LocumLife - January 2009 - (Page 30) RESOURCES Dynamics DESTINATIONS Anyone’s Guess OFFICIAL RULES re-wrote, working an estimated 2,000 hours crafting sentences and paragraphs into a 270-page text. The day I received my book contract ranks among the happiest of my life. Parkway Publishers of Boone, North Carolina, a regional trade publisher distributed nationally, accepted my manuscript and asked to include dozens of my photographs. A DIFFERENT TYPE OF EFFORT Soon after, I discovered that publishing runs on tight schedules; and a physician/writer, like any other author, is expected to meet strict deadlines. Weeks passed as individual departments reviewed my manuscript, yet my revisions were expected back within days. Long pauses alternated with frenetic activity. An index was due. So were a disclaimer, a bibliography, foreword, captions, and publicity material. All told, editing, designing, and printing required 10 demanding months. Parkway secured copyrights, an ISBN number and, 3 months before release, placed the book on major web retailers garnering advance sales. Then, in September 2007, I held the first copy of A Walk Atop America—Fifty State Summits and a Dream to Reach Them All. I thumbed the pages checking layout, image clarity, and color reproduction while marveling at seeing my work in print. But I was not finished yet. As it turns out, writers are expected to actively promote their books. And since first-time authors seldom receive lavish tours or lines of adoring fans, I drove to libraries, independent booksellers, and outdoor clubs, doing readings accompanied by slide presentations. Art galleries proved especially productive as my exhibited photos and book complemented one another, boosting sales. My book and climbing accomplishments were featured in two metropolitan newspapers and numerous physician publications, and I was interviewed on National Public Radio. “Will this be a financial windfall?” my stockbroker asked hopefully. No, I smiled. Royalties will not fund this doctor’s retirement. Few authors make a living exclusively from such payments, which average one to two dollars per copy. THE MOBILE LIFESTYLE So through both the production and marketing of my book, I have continued to accept locum tenens engagements, staffing one Indian reservation as an independent contractor while also covering closer to home through recurring opportunities with The Locums Company in Morganton, North Carolina. The scheduling flexibility of the locum tenens lifestyle has permitted me to travel, climb, and publish a book, as well as practice medicine and help the underserved. This practice alternative has served me well and I plan on accepting temporary contracts as my career matures. But now, when a patient says, “Doc, you should write a book.” Well, you know the answer. L L Douglas Butler, MD, is a physician/writer living in the mountains of western North Carolina. 30 LocumLife JANUARY 2009 1. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE CHANCES OF WINNING. 2. To enter, eligible contestants should fill in the identity of this month’s image, including the city and state of location, with the contestant’s name, address and phone number either: 1) on a postcard (approximate size 4” x 6”) or, 2) via an e-mail. Mail postcard entries to LocumLife, Anyone’s Guess Contest, Great Northern Corporate Center II, 24950 Country Club Blvd., Suite 200, North Olmsted, OH 44070. Submit e-mail entries electronically to locumguess@advanstar.com (only one entry per contestant allowed). Faxed submissions will not be accepted. All entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned. Sponsor is not responsible for capturing late, lost, mis-directed, damaged, or illegible entries. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. 3. All entries must be received no later than February 15, 2009, at which time a winning entry will be drawn randomly from a pool of correct responses. In the event no correct responses are received, a winning entry will be drawn randomly from a pool of all responses timely received. The potential winner will be contacted by phone or mail no later than two weeks from the drawing. If the potential winner does not respond with 14 days after contact or does not return a require release within a specified time, Sponsor reserves the right at Sponsor’s sole discretion to select an alternate. The winner may, in Sponsor’s sole discretion, be required to execute an affidavit of eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules and release of liability and (where legal) publicity. Sponsor is not responsible for and shall not be liable for late, lost, misdirected, or unsuccessful efforts to notify winners. 4. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Participants agree to be bound by these rules and all decisions of the judges, which shall be final. By entering, all entrants agree to release and hold harmless Advanstar Communications Inc., its sponsors and prize suppliers and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates and their respective employees, officers, directors, shareholders and agents, from and against any and all claims, actions, and/or liability for any loss, damages, or injury whatsoever (including, without limitation, any death or disability) relating to or arising in connection with entering this sweepstakes or use or misuse of any prize awarded. By accepting a prize, winners grant Sponsor the right to use and publish their names, and biographical information in any manner or media whatsoever whether now known or hereafter devised, worldwide in perpetuity, for advertising, promotional and other purposes in connection with this Sweepstakes without further compensation. 5. The prize is an Amazon.com Gift Card, estimated retail value $100. All taxes on the prize are the sole responsibility of the winner. Winner agrees that the prize is being provided “as is” and that Sponsor has neither made nor is in any manner responsible for any warranty, representation or guarantee, either express or implied, in fact or in law, related to the prize, including, without limitation, as to its quality, safety, mechanical condition or fitness. Any warranty or guarantee on a prize (if any) is subject to the manufacturer’s terms and conditions therefore, and winner agrees to look solely to such manufacturer for any such warranty or guarantee. Prizes are not transferable. The winner may not make substitutions for the prizes, and the prizes are not redeemable for cash value, but Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to substitute prizes of equal or greater value. 6. Sponsor reserves the right to cancel or modify the Sweepstakes (or any portion thereof) if fraud or any other factor impairs the integrity of the Sweepstakes as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion and Sponsor will select a winner in a random drawing from among all eligible, non-suspect entries received up until the time of impairment. 7. The attraction and its location will be announced in our March 2009 issue, along with the winner’s name, city, and state. 8. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, and at least 18 years of age. Persons in any of the following categories are NOT eligible to enter or win a prize: a) Employees of Advanstar Communications Inc. and its prize suppliers and their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, b) contributors to and/or advertisers within LocumLife magazine; and c) immediate family members or persons who reside in the same household as a person described in this paragraph. SPONSOR: Advanstar Communications Inc., Great Northern Corporate Center II, 24950 Country Club Blvd., Suite 200, North Olmsted, OH 44070. ANSWER TO NOVEMBER’S CONTEST McDonald Observatory Fort Davis, Texas Congratulations, Muna Aldiab, MD, of Hilliard, Ohio, winner of November’s random prize drawing. We hope you enjoy the Eddie Bauer Gift Card! Photo: Getty Images/Jess Alford www.LocumLife.com http://www.Amazon.com http://www.LocumLife.com
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