October, 2002 -- Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Reston, VA will host a panel discussion on Tuesday, October 22 from 7:00 – 8:30 PM: "The Experts Speak: Traditional Publishing vs Self-Publishing." Area authors and publishers, Peter W. Barnes, Cheryl Shaw Barnes, Richard Buckingham, and Mary Shomon will discuss their publishing experiences and tell their unique stories of accomplishment at the local and national level. These writers are also the publishing experts. Each knows traditional and self-publishing first hand and the popularity of their books reflects that expertise.

Mary Shomon's first book, The Single Woman's Guide to the Available Men of Washington was self-published in 1993 and was a Washington, DC area bestseller. The book was featured in hundreds of newspapers, magazines and magazine and television shows in the Washington DC area and around the nation. Her second book, Scratching the Net: Websites for Cats, co-authored with husband Jon Mathis, was published by Andrews McMeel in 1998. It was the first book that Shomon marketed extensively using the Internet, a website and online marketing techniques. Shomon was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis in 1995,and in 1997-8 her research and writing became increasingly focused on health topics. Her first health-related book, Living Well With Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You . . . That You Need to Know, was published in March of 2000 by HarperCollins, and quickly rose to #21 on the Amazon bestseller list, primarily due to Internet marketing. The second book in her "Living Well..." series, Living Well With Autoimmune Disease, has just been released by Harper Collins. Shomon worked with neurologist Jill Marjama-Lyons, MD, to co-author What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You About Parkinson's Disease: A Holistic Program for Optimal Wellness, to be published in March 2003 by Warner Books. Two other new books -- including Living Well With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia, are in the works and will be published by HarperCollins in 2003/2004.

Peter and Cheryl Barnes started up Vacation Spot Books [VSP] in Alexandria, by self-publishing Peter's children's book, Nat, Nat, the Nantucket Cat, in 1992. They sold the first edition of 5,000 copies within a year and continue to sell about 5,000 copies every year. Since then, the Barneses have published many other titles, including Alexander, the Old Town Mouse; Woodrow, the White House Mouse; Marshall, the Courthouse Mouse and more. To date, their books have sold more than 150,000 hardcover copies. In 2001, Cheryl met Mattie J.T. Stepanek, a child poet suffering from a rare form of muscular dystrophy, while working as a volunteer at Washington, D.C.'s Children's Hospital. Inspired by his spirit and poems, she went on to publish several collections of them. Heartsongs, Journey Through Heartsongs and recently Celebrate Through Heartsongs have been best sellers generating much media coverage and human interest. Peter is a Washington-based broadcaster and journalist, currently the bureau chief for Tech TV. Peter and Cheryl have co-authored 10 VSP books.

Richard Buckingham, president of GoalStar Business Strategies, is a speaker and consultant who helps companies improve their performance and maximize profitability. He is a motivational speaker and consultant who has clients in many industries including Merrill Lynch, American Express and Macy’s. Clients universally praise the practical value, enthusiasm and specificity of Buckingham’s presentations. He initially self published his book Customer Once, Client Forever: 12 Tools for Building Lifetime Business Relationships. Kiplinger Books then picked up the title for the second printing. His book is in demand at the bookstores as well as in his workshops. He is currently at work on his second book of a similar motivational nature.

Meet these four panel members as “The World of Publishing” series concludes at Barnes & Noble Bookstore, The Spectrum Center, 1851 Fountain Drive, Reston, Virginia 20190 on Tuesday, October 22 from 7:00 – 8:30 PM. The event is free, open to the public and no reservations are necessary. Call 703-437-9490 for more information.