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November 16, 2011
Sharing with Writers
A newsletter that is also a community. Share your ideas. Learn from theirs! Associated with the multi award - winning series of HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers, www.howtodoitfrugally.com


From the Desks of
Carolyn Howard - Johnson
and Sharing with Writers Subscribers

In the spirit of the advice I give in the Frugal Editor - - that is to use an extra pair of eyes whenever possible - - this newsletter is voluntarily copyedited by Mindy Phillips Lawrence ~ mplcreative1@aol.com ~ www.freewebs.com/mplcreative. I also tell writers to be patient with other writers when they make editing boo - boos. We're all human. This letter comes out weekly (except when I'm traveling or on deadline) and it's long!
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Contents
Regular Features
~Note from Carolyn:
~Letters - to - the - Editor
~Thank Yous (where you also find leads and great resources!)
~Tips and News Galore! (They're scattered, you'll just have to find
them!)
~Opportunities (You may find them in a couple places.)
~On Poetry
~Author Successes
~Mindy Lawrence's Itty Bitty Column: Innovations
~Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
~Wordstuff ™

This Issue
~Feature: Joan Stewart Plays Marketing Futurist
~Feature: C. Hope Clark Talks About YOUR Platform
~Feature: So, Can You REALLY Promote at Writers’ Conferences?


Join me
For more writers’ resources on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/FrugalBkProm
For resources and more personal fun on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/carolynhowardjohnson
For special help for fiction writers:
www.fictionmarketing.com
For writers’ resources of all kinds:
www.HowToDoItFrugally.com


Note: You may have better luck with the URLs in this newsletter if you copy and paste them into your browser window. I leave the links long rather than use hyperlinks because the letter is available in plain text in your e - mail window as well as a .pdf format.

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Note from Carolyn

Dear Subscribers:


I have had two letters this week from SWW readers who believe that because I publish some of my books myself that I endorse self - publishing for all books. Well, yes and no. I believe that there is a right way to publish any given title but not only one right way. And I think that an author needs to carefully weigh her dreams for publishing, the capacity of her pocketbook, the time and willingness she has to promote, and her skill set before deciding. Oh, yeah, and her personality. Think of that last part as a zodiac check.

And I believe that we should give readers the opportunity to read our books any old way they prefer (which means, yes, that all books should eventually be rendered as an e - book—by the publisher or by the author—for those who want to read it that way.)

But what prompted me to talk about self - publishing here is that a student at Rutgers University journalism department contacted me. Her professor said that I was the definitive person to talk to about publishing. I am flattered, but there are others who know a whole lot more about publishing than I do. Having said that, I think I am darn good at consulting with authors about their paths to publishing if only because I have personally done it every which way, including some combinations of ways.

Here is a bit of what I told her about my own paths to publishing:

My novel, This Is the Place, was published by a now - defunct subsidiary of a large publisher that specialized in literary novels and, back then, that subsidiary was more or less traditional. The year was 2001 and they gave their authors an advance (like traditional publishers), did the editing for them (like traditional publishers), and a little marketing for them (which I quickly became disillusioned with). But they published digitally (sometimes called POD), and that was something I was unfamiliar with at the time. I quickly learned there is something out there that I called "publisher prejudice."

I am happy to report that publisher prejudice is diminishing, but it still exists. Later my first chapbook of poetry was also published traditionally by Finishing Line Press, a press well - respected in poetry circles. Still I found little difference in terms of what they did in terms of marketing my books.

With backgrounds in journalism, publicity, marketing, and retailing (authors are in fact retailers by virtue of the fact that they at least occasionally need to sell their books directly to consumers at book signings, speaking engagements and writers' conferences), I quickly realized that I must do the marketing for my books no matter how I published. I eventually also realized that as long as I was doing all the work of publishing (true publishing includes the marketing of a book), I might as well do it all myself and reap all the profit and all the satisfaction.

The poetry chapbooks Magdalena Ball and I chose to publish ourselves are a little on the commercial side of poetry - - not the poetry itself, but the concept of having a combination of greeting card and chapbooks for people to give away at holidays. That concept seemed only suitable for self - publishing because most traditional publishers interested in poetry are quite literary and most likely would not have been at all interested in selling Christmas chapbooks as holiday cards (see www.howtodoitfrugally.com/more_on_blooming_red.htm )! Further, with our two heads, we are a publishing/marketing whiz - kid team.

I do want to clarify, though. I think there is a right way to publish for every author, every genre. No two books or authors are alike. So what is right for me today may not be right tomorrow. What is right for one book may not be right for the next.

So, what is your publishing path? I’d be interested to know what you’ve done, how you’ve done it and what you learned from the path (or paths) you chose. Your piece can’t be too long (maybe tops 800 words?), but if I think your experience might help others make a decision, I may publish it in this newsletter or on my Sharing with Writers blog (www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com). By the way, have you subscribed to that blog yet? I do hope you will!

Happy Writing, Editing and Promoting
Carolyn


PS: My chapbook of Christmas poetry with Magdalena Ball (Blooming Red) was named a finalist in poetry by USA Book News. This makes its second award; Military Writers Society gave it their Silver Award of Excellence. Now, aren’t you just dying to use a few copies to gift a few writers on your holiday card list? Find the special quantity offer at www.howtodoitfrugally.com/more_on_blooming_red.htm.


