[Sharing of Knowledge through Corporate e-books] For organisations to stay competitive, they must be willing to share knowledge with public because digital revolution has enabled information to move beyond geographical boundaries. The new rule of corporate survival is not just ownership of knowledge; it also means that conscious effort to modify and “self-destroy” it.

With this in mind, business decision-makers must seriously consider sharing, selling and protection of organizational knowledge through launching of corporate e-books off their websites.

[Relook at e-books] An e-book is a more advanced version of a word-processing document where interesting animations and sounds can be included. Links can also be added so that e-book readers can join a forum or interact with author in real time. A common misconception of an e-book is a gadget (the size of a PDA) that has to be lugged around. For starters, free e-book readers provided by Microsoft and Glassbook can be downloaded at http://www.bn.com and installed on a computer.

At same site, readers are also allowed to download free unabridged e-books that can be stored in publisher’s external hard drive. This way, your own hard drive will not be over-utilised.

[De facto e-book format] Actually before talk of e-books, many businesses were using PDF as de facto e-book and Adobe’s free Acrobat Reader as most versatile reader. Wotch.com’s decision to provide free e-books that can be downloaded from Sydney Olympics’ official website is a good example of effective use of e-books.

Here are some steps about getting started in creating corporate e-books.

Step 1: [Identify your organizational strengths] This is crucial as most surfers are willing to read only 2 corporate e-books from each visit. As an example, if you run a publishing company, you have to decide which magazine or trade publication that you want to portray.

Chilled Run by Joan Bramsch Publisher: Joan Bramsch & JB Information Station ISBN 0-934334-04-8 Copyright © Joan Bramsch E-Book Copyright © June 2000

What an imagination! Joan Bramsch takes It's a Small World and develops it into an adult sci-fi story.

A small diverse group of highly intelligent and gifted individuals unite in a pilot program in a daring attempt to prove that nationalities can come together successfully for common good. Adult and youths from several dozen ethnic backgrounds participate in establishing Mystic, a self-contained community intent on developing individual skills and talents to convince world there is a better way than status quo of nation against nation.

Miracles take place in Mystic. The inhabitants focus intently on strengths of individual using inherit talents. As a result over years, medicine, telepathy, agriculture, engineering, ecology and other fields are expanded, mastered and applied for great betterment of mankind.

Gradually, community secretly plants its young gifted ambassadors throughout world to gradually work their success in weave of mankind to educate and improve globally as has been done already in Mystic. But as can be expected, adversaries exist in spite of weighted advantages of Mystic's teachings. Such enemy still clings to personal wealth and power with little regard to impact on brother man and mother earth. Thus, Chilled Run evolves as prison of sorts for such deviants. And herein lies conflict of tale - basic good against evil.

The reader becomes caught up in purity of Mystic and its leaders in aiding mankind. While almost too perfect, Joan Bramsch provides a realm where one can see future and enhanced possibilities of an almost Utopian existence. The reader can dare in this environment to hope for a future in which people are cherished for themselves and their talents, with everyone seeking a peaceful, fruitful and meaningful co-existence.

CHILLED RUN flows peacefully taking on a Camelot aurora. The tale is quite unique and easily absorbed. Download a copy of this e-read and wrap yourself in Joan Bramsch's Mystic world of beauty and strength.

An Interview with Joan Bramsch by C. Hope Clark HC: Joan, thank you for offering some of your precious time to WordWeaving for an interview. You are a busy lady! In reviewing your site and talking with you, I get feeling you are a writer second to your role as a 'parent cheerleader.' Can you explain to our readers your motivation behind your online publication - The EMPOWERED PARENTING Ezine?

JB: Thanks, Hope, for inviting me for a visit. You've just said magic words about which I can talk for quite awhile.

The Empowered Parenting Ezine (EP) will soon be two years old and now serves 1000 Parents and other guardians of children worldwide. I expect number to increase dramatically in next six months and beyond, because I'm going to be doing big promotions.

When I first started this publication I thought I'd be sharing lessons on how to raise a child. I do have some 25 years' experience. Although I do continue to give tips and opinions, I soon discovered real reason I felt driven to write EP - I am Parents' Cheerleader! In addition to encouraging Parents to be their best, I make sure they know I appreciate their effort and that I value them, right here, right now.

HC: Explain International Parental Network to us.

The JB International Parenting Network is culmination of a dream. It's my new web site -- http://www.joanbramsch.com -- and a natural extension of EP. Here, a visitor will find free Family-oriented articles about travel, party plans, collectibles, recipes for holidays and everydays, and Riddles for Kiddles (my pet name for young children :)

There is also a collection of Joan's Positive Parenting Letters, EP archive and fun contests for cash and prizes. The Halloween contest is up now -- http://www.joanbramsch.com/parties/halloween.shtml -- and First Prize is $75!

HC: You have not always been a writer. I see remnants of a teacher, toy designer, salesperson, mentor, and fundraiser. What is your greatest strength?

Joan: My greatest strength is ability to dream a dream, an abstract, and create concrete results even though it may not be easy and might take a very long time. How do I do that? Keeping all above in mind, there is really only one rule: Never, never, never, ever give up!

I think every successful entrepreneur, and now 'netrepreneur' follows that rule.

HC: What is your greatest product thus far? Is it writing or one of your other endeavors?

Joan: My most important achievement by today's or any day's standard is this: I've been married all my adult life to same man - my first and only true love, my Bill. A man of few words, he says that only one word defines way to a successful marriage or any lasting relationship - Respect. I agree.

Together we raised five children - a son and four daughters, all brave, good and self-supporting adults now. That's achievement Number Two. They have given us seven brilliant grandchildren who are our pleasure.