Sharron Grodzinsky Author

Something most people aren’t aware of is that for-profit private corporations now have contracts to manage over 120 prison facilities in the United States. They are paid by person per bed day. Most of them even have contracts with the government to pay for any bed days that are not used. For instance, the state of Virginia had a contract that guaranteed payment for a 95% occupancy rate.

These are private corporations that have boards of directors and stock holders. The higher the profit margin is, the more attractive the stock is. (Think Apple or Microsoft) A profit margin is generated simply by income minus expenses. Hello? What would that tell you about a company that makes it’s living from the incarceration of inmates? They will provide services in the least expense way possible, in order to increase their profit margin and raise the stock price.

Two of the largest…

   LOOKING TO PUT together a short story compilation? If you are self publishing then you can be more cavalier than if you want a book in print, but there are some general guidelines to adhere to.

• Length: Most publishers want around 40,000 words for a compilation or more.
• Genre: The general consensus is that you are better to compile a number of short stories that fit into a common theme. Horror, fantasy, surrealism etc.
• Sales: There is conflicting data on the short story market, and some websites appear to discourage the notion of even trying to get published in that format which is ridiculous, ask Alan Rinzler. There is definitely a market for short stories, just ask George Saunders, although you are not going to acheive the sales of a full length novel in all likelihood. Additionally, I believe publishing a short story collection…