PPS: Magdalena Ball and I are trying to decide the theme of our next chapbook in the Celebration Series. This will be our sixth! Please vote for your choice on Maggie's review site: http://www.compulsivereader.com/html/ It will be good for you to poke around so you’ll know more about getting a review there anyway. The poll is in the right hand column.


PPS: Phyllis Zimbler Miller and I will use her e - book Lt. Commander Mollie Sanders as a case study for frugal book promotion in a tweetchat soon. We’ll announce the date and tell you how to join us for this
f r ^ ^. learning experience. Look at the top of the home page on our site at www.fictionmarketing.com. While you’re there, get our fr ^^ white paper on how fiction writers and poets can best use blogs for promotion.



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Needing something more meaningful for the celebrations in your life? Something that stays within your budget? Check out Cherished Pulse (www.budurl.com/CherishedPulse) ($6.95) for someone you love. Try Imagining the Future: Ruminations on Fathers and Other Masculine Apparitions for the men in your life. Sure, they like fusses made over them, too! (www.budurl.com/Imagining) ($6.95). She Wore Emerald Then (www.budurl.com/MotherChapbook) ($12.95), for mothers and other women, Deeper in the Pond, for the feminists in your life—both men and women (www.budurl.com/DeeperPond) ($6.95) and Blooming Red (www.budurl.com/BloomingRed), to use as Christmas cards or incidental holiday gifts. Plan next Christmas early. And ask about my special price on chapbook/cards purchased in bulk! All these chapbooks are from the Celebration Series of poetry from Magdalena Ball and me.
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Letters - to - the - Editor


Carolyn,

Just thought I'd let you know that the other day I ran across someone who had self - published two novels and was very proud of the fact - - but then couldn't understand why I had managed to get so many good reviews and was getting radio and TV interviews. So I started asking him some basic questions like: "Have you joined an online group? Have you built a FB page? Have you gone to Author's Central at Amazon? Etc, etc." He replied no to all my questions.

So I pulled him aside, pulled out my new copy of the Frugal Book Promoter from my backpack (‘cause I'm carrying it around with me like a little bible and taking notes and re - reading it), looked him straight in the eye and said, "Buy this book. Don't ask questions, just go and buy this book right now. Then read it cover to cover. Then we'll talk."

He told me the other day that he bought it and had started reading. Just wanted to let you know.

Also, since you like to share reader successes, thought I'd let you know that Kirkus Reviews recently informed me that my book will be named a "Best of 2011" when their DEC issue comes out. And that, my dear, is almost entirely your doing. Yes, I wrote a great book - - but had I not read your book, I would not have learned how to navigate that process successfully (cause I sure didn't get any help from the publisher). So thanks, and when it's official, we can both chalk that up to a success.

Now it's time to win a few awards to polish up the "brand" a bit more. Awards for nonfiction, foreign policy books are few and far between. Far fewer options are available to me than to novelists. It's pretty tough. Plus - - and I mention this as a possible tidbit for your readers, the timing of a new book to ensure the maximum amount of time possible to submit for awards and reviews, seems to be important as well. It might not be a bad idea for serious self - publishers to publish on JAN 1st of a given year. Otherwise they cut themselves out of a fair number of possibilities for awards which, as you know, are very important.

Robert W. Schaefer
The Insurgency in Chechnya and the North Caucasus, From Gazavat to Jihad
"A tour de force in breadth and depth" - Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
"A remarkable book" - The Economist
"A first - rate study ... strongly recommend" - Military History
"Incisive, insightful, in short, invaluable" - Radio Free Europe's Caucasus Report

Note on Past Issues: The article by Irene Watson on some of Amazon’s impossible dealings with authors caused quite a scuffle and seems to be spreading. Any author interested in their own book sales on Amazon will want to read Phyllis Zimbler Miller’s reaction to Irene’s article because it also includes even more information on dealings with Amazon including how to trick Amazon (ethically) into letting you publish something on Kindle f r ^^. Go to:
http://cluculzwriter.blogspot.com/2011/11/ask - pzm - nov - 2011 - amazon.html


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My review blog is my gift to authors. It’s a place for you to honor authors and books you’ve loved with a review. It’s a place to recycle the review of your own book, the one you love most. It’s f r ^ ^. Submission guidelines are in the left column at www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. =============================================


Tip: Do you ever wish you could talk back to CNN in something other than that crowded Twitter stream? Especially when they’ve aired a subject that you’re an expert on (hoping that they’d use you on the air!)? Here’s how to use their iReport feature: http://www.cnn.com/help/i - report.html


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Please paste this little blurb - - perhaps with a little endorsement - - in your newsletter or Web site: To subscribe to Sharing with Writers send an e - mail with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line to HoJoNews@aol.com or go to www.howtodoitfrugally.com for an auto subscribe box. Let me know you did it so I can do something similar for you on my Resources for Readers page at www.howtodoitfrugally.com.
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Review Tip:Eileen Granfors reviews others’ work on her blog at www.eileengranfors.blogspot.com. Check the blog before submitting. Find her tweeting @egranfors.


