world experienced guest lecturers. One in particular was Ty Treadwell, the husband of OU Professor Boriana Treadwell. As an author, Ty has gone the traditional publishing route, but now he self-publishes. Many people are intrigued by the advantages of self-publishing and interested in learning more. What first prompted you to move to self-publishing vs. traditional publishing? Two words; time and money. With traditional publishing, it can take a year or two to get your book published once it’s written. With self-publishing, your book can be on sale in a

Photo Caption: Ty Treadwell, Island of Santorini in Greece

And to be honest, I see no benefits lost by abandoning the traditional publishing process. It’s maddeningly slow, pays authors very little,

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Continued from Page 5. and is stuck in an outdated business model. In the old days, getting your book in a bookstore was the one big advantage of traditional publishing. Now authors can get their books into the world’s largest book retailer—Amazon—by themselves. They can also promote their books through blogs, web sites, online message boards, and many other venues. These methods work far better than the meager advertising done by traditional publishers. How do you see the future of eBooks? They’ve gained huge popularity in a very short time, and that popularity will continue to grow. I don’t think paper books will ever disappear, but I’m betting that ten years from now eBooks will probably control anywhere from half to two-thirds of the book market. What are your top tips for those who want to self-publish? Edit your book meticulously. Make it as perfect as possible. Design a cover that looks great when reduced to postage stamp size, because that’s how most people will view it on their computers. Then I recommend using Smashwords as your first publisher. Read their free style guide and follow its steps when you format your book. After the book is published, promote it heavily online for at least a month or two. Even if a handful of your posts get shared or resent, you can build up a global fan base in no time at all.

Ty Treadwell is an award-winning freelance writer who has sold over 150 articles to magazines, newspapers, and web sites. He has also written four books, which are available at Amazon, Barnes & Nobel, iTunes, and many other retailers. He once taught writing classes for Clayton State University and now teaches an online writing class. Details are available at www.tytreadwell.com.

Can Do

by Ashley Chatley

When I found out I would be interviewing Iona Wynter Parks, an Olympian, along came the nerves and excitement. After exchanging introductions, we began to discuss Parks’ Olympic experiences, her advice to students and the word that best describes herself. What were your Olympic experiences like and your most memorable moment?

The Olympics were a big one. No one had ever [competed in] triathlons in Jamaica. I was the first person to compete for Jamaica. Result wise it wasn’t the best, but experience wise and the realization of all those years of work, it was absolutely everything. I wouldn’t change that experience, and it made me very strong. Sometimes when I look at a paper result, I feel like in my heart it’s not just about the results, because I know there is a greater story there, and I don’t care.

So my mom, even when we were at the Olympics, she had a pass from the organization to come [into] the dining room in the Olympic village. [After realizing] we were sitting in silence for a good few minutes, I looked at her and she said she remembered me saying that I was going to go to the Olympics in 2004 [for cycling]. It’s always just been the “why not?” It was a very cool moment, realizing I had done it and had pulled it off. How did you get into professional cycling?

I swam in college and didn’t want to go back to swimming due to being burnt out from swimming. [Swimming was] one of the reasons I didn’t want to compete again in triathlons. I had done it for so long and running, although I love running, that was my weakness in the world-class stage.

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