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This is the only site I know that can help novelists, screenwriters, and playwrights get noticed by directors and producers. It’s BooksToFilm and it’s run by iFOGO’s Gene Cartwright. It isn’t as frugal as I’d like, but there are times it pays to spend a little. One of those times would be if our investment leads to something big: http://www.ifogo.com/buy/order_chj.html .
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Feature

Platform is a Four - Letter Word for Fiction Writers
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By C. Hope Clark

Ask someone to define platform, and no matter who they are, they will stop, maybe stutter and start over before putting a meaning to it. Even then, it won't be succinct and you'll probably walk away still wondering. Platform isn't etched in stone. It's different for different people, yet it's the same.

I like to say platform is: The people and places that welcome you to present your work.

It can be all the people who know you today, your following, but it can also be the "potential" groups of people who haven't heard about you yet. However, you know how to reach them. If you have no people in your following, or aren't sure how to reach people to sell your work, then you have no platform.

Rachelle Gardner presented a post this week that I loved. She addressed platform and the fiction writer. She states the brand of a novelist is simply his name and his genre. She makes it sound so simple. What that boils down to is that your writing has to stand solid on its own legs to the point that people remember your style and voice well enough to recall your name and the genre in which you write.

http://www.rachellegardner.com/2011/10/novelists - stop - trying - to - brand - yourself/

But how do you let people know you even write? That's the chicken - or - the - egg dilemma with fiction writers. We've all heard the stories about fabulous writers who never sell, all because they didn't know how to reach out and put their work in the hands of the masses.

In my opinion, a platform is needed for the fiction writer. It doesn't have to be some elaborate, multi - layered business plan. It's simply common sense. Your platform can consist of any or all of the following:

1. A blog
2. Bylines from articles and columns
3. Guest appearances online and in print
4. A newsletter
5. Speaking engagements
6. Teaching
7. Social media
8. Professional or social organization connections
9. An employer that gives you access to its employees
10. Local community recognition
11. Alumni connections
12. A separate business endeavor
13. Volunteer connections

In essence, a platform is nothing more than becoming known as a writer. Don't make it harder than it is, but then, don't shirk the opportunity to let people know what it is you do.

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C. Hope Clark is editor of FundsforWriters, www.fundsforwriters.com, a website chosen by Writer's Digest 101 Best Web Sites for Writers for 2001 - 2011. Her newsletters reach 41,000 readers. The first in her Carolina Slade mystery series comes out in early 2012 from Bell Bridge Books.
Blog - www.hopeclark.blogspot.com / Twitter - www.twitter.com/hopeclark
Facebook - www.facebook.com/chopeclark
About.me - http://about.me/hopeclark


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My blog, War, Peace, Tolerance and Our Soldiers is where I get to nag and rag and try to make things better for our troops and maybe for the world. It includes a segment of frugal ways to help our troops and veterans. I'd love to have you leave a comment. www.warpeacetolerance.blogspot.com
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Author Successes

Rules for this Section: Only subscribers’ successes are listed in this section. Thus, I do not pick up news of new releases or awards from general media releases for there is usually no way for me to know those releases come from subscribers. If you have an Author Success, please identify yourself as a subscriber in the subject line of your e - mail. Something like: MEDIA RELEASE: Subscriber’s Success

USA Book News Announces Award Winners
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And, yes, The Frugal Book Promoter (www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo) won in the business/writing category and Blooming Red (www.budurl.com/BloomingRed) was a poetry finalist. But go see all the other amazing winners and check it out for your own book for 2012. www.usabooknews.com .


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Book Proposal Help: The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything
You Need To Know To Sell Your Book in 20 Minutes or Less is now an
e - book or paperback booklet (Only $6.95). The perfect giftlet for nonfiction writers. Find it at http://budurl.com/BookProposals =================================================


From a Subscriber: We writers might be interested to know how a story (or stories) can be dangerous. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ihs241zeg Submitted by Christine Alexanians, poet.


================================================= Social networking is one of the best ways to make valuable contacts and build a list of readers. The most supportive and interactive one I know with an associated site for displaying fiction to the movie industry is iFOGO. Subscribe at http://www.ifogo.com/buy/order_chj.html
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In the News: Good news from Kindle for those with illustrated books http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/chapter - and - verse/2011/1025/Amazon - adds - HTML5 - and - suddenly - its - ebooks - get - much - better - looking


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I’ve reworked my Web site. Please use the huge Resources for Writers section http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com/links_for_writers.htm. And please let me know if you find broken links. I need your help! =================================================


In the News: You’re in business if you write to be paid or get royalties. Yes you are! So, here’s how Steve Jobs got around Amazon. I know some of you will CHEER! ( - :
http://thenextweb.com/apple/2011/10/26/how - apple - won - the - ebook - pricing - war - by - strong - arming - amazon/


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I am journalist in residence at Book in Sync, which means you can find my articles in their newsletter each month and even access old ones in the archives. Go to http://www.booksinsync.com/booksinsyncjournalist.html.
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Self - Publishing Tip: When you edit your copyright page start with your book title, book subtitle and author name, but don’t use the word “by.”


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Subscribers who have websites or newsletters of their own may be interested
in the F r ^^ Articles 4 Readers and Writers on my site, http://howtodoitfrugally.com/free_content.htm . I try to add new articles to it frequently. If you don't see what you need for your blog or newsletter, just ask. HoJoNews@aol.com.
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On Poetry
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This is a running feature for the poets among us and those who would like to try writing poetry but feel . . . well, inadequate about the writing or the promotion. Please send in your poetry tips and resources for this section to HoJoNews@aol.com .


Contest for Poetry and Others
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Blooming Red, my Christmas chapbook (with Magdalena Ball) just won a silver award from Military Writers Society of America and is also a finalist for USA Book News. This is the page that lists entrants, part of what authors get for their submission fee http://www.usabooknews.com/poet.html. Those of you who have paid attention to the formatting, covers, etc. and those of you with published poetry books may want to consider entering. Enter next year’s contest at www.usabooknews.com and learn about more accessible contests for books and poetry in the Writers’ Resources section of my Web site at www.howtodoitfrugally.com/contests.htm .


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Endorsement: I wanted to tell you how your workshops, reading your newsletter, and just chatting with you has been a great help to me. I have a background in marketing from the fashion world and even though it has helped me get my foot in the door, I honestly have to say that after getting to know you, reading your books, and everything else I just said has truly helped me put Stories for Children Magazine on the map. ~ VS Grenier, Founder and Editor - in - Chief Stories for Children Magazine. http://storiesforchildrenmagazine.org.
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Editing Tip: Before you send your book or proposal off to an agent or publisher, look at the table of contents. Check it to see if the organization is logical. Also look at the title. It should be “Contents.” Not “Table of Contents.” If you think about it, the latter is redundant.


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A general marketing rule is that a product must be seen seven times before it is purchased. That is just as true for books (because they are products, like it or not!). Let people see that book cover image! To do that, you are invited to advertise as a site sponsor at www.howtodoitfrugally.com/advertising.htm for only $35 a year. Yep, the frugal way! Click on the Advertising tab at the top of the page or contact me personally at hojonews@aol.com.
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Tip: Do you keep in touch with your agent? That’s a relationship that should grow. It shouldn’t become a nag, but occasionally you should ask “Wha’s happenin?” Occasionally ask if she thinks your proposal needs updating. Occasionally offer an idea for a suitable press.


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Ta Da! E - books are great tools for promotion
http://www.bookbuzzr.com/blog/book - marketing/ta - da - e - books - are - great - tools - for - promotion/
The Anatomy of a Free (Read that Promotional!) E - Book
http://www.bookbuzzr.com/blog/book - marketing/the - anatomy - of - a - free - read - that - promotional - e - book/
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Feature

Writers’ Conferences Are More Than Giant Writing Classes
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Excerpted and adapted from sections of The Frugal Book Promoter, www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo.

Make the most of a conference by planning in advance. You want to treat a conference like a garden and bring home all the ripe stuff that suits your palate. That means you have to organize. This section will help you do that. Without it you won’t be able to glean the most from whatever conference you choose.

Your notebook—either the old - fashioned paper kind or the one you set up on your laptop— is key to getting the most from a conference:
 Bring a seven - subject notebook. Divide the notebook into sections that match your goals. These might include: Agents, Publishers, Promotion, Writing, and Other Contacts. Leave one section open for a category that crops up after you arrive.
 On each separator page tape a number ten envelope in which you slip business cards, bookmarks, mini notes to yourself, and small brochures. When you arrive home, part of your filing and sorting will be done.
 Take blank mailing labels to make index tabs that stick out from the edge of your notebook.
 On the first night of the conference, clip and paste separate parts of the conference handouts into corresponding segments of your notebook.
 At the back of your conference notebook, make a directory section. Use the label index markers to delineate each one.
o The first page is a name and address list for publishers. They should be listed in conference handouts but you may glean more from seminars. Star the ones you spoke to. Make notes. What have they published that is similar to your book? Jot down anything that will help them remember you when you write to them and mention your encounter. Query letters work best when you indicate you are familiar with the person or company being queried.

Big Hint: When you talk to publishers always ask them what they do to promote their authors’ books. Pin them down to specifics.

o The second directory page is for fellow authors. Jot notes on them, too. It’s no fun to arrive home with a useless business card.
o Ditto for agents and for conference planners. You may be surprised at how often you’ll refer to this page.
o A page for “Other Resources” includes information on anything from other conferences to books you’d like to read.
o Designate a few pages for writing ideas.
o The final pages are for new promotion ideas.

Hint: Bring a small pouch of tools—I use one I received with an Estée Lauder gift - with - purchase. Toss into it color - coded pens, snub - nosed scissors (sharp ones may not get you through airport security), a small roll of cellophane tape, your index labels, paperclips, strong see - through packing tape, hammer, tacks, razor, ChapStick, hole puncher, breath mints, elastic bands, Band - Aids, and your personal medication. Don’t unpack this when you get home. You’ll need it in the future for other conferences, book signings, book fairs, and other promotional events.

You can use a conference to promote, too.
 Some conferences offer tables where participants can leave promotional handouts for their books or services. Before you leave home, ask your conference coordinator how you might utilize this opportunity.
 Ask the conference coordinator if they publish a newsletter or journal. If so, send the editor media releases as your career moves along.
 Take your business cards to the conference.
 If you have a published book, take your bookmarks to give to others.
 If you have an area of expertise that would interest a conference director, introduce yourself. She may be busy, so keep your pitch very short and follow up later.

Think in terms of gathering endorsements for your book to use in the future. You are building a network.
CHJ

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Are you confused about how to credit facts or quotes when you write articles or nonfiction? Check out my Frugal, Smart and Tuned - In Editor blog: http://thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com/2010/10/q - la - ann - landers - academic - accreditation.html or the new edition of The Frugal Book Promoter, www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo .
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Editing Tip: When you’re all done, go back and look at each paragraph again. Have you done what I call “winding in” to what your teachers used to call the “theme sentence” rather than leading with it?


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Yes, I do consult. I tailor my fees to your needs - - everything from coaching to full edits (sorry no partial edits) to hour consultations to help you with your marketing campaign or your path to publishing. http://budurl.com/carolynsconsulting
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Tip: You have a regular blog, but do you occasionally add to the blogs at your ning groups (groups like www.booksforfilm.ning.com) or other social networks that provide them. Most times it’s a simple copy and paste thing that can save you tons of time and increase your visibility. Here’s an example at booksforfilm.com. http://booksforfilm.ning.com/profiles/blogs/frugal - book - promoter - takes - top - business - writing - category - at - usa?xg_source=activity. And while you’re there, leave a comment and include a link to your blog or newsletter or site or the buy page for your book.


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Recent guest blog posts: BookBuzzr.com’s regular blog for writers: http://www.bookbuzzr.com/blog/book - marketing/your - stepping - stones - to - credibility/
`Recent podcast links: Elemental Musings from Bev Walton - Porter of Scribe and Quill: http://budurl.com/waltonporter
Talking with Funky Writer Rob Batista about starting a career, promoting the hard - to - promote genres:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thefunkywriter/2010/07/30/the - funky - writer - radio - show - episode - 74
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Feature


Getting Social Network Grades: It’ll Be Like Being Back in the Classroom: ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
By Joan Stewart
Your Twitter Reputation Score

If you're on Twitter, Twitter has assigned you a "reputation score."

It has a system in place to gauge who you follow and, in turn, who they follow and who follows them. It uses that information to suggest the "Who to Follow" avatars in the right - hand column of your profile.

So far, your score is still a secret. So why am I mentioning it?

Because I'm betting that Twitter will make it public very soon - - simply because other sites are starting to score and grade us. For example:

- - If you're on Klout.com, you have a score, from 0 to 100, largely determined by how often you tweet.

- - Influencer Exchange, the new subscription - based software program that I've been promoting, assigns a score to influencers in thousands of niches, depending on who's discussing the influencer in traditional media or social media and how important those people are. You can read more about this, and find out if you qualify to sign up for a free 14 - day trial.

- - On Quora, the question and answer site, users "vote up" or "vote down" your answers. The answers with the most votes show up on top.

- - On review sites like Yelp, consumers assign you from one to five stars.

- - Facebook doesn't assign you a score - - yet. But how often you interact with your friends, and those who have Liked your pages, determines how often the information you share shows up in their news feeds.

- - On Yelp and other review sites, consumers assign scores of from one to five stars for restaurants, hair salons and even the local furnace repair company.

- - Google, perhaps the world's ultimate "grader," has been using its secret algorithm to reward or penalize our websites in organic search results.

I can't help but envision the day when we all have one overall "reputation score" that's seared onto the flesh on our hips with a hot branding iron.

The score could eventually determine if you're the top candidates for a job, or get a lucrative consulting contract, or a reporter from the New York Times calls you for an interview because you have a higher score than the other people who the reporter researched.

Not tweeting yet? Don't miss the boat. See "Twitter for Beginners: A Step - by - Step, Can't - Fail System for Experts and Influencers (and Those Who Want to Be)."

~Reprinted from Joan Stewart’s Publicity Hound newsletter, a great place to learn more about general branding and marketing - - with her permission, or course.



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Here is a list of small publishers for your consideration: www.howtodoitfrugally.com/small_publishers.htm
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Thank Yous

Thanks to Author D. J. Lyons…. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . .for adding my author - help books to her “other authors” page:http://askdjlyons.com/other_authors.html. Many authors have these and you can often trade exposure for exposure. I tend not to believe in tit - for - tat trades, though. It is often far better to be generous; that kind of networking goes far in the universe.


Thanks to Trissa Tismal . . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . . . for the lovely ad she put in her excellent newsletter on marketing. Here is a sample of her letter (the one with the ad!) http://archive.aweber.com/entreprenauthor/MIOC6/h/Author_Bestseller_Tip_.htm.You can subscribe in the upper left column of that same letter. I know you’ll want to do that and to get acquainted with Trissa.


Thanks to Norma Sundberg . . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . who mentioned my Frugal Book Promoter as one of her inspirations in an article in Extra Innings, a newsletter that celebrates, encourages, inspires, and instructs writers and those who love and abet them. The newsletter comes free online each month to an open enrollment mailing list. Most of the best writing in it comes from newsletter readers, in the form of regular columns, features, and letters. Get on the mailing list by emailing, Marshall J. Cook, Editor - in - Coach, at mcook@dcs.wisc.edu . Access past issues at www.dcs.wisc.edu/lsa/writing/extrainnings .


Thanks to Barbara McNichol . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
…for her recommendation for the new edition of The Frugal Book Promoter (now an award - winner!) on her site at http://nonfictionbookeditor.com/great - books/ BTW, those of you who have read my Great Little Last - Minute Editing Tips (www.budurl.com/WordtrippersPB) and want more Wordtrippers should visit her site. Barbara offers tons of help with trippers there and I highly recommend her as an editor of her specialty, nonfiction books.


Thanks to Nancy Famolari . . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
…for mentioning the help The Frugal Book Promoter gave her in planning her book promotion goals on her blog at http://www.writersonthemove.com/2011/11/what - are - your - promotion - goals.html



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Fun and F r ~ ~: If you purchased the Frugal Book Promoter or the Frugal Editor, I'd love you to review it on Amazon or BN.com. Make it simple; just tell what part of it you found most valuable. If you do, send me the review link (URL) and I will send you a 35 - page handout from one of my UCLA classes. As a thank you, of course. HoJoNews@aol.com
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Tip: Have you taken a minute to merge the e - mail addresses from the directories of the groups you belong to into your contact lists so they can be included in announcements of your next book or your next award.


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Chaz DeSimone has a new f r ^ ^ way to get a great poster for your office or a gift. You subscribe to his free poster offer and newsletter on design (including book cover design) and a different poster will come to your e - mail box about every other week. Each is entirely
different, all the highest quality in design and all associated with the ampersand and, by extension, our love of writing. Each also comes with directions for printing, framing, making this into a f r ^ ^ bie that lasts. To subscribe go to: http://forms.aweber.com/form/91/119176491.htm This one is his tribute to Steve Jobs.
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Opportunities

Editor of Nonfiction Offers Special to SWW Writers
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Barbara McNichols is putting out a special 10% discount offer to editing clients who contract with her for projects large and small between now and end of fall, December 21. She is an experienced editor of nonfiction books. Call 520 - 615 - 7910 for details. You may also want to sign up for her Power to Your Pen e - zine at www.BarbarbaMcNichol.com.


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A free book from my marketing friend Dana Lynn Smith:
http://sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com/2011/04/free - e - book - from - master - marketer - dana.html =================================================

Accessible Contests for You to Build Your Platform

Literary Magazine Offers Low Entry Fee Contest
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Manzanita Writers Press invites your delectable poetry, prose, art/photography submissions for the new collection, Wine, Cheese, and Chocolate - - A Taste of Literary Elegance. New and previously published poetry, prose, photography and art desired via entry by contest. Guidelines at http://manzapress.com/submission - guidelines/ . Email editor for queries: mrosemanza@jps.net. Contest Entry fee $10.00. Deadline: Dec. 31, 2011.

Mail entry fee to Manzanita, PO Box 632, San Andreas, CA 95249.
Please forward to interested writers! If you have received multiple copies of this message, please ignore. You are popular in my book!
Thanks,
Monika Rose
Editor, Manzanita Writers Press
Email: mrosemanza@jps.net
Web Site: www.manzapress.com


Contest for Self - Pubbed Authors
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ California Book Contest deadline is near. Authors must be California residents. http://bookcontest.luckycinda.com

Grand prize winner gets a one - hour session with bookmarketing expert Brian Jud and either a Nook or Kindle reader.

DEADLINE: Oct. 31 but Sharing with Writers subscribers have until Nov. 21. Enter code number 1234.

Price: $50


Contest for Having Your Work Read
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Opportunities like this help writers build their platforms. Lynn Good asks that you share 50 to 500 words of prose or up to 24 lines of poetry about a moment that altered your world forever. It can be as small as picking up the telephone or as big as a hurricane. It can be as global as the impact of 9 - 11 or as personal as the discovery that your perfect baby has a chronic disease. It can be the start or end of a job or the time you responded to a Craigslist ad and found love. What moment altered your world forever?
DUE: December 10, 2011
Submit by e - mail to Lgood67334@comcast.net. There is no fee; there is no prize. The pieces we most enjoy will run in the winter (& possibly spring) issues of Writer Advice, www.writeradvice.com.


Dan Poynter’s E - book Award
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Dan Poynter, founder of the Global eBook Awards, announces: the second annual program is now accepting entries. Here are the details:

IMAGINE . . . Your Ebook winning an award and:

- - Putting an official “sticker” on your Ebook cover, website, Amazon page,
and promotion materials.
- - Getting buoyant feedback from judges with experience in your category of book.
- - A free listing in Publishing Poynters Marketplace offering copies of
your book for reviews in prestigious ebook dealers’ sites such as
Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and others.
- - Being honored at an award ceremony in gorgeous Santa Barbara.
- - Media coverage for your book and you.
- - Winners and finalists will be listed on the official Global Ebook Awards
site.
- - Winners and finalists will receive Global Ebook Award certificates
attesting to their honor.
- - Winners will be announced to the media in news releases.
- - Discounts on video trailers for YouTube, Amazon and your website.
- - Discounts on other services for authors and publishers.
And much more…

Awards are more than a “sticker” they come with a built - in publicity
machine.

Accepting entries: Now, from ebook authors and publishers.

Eligibility: eBook released anytime on or before March 11, 2012.

Application deadline: March 12, 2012 (midnight Pacific Time).

See http://GlobalEbookAwards.com/. This web site is not just about the Global eBook Awards. It is your resource for everything eBook.


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I know. I am a glutton for punishment and everyone hates me for my zero - tolerance rule on italics. But I was inoculated with it during UCLA’s Writers’ Program classes and I know anyone would be hard put to find a major writers’ program that doesn’t agree with them. So why risk the ire of exacting agents and publishers. Know the guidelines! http://thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com/2010/10/lets - talk - italics - again.html . Learn other publishing - friendly editing ideas in The Frugal Editor, www.budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor. =================================================


An Itty - Bitty Column on Writing

Innovations ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
By Mindy Phillips Lawrence

Have you seen a Nissan Leaf yet? They go about 100 miles city and 90 miles highway before needing a charge. They are also pricey (around $37k) but they are the FIRST fully - functional electric car. Why am I talking about a car in a writing column? Because that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about innovation! Kindles are now in color. Who would - a thunk that would happen? And who would have ever thought that the publishing world would begin to slowly accept both e - books and self publishing? Amazon’s CreateSpace has helped with the acceptance of both.

Those of us who still love to cradle a real - live book in our hands must come to terms with other book formats as well. Most of us drive a car (if not a Leaf) instead of a horse and buggy. And the airplanes they said wouldn’t get off the ground or amount to much have given way to the brand new Boeing 787, which is now airborne and seats between 210 and 290 passengers. Books are going to change and we can’t step back and not learn about new ways to publish if we intend to be successful. We have to keep up!

The world changes. Writing changes with it. We don’t use papyrus much anymore, nor do we write many illuminated manuscripts (unless you’re an artist like me who does them for artistic reasons). We use some sort of keyboard for the most part. Some people have laptops and some have tablets but I don’t suspect any of us use stone and a chisel.

I’ve said this to say that you have to stay in contact with the new. I love the Clydesdales but I’m not going to use them and a wagon to get to work in the morning. I’m not ready for a Leaf just yet either but I’m sure watching to see where the technology goes.
LINKS

Nissan Leaf
http://www.nissanusa.com/leaf - electric - car/index?dcp=ppn.63023882.&dcc=0.240189300#/leaf - electric - car/index

Kindle in Color
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051VVOB2/ref=sa_menu_kdpo3

Boeing 787 Dreamliner
http://www.boeing.com/commercial/787family/

Clydesdales – Grant’s Farm
http://www.grantsfarm.com/ClydesdaleStables.htm

i - Pads
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/landing/ipad2b?afid=p219%7CGOUS&cid=AOS - US - KWG

Reading and Writing Innovations
http://www - 958.ibm.com/software/data/cognos/manyeyes/datasets/reading - and - writing - innovations - in - t/versions/1

Poetry in Motion
http://www.mta.info/mta/pim/index.html


~ Mindy Phillips Lawrence, www.freewebs.com/mplcreative, is the author of the poetry collections One Blue Star and Above and Below. She is co - author of The Complete Writer and a publicist. She is in the process of putting together an e - book and paperback based on her Itty - Bitty Column for Sharing with Writers. Blogging at: http://mplcreative.blogspot.com/. Her specialty is helping writers with their media releases. Reach her at mplcreative1@aol.com.


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I talked about Your Soaring Book Sales: How to use F r ^ ^ e - books and QR codes to sell more of what you want to sell! with the famous Career Czar Paul and his nutty sidekicks Coach Christine and Millian. Tune in at http://www.careerczar.com/mp3/career093011B.mp3 =================================================


Tip: Do you use the customer discussions on Amazon? Find books—fiction or nonfiction—that relate in some way to your book and chime in on a conversation or start a new discussion related to your book. Make sure your comments are a real asset to the conversation. Mention your book and use the Amazon link feature to let interested people find it easily. There is an additional benefit; your participation may help your book’s Amazon ratings.


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I have a series of retail books that authors could benefit from. The reason? Authors are retailers, too. They must sell their books. But A Retailer’s Guide to In - Store Promotion will be especially valuable because it will give authors insight on how to convince retail outlets that a partnership (like a book signing, workshop or seminar) with them will benefit their bottom line. Find this book at www.budurl.com/RetailersGuide or more about the whole series at www.howtodoitfrugally.com/retailers_books.htm
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Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
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Carolyn Howard - Johnson will talk and read poetry with Connie Gotsch on her Write On radio program on real, live radio on December 14, 2011, probably at 10:30 am Pacific time or 2:30 Mountain time. Go to www.KSJE.com to confirm the date. If you miss the live program, pick up the
f r ^ ^ podcast at. http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/ksje/.jukebox?action=podcasts. Find the show date and download it to listen at your leisure.

Carolyn Howard - Johnson will talk about book marketing with Connie Gotsch on her Write On radio program on real, live radio on January 4, 2011, probably at 10:30 am Pacific time or 2:30 Mountain Time. Go to www.KSJE.com to confirm the date. If you miss the live program, pick up the f r ^ ^ podcast at. http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/ksje/.jukebox?action=podcasts. Find the show date and download it to listen at your leisure.

Next Year! As a co - sponsor of the Muse Online Writers’ Conference (and the first one at that!), I’d like you to put a tickler file on you calendar to register for the 2012 weeklong event in October. I can’t tell you how many of my subscribers have been disappointed that they can avail themselves of this f r ^ ^ conference (every year!) because they miss the deadline. August would be a good time to let your digital calendar remind you to enroll at http://themuseonlinewritersconference.com/.

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Sign up to receive a copy of my Sharing with Writers blog in your e - mail box. It is a focused blog on all things related to writing and publishing. Go to www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com. Sign up in the left - hand column. Find related resources by scrolling to the bottom of the blog.
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Wordstuff ™

Something to Make Writers Smile
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(Fun with language from The Washington Post and other publications.)

Dopeler effect (n): The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.



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Essential Book and Record Keeping:

This is the place to share with others and learn from others.

Although I do attempt to verify information used within this newsletter's pages, Sharing with Writers does not guarantee entities or information. Subscribers should research resources.

To submit information articles, tips or other information, e - mail Carolyn at HoJoNews@aol.com. Please put "Submission: Sharing with Writers" in the subject line.

If you do not care to receive this newsletter, send an e - mail to HoJoNews@aol.com with "Unsubscribe” in the subject line, but please, please don't tell me you've given up writing or promoting!

To subscribe to Sharing with Writers send an e - mail with "Subscribe" in the subject line to HoJoNews@aol.com.

Please pass this newsletter to friends or e - groups. It needn't be pasted in its complete form, but please credit this newsletter, and the individual contributors with anything you snip and paste.

Ordering Information

The HowToDoItFrugally Series for Writers

Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't http://budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo
The e - book at http://starpublishllc.com/id43.html

The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success
http://budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor

The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need To Know About Selling Your Book in 20 Minutes or Less,
Paperback: http://budurl.com/BookProposals
E - book: https://www.createspace.com/3468136
For Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042JT1UA


Great Little Last - Minute Editing Tips for Writers: The Ultimate Frugal Booklet for Avoiding Word Trippers and Crafting Gatekeeper - Perfect Copy
E - book: https://www.createspace.com/3422926

The Survive and Thrive Series for Retailers (Authors need to know about retailing, too!)

A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In - Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques
Order in paperback: http://budurl.com/RetailersGuide
For Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004H1TACC
Frugal and Focused Tweeting for Retailers: Tweaking Your Tweets and Other Tips for Integrating Your Social Media
Order in paperback direct from Amazon: http://budurl.com/Tweeting4Retailers
Order for Kindle Reader: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004H4XCCS
Order an e - book from the publisher: http://www.createspace.com/3439623 .

Your Blog, Your Business: A Retailer’s Frugal Guide to Getting Customer Loyalty and Sales—Both In - Store and Online

Sponsored by Gift Shop Magazine
To Order: http://budurl.com/Blogging4Retailers
To Order for Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004H1TACC
Carolyn’s Fiction and Creative Nonfiction

This Is the Place: http://budurl.com/ThisIsthePlace

Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered: http://budurl.com/TrueShortStories

Carolyn’s Poetry

She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood. Coauthored with Magdalena Ball Paperback: www.budurl.com/MotherChapbook
For Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GXB4AW

Cherished Pulse: Unconventional Love Poetry. Coauthored with Magdalena Ball
For Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GXB4AW
In print to be used as a greeting card or booklet: www.budurl.com/CherishedPulse
For Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/imagining - the - future - magdalena - ball/1021152596?ean=2940000904893&itm=4&usri=magdalena+ball
She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood, a chapbook of poetry. Coauthored with Magdalena Ball.
Paperback and Kindle: http://budurl.com/MotherChapbook
For Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/she - wore - emerald - then - magdalena - ball/1020032782?ean=2940000807408&itm=5&usri=magdalena+ball

Imagining the Future: Ruminations on Fathers and Other Masculine Apparitions. Coauthored with Magdalena Ball
To order as an e - book: https://www.createspace.com/3419505
For Nook:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/imagining - the - future - magdalena - ball/1021152596?ean=2940000904893&itm=4&usri=magdalena+ball
To order as a paperback or for Kindle: www.budurl.com/Imagining
Deeper into the Pond: A Celebration of Femininity, Co - Authored with Magdalena Ball. Artwork by Jacquie Schmall
To order as an e - book: https://www.createspace.com/3608866 To order as a paperback: http://budurl.com/DeeperPond
Tracings, a chapbook of poetry (Finishing Line Press)
http://budurl.com/CarolynsTracings

Contact Information

Websites
http://HowToDoItFrugally.com
For special help for fiction writers
http://www.fictionmarketing.com


Blogs:
http://www.SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com, a blog on all things publishing
http://www.TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com, all things grammatical and ungrammatical. On editing, formatting, and craft.
http://www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog focused on YOUR reviews
http://www.WarPeaceTolerance.blogspot.com War. Peace. Tolerance. And Our Soldiers.
http://www.sizzlingbookfairbooths.blogspot.com, a blog where you can learn to get some mojo behind your own booth by learning from the successes and mistakes of others. It is no longer active but there are lots of ideas you can use here, just the same.

Tweeting at:
www.twitter.com/frugalbookpromo
www.twitter.com/frugalretailing